Autumn/winter 2014
HOMES&
GARDENS
How to create a cosy home
www.northdevonjournal.co.uk
INSPIRATION for every room
TOP TRENDS IDEAS FOR YOUR GARDEN in autumn and winter
BEDROOM • LIVING ROOM • KITCHEN • GARDENING • TIPS FOR A COSY HOME • FLOORING in association with
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Welcome & contents
HOMES &
GARDENS
Welcome
Contents
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s the autumn season rolls in, I always breathe a sigh of relief. While I adore summer, there’s something magical about the crisp air of autumn and winter. In the colder months, I’m most happy under a cosy throw in front of the fire. There are many ways we can make our home a little more comfortable for the coming seasons, be it through innovative lighting or clever use of colour. In this edition of Homes & Gardens, we look at the must-have trends, including indulgent berry reds and and natural greys, see more on P.3+4.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be craving a cosy night in to embrace the seasons after a fresh walk around North Devon’s dramatic coast or charming woodland. See P.9 for ideas on how to create your cosy home and our top seasonal walks listed below.
Top trends
Rich berry
Top trends
Natural grey
Living room Kitchen Bedroom
Furniture at Barrow Clark
Flooring How to create a cosy home Restoration & home office
Just because the temperature has dropped doesn’t mean you have an excuse to abandon your garden. There’s still plenty of picking, planting and sowing to be done. See P.11 for our gardening tips for the season.
Autumn/winter gardening tips
So, put the kettle on and enjoy browsing ideas for your autumn/winter home.
Making the most of your outdoor space
Dawn Stephens-Borg, editor.
Mortehoe and Woolacombe
There’s something magical about disappearing into the glorious woodland only to find a quaint tea room nestled in the heart of it. Magnificent waterfalls and Autumn leaves make for the perfect seasonal walk.
There’s no reason to abandon the beach in cold weather, in fact Mortehoe is spectacular in the winter. The dramatic coastline and seemingly endless moorland provide a much needed breath of fresh air during the colder months.
Hunter’s Inn through Heddon Valley
Hartland Point
Leading through the dramatic setting of Heddon Valley, this walk will offer fresh air, resulting in a pleasant beach scene at Heddon’s Mouth. Equally beautiful in autumn and winter, this delightful walk is met by the cosy charm of the Hunter’s Inn, where you can warm up with some delicious lunch.
Arlington Court Arlington Court is a firm favourite. There is something so charming about this place; the setting, grounds and atmosphere make for a beautiful walk all year round. In autumn and winter, the place becomes somewhat magical. Explore these majestic grounds and settle into the tea room with a tea and a cake as a treat.
Complete with an idyllic lighthouse and a shipwreck, the walk through Hartland Point is not one to miss from your seasonal strolls. The short, brisk walk is perfect for autumn to embrace North Devon’s magnificent coastline.
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EDITOR: Dawn Stephens-Borg
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Top 5 seasonal walks in North Devon Watersmeet to Lynmouth
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Top trends
HOMES &
GARDENS
Sofa available at Barrow Clark NDJ-E01-S5
Rich berry
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n a bid to reflect the rich colour of the autumn leaves and berries, why not incorporate these shades into your home? With a variety of fabrics available, including both the indulgent rich berry colours and a charming rural design, you could create a whole new look for your chair, sofa, curtains or cushions to reflect the seasons.
If you’re not looking for a bold print to incorporate this autumn/winter trend, try a dark purple or deep red colour for your sofa. This will add a hint of colour to your home, while maintaining the cosy atmosphere for the season.
To reflect the rich colour of the autumn leaves and berries, why not incorporate these shades?
