ENGLISH HOME The
Celebrating the essence of English style
DREAMING OF RURAL LIFE Romantic cottage, Victorian rectory, Georgian manor
CREATING AN INVITING KITCHEN Beautiful looks for the heart of the home
FORCES FOR GOOD HRH The Prince of Wales, Lady Bamford Raymond Blanc & more
WIN A HOLIDAY TO GREAT BRITAIN with free flights
CELEBRATION EDITION
Marking two decades of quintessentially English homes & lifestyle
U.S. $6.99 CANADA $6.99
20th anniversary
MY DESIGN HERO Jane Churchill on Nancy Lancaster
June 2020
U.S./CAN $7.99
...for the botanically curious Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS. Open every day except Saturday.
chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk Registered charity number 286513 Registered in England
CONTENTS JUNE 2020
81
74
26 Beautiful Buys
74 CELEBRATE IN STYLE AT HOME Setting the scene
6 HOME COMFORTS Beautiful new buys.
111 THE ART OF CELEBRATIONS Mrs M on throwing
for a family gathering or midsummer party.
parties with panache.
12 OASIS OF CALM Tranquil bedroom offerings. 14 COUNTRY SPIRIT Details to suit a rural lifestyle.
Quintessentially
English Homes
91 TAKE A SEAT Enjoy the sunshine in a quiet corner.
decorated with vibrant and quirky interiors.
PHOTOGRAPHS ABOVE LEFT © BRENT DARBY; (ABOVE RIGHT) © MEDIAPHOTOS/ISTOCK
26 ARTISTIC INFLUENCE An eighteenth-century
Oxfordshire cottage is filled with art and antiques.
36 RECLAIMED BEAUTY Local and salvaged materials
make a 1970s property appear a historic home.
44 THE GENTLE TOUCH Finishing flourishes complete a
Victorian rectory in Suffolk.
92 SHAPING BRITAIN: LANDSCAPE LEGACY The first in
our series on Britain’s important historical figures.
100 EXPLORING SOMERSET Discover enchanting regions
of Britain with our new series. This month: Somerset.
108 HOUSES WITH CHARACTER Our selection of
properties in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
114 MY DESIGN HERO Interior designer Jane Churchill
on the influential decorator Nancy Lancaster.
52 REFINED ELEGANCE A neglected Georgian house
Regulars
62 MY ENGLISH HOME The Marchioness of Lansdowne
4
81 DESIGNING AN INVITING KITCHEN Inspiring advice
73 READER TRAVEL OFFER A tailor-made luxury
in Cheshire is brought back to life.
on her home, Bowood House in Wiltshire
from experts on decorating the heart of the home.
Celebrating our 20th anniversary 64 20 YEARS OF THE ENGLISH HOME Some of our finest
features over the last two decades.
68 FORCES FOR POSITIVE CHANGE Prominent figures
influencing English homes, gardens, food and more.
A LETTER FROM HOME A warm welcome from
our Editor-in-Chief.
trip to visit Britain.
ENGLISH HOME The
Celebrating the essence of English style
DREAMING OF RURAL LIFE Romantic cottage, Victorian rectory, Georgian manor
CREATING AN INVITING KITCHEN Beautiful looks for the heart of the home
98 WIN A GREAT BRITISH HOLIDAY Why not enter our
WIN A HOLIDAY TO GREAT BRITAIN with free flights
competition to win a five-star stay in the UK?
90 INTERIOR DESIGN GUIDE Treat yourself to The
English Home’s essential 2020 decorating bible.
20th anniversary
our sister title’s annual book.
MY DESIGN HERO Jane Churchill on Nancy Lancaster
CELEBRATION EDITION
Marking two decades of quintessentially English homes & lifestyle
TEH US MAY/JUNE 20 COVER v5.indd 1
107 A YEAR IN THE ENGLISH GARDEN A special offer on
FORCES FOR GOOD HRH The Prince of Wales, Lady Bamford Raymond Blanc & more
U.S. $6.99 CANADA $6.99
16 LIFE IN COLOUR A Wiltshire family home is
June 2020
U.S./CAN $7.99
25/02/2020 16:26
COVER IMAGE: © EWA STOCK LIBRARY © DI LEWIS
113 ADDRESS BOOK Useful contact details.
THE ENGLISH HOME 3
WRITE TO US AT
The English Home, Cumberland House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1BB, UK Tel +44 (0)333 014 3215 Email: theenglishhome@chelseamagazines.com
www.theenglishhome.co.uk EDITORIAL
T
he English Home team rarely needs an excuse for tea and cake, but our 20th anniversary year definitely calls for cake with champagne. What a privilege it has been to connect with all our readers across the Atlantic for two decades, and what a joy it has been to seek out the most beautiful homes, the most fascinating interviews and the loveliest products to share with you over the years. Inside this edition we have indulged in a celebratory mood with a look at setting the scene for special occasions at home, alongside insights from the inimitable Mrs M on planning a party. We have also looked back at some of our editorial highlights from the last 20 years and I don’t mind admitting that I felt enormously nostalgic flicking back through past issues. On a personal level, I’d love to say a heartfelt thank you to all those who have ever taken the time to post a wonderful handwritten letter or card or to send an email. It has been impossible to reply to them all, but your messages and encouragement are hugely appreciated and read by all the team. I write this letter with a touch of poignancy as after almost 12 years as Editor of The English Home, I have decided to take this landmark moment to step back and hand the reins to the very capable hands of the talented Samantha Scott-Jeffries, who will take over from the next edition. She loves our brand as much as I do and I know you will become firm friends. With my very warmest wishes and thanks again to you all,
Kerryn Harper-Cuss, Editor-in-Chief
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NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 9 JUNE 2020
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© The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2020. All rights reserved. Text and pictures are copyright restricted and must not be reproduced without permission of the publishers. The information in The English Home has been published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. However, where appropriate, you are advised to check prices, opening times and dates, etc, before making final arrangements. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or damage caused by reliance on the information within this publication is hereby excluded. The opinions expressed by the contributors of The English Home are not necessarily those of the publisher. www.chelseamagazines.com: Publisher of Artists & Illustrators, Baby, BRITAIN, Classic Boat, Cruise International, Discover Britain, The English Garden, Independent School Parent and associated Guides, Little London, Popshot, Racecar Engineering, Sailing Today, Scotland Magazine, Yachts & Yachting and Wedding Ideas.
PORTRAIT RACHAEL SMITH
A letter from home
Editor-in-Chief Kerryn Harper-Cuss Executive Editor Samantha Scott-Jeffries Managing Editor Sarah Feeley Art Editors Claire Hicks, Rebecca Stead Contributing Art Editor Matt Griffiths Sub Editor Lea Tacey Decorating Editor Katy Mclean Features Editor Eve Middleton Homes & Lifestyle Editor Clair Wayman Editor-at-Large Kate Freud
COXLONDON.COM +44 (0) 203 328 9506
HOMEComforts Eye-catching textiles, alluring tableware and a glamorous bathroom update are on our radar for lovely new buys
6 THE ENGLISH HOME
OPPOSITE PAGE Fruitful accompaniment Comprising 40 colourways over seven designs, Little Greene’s National Trust Papers collection draws on original designs from the National Trust’s property portfolio. The design shown here was discovered beneath a wall hanging at Erddig in Wales. Wallpaper, Pomegranate, Bazaar, £101 a roll, National Trust Papers, Little Greene CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Colourful flora New floral prints and the addition of 12 colours to the much-loved Manipur hexagonal velvet range make up the mainstay of Designers Guild’s latest collection. Chair, Manipur, Coral, £98 a metre; cushion, Spring Tulip Buttermilk, £90, both Designers Guild Change is in the air Create a heartening tablescape with Burleigh’s new range, Collection One, in three charming motifs. Collection One in Hibiscus (as seen on small bowl), Pollen (as seen on larger bowl), and Palisade, from £18 for a side plate, Burleigh Timeless quality Team natural linen with gently patinated cutlery redolent of days gone by for understated chic. Vintage Satin 42-piece cutlery set, £152; Natural Linen napkins, £34 for a set of four; Tilda Flower egg cups, £12 each, all Rowen & Wren
THE ENGLISH HOME 7
THE HARTLEY
SPRINGTIME EVENT
Victorian Terrace, Hertfordshire, UK
Visit us at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show from 19th - 23rd May 2020 - see our website for more details
Discover the secret of Hartley Botanic by calling 781 933 1993 or visit www.hartley-botanic.com
HANDMADE IN ENGLAND CHERISHED IN AMERICA The only aluminium Glasshouses and Greenhouses endorsed by the RHS © The Royal Horticultural Society 2020. Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262 rhs.org.uk
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT New prints Bristol-based textile designer Bethie Tricks has produced a range of brightly coloured fabrics for KDLoves, including on new furniture such as these charming slipper chairs. Webster chair, £1,440 each, KDLoves x Bethie Tricks Eclectic selection Consider decorative accessories such as these mix and match marbled geometric boxes. (Clockwise from top) 8” Honeycomb Tray in Amethyst Marble, Gold Florentine, Red-Turquoise Marble, GreenBrown French Curl, Pentreath & Hall Pink Star, Brown Marble, Blue Italian Blockprint, from £73, Parvum Opus Sustainable style Hand-crafted from sustainably sourced hardwoods and veneers, designs such as this ash pendant from lighting brand Sylvie (taken from the Latin ‘sylva’, meaning ‘from the forest’, show nature in a new light. The Titania in Pink, £1,590, Sylvie To Earth with love The new collection from Heal’s includes textiles made with yarns recycled from the fashion industry and plastic bottles. Recycled Round Rug, £159; Mistral sofa covered in Designers Guilde recycled Tejo Ochre fabric, from £1,799, both Heal’s
THE ENGLISH HOME 9
FEATURE EVE MIDDLETON PHOTOGRAPHS P7 (DESIGNERS GUILD) © JAMES MERRELL; P9 (HEAL’S) © VICTORIA ERDELEVSKAYA
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Stylish linen The fresh new houndstooth linen collection from Once Milano is hand-woven by local craftsmen in the north-east Italian region of Veneto. Available online at Matches Fashion, the range includes includes bedding, loungewear and table linen. Houndstooth linen cushions, £68 each; Houndstooth linen quilt, £540, both Once Milano, Matches Fashion Romantic allure Lustrous two-tone glassware and pastel-hued tableware combine for a dreamy setting in fashion designer Luisa Beccaria’s latest homeware collection for Artemest. Cherry Blossom tableware, from £190 for a set of two dessert plates; Linen tablecloth (and six napkins), £1,155; Fleury water goblet, £165; Fleury flute, £165; Domina tall tumbler, £135; Domina tumbler, £130, (all Purple-toBlue colourway and for a set of two); Large Goblet vase, £230, all Luisa Beccaria for Artemest Eye for design This solid beech and Carrara marble console by designer Kit Kemp is the latest addition to luxury bathroom supplier CP Hart’s furniture range. Kempton console, from £3,750, CP Hart x Kit Kemp n
10 THE ENGLISH HOME
WESTLAND
LONDON
SPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE FIREPLACES & FINE ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUES SINCE 1969
295 WILLESDEN LANE, LONDON, NW2 5HY TUBE: WILLESDEN GREEN (JUBILEE LINE)
www.westlandlondon.com
TEL: +44 (0) 207 739 8094 e-mail: westland@westlandlondon.com
Glass-top table with floor-length cloth, from £230 plus four metres of fabric, The Dormy House
Paris jewellery box in Deep Shine Shell Pink Small Croc (Faux), £195, Aspinal of London Medallions fabric in Cream/Gold, £109 a metre, Julia Brendel
Kelpie table lamp with printed cotton shade, £115, Pooky
OASIS OF CALM Indulge in new furniture with elegant carved-wood details and co-ordinate with soft furnishings and accessories in pale hues to create a comforting, inviting bedroom scheme. Keep surfaces tidy to promote the sense of entering a relaxing space, with smaller items hidden away yet easily accessible.
Myolchina Blush long velvet cushion (65cm x 30cm), £45, Angel & Boho
Butterfly alarm clock, £12.50, Beaumonde Elysian Wardrobe with two doors, from £6,383, (shown here with hand-painted frame in Antique Pale Linen and panels in Dark Linen), Leporello Avezzano dressing table, £725, Oka
Upholstered bed, from £1,995 (king size); and all other products, Susie Watson
Perfumed Pink Camelia Roses in Clear Glass by Côte Noir, £70, Amara 12 THE ENGLISH HOME
FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE PHOTOGRAPHS (JULIE BRENDEL) © SIMON ELDON
Herba quilted bedspread, from £349 for a single (180cm x 240cm), Yves Delorme
Mantels | Lighting | Furniture
Atlanta | London | Los Angeles | jamb.co.uk
Hanki table runner in Linen/Olive, £36, Lapuan Kankurit lapuankankurit.fi/en
Old Rose picnic rug, £124, Tolly McRae
Country Cottage Metro tiles in White Candle, Pistachio Green and Moss Green, £46.95 a square metre, Walls and Floors
Hand-printed linen tea cosy by Helen Round, £38.75, Madebyhandonline.com
Bradleys gardening gloves, £26, The Wonderful Garden Company
Take inspiration from nature’s palette and add rural motifs for instant charm. Look to natural oak dressers with dainty floral china displayed on the shelves or update kitchen walls with charmingly rustic tiles in soft green hues. With sunshine encouraging more time in the garden, a pair of smart gardening gloves and wellies adorned with a sweet motif will add to the pleasure of spending time outdoors.
Dog & Daisy apron, £24, Thornback & Peel
Retreat round dining table, £1,565, Sweetpea & Willow
Miniature oak dresser and rack in a natural finish (W91cm x H161cm x D37cm) £1,825, Titchmarsh & Goodwin
Harriet sheep footstool, £495, Highgrove
14 THE ENGLISH HOME
Wren Tea Pot, £22, I Like Birds ilikebirds.co.uk Wellingtons, black, £110, Emily Bond for The Original Muck Boot Company
FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE PHOTOGRAPH (TITCHMARSH & GOODWIN) © FIONA MURRAY
COUNTRY SPIRIT
www.villaverde.london
The panelling is in Garden by Little Greene and the ceiling is in a shade of yellow by Paint & Paper Library. The portraits are of her sons, painted by Thomas Hoar. On the mantelpiece sits a bronze greyhound by Margot Dent and pottery by Ardmore. The buttoned stool is David Seyfried.
16 THE ENGLISH HOME
Life in COLOUR Interior designer Louisa Greville William’s vibrant, inviting home belies its humble start in life as a 1960s bungalow FEATURE & STYLING SARA BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY DAN DUCHARS
THE ENGLISH HOME 17
W
hen working with clients, interior designer Louisa Greville Williams is clear about the importance of good planning and a logical schedule. However, when it came to her own home, she found she had to be more flexible as it not only needed structural work but also to be ready to live in as soon as possible for her and her two sons, George and Ned, now 21 and 19 respectively. Having bought the Wiltshire property in 2011, Louisa has since reconfigured and extended it to create an elegant six-bedroom home with four bathrooms, three receptions, an open-plan kitchen and a boot room. “The original part of the building was a 1960s/70s bungalow which had been redeveloped in the 1990s. The developer was a joiner, so there was quite a lot of ‘built-in’,” she says. “The most recent owners had started the process of extending, but their design didn’t work for me, so I had to start over, including going back to the planning office.” The new design included a two-storey extension which would add two extra bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, and a sitting room below. Once this was
18 THE ENGLISH HOME
ABOVE LEFT Joyous colour continues in the boot room, painted Marine Blue by Little Greene. The vintage dog prints were Louisa’s grandfather’s. ABOVE RIGHT The original 1960s/70s bungalow has been transformed beyond all recognition. LEFT Louisa in the blush pink hallway. The double doors lead to the green sitting room.
The double-height hallway, painted in Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball, adds a sense of grandeur to the house. The Skipper pendant light is by Tom Raffield and the scalloped rug is by Vanrenen GW Designs.
THE ENGLISH HOME 19
‘I’m always adding to the house... It’s full of my treasures and I love its quirkiness and colourfulness’ ABOVE The red sitting room is a favourite with the boys. Louisa mixed the shade of red herself. The armchair is covered in a Roger Oates stripe, the cushions are from Oka and the gold lamps are Vanrenen GW Designs.
done, Louisa picked her way through the remainder of the house, reconfiguring and decorating as time and budget allowed, and transforming what was a warren of white rooms into a vibrant and inviting home. One of the early tasks was to change the layout of the master suite. “The bedroom was originally where my bathroom is now. It had a bed built into the window area, which was quite odd – in fact, all the bedrooms had built-in beds when I moved in,” she says. “It just seemed crazy to me that the two big sash windows in my bedroom, providing the only good view of the garden, were hidden away in what was a dressing room.” Louisa looks to nature for inspiration and advocates being bold with colour. “My green sitting room works all the more for painting the ceiling yellow. I was
20 THE ENGLISH HOME
driving home from work one day when I saw a field of bright yellow rape next to a green field,” she says. “It was such an amazing expanse of colour against the blue sky, I knew right there that I’d have to use it at home.” There is an intelligence to the way Louisa has used pattern and colour to link each space, creating an interplay through a series of rooms, whether that be green patterned wallpaper on a landing leading to a red bedroom, or a shock of bright blue in the boot room that imparts a flash of blue next to the dashing red of the sitting room and neutral of the dining room. “I love being able to look through at those colours together,” she says. Such boldness is an ethos Louisa shares with her business partner, Sarah Vanrenen, with whom she set up Vanrenen GW Designs two years ago. Both interior
ABOVE Louisa removed the built-in beds added by a previous owner in this ground-floor room, which is now the dining room, but kept the panelling. The lamps are by Pooky and the plates came from Marrakech. LEFT The kitchen came with the house. Louisa has updated it using Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe on the walls and Slipper Satin on the cabinetry.
ABOVE LEFT The headboards in this twin bedroom are a wonderful focal point. Louisa came by one of them in a London designer’s garage sale back in the 1990s and loved it so much she had it copied. ABOVE RIGHT The landing is papered in Aspa in eau de Nil and green – a design by Louise’s business partner Sarah Vanrenen. RIGHT Encaustic tiles from Morocco add pattern underfoot in this classic bathroom.
designers, they had their own separate businesses and had worked on shared projects prior to deciding to join forces. “For us, it’s all about being bold and creating elegant schemes that don’t try too hard, and we set out to really fill a space,” Louisa explains. “Lamps should always be bigger than you think they should be, shades should be bigger and sofas bigger.” Citing Robert Kime and American designers amongst her influences, Louisa says, “American designers tend to be brave with where they put furniture and in their colour choices. We [English] are probably quite traditional in many ways but have picked up on these influences, and that adds a great twist to English country style.” Much of the furniture in Louisa’s home is inherited. “And if not, it is an auction find or something from a buying trip where we fill up a van,” she explains. Her upholstered furniture is a collection of hand-me-downs and vintage finds that have been reupholstered.
