The English Home July/August 2022 - US Edition

ENGLISH HOME The

Out

door Special

Celebrating the essence of English style

SUMMER LIVING

Spectacular gardens & outdoor entertaining BRITISH PURSUITS Elegant picnicking Beach hut hideaways Jubilee celebrations

BEAUTIFUL BOTANICALS Decorating with motifs from nature

UPLIFTING HOMES

Vibrant, tranquil & romantic houses full of character

August 2022

SEASONAL DINING Setting the scene & dishes to savour

BRITISH LEATHER GOODS WWW.ETTINGER.CO.UK

CONTENTS AUGUST 2022

18

36 Beautiful Buys

64 INTERIOR OASIS Bring the outside in with uplifting

6

72 SET THE SCENE FOR: DINING AL FRESCO Revel in

88

schemes using natural motifs, textures and hues.

DESIGN DISCOVERIES Exciting new collaborations

12 HAPPY & GLORIOUS Honouring Her Majesty The

sunshine with our edit of delightful seasonal tableware.

79 BEACH HUT HEAVEN Designer Pearl Lowe celebrates

Queen’s jubilee with special commemorative designs.

14 COUNTRY GARDEN Incorporating joyful patterns and

decorative shapes.

16 GREEN & BLUSH Together or separately, these tonal

colours bring a sense of lightness to any scheme.

the charm of these miniature seaside abodes.

Quintessentially 85 NATURAL NARRATIVE Enliven surfaces with flora and

fauna découpage.

English Homes

86 FROM PATCH TO PLATE: MATTHEW FORT The

18 A LIGHT TOUCH Interior designer Grant White

88 OCCASION TO PICNIC The history of British picnicking

wonders of freshly picked berries. transforms a Cotswold manor with tricks of the trade.

26 CRAFTING A HOME Specialist finishes and vintage

at the iconic operatic setting of Glyndebourne Festival.

92 THE ART OF THE GRAND TOUR Mrs M takes charge of

finds fill this Edwardian townhouse with rich details.

36 MODERN COUNTRY Natural themes unite schemes in

the planning for a delightful tour of luxury British hotels.

94 HOUSES WITH CHARACTER Properties featuring

the home of interior designer Annabel Grimshaw.

44 NATURAL HARMONY A thatched cottage’s interiors

outstanding gardens.

98 ONE FINAL THING Elevate a corner of the garden with

and garden design are influenced by its surroundings.

54 THE ARTIST’S PALETTE Homeware designer Sophie

Conran details her garden’s impactful redesign.

Style Inspiration

relaxed details.

The

Out

door Special

Celebrating the essence of English style

SUMMER LIVING

Spectacular gardens & outdoor entertaining BRITISH PURSUITS Elegant picnicking Beach hut hideaways Jubilee celebrations

BEAUTIFUL BOTANICALS Decorating with motifs from nature

Regulars 4

SEASONAL DINING Setting the scene & dishes to savour

UPLIFTING HOMES

A LETTER FROM HOME A warm welcome from

our Editor.

63 DAY DREAMING Chic garden seating.

ENGLISH HOME

97 ADDRESS BOOK Useful contact details.

Vibrant, tranquil & romantic houses full of character

August 2022

PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) © RACHAEL SMITH; © JAMES MCDONALD; © JAMES BELLORINI PHOTOGRAPHY

and fresh innovations.

COVER IMAGE: ANDREAS VON EINSIEDEL COVER ILLUSTRATION ARTMARI/SHUTTERSTOCK

THE ENGLISH HOME 3

Discover beautiful ideas for entertaining outdoors this summer from page 72.

WRITE TO US AT

The English Home, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TQ, UK Tel + 44 (0)20 7349 3700 Email: theenglishhome@chelseamagazines.com

www.theenglishhome.co.uk EDITORIAL

Editor Samantha Scott-Jeffries Managing Editor Sarah Feeley Art Editors Claire Hicks, Rebecca Stead Sub Editor Lea Tacey Decorating Editor Katy Mclean Acting Features Editor Suzanna Le Grove Homes & Lifestyle Editor Clair Wayman Editor-at-Large Kate Freud Editorial Assistant Nell Whitaker

UK ADVERTISING CONTACTS

S

ummertime in England is always glorious, and as a nation, we enjoy planning to spend time outdoors and make the most of the months when the sun is most likely to shine. And just as our homes have taken on a new significance over the last few years, so too have our gardens. We’ve found ourselves focusing more time and energy on making the outdoor spaces we have at home our private retreats. The beautiful garden that the homeware designer Sophie Conran has created in Wiltshire is a case in point (page 54).

If hosting friends and family in the garden this season, discover how to set the scene for elegant entertaining outdoors on page 72.

You’ll also find delicious recipes to enjoy al fresco (page 86), as well as how and why the British like to picnic (page 88), particularly at grand events, or cannot resist the nostalgic pull of a beach hut (page 79). My grandparents owned a beach hut when I was growing up close to the coastal town of Bournemouth. To me, it was like a playhouse come to life, where the grown-ups made cups of tea and rustled up sandwiches. The beach hut was simple – a place to store wooden deckchairs, sandy towels and fishing nets. Today, however, some are furnished with as much care as a miniature home. Take a tour around the one of the loveliest versions we’ve found and learn more about great British beach huts on page 79.

Elsewhere, we showcase homes for sale featuring spectacular gardens (page 64), and decorating ideas inspired by nature (page 14) to continue that summer feeling indoors, whatever the weather!

Samantha Scott-Jeffries, Editor Follow us on Twitter @englishhometeam Pinterest at pinterest.com/theenglishhome Facebook at facebook.com@theenglishhome Instagram at instagram.com@englishhomemag The

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DESIGN DISCOVERIES

Refined designs in fresh palettes create an update on a classic look for summer CORNISH CONNECTION The Cornubia collection, named after the Latin for Cornwall is the second collaboration between Ben Pentreath and Morris & Co. Bringing a delicate awakening of a budding Cornish landscape while paying homage to the Arts and Crafts movement, the revived iconic patterns in bright hues, contrasted here (right) in three textures, add a wonderful originality to a room scheme.