LEFT: Milton and Manor at Finishing Touches
Previously Merlin Fabrics Now in Banburys Boutport Street, as well as Sticklepath Hill, Barnstaple
• HANDMADE • Curtains • Pelmets • Tie-backs • Bedspreads • READY MADE • Curtains • Lace nets • Voiles • SOFT FURISHINGS • Headboards • Curtains •Throws • BLINDS • Roller • Roman • Vertical • Venetian • HARDWARE • Poles •Tracks • Accessories
Tel: 01271 375313 Sticklepath Hill, Barnstaple, EX31 2BU also at Banburys furnishing, 101 Boutport Street Barnstaple EX31 1SY
Web site:www.merlininteriors.co.uk or www.merlinfabrics.co.uk
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Scutt and Coles at Finishing Touches
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Top trends
HOMES &
GARDENS
Natural grey
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Fabrics available at Merlin Fabrics
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hoosing a calm colour for your home for the coming seasons can provide a refreshing change. While the summer season saw grey adorned with an array of colour, a simple, natural grey would be perfect for autumn and winter. Whether it’s home accessories, such as lamps, cushions and throws, or even a larger instalment such as a beautiful grey sofa or painted walls. This restful natural tone will add serenity to any home.
INSET: Grey cream windowpane throw by Bronte & Moon at Daisy Park
ABOVE: Milton and Manor – Partridge Sketch cushion, RIGHT: Milton and Manor – Stag Block Natural cushion both at Finishing Touches
John Sankey furniture at Barrow Clark
This restful natural tone will add serenity to any home.
RIGHT: Miners Lantern in Clay at Daisy Park.
Living room
HOMES &
GARDENS
Abraham Moon & Sons fabrics at Finishing Touches. NDJ-E01-S5
Finishing Touches fabric
ABOVE : Scutt and Coles at Finishing Touches.
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Living room
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utumn and winter inevitably mean darker nights and mornings. While this doesn’t mean you should furnish your home with darker colours, a nod to the autumn leaves and cosy interior design can provide a welcome space for the coming months. Country-feel fabrics such as the Harris Tweed designs available at available at Barrow Clark and Abraham Moon & Sons fabrics from Finishing Touches in South Molton, offer a reflectively seasonal feel, without too many dark colours. Indulgent wine colours and country greens weave together in tartan/tweed-style print, carefully merging shades that offer a natural feel.
ABOVE : Sofa available at Barrow Clark
Alternatively, for those seeking to liven up their homes in the colder months, don’t be afraid to experiment with bold prints and statement pieces. Paisley remains a firm favourite among designers for autumn/winter 2014, while berry reds and beautiful autumnal colours feature in these sofas at Barrow Clark. Whatever you decide, keep your style in mind. The living room is your space to relax, read and unwind after a long day at work, so make it comfortable.
Finishing Touches fabric Harris Tweed furniture at Barrow Clark Abraham Moon & Sons fabrics at Finishing Touches. BELOW : Furniture at Barrow Clark
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Kitchen
HOMES &
GARDENS BELOW: Available at Daisy Park
Kitchen
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BELOW: Furniture at Barrow Clark
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he kitchen will undoubtedly be the heart of everyone’s home in the coming seasons. Of course the style of your kitchen will depend on your space, so keep this in mind. While it would be desirable to create a country kitchen within your home, be aware that space is key, especially when cooking Christmas dinner. In-keeping with the natural grey trend, lighter walls and dark wood can provide a most attractive country-feel to the kitchen. Accessorise with some beautiful kitchen ware at Daisy Park, offering a nod to vintage to complete that cosy kitchen look for autumn and winter.
RIGHT: Self-raising our tin. Half Hal Moon Bay at Daisy Park.
RIGHT: Colman’s Mustard Tin. Half Moon Bay at Daisy Park.
LEFT: Emma Bridgewater Cuckoo Bri Maran half pint mug Mar BELOW: Owl mug set BEL both available at Daisy Park
ABOVE: Matthew Rice Winter Garden tray at Daisy Park.
ABOVE: Vintage milk bottles with int ceramic lid at Daisy Park
Furniture at Barrow Clark
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Bedroom
HOMES &
GARDENS
Furniture at Barrow Clark
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Bedroom
W
hen thinking about redecorating your bedroom, keep in mind that this will be your calm space for the autumn and winter months. A theme incorporating natural tones, such as grey which is featured prominently this season, will offer a tranquil atmosphere. By contributing hints of the tartan print and comfortable wool throws, you can create a natural, rural feel to your bedroom to create the perfect sanctuary.