22 THE ENGLISH HOME
Louisa’s bedroom has a rich backdrop of Will O’ The Wisp wallpaper by Knowles & Christou. The lampshades are by Vanrenen GW Designs. The sketch of lurchers on the right-hand-side of the bed is by Nick Johnson.
THE ENGLISH HOME 23
ABOVE In Louisa’s en-suite bathroom, the bath now occupies the space where a built-in bed once stood. The walls are painted in Euphorbia by Paint & Paper Library – a perfect foil for her collection of pink lustrewear. The kilim is by The Rug Company. RIGHT Louisa has reconfigured the master suite, switching the bedroom and bathroom to make more of the garden views. The staircase leads from her bedroom to the en-suite bathroom.
For fabrics, Louisa looks to the collections at Penny Morrison, as well as those by business partner Sarah Vanrenen, Morrison’s daughter. Careful to mix and avoid too much matching, Louisa likes to add cushions in fabrics she has collected through the years. Her approach to art is similar, choosing things because she loves them and not being too precious about genres. Traditional botanical prints sit comfortably alongside bright Bollywood film posters in this house. As with many renovation projects, there has been a tussle between channelling funds into structural repairs or the more fun, creative aspects. “The roof hadn’t been done properly and the windows were rotten, so that took money. Of course, I would have preferred to spend on design and decorating,” explains Louisa. The house remains a work in progress and future plans include a new floor for the kitchen and dining room and deciding which vibrant shade to paint the panelling in the dining room. “I’m always adding to the house, there is always something to do and something I want to change,” says Louisa. “But it does give me enormous pleasure when I walk through the door. It’s full of my treasures and I love its quirkiness and colourfulness. It’s very under-designed compared to how I approach my clients’ projects. Here, I’ve basically thrown things in to see what works and there’s a wonderful freedom and playfulness in that, which I love.” n
24 THE ENGLISH HOME
LENNOX CATO ANTIQUES & WORKS OF ART Est. 1978
Visit Our Website:
www.lennoxcato.com +44 (0)1732 865988/07836233473
Artistic INFLUENCE An eighteenth-century cottage in Oxfordshire filled with art and antiques reflects its owners’ talents and creativity
FEATURE & STYLING CHARLOTTE COLVILLE PHOTOGRAPHY BRENT DARBY
26 THE ENGLISH HOME
The dining room is a generous size for celebrations and gatherings. The clock is by Newgate, the antique corner cabinet is from Portobello Market and the curtains are in a fabric by Fermoie.
ABOVE LEFT Jemma and Jack with dogs Maggie, Peggy and Milou. ABOVE RIGHT The sofa was Jemma’s grandmother’s and the cushions are from Portobello MarketThe table lamp is by Oka. RIGHT The couple have installed an archway from the kitchen to the dining room in the thick wall that would have divided the two original cottages. The pendant lights are by Jim Lawrence and the cabinetry is painted in French Gray by Farrow & Ball.
J
emma Savoretti frequently stops to wonder at the beauty surrounding her whilst taking the children to school along winding country lanes. Be it a glimpse of apple blossom or a morning mist rising over the hills, her artist’s eye often needs a closer look at these small glories of nature. “If I’ve got the time, I’ll whip out my sketchbook then and there, or I’ll pick something from the hedgerows to paint later,” she says. It was moving to this bucolic spot in Oxfordshire with her husband Jack, a singer-songwriter, and their children – Connie, now seven and Winter, four – in 2016 that reawakened a passion for painting in actress and artist Jemma (who goes by her maiden name Powell professionally). The family’s first winter here saw the biggest snowfall in decades and whilst others battened down the hatches, the Savorettis delighted in being snowed in, with drifts rearing up and blocking the roads, creating a winter wonderland for the children. “It was nothing like the sludgy brown snow of London, but a silent and sparkling world,” recalls Jemma, who felt an elemental urge to capture it on canvas.
28 THE ENGLISH HOME
Framed by exposed stonework, the west-facing window allows evening light to flood the kitchen table, making it a warm and mellow spot for family meals. The dining chairs are by Oka and the tablecloth is by Birdie Fortescue.
Sun floods the entrance hall with light. The walls are painted in Pavilion Gray by Farrow & Ball. The top painting is one of Jemma’s from when she first moved to the country. The mirror is by Nkuku and the walking sticks were made especially for Jack by Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo.
When Jack’s music career started taking him all around the world and Jemma was juggling motherhood with her acting career whilst also trying to find time for her art, both felt drawn to move out of London. “We were craving some peace and space, but also wanted to give our children the country upbringings that we had had,” she says. Jemma was already familiar with this part of Oxforshire as she had rented a room nearby whilst studying at The Oxford School of Drama, and her grandmother had lived in the next-door village. “When we decided to look for a country home, I couldn’t wait to introduce Jack to this familiar stamping ground and hoped he would love it too,” explains Jemma. The area soon captured Jack’s heart. “We rented a tiny cottage whilst looking for somewhere to buy and heard that a lovely family nearby were moving, so luckily we got to
30 THE ENGLISH HOME
view their house before it hit the market,” says Jemma. “We didn’t need to look at anything else.” The house suited them in every way. Situated down a country lane, in a peaceful location, it is an enchanting, quintessentially English cottage with roses and wisteria climbing up its honey-coloured walls, surrounded by a generous garden. Once two farm workers’ cottages dating back to the 1800s, inside there are time-worn flagstones, exposed floorboards and uneven walls – all the elements that whisper of times gone by. It also benefitted from a recently added extension housing the drawing room with a ceiling that soars up to the rafters. “We loved it all, but this room somehow gave the whole house space to breathe,” says Jemma. “We were smitten.” The couple immediately saw how the house would suit them all, with its farmhouse-style kitchen, ideal for
family mealtimes, and the sweet sunny room that is now the children’s playroom. The generous dining room, as well as the large drawing room, are perfect for entertaining. It also has a light-filled entrance hall, downstairs cloakroom, a tiny downstairs office and even a laundry room, which are great luxuries after their smaller previous homes. Upstairs, there are two large bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, two smaller bedrooms for Connie and Winter, and a family bathroom. “There were one or two changes to be made, but we weren’t at all daunted by the thought of subtly adjusting some of spaces to make it our own,” says Jemma. The kitchen was the first room to be altered. Whilst characterful, it was a little confined, so Jemma and Jack decided to knock a wide archway through to the dining room beyond. The spaces now flow naturally
ABOVE The drawing room includes sofas from Sofa.com, a mirror from Station Mill in Chipping Norton, a coffee table from Burford Garden Centre and a pair of bookshelves from JS Fine Art in Banbury. LEFT Two Victorian cottages were combined to make one dwelling, and an extension, added six years ago, houses the lofty drawing room.
THE ENGLISH HOME 31
‘I would go overboard on colour and crowd the house with art, ornaments and textiles from all over the world if Jack didn’t occasionally rein me in’ ABOVE LEFT The playroom, where friend and interior decorator Nick Woodward “painted the stripes immaculately” says Jemma. The Roman blind is in a fabric by Soane Britain and the quilt is from Wicklewood. ABOVE RIGHT Daughter Connie’s bedroom has a cushion by Cabbages & Roses and a lampshade from Samarkand Design.
and the layout is better suited to entertaining. They then set about creating a fun and inspiring playroom for the children, painting the walls in wide green stripes, and adding bookshelves and a huge sofa. “We wanted to make the very best of the Victorian elements upstairs, too,” says Jemma. Pulling up the carpets, to their delight the pair found aged wooden floorboards in good condition beneath. “A bit of sanding and waxing smoothed them out, and they were as good as new,” she adds. Another space in the couple’s sights for renewal was the family bathroom. “We wanted a really characterful bathroom and, most importantly, a big bath,” Jemma says, “so we decided to give it a total overhaul, removing the shower to make more space and pulling up the lino to add a tiled floor.” The room now features a claw-foot bath, tongue-andgroove panelling, a Moroccan-style tiled floor and a deep squashy window seat. “We often all crowd in here for children’s bathtime chats,” says Jemma. “It’s probably our favourite room.”
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When it came to decorating the house, the couple’s different styles sit happily together in a natural, symbiotic balance. Jemma’s more bohemian style stems from her English country upbringing and she is also inspired by her mother, another talented artist. “I would go overboard on colour and crowd the house with art, ornaments and textiles from all over the world if Jack didn’t occasionally rein me in,” she admits. Countering her exuberance, Jack prefers subtler colours, cleaner lines and has an eye for antique or one-off pieces of furniture. Alongside the ebb and flow of family life, what really stands out, and resonates throughout the house, is creativity. Art, in its many forms, is everywhere; every wall demands a closer look. There are many works by Jemma’s favourite artists, including her mother’s paintings, and one or two by daughter Connie, and, of course, her own paintings, in their raw as well as finished states. Music and instruments add to the essence of the place too – the sound of Jack practising is a familiar background noise, occasionally with a
child or two joining in, or warming up his vocal chords in the bathroom whilst the children brush their teeth before school. “There are so many stages to family life and we knew as soon as we saw this house it could adapt and accommodate almost every need,” says Jemma. Almost every need? “Well, the dining room doubles or even triples up as my studio and a music room,” she laughs,
gesturing to the easels and canvases at one end of the room, which also houses a piano and Jack’s guitar. “This is where all the magic happens,” she says. In truth, there is magic to the whole place, where children, dogs and imaginations run free. Though their busy lives take them all around the world, it is quite clear there is no place Jemma, Jack and their young family would rather be.
ABOVE The bathroom’s colours and style add soothing warmth and character. The bath is by Burlington and floor tiles are by Fired Earth.
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The master bedroom defies cottage proportions and is roomy and bright. The daybed and left bedside table are from Station Mill Antiques Centre, and the curtains and cushions are by Les Indiennes.
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‘Much of the art, furniture and soft furnishings are an accumulation of finds through my life’
Jemma Savoretti: An artistic way of life A vibrant wall of art in Jemma’s drawing room (above left) is a mix of her own paintings, those of her mother’s, artist Lucy Powell, and her daughter Connie’s colourful abstract painting – which steals the limelight. “I’m so proud of all my family’s work,” she says. “When I look at their art I feel them all with me. I think paintings are spiritual because a lot of love goes into the act of painting. That energy lives on and is emitted when people look at them.” Jemma and her mother have their own style of painting, yet there are noticeable similarities. “When you grow up watching and admiring your mum paint, you naturally take on the way she paints and sees her subjects. It’s like inheriting your parents’ habits.” To set off these colourful paintings Jemma has covered the walls in a soft taupe paint, Elephant’s Breath by Farrow & Ball. She has also given careful consideration to the framing, choosing subtle and
understated frames to allow the paintings to sing. “If a good painting is framed badly it can ruin it. Equally, a bad painting can be made much better by a good frame.” Just like Jemma’s fluid paintings, the interiors in the house have come together organically. “Nothing really matches in our house – the art, furniture and soft furnishings are an accumulation of my finds through my life; things I love and feel I need to have. I like it because these things mark a time or experience or emotion in my life. They remind me that my life is a journey.”
ABOVE LEFT A colourful display of paintings in the drawing room, including Jemma’s daughter Connie’s wonderful artwork (bottom right). ABOVE RIGHT Jemma adds finishing touches to a painting of a view in Formentera, where the family recently spent a holiday.
Jemma’s work can be viewed at Wychwood Art Gallery, Oxfordshire; Josie Eastwood Fine Art, Hampshire; Moncrieff-Bray Gallery, West Sussex; The Affordable Art Fair in Battersea with Wychwood Art Gallery; and on Instagram @powell.jemma.art n THE ENGLISH HOME 35
Reclaimed BEAUTY Built in the 1970s using local salvaged materials, this charming Herefordshire cottage appears to be hundreds of years old FEATURE ANNA TOBIN PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH
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Shaker-style kitchen units were designed and made by Bespoke Kitchen Services using sustainable wood. The floor is in slate from Mandarin Stone to match the granite worktops. OPPOSITE Ted the dog in the boot room leading off the kitchen. The house cushion is from John Lewis & Partners. For a similar rug, try The Handmade Rug Company.
‘The fact that it was built from a hotchpotch of things, and they were all reused, really attracted us to it’ ABOVE LEFT The internal window to the guest bedroom is what first drew Malcolm and Jane to this house. The rug was made to order by Mat Finish. ABOVE RIGHT Jane designed the dining room around the dresser she found at Garlands in Ludlow. “It’s the reason we added the panelling,” she says.
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ane and Malcolm Faulkner were intrigued by their future home in Herefordshire before they had even viewed it. “Something about the particulars immediately piqued our interest,” says Jane. “Although it looks almost medieval, it was actually built in 1974, which is the year we met. I’ve always been into vintage and upcycling and here was this house that had been built from reclaimed materials, long before it was fashionable to do so. It seemed fate that the house should be ours. “There is an 11-second rule that says that you know within 11 seconds of walking in if a property is for you,” Jane continues, “and we came in here, stood at the top of the stairs and just looked at each other and nodded.” The couple were sold and the house quickly became theirs. Less than two years ago however, the pair were both juggling several jobs – Jane was working at an optician’s, Malcolm was the head chef at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, and together they were running bed and breakfast guest accommodation from their
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home on the South Wales coast. It was a health scare that led them both to stop and reassess their lives. “Malcolm had two heart attacks, and we both realised we needed to slow down and live a more stress-free life,” explains Jane. “So we put our 200-year-old Welsh farmhouse on the market and, not long after, ended up here in Herefordshire, which is conveniently equidistant between our children and grandchildren in Shropshire and Gloucestershire.” Their new ‘old’ house was built 45 years ago by a local builder for his parents-in-law. He built it entirely from reclaimed materials. There is a thirteenth-century chamfered beam holding up the hallway, the staircase comes from a pub that was being demolished at the time in nearby Ludlow and the bathroom ceiling was fashioned from an old railway carriage roof. “The fact that it was built from a hotchpotch of things and they were all reused really attracted us to it,” says Jane. “I rarely buy anything new. I love to trawl through junk shops and antique shops. It really was like it was built for us.”
Jane chose matching Clarke & Clarke Amelia curtain fabric and wallpaper from the Oasis collection. She bought the table and chairs from an auction website and painted them in Farrow & Ball’s Skimming Stone.
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Although the property was perfectly habitable, parts of it had not been touched in years and, having freed up some capital as a result of downsizing, Jane and Malcolm set about giving the whole home a makeover. They undertook much of the work themselves, with Ted the dog and Camille the cat looking on. “We painted the entire interior, and cleaned and sanded all the upstairs floorboards by hand because they were too uneven to use a machine,” says Jane. “Colour wise, we kept the walls quite neutral, opting for a magnolia shade because it contrasts well with the beams. We found the existing white looked too stark next to the wood.” In the kitchen, the couple made more of a feature of the beams by replacing the old pine units with lighter and brighter cream-painted ones. “We shopped around for the kitchen and got a lot of quotes,”
explains Jane. “We ended up going with Bespoke Kitchen Services in Ludlow because we liked the look and feel of their furniture and they were quite reasonably priced. Unfortunately the budget didn’t quite stretch to an Aga, which I would have loved, but I’m quite happy with the Lacanche induction range cooker we opted for, it looks great and I love the fact that it’s so quick and easy to wipe clean.” Jane and Malcolm had many pieces of furniture that they had collected over the years, but not all of them fitted with the house. So, whilst the work was going on in the kitchen, they were busy scouring vintage and antique shops, car-boot sales and online auction sites for the fabric, furniture and accessories required to really turn the house into a home. “I made all the curtains and upholstered the dining room chairs, meanwhile a local upholsterer reupholstered all of
our old armchairs. It was all done from fabric that I bought in local sales and online,” explains Jane. Most of the rooms feature painted or exposed brick, apart from the dining room, which was originally the garage but had been converted by the previous owners. “I had a lot of fun in the dining room, because it was the only room suitable for wallpaper, which I love,” says Jane. “I had a carpenter lay a new oak floor and make the wall panelling to match the glazed cabinet that I specially bought for the room. Then I went to town with matching fabric and wallpaper that I found at a local interiors store.” The upstairs hallway leading to the master bedroom is the only space left as it was, as Jane and Malcolm decided they rather liked the way the coral pink walls set off the diamond-glazed internal feature window to the guest bedroom.
ABOVE LEFT The wall hanging in the sitting room is part of Jane’s collection of needlepoint. The Agatha sofa is from Sofa Sofa. ABOVE The guest bedroom French antique bedspread and rug were both bought online. FAR LEFT Built in 1974, the timberframed cottage looks like it has been part of the landscape for centuries.
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ABOVE The fourposter bed is by Free Range Designs. Needlepoint cushions are Jane’s handiwork and the large rug is from The Rug Attic.
The soft cream backdrop is back in the bedrooms, however, where the theme is serene, but inviting. “We often have friends and family staying, so I focused on making the bedrooms really calm and welcoming, with neutral walls, patterned carpets and soft furnishings,” says Jane. With the house now complete, Jane and Malcolm have set their sights on the large garden. “The first
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year we were here, we just waited to see what would come up again after a particularly frosty winter, then we took out what we didn’t like and replaced it with what we do,” says Jane. “We both love gardening, and although the upkeep of it is hard, it’s been so rewarding seeing our cottage garden come to life this year. We’re so happy here now. It’s our home to grow old in.” n
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The gentle TOUCH A largely updated Victorian rectory in Suffolk is given a few finishing flourishes with inspiring results FEATURE & STYLING PAT GARRATT PHOTOGRAPHS CHRISTOPHER DRAKE
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OPPOSITE The kitchen was installed by the previous owners. The worktops and floor tiles are in Green Slate from The Lake District. THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The hand-painted Topiary design tiles above the Aga are by Marlborough Tiles. The Royal Albert Old Country Roses tea service was found in a Suffolk antiques shop. The dinner service on the dining table is Villeroy & Boch’s Ivoire and the cutlery is from John Lewis. For similar chairs to those in the breakfast room, try The Dining Chair Company.
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ABOVE The walls in the spacious drawing room are painted using Slaked Lime, Slaked Lime Deep and Joanna by Little Greene. The open fire was replaced with a wood-burning stove from Town & Country Fires.
S
tepping into Julie King’s home is to be immersed in the colours, textures and scents of the glorious surrounding Suffolk countryside. Her Victorian rectory near Bury St Edmunds sits in seven acres of garden and meadowland and its rooms play host to her passion for flowers – all of which are either grown in Julie’s cutting garden or are plucked from the hedgerows. As can be seen by the striking arrangements placed around the home, the flowers play a huge role in creating the elegant family home that Julie moved into some nine years ago with her husband Mike and their children, Rebecca, Amanda and Harry, who are now 26, 24 and 20 respectively.