Woodland Weeds wallpaper, £119 a roll, Cornubia collection, Ben Pentreath x Morris & Co

TRUE TO TRADITION Drawn from a traditional English design, the handformed bulbous glass held within a brass frame (above), finished in Antique Verdigris patina, is central to Jamb’s new collection. Other pieces include elegant chairs and tables perfect for instilling a classic and refined look, all taken from original designs and sensitively reproduced.

Berrington Lamp, £3,800, Jamb

6 THE ENGLISH HOME

FLASH IN THE PAN Inspired by a 1960s Nordic mood, KN Industries’ kitchenware, including this cheery yellow saucepan, has been sourced by Day True to provide an elegant on and soff the hob presence.

The Saucepan, £78, KN Industries, exclusive in the UK to Collected by Day True

SHOPPING

ZEST FOR LIFE Inspired by the time he spent living and travelling in Asia, Charles Orchard’s English furniture and accessories provide a playful take on scalloped and rattan furniture with designs in a range of uplifting colours.

Wave dining table, £1,120; Trellis dining chair, £380,  both Charles Orchard

WESTLAND LONDON SPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE FIREPLACES & FINE 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

SHOPPING

REFINED ELEGANCE Mid-century nostalgia and classic rustic shapes combine in One World’s latest furniture collection. A versatile look, they suit both classic interiors and the more contemporary look.

Woodcroft old pine and iron dining table, £1,695; Norton framed beige dining chairs, £395 each, One World

A VISUAL FEAST

PLAYFUL PATTERN In four colourways, this new print from Divine Savages is inspired by designer and co-founder Tom Kennedy’s appreciation for early animation chase scenes. Birds swooping and cats watching them surrounded by delicate motifs could inspire budding imaginations in a children’s room or nursery.

Bye Bye Birdie, £140 a roll, Divine Savages

The newest collection from Truffle Tablescapes epitomises founder Kate Fairlie’s longstanding love for interiors.

Showcasing the best of wildflowers, greenery and colour, and styled with pretty linens, Wildflower Garden is perfect for long lunches.

Braided Seagrass placemats, £42 (set of four); Wildflower Garden tablecloth, £130; Hessian napkin bows, £8 (set of four); Wildflower Garden linen napkins, £24 (set of two); Copper Burnished candleholder duo, £14, all  Truffle Tablescapes

THE ENGLISH HOME 9

SHOPPING

SUMMERTIME SLUMBER Newly launched enchanting handblocked offerings from Sarah K encapsulate the rich hues of high summer roses. In a range of products from wash bags to quilts, these highquality linens with delicate motifs add a subtle hint of timeless English design.

Pink Ditsy pillowcase, £28; Scarlet Scallop pillowcase, £26; Baby White Scallop pillowcase, £22; Pink Mini Elephant quilt, from £135, all Sarah K

Little Greene’s exterior paint collection can stand the test of time as it is formulated from the same technology as paints designed for lighthouses and bridges. Come the warmer months, a fresh lick of paint on exterior walls, doors and furniture makes all the difference when relaxing in the garden.

Woodwork, Air Force Blue Traditional Oil Gloss, £75 for 2.5l; Wall, Gauze Intelligent Masonry Paint, £75 for 5l, both Little Greene

AN ENGLISH ROSE Flora Roberts’ second wallpaper collection for Hamilton Weston celebrates the magic of the spring and summer seasons with a largely floral theme. Quintessentially English, this design (right) would look fabulous rambling in and around a drawing room, bringing the best of a garden inside. (See p64 for more decorating inspiration on bringing the outside in.)

Peony Garden, Blush, £367.50 a roll, Flora Roberts x Hamilton Weston n 10 THE ENGLISH HOME

XXXXX x x x x x x x x x xxxxx xxxx FEATURE NELL WHITAKER PHOTOGRAPH (SARAH K) © ALICE MORGAN

TAKE IT OUTSIDE

www.juliettravers.com

info@juliettravers.com

+44 (0) 1420 617 211

SHOPPING

Her Majesty The Queen: The Official Platinum Jubilee Pageant Commemorative Album, £49.95, order from stjamess.org

Royal Union Jack paper bunting (3m), £10, Talking Tables

Platinum Jubilee Lion & Unicorn cushion and Street Party cushion, both £139, Jan Constantine Queen’s Jubilee Street Party cupcake topper decorations, £3.99, Ginger Ray The Potters Collection Vessels, from £149, Collection Noir

HAPPY & GLORIOUS There will be jubilations and celebrations aplenty this June as the nation marks Her Majesty The Queen’s incredible 70 years of service with the Platinum Jubilee. In addition to various events, there is an abundance of special products on offer – from embroidered cushions to platinum paint and even a regal bed in smart Windsor Blue. A jubilee would not be complete without a commemorative teapot or tea towel, and for those holding street parties, we have sourced delightful bunting and cake toppers. At the end of a day of celebrating, pour a cup of Platinum Jubilee tea, fill a plate with Corgi biscuits and leaf through the official commemorative album.