If you’re drawn to the bright autumn colours and you’d like to emulate this in your home, why not try a more contemporary palette? The rich berry colours including deep reds, purples and oranges can lend themselves to a comfortable interior. This is the perfect way to keep colour in your home without dealing with bold prints and fussy patterns.
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ABOVE & BELOW: Milton and Manor at Finishing Touches
Brintons flooring at Barrow Clark
ABOVE: Milton and Manor at Finishing Touches.
ABOVE & BELOW: Furniture available at Barrow Clark.
Furniture at Barrow Clark
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Flooring
HOMES &
GARDENS
Flooring
Change is good. Trends are always evolving, so don’t be afraid to make any bold changes in your home.
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our choice of ooring can have a huge impact on the overall feel of your home. Whether you decide on exposed wood or cosy carpeting, keep the theme of your home interior in mind. As you would thoughtfully select a colour for your walls, treat your ooring with the same care. This will take up a vast space in your home. Complementing light walls with a darker and more imposing colour in your carpet can have a beautiful effect. Rob at Barrow Clark Furnishers in Barnstaple agreed that taking a bold approach could be the answer to creating your ideal home. He said: “Styles can be mixed for a stunning effect. Take old, traditional properties for example, these can be ďŹ tted with modern contemporary furnishings and look absolutely incredible. Change is good. Trends are always evolving, so don’t be afraid to make any bold changes in your home. If you’re undecided about your ooring but you’d like a fresh look, consider Vusta Flooring. Using the latest technologies and magnetic strips to provide a ďŹ rm yet semi-permanent solution to ooring, Vusta has a stunning range of ooring options. The panels replicate the authentic appearance and feel like real wood and natural stone oors. This product exudes style and sophistication and is also a cost-effective option. Whatever you decide, remember to keep your dream in mind when creating your home interior. There are endless possibilities with home furnishings, so go ahead and make something unique.
ABOVE & TOP: Brintons ooring at Barrow Clark
BELOW & RIGHT Vusta Flooring at Barrow Clark
As you would thoughtfully select a colour for your walls, treat your ooring with the same care.
ABOVE & RIGHT Vusta Flooring at Barrow Clark
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BELOW, BOTTOM & BOTTOM CENTRE: Brintons ooring at Barrow Clark
GARDENS
Blankets and throws
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hile this may seem an obvious choice, there is much to be enjoyed about a cosy blanket or throw. With a vast array of fabrics, colours and sizes available, this may be a cost-effective option for staying cosy this winter. Daisy Park in South Molton is home to a number of beautiful throws, including natural wool for the ultimate warmth. Blankets and throws provide the ideal chance to accessorise your home without making any permanent changes. Why not use them decoratively to cover up your sofa? Think of it as instant, fuss-free reupholstering.
Mattresses e all know the key to a good night’s sleep is a decent mattress. Made with Shetland wool in an intricate process to create the most comfortable mattress, Vispring beds are fine examples of just how cosy a bed can be. The Vispring mattresses use 100% natural fillings, all unique to this style. The products use more British fleece wool than any other bed maker, creating the ultimate cosy bed. Rob at Barrow Clark Furnishers, a stockist of Vispring, said: “These really are the most comfortable mattresses available. The quality products offer a cosy night’s sleep, while the materials used are also allowed to breathe, for the ultimate comfort.”
Insulation
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fter enjoying a warm summer, it’s only natural that our thoughts focus on the fast approaching autumn and winter months. Many will be considering ways to keep their homes cosy and warm in an eco-friendly manner. Mukti Mitchell, director of Bideford-based CosyHome Company said: “Fuel bills are rising at a steady and almost punitive rate, so what can you do to efficiently insulate your home and keep cosy after temperatures fall even further?” CosyHome Company offers four excellent ecofriendly suggestions that could help you cut your fuel bills by up to 70%. Mukti said: “Now that the nights are getting colder, CosyHomes is getting geared up for a busy autumn. We provide modern insulation solutions that preserve the character and beauty of your home. “Here’s how you can be warmer this winter and save some money while helping the environment at the same time.”
