Latest news with #cottagecore
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How Traitors star and interior designer FRANCESCA ROWAN-PLOWDEN renovated her five-bedroom home on a shoestring budget
A mash-up of English countryside meets the 1920s meets Morocco,' is how interior designer Francesca Rowan-Plowden, 46, describes the five-bedroom house near Rye, East Sussex, that she shares with her psychotherapist husband David, her four sons (aged between nine and 19), two dogs, two chickens and a cat. Rowan-Plowden may be more familiar to you as Frankie, a finalist in this year's hit BBC reality TV game The Traitors. She's still recognised from the series. 'A guy showed me pictures of his bathroom renovation on the tube the other day.' A theatre actor before pivoting to a career in interior design, Rowan-Plowden appreciates the parallels between the two: 'Theatre is about taking the audience on a journey and putting on a good show. It's the same with interiors.' Despite the 'lived-in', cottage-core vibe, the house was built at the turn of the millennium: every room was painted white; fixtures and fittings were modern. 'It lacked soul,' says Rowan-Plowden, who 'aged' each room, painting woodwork in heritage colours and adding vintage textiles. Silver lever door handles were replaced with aged brass 'beehive' versions. Rowan-Plowden has an impressive design portfolio that includes Goodnestone Park stately home (which she converted into a wedding venue), Battel Hall on the Leeds Castle estate and Kingshill Farmhouse on the Elmley Nature Reserve, all in Kent. Unlike her prestigious clients, however, she had to keep budgets tight for her own home. All spare cash went towards fundamentals like plumbing and rewiring. The main bathroom, which featured a retro jacuzzi that leaked, is a case in point. 'The pumps didn't work, so it was essentially a tub with holes,' she laughs. 'It was like bathing in an egg timer – a race against the clock to get clean before the space flooded.' With most of the budget sunk into the bathroom restoration, affordable decoration solutions were needed elsewhere. One of Rowan-Plowden's tricks is to buy linen from Ikea and transform it into curtains. ('It worked out at £2 per metre.') Tired chairs are now covered in vintage textiles; an old banister has a new life as a lamp. Desirable odds and ends she has acquired over the years include a velvet kissing chair, an antique side table (which makes the living room look 'posher'), and a green wooden armoire. Bought for £70 at a vintage fair, it has seen several incarnations over the years: as a linen cupboard, a toy cabinet and now a drinks bar. 'It's the Madonna of cabinets,' says Rowan-Plowden. In the main bedroom, the bed has been spruced up with an upholstered headboard. 'I design headboards for all of my clients,' she says. 'You can get a bespoke version for the same price as a mass-produced one, but with personalised trimmings like studs, piping and buttons.' An old chaise longue (once covered in a 'hideous print') was reupholstered in leftover curtain fabric from her mum's house. It stands by the bedroom window, in front of striped curtains from Dunelm. 'I'm all about the high and low,' Rowan-Plowden says. 'Get the balance right and it's impossible to tell the difference.' GET THE LOOK Mix bargain and blowout pieces to create a vintage vibe for less Lynton Wide Sideboard Ensia - tall rattan table lamp £129 Shop Cushion £39 Shop Plant Nicolau £60 Shop GP & J Baker Nympheus Made to Measure Curtains, Stone/Pistachio £159 a metre Shop £75 Shop Chair £749 Shop Habitat Herringbone Khaki Border Jute Rug £35 Shop Stone Fireplace Candlestick £24.99 Shop
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
110+ Peaceful Cottagecore Baby Names Full of Tranquility