Platinum/Silver bespoke paint, £32 for 1l, Mylands Platinum Jubilee tea caddy, £9.95, The Royal Collection

Elizabeth king size bed in Windsor Blue, £3,065, Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co 12 THE ENGLISH HOME

Platinum Jubilee Teapot, £125, Fortnum & Mason

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee collection ½ pint mugs, £22 each; medium shallow tin, £10, all Emma Bridgewater

Jubilee Lebkuchen Corgi, £4.50 each, Bettys

FEATURE KATY MCLEAN

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tea towel, £19.50 for a set of two, Sophie Allport

Union Jack Luxury Merino Jubilee Picnic Blanket, £169.95, Annabel James

FRE SAMP E L OF FI NIS ES HES & RES

TEXTU

Now offering faux wood beams in custom sizes, colors and textures! www.decorativeceilingtiles.net | 866.297.0380 2036 NW 55th Ave., Margate, FL 33063

SHOPPING

Julia wallpaper, Spring Green, £145 a roll, Elizabeth Ockford Floral linen lampshade, £58, Helen Round The Potters Collection Vessels, from £149, Collection Noir

Macarons from The English Garden collection, from £30 for six, Emma Dodi Cakes

The English Garden tablecloth, from £245, Mila-London Clover tile, Emily Mitchell, £165, The Shop Floor Project

COUNTRY GARDEN Bring the glorious beauty of an English country garden into the home with joyous floral motifs depicting native favourites from wildflowers to the classic tea rose. The taste for English botanicals is evident in many new pieces for spring, with painterly techniques capturing the ethereal beauty of blossoming petals or graphical designs modernising trailing foliage for a crisp look. Of course, blowsy chintzes epitomise the classic English country garden look in full bloom with peonies and roses bursting across fabrics in joyful abandon.

(See p64 for more inspiration on bringing the outside in.)

Dinner plate, £39.90 for six; tea cup and saucer, £24.90, Rose Garden collection, Villeroy & Boch

Sakura frilled edge cushion, Vintage Rose, £145, Inchyra

Margot Olive Floral babouche slippers, £42, Bohemia Design

Floribunda Daydream printed velvet, £34 a metre, Blendworth

Allendale fabric, Sage, £55 a metre, Warner House

Artisan mango wood plate, from £18, Nkuku Peony Sage linen pillowcase set, £69, Antipodream 14 THE ENGLISH HOME

Rose door knocker, £132, Adams Mack

Large flower knob, £2.99, Knobbles & Bobbles

FEATURE KATY MCLEAN PHOTGRAPH (MILA-LONDON) © LISA VAN DEVENTER

Curtains, Hydrangea, Summer, £20 a metre, Clarke & Clarke

and enjoy the finest Italian olive oil from your own tree

Save 15%

ENH15 off first pack

POMORA.COM

SHOPPING

Antilles collection fabrics in Blush, from £69 a metre, all Anna French at Thibaut

Foxglove Green and Pink lumbar cushion, £110, Eloise Home

Novo Blush rug, £1,295, Soho Home

Sima paint, Paint in Green £42 forFernwood 2.5l and Pleasant Pink, Flat Matt, from £27 for 0.94L, Coat Climate both Benjamin Moore Positive Paint Company

GREEN & BLUSH Whether used individually or together, blush pink and fresh green instantly bring a lightness to the feel of a room. A shared tonality means these shades pair beautifully together, lending sophistication to neutrals or anchoring colourful schemes with a considered theme. To keep the mood elegant and classic, choose blush-toned furnishings and fittings. For a sense of energy, include busy prints in both colours, and to ensure a timeless fit with country interiors, look to the soft, sage end of the green spectrum and a mix of patterns and prints.

Green Bumble quilt, £225, The Mews Furnishings

Fronzoli Green serving dish, £62, Host Avalon four-door sideboard, from £3,550, Trove By Studio Duggan Tinka green glass vase, £38, The Find Store

Larsen two-seat sofa in Rhubarb brushed linen cotton, from £1,390, Sofa.com

16 THE ENGLISH HOME

Verdi four-shelf plant stand, £179, Cuckooland

Trellis Pink and Green napkins, £20 for four; Sage Green placemat, £3.50; Clove Sage Green tablecloth, from £65, all So Souk

Formentera Pistachio tile, £5.04 a tile, Bert & May

FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE PHOTOGRAPHS (ANNA FRENCH) © KIP DAWKINS; (CUCKOOLAND) © RICHARD FAULKS; (THE TROVE) © SIMON ELDON; (THE MEWS) © ANDREW D STEEL

Empire knife-pleat silk 10-inch shade with trim and Russia braid, £361, Besselink & Jones

www.villaverde.london

18 THE ENGLISH HOME

A light

TOUCH Updating a Cotswold manor house to suit contemporary life has been a rewarding challenge for interior designer Grant White FEATURE & STYLING COSMO BROCKWAY PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES MCDONALD

LEFT The front of the house was aggrandised in the 1750s, a century after the original house was built. Today the honey-coloured facade is one of the most seductive in the area having been given new life by its adoring owner.

ABOVE In the original stone-flagged porch a 17th-century English stained oak settle provides somewhere to sit for a moment and admire the spectacular scenery from the front door.

THE ENGLISH HOME 19

‘Eschewing a traditional country house look, I have created rooms that are elegant, unfussy, playful and respectfully appropriate for the house’ ABOVE A French 19th-century gilt mirror in the entrance hall and a mirror at the end bring more light into the space and reflect a flower arrangement on a stone plinth in an Oliver Messel touch.

I

nterior designer Grant White remembers first glimpsing his enchanting Cotswold retreat as he came over a hill and saw it shimmering in the far distance, surrounded by hedged fields, nestled amongst trees. Manor Farm is so quintessentially English, it is a surprise to learn that Grant is, in fact, a Cape Town native, albeit one who has made London his base for the last three decades. A sought-after interior designer, he has worked all over the world, on residences from Mustique to Belgravia.

In 2019, shortly after acquiring the property, Grant, and his business partner, Aurelie Brelivet, decided to

20 THE ENGLISH HOME

move from their large industrial studio in Parsons Green, London to the spacious farm buildings near the house. A prescient move when, six months later, the pandemic struck. Now, Grant’s commute to the office is a short stroll across the lawn, although he still spends a few days a week in London for meetings.

Reflecting on his affinity for this beautiful, rather hidden, corner of Gloucestershire, he says, “This area captured my heart immediately with its secret valleys, woodland, dingly dells and miles of dry-stone walls.”