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The initial impetus to move came from the need to be closer to the children’s school. Julie explains that having experienced house renovations in the past, she and Mike wanted a period property that they could put their hearts into without having to start from scratch. Luckily, this six-bedroom rectory built in the 1860s had been “virtually taken apart and rebuilt” by the former owner, so it fitted the bill perfectly. Internally, the decor was simple and elegant and just what the couple had been looking for. “The previous owner had tastes similar to mine,” says Julie, “which is probably why I liked the house so much.” For instance, she has found that in the kitchen the green slate tiles from a Cumbrian quarry used for both
the floor and worktops not only look nice but also cope remarkably well with very hot pans and muddy paws. She has also warmed to the oil-fired Aga with a two-oven electric back-up that came with the house. “When I lived in London, I never even knew Agas existed,” she says. “Now I wouldn’t be without one. I love the ease of cooking with an Aga.” Meanwhile, in the spacious sitting room, although the sanded wooden floor was to Julie’s liking, the dark red wallpaper that was there when the family moved in proved overpowering. The walls are now covered in three shades of grey paint from Little Greene, creating a more sophisticated and calm ambience. The existing curtains were too good to
lose, so Julie simply replaced the red trim that was on them with tasselling to co-ordinate with the new colour scheme. She and Mike also decided to replace the open fire with a wood-burning stove which throws out more heat. Most of the curtains in the house are trimmed with beads, tassels or pelmets and illustrate what Julie calls her “perfectionist” tendencies. “I like a feeling of luxury,” she says. “The windows are large and demand to be treated with respect. Although I didn’t want to make this a replica Victorian house, I like a traditional feel.” As an example, she points to the new cornicing, copied from a Victorian pattern, which now runs around
TOP Nelson, the golden retriever, and Hardy, the Irish setter outside the house, which sits in over seven acres of land. ABOVE The pretty summerhouse is The Ashton from The Malvern Collection and the galvanised table and chairs are from Italian Terrace.
The George III dining table in the dining room can seat up to 18 guests when extended. The glazed cabinet was commissioned by Julie from a local carpenter and is painted in Slaked Lime by Little Greene.
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Most of the curtains in the house are trimmed with beads, tassels or pelmets... ‘The windows are large and demand to be treated with respect’ the breakfast room ceiling. “We also altered the architraving around the doors, which helps to make the room feel a little grander,” she adds. Julie has been careful to rein in her passion for flowers indoors despite the temptation to overdose on floral fabrics. The bedrooms, for instance, boast curtains in patterns varying from silken circles and stars to plain grey with embroidery, and the kitchen blinds have a herb design. Nevertheless, she caved in over the curtains in the breakfast room, which add a floral touch to the otherwise plain decor. Part of her collection of china, too, forms a display of floral art, with a particular favourite being the 12-piece Old Country Roses tea set by Royal Albert. “I saw it in an antique shop in Clare in Suffolk and couldn’t resist,” she says. Flowers are not only Julie’s major love, they are also her business. Under the name of Peonies & Posies she writes a regular blog and has an Instagram account featuring her garden throughout the seasons and, together with friend and colleague Brigitte Girling of Moss & Stone, runs courses that teach both florists and keen amateurs how to grow and
ABOVE In the entrance hall a mahogany table that Julie bought from the house’s previous owners creates a focal point. The glazed dresser is from Marks & Spencer and was a wedding present almost 30 years ago. RIGHT Julie in her cutting garden. “My colleague Brigitte and I hold collaborative flower-arranging courses and I love to use my cutting garden to teach people how to grow flowers,” she says.
arrange their own flowers. “I love to grow traditional roses, peonies, stocks, lupins and delphiniums,” Julie says. “But I also have a huge area of cow parsley which I don’t let the gardeners near.” The striking centrepiece in the entrance hall of catmint and Ammi majus, which is similar to cow parsley, is typical of Julie’s style. Most of the furniture has been collected by the couple over the years and is largely antique or classical in style, although several pieces, such as the mahogany hall table, were inherited with the house. She frankly admits that her parents’ tastes have not influenced her. “They liked to live in new-build properties,” she explains. “I never lived in an old house when I was young, so I probably reacted against that. The character of old properties has always grabbed me.” Ask Julie for the sources of her design ideas and she admits with a laugh, “The English Home. I have collected every issue from the start, in March 2000, and have kept them in pristine condition. But I also read other interiors magazines and cut out and keep articles of interest in plastic folders under headings like ‘Kitchens’ and ‘Drawing Rooms’.” Julie’s keen interest in interior design is clear to see throughout her home. “It’s not meant to be an untouchable house,” she says. “I like to think that it’s a ‘shoes-off-and-sit-where-you-want’ kind of place.” n
ABOVE The cane bed in the master bedroom came from And So To Bed and the bedspread and bolster cushion are in Lynx Citron by Clarke & Clarke. The wallpaper is Colombina by Osborne & Little. RIGHT Before she left home, elder daughter Rebecca was given free rein to decorate her room. The curtains, in a fabric by Harlequin, were supplied by Copeland Interiors in Bury St Edmunds.
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Refined ELEGANCE Interior designer Jojo Bradley has brought a neglected Georgian house in Cheshire back to life, creating a stylish and inviting home for her family FEATURE NATALIE FLAUM PHOTOGRAPHY COLIN POOLE STYLING ANNABELLE GRUNDY
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Calm aqua tones and raspberry pink for warmth create an inviting scheme in the drawing room. The ottoman is in Malabar by Colefax and Fowler, whilst the curtains are in Carrera by Zoffany. The painting above the fireplace is by Daniel Crane. The flowers are by Velvet Peony.
Three former reception rooms were knocked through to create a spacious open-plan kitchen-diner with the playroom accessed off the kitchen. The bespoke oak cabinetry is by Venables Oak and painted in Pigeon by Farrow & Ball. The window dressings are in Baker’s Indienne by GP & J Baker.
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orkshire girl at heart, Jojo Bradley met her husband Mark 12 years ago at Newcastle University, and soon after they relocated to Cheshire to be near his relatives and the family business. The couple married five years ago and have since welcomed the arrival of their two sons – Archie, now four and Bertie, two. Jojo and Mark came across their now family home in 2013. Set in a picturesque village near Chester, the red-brick Georgian double-fronted house had a Victorian era kitchen extension and another ramshackle extension to the rear. A former working dairy farm, over time the property had been divided into two separate homes; one habitable, the other completely derelict. “We had driven past this house many times, never noticing it with its dilapidated farm dwellings and
overgrown trees,” says Jojo. “We both absolutely fell ABOVE Jojo used marble flooring in the in love with it. Georgian style – with its symmetry entrance hall. For and room proportions – is my favourite. I could see similar, try Mandarin it had the potential to be beautiful and a home for life, Stone. The globe but knew it would be a total ‘labour of love’ project. pendant and circular The run-down building was riddled with damp – glass table were both sourced by Jojo carpets squelched as we walked across some of the Bradley Interiors. rooms and mushrooms were sprouting off walls.” For a similar light, Jojo and Mark continued living at their barn try Jamb. conversion as they set to work on a two-year FAR LEFT Jojo in renovation of the Georgian house whilst planning the garden. their wedding. During this time, Jojo worked on LEFT The Victorian extension can be upholstery projects for friends and family from her seen to the right, spare room and completed an interior design with steps down qualification. Her business, Jojo Bradley Interiors, to the garden. evolved organically and she now heads her own interior design studio and showroom from a converted THE ENGLISH HOME 55
The dining room in the new orangery connects to the kitchen, snug and playroom and has a staircase leading to the cinema room on the lower ground floor. The pendant lights are by Hector Finch and the curtains and Roman blinds are in Benaki by Lewis & Wood.
‘Our home is a classic, elegant, fun and loveable space we all enjoy as a family’ farm building in the grounds of her home. “I have an amazing team of seven, including four fabulous designers who have assisted me with my renovation journey,” she says. Jojo’s challenge was to reconfigure the space entirely as the house was stripped back to brickwork and trades replumbed, rewired and produced mirrored joinery to unite and reconnect both sides of the house together. “This was a house of its time, with lots of small rooms throughout. We kept the Victorian extension where the kitchen is and demolished the latter extension, which was falling apart, and built an orangery in its place, sympathetic to the period of the house. The couple took on active roles and with the help of the architect, project manager, council planners and various trades, authentic features were installed. Jojo spent time researching detailing appropriate to the era of the house to reinstate architraves, cornices and ceiling roses. She also arranged for local artisans to produce replica internal arches and pillars, ensuring the stone matched the existing external sills.
ABOVE A roll-top bath from The Cast Iron Bath Company provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy the surrounding views. The armchair is in Quinn Stone by Colefax and Fowler and the Roman blinds are in GP & J Baker. LEFT Bells found in what were the servants’ quarters are displayed in the entrance hall. The seat pad on the monk bench is upholstered in Kate Foreman fabric. The bird painting is by wildlife artist Terence Lambert.
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ABOVE A tall headboard in Milas Embroidered Linen by Vaughan is teamed with matching pink piping on the cushions by Titley & Marr in the master bedroom. RIGHT Jojo has created a cosy reading corner in this guest bedroom with an antique armchair upholstered in blue fabric from Ian Sanderson.
“Mark and I work really well together. He was great at figuring out the nitty gritty details and technicalities of the build and I managed the design side,” says Jojo. “We listened to suggestions from the planners and felt we were very much on the same page, as we were aligned with what they wanted and tried to keep within their constraints, which made it a smooth and straightforward process.” The warren of rooms upstairs was reconfigured to six master suites and a laundry room. “Having a laundry room upstairs works really well and I always suggest this idea to my clients – it reduces space on the ground floor and saves time carrying all the laundry downstairs to wash, dry and iron it, only to bring it all upstairs again,” adds Jojo. “The six bedrooms were designed with en suites so that when guests stay with their families, we can easily accommodate them.” With an emphasis on functional, practical spaces, Jojo has created elegant interiors using a soft colour palette in a traditional style with a contemporary twist. “Every room in our house has a completely unique and different feel and I was keen to create rooms with personality and spaces that flow,” she reflects. “I love pattern and texture, calm aqua blues and raspberry tones. We spent months sourcing antiques and pieces of art to add to the Georgian aesthetic and give a slight contemporary edge.”
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The indigo and taupe scheme in this guest bedroom is fresh yet soothing. For a similar bed, try The French Bedroom Company. The scatter cushions are in fabrics by Titley & Marr and Ian Sanderson, and the lamps are by India Jane.
‘We love finding buried treasures in reclamation yards and travelling to source unique pieces of art’ ABOVE LEFT The headboards in a vibrant Manuel Canovas fabric in this guest bedroom are teamed with a Roman blind in Bitlis Embroidered Linen by Vaughan. ABOVE RIGHT The basin in this guest en-suite bathroom is by Lefroy Brooks. The Roman blind is in Matanta by William Yeoward and the walls are painted in Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball.
Colefax and Fowler is a favourite resource and its fabrics play a key part in Jojo’s home, but she finds inspiration elsewhere as well. “I’m totally inspired by other designers, especially the work of interior designer Kit Kemp – co-owner and creative director of Firmdale Hotels in London and New York. Her gorgeously unusual collections of prints and textures force me to push my own design boundaries,” she says. “I’d always suggest choosing fabrics before deciding on paint colours.” Jojo advises not to underestimate the preparation work, as a professional decorating finish stands the test of time. “I’m a huge fan of built-in joinery that utilises every inch of space and fits perfectly. I usually prefer a spray paint over a farmhouse brush finish; our kitchen cabinets were painted off-site as the paint was mixed with hardening products for a cleaner finish,” she says.
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Those early Georgian residents could not have asked for better custodians than Jojo, Mark and their two boys. “We moved in when Archie was just eight weeks old, on a damp February day in 2018,” she explains. “I feel so lucky to have such a lovely family home. Bringing this beautiful building back to life has been so rewarding and I have learnt so much from doing this project.” As most of Jojo’s family live in Yorkshire, with a sister in London and a brother in Sussex, she wanted to create a welcoming house for guests to stay. “We’ve recently developed the outbuildings to include a party barn, which is a perfect entertaining space for parties,” she says. “We have put all our energy, thoughts and so much love into creating this house, which we know has been built to last. We hope future generations of our family will enjoy the house as much as we do.” n
The Marchioness of Lansdowne MY ENGLISH HOME
Fireside suppers, picnics in the woodland garden and chintz are all important ingredients of a home for the chatelaine of Bowood House
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he Marchioness of Lansdowne resides at Bowood House in Wiltshire with her husband Charlie, the 9th Marquis. The beautiful Georgian house is set in 2,000 acres of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown parkland and Bowood has been home to the Lansdowne family since 1754. In 1955, the former ‘Big House’ gave way to the ‘Little House’ for the Bowood House of today to emerge. Lady Lansdowne is a professional interior designer and set up her studio, Fiona Shelburne, over 32 years ago. Inchbald-trained, she worked first for Charles Hammond, then for Imogen Taylor at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. Who do you share your home with? My husband and three dogs: two working cockers and one labrador – Tinker, Tulip and Maud. We have 10 grandchildren living within a mile of us, so we are at the heart of a much wider family.
FEATURE KERRYN HARPER-CUSS PHOTOGRAPH ALUN CALLENDER
Can you tell us about Bowood House? My father-in-law inherited it in 1944, unexpectedly. Pre-war it was incredibly busy, with 22 indoor staff, and regularly used for political entertaining and so on. After the war it was in a really bad state: parts of it had been used as a hospital, a school, a troop station and then a grain store. He made the decision in the 1950s to pull down the ‘Big House’. It was riddled with dry rot. Life had changed; people weren’t going to be able to live the way they had lived before, and probably rightly so. What happened next? My father-in-law had to reinvent the ‘Little House’. The back courtyard consisted of derelict stable blocks, offices, stores and so forth. He instated the front door, a new entrance courtyard, turned the original family dining room into a hall, putting in a beautiful cantilevered stone staircase (left), put a kitchen in, and made the dining room next door. What is left is only one room thick. If you squished them together there are not actually that many rooms (although there are a lot of passageways). It looks like a big house but it’s quite liveable in for the 21st century, although it’s not the warmest house in the world – the bedrooms have plug-in radiators.
When did Bowood become home? When his father moved to Scotland, my husband and his first wife, Frances, moved in, in 1972. There was so much work to do still, some 20 years after the demolition of the ‘Big House’. My husband opened it to the public, which is when he built the exhibition rooms and made the sculpture gallery, for this house to pay its way. Charlie and I were married in 1987 and soon decided we needed other revenue streams. First came the golf course in 1992, then, in three phases, the club house, the hotel and the Kerry Suite [part of the hotel]. What does being custodian entail? It is a big responsibility. We are a passing generation trying to sustain the house for future generations. Being open to the public is lovely because you feel you are sharing something very beautiful with lots of people. People visit mostly for the gardens, the arboreteum, the adventure playground and for picnics by the lake. We get wonderful letters and that makes it all worthwhile. How do you view your private quarters? Very much as a sanctuary. There is so much going on around us all the time, we do try to keep the private side very private. It is very English, very cosy and quite relaxed but we’ve got some marvellous things in it. Our sitting room features a Cole & Son wallpaper design which dates exactly to 1720. I had the [golden yellow] colour specially made, because the room faces East. The minute the sun’s gone around, it actually doesn’t get much sunlight, so I wanted it to have a glow to it. Who most influenced your interior style? I learnt everything I know about interiors from Imogen Taylor and she learnt from John Fowler. So I assimilated his ethos second-hand from the best person in the world. She has been like a fairy godmother and taught all her team the really good design rules over the years. More than anything, she highlighted how important it is to use the very best craftsmen you can find, that you can make the most beautiful curtains from army blankets if you have the right seamstress and that you don’t need to use the most expensive materials.
What evolutions have you brought to Bowood’s interiors in more recent years? I’ve done this house very slowly: as a stepmother and when taking on a historic house, you don’t want to come in and change things overnight. I’m longing to redo the drawing room but it was last done in 1958 by John Fowler and I can’t do better than he did. My curtain maker, Andrew Christie, learnt from John Mason whose father worked for John Fowler and Andrew has the original ‘measure books’, so we have this extraordinary link. Is the famous Bowood chintz still in use? Yes, in two bedrooms. One, a smaller single room, has the blue/pink chintz on the walls, the curtains… everything. The grey/green version is in a bedroom at the far end of the house. I found loose covers for garden furniture in some old trunks, and discovered that the chintz was originally pink and green. Over time, in the sun, the green fades to blue. There is actually a second Bowood chintz – the Charles Hammond chintz. It is used for all the curtains on the nursery passage and features roses and ribbons in blue and pink. But sadly the design is gone, as Hammonds no longer exists. Which is your favourite room? Definitely the sitting room. We have our supper here on a table by the fire. We don’t have a huge, ‘state-of-the-art’ kitchen but I love my Aga and love to cook. I also love my bathroom/dressing room. I have a desk in it. It is somewhere to escape to. My husband would probably choose the sitting room, too, but he is in his element in the woodland garden. Rain or shine we have a picnic there every Saturday. Finally, what should no English home be without? An open fire. I’d find it very hard to live in a home that didn’t have one. And a dog. Bowood House & Gardens is open from 1 April to 1 November 2020. An exhibition – ‘Bowood Revisited: Decline & Revival’ – marks the 65th anniversary of the demolition of the ‘Big House’ and the emergence of Bowood as it is today. The Woodland Garden opens for six weeks from late April. For further information, visit bowood.org n THE ENGLISH HOME 63
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Celebrating the essence of English style
BRITAIN’S FINEST Small-scale studios & luxury brands with global allure
EXCLUSIVE NINA CAMPBELL The importance of comfort & detail
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or the past two decades, The English Home has celebrated a quintessentially English take on interiors and lifestyle, with the same passionate team sharing insights across two bespoke editions – one for the United States and Canada, the other for the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. We have always indulged our romantic streak, offering escapism in beautiful imagery, glorious homes, seasonal pastimes and respect for historically important figures. But alongside this, we have developed strong journalism, too – seeking out and telling important stories with the aim of balancing beauty with substance.
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Timeless interiors (with a high dog-count) & a a ban on the word ‘trend’ Memorable photoshoots
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howcasing new fabric collections has sometimes led us down the path of fantasy to photograph them in unexpected settings on glamorous locations, such as when we: • dressed ballet dancers from the corps de ballet of the English National Ballet in tutus created from interiors fabrics • photographed a peacock-coloured symphony of fabrics on location at Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire (right) • embellished a Morgan motor car with a rose-print hood (middle right) for a romantic 1930s afternoon tea at Whatley Manor, Wiltshire
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AT HOME WITH
AT THE KITCHEN TABLE WITH
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est known for her portrayal as ‘Duckface’ in the now classic Four Weddings and a Funeral, Anna Chancellor is also the great-greatgranddaughter of the English Prime Minister H H Asquith and a niece, many times removed, of Jane Austen. Her West London home, where she lives with her husband Redha and daughter Poppy, is a comfortable and cosy haven where she relaxes in between acting roles.