Cottagecore is taking the style and home world by storm. It was only a matter of time before cottagecore baby names hit the scene. These names evoke an old-soul sort of vibe and are often inspired by nature and the countryside. If you hope to give your baby a slower life with an appreciation for all things simple and natural, one of these bucolic names might be right for your little one. The cottagecore lifestyle focuses on the slow, the natural, and the vintage. These sweet little girl names embody those cottagecore vibes and have the fairy-like quality you may be searching for in your baby girl's title. Adelaide - Noble natured (English) Alice - Noble (German) Amber - Jewel (French) Amethyst - Jewel (Greek) Autumn - Season of harvest (Latin) Beatrice - Bringer of joy (Latin) Belle - Beautiful (French) Clementine - Gentle one (Latin) Esme - Esteemed (French) Fawn - Young deer (French) Florence - Blossoming (Latin) Harriet - Home ruler (German) Hazel - The hazel tree (English) Honey - Nectar (English) Jade - Precious stone (British) Jewel - Precious stone (English) Opal - Precious stone (Latin) Wren - Small bird (English) Related: While the term cottagecore can be defined as "an aesthetic or imagery inspired by an old-fashioned, rural lifestyle," there are lots of nuances to lean into. This means you can get really creative with a cottagecore-inspired baby name. Cottagecore boy names can be strong and often inspired by nature and animals. Choose one of these for a baby boy with an old soul and quality that calls you back to the wonders of nature. Alder - Older (German) Ansel - Protected by God (German) Arthur - Bear (Celtic) Asher - Happy (Hebrew) August - To increase (Latin) Bear - Strong (German) Berkley - Birch tree meadow (Scottish) Clayton - Clay settlement (English) Cliff - Cliff-side slope (English) Ewan - Born of yew (Welsh) Forrest - Of the woods (French) Georgie - Farmer (Greek) Hawke - Wild (British) Hunter - Pursuer (British) Jasper - Treasurer (Persian) Lark - Lighthearted songbird (English) Lupin- Pertaining to the wolf (French) Quill - Feather (English) River - Flowing body of water (English) Rowan - Red-haired (Irish) Shepard - Sheepherder (British) Thatcher - Roof thatcher (British) Wilder - Untamed (English) With so many names inspired by plants, animals, and other parts of nature, it's no surprise that many cottagecore baby names are gender-neutral. Whether you're keeping your baby's gender a surprise or just want a universal name that feels vintage and natural, one of these sweet names might be the perfect fit. Auburn - Reddish brown (English) Beryl - Gemstone (Greek) Fabel - Storyteller (German) Fallon - Superior (Irish) Finch - Songbird (English) Gale - Wind (English) Hawthorne - Where hawthorn trees grow (British) Lake - Body of water (British) Lyric - Songlike (Greek) Merle - Blackbird (French) Ocean - Sea (Greek) Paisley - Church (Scottish) Rain - Abundance from above (English) Robin - Famed (English) Sage - Wise (Latin) Skye - Islands of clouds (Scottish) Storm - Tempest (British) Willow - Freedom (English) An appreciation for the natural world is a large part of the cottagecore aesthetic and lifestyle. Flowers and plants have inspired baby names for a long time and these names might fit the cottagecore style you're hoping to find in your baby's name. Acacia Amaranth Balsam Basil Berry Birch Blossom Camelia Cherry Cedar Clover Cyprus Daffodil Daisy Fauna Fern Flax Flora Holly Hyacinth Ivy Jasmine Juniper Laurel Lilac Lily Maple Rose Rosemary Pansy Peach Poppy Zinnia Dark cottagecore is a niche part of the aesthetic and still leans heavily into nature. You might choose a name inspired by a fairytale or a part of nature that feels a little darker than the sunnier choices. Ambrose - Immortal (Greek) Briar - Brambles (British) Cecily - Heaven (British) Coraline - Beloved (German) Ephraim - Fruitful (Hebrew) Fletcher - Arrow maker (British) Gretel - Pearl (German) Hansel - God is gracious (German) Ophelia - Help (Greek) Orrick - From the ancient oak tree (English) Seraphine - Burning one (Hebrew) Winter - The cold season (English) Related: Many of the cottagecore names lend themselves well to adorable nicknames for your child. If you want to choose a name based on the cute nickname you could use, try one of these sweet cottagecore titles. Finn (Finnegan) Freddie (Frederick) Ginny (Virginia) Lottie (Charlotte) Nellie (Eleanor) Ronnie (Saffron) Rory (Aurora) Teddie (Theodore) Winnie (Winifred) Related: If you're inspired by the fairytale essence and simple living vibes of cottagecore, lean in with your child's name. A cottagecore name could inspire your child to appreciate the beautiful parts of nature and life throughout their childhood.