Having previously rented a cottage on the Ditchley Park Estate, once home to the great decorator Nancy

Lancaster, Grant was used to the routine of a weekend escape, the car loaded with food, and friends invited for Sunday lunch. However, somewhere more longterm was needed. Grant knew Manor Farm well, as its colourful, aristocratic former owner was a close friend, and serendipitously, the property eventually became his. “Its rather austere exterior belied a faded highlydecorated and opulent interior,” reflects Grant of his new home.

The charmingly rambling 17th-century farmhouse, with its mullion windows and a gabled, honeycoloured facade, was grandly enlarged in the 1750s.

The challenge for Grant was to somehow make it liveable for the 21st century. “It was tired and confusing,” remembers Grant with a wry laugh. “A 1950s Formica kitchen, pastel bathrooms and brutal exposed central heating pipework were just some of

the issues.” Once all the offending elements were removed, the house was, in Grant’s words, “forlorn”.

“The arrangement of rooms was not at all suited to modern life,” he adds. The main reception rooms were at the front of the house, while the kitchen seemed distant and cold. The bones, however, were excellent. His energy and enthusiasm saw the house lose its 1980s embellishments and “open up and transform into a simpler, less formal, but elegant family house”.

Grant also removed lowered ceilings, originally essential for heat insulation. This transformed previously claustrophobic rooms into capacious spaces with original beams and flooded with light.

The house began to breathe. The relief felt palpable, and, in turn, he resolved to echo the sense of freedom in the interior decoration.

ABOVE The velvet and Fortuny fabric screens in the library were commissioned in the 1970s by the Marquess of Bristol for Ickworth, his country seat. The studded green velvet stools are from Pure White Lines while the rug is from Sklum.

THE ENGLISH HOME 21

Tranquil yet impactful, the rooms are allowed to sit in comfortable silence rather than chatter with unnecessary flourishes Eschewing a traditional country house look, Grant has created rooms he describes as “elegant, unfussy, playful and respectfully appropriate for the house”.

A unifying blank canvas was conjured up with the use of Leyland’s trade white emulsion across each and every room. “Satisfyingly very inexpensive, given the amount the house needed,” he says. The warm white paint was the perfect neutral foil needed for his eclectic finds peppered around the interiors: the drawing room features a pair of stainless steel bookcases displaying traditional African art – a striking nod to Grant’s heritage – while a side table dances with a collection of Ethiopian Coptic crosses and an oversized lamp for bold scale. Nothing is timid in either his outlook or his aesthetic.

The wide flags are a keynote of the central hall, which is lined, like much of the house, with antique gilt mirrors, oversized console tables and Florentine candlesticks. Tranquil, yet impactful, the rooms are allowed to sit in comfortable silence rather than chatter with unnecessary flourishes.

Manor Farm is a new chapter in Grant’s aesthetic and a skin he wears with apparent comfort and ease.

The kitchen is a clear example of this confident  approach, with an almost spartan Mediterranean

22 THE ENGLISH HOME

TOP Mid-century leather and chrome Brno chairs by Mies van de Rohe in the drawing room complement the Paul Evans bookcases, which hold various African artworks. The painting above the stone fireplace is by Andrew Norrey and brings a contemplative depth to the space.

ABOVE Grant knocked through walls to create the airy open-plan kitchen with cabinetry by The Shaker Kitchen Company in Cirencester. The antique ladderback chair is a reminder that this is a country-house kitchen at its heart.

The carved 17thcentury dining suite was inherited from an aristocratic friend and adds atmosphere to the dining room.

Delft tulipiere vases are perfect for instant flower arranging.

The reception room’s enormous inglenook fireplace with its ancient gnarled beam is still regularly used.

The classic wing-back chairs are given a modern touch with faux fox fur cushions found in Munich.

THE ENGLISH HOME 23

‘This area captured my heart immediately, with its secret valleys, woodland, dingly dells and dry-stone walls’ ABOVE In the principal bedroom, the handsome four-poster bed was sourced at a local auction and sets the scene with a vintage Colefax and Fowler floral chintz. Grant bleached the floorboards to lend the room a more modern touch. Visit grantwhitedesign. com to see more of Grant’s interior design work.

cleanness, perfectly complementing the high ceilings and large windows.

In the library, Fortuny fabric cushions sing out on a midnight-blue velvet sofa next sitting next to undyed linen curtains edged in sapphire blue. The effect, like everything with Grant, is both disarming and seductive. Ever inventive, he brought many of his tricks of the decorating trade into play when transforming his home. The patchwork of wooden floors was unified using a Norwegian ship deck oil called Faxe, while lightning strikes of colour were introduced with vibrant ikat lampshades from Pooky and Oka. Upstairs, the pitched ceilings of the landing evoke a Downton Abbey-in-miniature feel. Grant often stands at the upstairs windows and gazes out across the glorious, far-reaching countryside, musing about life and how fate has brought him here. “Views across the fields here are timelessly English,” he says. Perched on the Golden Valley, with all its surrounding folds of land and woods, this charming country house has well and truly entered a new and exciting chapter. n

24 THE ENGLISH HOME

ABOVE An upper-floor bedroom sports a striking gold-leaf painted antique Chinese screen, one of the many objets Grant, with his discerning taste, has found at the fine art sales he loves to frequent.

RIGHT The bedroom landing has been given a blue-andwhite theme led by a beautiful vintage Nordic dowry chest.

Grant’s keen eye for detail leaves no space overlooked.

LEFT The secluded swimming pool offers a tranquil spot to relax. The house is available for short-term holiday rentals. Visit manorfarmsapperton. com to find out more.

THE ENGLISH HOME 25

Crafting

A HOME

Jennifer Barba has turned her Edwardian home in London into an inviting sanctuary that perfectly reflects her love of craftsmanship FEATURE IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI & CLAIR WAYMAN PHOTOGRAPHY ASTRID TEMPLIER STYLING MARISA DALY

26 THE ENGLISH HOME

The Walnut Drawing In the formal Room dining is at the heart of this historic house with its room, a hand-painted Parisian boiserie panelling de Gournay and intricately carved and wallpaper called gilded Early Views of Indiamarble fireplace. has been made The intoroom was totally panels by Ian empty on Caroline’s arrival and so she had the Chescoe Decorating. task of making it feel like The 19th-century a home. Cut velvet Hepplewhite dining with Ottomanchairs and upholstery 1820s era motifs adds to the mahogany dining sumptuous feel. table are from Regent Antiques.

