New to House Curious is our weekly culture fix; the hottest happenings at the weekend. The latest pop ups, gigs, interior crushes, blogs, restaurants and shops, you get the idea. If it's on our radar and we’re obsessing about it you'll hear about it! Here's your first fix.

See

Nocturnal Animals written and produced by Tom Ford. Beautifully shot and styled this harrowing revenge thriller with soul-searching drama is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. This is our favourite film of the moment! Watch it in style at the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill. Plush sofas, cosy blankets, cheese and wine; it's the perfect way to watch this film. 

Read

The latest article from Segment magazine written by my friend Syreeta Challinger. It will move you to tears but also show you that as humans we can find strength and courage in the most brutal circumstances. A story of love and bravery I'm sure this will move and inspire you. You can also follow their story over at their blog, Moss - a moment of sense and style.

Eat

Pergola On The Roof Winer is back and they are set up for all types of British weather. Get cosy as you are transported into a Nordic-mystical forest dining scene, set 100 feet high under a canopy of holly, ivy and winter flowers and filled with some of London’s finest restaurants. They have a strong food lineup but you can't go with out trying Le Bao soft fluffy steamed buns! Try the pork belly and lamb buns - they are to die for. Click here for more info and tickets. See you on the roof.

Enjoy and stay curious,

Sommer x

If you have been following me for a while you will know that I've spent the last two years renovating and decorating my home. I decked my house out with furniture and accessories but no matter what I did something didn't feel right and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It wasn't until last week when I took some time out and I started experimenting with some of the lighting from our new collection that the penny dropped. I missed the most important thing; lighting! Get it wrong and it's an instant mood killer. I was too preoccupied with colours of the walls, accessories and making sure it all looked perfect that I forgot that one simple thing. Mood lighting. Here are a few tips I've picked up along the way to get the right balance:

Multiple lighting sources

It's a common mistake to think about lighting the whole room. Instead try using multiple light sources lighting up corners, accentuating architectural features, using tables lamps and floor lamps. This style of lighting is much more subtle, warm and inviting. It's not just about using standard lights, think about candles, low wattage eddison bulbs and experiment with different lampshades. Placing lights at different heights also helps create interest and adds a subtle drama to a room.

Buster and Punch light switch

Dimmers

It seems like a no brainer to me to use dimmers in every room, even the WC. It just gives you so much flexibility and you can create different moods depending on how you wish to use the room. I'm told that this is a great way to save energy and your bulbs last longer. 

Function of the room

Think about the room and how you wish to use it. Do you want to create a warm cosy feel or is it a place where you're going to work, in which case you may want to consider functional lighting. This kind of lighting is more practical, think desk lamps, bathroom mirror lights, kitchen lights for prepping food etc. Each room has a different function so you should treat each room separately. A good place to start is to write down what you will be doing in each room and what you want to highlight and importantly the mood you want people to feel when walking into the room. If you are renovating it really is worth spending the extra money on a lighting designer or if you are using a good interior designer they should be able to help you with the lighting plan.

If you're in London and you get a chance visit the Edition hotel, it's not only beautiful but it's a perfect example of good lighting design. I absolutely love it and it's the kind of place you don't want to leave. I could happily spend the afternoon sipping cocktails and admiring the view.

Here's a selection of the House Curious lighting collection to get you thinking about the possibilities.

Now that the clocks have gone back and it’s a wee bit chilly it’s a great time to think about making your home snug and cosy. Being an antipodean I dread the colder months but I do enjoy hibernating. For me it’s about slowing down, turning the fire on, reading or playing board games, fluffy socks and red wine. Just talking about it makes me want to snuggle up under a blanket.

To make a room feel cosy I like to use soft tactile pieces like velvet sofas or cushions, sheepskin rugs and a great big wooly blanket. Candles are a great way to set the ambience and they create a beautiful warm glow, the more candles the better. Warm accents of shiny brass beautifully reflect flickering candles. Lighting is also key. Turn the main lights off and use lots of different light sources at varying heights; think floor lamps and table lamps of different shapes and sizes. Baskets are also a great way to soften a room and look good with blankets spilling out of them. Get the board games out, place books on tables and turn the TV off. Who else is ready for a cosy night in?

Get the cosy look

Smoked Glass Brass Lamp £175

Tibetan Sheepskin Dip Dyed Rug

Natural White Baskets

Theo Brass Vase

Smoke and Musk EOEL

The White Company

How To Hygge

Designers Guild Sofa

Velvet Cushion, Nude