INTERIOR DESIGN THE ART OF BEAUTIFUL LIVING
FORM & FUNCTION Guides for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms
PLUS
Essential advice, considered buys and decorating inspiration for every room
£10.99 UK
CONTENTS INTERIOR DESIGN
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KITCHENS 8
DESIGNERS’ SECRETS: KITCHENS Step inside the real kitchens
of designers and experts for practical advice on creating a functional and welcoming heart of the home. 16 COUNTRY CLASSICS The key ingredients for a timeless country kitchen, from classic cabinetry to rustic textures. 25 MATERIAL MATTERS An expert guide to selecting kitchen surfaces and finishes for both practical and aesthetic benefits. 32 PRETTY & PRACTICAL Add character with useful items for the kitchen that are beautiful, too.
BATHROOMS 34
DESIGNERS’ SECRETS: BATHROOMS Interior designers reveal
their own bathrooms, sharing ideas for balancing function with creating a luxurious, restful sanctuary. 42 BATHROOM BLISS Eight key essentials for creating the perfect bathroom, from storage and lighting to an indulgent bath and shower. 49 ENDURING BEAUTY Navigate the array of ceramic and stone choices with our guide to different materials, styles and formats for the bathroom and beyond. 56 BATHE IN TRANQUILITY Create a serene, spa-like space with calming hues, elegant details and interesting textures.
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SITTING ROOMS 58
DESIGNERS’ SECRETS: SITTING ROOMS From grand and formal to chic and contemporary, we discover the sitting rooms of leading designers and how they create inspiring living spaces. 67 HIGHLY SPRUNG The essential factors to consider when choosing upholstery, from frames and springs to fabrics and finishing trims, with advice from craftsmen and experts. 72 ROOM TO RELAX A selection of sofas to anchor a room, with styles to suit every preference. 74 SITTING PRETTY Find the perfect armchair for curling up beside the fire or settling down with a good book.
BEDROOMS 76
DESIGNERS’ SECRETS: BEDROOMS Insights into this most
personal of spaces, with ideas from interior designers’ own bedrooms, guest rooms and children’s rooms. 85 SWEET DREAMS From choosing the perfect mattress to setting the scene with a well-chosen colour palette, discover the key ingredients for a dreamy bedroom. 94 CLASSIC & CALM Beautiful new buys for creating a restful, sophisticated bedroom scheme. 96 DRESSING UP Pretty, feminine touches for creating a luxurious dressing room.
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16 HALLWAYS 98
DESIGNERS’ SECRETS: HALLWAYS The welcoming, wellconsidered hallways of interior designers, with ideas for maximising space and functionality. 106 MAKE AN ENTRANCE Chic and practical touches for a hallway.
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DINING ROOMS
108 DESIGNERS’ SECRETS: DINING ROOMS Whether generously
proportioned for dinner parties or making the most of a compact space, these dining rooms offer plenty of inspiration. 114 SET THE MOOD Tableware and other buys for dining rooms.
OTHER SPACES
116 DESIGNERS’ SECRETS: HOME OFFICES Tips for creating a
stylish and functional workspace at home.
122 A STUDY IN STYLE Smart buys for the home office. 124 DESIGNERS’ SECRETS: ANCILLARY ROOMS Boot rooms, utility
rooms and laundry rooms are luxurious additions, but also valuable, hardworking spaces.
MY ENGLISH HOME
130 NINA CAMPBELL The renowned designer reveals the design
details and choices that make her Chelsea home special.
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DESI G NER S’ SECR ET S
KITCHENS What makes this most-used room feel like the heart of the home? We asked creatives, designers and tastemakers on how to create a cohesive and convivial cooking space FEATURE EMMA J PAGE
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hough today the kitchen is considered the heart of the home, it was not always so. Our earliest shelters barely comprised cooking spaces at all, since food preparation took the form of working with an open fire, often located outside or sequestered in a partially open outbuilding for the sake of safety. By medieval times, early kitchens revolved around a basic open hearth, with private cooking spaces reserved only for the wealthy. Despite the advent of cast-iron stoves in the early 1800s, kitchens remained a private part of the household, especially in homes that could afford servants. In townhouses, kitchens were often located on the lower-ground floor, with little attention paid to light and circulation, while lavish dining and sitting rooms occupied the floor above. Over time, that ‘upstairs-downstairs’ approach has fallen out of favour, partly for practical reasons, such as the disadvantage of carrying food between floors, but also as a reflection of the informality of modern life, where cooking, dining and lounging are seen as interconnected, sociable activities. Today, whether they are large farmhouse-style affairs or hardworking galley designs, kitchens are the backdrop to daily life. Here, some of our best-loved designers share their approach to this space, providing a showcase for both creativity and functionality. 8 THE ENGLISH HOME
RIGHT Helen Parker of deVOL, who used lace tiles in Vintage Teal combined with furniture from deVOL’s The Classic English Kitchen to lend a modern-country air to this space.
DESIGN INSIGHT
Favour an artisan finish
Helen Parker, creative director, deVOL Kitchens that blend natural materials, such as wood and stone, with a mix of freestanding and fitted elements have a rustic, informal feel particularly suited to period properties. Opting for a crafted look – units topped with aged counters or open-shelving rather than wall-hung cabinetry – conjures a relaxed farmhouse feel – a look that works well in larger spaces. In her Victorian villa in Leicestershire, Helen Parker’s kitchen scheme revolves around a plaster pink and soft teal palette, which was inspired by a still life painting of a fish that she owns and that now hangs on the wall of the space it inspired. ‘It made it much easier to navigate the minefield of options and colours,’ she says. ‘The plate in the painting has a wonderful teal
edge, so introducing the faded glamour of our lace tiles up the far wall and on either side of the window was a no-brainer. I needed lots though, to suggest a vintage feel and texture, and for impact.’ Chequered marble floor tiles feature flecks of pink that prompted soft oyster walls, giving Helen a base that acts as a warming canvas to her collection of copper pans. ‘The floor feels Victorian – grand but slightly faded. In my opinion, good flooring is worth spending your money on,’ she says. ‘I love finishes that look old, but are easy to buy in quantity, straightforward to fit and lend a specific atmosphere to a room, whether that’s flooring or hardware. It’s about recreating those forgotten or hard-to-find items that we yearn for in our homes.’