THE ENGLISH HOME 27

‘I learnt a lot from the creative professionals. They take the time to craft such beautiful pieces by hand’

M

oving to leafy Muswell Hill in North London in January 2018 was the start of a rewarding journey for Jennifer Barba.

Being in a high-pressure job at the time, she jumped wholeheartedly into updating her charming Edwardian Arts & Crafts house to give herself a much-needed creative outlet to focus on.

As this was her first home as well as her first renovation project, Jennifer sought out highly skilled tradespeople and inspiring artisans to create the sanctuary she yearned for. “I think for me, that was the best part of the process,” she says. “I learnt a lot from the creative professionals that came on board. I loved having a window into their world, where they take time to craft such beautiful pieces by hand.”

A native of the Philippine capital, Manila, Jennifer has lived a cosmopolitan life, residing in Hong Kong and then New York before moving to London with her husband, Daniel. Coming to the UK, she was keen to find a property with a wealth of period features and fell in love with this house, built in 1910 and set on a quiet, tree-lined street. “The house is in a

28 THE ENGLISH HOME

conservation area with a lovely village atmosphere, but what really appealed to us is that the property was a project, and we really wanted to do our own thing,” she explains.

Being a child-free couple and not planning to have a family shaped Jennifer and Daniel’s decisions when it came to the redesign. Rather than creating a typical open-plan modern extension at the back of the house, they decided to go for a more subtle, sympathetic approach. A kitchen extension in a cheerful yellow has been added on one side and a tranquil snug on the other. Reclaimed bricks have been used for both so they blend seamlessly with the original part of the house and feel as if they have always been there.

“Your first instinct is often to go for as much space as possible, but we liked the idea of smaller, cosier rooms,” Jennifer explains. “We wanted to create peaceful spaces where we could relax, away from the hustle and bustle of our busy working lives.”

Upstairs, Jennifer decided to create a luxurious bedroom suite, comprising a main bedroom leading  to a comfortable seating area and a walk-in dressing

ABOVE LEFT Cotswood Doors custom-made the Edwardian-style front door, complete with decorative stainedglass. The duck egg blue paint colour, called ‘Townhouse’ from Teknos, complements the brick exterior.

RIGHT Jennifer stands in the welcoming porch of her beloved Arts and Crafts home.

ABOVE & RIGHT Jonquil by Edward Bulmer Natural Paint provides a muted backdrop for the curtains in Bennison’s Wheat Flower linen in the elegant sitting room. The George III mahogany Bergère armchair from William James Antiques (above) is in Madame Elisabeth by Le Manach, available from Pierre Frey.

THE ENGLISH HOME 29

ABOVE Natural textures bring an informal feel to the cosy snug. The Saba side table is from Sweetpea & Willow while the Lombok table lamp is by David Hunt Lighting at Decor Harrogate. The Roman blinds are in Wheat Flower Border

by Bennison.

RIGHT The French-style inlaid console table from 1st Dibs is complemented by the Mazan rattan mirror from Maisons du Monde while the 18th-century walnut chair is from English Country House Antiques. The Hume Stripe wallpaper is by Colefax and Fowler.

30 THE ENGLISH HOME

‘Authenticity and sympathy to the period features were paramount’ room. “We weren’t thinking of the property as an investment; we wanted the house to perfectly suit our lifestyle, so, as it’s just the two of us, we were happy to lose a bedroom in order to make way for a sumptuous suite,” she says.

With careful research, Jennifer and Daniel found the right team to bring their vision to life: architect Nick Timson of TGN Architects, and Danish builder Martin Preisler of Preisler Construction, who was meticulous and uncompromising. He advised the couple to completely replace the ceilings at the front of the house rather than patch them up in order to avoid more problems down the track. “We gave the builders permission to go through the house with a fine-tooth comb,” says Jennifer. “It was scary because every crevice that was opened up could potentially reveal another expense and an unexpected visit from the building regulations inspector. I always tell anyone thinking of doing a renovation that it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Never come to a renovation project with just the right budget; always come knowing you might  need to spend double or triple what you first thought.”

ABOVE In the kitchen-diner, the bespoke banquette is by Craftwood UK. The vintage G Plan chairs have been teamed with a Townhouse oval table from Furniture Choice. Wall lights from Besselink & Jones are topped with shades from Decor Harrogate.

RIGHT Jennifer fell in love with the traditional detailing of the Baltimora kitchen range by Scavolini, which was installed by local cabinetmakers at Perfect Fit Kitchens.

THE ENGLISH HOME 31

Inspired by Jennifer’s favourite restaurant, Kronenhalle in Zurich, the bathroom’s brassware fittings from Drummonds contrast with Farrow & Ball’s Duck Green wall colour, while black and white marble floor tiles

by Fired Earth add to the decadent feel.

 32 THE ENGLISH HOME

‘Vintage textiles and antiques bring character and interest to a home. I didn’t want everything to be matching’ When it came to decorating, Jennifer was in her element but felt out of her depth at first, so sought advice from soft-furnishings expert David Scotcher. “David made all the window treatments and upholstered everything in our house,” she says.

“He’s been in the business since the 1970s and has a wealth of knowledge. Throughout this whole process, I’ve met such lovely people that I now consider friends, and without them, none of this would have been possible.”

Another craftsperson Jennifer is keen to champion is cabinetmaker Thibault Lumpp of Lumpp Artisans, who skilfully made the ornate arches and mouldings at the front of the house. Thibault also hand-crafted the media unit in the snug and the built-in shelves  in the sitting room to enhance the bespoke feel.

