I Danced until 2:30am!
...and I have a secret...
Dear lovely friends!
It has been one of those stretches where the cameras barely stop rolling! Between filming, a rather big project I’m keeping under wraps and a few precious days away, the summer has arrived in a whirl…and I couldn’t be more delighted with what’s coming. There is a lot to share, so let’s begin.
In this newsletter, I’ll be sharing:
· A first look at our Mapperton scarves (!!)
· Filming another season of… (wink wink)
· A project I can’t quite tell you about yet
· My little Italian house tour is live
· William’s 21st at Mapperton
· I finally got my copy of my book!
· Back into marathon training
· Heading to California
Let’s dive in!
A first look at our Mapperton scarves
I have promised to keep you close to this project, so here is the very first look at our Rory Hutton x Mapperton scarves.
There are two colourways. The navy is a pocket square 45x45, and the glorious aqua (I call it glorious because I simply love it) is a 90x90 with a signature gold border.
See how many Mapperton details you can spot—the peacocks, the eagles, the Rococo ceilings scrollwork, motifs from the 18th century dress (the stunning one with Lyon fabric circa 1730-1740) and Alberta’s House of Worth dress, the chair that Charles II sat in en route back from Holland to be crowned King ... for those of you who have visited, or watched us for years, or donated towards a restoration project will recognise immediately. And a few little surprises too.
The samples have gone off to Italy, and we should have them back in around ten days, which is absolutely brilliant!
This is a limited run, and I’ll be modelling for the photo shoot myself.
Doors are open to join the waitlist (we plan on shipping end of September / early October) but again this is LIMITED RUN, so once they are gone, they are gone.
Filming Saving Country Houses, Season Two
I’ve also been filming Saving Country Houses, Season Two, with Rory and Malcolm!
Much of it has been captured inside the house during our biggest restoration yet, and I can’t wait for you to see it.
More on that restoration—the West Room—over on the Mapperton Live! newsletter.
A project I can’t quite tell you about yet
Luke and I, along with our wonderful team, are working on something really rather exciting!
It’s taking up a great deal of my time, which is also why I’ve been so quiet on social media lately.
I simply haven’t had a moment to get on there.
I’ll be able to share it with our patrons in September, and then publicly in November. But I can promise you now that this is MASSIVE.
So stay tuned…
My little Italian house tour is live
After filming, Luke and I stole a few days in Italy.
We soaked in my little Italian house, spent time by the sea, and headed up to the mountains for a walk.
We ate extremely well and rested properly, which was much needed.
The little house is very nearly finished now, and I filmed an entire tour for you over on my Julie in Italy channel.
William’s 21st at Mapperton
We celebrated William’s 21st here at Mapperton, and it couldn’t have gone better!
The theme was Saturday Night Fever, the guest list was over eighty, and the weather was absolutely perfect.
Everyone entered through the front of the house for a glass of fizz, then out into the gardens for wonderful canapés by Chef Joe (you may remember her as our chef for the Grand Historic Tours). From there we moved into the Coach House for a sit-down dinner.
A seven-piece band played for a couple of hours before the DJ took over, and I finally fell into bed at half past two in the morning!
I used flowers from the kitchen garden and the gardens throughout for the tablescapes and for big vases in the house.
It was SUCH an amazing night!
Secrets of an English Country Estate
It’s here. My actual, physical, real-life copy of Secrets of an English Country House: A Year at Mapperton arrived today—and I held it in my hands and genuinely didn’t know what to do with myself.
Nearly two years of work. And now it’s a real book. With pages. And the most stunning photography and styling I have ever been part of. I keep picking it up and flicking through it just to look at it.
I cannot wait for you to have your own copy.
Do you have yours yet? If not, pre-order now—publication day is 24th September 2026 —and there are some very special goodies waiting for you when you do.
👉 Order here and claim your gifts
Back into marathon training
On a more personal note, I’ve properly upped my marathon training.
I’m now running three days a week, with spinning on top of that, and of course my two-hour yoga session each week.
It’s hard work, but the momentum is very much there and I can’t wait for Amsterdam! (or maybe I can…. eek!)
Heading home to California
And finally, we’re off to California this week!
I’ll be meeting up with my entire family in San Diego and all four children are coming too. We’ll be away for a week, and I just know that it will be SO special. We of course are hoping that England (sorry everyone, but with three boys firmly England fans, I’ve had to switch sides!) make it to the final of the World Cup while we’re over in the USA.
As always, thank you for reading and for being here. Even in the busiest of seasons, there is so much unfolding beneath the surface, and I’m so grateful to share it with you.
With love and gratitude,
Julie