
9 minute read
BEAUTY IN UTILITY Make the spring cleaning ritual a satisfying process with the right pieces
Extendable feather duster, from £29 (small), Ostrich2Love
Sorghum hand broom (large), broom £55, Foundland £55, Foundland Silent Butler oak storage mirror, £165, Heal’s



Arbour Lattice wall tiles, £79.95 a square metre, Original Style
PERFECTLY PRACTICAL

Reviving surfaces, forgotten corners and furnishings with a good dust and clean is a satisfying annual ritual. Make the prospect more desirable with well-made tools for the job, such as natural feather dusters and soft cleaning cloths. To retain the feeling of calm well after spring cleaning has finished, take note of where extra storage would improve the sense of order within a room. To avoid compromising a particular scheme, invest in cleverly designed beautiful storage that is charming to behold day after day.
Blue White Spot storage jar, £54, Susie Watson

Full Circle Plant Based Dye Cleaning Cloths, £12 (set of three), National Trust

Lined rattan storage basket, from £21 (small), Marquis & Dawe Andrée Jardin organic olive dishwashingliquid, Sage & Basil, £12.50, Divertimenti
Door handles, shelf brackets and homeware, all Willow & Stone


Wooden ironing board, £345, Summerill & Bishop Kitchen scissors, £17, Garden Trading
NEW DECORATING GUIDE

INTERIOR DESIGN2021 DESIGN GUIDE



CREATING THE PERFECT ENGLISH HOME


PROFESSIONAL DESIGN ADVICE
Kitchens Bathrooms Sitting rooms Dining rooms Home offices Dressing rooms
PLUS
Chic shortcuts & wise buys Essential resources & brilliant tips Serene





SITTING ROOMS
Four top interior designers reveal what to consider when designing a stylish sitting room with enduring appeal
Personal style and architectural considerations are priorities when considering the design and layout of a sitting room. However, function is undeniably an important factor too – where some may require a sleek, elegant space for evening drinks and entertaining, others may need a family-friendly room where different generations can come together and relax in each other’s company. How best then to blend these varying elements? We talk to leading designers to glean insights on key projects of theirs and highlight stylish and effective solutions.
Louise Bradley on combining a contemporary aesthetic with a period property
Interior designer Louise Bradley provides insights on fulfilling a brief to create a luxurious, contemporary setting that was sympathetic to the history of a Grade II listed property.
The brief
“The main house at the estate – a 130-acre shooting and fishing estate in Surrey – is Grade II listed and was designed by Scottish architect JM Brydon in 1885 as his own home. The sitting room boasts large windows and ample natural light, and is the main space within which the family gathers and hosts their friends. The client’s brief was for a classic-contemporary aesthetic that also fitted with the history of the house.”
14 THE ENGLISH HOME Past and present
“Working with a Grade II listed property sometimes has its challenges, with many existing features needing to be retained throughout the interior architecture of the building. The clients wanted an elegant yet comfortable drawing room in which they could relax and entertain family and friends, with a classic contemporary-feel decor that was also sympathetic to the history of the estate.
“We retained the original floor, the original columns and fireplace. The beautiful large bay window had amazing views over the gardens so it was important to look at a floor plan and colour scheme that made the most of the spectacular gardens; to achieve this, we opted for soft muted colours that would complement
ABOVE The bespoke ornate breakfront bookcase along the far wall is designed to complement the style and history of the property and echoes architectural elements in the room.
TEH UK Bookazine 2021 Sitting room case study.indd 14-15
BATHROOMS Case Study One
Blissful
BATHROOMS Design experts reveal important considerations in balancing style and practicality to create the ideal bathroom