ABOVE A pair of Olga chests of drawers by Theodore Alexander at Pavillion Broadway sit either side of the fourposter bed in the principal bedroom.

The canopy and valance made by David Scotcher are in Fermoie’s Mardon.

RIGHT Persian cat Colin sits at the top of the stairs which are carpeted in Ulster Carpets’ Tazmin from Wolff & Grace.

THE ENGLISH HOME 33

‘‘We wanted the house to perfectly suit our lifestyle, so, as its just the two of us, we were happy to lose a bedroom to make a sumptuous suite’ ABOVE Previously a guest bedroom, this seating area connects to the principal bedroom (previous page). The pretty Dormy House Ripley Spoonback chair is covered in vintage Bowood fabric by Colefax and Fowler.

The glass wardrobe panels are backed with Lily Leaf fabric

by Morris & Co.

The starting point for the sitting room was the timeless Bennison fabric used for the curtains and sofa, with a soft pink wall colour acting as a subtle backdrop. “Authenticity and a sympathy to the period features were paramount when designing the interiors.

I chose classic chintz fabrics and muted paint colours to suit the era of the house,” says Jennifer, who was also inspired by hotels she has stayed in around the world. “I wanted the luxurious feel you get in period hotels, which mix history and design.”

Jennifer sourced a lot of the fabric during lockdown, scouring websites for both new and vintage textiles.

Her favourite find was a bolt of vintage Colefax and Fowler chintz, which now covers an antique nursing chair in the principal bedroom suite. “Vintage textiles and antiques bring character and interest to a home,” she says. “I liked the idea of having pieces that look as if they could be family heirlooms.”

34 THE ENGLISH HOME

The choice of another pretty Bennison curtain fabric for the curtains and Roman blinds in the kitchen-diner and snug at the back of the house creates a sense of flow with the sitting room. A sunny yellow Lacanche range cooker acts as the focal point in the kitchen, whilst comfortable banquette seating, set into the bay window, is the ideal spot for Jennifer’s friends to sit and chat while she is cooking.

Comfort is key, and throughout the house, Jennifer has created inviting spaces with an old-world charm.

“When we had a party after the renovation was complete, a guest remarked that the house felt like a comforting blanket wrapped around him,” Jennifer says. “To me, that perfectly sums up the cocooning effect I wanted to achieve. The house envelops you in warmth, and, looking back, I was craving a sanctuary.

You could say decorating this house has been my salvation, and I am grateful every day.” n

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THE ENGLISH HOME 35

36 THE ENGLISH HOME

Modern COUNTRY Interior designer Annabel Grimshaw has combined traditional floral patterns with modern touches to create her own unique version of English country style FEATURE & STYLING JO LEEVERS PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH

The walls in the sitting room are painted in Light Peach Blossom by Little Greene. The vintage armchairs are covered in Jardine by Colefax and Fowler, contrasting with the Pienza Chevron fabric by C&C Milano on the sofa. The ottoman is covered in Hemant by Penny Morrison.

Wilma the cat surveys the kitchen from the back door, which leads into a walled garden. The bench is Oka, with a cushion in Pueblos by Pierre Frey. Walls in Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball add a natural warmth

‘I see it as a modern interpretation of traditional English style. I try to add something old, something new and something a little bit surprising too’

A

nnabel Grimshaw has always had a love of fabrics, wallpapers and paint, but since moving to this 18th-century house in a Somerset village, she has found herself erring towards styles that are rooted in nature.

“Now we live in the country, I’m increasingly drawn towards patterns that involve flowers, leaves and birds,” she explains.

Annabel and her husband Daniel previously lived in London, in a Victorian house that exuded a far more sleek and contemporary character. However, four years ago, they decided to swap the streets of South London for the quiet byways of a Somerset village, heralding a new lifestyle for themselves and their two children, Frank, seven, and Margot, five.

“We were ready for a change of pace,” Annabel says.

“We started to look around villages in Somerset, focusing on ones that were within easy reach of Bath because it’s a creative city with good links to London.

This village has its own identity and strong sense of community, which was also important to us.”

The house was one of only two that Annabel and Daniel viewed in the area, and, initially, they were hesitant about taking on a such a large property.

However, as Annabel runs Annabel Grimshaw Interior Design and Daniel runs his own design and construction company, they were under no illusion about how much work this house might involve, particularly as it is Grade II listed. “But once we had viewed the house, we couldn’t stop thinking about it and its potential,” she remembers. “It felt unique, with so much character.”

A bonus of this house was that it included a separate one-bedroom annexe, which Annabel now runs as a holiday let. This was redecorated first, which meant that the family of four could stay there while work progressed on their main house. “It was a bit of a squeeze, but as it was only for the short term we managed fine,” she says.

As anticipated, it took a little while for their building plans to be approved by the local council, but  eventually Annabel and Daniel got the go-ahead for

ABOVE The kitchen cabinets have been repainted in Ho Ho Green by Little Greene. The walls are painted in Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball and the tiles are Ville by Milagros.

THE ENGLISH HOME 39

‘Moving to a period home in the countryside, I found myself embracing chintzes, florals, and fringing. I saw a new charm to them’ TOP LEFT Annabel in one the sitting room’s deep window seats.

To see Annabel’s interior design work, visit annabelgrimshaw.com ABOVE Annabel and Daniel’s Somerset home dates from the early 18th century.

ABOVE RIGHT The sitting room is painted in Hunter Dunn by Paint & Paper Library.

A Matilda Goad lampshade tops a Pooky lamp base.

their modifications, which were in keeping with the heritage and character of the building. “Our main alteration to the layout was removing stud walls upstairs to create a corridor with bedrooms and a bathroom leading off it and a staircase at either end.

Our suggestion actually gave the house a more satisfying and unified layout,” Annabel explains.

