Jack's Love List #82: The Joy List,

Hi everyone! I am live this Saturday morning from the skies when you read this, as my friends and I travel to Positano for their wedding. So, in the spirit of spreading a little joy, I thought I would make this week’s Love List a collection of items that I am loving for no apparent reason. Why? Because, much like life, love is love, and when you see something that sparks a little joy, why not share it with others and hopefully give them that same warm dopamine hit? So, let’s dive in.

First up is H&M Home and their new-in collection, with a few pieces that instantly caught my attention. Do I need them? Maybe. Will I buy them? Most likely.

I mean, a bath mat is practically an essential purchase, isn’t it? Remember during Covid when we were all trying to justify what counted as “essential travel”? Well, this Home Tufted Bath Mat is definitely an essential purchase. What isn’t there to love? That beautiful dusty blue paired with crisp white is one of my all-time favourite colour combinations, it’s giving Wedgwood. I also love the shape. It feels elevated yet timeless, with a classic design brought right up to date through the colour palette. It actually reminds me of a placemat, which only makes me love it even more because I think I probably own one very similar.

Next is this beautiful Ceramic Footed Serving Bowl. Personally, I think it would make an even better fruit bowl. I absolutely love the natural glazed finish, which gives me very strong Neptune vibes. At £34.99, it’s a little more expensive than your typical H&M Home purchase, but I think the simplicity and timelessness of the design make it completely worth it.

I also spotted this gorgeous Smoked Glass Vase. As we all know, I’m a complete sucker for flowers, and anything that works beautifully with tulips immediately gets my vote. Again, it’s a little pricier than we perhaps expect from H&M, although I think that’s simply the reality now. Everything seems to be creeping up in price, while I’m still mentally shopping in 2020. I absolutely adore the shape, and the smoked glass gives it a much more considered, elevated feel. Perfect for anyone who loves a loose, messy display of tulips just as much as I do.

Links:

• H&M Dusty Blue Tufted Bath Mat £19.99 - Click Here

• H&M Footed Stoneware Serving Bowl £34.99 - Click Here

• H&M Large tinted glass vase £34.99 - Click Here

Next, we’re heading over to Matalan after I stumbled across that gorgeous footed fruit bowl. There definitely seems to be a bit of a theme running through this week’s list.

The Wooden Footed Fruit Bowl is another piece that feels wonderfully timeless. Yes, it was the scalloped edge that initially drew me in, but I’m such a fan of dark wood furniture and accessories. I always think they make a home feel richer, warmer and just that little bit more elevated, particularly when they’re styled against a neutral kitchen. At just £12, this is an absolute bargain. I’ve never added something to my basket quite so quickly, much to Dave’s dismay.

Sticking with timeless classics, I also spotted this gorgeous Gold Cutlery Set. Anyone who has seen any of my tablescapes will know I am firmly on Team Gold rather than chrome. This set has such a beautiful traditional design, with the delicate cut-out detailing adding just enough interest. You get a 16-piece set for £18, meaning you could dress a table for eight for just £36, which is incredible value.

Lastly from Matalan, we’re creeping ever so slightly into autumn with this gorgeous Cream Striped Pumpkin Bowl. The dimensions aren’t listed, but I think it would make the most beautiful centrepiece planted with autumn perennials and packed with moss. Equally, it would be so lovely filled with a hearty autumn soup, accompanied by a generous chunk of warm crusty bread.

Links:

• Matalan Wooden Scallop Pedestal Bowl £12.00 - Click Here

• Matalan 16 Piece Gold Ornate Cutlery Set £18.00 - Click Here

• Matalan Cream Pumpkin Bowl £6.00 - Click Here

Primark Home is absolutely one of my favourite affordable retailers for interiors. I have to admit, after last season I was slightly worried there wasn’t quite as much coming through and wondered whether they were quietly scaling back their home offering. Thankfully, they’ve come back stronger than ever.

Another autumn favourite is their Autumn Garland, priced at just £8. I love the little pumpkins woven throughout. It would look beautiful draped across a mantelpiece or wrapped around a front door. You could even layer two or three together to create a much fuller look, or simply leave it as a single, understated garland. Either way, for the price it’s an absolute bargain.

Another piece that really caught my eye was this gorgeous Ceramic Photo Frame. It’s incredibly sweet, with its soft scalloped edge, delicate ditsy illustrations and fine cranberry border. At just £4.50, it delivers so much charm for very little money.

Another item that immediately caught my attention this week was this gorgeous Stone Effect Urn which, once again, has that unmistakable Neptune inspired aesthetic. It’s a really generous size and would look beautiful on a kitchen island filled with blossom in spring, sunflowers throughout summer and autumn branches later in the year. Or simply fill it with fresh eucalyptus all year round for that effortlessly clean, relaxed look.

Links:

• Primark Autumn Garland £8.00 - Click Here

• Primark Floral Wavy Picture Frame £4.50 - Click Here

• Primark Large urn style vase with a stone-effect finish £10.00 - Click Here

Now onto one of my favourite retailers. As you all know, it’s full of whimsy, full of fun, full of cheer and packed with absolute joy. It’s Oliver Bonas. Honestly, I could have written this entire week’s Love List about their new-in section, but these three pieces simply had to make the cut.

First up is, of course, Pierre the Cat Doorstop. We all fell in love with the Pierre the Cat lamp a few months ago, but now they’ve released this adorable gold doorstop, complete with his signature periwinkle blue bow. It’s exactly the sort of piece that adds personality to something as ordinary as a doorstop. Instead of a boring grey wedge, you have something that instantly becomes a talking point.

