I live a long way from Sag Harbor nor do I have a holiday home but reading about Steven Gambrel’s holiday home in his book Time & Place makes both highly desirable.

A beautiful book filled with stunning projects it is also a great read.

One of the (many) lovely things about going on holiday is not only the opportunity to relax and take a break from the rigours of daily life but the chance to start a fresh when you return. For some, this is an annual occurrence at New Year but now that I view my year through the eyes of my children – four terms with holidays in between, things have taken a turn for the better. I like the new starts, as much as the break away.

The ultimate homecoming is returning to a clean, well ordered house. While this can require a bit of a push before going on holiday, the benefits are ten-fold. For me, this means carrying out a number of relatively mundane jobs such as clearing and cleaning the fridge, wiping out frequently used drawers and cupboards, changing the bed linen, towels and giving the house a good clean. I also drop clothes off at the drycleaner, shoes to the shoe repairer and make sure that there is enough  food in the house and general supplies to get us by when we return.

It is always lovely to come home, but when returning to freshly made beds, fluffy towels and a clean house it’s just that much nicer – and what better way to start a fresh?