I don't know about you but my wardrobe is in desperate need of a shake up. I currently live in Adanola leggings, my favourite vintage t-shirt I picked up in Brighton over the summer, and my oversized jumper I lovingly bought in LA a few years back. I love that the changing seasons give us an excuse to change things up though, and it's been a little while since I've done that. During Covid I sent almost my entire wardrobe to the charity shop, so it's definitely about time I sorted out an Autumn/Winter capsule wardrobe. Give me a house to style and I can do it with ease, but when it comes to styling my wardrobe I'm running on minimal skill there. I definitely have a style, but I'm not very good at putting things together. Let me know if you feel me, or who your favourites are to follow for inspiration. Nonetheless, having a some essentials in your wardrobe for countryside living is a no-brainer. Be it a pub lunch by the roaring fire, or a long, fresh afternoon walk with your pooch, I've pulled together some of the pieces I've found this week that I'd like to update in my wardrobe. Tap the pictures for product links. P.s, I've used some affiliate links on the pieces that I can. Hope you don't mind! (In case you don't know, It costs nothing extra for you if you purchase through my link, it just earns me a small amount that I can put back into my business). Enjoy, Allie. You can pin me to your style board and save me for later!

Let's roll back to 2021, it's the second year of COVID and we're all so over it. My mental health was over it. I considered myself to be in a really lucky position with job security and a place of my own to retreat in, but like all others around the world the consistent negativity, worry, uncertainty naturally still fed into my consciousness. I needed some variation. I'd started taking myself out for more regular walks where it was almost certain i'd not bump into anyone, and if I did there was plenty of field space to avoid them, I rinsed Spotify of it's playlists, but even music became a bit tedious. It still wasn't enough. I didn't have time to read because I spent all day and all evening on my laptop busting away with my 9-5 then working on building ASI and I didn't want to strain my eyes any further, even though being whisked away into an imaginary alternative dimension would have been pretty nice. Then, I remembered that I had a wealth of podcasts at my fingertips. I'd never really listened to them, and I wasn't a huge fan of listening to talk shows on the radio so I never thought it would be something i'd be interested in. But, I needed to try something new so I headed out on my walk, typed in 'mental health' and was given a load of recommendations. I knew of Deepak Chopra, so that's what I put on, and let's just say my life changed. Podcasts then became a huge part of my life, and have had such a positive impact on my mental health in ways I never knew was possible. People would say to me for years, 'you need to listen to a podcast before bed', or 'get out for a walk and put a podcast on', but all the podcasts that we're being suggested just weren't vibing with me or what I felt I needed and like I said, I wasn't sure I wanted someone literally chewing my ear off. Anyway, with my new podcast obsession, I started to explore more, It was at the time where I was trying to absorb as much information I could about business, and interior design, and I was confident there would be something worth my while on Spotify that I could get stuck into on my afternoon walks during lockdown. And oh boy was there. I couldn't BELIEVE how much free business advice, marketing advice, interior design advice was right there and I had never made use of it. I instantly found my place in Spotify and it was amongst business and female empowerment podcasts. Before I knew it, I had playlists upon playlists of podcasts that I wanted to listen to. I had so many saved and it became a part of my daily life that kept me going through lockdown, keeping me motivated and inspired. So, I wanted to kick off a little series, where each month I share with you a few podcasts I recommend for those of you who are in the same boat as me - needing all the business , mindset, and female empowerment support we can get! As I write this, i've fallen off the bandwagon recently, with the house move and transition back into PT office hours and WFH, and both mine and Georges 30th birthdays I've had very little me time, but, this i'm excited to get back into it and share all my recommendations with you. I share the podcasts i'm loving in real-time on my Instagram stories , so if you can't wait for the blog round up, you can find me over there yapping away about my current favourites.

I've always loved writing, and as a child I loved reading and making up my own fairytale stories. A true millennial, I had the luxury of growing up without a smartphone and social media until about age nine or ten. I feel lucky to associate my childhood with waiting in anticipation for world book day to pick up my new Roahl Dahl or Tracey Beaker book, and the smell of fresh pages that were full of adventurous chapters I was yet to have with my favourite fictional characters. As a teenager and in my early twenties when blogging started to be the in thing, that childhood love of reading and writing developed into a love of writing blogs and writing in general, whether that was on paper or digitally. (And yes, I am that person who buys a new diary every January and plans all her goals for the year). When Allie Stephens Interiors was just a thought in my mind just a few years ago, I knew that I wanted it to be a place where I could bring together that love of books and writing that has been a part of me since I was little. I knew that having a digital journal was something I had to do, somewhere that I could write and talk about all things interiors, life, travel, and business that was personal, but also allowed me to connect with people personally, somewhere off of social media that was mine and not at risk of being unplugged without notice. I've been thinking about ways I can achieve this, could I write an editors note perhaps? But that felt a little bit too corporate for me. Recently I've been really enjoying Lydia's monthly journals , and it really emulates that of which I've been hoping to achieve, but in an informal relaxed way. Not only is it the perfect way to bookend each month, and have a moment to check in and out mentally, the name has a really nostalgic connection to why I started The Journal in the first place. So, inspired by Lydia, I'll be sharing the opening and closing of each chapter here on The Journal. I promise they won't be this long each month, and as we're already half way through October so there's just a few things on my list for this month: Finalise our living room design and prepare the drawings Learn and perfect a new winter recipe Get out walking more often, taking in the fresh country air surrounding me Let me know what you've been up to this month so far and what you think about the new chapter. Allie x