From household cat to big cat, I absolutely love this Oliver Bonas Cheetah Serving Tray. Orange and blue are complementary colours for a reason, and this soft powder blue paired with that rich burnt orange works so beautifully together. It’s decorative and practical all at once, which is exactly the kind of homeware I love. It would look equally gorgeous styled on a coffee table with flowers and books, hung on the wall as artwork or balanced on your lap carrying your Marks & Spencer ready meal.

Our final feline from Oliver Bonas this week is the Tiger Match Holder. A friend sent this to me recently and I instantly fell in love with it. It’s such a joyful piece that also serves a genuinely useful purpose. How many times have you gone searching for matches to light your candles, only to discover you’ve left them in the bathroom or the kitchen? This solves that problem in the cutest possible way. It doesn’t appear to include a striker, but you can buy adhesive strike paper very cheaply and stick it to the base, making it even more practical.

Links:

• Oliver Bonas Pierre the Cat Door Stop £26.50 - Click Here

• Oliver Bonas Blue Cheetah Painted Serving Tray £39.50 - Click Here

• Oliver Bonas Tiger Ceramic Matchstick Holder £16.50 - Click Here

A sneaky couple from Habitat now. I mentioned that beautiful brown tortoiseshell and cream chequered serving tray a couple of weeks ago. Well, they’ve now recreated it as a Green Marble Effect Trinket Tray, again priced at just £12. It’s such a lovely little pop of colour and personality for a bedside table, perfect for jewellery and little everyday bits.

They’ve also released a larger version, their Coffee Table Tray, priced at £18. This one comes in a much bolder pink and green combination, which definitely leans more towards maximalist interiors. I’m certainly not mad about that.

Links:

• Habitat Checkered Resin Green Trinket Tray £12.00 - Click Here

• Habitat Checkered Resin Pink & Green Coffee Table Tray £18.00 - Click Here

George at Asda is another retailer absolutely nailing affordable homeware right now. They’re creating pieces that feel fun, stylish and genuinely well designed without the designer price tag.

They currently have a couple of fantastic lamps. The first is this gorgeous Green Bobbin Table Lamp, complete with its matching scalloped shade. Can we just take a moment to appreciate that this entire lamp is only £15? Some retailers would happily charge £15 for the shade alone, especially with its pretty scalloped edge. To get both the green bobbin base and the shade included feels like an absolute steal.

Another brilliant lighting bargain is this Blue Speckled Table Lamp, priced at just £22, again including the shade. We’ve spoken before about how popular speckled finishes have become, from Habitat to the wonderfully stylish Galantino olive oil bottles that seemed to take over Instagram. At around 32cm high and 32cm wide, it’s a lovely squat, chunky proportion that would work brilliantly in a kitchen or snug.

Back to bobbins, and this gorgeous Burgundy Bobbin Side Table is absolutely bang on trend. Burgundy, claret, wine or deep red, whatever you want to call it, this colour is still having a huge moment, and I’m so pleased because it’s one of those wonderfully rich shades that works with almost everything. Pair it with periwinkle blue, soft sage green, classic off-white or even blush pink for a really striking colour combination. At £25, it’s the perfect statement side table.

Links:

• Asda Green Trailing Leaf Bobbin Table Lamp £15.00 - Click Here

• Asda Blue & White Splatter Table Lamp £22.00 - Click Here

• Asda Red Bobbin Wooden Side Table £25.00 - Click Here

Lastly, we’re finishing with another of my all-time favourite retailers, Anthropologie, who really were one of the originals when it came to creating quirky, individual pieces for the home.

First up are these beautiful Ceramic Wall Mounted Vases. Anthropologie did something similar a couple of years ago, and I’m fairly sure I featured them back then too. I think they’re such a fun alternative to traditional wall art. As you know, I love adding texture and interest through plates, vintage jelly moulds and all sorts of collected treasures, rather than simply filling every wall with framed prints. These would look absolutely beautiful dotted throughout a plate wall, filled with fresh flowers to echo the colours around them. There are two styles: the larger Poppy at £48 and the smaller Petunia at £38. They’re certainly investment pieces, but I haven’t really seen anyone else producing anything quite like them. That said, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on eBay, as you might find some lovely vintage alternatives.

Now this is something I never knew I needed until I saw it. I actually spotted these a couple of weeks ago and they are Dog Head Lamp Finials. You know how I always mention loving those little decorative finials that sit on top of a lampshade? Well now, instead of a simple ball, you can finish your lamp with the cutest little gold dog head. There are several different breeds available, although they’re selling out quickly, so definitely have a look while you can.

Last, but certainly not least, is a proper throwback. We all had one during the 1990s and early 2000s, and yes, they’re back. It’s a Mouse Mat. Anthropologie have officially made mouse mats stylish again, and honestly, I’m not mad about it. Dog lovers are particularly in luck because they’ve released two gorgeous versions. The first is the adorable Ciao Bella Mouse Mat, complete with an Afghan Hound illustration. Do also have a look at the Greyhound Mouse Mat, which feels wonderfully reminiscent of a classic Hermès scarf.

Links:

• Anthropologie Decorative Urn Floral Ceramic Wall Charm Petunia £38.00 - Click Here

• Anthropologie Decorative Urn Floral Ceramic Wall Charm Poppy £48.00 - Click Here

• Anthropologie Icon Dog Decorative Light Finial £18.00 - Click Here

• Anthropologie Dog Mouse Mat £20.00 - Click Here

Right, that is enough from me this week. I’d better head for my flight! As always, let me know which item is your favourite, or if you’ve spotted something recently that you think I’d absolutely love. Please do share, restack, comment and like so we can continue building this wonderful little community together.

P.S. Please note that some of these items are affiliate links, which simply help support my content at no extra cost to you. Thank you, as always, for your support.