Gizmodo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Labubu's Creator on the Ugly-Cute Sensation That's Taken Over the World
Labubus have captivated the world under a spell of mischievous fantasy that is making the plush purse baubles a must-have collector's toy. And if you're a Jim Henson creature fan (think Labyrinth and Dark Crystal) or grew up on Where the Wild Things Are with a dash of Donnie Darko's Frank the Bunny, you'll find them hard to resist. Much like the lucky spirits of forest folklore that inspired them, Labubus are everywhere all at once and yet hard to find if you're trying to buy one. Pop Mart, which distributes artist Kasing Lung's beloved characters in vinyl and plush collectible form, releases drops that immediately sell out. Cutesy toy collectors are often having to turn to re-sellers at a steeper mark-up than the $20-30 the keychains usually go for, with prices often reaching hundreds of dollars for elusive variants. And while Pop Mart encourages fans to shop through official outlets, many fall for the trap of the Lafufus—faux Labubus, many of which are so cursed-looking, with eyes that fall out or bald peeled heads, they've garnered their own cult following as well. 'The Monsters,' as the series that spawned Labubu is called, continue to gain global recognition through popularity in the fantasy cottagecore realms of the internet. Labubu is the breakout species of the Monsters crew; the main character is also named Labubu and became the standout of the group thanks to the extreme ugly-cute quality that made her a viral sensation. Other characters in the Smurf-like tribe of Labubu include the rare pink Mokoko and the Labubu leader Zimomo (who has a tail), who also have a cult following of their own. Toy collectors love them, including celebrities like Blackpink's Lisa (The White Lotus), What We Do in the Shadows' Harvey Guillén, and Madame Web's Emma Roberts. io9's conversation with Labubu figure creator Kasing Lung, conducted over email, delves into how Nordic supernatural folklore inspired the fuzzy elven creatures. Also—as fans ourselves, often awake at all hours of the night trying to nab an official Labubu on the Pop Mart app—we were excited to explore with Lung why he thinks the Monsters' enchanting whimsy has taken over the world. Sabina Graves, io9: I've read that the creation of the Monsters was inspired by your time in the Netherlands when you were young. What about that experience inspired the Monsters story book idea, and how did that shift to making them into a physical art form? Kasing Lung: That's right—Labubu was born from my fascination with Nordic mythology and European folklore, which I was surrounded by while growing up in the Netherlands. I've always been drawn to creatures that live in the space between fantasy and reality—figures that are both familiar and mysterious. I wanted to create a character that embodied that duality: mischievous yet endearing, strange yet deeply human. Labubu, like all the characters in the Monsters universe, has an emotional depth that makes her feel alive. When I partnered with Pop Mart, I was able to bring that imagination into the physical world—transforming Labubu from a storybook figure into something people could collect, connect with, and make their own. io9: What makes Pop Mart the ideal collaborator to share the Monsters with the world? Were you a part of collector culture growing up, and if so, what toys did you collect? Lung: Pop Mart's design-forward philosophy makes them an ideal collaborator for any artist. They prioritize artistic integrity and allow creators like me the freedom to develop characters without compromise. That kind of trust is rare. It means every figure stays true to its roots—from concept to final collectible—and collectors can feel that authenticity in every piece. As for collecting, yes—I have always been interested in that world. I was drawn to toys that sparked imagination, whether it was action figures, miniature creatures, or things with unexpected personality. I think that fascination with small, expressive objects has stayed with me. The Monsters are really just a grown-up extension of that childlike wonder. [TK unboxing IG reel link] io9: I'd love to get your perspective on seeing your creations begin to appear in so many places on a global scale, even on fashion and music icons like Lisa. What do you think about the current fashion craze that the Monsters are a part of? Lung: Seeing Labubu embraced by fans worldwide, from dedicated collectors to global icons, is surreal and incredibly humbling. When I first started sketching Labubu, I wasn't thinking about fame or fashion trends. I was just following a feeling, creating something that felt true to me. So to now see people lining up for drops, customizing their collections, and making Labubu part of their daily lives—it's overwhelming in the best way. What's happening in fashion feels like a natural evolution. Today, people want to wear their personalities, to show the world who they are through what they carry, collect, and wear. Labubu speaks to that desire for something playful, expressive, and a little bit rebellious. The fact that the Monsters are becoming part of that cultural language means the world to me. It pushes me to keep expanding the universe, to keep creating characters that surprise people and give them something they can connect with—emotionally and personally. io9: What are your plans to continue to expand the stories for the Monsters characters alongside the figures release? Are there any collaborations and projects related to them coming up that you can share that will open up their story to more fans around the world? Lung: Right now, I'm letting the Monsters story evolve naturally. These characters are always growing in my mind, and every new figure is a chance to explore a different side of their world. I never want to force their direction—it's more about following the emotion behind them and letting that guide the creative process. In terms of collaborations, there are definitely exciting projects in the works. Most recently, we collaborated with One Piece for the Monsters × One Piece Series Figures. While I can't reveal too much just yet, I'm always looking for opportunities to expand the Monsters into new mediums and formats, so fans can experience them in deeper and more immersive ways. To see Pop Mart's selection of the Monsters' blind box offerings and collaborations, visit the retailer's official site.