Anna Chancellor
Sophie Dahl
Pottering around city markets, warm baths and log fires are just some of the things that make home the place to hang out for the quintessential English actress Anna Chancellor
FEATURE NIKI BROWES PHOTOGRAPH ALUN CALLENDER, HAIR AND MAKE-UP SAMANTHA COPPER AT THE MILTON AGENCY
The English rose talks to Cass Chapman and reveals her home comforts, passion for cooking and the inspiration behind her new book of culinary delights
over the house. I collect things and pick things up on my travels. Do you have any family heirlooms? I do. My great grandmother used to be a model for an artist called Edward BurneJones, a pre-Raphaelite artist, and I’ve got a couple of tapestries that she sewed for him. I also have a sculpted head of my grandmother. It’s in my bedroom and she looks really happy there.
Where do you shop for interior items? You have some very impressive family Wherever I go, I will always visit the relatives, including Jane Austen. She’s my distant Aunt, which is market. I’ve recently been in Belfast and interesting because she adored her nieces. I discovered a Friday morning market She had no children of her own, so took called St George’s, which was fantastic. her nephews and nieces very seriously. It was full of the old people and full of When I was growing up I thought it was character. I said to one vendor, “I’m all a bit embarrassing – I was an inverted buying loads of things I simply don’t snob. But my daughter is far more need.” He replied [adopts heavy Irish interested because she’s that little bit accent] “You’re the kind of girl we love.” UK_056-057_MyEnglishHome_FINAL:The English Home more removed. Are you materialistic? Have you always been a city girl? Yes. Very [laughs]. I remember being in Not at all. I was born in Kew but when a play once where the character I played I was very young, my mother re-married exclaimed, “I like things.” I remember thinking at the time, ‘Gosh, she’s so and we moved to a big old rectory in greedy!’ Yet many years later I looked Somerset at the top of a valley and back and thought, ‘Anna, that was you!’ surrounded by an oak wood. Sometimes I was perfect for the part. people think that living in the country can be quite isolating but we had lots of Who has most say when it comes to the physical freedom. Best of all we had horses. interior of your home? I rode all the time and was in the Pony It would be me, probably. I’m sure I’m Club. A favourite thing would be to pile very overriding. But it works well because bales of hay and make them into jumps. All you want to do as a child with a horse is Redha is very handy. He’s amazing round jump. We were brave when we were young. the home. Plus it’s lucky as we like the same things. What drew you to this area of London? Because it’s so unique. They call this pocket How house-proud are you? I am bothered what people think but I’m of Acton ‘Poets Corner’ because there are much more bothered about what I think. streets named after the likes of Milton, I want it to be comfortable and cosy. Shakespeare and Chaucer. Rather than I hate being cold. Redha and I went all feeling like you’re in the capital, it reminds the way to Denmark to pick up a woodme of a provincial town; you could be on the outskirts of Bristol or any English town. burning stove. I hate running out of wood. I like there to be real fires, for it to be warm, for the beds to be comfortable and Can you describe your home? there to be plenty of food. I like to be surrounded by things my friends have made, or that remind me of where What is a favourite room in the house? I was brought up. There’s a photograph up I like our bedroom where there’s a bath. there [points to a kitchen wall] of Algiers where Redha is from. I was brought up near When Poppy [who was born in 1988] saw it an artists’ commune so knew loads of artists she said, “How very boutique hotel”. I like it because you can lie in the bath and open when I was a kid; I have their pictures all FOR WHERE TO BUY SEE PAGE 137
Just a few of our My English Home interview alumni (from left): author and former fashion model Sophie Dahl, actors Anna Chancellor, Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant, and (below right) model David Gandy
a window and see out into the garden. One of the sensations I love is being hot inside but having quite a lot of cold air around. So I like to sleep in a very warm bed with the window wide open. What is your pet hate as regards a home? I can’t bear being bullied into things by builders who think they know best. All we did to this house was take out one wall to make our bedroom bigger. I prefer houses to stay more or less the way they were created. You travel a great deal with work; how do you make a hotel room homely? I might stand outside the hotel and think, ‘that room looks like it will have a better view then mine’ and then ask them if it’s free. I’ll see if I can find a bedspread and get some flowers and then I’ll defiantly change the configuration of the room. 22/09/2009
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Tell me about the set of your new project, The Hour? It looks highly styled. The production designer was a lady called Eve Stewart, who was Oscar nominated for the set of The King’s Speech. Everywhere was an area of brilliance. All the corridors were painted in an old-fashioned green, but in gloss, so it reflected a fabulous light. I play a foreign correspondent and had a telex machine coming out with all the accurate information and even authentic looking 1950s sleeping pills. The detail was second to none. Do you bring things home from sets? I do. For instance The Hour is centered on reporters writing about the Suez Canal crisis and I wanted a map of the area. Eve just handed me one. She is a genius. Finally, what should no English home be without? A home without a hearth would make me depressed. I can only really relax when I’m in front of a fire, preferably with a good book and loads to eat. It’s an age thing. ■ • The Hour, a political and social drama about the lives and loves of the staff of a 1956 newsroom, will air on BBC Two this summer for six weeks. THE ENGLISH HOME 57
AT HOME WITH
Rosamund Pike
AT HOME WITH
Richard E Grant Despite being jam-packed with ‘loot’ from antiques fairs, car boot sales and film studio skips, this British actor’s far from minimalist, Georgian rectory home is loved with a passion
The Pride & Prejudice and James Bond actress reveals to Niki Browes her interior address book secrets, why velvet and bare feet is such a pleasure and why she will always feel at odds with her Englishness
At Home with cultural icons
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ur series featuring notable people talking about their home passions has seen a stellar roll-call of world-class talents. Sophie Dahl (above) was our first interviewee in 2008. We have since spoken to luminaries from all walks of life, including actors Rosamund Pike, Simon Callow, Helen McCrory, Honor Blackman and Jane Seymour; fashion designers Amanda Wakeley, Bruce Oldfield and Edina Ronay; singers Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Alfie Boe; gourmets Raymond Blanc, Mary Berry, Prue Leith and Tom Parker Bowles; entrepreneurs David Linley, India Hicks and Sir Terence Conran, not to mention authors, ballerinas, gardeners and equestrians. We have been fortunate, too, to talk to a few of the chatelaines of Britain’s finest houses, from Lady Carnarvon at Highclere Castle to Lady Cholmondeley at Houghton Hall.
The edition featuring model David Gandy’s own home flew off the shelves!
A fashionable ADDRESS Supermodel David Gandy takes us around his stylish London abode and reveals his love of animals and all things vintage, with inspiration from the world of fashion FEATURE JILL SHEARER PHOTOGRAPHS TIM BEDDOW
38 THE ENGLISH HOME
A comfortable snug-cum-study has been created in the newly dug-out basement. A resin floor by Senso provides warmth underfoot. The sofa is from Sofa.com. LEFT David brought a pair of Oka armchairs on Gumtree, which he had reupholstered by Chelsea Upholstery & Interiors.
FOR WHERE TO BUY SEE ADDRESS BOOK
FOR WHERE TO BUY SEE ADDRESS BOOK
Championing the best in British talent
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THE WORLDWIDE APPEAL OF
British Design
We look at where British craft, design and manufacturing stand on the global stage and what our designers and manufacturers think the future might hold
Kit Kemp
David Linley, 2nd Earl of Snowdon
HRH The Prince of Wales
BEST OF BRITISH
HOT 150 Sir Paul Smith
The English Home asks 33 of the most prominent tastemakers and design luminaries to name who they consider to be rising talents, absolute authorities in their field and influential ambassadors of British style. The results make for compelling reading
Christopher & Nicola Cox of Cox London
Nicky Haslam Nina Campbell Ben Pentreath
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PHOTOGRAPHS (SIR TERENCE CONRAN) © JULIAN BROAD; (KIT KEMP) © SIMON BROWN; (NICKY HASLAM) © SIMON UPTON; (HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES) © MARIANNE MAJERUS GARDEN IMAGES; (PAUL SMITH) © PAUL SMITH; (DAVID LINLEY) © OLIVER DOUGLAS
Sir Terence Conran
e avidly seek out craftsmanship around the world but have long been keen to throw a bright spotlight specifically on British makers, sharing our passion for provenance and the stories behind the products. Not only has our Editor-in-Chief presented the Best in British Craftsmanship award at Decorex each year since 2008 (discover all the alumni at theenglishhome.co.uk), but over the past 20 years we have: • written about the worldwide appeal of British design • championed rising stars, including Cox London, Sebastian Cox, Luke Edward Hall, Tom Raffield, Daniel Heath, Willow Crossley and Sarah Vanrenen • profiled specialist makers in our Authentically English back page series which ran for over eight years • shared insights from leading lights in the industry on who they consider to be the Hot 150 British names and brands. THE ENGLISH HOME 65
THE ENGLISH HOME 39
Working with globally renowned designers
Top row, left to right Guy Goodfellow, Jane Churchill, Nicky Haslam, Joanna Wood Middle row, left to right Nina Campbell, Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, William Yeoward Bottom row, left to right Katharine Pooley, Emily Todhunter, Tim Gosling
e have profiled and continue to work with world-renowned interior designers such as Nina Campbell, Joanna Wood, Veere Grenney, Jane Churchill, Kathryn Ireland, Emily Todhunter, Katharine Pooley, William Yeoward and Alidad and enjoyed long-running columns from hugely admired talents including Henrietta Spencer-Churchill and Jenny Blanc. We have even had the privilege of featuring the homes of other esteemed designers including Tim Gosling, Paolo Moschino and Justin Van Breda, to name just a few.
INTERIOR DESIGN
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Kerryn Harper-Cuss, Editor-in-Chief, presenting Robert Kime with The English Home Lifetime Achievement Award 2019.
CREATING THE PERFECT ENGLISH HOME
SUCCESS WITH COLOUR
Comprehensive guide to choosing & using perfect tones
PROFESSIONAL DESIGN TIPS
Collating moodboards & planning layouts
ENGLISH HOME The
Celebrating the essence of English style September 2015 | Issue 127 | £4.10 | UK Edition
SPOTLIGHT ON
BRITISH TALENT
Rising stars in textiles, furniture, glassware and more PASTORAL PLEASURES Fruitful recipes, romantic hydrangeas, rustic home buys
Working with an architect
How to select a practice, agree fees and realise the dream
ENGLISH HOME The
Celebrating the essence of English style
Dream Bedrooms
August 2015 | Issue 126 | £4.10 | UK Edition
ow in its second edition, our annual Interior Design publication is a definitive decorating resource to keep and refer to for expert advice on creating the perfect English home.
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e have long celebrated innovation and talent and in 2014 launched our annual, now much-coveted, New Year Honours Awards. Our first Lifetime Achievement award, in 2015, was presented to Nicky Haslam. Subsequent years have seen it awarded to Nina Campbell, Roger Oates & his wife Fay, Robert Kime and, poignantly and posthumously, William Yeoward. n
Design inspiration for the perfect sanctuary
HOMES WITH CHARACTER
STYLE SECRETS
Nicky Haslam, Joanna Wood, Atlanta Bartlett & Sasha Schwerdt on achieving informal yet elegant schemes
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England’s most desirable villages
From Cornish farmhouse to townhouse retreat
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Celebrating achievement
Nina Campbell, Joanna Wood, Veere Grenney, Guy Goodfellow, Katharine Pooley, Emily Todhunter, Kit Kemp & many more...
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New fabric prints, chic lighting, understanding furniture design
Using pattern Adding focal points Attention to details Incorporating antiques
PLUS INTERIOR DESIGNER CASE STUDIES & INSIGHTS
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Design intelligence
DECORATING ADVICE
17/06/2015 12:57
FEATURE KERRYN HARPER-CUSS PHOTOGRAPHS P64 (DOG) © NICHOLAS YARSLEY; P66 (NICKY HASLAM) © SIMON UPTON; (JOANNA WOOD) © ANDREW HAYES-WATKINS
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Forces for
POSITIVE CHANGE We consider the names who have had a potent influence on our national culture and society, including how we design our gardens, care for our landcapes, build and decorate our homes, and grow and eat our food
68 THE ENGLISH HOME
OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Emma Bridgewater, founder of her eponymous pottery brand, oversees the manufacture of the entire range in Stoke-on-Trent. Michelin-starred chef and adopted national treasure, Raymond Blanc. Kit Kemp, co-owner and creative director of Firmdale Hotels. Architectural and interior designer Ben Pentreath. TOP RIGHT Poundbury in Dorset is built on land owned by The Duchy of Cornwall, in accordance with the principles of architectural design and community advocated by HRH The Prince of Wales. BELOW HRH The Prince of Wales established The Prince of Wales’ Countryside Fund in 2010 to help improve the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of rural life.
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oday, although new design ideas and messages for social change can be transmitted around the world in minutes, such a pace and plethora of stories can make it harder to be heard in a meaningful way and to influence significant change on the social, cultural and environmental facets of human life. Here, we look at a few of the key voices that have stood out for their consistent and long-term positive impact in their areas of specialism, particularly in the 20 years since this magazine was launched. Some have encouraged uplifting ideas for ways to enhance our homes and gardens and the importance of cherishing craftmanship and British heritage skills, whilst others have drawn attention to how we grow and select the food we eat, the need to protect our landscapes and to put sustainability at the heart of all we do.
Creating a sustainable future HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES In his passionate advocacy of organic gardening, care for nature and the impact the built environment has on our sense of well-being and community cohesion, HRH The Prince of Wales’ enlightened views have been far ahead of the wider curve of awareness for decades. Many of the topics he was once derided for speaking about are now widely acknowledged as pivotal concerns for society at large. He warned, for example, about the dangers of plastic pollution in his first speech on the environment in 1970. Rather than being simply a voice for change, he has tirelessly championed such causes with his actions; seeking out and working with like minds to preserve heritage skills and demonstrating his firmly held belief that humanity must respect and maintain its indelible connection with nature above all else.
Alongside founding The Prince’s Foundation, The Prince’s Trust and The Prince’s Countryside Fund, The Prince of Wales is patron or president of over 400 organisations, the primary focus of which proves the longevity and nature of his intent. These include The International Tree Foundation (from 1978), Plant Heritage (from 1992), The Landmark Trust (from 1993), Social Farms & Gardens (2001), The Campaign for Wool (2010), Heritage Crafts Association (from 2011), Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) (2017), and The Sustainable Food Trust (2019). At a speech at this year’s World Economic Forum in Switzerland, His Royal Highness’s determined support to accelerate response to the challenges of climate change was key, once again. He said, “With 2020 being seen as the ‘super year’, kick-starting a decade of action for people and planet … I intend to do my utmost to ensure that the message of urgency, systemic change, collaboration and integration is heard.”
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FOR WHERE TO BUY SEE ADDRESS BOOK
How we decorate KIT KEMP Self-taught design director Kit Kemp co-founded the renowned Firmdale group of hotels with her husband, Tim, in 1985, despite being turned down for a business loan by 14 banks. Amongst the earliest proponents of the ‘boutique hotel’ phenomenon, she is often mentioned by interior design contemporaries as a source of inspiration due to her distinctively colourful and playful interiors. Today, the distinctive aesthetic of a Kit Kemp interior is much emulated – from large-scale headboards to clever use of clashing colour and pattern. She has been pivotal in the renewed confidence in using colour in our homes. Named Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year award in 2008 and gaining an MBE for services to the hotel industry and charity in 2012, Kemp is also a passionate advocate of craftsmanship and art. EMMA BRIDGEWATER The much-admired business entrepreneur and champion of British manufacturing Emma Bridgewater began making her range of characterful hand-painted pottery in 1984. So successful was it, that by 1996, together with Matthew Rice, she could buy the pottery in Stoke-on-Trent that made her first samples and has since expanded its production. The brand is now a household name, employing over 200 people, making around 45,000 pieces of pottery by hand each week and offering apprenticeships in ceramic manufacturing to develop and support traditional skills and expertise in the pottery industry. BEN PENTREATH Known for reinvigorating classical style for a new generation, architectural and interior designer Ben Pentreath has become a leading force in English interior design. Whilst admired for his knowledge of authentic classical design (his involvement in the design and development of Poundbury in Dorset is much documented), he is unafraid to create boldly distinctive interiors with unexpected ingredients such as pieces by Fornasetti and Josef Frank, and geometric David Hicks-inspired patterns, alongside Georgian dressers and drop-leaf tables. Pentreath founded his architectural practice in 2004 and his influential retail shop – which he runs with designer and decorative artist Bridie Hall – in 2008. His take on classical style, presented with the volume turned up, is one that has already secured its place in the annals of English decoration. SEBASTIAN & BROGAN COX Award-winning furniture maker Sebastian Cox is a proponent of ‘radical traditionalism’ in design and of
the respectful reinvention of time-honoured techniques. He also champions the use of indigenous British woods to make furniture for the future that pays homage to the past. Cox founded his studio in 2010 and has since won numerous high-profile accolades, including The English Home’s Best in British Craftsmanship Award in 2015 (at Decorex) and the Design Guild Mark from the Furniture Makers’ Company in 2016 for a kitchen collaboration with deVol. He also featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe list in 2016. His wife and co-director Brogan joined in 2012 and launched her own debut furniture collection in 2019, introducing colour to the range with water-based dyes. The duo are vocal advocates of sustainable and regenerative land use. The studio’s 64-page manifesto, Modern Life from Wilder Land: Nature-First Land and Resource Use – is an empassioned call to reshape our use of Britain’s fields, woods, hills and coasts to restore wild nature whilst allowing us to live within our means. Available to buy from sebastiancox.co.uk
OPPOSITE Ben Pentreath’s much-admired sitting room design for the GP & J Baker showroom at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. TOP & ABOVE Sebastian Cox and his wife and codirector Brogan make furniture only out of indigenous British wood.
THE ENGLISH HOME 71
What we eat
JAMIE OLIVER From lambasting the poor nutrition of many school dinners, to trying to give disadvantaged youths an ‘in’ to the hospitality industry, to championing homegrown vegetables in urban gardens, Oliver has not been afraid of using food, his high-profile position and his knowledge as a chef to challenge the status quo. Alongside friend, co-presenter and farmer Jimmy Doherty he has also challenged supermarkets to consider their role in encouraging a throwaway culture by blocking sales of misshapen but perfectly edible ‘wonky veg’ from their shelves. His current mission is to help halve childhood obesity by 2030 by tackling nutritional concerns, something he likens to the cultural shift that occured before smoking and seatbelt restrictions were introduced. HUGH FEARNLEY-WHITTINGSTALL As a food writer and campaigner on environmental issues, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall challenged himself to become a self-reliant farmer at the organic smallholding known as River Cottage. His actions, documented in a television series and cook books, spawned legions of fans. More recent campaigns have included championing free-range chickens and an end to intensive chicken farming, as well as tackling the problem of one third of the food our country produces being disposed of rather than eaten.