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Windows – Double and secondary glazing can both cut heatloss by 70% and are now virtually invisible whilst still opening.
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Lofts – Top up from 100 to 300mm and save 70% of heatloss, in glass, rock and sheepwool. Councils and energy companies subsidise installations to meet carbon-reduction obligations.
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Walls – Cavity wall insulation is very effective and good value. External and internal wall insulation is also possible but needs an architect’s specification.
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Floors – Insulated floors are also key to providing comfort and warmth. Heavy floorboards, thick carpets and underlay help too.
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Top tips for a cosy home
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Cosy home
HOMES &
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Restoration and home office
A fresh look for your old furniture
HOMES &
GARDENS
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ABOVE & BELOW & BOTTOM LEFT: Reupholstering furniture at Jigsaw Furniture Project
B
e it your tired dining room set or that armchair you picked up at a car boot sale, why not replenish your old furniture this season?
Reupholstering and restoring your furniture may seem daunting; however there are businesses to help you achieve your vision for that worn piece of furniture in your home.
Neal, project manager of the Jigsaw Furniture Project in Barnstaple has worked closely with Furniture Magpie to create some exceptional pieces. Jigsaw offers upholstery, furniture repair and restoration. He said: “Soft furnishing business Furniture Magpie has been trading for less than a year but is a champion of Jigsaw’s service. “The project is continuing to help volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds back into employment. “The scheme trains and upskills people in furniture restoration in order to improve their employment prospects and provides a working environment with structure and support.”
Chair at Furniture Magpie in Barnstaple
Jigsaw Furniture Project provided the following tips for reupholstering old furniture to give it a new look:
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In the sale room no matter how tired a piece of furniture looks it can be re-upholstered. Always try to use a fabric that is in keeping with the furniture’s era.
Try to see a piece that the upholsterer has worked on, before commissioning them. Always where possible take the traditional upholstery route.
Think hard about the trimmings (braid, fringe etc.) that are used, they can make or break the appearance of the finished item.
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Try where possible to take fabric swatches home, to view them in the room they will be used in.
Home office
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ne great aspect of autumn and winter is the peaceful nature of the season. If you’re going to be working from home, this is a great time to update your home office.
Carefully selecting a desk and chair is crucial, as you’ll need a suitable place to concentrate on your work. However this is also a personal choice and should adhere to your personal style. Keep the purpose of your home office in mind at all times. Do you need space for books? Will you need additional lighting? Is this a creative space or a functional space? While you may wish to creatively extend your office with artwork or samples on the walls, others may prefer to keep a simple backdrop. In this case, any natural tone would work well. Be careful with any bright patterns or prints, as this could be distracting. Shades including browns, greys, charcoals and cream or white would be perfect. Accessorise with furnishings such as a carpet/rug and a cushion for your office chair in order to give your home office a lift for the season. Here, the rich berry shades would work well, in addition to any bolder prints you’d like to feature that won’t distract from the purpose of the room.
If you’re going to be working from home, this is a great time to update your home office.
ABOVE & ABOVE RIGHT: Furniture at Barrow Clark RIGHT: Brintons flooring at Barrow Clark
Gardening
HOMES &
GARDENS
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fter a delightful summer, the hanging baskets are starting to fade and heavy morning dew is making it difďŹ cult to mow the lawn, autumn has deďŹ nitely arrived. Despite the impending rain and cold weather, there’s still plenty to do in the garden to prepare for the spring. Derrick Dyer at Eggesford Gardens shares his top tips for your garden in autumn and winter.
What should people be focused on in their gardens for the upcoming seasons? “Any work that you do now should ensure a good display in spring and early summer. A recent survey showed that 45% of gardeners questioned thought that spring owering daffodils should be planted in spring rather than autumn. Many varieties of spring owering bulbs can be planted from August onwards – the earlier the better for snowdrops, crocus and daffodils.â€?
