Interiors with Sarah Jane Nielsen, owner and director of Sarah Jane Nielsen Limited, at Staveley.

Back home to pretty fabulous weather.

Wow! Was it hotter here on Sunday than Mallorca? No, not quite, but being able to fling open the bi folding doors the full seven metres of our kitchen extension is what our living area is all about - living indoors/outdoors, eating outdoors, the exceptional but rare scenario of children running in from outside with wet feet from the paddling pool on to our timber floor, without the agony of potential slipping and injury. I will have a never ending memory of the fear I experienced on chasing my two-year-old naked out the shower on holiday towards the polished stone stairs and wrought iron handrail to the ground floor.

Our choice of finishes, especially floor are paramount to our interior wellbeing and safety. I do have to admit to so many breakages on the Spanish tiled floor (mostly down to baby discus throwing at mealtimes) that the pleasure of bare feet on the soft warm timber back home was comforting. Are we creatures of habit or habitat? Much as I love disappearing for certain sunshine I am not missing the ants and the essential fly beads dropping over the doors. So maybe the traditional style of Casa building is not the ideal design for what my family want or need at this stage of life.

Sadly, the design process is not all about aesthetics and what we would like to see in our home. There is a huge practical consideration to be made with each decision.

I am back on site today at our magical riverside Lakeland timber built cabin. With the sun shining and the ground dry, it is quite a different setting from when I last saw it. You could be forgiven for not imagining the timber decking and verandah overhung with trees soaking wet and extremely dangerous. Precautions have been taken to help with potential slippage, such as grooving the timber and using non slip surfaces over the stairs etc, but my advice would be to stay away from decking in our wettest environments.

Otherwise, the fully clad timber exterior and interior suggests warmth, and cosy comfort, nestled in the trees. The decorators are beginning the transformation of the overall scheme this morning. Internally, to a soft cornforth white and ammonite grey. Outside, neutrals and light sage to blend into the surroundings; discreet in its position. This overall canvas of colour internally will be accentuated with texture and pattern through rugs, soft furnishings and artwork. The perfect secluded Lakeland retreat.