Never Mind the Rest

I am reporting live from my bed in Savannah reflecting on both the summer and the last two weeks I have spent frolicking around England and Switzerland with my best friend. Before I let myself rush back into routine, I’ve been trying to sit with the gratitude of it all. We stayed at some fabulous hotels. There was Thyme in the Cotswolds, a beautifully restored, sustainability-focused estate spread across 800 acres of countryside. Dorset Square Hotel in London, one of Kit Kemp's character-filled properties that reminded me why I love British interiors so much and Grace La Margna in St. Moritz, where I returned to photograph the hotel after working with them last summer, and finally Ambassador in Zurich, perched perfectly along the lake. I would happily recommend every one of them if you ever find yourself nearby.

There are so many things that I could say and write a guide on recommendations but I just really wanted to share some things that inspired me while I was there and some notes from my thoughts during my travels.

1. The Cotswolds is magical. Within a day, I found myself wanting to read The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Kind of a strange desire but it fit. The villages, gardens, and winding footpaths all seemed like they had wandered straight out of Beatrix Potter’s world. I downloaded the books to my iPad and spent our quiet hour before dinner reading a few of the short stories. There is so much wisdom tucked into the stores, probably why they have lasted for generations.

2. The English Interiors and architecture really inspired me more than anything. Over the last year, I’ve really loved photographing interiors on film because it really shows the textures and layers built into each room. English interiors are intentionally layered and every room I walked in, my mind flooded with photos I wanted to take. Also, the gardens are just stunning. I’ve been saving all sorts of things and inspo since I’ve been there.

   Here are a few books I have ordered:

   The Nature of Decorating: Interiors Inspired by the Natural World

   New English Style: Timeless Interiors

   English Houses: Inspirational Interiors from City Apartments to Country Manor Houses

3. Little joys: I bought an Apples News subscription which comes with access to many magazines. I’ve been enjoying reading them on my iPad.

   

4. Rest looks different for me at different times of the year. Our trip was full of early mornings, lots of walking, incredible meals, and full days of exploring, but I came home feeling genuinely rested. Sometimes to get the rest I need, I have to do nothing, and sometimes it’s simply stepping away from my everyday life for a little while.

Now that I’m back in real life, there are plenty of things waiting for me, but I’m grateful for a few more weeks of a slower season before fall arrives. My calendar is a little lighter than usual, and I’m okay with leaving room for the right projects to find me.

A few shoots I am hoping for this Fall: a beautiful fashion campaign, a home/space photographed entirely on medium format film, a fabulous hospitality project, and a fun and equally challenging editorial.

I hope you find a little time to slow down before the pace of fall picks up. Read a good book, sit on the porch, take a walk, catch up with a friend, whatever feels like rest to you. And as Beatrix Potter wrote, “Never mind the rest.”

Xx

Kathryn Ann