What can gardeners do about their miserable containers and planters? “For colour in containers and planters, summer bedding plants should be replaced with winter owering pansies, violas and polyanthus. If you under-plant your containers with spring owering bulbs, you can be sure of a lovely display in the early months of next year.â€?
What would you recommend for a vegetable patch at this time of year? “In the vegetable patch you can sow broad beans, garlic and onion sets for over winter. This will give you an earlier crop next year. You can also sow sweet peas from seed to get an earlier show too.�
Autumn is a great time for planting trees, soft fruit and hardy shrubs and perennials.
Plant spring owering bulbs from August onwards – the earlier the better for snowdrops, crocus and daffodils.
Is this a good time to think about planting trees? “Autumn is a great time for planting trees. Soft fruit and hardy shrubs and perennials would be ideal, as their roots can set in the warm, damp soil before the cold weather of winter. They will get a really good start ready to put on a strong new growth in spring. “If you have established plants that are in the wrong place, now is the time to dig them up and move them to a better spot.�
Add colour to containers and planters – summer bedding plants should be replaced with winter owering pansies, violas and polyanthus.
It’s often difďŹ cult to maintain a lawn in winter. Do you have any tips? “The lawn is another part of the garden that will beneďŹ t from some TLC at this time of year. As a minimum, it’s worth applying some autumn lawn food as this is specially formulated to strengthen the roots of the grass. This will help keep it healthy through the winter and make sure it is ready to put on new growth in spring. If you want to give the lawn a real treat then the ďŹ rst step is to scarify to get rid of moss and thatch – use a scariďŹ er or a spring tine rake. Then aerate with a fork or hollow tine aerator to improve drainage. Apply a top dressing to level out the dips and hollows and ďŹ ll in the aeration holes. Follow up with an application of autumn lawn food – don’t be tempted to use spring/summer lawn food as this will encourage top growth which is undesirable at this time of year. While autumn leaves are most appealing, does this pose problems for the garden? It’s a good idea to clean up fallen leaves regularly. They make a slippery mess on paths, block gutters and drains and can harbour fungi spores and diseases if left to rot on the lawn or border. You can use them to make leaf mould which is a great soil improver.â€? Eggesford Gardens always carries a good selection of plants, trees and shrubs along with everything you need to help care for your garden over the busy weeks of autumn.
Sow broad beans, garlic and onion sets in your vegetable patch for over winter for an earlier crop next year.
TOP TIPS FOR WINTER
1Be ready 2Insulate
to protect tender plants with eece. the greenhouse with bubblewrap and make sure the heater is working
3Don’t forget
to look after the wild birds in your garden as they will rely on you for food and clean water, especially during the cold weather
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Use autumn and winter to prepare your garden for spring
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Outdoor living
HOMES &
GARDENS
Making the most of your outdoor space in autumn and winter
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Miners Lantern in Clay or Blue at Daisy Park.
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fter saying goodbye to a beautiful summer, we welcome a new season which brings with it numerous opportunities to use our outside spaces. With this in mind, don’t neglect the outdoors in autumn and winter; embrace your gardens and outdoor spaces, even in colder weather. With this season’s trends showcasing glorious displays of rich berry colours, your outdoor space is the perfect area to test even bold prints such as paisley. Why not cheer up your tired garden furniture with a stunning paisley print cushion? Let’s not forget, autumn still brings some delightful sunny days, so you can still update your garden with wonderfully relaxing pieces such as a chair swing. Imagine curling up outside in the crisp air, with a cosy jumper and a good book. Autumn and winter both present excellent reasons for an outdoor party. With BonďŹ re Night, Halloween and New Years Eve on the party calendar, treat yourself to some beautiful lanterns to set the tone for your garden gathering.
Scutt and Coles at Finishing Touches
Top three events to celebrate outdoors this season
• Halloween • BonďŹ re Night • New Years Eve
After saying goodbye to a beautiful summer, we welcome a new season which brings with it numerous opportunities to use our outside spaces.
Outdoor furniture at Barrow Clark.
Hanging chair at Barrow Clark.
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