I’d like to talk about a handmade ceramic vase that sits on the coffee table in my living room. It's quite striking to look at – it has a slightly tapered shape with a textured, matte finish in deep navy blue, flecked with subtle specks of gold. It’s fairly heavy, so you can tell straight away that it's good quality rather than something mass-produced.
I actually picked it up a couple of years ago during a weekend break to a coastal town in Cornwall. There was a small independent pottery workshop tucked away in an alley, and as soon as I walked in, this particular piece caught my eye. The potter told me she’d shaped and glazed it by hand, which made it feel really special, so I decided to treat myself and buy it as a souvenir.
Nowadays, I use it almost exclusively for fresh flowers. Depending on the season, I usually fill it with things like white lilies, eucalyptus branches, or bright yellow daffodils in the springtime. Because the vase itself has a dark, rich tone, bright blooms really stand out against it. I try to change the water and arrange a fresh bouquet every weekend if I can manage it.
I genuinely love having it around because it acts as the main centrepiece of the room and instantly lifts the whole atmosphere. Whenever I walk in after a long day at work, the combination of natural flowers and handcrafted pottery makes the flat feel much more welcoming and lived-in. On top of that, it’s a lovely visual reminder of a peaceful holiday, which brings a bit of calm into my everyday routine.