ORDER Bathrooms, as intimate, personal spaces, have to be functional and hard-wearing yet also provide a cocoonlike and indulgent zone where we can close the door and feel at peace. It is vitally important, therefore, to get the feel right, particularly as warmth, comfort and a sense of luxury are bound to be high on the list of priorities. So the question is how to marry the brisk efficiency necessary for the early OVER 30 INTERIOR DESIGNER CASE STUDIES BY Nina Campbell, Joanna Wood, Jane Churchill, Paolo Moschino, 86 THE ENGLISH HOME TEH UK Bookazine 2021Bathroom case studySSJamends.indd 86-87TODAY FOR Susie Atkinson, Emma Sims-Hilditch & many, many more...ONLY $14.95

morning rush with the pleasure of a relaxing evening bath or a long, hot shower?
Here, our bathrooms special showcases a range of rooms by four experienced designers, each demonstrating that it is eminently possible to marry form and function and create a space which is both perfectly practical and a beautiful haven in which to refresh and unwind.
Bookazine US COVER 2021 final.indd 1 23/10/2020 12:25 SITTING ROOMS Case Study One
the different seasons. Under the bay window, we made a large comfortable window seat that offered an area to relax, dressed with a variety of bespoke cushions using different textures and patterns, perfect to recline amidst for morning coffee and papers. The comfortable contemporary sofas were upholstered in a soft chenille and again dressed with cushions in assorted traditional prints. Cushions always add an element of luxury allowing to add colour without overpowering the room.”
Creating a blend
“The choice of a coffee table with clean lines and an aged mirror top had a more contemporary feel, dressed with interesting books and accessories adding interest to the space. A central chandelier was a must and completed the overall aesthetic. The occasional table lamps, in both metal and rock crystal, created another level of light to the room in the evenings. The large bespoke breakfront bookcase was made by one of our trusted artisan craftsmen and is designed in a traditional style with a specialist paint finish in aged black, with an antique mirror detail in the pilasters to add interest. It also allows the clients to display their books, objets d’art collected over the years on their travels and family photographs.”
RIGHT The simple design and clean lines of the coffee table create a perfect setting for a carefully curated selection of books and mementoes.
THE ENGLISH HOME 15
27/10/2020 15:39
Gemma Gordon-Duff on creating a decadent en suite
Interior designer Gemma Gordon-Duff, of architectural interior design practice Gordon-Duff & Linton, reveals how she created a luxurious central London master suite with decadent materials and unfussy design details to create a scheme with a difference.
The brief
“My client’s main residence is outside the UK and so, as this home is used intermittently, they wanted the master suite – bedroom, dressing room and bathroom – to have all the luxuries of a hotel, but with a more homely feel. They loved the decadence of a copper bath in the dressing room, and asked us to use this as the starting point for the design. The property is a handsome Georgian townhouse, with high ceilings and beautiful architectural features, and so another aim was to complement this feeling of grandeur with a suitably classic yet chic design.” Luxury & opulence
“The perfect place for the bath was by the window in the dressing room, with a cream linen Roman blind for privacy. I chose copper because the client expressed a desire for a statement piece and, to elevate the experience (and to allow for possible water splashes), raised the bath on an Arabescato marble plinth. The room is finished with a luxurious, cut-pile velvet carpet. Next to the bath, I designed an oversized ottoman in a sage cotton velvet that allows for clothes to be laid out, or for a partner to sit and chat. I do feel that bathing in a room full of soft, luxurious fabrics is a lovely, serene and elegant way to relax and cleanse. I designed wardrobe doors with a copper inlay to complement the bath.
The en suite has plenty of space for a shower and vanity unit. I continued the opulent theme by using the same Arabescato marble on the walls, floor and even the drawer fronts. Above the vanity, wall-mounted taps create clean lines and allow plenty of space for toiletries, and a shallow mirror-fronted storage unit has inset lighting concealed beneath. The oversized, walk-in shower with a wet-room floor ensures the room feels spacious but unfussy. The finishing touch is low-level lighting in the bathroom that is automatically triggered by movement at night. The overall effect is luxurious but also quite architectural.”
OPPOSITE PAGE & ABOVE RIGHT A copper bath from Catchpole & Rye is raised to window height by being set on a marble plinth in the dressing room. The wardrobe doors feature a copper inlay to echo the bath’s exterior; they were designed by Gordon-Duff & Linton. The silver- framed bird paintings are from Oka. ABOVE LEFT The walls, floor and drawer fronts of the en-suite shower room are covered with beautifully grained Arabescato marble from Stone of London.
THE ENGLISH HOME 87
27/10/2020 15:40
Interior Design is the ultimate room-by-room guide dedicated to helping readers create their dream home. From the publishers of The English Home magazine, it features invaluable advice from some of Britain’s finest designers and interiors experts on choosing all the key elements that make a house an elegant home.