The Stylish Edit
Edition 05: February 2026
Hello & Welcome
The Stylish Edit is my monthly column that goes beyond interiors.
Each month, I’ll share a curated glimpse into my world: the restaurants I’ve loved, recipes I’ve tried, travels I’ve taken, interior news, style moments that inspired me, and the little discoveries that have made my month special.
Think of this as your monthly lifestyle edit — delivered with style, warmth, and a personal touch.
February Highlights (and a few challenges added into the mix)
Is there finally light at the end of the tunnel now the two longest months of the year are behind us?
Regular readers of The Stylish Edit will know that 2026 hasn’t been the kindest so far. I’m hopeful that, with a new season just around the corner, there are brighter days ahead.
This past month has brought plenty of rain (here in the UK). Rain, rain… and more rain.
So, what better way to fill those miserable, overcast days than with a few binge-worthy box sets? As gloomy as the weather has been, it’s actually provided a welcome distraction between job-hunting - which I’ll touch on later in this month’s edit, a black-tie event, an incredible Valentine’s dinner, and of course, plenty of dog walks.
So, let’s dive into what else has been happening the past few weeks…
On My Watchlist
There have been some brilliant new releases recently - alongside a few series we’re fashionably late to discovering (as always). With that in mind, I’m sharing more than my usual one or two favourites this month, starting with the highly recommended Small Prophets.
A British sitcom created, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, and starring Pearce Quigley, who brilliantly plays Michael Sleep - a man still struggling aseven years after his girlfriend vanished.
After receiving an alchemical recipe to create homunculi, he begins using their prophecies to search for answers about whether he will ever see her again.
It’s genuinely touching - particularly the evolving relationship between Michael and his colleague Kacey, played by Lauren Patel, while also being brilliantly funny.
It’s the closest I’ve felt to the balance achieved in After Life by Ricky Gervais (available on Netflix); heart-felt drama paired with the perfect mix of humour.
Available on BBC iPlayer.
A box set we’re very late to the party on is the much talked about Slow Horses.
This British spy thriller is based on the Slough House novels by Mick Herron. It follows an MI5 unit where disgraced or failed agents are relegated, operating under the supervision of Jackson Lamb - brilliantly played by Gary Oldman.
It’s sharp, gritty and darkly funny, with performances that make it impossible to stop at just one episode.
All five seasons are available to watch on Apple TV.
This month I also caught up with series two of Red Eye.
If you haven’t seen the first series, it centres around an all-night flight between London and Beijing after a British man is extradited to China on suspicion of manslaughter.
The second series shifts focus to an investigation at the US Embassy in London following the murder of a diplomatic courier. Running parallel to the embassy storyline, MI5 Director General Madeline Delaney (played by Lesley Sharp) finds herself in a life-threatening situation when a bomb is discovered on the aircraft she is travelling on.
Also starring Jing Lusi and Martin Compston., both series available on ITVX.
My final pick this month is quite different. I’m not usually drawn to reality-style shows, but The Summit, hosted by Ben Shepherd, has genuinely surprised me.
Fourteen contestants attempt to climb one of New Zealand’s highest peaks to win a share of £200,000. Along the way, there are twists and turns - including the mysterious “Mountain’s Keeper,” who makes the challenge increasingly difficult.
Each time the group reaches base camp, they must eliminate a member, adding that person’s share of the prize money to the remaining pot. However, if someone withdraws, their portion is lost entirely.
It’s tense, strategic and far more gripping than I expected - especially now the contestants are starting to turn on each other.
Available to watch on ITVX.
Health & Wellness
Many of you will know - if you read last month’s The Stylish Edit, that we haven’t had the best start to the year.
The project I’d been working on for the past twelve months ended without warning. That, alongside losing Dizzee (one of our beloved beagles), has made this a particularly tough season as we navigate a “new normal”.
During challenging times like these, I’ve been especially mindful of protecting my mental health and overall wellbeing.
As long-time readers will know, I’m an avid runner - nothing clears the head quite like it. In recent weeks, though, I’ve also incorporated a short yoga practice into my morning routine. After walking Rascal, I’ll spend 20 minutes on the mat before beginning the job search; reaching out to my network on Linkedin, applying for suitable roles and sharing my CV with potential employers.
It can be soul-destroying at times, spending hours searching and applying, followed by the waiting game. Learning to be kinder to myself has meant allowing small midweek indulgences, like an afternoon bath - something I’d never normally make time for when working.
On the rare dry days, we’ve headed to the beach for long dog walks. For now, post-walk pub stops have been replaced with packing a picnic to enjoy in the campervan, followed by a glass of wine or a bottle of beer once we’re home.
It’s funny how easily we take small things - like popping to the pub for lunch for granted, until you become more conscious about how you’re spending. I’m trying not to let the new normal get me down, instead focusing on more cost-effective ways to still enjoy an afternoon out.
My weeks are also being shaped by training for the upcoming 100km Loop Challenge. I have absolutely no intention of completing the full 100km, but I am curious to see how many loops I can clock up.
Recently, a couple of my running buddies and I completed a 30km run, and I achieved a new PB - which felt like a much-needed win.
