Perhaps it's something about getting older, or being British, or both. I am increasingly preoccupied with the alarming quickening of time passing and the weather (oh and AI, but let's not go there). As the UK finally shakes off its mantle of dingy grey clouds and chilly northerly breezes, it seems we're gingerly heading into summer in all our goose-bumped, un-sunkissed-skinned glory.
As much as we Brits get overly excited to embrace the heat and hedonistic vibes that the season brings, I personally can't wait for the much-needed opportunity for reflection and change in pace that this time of year offers.
This is our second summer special and, given this is the time of year when travel plans are at the forefront of people's minds, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to emphasise the international outlook that ELLE Decoration champions, celebrates and counts on.
This country - the UK's creative community and all the incredible things it achieves - will always be very much at the heart of everything we do, yet I think that what makes us great is our ability to look outside of our tiny islands to take inspiration and energy from what is happening elsewhere, to collaborate with others with different backgrounds and outlooks, and to welcome them with open arms and open minds.
So, this bumper edition includes a section dedicated to the mainstays of summer holidays - the beautiful hotels that fuel our decorating fantasies, the cerulean pools that will keep us dreaming all winter, the souvenirs we want to bring home. heck, even the funny quirks that make every stay slightly weird and wonderful, as narrated by Giles Coren, who gives his best snarky-receptionist impression.
And alongside those wanderlust-inducing features, you'll find a truly international mix of people, places and pieces. There's a UK-based designer looking to their French heritage, a Dutch master working with the biggest Spanish chain in the world and an American setting up shop on one of London's most prestigious shopping streets. There are spaces in Mexico, Marrakech, Sicily, Barcelona and beyond and, closer to home, the bold, ballsy individuals transforming our urban environments with brightness and positivity.
Expanding your horizons is about so much more than travel. It's about being open to inspiration wherever you may find it, embracing the new, the different, the other. Yes, ELLE Decoration will always be focused on interiors and design, but hopefully this varied concoction of an issue proves we can be so much more, and will keep you reflecting on that all summer long.