The core of the house dates from the early 18th century, with a one-up, one-down cottage next door joined on at a later date and a more recent kitchen extension added in the 1980s. As Annabel and Daniel settled into the village community, they started to discover the history behind their home. “Almost everyone we’ve met has a story to tell about this house,” Annabel says. “We’ve heard about its past life as a bed and breakfast, and even how local people built the garden wall during the war. We immediately felt

40 THE ENGLISH HOME

part of village life, simply through learning about the house’s past.”

Tuning into the house’s story was also how Annabel approached the decoration – celebrating its past, but also adding subtly modern notes. Two reception rooms lie either side of the central front door and Annabel has created a different mood in each. “I’ve used traditional fabrics to create an immersive feel in each room,” she explains. In the more ‘grown-up’ sitting room on the right, a dusky pink backdrop is enlivened with extravagant motifs by Colefax and Fowler, deftly mixed with patterns by Penny Morrison, Pierre Frey and Lewis & Wood. “It’s a style that celebrates a sense of English eclecticism and works well with vintage furniture, which I’ve always loved,” Annabel says.

The family’s London home, which made an impact  with moody dark colours and a modern kitchen, is

A well-loved sofa in the sitting room is perfect With a muted palette and forwalls the children’s TV and film nights. The centre covered in natural grass cloth, cushion in Le Rocher Broderie by Pierre Frey the master bedroom has a calm, links with the vibrant ikat print on the footstool. serene feel. The striking A set of prints by John Derian shines out against 1950s-style bedside lightswalls in Hunter Dunn by Paint & Paper Library. from Richard Taylor Designs bring a touch of elegance.

The bedside tables were made

by Knowles & Christou.

THE ENGLISH HOME 41

ABOVE Bedside tables from Neptune flank the bed from Sofa.com in the principal bedroom.

The Hartford table lamps by Vaughan are topped with marbled shades by Inq.Ink. The bench is from Zara Home.

LEFT Benaki wallpaper by Lewis & Wood brings an airiness to the bathroom. Both the bath and the basin are from Burlington.

42 THE ENGLISH HOME

now a distant memory. “Moving to a period home in the countryside, I felt a need to change our style,” Annabel explains. “I found myself embracing chintzes, florals and fringing. I saw a new charm to them.”

The sitting room, which lies to the left of the front door, is where the couple’s children tend to spread out and watch television or play games. With walls painted in a deep green shade it immediately has a different mood to the pink sitting room. “This room seemed to demand a stronger colour,” says Annabel, who added cushions in fabrics by Pierre Frey and prints by John Derian to bring this enveloping green to life.

While Annabel’s professional know-how was invaluable when decorating the house, ultimately, she says, the house’s new style was led by the building itself. “Decorating our own home has taught me how important it is to listen to a house and its setting,” she explains. “I wanted to work with the historic beams and inglenook fireplaces and honour them in a gently modern way.”

Panelling in the guest room conceals storage and Annabel upholstered the headboard in Vine Flower by Penny Morrison. The wall light is Pooky and the switch is from Jim Lawrence.

‘We’re surrounded by fields and flowers, so I’m also bringing in the feeling of having nature on our doorstep’ Now that Annabel, Daniel and their children are fully immersed in country life, she can see how the countryside and their walled garden feed into her new style. “We’re surrounded by fields and flowers, so I’m also bringing in the feeling of having nature on our doorstep,” she adds. By choosing patterns that work together without being too ‘matchy-matchy’, Annabel has ensured her s chemes always feel fresh rather than fusty. “I see it as a modern interpretation of traditional English style,” she says. “I try to add in something old, something new – and then a dash of something a little bit surprising, too.” n

ABOVE LEFT Soho Home cushions sit on a vintage bench on the landing.

LEFT In son Frank’s bedroom, beds in Duck Green by Farrow & Ball link with the green in the Lilian Martinez hanging. The papier-mâché fox head is by Edit 58.

THE ENGLISH HOME 43

The welcoming kitchen is where Jane truly fell in love with the house and all its original character. The table is painted with Farrow & Ball’s Clunch.

OPPOSITE PAGE The summerhouse is the perfect spot for reading and dreaming, with a weeping willow providing dappled shade.

The library has a cosy ambience thanks to the oak panelling.

The sofa is from Lorfords in Tetbury, and the eighteenthcentury portrait is of The English School: it was bought at auction from the private collection of Keith Skeel at Loudham Hall in 2007.

Natural HARMONY Nature-loving Jane Compton has decorated her picturesque 16th-century thatched cottage to complement its charming original features FEATURE & STYLING NAOMI JONES PHOTOGRAPHY BRENT DARBY

THE ENGLISH HOME 45

 46 THE ENGLISH HOME

‘This house immediately stole my heart. I remember sitting in the kitchen, finding out about the work done to restore the 500-year-old building’

T

ucked down a quiet rural lane, where the only sounds are the chatter of birds and gentle hum of a nearby tractor, sits this 16th-century thatched cottage, home to Jane Compton, her teenage son, Will, and their faithful Parsons Jack Russell terrier, Basil.

“Seven years ago, I found myself yearning for a more rural life,” recalls Jane, who had just completed a renovation of a cottage in a Worcestershire town.

“We’d been holidaying in this part of Suffolk for many years and loved the peace and tranquillity it offered.

Suddenly, it seemed like the perfect time to make the move, so I started looking for a new home in the county I already felt so attached to.”

Jane admits there was only ever one property in the running – a pretty Grade II listed timber-framed house, built in the mid-1550s as two farm-workers’ cottages, but turned into one house in the 17th century. “This house immediately stole my heart.

I remember sitting in the kitchen with the then owners, having a cup of tea and finding out about all the work they’d done to restore the 500-year-old building,” she says. “They had clearly loved and taken

good care of the cottage and in that moment, it felt like coming home. I knew all I would have to do would be to repaint and unpack, then get to work in the garden to create outdoor living spaces that complement the beautiful old house.”

As soon as she took ownership in 2015, Jane wasted no time, using Farrow & Ball’s Clunch on walls to provide a soft neutral foil for the cottage’s original features and her collection of antique furniture that sits beautifully within her new home’s wonky walls.