Holistic lifestyle LADY BAMFORD Passionate about organic food, sustainable products and a holistic lifestyle, Lady Carole Bamford and her family set about converting their farms in Staffordshire and Gloucestershire to organic farming methods over 30 years ago, and she is a potent voice on the importance of nourishing soil quality and working in harmony with nature. In 2002, Lady Bamford founded the Daylesford farmshops and cafe chain, and launched lifestyle brand Bamford in 2006, offering natural fibre
72 THE ENGLISH HOME
ABOVE Daylesford’s farmshop in Kingham, Oxfordshire is a mecca for organic food and produce. RIGHT Lady Bamford founded Daylesford, lifestyle and skincare brand Bamford and is the owner of boutique hotel The Wild Rabbit in Kingham, all of which demonstrate the allure and benefit of organic, sustainable food and artisanmade homeware at a luxury level, making a lifestyle once seen as ‘worthy’ desirable.
clothing, homeware and pure botanical bodycare (many used in her boutique hotel The Wild Rabbit in Kingham). The Daylesford Foundation, founded in 2007, supports UK projects to educate children and young people about “organic food, growing and the countryside”. OTHER NOTABLE NAMES * Florist Shane Connolly, for championing seasonal British blooms (see also The British Flower Collective). * Conservation pioneers Isabella Tree and her husband Sir Charlie Burrell, who have rewilded Knepp Castle in West Sussex over the past 17 years. * The Ian Mankin team for committing to only using 100 per cent natural and organic fibres in its range, as well as for the brand’s Zero Waste initiative. n
FEATURE KERRYN HARPER-CUSS PHOTOGRAPHS P68 (RAYMOND BLANC PORTRAIT) © ANDREW HAYES WATKINS; (KIT KEMP PORTRAIT) © SIMON BROWN; P69 (POUNDBURY) © CHARLES SAINSBURY-PLAICE; (SHEEP FARMERS) © JENNIFER MACKENZIE; P70 (GP & J BAKER ROOM) © SIMON JOHN OWEN; P71 (SEBASTIAN COX, BOTH) © ALUN CALLENDER
RAYMOND BLANC Few could doubt that the French-born chef who has lived in Britain since 1972 is regarded as a national treasure. Self-taught, he opened his first restaurant in England in 1978, aged just 28, and the following year won his first two Michelin stars. He opened the now world famous Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons in 1984, also developing its cookery school and fabulous and notably extensive kitchen garden. His gastronomic passion for local, seasonal and organic produce, inspired by his parents, has had a far-reaching and foundational impact on the way other chefs cook and upon the way our nation eats today.
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Celebrate
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Whether birthday, anniversary, engagement or a new job, taking time to mark the occasion properly with nearest and dearest can make the moment feel even more special
Outdoor lunch
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athering for a delicious summertime lunch in the garden, with outdoor games and plenty of cordial to sip in the shade can be a lovely, informal way to celebrate, especially when children are involved. For flexible outdoor seating to meet the needs of different generations, Simon Burvill, co-founder of garden furniture specialist Gaze Burvill, recommends using a combination of chairs and benches. “There is something especially sociable about benches around a table – they give a cosier ambience than single chairs. Combining backless benches with high-back ones gives children a means of escape from lunches that extend into the afternoon.” To create a striking tablescape, interior designer and textile specialist Birdie Fortescue recommends opting for table linen in vibrant designs. “As a departure from the traditional green, variations on a coral hue are perfect for outdoor entertaining. It is a warm tone that works exceptionally well with the pastel tones of summer flowers and can be easily mixed in with soft pinks, ochres, neutrals and gentle greens.” Complete the scene with a pretty floral display. “The table flowers should echo the flowers in the garden and cause your guests to notice your magnificent planting
scheme,” suggests Melissa Richardson, founder of JamJar Flowers. “For a simple family lunch, group together lovely green glass bottles or stoneware filled with simple elegant flowers, such as snake’s head fritillary, which have a lovely dancing action and add grace and style to a table.” Outdoor fabrics add comfort and colour to an extended lunch in the bright afternoon sunshine. Due to technological developments in sun and water resistance, there is an increasing number of fabrics that can be used outdoors. “You can find sumptuously textured weaves, such as chenille and velvet, that will work perfectly alongside more eye-catching and prominent prints,” explains Michal Silver, creative director of Christopher Farr Cloth. “I would look to combine textured and geometric weaves with bright botanical printed fabrics to create a scheme fit for a sitting room, but outside.” For a relaxed mood, Silver says, “Upholster some lightweight foam mattresses that can be placed on the ground and made comfortable with large cushions. This sort of relaxed outdoor approach has a lovely bohemian English charm.” Interiors brands such as Osborne & Little produce outdoor fabric collections, as do many renowned interior designers such as Nina Campbell, who has designed a collection for Summit.
LEFT, FROM TOP Make sure there are plenty of jugs and carafes filled for people to help themselves to drinks. For an elegant jug, try the Riva rattan jug, £29, Daylesford Organic A homemade cake makes the perfect centrepiece for a garden lunch. For a trusted method, see Mary Berry’s Victoria sandwich recipe, at maryberry.co.uk Make hosting simple with an easy-to-carry glass set. Lyle Water Glass Set, £62, Rowen & Wren 74 THE ENGLISH HOME
Bringing indoor dining furniture outside and dressing it with a lace tablecloth and unstructured floral arrangements adds a sense of occasion on a warm summer’s day. For a rustic country charm, treat wooden furniture with hardwearing wood stain. Classic All Purpose Wood Stain, £34 for 2.5l, Sadolin
THE ENGLISH HOME 75
Midsummer party
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ith midsummer approaching, take advantage of the longer evenings and invite friends to feast al fresco beneath painterly sunsets. A beautiful tablescape sets the tone for a garden party and should be a joy to compose. “Begin with co-ordinating colours and shapes, then mix in old and new,” suggests Birdie Fortescue. “I love combining French antique confit pots with contemporary votives to create interest. Keep tones similar, adding gentle clashes to bring the table to life.” Fortescue also proposes mixing a variety of linens and tableware for a relaxed charm. “Jute or beaded placemats paired with a co-ordinating dinner service, tonal glassware and textured candle holders would work well. Look for unusual cutlery – wooden or bamboo handles are ideal for summer.” Create a floral table arrangement that suits the casual style of outdoor dining. “Use a selection of vintage vessels and dot them around the table so that if they get displaced when people are reaching for food and wine they still look great wherever they land,” suggests Richardson, who also recommends decorating other areas of the garden. “A rose arch, pergola or canopy makes a dreamy opportunity for a hanging ceiling of flowers (although branches will work just as well). A square of chicken wire can create the grid required to achieve a ravishing effect,” Richardson adds. “Wire the stem of each flower with reel wire then hook it onto the chicken wire grid.” Use flowers such as larkspur, delphiniums, roses, ranunculus, peonies and cow parsley. After dinner, guests will inevitably seek out a spot to comfortably chatter away. “The ideal party seat is a spiral bench,” Burvill says. “Often positioned around TOP LEFT As twilight descends, toast marshmallows around a warming fire.* Steel firepit, from £67, The Forest & Co at Not on the High Street.com MIDDLE LEFT Lanterns can add atmosphere.* Tulip hurricane lantern, £16.99, Crocus MIDDLE RIGHT Set a table with pretty linens. Peony placemat, £7.50 each, napkins, set of 4, Sophie Allport BOTTOM LEFT Keep the mood going with a Bluetooth speaker. Aglow Bluetooth Outdoor Speaker & Led Light with Gold Front, £109, Burton Blake *Never leave a lit candle or firepit unattended. 76 THE ENGLISH HOME
FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE PHOTOGRAPHS P74 (TABLE) © MEDIAPHOTOS/ISTOCK; (CAKE) © PORTISHEAD/ISTOCK; P77 (SUSIE WATSON) © ADAM CARTER
ABOVE Ensure there is a generous amount of cushions and throws to make guests feel extra cosy if supper extends into the evening. Oval Cane Back dining chair, £345; Gustavian dining chair, £295, all accessories, Susie Watson RIGHT Lights can be used to create a spectacular evening feature. To create a canopy overhead, Jo Naughton of Lights4Fun suggests: “Use a simple post in the ground at one corner, then incorporate other existing elements in the garden, such as a tree or a wall, to create the illusion of a ceiling.” All lights from Lights4Fun
a tree, planter or sculpture, these benches look great as a focal point in the garden.” Burvill also recommends long seats for an elegant effect. “But you don’t want to ‘trap’ your guests, so a series of long seats that follow an arc work best.” He suggests allowing 1.7m for two people to sit on in comfort, but not too close, and proposes oak as the ideal material. “Oak seats are never cold to the touch as evening draws in, or too hot in the heat of summer.” As evening falls, have a basket of blankets at hand for guests to help themselves to if they start to feel chilly. Fortescue recommends sheepskins and throws for maximum warmth and comfort. Andrew Kyte, head buyer at garden specialist The Chelsea Gardener, suggests adding heaters for warmth. Come darkness, soft lighting will lend the garden an alluring sense of enchantment. Jo Naughton, co-founder
of lighting retailer Lights4Fun, advises setting up the night before to test visibility. “The main rule to remember is to light at three levels: overhead, ground level and mid-range on a table or low wall,” she says. “All solar lights will come on at dusk, and you can set battery lights to give a full glow when darkness has completely fallen.” Sally Storey, creative director at lighting specialist John Cullen, suggests, “For a stunning effect, consider lighting under benches with a concealed linear light. I would select warm LEDs, ideally 2400 kelvin or less, to give a soft, candle-light glow.” For a finishing touch, Storey proposes: “Make a show-stopping feature with star light pendants suspended within the trees – odd numbers work best. To elevate the look further, hang small nightlights and candles in jars on other branches – combining these effects truly creates the most magic.” THE ENGLISH HOME 77
Seasonal delights
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une is synonymous with the first flush of summer entertaining and should an excuse be needed to fix a date in the diary, one is provided by World Gin Day on Saturday 13 June (worldginday.com). Though arguably the most English of tipples, the botanical blend has its roots in Holland, where genever (the Dutch word for juniper) originated as the precursor to the spirit we know as gin. Pimm’s, of course, always feels right as a tipple for a summer afternoon or evening, garnished with chopped strawberries, fresh mint leaves and cucumber, not a whole fruit salad.
Berry tasty
Strawberry Rose Petal & Pistachio Pavlova Serves 8 Preparation time: 25 mins Cooking time: 1 hour plus cooling 6 large egg whites 250g caster sugar 1 tsp rose water extract 1 tsp white wine vinegar 1 tsp cornflour 100g crushed pistachios 475ml double cream 1 tbsp icing sugar 450g strawberries cut in half (keep three to four whole strawberries aside to garnish) Handful of pale pink rose petals
The imminent arrival of the Wimbledon tennis championships heralds the advent of strawberries, often enjoyed with a dollop of cream and a light dusting of sugar. Few things are nicer than the anticipation of a truly in-season, sun-ripened strawberry. Cherries and blackcurrants are also in season in June, gooseberries, too, which are wonderful in a slightly tart and fruity gooseberry fool. Leave raspberries to savour at their seasonal best in July.
The gift of chocolate Chocolate can make a lovely table gift at parties; a single special truffle for adults, a bar for children. Love Cocoa (above) – by James Cadbury, the greatgreat-great-grandson of the founder of Cadbury chocolate – offers such tantalising treats as the Maldon Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Bar as part of its gift subscriptions (from £34.50 for three bars a month for three months). LEFT Keep gin on ice for the ultimate gin and tonic. Drift champagne bucket, from £95, Robert Welch BELOW Enjoy the delights of freshly picked cherries.
This is a slight Middle Eastern take on a favourite pudding. It is like summer on a plate with its lashings of rose-waterflavoured cream loaded on to a large sticky meringue and topped with halved strawberries, crushed pistachios and fragrant rose petals.
• Line a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 180°C. • Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until stiff peaks form, then slowly add the sugar, rose water, vinegar, cornflour and whisk again until the mix becomes very thick and shiny. • Gently fold in half the pistachios then carefully spoon the mixture onto the lined baking sheet, forming a circle and working the mixture outwards to form an edge and leaving a slight dip in the centre. • Lower the oven temperature to 150°C and bake for one hour, then turn off the oven, leaving the meringue in there to cool. If there is time, make the meringue the night before and leave to cool overnight in the oven. When cool, the parchment should pull away easily and the meringue can be placed on a plate. • Whip the cream, adding in the icing sugar, and spread generously over the cooled meringue. Scatter the halved strawberries over the top, arrange the whole strawberries in the centre, sprinkle with the rest of the pistachios, scatter with the rose petals and serve. Recipe taken from BerryWorld. For more ideas, visit berryworld.com/recipes n
Bring out the natural flavour of seasonal strawberries with this centrepiece pudding which combines perfumed rose water with the nutty sweetness of pistachios.
THE ENGLISH HOME 79
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Designer insights
Open shelving, tongue-and groove panelling and a reclaimed wooden worktop add period style to this basement kitchen by Plain English (see page 84).
kitchen
DESIGNING AN INVITING
W
hilst a kitchen plays an important utilitarian role in any home, not all homeowners want it to look overtly practical. Indeed, many prefer the functionality of the space to be underplayed in terms of the design aesthetic, seeking instead to create a space that is inviting and characterful. This allows it to serve as a welcoming backdrop for entertaining or daily dining, as well as providing areas for preparing meals and the inevitable clearing up.
Experienced designers reveal important considerations in balancing style and practicality
Our kitchen special showcases truly beautiful and carefully considered schemes from interior and kitchen designers who generously share some of their design insights and processes. Professional designers know how to incorporate unexpected colour and pattern into a scheme, how to maximise the impact of architectural features or reinstate period charm, look at fresh ways to inject character and individuality and tailor a kitchen to suit a lifestyle so that it delivers on both form and function. THE ENGLISH HOME 81
Emma Sherlock on adding unexpected colour & pattern Hampshire-based interior designer Emma Sherlock has a sensitive touch for a quintessentially English style but always with an imaginative, original twist. Here, she reveals how she approached the design of a modestly sized kitchen in a townhouse flat in London.
The brief
“Kitchens have to be practical but that doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful at the same time. I try to place emphasis on them also being comfortable spaces that give us as much enjoyment as a good sitting room. The brief for this London kitchen was to create an entertaining space for a girl about town. My client wanted her kitchen to feel uplifting and unexpected in her relatively small flat.”
Form & function
“Each project you work on is different, but as a general rule I have a complete aversion to shoulder-height cupboards. If at all possible, I prefer not to put them in, so all the cupboards in this kitchen are either below waist height or floor to ceiling. Because the kitchen was devised as somewhere to be a wonderful entertaining space, we concealed the mechanics of the kitchen – the fridge and freezer are contained in pull-out drawers below the work surfaces and the boiler and dishwasher are concealed in cupboards. This also allowed us to put in the high marble splashbacks with a matching marble shelf running along the top. Brass taps and cupboard handles are used throughout, which I think always adds charm to a kitchen or bathroom.”
PORTRAIT & PHOTOGRAPHS © BOZ GAGOVSKI
Colour & pattern
“I wouldn’t suggest putting wallpaper in a family kitchen filled with children and dogs, however, in this instance, it was a chance to give the room real character and make it more playful. Soane Britain’s Scrolling Fern design accentuates the ceiling height in the kitchen and the colour feels fresh and upbeat. I used the matching fabric on the Roman blind to continue the pattern around the room. Brilliantly, my client was enthusiastic about my bold colour suggestions (her sitting room is painted a deep yellow) and, therefore, we painted the majority of the cupboards in emerald green whilst leaving the central display cupboard in cream to break up the room.” 82 THE ENGLISH HOME
ABOVE & OPPOSITE Pairing bold emerald green cabinetry, Scrolling Fern wallpaper and matching fabric from Soane Britain and sleek Carrara marble worktops against a scrubbed-pine table top and cream-painted dresser creates a delightfully informal kitchen suited to entertaining, even in a modest space.
Case Study One
Designing a single-wall period-style kitchen Christopher Howe, antique dealer and owner of Howe London, is much-respected for his innate style, knowledge of craftsmanship, eye for heritage and reclaimed pieces and sensitivity to period details. This kitchen, created in the basement of Howe London’s showroom, is used daily by staff and for client entertaining. Christopher worked with Katie Fontana, creative director of Plain English, to design a setting echoing a Georgian aesthetic and based on a practical single-run of cabinetry to integrate the workings of the kitchen rather than dominate the space.
Katie Fontana
“At the initial meeting in the proposed space, Christopher shared his idea about what fun it would be to have one long run of cupboards that started in the main room and ran through to the scullery at the back. I had been waiting for years to do an enormous dresser the size of the one at Petworth House in West Sussex and this was it. Christopher chose a Wolf range cooker and a Sub-Zero freestanding fridge but we concealed the dishwasher under the dresser. I wanted to make it as traditional and authentic as possible so we chose painted interiors with unlacquered oak drawer interiors and a reclaimed pitch pine worktop and reclaimed sink and taps.”
Christopher Howe
ABOVE A chic dining area with an extendable table creates an inviting central focal point. Irish Hunt table, £18,650; Salon dining chair, £3,201, both Howe London; chairs upholstered in Knurl Linen, £120 a metre, 36 Bourne Street RIGHT The dresser cupboard shelves are lined with Little F wallpaper in Tutti, £120 a roll, 36 Bourne Street
84 THE ENGLISH HOME
“I wanted to retain the way the super-sized dresser works, because as often as it has been reinvented, it’s never actually been improved. There is a perfect balance between what you do see and what is stored out of sight. Katie and I agreed on adhering faithfully to characteristic Georgian detail, such as continuing the timber of the cupboards all the way to the floor and not having a kick-board – people are unnerved by this, which is a good thing. “Another of my favourite details is the odd taps, plumbed at different heights, because this represents the historic process of modernising. To begin with, kitchens like this had only one coldwater tap, then as hot water became a commodity, new taps were plumbed in that weren’t part of the original design.”
