A Life in Rhythm with Rosie Steer

It was summer when Rosie Steer, aptly known on Instagram as @everythinglooksrosie, began the renovation on her Victorian tenement in Edinburgh two years ago. It was, she says, unequivocally a doer-upper and so, galvanised by the golden light that poured through its large first-floor windows, she and her husband set to work. They stripped everything back; added a new bathroom and kitchen; removed the woodchip wallpaper that had long shrouded the beautiful walls and ceilings; and lavished love where for so long there had been only neglect.

‘I never want to see woodchip or a wallpaper stripper ever again, but it was so satisfying stripping the building back to its bare bones and recovering its beauty. Then it was the fun part: sourcing second-hand pieces and designing a mostly freestanding kitchen with reclaimed shelves and a rustic vintage dresser,’ she says.

The fact that this industry’s seasonal backdrop was summer is significant, for there can be few people so governed by the seasons as Rosie. Last year marked the launch of her book Slow Seasons, in which she encourages her readers to embrace the rhythms of the year. How, then, does she reflect that philosophy as we slip into the cosier, colder months? 

‘In autumn and winter, it means time spent nesting and preparing our home for colder days, creating cosy corners and leaning into the darkness,’ she explains. ‘I take my cues from nature: whereas in the spring and summer I love bringing in fresh, local and seasonal flowers, now I turn to foraged evergreens, pinecones, as well as pressed and preserved flowers and foliage to bring the outside in – a reminder of life and beauty in the darker half of the year. I also use natural materials to feel more connected with the outdoors and the seasons, such as beeswax candles and woollen blankets to add cosy light and texture.’

This conscious slowing down has been instrumental, not only in the creation of Rosie’s beautiful home but also in lifting her out of the deep sense of overwhelm that had stymied her twenties, hemmed in as she was by the unforgiving pace of modern life. (Her advice for anyone floored by the unrelenting hamster-wheel? ‘Get outside. Fresh air, time spent in nature and the bi-lateral movement of walking soothes your nervous system and can help to ground us in the midst of hectic modern life.’) She came to it all organically and, little by little, nature’s teachings began to deliver her back to herself.

‘When I struggled with my mental health, the seasons and the small celebrations and wee joys they inspired, such as collecting conkers or arranging a posy of wildflowers, offered me purpose and comfort,’ says Rosie. ‘At the same time, I read about Scottish traditions and folklore, where the cycle of nature brought balance and connection. The more I learnt, the more I began to realise that this gave an official name and history to some of the traditions my family and I celebrated when growing up that were linked to the Celtic Wheel of the Year. I started to document my small, seasonal celebrations online, seeking a community of like-minded old souls,’ she says.

Twinkle Leaf Garland, featured right

This slow and considered approach has, of course, found expression in her home as well as in the soft cadences of her days. She strives to live by the much-quoted William Morris principle to ‘have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful,’ which not only makes for aesthetic equilibrium but helps to engender a sense of calm. 

‘Most of the items you will find in my home are preloved, coming from charity shops, vintage fairs, reclamation yards and antiques markets, collected over many years,’ she says. ‘I pair these finds with high-quality modern pieces from independent companies and makers, usually saving up for them over time. When it comes to the colour palette, nature is my main source of inspiration with lots of neutrals, greens and rich earthy tones to create a tranquil atmosphere.

Rosie prises the narratives woven through her home, in large part thanks to the stories of objects she sources, whether handed down or the happy result of lucky finds.

Handwoven Cotten Mattress, Tea Rose & Tilly Gingham Frill Cushion, Blush Red, featured.

‘One of my most special items is a mirror from my grandparents’ house,’ she says. ‘It used to be in their spare room, which I would stay in during visits in the school holidays, and I have fond memories of its cosiness. I inherited it years ago and it has moved all the way to London and back with us in my parents’ car, and between several flats since.’

Now, as autumn beds in, Rosie is busy constructing a cosy haven, creating ambience with tactile textiles (‘I love getting them out of storage and airing them, it’s like meeting old friends!’), fairylights, and warm lighting, making her own beeswax and soy wax candles where possible, a favourite seasonal ritual.

A new addition for this year is a sensational window seat overlooking a communal garden, a cocoon she has crafted in layers of Rowen & Wren textiles. It is the ideal vantage point for watching the changing seasons from the great indoors when the cold bites.

‘The bedroom had the perfect spot for a wee window seat, which I got our joiner friend to make out of MDF. It’s just a little seat with a small cupboard underneath for that all-important extra storage, but it has transformed the room,’ she says. ‘I sanded, painted and fitted Rowen and Wren brass doorknobs, and it looks like it’s always been there. I’d been waiting for a spare moment to make a seat pad to cushion the area so it’s a comfy spot to sit in, but then saw Rowen and Wren’s handwoven cotton mattress and coincidentally it was the exact measurement to fit the space. One of the colours was tea rose, which is the same colour as the paint on our bedroom walls, so it was another sign it was meant to be! Velvet cushions in rose and fern coordinate with the colour palette and add further softness, and the Tilly gingham cushion adds a little country cottage pattern and interest. They make it such a comfy spot to sit in and enjoy with a pot of tea and a good book!’

And there, she will sit, giving thanks for the seasons and putting into practice her autumn rituals. ‘Every year, I make an autumn wreath to display in the kitchen or on our front door, and in winter I love to make pinecone garlands or a wintery swag. It’s a lovely reminder of ongoing life in the darker months,’ she says. And, as autumn gives way to winter, she will soon be found gathering up armfuls of greenery to decorate the house and spending her days in her other favourite pastime: making homemade gifts to bestow upon loved ones.

‘My festive spiced fudge and chocolate mendiants always go down well,’ she considers. ‘In such a busy world, I think the best gift you can give someone is time – in this case, the time to make a special treat for someone you love to savour. It’s easy to get whisked up in the hustle and bustle of the season but home and hearth are the most important to me: good company, good food and time to savour cosy moments.’

Between the hours of happy industry, just occasionally Rosie might be found at her window seat simply watching the world go by, changing, shifting, and eventually preparing for its rebirth.

Slow Seasons: A Creative Guide to Reconnecting with Nature the Celtic Way by Rosie Steer is published by Bloomsbury Publishing in hardback, £16.99. To order a copy of this beautiful book please click here

Interview by Nancy Alsop