ABOVE A fluted sink creates a natural focal point, complemented by walls in Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster and a chequered marble floor by Floors of Stone. Cabinetry in Printer’s Black, deVOL.
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COUNTRY CLASSICS Create the ultimate country kitchen with design elements that deliver on practicality and purpose, and are full of charm FEATURE SARA EMSLIE
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he kitchen should be the heart of a country home, a place of conviviality and sociability, where family and friends can gather to cook, entertain and relax. It should be practical and purposeful, but suitably stylish, with an aesthetic that reflects the intrinsic beauty and simplicity of rural life. We explore the key elements involved in creating the perfect country kitchen, from classic cabinetry, kitchen mantels,
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walk-in pantries and clever storage to natural materials and rustic textures. Advice from leading industry experts helps to create a space that is both functional and beautiful. ABOVE Classic-style cabinetry, warm, earthy colours and natural textures combine to create a charming country kitchen. Medium-sized Henley kitchen (about 14 cabinets), shown here in Lead Light, from £22,500, Neptune
ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS
perfect 1The CABINETRY AND SURFACES
From heritage detail to rustic simplicity, there is much to consider when it comes to cabinetry. Traditional Shaker-style panelled doors have timeless appeal, countertop cupboards add an air of grandeur, while aged wood delivers a crafted, modern-rustic aesthetic. A kitchen is a long-term investment, and quality is key. Paula Carter, marketing design manager at The White Kitchen Company, advises: ‘At the heart of a great country kitchen is beautifully crafted cabinetry. Solid-wood units, built using traditional joinery techniques, offer durability and longevity and can be sanded back and repainted when a refresh is wanted.’
Kitchen spaces work hard, and work surfaces must perform. Fred Horlock, design director of Neptune, suggests: ‘Solid-oak worktops bring warmth and beautiful texture to a country-style kitchen, but be mindful that they need regular care, especially around high-use areas like sinks. Light, delicate marbles can add a sense of grandeur to a country kitchen, but remember that real stone needs sealing and a little extra attention.’ If need be, ‘try pairing stone on prep areas with oak on an island to create a more “collected” feel that adds charm and character to a country kitchen,’ he adds.
ABOVE A honed diamond quartzite surface and sink, sourced directly from Italy, add a luxurious touch to the understated cabinetry, which is made from planks of crown oak. The Cotswolds kitchen, from £70,000, Ledbury Studio
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ABOVE Full of country charm and made of recycled pine, this island unit features a bluestone worktop. Antonia kitchen island unit, £1,795, Cox & Cox
more honest,’ advises Helen Parker, creative director, deVOL, who suggests combining some sections of worktop in wood and some of stone in a kitchen design for added personality. Other options include polished concrete, which makes a durable and heat-resistant surface. Once sealed, it is designed to be easy to wipe clean and resistant to stains, with a hand-cast character that makes each worktop unique in tone and texture. ‘While often associated with contemporary architecture, polished concrete can be beautifully at home in more classic or heritage settings,’ says Izzy Taylor-Wood, managing director, Woody’s Concrete Company. ‘The look can be softened with warmer tones, such as stone greys, putty and buff shades, and paired with traditional cabinetry, natural timbers or handmade tiles.’
Cupboard love
‘Kitchen furniture is made from all sorts of timbers and wood derivatives, including chipboard, MDF, melamine and vinyl,’ explains Darren Taylor, managing director, Searle & Taylor. ‘Most premium kitchen companies, including us, make doors from real woods, together with high-quality carcass materials like ply and timber veneers.’ Responsibly sourced real timber, such as oak and walnut, brings a solid feel, natural beauty and luxurious quality with sustainable credentials. Tulipwood, explains Taylor, is often used for painted kitchens as it has no knots and its tight, smooth grain makes paint finishes much smoother. Veneered door fronts can also look striking, while high-grade MDF – known for its stability, moisture resistance and durability – is often used when the door fronts are going to be painted. Across the kitchen industry, drawer boxes can be made from metal, plastic, wood or chipboard. 28 THE ENGLISH HOME
BUYER’S GUIDE RIGHT Luxury polished concrete worktops add a calm, tactile quality to this kitchen design. Polished concrete surfaces, from £1,200 a square metre, Woody’s Concrete Company LEFT This bespoke kitchen includes a round condiment cabinet with an oak worktop. Classic kitchen, from £50,000, Searle & Taylor BELOW Decorative handles made from solid brass. Latchford handles, from £69.60 each, Armac Martin
‘Choose a dominant finish for most handles, then introduce a secondary finish in targeted areas, such as an island, to turn the mix into a design feature rather than a distraction’ Gareth Hull, design lead, Hendel & Hendel
RIGHT Made of durable porcelain, these tiles are designed to emulate the look and feel of handglazed zellige versions. Tangier Sage Green tiles, £55.01 a square metre, Quorn Stone LEFT These mix-andmatch tiles make a charming splashback. Dyrham Dairy ceramic tiles, £25 each, Ca’Pietra FAR LEFT Create a cohesive feel with other brass details. Greenwich cup handles, £19.18 each; Westgate cupboard catch, £31.10, all in Burnished Brass, Hendel & Hendel
DESIGN INSIGHT
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