ABOVE The enormous dresser features a range cooker at one end and a sink at the other with reclaimed taps in different sizes to add further character. Kitchens from £35,000, Plain English; cabinetry painted in Oyster White Light, from £60 for 2.5l Water Based Eggshell, Sanderson LEFT A utility area is given a rustic period feel with brickmounted reclaimed porcelain sink. FAR LEFT The Wolf range cooker is neatly fitted into the single run of units. Opaline glass Coolie shades with crinkled edge, £220, Howe London
PORTRAIT (KATIE FONTANA) © ANTONY CROLLA; PHOTOGRAPHS & CHRISTOPHER HOWE PORTRAIT © CLAUDIA ROCHA
Case Study Two
Case Study Three
Emily Todhunter on retaining character & charm Interior designer Emily Todhunter of Todhunter Earle Interiors has a global clientele. When redesigning her own kitchen (right), her chief aim was to ensure a sense of continuity for the family and maintain a powerful sense of home.
The brief
“There are no rules for designing a kitchen, every one is different. This kitchen is ours in the country. We have three children, dogs, cats, ponies...the lot, so for us what is important would be less important in a London kitchen. It really matters to me that mud doesn’t show on the floor and it really mattered to our children that, when this kitchen was updated last year, it looked the same as it always had done. Probably the most important thing for everyone was that it felt cosy and warm; literally felt warm, which it does thanks to the Aga, but it also has a warm atmosphere.”
PHOTOGRAPHS © RAY MAIN
Sensitive redesign
“The Aga and flooring are original but we replaced the old oak cabinets with new ones, beautifully made by Orwells, and with deep drawers for all the plates. I chose worktops in honed granite because it looks much more ‘country’ and I think it’s more practical than the shiny alternative which shows smears and marks very quickly. “There used to be more window seats in the room but I lost one in favour of a dishwasher. I do love a window seat. Ours has a view of dovecotes in the garden and the chickens, who like to perch on the windowsill outside. A lightweight fabric blind adds softness. The fabric is from the Eco textile range at MM Design Textiles. “We live, and nearly always eat, in the kitchen. I can change the atmosphere with the lighting, but I can also achieve a completely new colour scheme and atmosphere by changing the tablecloth. “We have two tables, which works really well as I never know how many we’re going to be until the last minute. If they’re pushed together, we can seat up to 14, which is a bit of a squash, but it makes it cosy! When you’re trying to create an inviting kitchen, the key thing is not to try too hard. Be relaxed when designing it and the end result will be relaxed, too.” 86 THE ENGLISH HOME
TOP New oak kitchen units by Orwells in Ipswich are teamed with honed granite worktops as part of a en it e efit y inte io de i ne Emily Todhunter in her own home.
ABOVE Careful choice of lighting, use of fabrics and the ability to use two tables together makes this it hen a e i le a ily o ed hea t of the home.
Flora Soames on creating a look to suit a lifestyle Flora Soames (spotlighted as ‘One To Watch’ in The English Home’s New Year Honours Awards 2020) creates interiors with a lovely modern twist on English style. Here, she reveals how she balanced clever aesthetic and practical considerations in this townhouse kitchen.
The brief
“The main task of this project was to relocate the kitchen from the lower ground floor of this terraced Victorian house and incorporate it into the highceilinged, grander ground floor living rooms, which overlook a communal garden. With a family of six, the client was fed up with being shut away in the basement so much of the time and wanted a dynamic yet functional kitchen in which to live and entertain informally. The client’s personality and taste is playful and diverse and therefore an open approach to the scheme was possible, which is always a joy.”
Enhancing a sense of flow
“My approach to a kitchen is not to come at it primarily as a functional space. The kitchen is nearly always the heart of the house these days, and its design should be led by the client in terms of how they wish to live in it. Pattern and colour are vital tools for injecting character into an otherwise practical space and integrating it into the feel of a house as a whole. In this instance, the emphasis on bold colour and pattern, as well as texture, enabled this room to run fluidly into the adjoining living space. The curtains and geometric tiles give character to an inevitably large expanse of joinery and hard surfaces.”
Considering storage
ABOVE A playful mix of patterns and colours makes this townhouse kitchen feel inviting and uplifting rather than purely functional, helping it o ith the e t of the home. The kitchen tiles are by Popham Design and the curtain fabric is Samarkand Original by Clarence House. The bespoke kitchen is by Quartet Interiors.
“These days the breadth of possibilities with storage are endless. Make the most of cupboard depth to employ useful internal layouts for storage, whether for a built-in larder or utensils and crockery. If working with an entire room as a whole, use all areas of the room for storage and think of glassware, drinks and cookery books perhaps being stored elsewhere and in a different manner. If built-in joinery is used for the majority of the kitchen, break this up with a different task space, such as this freestanding stainless-steel marble-topped table (above) which gives the room more space to breathe.” THE ENGLISH HOME 87
PORTRAIT © TRENT MCMINN; PHOTOGRAPH OF KITCHEN © BILL BATTEN
Case Study Four
Case Study Five
Making the most of architectural features Complementing the original architectural features of a period home was pivotal to the design of this kitchen. Charlie Draper, designer at Sustainable Kitchens, reveals the key steps to doing so.
PHOTOGRAPHS © CHARLIE O’BEIRNE OF LUKONIC.COM
The brief
“This kitchen is in the basement of a Georgian house in Bath, so it was important to keep the space as light and informal as possible. The client was passionate about making the room feel relaxed and lived-in, so we chose Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke and Cornforth White to keep it calm and light and also because it complements and works well with the Bath stone flooring and chimney arches.”
Careful planning & layout
“We used low cabinetry along the edge nearest to the windows, placing the sink in the centre of the window and all appliances hidden behind the simple run of cabinets. On the adjacent wall, we designed cabinetry to fit in the coves of the original chimney arches. The far cove was much smaller, and to make the most of the space, we designed a bespoke cabinet to display the client’s glass and china cup collection. The cabinets 88 THE ENGLISH HOME
were all scribed [made to perfectly fit uneven surfaces] into the stone floor and walls. To incorporate more storage, we included a ceiling-height dresser and half a larder, we designed a cupboard under the stairs to include the fridge-freezer, a wine fridge, additional shelves and a space for the vacuum cleaner and mop. “If you have architectural features and character in your home, it is important to choose a company that will design bespoke and really make the most of the features rather than hide them away. The beauty with bespoke kitchen manufacturers is that they will build cabinets to fit your kitchen, rather than using standardsized units, and will work with you throughout the design process to get the most from your space, taking into account how you use your kitchen and what you will require, whilst also recommending colours that will complement your home.” n
ABOVE Mixing freestanding pieces and e o e fitted cabinetry makes the most of unusual and eye-catching period features whilst ensuring plenty of practical storage.
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THE ENGLISH HOME 89
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DECORATING GUIDE 2020
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INTERIOR DESIGN
Versatile pink 2 1
CREATING THE PERFECT ENGLISH HOME
SUCCESS WITH COLOUR
Comprehensive guide to choosing & using perfect tones
Ranging from an almost neutral plaster pink to mid-tones of rose and peony to lively corals and vibrant fuchsias, pink has many characters. The colour seemed to be having a ‘moment’ a couple of years ago and its popularity has not waned, with tones of blush sweeping into interiors in beguiling combinations and myriad styles. Feminine, floral schemes naturally suit the delicate romance of rose pinks, but pink can also be smart, sophisticated and punchy. It provides a graceful counterbalance to grey decor; adds dynamic contrast to greens and blues; and produces classical echoes with yellow, also suited to fresh, uplifting rooms.
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Collating moodboards & planning layouts
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FEATURE KATY MCLEAN PHOTOGRAPHS (4 & 6) © KIP DAWKINS, (8) © ADAM CARTER
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WHICH HUE? The choice of pink will tend to set the mood and energy for the room. Shades differ so vastly, each creating its own ambience and tone. To avoid a saccharine look, steer away from pinks that tend to have a blue base note and evoke the feel of a young girl’s bedroom. Pinks with a yellow or muted brown undertone have a far more grown-up effect. Earthy plaster tones are barely pink but an almost nude colour that can provide a soft introduction to using pink and, alongside cosseting hues of beige and brown, result in a warming, neutral look. Or they can be prettied up with accents in deeper pinks or smudgy blues which, being soft, gentle and slightly dirty tones, suit quiet, restful spaces. Edward Bulmer Natural Paint’s Cuisse de Nymphe Emue is popular for this look. For a deeper shade, Farrow & Ball’s Sulking Room Pink has a moodier appeal. Petal pinks instantly feel more feminine and bring a brighter approach. If desired, they are perfect for a more romantic country look full of charm: think ditsy patterns, faded antique linens and rose prints. Alternatively, used in a more graphic way, for instance contrasted against whites and greys, they can look modern and crisp. Teaming green with mid-pink tones creates a striking combination. Bold botanical motifs in a deep evergreen hue can be exquisite against a rose backdrop. Blues, from deep navy to powder blue, work well with most tones of pink; particularly interesting is contrasting sky blue with a deep coral pink. A ‘hot palette’ – including pinks, reds, oranges or yellows – whilst usually avoided due to the thought that these colours clash, can produce bright and dynamic, or rich and comforting results when the right balance is used. Pink can provide a classic backdrop to traditional furniture whose warm wood, antique brass and gold tones sit comfortably with most shades. For a contemporary lift, try cooler nickel and silver finishes and geometric patterns. And for the eternal romantic, pink will always look perfect on florals. 1 Wallpaper, Batali, Pink, £79 a roll, and all fabrics, Jane Churchill 2 Wallpaper, Trellis, Pink Sand, £356 a roll, No9 Thompson 3 (From top): Espinillo Hot Pink Patchwork cushion, £45; Espinillo Hot Pink Oxford pillowcase, £15; Espinillo Pink throw, £75, all Clarissa Hulse 4 Manor collection, Pale Pink Series, Anna French 5 Blind, Margot, Pink, £78 a metre, Kate Forman
6 Chair and curtains, Merabu, £140 a metre, and all other fabrics, Travers 7 Wall, Josephine, £25 for 1l Chalky Interior Matt, M&L Paints 8 Bespokeupholstered full bed in Embroidered Pink Rosebud Linen, from £1,995, and all other fabrics and furniture, Susie Watson Designs 9 Chair upholstered in Rivoli, Rose Ancien, £78 a metre, and cushion fabrics, all Manuel Canovas
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TEH 2020 BOOKAZINE Decorate with Pink.indd 78-79
22/10/2019 15:55
CARLOS GARCÍA
How to use pattern successfully
DECORATING ADVICE
Using pattern Adding focal points Attention to details Incorporating antiques
The founder of Carlos Garcia Interiors explains the importance of pattern in the home and summarises his considerations when employing beautiful prints
ABOVE Carlos loves Middle Eastern fabrics, chinoiserie, pattern and plenty of bold colour. Here a golden yellow armchair looks striking amidst the blend of pattern and antique furniture. RIGHT Here, classic English country house fabrics are deftly combined with spicier hued tones from warmer climes. ABOVE RIGHT An eye-catching suzani forms a backdrop for the assortment of cushions on the sofa. A rich red in the patterned elements unites the scheme.
BUY PLUS INTERIOR DESIGNER CASE STUDIES & INSIGHTS YOUR COPY
What does the addition of pattern give to an interior? And why is pattern an important element to introduce? My aim when decorating a house is to transform it into a home. Pattern adds warmth, softens, makes wide spaces feel cosier, rooms feel comfortable and it can be an economical way of filling a room without much in it. Do you have favourite types of pattern, and why? I can’t conceive of a room without pattern. I love pattern. I’m terribly fond of small geometric patterns. I also like patterned weaves as they provide both pattern and texture. When adding patterns to a room, where do you start? For example, with the colour, the mood, the period of the room? Wendy Nicholls [a director at Sybil Colefax & John Fowler] once told me houses tell you what they want. I wholeheartedly concur. Listen to a house/room and you’ll know what to do. If starting with a blank canvas, I always begin with walls, whether colour
or pattern, and build up from there. Otherwise an existing object – a rug, a painting, etc – may be a good departing point to inform the rest of the design. Do you have any personal rules for using pattern. For example, odd numbers of different patterns, never mix X and Y, etc? I tend to mix antique and new patterned textiles to add a lived-in feel and I always introduce a stripe in a room to let pattern ‘breathe’. I sometimes use a profusion of small geometric patterns to bring ‘order’. What helps different patterns sit comfortably together? And are there ever any that will never be friends? Ideally, although not necessarily, I maintain an almost imperceptible thread running through. One small area of a pattern can inform the next. However, I tend to throw in something ever so slightly dissonant to add interest and/or wit, to take seriousness away.
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TEH 2020 BOOKAZINE Carlos Garcia.indd 14-15
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Interior Design is the ultimate guide dedicated to helping readers create their perfect English home. From the publishers of The English Home magazine, it features invaluable advice from some of Britain’s finest designers and interiors experts on success with colour, pattern, design details, focal points & more. Order online or seek out a copy at Barnes & Noble
Buy online for $10.95 (plus shipping and handling) and have it direct to your home. Visit chelseamagazines.com/interiordesign 90 delivered THE ENGLISH HOME
22/10/2019 15:58
QUINTESSENTIALLY
Inspiration for seasonal pastimes and making the most of life at home starts here
TAKE A SEAT
FEATURE EVE MIDDLETON
Enjoying the sun’s rays in a quiet corner of the garden is a pleasure enhanced by a cup of tea and a peruse of the papers. Take inspiration from nature’s colour palette and create a comfortable seating area with textiles in gentle shades of pink and green. Wrought-iron garden bench, £650; wool throw, £94; cushions, from £42; mug, £19.50, all Susie Watson Designs
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The rolling hills around Esthwaite Water in the Lake District exemplify the beauty of the landscape, itself an area of inspiration and the focal point for Octavia Hill’s work leading to the foundation of the National Trust in 1895.
Shaping Britain LANDSCAPE LEGACY
In our new series we consider some of the historically important figures who have shaped the look of the nation. Part one focuses on those whose work influenced the evolution of Britain’s much-loved landscapes
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ABOVE Bowood House in Wiltshire has been home to the Lansdowne family since 1754, and its gardens are considered to be one of eighteenth-century landscapte architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s seminal works. The parkland he created features a flowing mix of plantations and sweeping lawns leading down to a mile-long lake. (Turn to page 62 to see our interview with The Marchioness of Lansdowne.)
T
he beauty and breadth of Britain’s landscapes are unparalleled. The allure of the wild Lake District’s undulating forms sends the heart soaring and elsewhere gently rolling slopes and carefully created parklands provide panacea for the soul with soothing vistas and floral displays. The history and evolution of these spaces, meanwhile, offer an equally entrancing insight into the country’s make-up, thanks in large part to the named figures responsible for their creation. SWEEPING VISTAS & WATER FEATURES England’s green and pleasant land is testament to both its history and its people – one of the most formative arguably being Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, the eighteenth-century landscape architect, much of whose work, typified by swathes of parkland, is still in existence today. Brown began his career working under architect and designer William Kent at Stowe in Buckinghamshire. Kent’s work in landscape design saw him and royal horticulturalist colleague Charles Bridgeman credited as the fathers of the English landscape garden. Kent and Bridgeman created ‘natural’ layouts in contrast to the more formal structured gardens of the preceding century, and in addition to Stowe, they collaborated on works at Chiswick House in West London and Rousham House in Oxfordshire.
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Brown became head gardener at Stowe in 1748 and soon went on to work on properties including Chatsworth in Derbyshire, Croome in Worcestershire, Bowood in Wiltshire and Petworth in West Sussex. He was prolific in his output and created an estimated 170 landscapes so deceptively simple and understated in their execution that nature herself often looks to have been the artist at work. The early nineteenth century saw landscape architect William Andrews Nesfield come to the fore. Recognised for projects including revising elements of London’s Regent’s Park and Kew Gardens – where the Pagoda Vista bears his hallmark – he also worked on Holkham Hall in North Norfolk and Castle Howard in Yorkshire. Nesfield’s background, initially as a soldier and then as an acclaimed painter, gave him a respect for structure coupled with an appreciation for the beauty of nature. This was found in both his cascade and waterfall compositions, lauded by renowned philanthropist and art critic John Ruskin, and also in his prominent use of more ornate, sculptural water features. SPOTLIGHT ON CONSERVATION Where the Georgian era saw the birth of awe-inspiring backdrops to the great estates of England, the lateVictorian era saw a burgeoning interest in the
ABOVE Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown created landscapes that dismantled notions of botanical formality. Lancelot Brown (1769) by Nathaniel Dance. RIGHT An 1835 engraving of Petworth illustrating Brown’s work.
LEFT The south-facing Terrace Gardens at Bowood House, commissioned by the 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne to remind him of his time in Italy. The upper terrace, by Sir Robert Smirke, was completed in 1818 and the lower terrace, by George Kennedy, was added in 1851. RIGHT William Kent, who is credited as being one of the fathers of the English landscape garden. William Kent (circa 1736) by Bartholomew Dandridge. FAR RIGHT Octavia Hill, whose work saw her co-found the National Trust in 1895. Octavia Hill (1876), by Reginald Grenville Eves
ABOVE The Pagoda Vista at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in West London is a fine example of work by Victorian garden designer Willam Andrews Nesfield. LEFT Avenue Gardens in Regent’s Park showcases Willam Andrews Nesfield’s work based around straight vistas and axes. The structure and colourful flowers were put in place to lend variety and interest for those walking through a public space, in a city where the sight of beautiful blooms would often solely be the preserve of wealthy private gardens.
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The eighteenth-century walled garden at Rousham in Oxfordshire is one of the property’s many delights designed by William Kent and horticulturalist Charles Bridgeman.
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FEATURE EVE MIDDLETON PHOTOGRAPHS P92 © NATIONAL TRUST/PAUL HARRIS; P94 © BOWOOD/ANNA STOWE; P95 (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) © GEOGPHOTOS/ALAMY; © THE PRINT COLLECTOR/ALAMY; © NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/JOHN HAMMOND; © GRANGER HISTORICAL PICTURE ARCHIVE/ALAMY; © KEW/ANDREW MCROBB; © THE ROYAL PARKS/GREYWOLF; P96 © HARPUR GARDEN IMAGES; P97 (TOP) © NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/JAMES DOBSON; (DUCKS & TARN HOWS) © NATIONAL TRUST/PAUL HARRIS; (DRAWING & PORTRAIT) © NATIONAL TRUST/ROBERT THRIFT; (BOWOOD) © BOWOOD/ANNA STOWE
RIGHT Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top farmhouse near Sawrey in Cumbria, now in the care of the National Trust. BELOW LEFT One of the author’s sketches on display at the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkwshead. BELOW RIGHT Real-life inspiration at Hill Top.
preservation of wilder landscapes, with the likes of Ruskin producing authoritative writings on the care and conservation of the countryside. This development in thinking resulted in Octavia Hill, Hardwicke Rawnsley and Sir Robert Hunter creating the National Trust at the end of the nineteenth century. Social reformer Hill believed that access to open spaces was crucial for well-being. “She said that ‘the need of quiet, the sight of sky and of things growing, seem human needs, common to all men’,” explains Hilary McGrady, director general of the National Trust. Along with clergyman Rawnsley and solicitor Hunter, Hill founded the National Trust in 1895 as an association to preserve lands and buildings, to be open to and benefit all strata of society. “She transformed public access to our landscapes, and ensured that access to green space became a right for everyone, not just a privilege for a few,” says McGrady. There was an inextricable link between the three founders – Rawnsley and Hill had campaigned to save parts of the Lake District from the railways, with Ruskin’s support, whilst Hunter had been Hill’s legal advisor – along with the connection to the Lake District, home to both Rawnsley and Ruskin for large parts of their lives.