As many of you know, I'm in the process of renovating my second home and something that's been on my mind a lot lately is lighting. I'm in the middle of doing the electrical lighting plans for our living room which is Phase one of the renovation, and that means I've been having to think a lot about the type of finishes we'll be going with and the actual pieces we'd like to get. So, with that in mind, this months recent additions to the shop are all lighting pieces. I absolutely LOVE shopping for lighting. I recommend investing in lighting where possible, because lighting makes such an impact on setting the tone in your home, and also setting the mood. Interior design isn't just about 'things', it's about creating a narrative and telling a story, and helping you to 'feel'. It's a complete experience, and getting your lighting just right is essential! I want to share the things I'm enjoying in real-time, so these articles might differ from month to month, but I'd love to know what you'd like to see as I can always include more features! Do you prefer to see a mixture of things, or do you want to see more of the specific pieces for those doing a renovation? Or, would you prefer to see new things by type? I.e. lighting, soft furnishings, decor pieces etc? Some of the links used below are affiliate links, but not all. Let me know if there are any pieces you like in particular! I'm sure you can see from the pieces I've selected that I'm particularly into antique bronze finishes. I'm quite particular with this, as I like the colour to emit a really burnished, worn, feel. Don't be afraid to mix metals though! Mixing metals is totally acceptable and I encourage it! Let me know if you'd like some tips on how to mix metals in your home? I imagine the first three pieces to be hung above the kitchen island. Depending on the size of your island, you could use two (of the same) to balance it out. Careful with number 2 though, if you're using multiple of these then make sure your island is big enough to carry the scale. Another alternative for over island/peninsular lighting is number 4. I keep coming back to this one, and there's a similar one from Andrew Martin that I've also been admiring. I'm hoping to eventually build out custom library style cabinetry in my office, and I'd love to incorporate some wall lights into the woodwork for that ultra luxury, heritage feel. These would be perfect to get that vibe. Number 6 and number 7 are great options for rooms with lower ceilings. They perfectly marry traditional finishes with modern lines. I could imagine these as the central light in my office, or a bedroom. What do you think about the pieces I've selected this month? If you're looking for more lighting options, take a look at all the lighting already in The Shop! - Allie

One of my favourite things to do when the seasons change, or we're kicking off with a new year is switch up my interiors (and my wardrobe) . Right now, as you know I'm living in a renovation, so I'm not quite going to get my fix this year in the way that I would if the house was ready, but there are some small changes I can make, like new candles, and maybe a new throw. Now i'm not saying buy a new armchair every season, but I do like to include some big pieces like this in my selections for those of you who are in the process of completely overhauling your interiors. Or even to give you some inspiration for new fabrics or textures in case you we're considering up cycling a piece of furniture you have in your home. Although I'm in the midst of a renovation, it hasn't stopped me from doing some online window shopping. When it comes to interiors, I take a while to make decisions. From the furniture shape, to the fabric, the textures, the colours, all the little details are so important. Window shopping is like a little creative exercise for me, and I really enjoy it! It also means I get to share the pieces I love with you too. Below are some of the pieces I've recently found which I love. I think for me it's going to be new hand soap, moisturiser, throw, and a beautiful wild wreath for the front door. I'd love to know what changes you plan on making in your home this autumn/winter, or if this has given you any inspiration! If you didn't know, I have recently launched my email list, and I'm so excited to start connecting with you more personally there, so if you're interested in receiving that, I'll be sending it out every Sunday. If you want to sign up, I'm also giving away a freebie. Sign up here if you want to get your hands on your free gift! Rowen and Wren armchair Whilst I might not be able to update my own home for the colder season in the way I would normally, it doesn't stop me from browsing my favourite online retailers for new pieces, and manifest my home for next year. Whether you're a long time lover of switching up your home for the season, or it's a totally new concept for you, it's something I encourage you all to do if you can. I find it does wonders for my mental health - it reinvigorates a new aura in me and our home, helps re-motivate and energise me for Q4, helps me mentally adjust to darker evenings and longer nights, and melt into the loveliness that this time of year brings. If you need some help with picking out some new pieces, I've got you covered. Here's some of the pieces I'm loving for the season of hosting, eating, cosying up and making memories. Homewares: Pin me to save for later.

Something I can't live without? Ceramics. Ceramics play a huge part in the ASI identity, Every interior designer has something (or a few things) that are extra special to them. Something they love to source over and above everything. For me, ceramics is one of those. Not only do I love styling them and physically using them, but I love finding the perfect pieces and making a thoughtfully curated collection. I would gladly travel the world on a ceramics quest, just to collect the perfect pieces to put into my clients (and my) homes. I think it's extra special when pieces of decor in your home can tell a story, whether it's how they were made, or how they we're sourced. It makes your home feel that much more special, individual and unique to you. For those of you that don't know, my dad lives in the South of France, but inland amongst the Aubrac and Auvergne mountains. There's a ceramics and pottery place just down the road called Pottery Du Don. It's one of my favourite places to go and I visit every time I'm over there. Each year I come home with something new for my collection. The pieces are so special to me, and bring a piece of my dad, his family, and their home away from home into my everyday and it's the little things like that which makes interior design that much more special. I recently came across everystory, run by sisters Abby & Hannah. I was so impressed. You know when you find something and before you know it, you've got 1000 tabs open. Not only do I love their pieces, but their story resembles that of my own philosophy - inspired by nature, taking inspiration from the beautiful countryside, no two pieces being the same, and each telling their own story. Their website says: "It all began through a desire to create thoughtful pieces for the home, each piece is individually handcrafted into organic forms taking inspiration from nature and the beauty found in the surrounding countryside and afar...every piece truly tells a story." I featured this piece in a recent blog, and the fact that I struggled to pick just one thing told me that I owed it to you to do a complete spotlight feature. So without further ado, I'm sharing my absolute favourite pieces with you below. Would love to know what you think.