I also wanted to mention here that for the first time last month I was able to join one of JP Clark’s Post It and Smile Friday chats. It was such a lovely space to reflect on the week, share ideas and connect with other like-minded people. Recipe sharing became a big topic on the evening I joined, which leads me perfectly into my next section…
For the Love of Food (and Wine)
A super simple, yet utterly delicious midweek recipe was this Pasta Primavera.
One evening, Darren took over the kitchen and prepared a Caribbean Fish Stew; light fragrant and full of flavour.
And then, one of my favourite weekend indulgences, a beautifully put-together cheese board.
I selected four distinctive cheeses - a strong, vintage cheddar, a nutty Red Leicester, a soft and creamy, garlic roulade and a Spanish Manchego. Alongside them a selection of pickles, pistachio nuts and sea salt and rosemary crackers, the perfect spread for a cosy Saturday evening.
Add a game of Monopoly (which I lost… again), and it made for the loveliest night in.
The wine of choice was from our Naked Wines Christmas Selection - F. Stephen Miller Black Label Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel, my monthly wine pick.
Rich and almost jam-like, it was brimming with blackberry and dark cherry flavours, with just a touch of spice. The perfect pairing for a relaxed cheese-and-wine evening.
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Valentine’s Day also fell this month. While we don’t usually mark the occasion beyond a card, Darren surprised me with the most beautiful (and delicious) cake from my new favourite local bakers, Knead; a thoughtful gesture, especially given how challenging I’ve found this month during my job search.
And that wasn’t the only treat…
Out & About
This Valentine’s, for the first time in years, we went out for dinner. I did feel slightly guilty given recent events; however, we’d booked the table a few weeks earlier, and sometimes simply getting out is the tonic you need, a chance to reset and momentarily forget the trials and tribulations.
As with most Valentine’s meals, it was a set menu - but the offering was exceptional, particularly the vegetarian option. As a vegetarian, I’m often uninspired by unimaginative alternatives, and if you’re spending money on a meal out, it needs to be as good as, or ideally better than, what I’d cook at home.
We dined at The Source Bistro, where the food is thoughtfully crafted to showcase the finest ingredients from nearby farms, vineyards and artisans, ensuring a fresh, seasonal and sustainable dining experience.
We decided to embrace the full experience and opted for the paired wine menu, which complemented each of the five courses beautifully.
To start, we enjoyed house wild focaccia with fava bean hummus (Darren had Cromer crab butter), Comté cheese and pickled walnut croquette, and beetroot tartare with beetroot crackers and shallots (liver parfait for the meat option).
The second course was king oyster mushroom, Pecorino and St Jude’s curd ravioli, while Darren had langoustine, prawn and salmon.
The main course was quite easily my favourite: pumpkin and Baron Bigod pithivier, served with onions, glazed carrots and malted celeriac. Darren chose the beef Wellington.
There were then two desserts: frozen Fen Farm skyr yogurt with coconut, vanilla and pineapple, and a whipped chocolate choux bun with blueberries (although they kindly made a lemon-curd cream version for me, as I’m allergic to chocolate). By that point, we could only manage one, so we brought the second dessert home to enjoy the following day.
If you’re local to Suffolk or Norfolk, I can highly recommend a visit to The Source Bistro.
Interiors Update
I thought I’d re-share this article exploring the interior design trends we can officially kiss goodbye to. It’s proven incredibly popular, currently my second highest-viewed post - which is amazing.
Another piece I loved curating last month was a visual montage on how to create a warm, intentional home, linked to one of my favourite Interior Design Trends for 2026.
Not exclusively interiors-focused, I also shared my Mother’s Day Gift Guide. Perhaps slightly early, but by the time I publish my next Shopping Guide, it would have been too late!
If you missed it you can catch up here:
Album of the Month
This month, Gorillaz released their ninth studio album, The Mountain.
I’ve listened to it twice since its release at the weekend, and it’s definitely a grower. The best way I can describe it is dark, thought-provoking and meditative.
Heavily inspired by Indian classical instrumentation, layered with eclectic electronic influences, the album features performances in multiple languages. The album centres around death, grief and the afterlife, inspired by the experience of Gorillaz creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett both of whom lost their fathers during its production.
It may not be to everyone’s cup of tea, and perhaps not what you’d instinctively expect from a Gorillaz album, however, for those of us who consider Damon Albarn a true musical genius, it’s one I think you’ll grow to appreciate the more you listen.
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Looking Ahead
I’m not quite in a position to be finishing on a high just yet, as I’m still navigating what comes next.
I’ve had some very promising calls and face-to-face meetings over the past week, and I’m currently waiting to hear more about what could be a very exciting opportunity. For now, it’s a case of patience, and being ready when the right opportunity aligns.
And that brings this month’s edition of The Stylish Edit to a close.
As always, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading.
Next week, I’ll be sharing my monthly Shopping Guide. I haven’t quite settled on the theme yet, so if there’s anything you’d love me to cover, please do let me know.
I always appreciate your thoughts, feel free to share them in the comments.
Until then, have a wonderful week.
Thanks
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A good read Sonya. Despite what you’ve been going through recently, it looks like you’ve definitely made the best of things. Hopefully the spring will bring new beginnings 🌼