ABOVE Beatrix Potter in Old Age (1896) by Delmar Harmood Banner. RIGHT View of Tarn Hows, part of the Monk Coniston Estate owned by Beatrix Potter and later bequeathed by her to the National Trust.
BEATRIX POTTER’S LEGACY This link to location extended to author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, whose inspiration came as a result of childhood holidays in the Lake District, where she met Rawnsley. He encouraged her creativity, and a lifelong friendship ensued, borne of a mutual interest in nature and the countryside. Potter used funds from her success as an author to purchase land and farms in the Lakeland Fells, including Hill Top and the Monk Coniston Estate. She also pursued a career as prize-winning breeder of the indigenous Herdwick fell sheep. Upon her death she bequeathed to the National Trust 4,000 acres and numerous farms, continuing the preservation of the Lakeland Fells, its way of life and its artisanal crafts. n
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WIN
A GREAT BRITISH HOLIDAY
Your once-in-a-lifetime trip includes: Free international flights (if applicable) Two-night London stay Tickets on Caledonian Sleeper to Edinburgh Two-night stay in Edinburgh A British food tour Tickets to Blenheim Palace A night in a Cotswolds hotel Afternoon tea West End tickets with dinner
Enter our competition for the chance to win a holiday to Great Britain for two, worth up to £5,000, including free international flights
W
hat would your dream holiday to Britain include? A five-star stay in London and tickets to a West End show? A trip to historic Edinburgh? How about a stay in the Cotswolds, including a visit to one of Britain’s finest stately homes? Well, with our Great British Holiday competition, you can win all of this and more.
LONDON LUXURY Starting with free flights (for overseas entrants), the winner and a guest will travel to London for two nights at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel At The Shard – a London landmark. Enjoy afternoon tea at the TÎNG Restaurant, also in The Shard, 35 floors up, with magnificent views
98 THE ENGLISH HOME
of the London skyline. Your visit to London will also include tickets to a top West End show of your choice, with a lavish three-course meal to make your night in the capital one to remember.
DREAM YOUR WAY TO EDINBURGH Next, you will be whisked to Edinburgh on the Caledonian Sleeper train. Departing central London at night, you will bed down in a Club Room and wake for breakfast in the Club Car before arriving in Edinburgh. Your base in the city will be the luxury Radisson Collection Edinburgh, located on the famous Royal Mile, with stunning views of the Old Town. During your stay you will enjoy a food tour of the city, with tastings of
Scottish dishes and drinks, rounded off with traditional afternoon tea.
THE CHARMING COTSWOLDS To conclude your trip, it is time to head to the English countryside to visit one of Britain’s finest stately homes and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill: Blenheim Palace. Accommodation for the night will be at The Feathers hotel, an inviting seventeenthcentury townhouse hotel in the historic market town of Woodstock. After a traditional English breakfast, you will be free to explore your surroundings: the idyllic Oxfordshire Cotswolds, home to some of England’s most beautiful villages.
COMPETITION
Two-night stay for two including breakfast and afternoon tea at the Shangri-La Hotel At The Shard, London, the capital’s highest hotel. shangri-la.com
Two premium theatre tickets in the stalls or dress circle, plus a three-course meal with wine from Buyagift, the UK’s leading provider of experience days. buyagift.co.uk
Two-night stay for two including breakfast at the Radisson Collection Edinburgh on the city's Royal Mile. radissonhotels.com
Two tickets to Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, one of the country's finest stately homes and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. blenheimpalace.com
Return tickets for two on Caledonian Sleeper from London to Edinburgh. Accommodation and breakfast included. sleeper.scot
Enjoy an Edinburgh British Food Tour for two with upgraded drinks package, including traditional afternoon tea, from go-to gift experience company Red Letter Days. redletterdays.co.uk
One-night stay for two at The Feathers, a charming seventeenth-century townhouse hotel near Blenheim Palace. Includes breakfast. feathers.co.uk
HOW TO ENTER Go to theenglishhome.co.uk/ GBH2020 or ll in the coupon on the right with the answer to the question: Question: Which of these cities sits on an extinct volcano? a) London b) Edinburgh c) Newcastle TERMS & CONDITIONS Closing date for entries is 31 July 2020. The winner will be announced on theenglishhome. co.uk on 7 August 2020, and the holiday can be taken between 1 September 2020 and 31 May 2021, subject to availability. For full terms and conditions, go to theenglishhome.co.uk/ GBH2020
SEND YOUR COUPON TO: US readers – Great British Holiday Competition 2020, The English Home, C/O NPS Media Group, 2 Corporate Drive, Suite 945, Shelton, CT 06484 UK and ROW – Great British Holiday Competition 2020, The English Home, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TQ, UK
My answer:
Name: Address: Postcode/Zip code: Tel no: Email:
Somerset EXPLORING
Plan a trip to some of England’s most enchanting areas with our new series. This month we look at places to stay, hotspots for food, drink and creative enclaves in Somerset
N
estled in the crook of south-west England’s bucolic environs, the county of Somerset encompasses swathes of verdant countryside, romantic apple orchards and wild coastline. Its pastoral setting and deeply held historical and mystical connections have long drawn visitors to its dreamy landscape, making it a fascinating spot, rich in talent and creativity. Beyond associations with Arthurian legend, the area is purported to be home to ley lines, said to link the energies of ancient monuments and sites such as Glastonbury Tor. Today, particularly around Bruton and the Somerset Levels, it holds increasing appeal for flourishing enterprises, including a world-class art gallery, boutique accommodation and independent markets, whilst other draws include artisan bakeries and Michelin-starred chefs alongside the area’s renown as cider-making epicentre. Somerset’s position some two-and-a-half hours by car or train west of London makes it a delightful proposition for a short break away.
PLACES TO VISIT
Contemporary art galleries through to historic houses set the scene – not to mention the former home of a Nobel Prize-winning author. HAUSER & WIRTH SOMERSET Opened in 2014 as the second and only UK branch outside London, this international gallery and arts centre sits amidst a beautiful Piet Oudolf-landscaped garden within the grounds of a working free-range farm – the renovated farmhouse of which is available to rent (see Durslade Farmhouse, page 125). Current exhibitions include the work of photographer Don McCullin and Swiss sculptor Not Vital. Durslade Farm, Dropping Lane, Bruton BA10 0NL Tel: 01749 814060; hauserwirth.com HESTERCOMBE HOUSE & GARDENS Commissioned by former owners the Portman family in 1903, the Formal Garden at Hestercombe attracts visitors who come to
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT St Michael’s Tower on Glastonbury Tor; the Piet Oudolf-landscaped garden at Hauser & Wirth Somerset; apples orchards are prevalent in Somerset; the calming façade of Caro in Bruton; the east front of Montacute House; hide away in the granary at The Newt In Somerset; Hestercombe House and Gardens; a view of the valley parkland with the Palladian Bridge, and beyond to the skyline of Bath, at Prior Park Landscape Garden; Barrels from The Somerset Cider Brandy Co. THE ENGLISH HOME 101
admire architect Edwin Lutyens’ design and horticulturalist Gertrude Jekyll’s planting scheme. The Great Plat sunken parterre in particular is notable for its striking pattern and herbaceous planting. Cheddon Fitzpaine TA2 8LG Tel: 01823 413923; hestercombe.com
MONTACUTE HOUSE Instantly recognisable from its turn on the silver and small screens (films including Sense and Sensibility and The Libertine, as well as the BBC’s adaptation of Wolf Hall, were all filmed here), this Elizabethan mansion with surrounding gardens also houses an outpost of the National Portrait Gallery. Montacute TA15 6XP Tel: 01935 823289; nationaltrust.org.uk/montacute-house PRIOR PARK LANDSCAPE GARDEN Designed by poet Alexander Pope and landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, this notable example of an English landscape garden offers striking views towards Bath. Restoration work currently being carried out on its eighteenth-century dams means restricted access in some areas, though the much-loved Palladian Bridge, summerhouse, serpentine lake and parkland remain open for visitors. Ralph Allen Drive, Bath BA2 5AH Tel: 01225 833977; nationaltrust.org.uk/prior-park-landscape-garden BRUTON MUSEUM Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck’s seven-month stay in Bruton’s Discove Cottage in 1959 is chronicled at this heritage museum. He was so taken with the town that he wrote to his agent: “I wish you could feel this place, just let it seep into you… there’s a goodness here… something that clears your eyes”. Also on show are artefacts from the Jurassic, Roman, Saxon and medieval times. 22 High St, Bruton BA10 0AA Tel: 01749 812294; brutonmuseum.org.uk
GOURMET DELIGHTS
Apple orchards, pear trees and a strong tradition of cider and Cheddar cheese production make Somerset a hub for food ventures.
TOP TO BOTTOM The At The Chapel restaurant; baked goods from At The Chapel bakery; Osip chef Merlin Labron-Johnson; a view over Somerset Levels; culinary creations from Osip; Somerset’s cows are a large part in its cheesemaking heritage. 102 THE ENGLISH HOME
OSIP Opened last year by Britain’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, Merlin Labron-Johnson, this self-described tiny farm-to-table restaurant serves daily changing menus with the best of the area’s local produce. Sister hotel Number One Bruton (see page 126) provides a delightful spot for a post-prandial stay, with breakfast served at Osip solely for guests. 1 High St, Bruton BA10 0AB Tel: 01749 813322; osiprestaurant.com
PHOTOGRAPHS P100-101 (GLASTONBURY TOR) © NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/JAMES DOBSON; (HAUSER & WIRTH) © JASON INGRAM; (PRIOR PARK) © ANTHONY DEZENZIO/SHUTTERSTOCK; (CARO) © EMMA LEWIS; © HESTERCOMBE HOUSE & GARDENS; © THE NEWT; (MONTACUTE HOUSE) © NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/ROBERT MORRIS. P102 (OSIP) © MAUREEN EVANS; (SOMERSET LEVELS) © CHARLESY/SHUTTERSTOCK
GLASTONBURY TOR The conical form of this ancient hill is marked by terraces thought to have been created as a kind of maze to guide pilgrims up to the top. Nowadays, ascending the 158 metres to its apex to take in the 360-degree views is encouraged by means of a gradual-gradient concrete path to minimise erosion. Also at the top is St Michael’s Tower, all that remains of a church demolished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. Tor Court, Coursing Batch, Glastonbury BA6 8BH Tel: 01278 751874; nationaltrust.org.uk/glastonbury-tor
Catherine Hill Street in Frome’s artisan quarter.
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LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Pearl Lowe, fashion designer and author of interiors book Faded Glamour, lives in Somerset and here shares her favourite spots “I love La Belle Brocante, a lovely vintage store in Wells with hand-painted furniture, mirrors, chandeliers, crockery, glassware, beautiful fabric ranges and lots more (1 Priest Row, Wells BA5 2PY Tel: 01749 672164). In Frome try Lark Vintage, a beautiful eclectic shop full of antiques and clothes (Standerwick Court, Standerwick, Frome BA11 6TN Tel: 07988 615686; larkvintage.co.uk), or French General Trading (see page 126), a wonderful little place full of paintings, French furniture and gifts. I have my pop-up shop upstairs, which 104 THE ENGLISH HOME
makes it hard as I’m always buying there myself! (26 Catherine Hill, Frome BA11 1BY Tel: 07713 884820; frenchgeneraltrading.co.uk) For food and drink in Frome, we love Bistro Lotte, a French cafe with the most delicious food and the perfect setting for a romantic supper (23 Catherine Street, Frome BA11 1DB Tel: 01373 300646; bistrolottefrome. co.uk), and Eight Stony Street, home to the best pizzas and hand-picked wines (8 Stony Street, Frome BA11 1BU Tel: 01373 470970; eightstonystreet.com).”
THE SOMERSET CIDER BRANDY COMPANY Award-winning cider brandy, ciders, perries and liqueurs are all crafted here (the 10-year-old Somerset Cider Brandy was the only spirit on HRH The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding menu). The farm, orchards, and on-site shop are all open to visitors for drop-ins, and guided tours can also be pre-arranged for a £5 fee. Pass Vale Farm, Burrow Hill, Kingsbury Episcopi, Martock TA12 6BU Tel: 01460 240782; somersetciderbrandy.com GODMINSTER CHEDDAR Known for its creamy, rich flavour and delicious aftertaste, the distinctive burgundy-waxed Godminster Cheddar is synonymous with the area. The company’s Bruton shop offers truckles, selection sets and hampers. Try the black truffle range alongside the original for a new take on the classic favourite. Station Rd, Bruton BA10 0EH Tel: 01749 813733; godminster.com AT THE CHAPEL This Grade II listed nineteenth-century former congregational chapel (itself updated from an eighteenth-century house) is now home to a restaurant, bakery, bedrooms and a space for events, most recently a film supper evening for a documentary about photographer Brian Duffy, and a pop-up shop for creative retailers The Somerset Collective. 28 High St, Bruton BA10 0AE Tel: 01749 814070; atthechapel.co.uk
PLACES TO STAY
Whether seeking somewhere grand or small and cosy, there are accommodation options aplenty to enjoy the area for longer. BABINGTON HOUSE This Soho House outpost has arguably long led the way for stylish stays. The much-loved members’ club and hotel is also open to non-members, and will be offering a new updated look following a refresh this spring. Doubles (room only) from £215 a night for non-members. Charity Lane, Frome BA11 3RW Tel: 01373 812266; babingtonhouse.co.uk THE NEWT IN SOMERSET A newcomer from 2019, this 23-room hotel and spa in Georgian manor Hadspen House is also a working country estate – home to its Cyder Press & Cellar, formal and kitchen gardens, a bakery, butchery and cheese room. Doubles (including breakfast) from £275 a night. Bruton BA7 7NG Tel: 01963 577777; thenewtinsomerset.com
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The Newt In Somerset; Babington House; Garden View room at The Newt In Somerset; Number One Bruton; Durslade Farmhouse; Durslade Farmhouse kitchen; a bedroom at Number One Bruton.
DURSLADE FARMHOUSE Restored in 2013 by designer Luis Laplace and architects Benjamin + Beauchamp, this six-bedroom property on the site of Hauser & Wirth Somerset (see page 121) features bold, stripped-back decor with artwork by artists Martin Creed and Phyllida Barlow amongst others. Available to hire from £600 a night. Bruton BA10 0NL Tel: 01749 814700; dursladefarmhouse.co.uk THE ENGLISH HOME 105
NUMBER ONE BRUTON Created as an adjunct to restaurant Osip, this Georgian townhouse, medieval forge and row of cottages set around a sout-facing courtyard is now a charming 12-bedroom hotel. Doubles (including breakfast) from £130 a night. 1 High St, Bruton BA10 0AB Tel: 01749 813030; numberonebruton.com
INSPIRING INDEPENDENT SHOPS
Creative minds and enterprising opportunities meet in Somerset. THE GIANT SHEPTON FLEA MARKET A market for collectors as well as thrift enthusiasts, this event offers a plethora of stalls selling furniture, vintage clothing and gifts amongst other things. The next market is 12 April, entry £4.50. The Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN Tel: 01278 784912; sheptonflea.com THE FROME INDEPENDENT This destination street market takes place throughout the town centre on the first Sunday of each month and showcases both new and established designers and makers. The next market is 5 April. Frome Town Centre; thefromeindependent.org.uk FRENCH GENERAL TRADING Owner Polly Markham’s regular trips to brocantes in France mean antiques and unique homeware pieces abound in this characterful spot, also home to fashion designer Pearl Lowe’s pop-up shop. 26 Catherine Hill, Frome BA11 1BY Tel: 07713 884820; frenchgeneraltrading.co.uk
TOP Antiques and homeware at The Frome Independent. ABOVE The Caro Somerset shop.
