The English Home May 2023 - Sample issue

The orangery-style extension was added in 2008 to house a new kitchen and dining room. When the couple moved in, the kitchen was tiny with a cooker that did not work. “Our architect called in conservatory company Town & Country who built the lantern, windows and doors; the walls and foundations were built by our builder,” explains Christabel.

TIMELESS APPEAL

Restoring an old vicarage and giving it the garden setting it deserved has been a voyage of discovery for Christabel and Jasper Boersma

FEATURE SARA BIRD

PHOTOGRAPHY DAN DUCHARS

Modern CLASSIC

Built by Georgians, extended by Victorians and ravaged by fire then restored in the 20th century, Massi and Oliver Smith’s elegant home, in the High Weald of West Sussex, has certainly witnessed a change or two over the years. Originally constructed as a rectory in the Queen Anne style, it is set in 60 acres of grounds and is Grade II listed, with a stone terrace bordered with balustrades (from the original Sir John Soane-designed Bank of England in the City) that were added in the 1920s. Somewhat surprisingly, the pair of bow windows that allow sunshine to pour into the kitchen and dining room were a change made in the 1960s – prior to the listing – though they are so well blended with the architecture that they appear to have always been there. Inside, classical proportions and refined plasterwork are the backdrop to gracious furnishings, many of which have been in situ for 30 years or more. This phase of the story began in the 1960s when Oliver’s grandparents bought the house from his great-aunt. When his parents subsequently took over the house, they continued to improve it, adding more antique pieces and a superb 

The sofas and chairs in the drawing room are a mixture of originals from Howard & Sons and more recent reproductions, upholstered in fabrics from Veere Grenney, GP & J Baker, Lewis & Wood and Schumacher. Most trimmings are from Samuel & Sons.

This grand family home has evolved over generations, and Massi and Oliver Smith are its latest custodians

WORDS KATHERINE SORRELL PHOTOGRAPHS ANYA RICE STYLING MARISA DALY

PERFECTLY COMPOSED

Lily Woods enlisted the help of decorator Daniel Slowik to carefully curate and reinvigorate her collection of antique pieces and update the English country style of her London home

FEATURE ARABELLA MEZGER PHOTOGRAPHY BOZ GAGOVSKI

In the elegant drawing room, the sofa has been re-covered in Collobrieres-Croisé in Eglantine by Pierre Frey. The vintage kilim and the Cockpencoffee table from Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler provide a contemporary touch to the otherwise classic style of the room.

What to do in MAY

May is the month for reconnecting with the great outdoors. Enjoy the warmth of the late spring sunshine with a woodland walk, a lazy lunch in the garden, or even as impetus for a brand new decorating scheme

Curtain, Otelie, Kingfisher, £72.50 a metre, Romo

MAKE… a space for quiet contemplation and creativity

Aseparate room or area of a house for craft activities, or to use as a reading nook will make a wonderful addition to any home. It is worth putting some thought into creating a decorating scheme that is conducive to thoughtful and creative endeavours. Of course, the natural landscape is renowned for its ability to imbue a sense of calm, so soft shades of green and blue inspired by water or leafy foliage in the garden could be the starting point. Aqua, olive and ocean blue work beautifully as calming accent colours for a background neutral of soft taupe or pale grey that, when combined, will create a tranquil and calm retreat. Lightweight curtains made from voile or light cotton are the ideal window treatment as they will allow light to enter even on dull days while cleverly diffusing strong sunlight on brighter days that are void of cloud cover. Source designs that contribute to the sense of calm such as painterly designs whose artistic brushstroke-like patterns perfectly encapsulate the smudged beauty of watercolour paintings.

EAT… wild garlic

Forage in the woods and bring home a small handful of this gloriously pungent wild growing variety of one of the most popular kitchen staples and use it to add punchy fragrance to all sorts of dishes. Foraging means only taking a small amount of wild produce for consumption rather than digging up or removing entire plants or bulbs, which is illegal without permission from the site’s owner or custodian. Wild garlic is easily recognised by its long, bright green leaves and cluster of flowers, each consisting of six small white petals that grow up from a single stalk. If in doubt, pick a leaf and crush it in the palm of the hand. If it smells like garlic, then it is the right plant. Should wild garlic not be in abundance nearby, consider purchasing some from Riverford Organic, which forages it fresh from the surrounding woods its farm in Devon when it is in season from March to May. Wild garlic leaves are one of the joys of spring and the season is short, so enjoy them while you can. Order a bunch or two of this seasonal savoury delight and use it for one of Riverford’s favourite recipes – wild garlic and potato soup.