INSIDER INFORMATION Matilda Temperley, award-winning photographer and documentary maker, grew up on her family’s Burrow Hill farm at The Somerset Cider Brandy Company (see page 125). Here, she gives her insights into the area. “There’s an amazing new restaurant called Osip in Bruton (see page 122). The John Leach Pottery is worth a visit (Mulchelney, Langort TA10 0DW Tel 01458 250324; johnleachpottery.co.uk) – he is the eldest grandson of potter Bernard Leach, founder of Leach Pottery in Cornwall – and so too is 28 Market Place in Somerton which is a brand new restaurant. We haven’t visited but heard it’s great (28 Market Place, Somerton 106 THE ENGLISH HOME
TA11 7LZ Tel 01458 333444; 28marketplace. co.uk). The Circus in Sherborne, although just across the border in Dorset, is a beautiful lifestyle shop (33 Cheap St, Sherborne DT9 3PU Tel 01935 816551; thecircusboutique.com), and The Old Dairy Cafe in Bower Hinton is another spot that does great food too (Bower Hinton Farm, Back Lane, Martock TA12 6LH Tel 017801 639937; theolddairycafe.uk).” n
FEATURE EVE MIDDLETON PHOTOGRAPHS P103 © NIGEL JARVIS/SHUTTERSTOCK. P104-105 (SOHO HOUSE) © PENNY DIXIE/SOHO HOUSE; © THE NEWT; (NUMBER ONE BRUTON, BOTH) © EMMA LEWIS; (DURSLADE KITCHEN) © SIM PHOTOGRAPHY. P106 (TOP) © ALICE WHITBY; (ABOVE) © EMMA LEWIS
CARO SOMERSET Owner Natalie Jones’ carefully curated objects for life and home sit side by side. A double en-suite room is also available at a secluded garden house in the centre of Bruton for £130 a night, including breakfast at At The Chapel (see page 125). 18-20 High St, Bruton BA10 0AA Tel: 01749 813368; carosomerset.com
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Welcome to the third edition of A Year in The English Garden, a special annual from the publishers of The English Garden. This beautiful, 132-page, limited-edition book takes you on a month-by-month stroll through England’s finest gardens. From dancing spring daffodils and colourful summer borders to frosty lawns sparkling in the midwinter sun, you’ll see England at its very best and enjoy learning about the plants and flowers that make these gardens both idyllic and unique. Buy now in Barnes & Noble stores or order your copy for $9.95 (+ $3.50 S&H) and have it delivered to your door. Visit www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/specialannual
PROPERTIES FOR SALE
HOUSES WITH CHARACTER Our selection of some of the most appealing properties for sale. This month, homes in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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FULL OF CHARM The Old Rectory, which was built in 1853, sits next to the church of St Martin in Welton le Wold, an unspoilt village in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Grade II listed house was designed by the Victorian architect Samuel Sanders Teulon, known for his Gothic Revival style and whose trademark window can be seen above the fireplace in the drawing room. Other interesting features include a grand staircase which leads to six bedrooms on the first floor, and a conservatory which opens out to an indoor swimming pool. Stroll through the parkland on the property’s large grounds to find the footpath on the boundary, which offers the opportunity to explore the rural surroundings. The Old Rectory, Lincolnshire, £895,000, Savills
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HISTORIC HALL Grade II listed Nether Hall is situated in the hamlet of Thorington Street in Suffolk, surrounded by the undulating countryside of Dedham Vale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The fivebedroom residence is believed to be one of the last remaining Suffolk hall houses built in the sixteenth century, with exposed timbers, an internal mullion window, intricately carved doors and open studwork. A full-height reception hall gives access to the generous dining room, which leads into the drawing room, both of which boast impressive fireplaces. Adjoining the farmhouse-style kitchen is a conservatory with views of the garden, where rolling lawns sweep towards the River Box. Nether Hall, Suffolk, £1,650,000, Carter Jonas
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COUNTRY COTTAGE Lying in the rural hamlet of Wingmore in the Elham Valley in Kent, Willow Cottage was originally built in 1732 and features wood flooring, an oak staircase and leaded windows. There are also exposed beams and inglenook fireplaces in most of the reception rooms. Step outside the four-bedroom property into the delightful country garden, which has been created in conjunction with the Kent Wildlife Trust to encourage wildlife into the grounds. Wander through the various walkways and enclaves of trees, enjoying the sound of birds and insects, before finding a hidden seat to soak up the views of the surrounding hills of the Kent Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Willow Cottage, Kent, £835,000, Fine & Country THE ENGLISH HOME 109
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5 6 RURAL RETREAT Dating from the seventeenth century, Mount Sorrel Farm is located on the edge of the charming village of Broad Chalke in Wiltshire. The drawing room features a large fireplace and has French windows that open out onto the extensive garden. The dining room is the original part of the house and also benefits from an inviting fireplace which is shared with the sitting room. Upstairs are five bedrooms, including the master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. The house is situated in the Chalk Valley, which forms part of the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and there are a wide range of footpaths and bridle paths that run from the property to venture out into the countryside. Mount Sorrel Farm, Wiltshire, £775,000, Strutt & Parker 110 THE ENGLISH HOME
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GARDENER’S DREAM Occupying a peaceful position in a hidden valley in Somerset’s Quantock Hills, an Area of Outstanding Beauty, Hollybrook is an elegant residence dating from the seventeenth century. The principal rooms are spacious, with inglenook fireplaces and exposed beams, and the drawing room even has an original bread oven. Almost every window of the house, including those of the four bedrooms on the first floor, offers a rewarding aspect of the beautiful garden which reflects the quintessentially English country setting and has a circular secret garden, croquet lawn, rose-covered arch, arboretum and shaped topiary yews. Revel in the freedom of the great outdoors, as the surrounding fields fall under the property’s ownership. Hollybrook, Somerset, £1,350,000, Jackson-Stops
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PERIOD DETAIL The Old Rectory is a Grade II listed property situated on the River Cerne in the small village of Godmanstone in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The six-bedroom residence was built in the eighteenth century in the local architectural style, with banded stone and knapped-flint walls under a Welsh slate roof. There is a lovely reception hall with a tiled floor and three inter-connected reception rooms. Distinctive Georgian features of the house include high ceilings and tall sash windows offering ample choice of views of the garden and the Cerne Valley beyond. Enjoy warm, sunny days outside on the various terraces, or take a dip in the heated swimming pool tucked away on the far side of the lawn. The Old Rectory, Dorset, £1,250,000, Knight Frank n
FEATURE JANINE JORGENSEN PHOTOGRAPH P110 (TOP) © MICHAEL ILIAS
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Mrs Minerva writes...
The art of
CELEBRATIONS Passionate about quintessential English customs, our incognito columnist reminds us to do the best things in life in the most elegant fashion, always with a twinkle in her eye
BELOW Make sure invitations are sent in plenty of time for guests to save the date in their diary.
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here are several reasons to throw a party, including significant birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries and so on, but sometimes it is rather wonderful simply to arrange a get-together just for the sake of it. I find that at least half of the enjoyment and satisfaction is in the planning. Being prepared is key. So, set a date well in advance not only to make it easier for invitees to make space in their diaries but also because it is always heavenly to have something to look forward to. Parties should be fun. I adore celebrations that reflect one’s personality but which are also relaxed and unpretentious so guests can truly enjoy them too. The very best seem as if they have come together effortlessly and are full of small, joyous things. Mr M and I share a dislike for events that are – to put it kindly – a tad showy. Too many, it seems to both of us, are designed to look good on social media rather than to offer a jolly nice time. Only recently, on receiving an invitation to the wedding of a dear friend’s son, Mr M became incandescent. “Why, in heaven’s name,” he exploded, “can’t people just have a lovely wedding nowadays without having r Novembe to turn it into an obscene cross between Cirque du Soleil and Ice?” And indeed, Dancing on Ice on studying the invitation further, he and I had a rare moment of agreement. As the bride-to-be had the improbable job of ‘influencer’, the couple’s g d in wedding was to have a winter d e W wonderland theme. The country house hotel hosting dd
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the event would be covered in heaps of artificial snow, the bride would arrive in a carriage pulled by reindeer from a specialist farmer in Scotland and all the guests would be required to wear white. Unfathomably, the date chosen for this spectacle was 25 July. Hen parties and significant birthdays, too, have become something of a production in recent years. Whereas once everyone was thrilled with a simple but delicious supper and a glass of champagne, now it seems some feel short-changed unless the event involves learning to mix cocktails, taking a hot-yoga class, attending a chef’s table or spending time in an isolated yurt in Finland for crystal healing and the opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Let me be clear: I am all for everyone having exactly the celebration they want, after all, these are important milestones and joyous occasions and perhaps I am being a little bit snobbish. I do, however, wonder if celebrations have got rather out of hand and we have lost sight of what matters. Nevertheless, one’s personality should shine through. A birthday bash for a gregarious soul who loves nothing more than singing, might opt for something kitsch, like karaoke. Those who love dressing up, but fear inviting friends to a fancy dress occasion, could do what my wonderful friend Anne did last summer and host an ‘alter ego’ party. That way guests could go as far as they liked: Mr M dressed as a Labrador and had a wonderful time, whereas a rather shy girl we know simply popped on a pair of dungarees. When a fellow party-goer asked her if she was a farmer, she nodded. When, later, she was asked if she were Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, she again replied in the affirmative. Weddings are a slightly trickier proposition, as there is more than one person to please. Personally, my THE ENGLISH HOME 111
Mrs Minerva Writes...
ABOVE Champagne on ice is always a sign of an important celebration.
112 THE ENGLISH HOME
ABOVE Every detail at a Rhubarb event is thought of, whether one is
looking for a lovely country party or super-sleek city bash
PARTIES WITH PANACHE From hand-drawn invitations to hiring party planners, Mrs M suggests details to elevate any celebration YOU ARE INVITED....
London-based designer Isla Simpson creates beautiful stationery with gorgeously nostalgic references to chintzy country houses of the 1980s. Her website is the perfect one-stop shop for invitations, menu cards, place cards and correspondence sets for those all-important thank you notes. If, like me, you are a fan of the whimsical, then do take a look. islasimpson.co.uk
PERFECTLY PLANNED
PHOTOGRAPHS P112 (CHAMPAGNE) © AFRICA STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK; (RHUBARB, TOP) © CHRIS ORANGE
very favourite weddings are the ones that feel a little homespun, such as those with a marquee in the garden, wildflowers in jam jars and delicious food to tuck into. Hosting an event can be stressful and it is not unusual for the host or hostess to feel overwhelmed and unable fully to enjoy the event, however, I do have some suggestions to avoid this. The first step is to do only the things one really loves. There is absolutely no point in doing something simply because it is fashionable. I also make it a rule to try very hard not to invite anyone I do not adore. Working out a budget and deciding where to scrimp and where to splurge also really does take the biggest pressure out of event planning Whatever the occasion, it really is so much more enjoyable if one asks one or two good friends to help with the planning. They can rein in over-ambitious plans and provide encouragement and focus in moments of procrastination On the day itself be sure to delegate – a host who is completely frazzled, will not enjoy the day. Appoint willing friends and family members to keep an eye on things such as drinks and canapés being offered effectively, guests being left alone with no one to talk to, the music being at the right levels, the photographer capturing all the important moments, or Uncle Peter being kept a safe distance from the bar. This will allow you to relax a lot more and not constantly watching out for a problem. And finally, remember that whatever the joyous occasion, those who truly love you will want to celebrate with you and make it a resounding success. n
London-based destination wedding and party planner Scarlet has a little black book to die for and can plan events across the globe, from Paris to Istanbul. Whether an elegant cocktail party or an extravagant wedding, luxury venues to private dining at home, its team will make it stress-free and an occasion to remember – from floral and set design to lighting and production. scarletevents.com
MEMORABLE EVENT
Rhubarb Hospitality Collection has offices in London and New York and a marvellous team dedicated to creating the very best of events. From beautiful canapé receptions to elegant weddings and exquisite charity galas, some of the very loveliest events I have ever been to have been overseen by Rhubarb. In fact, often the only way I can cajole Mr M into a dinner jacket is by telling him that Rhubarb is doing the canapés. I am rather hoping to have it do a party for the rather big anniversary Mr M and I have coming up. If it can only help in making him a little more cheerful, then I would have literally no worries left. rhubarbgroup.com
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36 Bourne Street
Tel 020 7730 7991 36bournestreet.com Amara Tel 01376 321100 amara.com And So To Bed Tel 01308 425252 andsotobed.co.uk Angel & Boho Tel 0333 200 7371 angelandboho.com Ardmore Tel 020 8344 0300 ardmoregroup.co.uk Artemest artemest.com Aspinal of London Tel 01428 648180 aspinaloflondon.com Beaumonde Tel 01202 707770 beaumonde.co.uk Bespoke Kitchen Services Tel 01584 711030 bespokekitchenservices. co.uk Birdie Fortescue Tel 01328 851651 birdiefortescue.co.uk Burleigh Tel 01773 740740 burleigh.co.uk Burton & Blake Tel 020 3105 1669 burtonblake.co.uk Cabbages & Roses Tel 020 7352 7333 cabbagesandroses.com The Cast Iron Bath Co Tel 01723 585896 castironbath.co.uk Clarence House Tel (800) 803-2850 clarencehouse.com Clarke & Clarke Tel 01706 242010 clarke-clarke.com Cole & Son Tel 020 8442 8844 cole-and-son.com Colefax & Fowler Tel 020 7244 7427 colefax.com Copeland Interiors Tel 01284 754388 copelandinteriors.co.uk CP Hart Tel 0345 873 1121 cphart.co.uk Crocus Tel 01344 578 111 crocus.co.uk David Seyfried Tel 020 7823 3848 davidseyfried.com Daylesford Organic Tel 01608 731700 daylesford.com Designers Guild Tel 020 7351 5775 designersguild.com The Dining Chair Company Tel 020 7259 0422 diningchair.co.uk
Emma Sherlock
Tel 07951 046647 emmasherlock.com Farrow & Ball Tel 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com Fired Earth Tel 01295 812088 firedearth.com Flora Soames Tel 020 7823 4286 florasoames.com Free Range Designs Tel 01650 570305 freerangedesigns.co.uk The French Bedroom Co Tel 01444 415430 frenchbedroomcompany. co.uk Garlands Tel 01584 318014 Gaze Burvill Tel 01420 588444 gazeburvill.com GP & J Baker Tel 020 7351 7760 gpjbaker.com Handmade Rug Co, The Tel 020 7692 8979 thehandmaderugcompany. com Harlequin Tel 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com/harlequin Heal’s Tel 0333 212 1915 heals.com Hector Finch Tel 020 7731 8886 hectorfinch.com Highgrove Tel 0333 222 4555 highgrovegardens.com Howe London Tel 020 7730 7987 howelondon.com Ian Sanderson Tel 01635 017810 iansanderson.co.uk India Jane Tel 020 8799 7166 indiajane.co.uk Italian Terrace Tel 01284 789666 italianterrace.co.uk Jamb Tel 020 7730 2122 jamb.co.uk Jojo Bradley Interiors Tel 01829 271684 jojobradleyinteriors.co.uk Julia Brendel Tel 01795 599 840 juliabrendel.com Kate Forman Tel 01962 732244 kateforman.co.uk KDLoves Tel 01328 830449 kdloves.com Knowles & Christou Tel 020 7352 7000 knowles-christou.com Lapuan Kankurit lapuankankurit.fi
Lefroy Brooks Tel 01992 708316 uk.lefroybrooks.com Leporello Tel 01483 284109 leporello.co.uk Les Indiennes lesindiennes.com Lewis & Wood Tel 020 7751 4554 lewisandwood.co.uk Little Greene Tel 0161 230 0880 littlegreene.com Malvern Collection, The Tel 01299 266000 themalverncollection.co.uk Mandarin Stone Tel 01600 715444 mandarinstone.com Manuel Canovas Tel 020 7244 7427 manuelcanovas.com Marlborough Tiles Tel 01672 512422 marlboroughtiles.com Mat Finish Tel 01794 367667 matfinish.co.uk Matches Fashion Tel 020 7022 0828 matchesfashion.com MM Design Textiles Tel + 33 (0)9 51 44 04 72 mmdesigntextiles.com Nkuku Tel 01803 465365 nkuku.com Oka Tel 01235 433930 oka.com Oliver Bonas Tel 020 8974 0110 oliverbonas.com The Original Muck Boot Co Tel 0808 281 9536 muckbootcompany.co.uk Orwells Tel 01473 680091 orwellsfurniture.co.uk Osborne & Little Tel 020 8812 3123 osborneandlittle.com Paint & Paper Library Tel 0161 230 0882 paintandpaperlibrary.com Parvum Opus parvumopus.com Peonies & Posies peoniesandposies.com Plain English Tel 020 7486 2674 plainenglishdesign.co.uk Pooky Tel 020 7351 3003 pooky.com Popham Design pophamdesign.com Quartet Interiors Tel 01747 832293 quartetinteriors.com Roger Oates Design Tel 01531 632718 rogeroates.com
Rowen & Wren Tel 01276 451077 rowenandwren.co.uk Sanderson Tel 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com/sanderson Soane Britain Tel 020 7730 6400 soane.co.uk Sofa Sofa Tel 01495 244226 sofasofa.co.uk Susie Watson Designs Tel 0344 980 8185 susiewatsondesigns.co.uk Sustainable Kitchens Tel 0117 961 6471 sustainablekitchens.co.uk Summit Tel 020 7795 3311 summitfurniture.com Sweetpea & Willow Tel 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com Sylvie Tel 01747 448500 sylvie.co.uk Thornback & Peel Tel 020 7242 7478 thornbackandpeel.co.uk Titley & Marr Tel 02392 599585 titleyandmarr.co.uk Titchmarsh & Goodwin Tel 01473 252158 titchmarsh-goodwin.co.uk Todhunter Earle Interiors Tel 020 7349 9999 todhunterearle.com Tolly McRae tollymcrae.co.uk Tom Raffield Tel 01326 722725 tomraffield.com Town & Country Fires Tel 01751 474803 townandcountryfires.co.uk Vanrenen GW Designs Tel 020 7371 8465 vanrenengwdesigns.com Vaughan Designs Tel 020 7349 4600 vaughandesigns.com Velvet Peony Tel 01829 458566 velvetpeony.co.uk Villeroy & Boch villeroy-boch.co.uk Walls & Floors Tel 01536 314730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Wicklewood Tel 020 7460 6493 wicklewood.com William Yeoward Tel 020 7349 7828 williamyeoward.com The Wonderful Garden Co Tel 07939 486713 thewonderfulgarden company.co.uk Yves Delorme yvesdelorme.com Zoffany Tel 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com/zoffany
THE ENGLISH HOME 113
design MY
HERO
“N
ancy was my greataunt, so I knew her all my life. My sister and I would stay at her beautiful house, Haseley Court, in the holidays. It was extremely comfortable and wonderfully pretty. The guest room, where I stayed, had a single white four-poster bed with walls in a tobacco-colour Dufour & Cie painted wallpaper. It was bliss. My first job was as an assistant at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler in the 1960s. Soon after, I started a gift shop called Treasure Island, which then morphed into my interior design business. Starting out, I didn’t consciously emulate Nancy’s style, but she had obviously inspired me, so I wasn’t daunted. She saw and liked some of the rooms I created; she wasn’t the sort to make one feel nervous. I learned from her that comfort matters and that everything should be of correct proportions, and if in doubt, one should scale up. If I hang four pictures on the wall, for example, I don’t spread them out like postage stamps, instead I group them together. Nancy had phenomenal taste, but people also loved her self-deprecating charm. She was American, so it’s ironic she became known as the arbiter of ‘English country house’ style. She started the trend for bathrooms to look like drawing rooms. Like her, I designed grown-up bedrooms for my children, as a result, they kept their rooms tidy and appreciated them. She liked all the rooms she created to contain special details. I still have a red wooden pear she gave me and its sharp colour enlivens whichever room it occupies. She designed the rooms of ‘yesterday’, I design rooms for ‘today’, but for me, her influence remains strong. She loved to fuse modernity with classic comfort, and that is what I do, too.” n 114 THE ENGLISH HOME
ABOVE American interior designer Nancy Lancaster (1897–1994). RIGHT In 1957, Nancy took on a set of rooms above Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler at 39 Brook Street. Fowler persuaded her to paint the drawing room a startling, glossy yellow. The iconic space became known as the Yellow Room. BELOW Nancy’s influence can be felt in this dining room by Jane Churchill. The symmetrically arranged china and scaled-up chandelier balance the proportions of the room.
ABOVE In this house in Chelsea, designed by Jane Churchill, the dressing table perfectly demonstrates her love of correct proportions and the importance of grouping art together.
FEATURE JUDITH WILSON PHOTOGRAPHS (NANCY LANCASTER PORTRAIT) © GRANGER HISTORICAL PICTURE ARCHIVE/ALAMY; (YELLOW ROOM) © SIMON UPTON; (DINING ROOM) © ED SHEPHERD; (DRESSING ROOM) © CLIVE NICHOLS
Interior designer Jane Churchill on the influential Nancy Lancaster
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