“The previous owners had favoured bright colours,” explains Jane, “but I feel more affinity to subtle tones inspired by nature. Clunch, for example, is the perfect tone for this area as it was inspired by and named after the chalk stone used in many East Anglian buildings; it’s incredibly easy on the eye.” Jane also chose some charming patterns for cushions, blinds and curtains to suit the rural setting, expertly mixing florals and stripes, even dog and duck prints.

Being a visual merchandiser and stylist by trade, Jane is confident in her decorative style – “I’ve always loved the old and worn, anything with history, especially  Scandinavian and French pieces.” However, not

ABOVE The kitchen is largely made of freestanding pieces.

The sink unit is painted Little Greene’s Normandy Grey, with handles from Diss Ironworks.

The blind is in Duck

by Emily Bond.

OPPOSITE Original bricks peek through the plasterwork. The copper kettle was inherited from Jane’s great-grandmother.

The tea towel is from The Heritage Hare company while the vintage pots are from The Vintage Lurcher and The Hoarding Hare.

THE ENGLISH HOME 47

48 THE ENGLISH HOME

Neutrals in various textures keep the look inviting but unfussy in the sitting room. The sofa is from The Lounge Co while the curtains from Rooms with a View are in an Emily Bond fabric.

THE ENGLISH HOME 49

ABOVE LEFT The gazebo from Notcutts is a versatile space. Jane loves reading here as well as using it for dining with son Will, family and friends.

ABOVE RIGHT Jane has created a small gallery wall around the lovely old writing desk from Green Door Antiques.

LEFT An enticing glimpse of the sitting room from the entrance hall.

The mirror is from a local vintage market in Beccles, Suffolk.

50 THE ENGLISH HOME

everything she brought from her previous house would fit through the smaller doorways of her new home.

“I’ve had to put a few pieces into storage and find furniture to suit the scale of the rooms here,” she explains. The sofas, for instance, had to be chosen especially for this house, and she has had a very good excuse to visit all the wonderful antiques markets and junk shops this area has in abundance. Jane also had to pop a few paintings in the loft. “You don’t get many spaces to hang large oils when you have so many exposed beams,” she explains. “Not that I mind.

I think the old wood needs to be celebrated, and it would be wrong to force something into a house where it doesn’t fit – you have to be sympathetic to the home you live with, and work with its proportions and features rather than fight it.”

With the house more to her taste, Jane began hatching plans for the garden. As it completely wraps around the house, she was able to tackle it section by section, just as you might tackle different rooms inside the house, and where better to plot and scheme than wandering around the orchard among the trees and wildlife. “I do my best thinking outdoors,” says Jane, who filled endless journals with ideas, plans and sketches for her dream garden. “I envisaged a little summer house, where I could enjoy a nice cup of tea,  see the house from a different perspective and plan

The porch door has been placed off centre to maximise storage in the small space. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Clunch and the panelling is in Normandy Grey by Little Greene.

THE ENGLISH HOME 51

ABOVE LEFT Jane’s bedroom celebrates the structure of the old building and decoration has been kept to a minimum.

The walls are painted Pearl Ashes by Fired Earth and the pretty curtains are made using Birdsong in Rain fabric by Peony & Sage.

ABOVE RIGHT The soft green in the Roman blind in a Vanessa Arbuthnott fabric adds to the romantic mood in the bathroom.

LEFT The guest bedroom with its crooked, ancient beams is a light, yet cosy, space. The metal bed frame is from Feather & Black.

52 THE ENGLISH HOME

ABOVE Agapanthus add a splash of purple to the entrance. Jane has made a beautiful floral wreath for the front door (right) using a bough from Skincense in Diss.

The windows and doors are painted in Antler by Sadolin LEFT Jane has made a charming display with birdhouses and an old grass roller amongst the structural planting. Visit gingerbeerdesigns. com to find out more about Jane’s work.

the garden that would sit right in front of it. I planted herbs and roses in a picket-fenced area, so their scents would greet me every time I stepped outside.”

On the other side of the house, meanwhile, close to an area she allows to run a little wilder to encourage wildlife, Jane has built a gazebo that can comfortably seat eight for al fresco suppers on warm summer evenings. “It’s so lovely sharing the space with family and friends, but even when it’s just Will and me, we’ll regularly pack up a hamper of salad, fish, olives and bread and sit watching the sunset, waiting for the hares and owls to make an appearance,” she says.

“I’ve made good progress with the garden, but I had to learn a lot along the way,” Jane continues.

“People sometimes ask for my advice, but I always say, just give it a try. Do your research, but if you like a certain plant, dig it in, look after it and see how it gets on. If it doesn’t seem happy, just try it somewhere else.”

Like her beautiful plants that are thriving in their current location, Jane transplanted herself to a new home, leaving behind town life to live in the peaceful Suffolk countryside. She is free to enjoy her beautiful old home and all the county has to offer, from her own garden to the fields and woodland, and the breathtaking coastline beyond. “I love everything about this place, the openness of the landscape, and the skies that go on forever,” she says. “You see how quickly everything changes day by day and more dramatically with the seasons. When the sun goes down, the sky is lit up purely by the moon and stars. Day and night, this place is therapy for the soul.” n

THE ENGLISH HOME 53

A series of rectangular beds behind Sophie Conran’s smart Georgian home feature a stylish combination of late-spring performers.

54 THE ENGLISH HOME

The Artist’s

GARDENS

PALETTE

Designer Sophie Conran is renowned for producing homeware adorned with exquisite floral motifs, so it is little wonder that her abundant Wiltshire garden is such a true reflection of her talents WORDS CATRIONA GRAY PHOTOGRAPHS BRITT WILLOUGHBY DYER PORTRAIT JUSTIN POLKEY

THE ENGLISH HOME 55

A

nyone who is familiar with Sophie Conran’s range of homeware knows that the designer has a deep love of nature.

Floral motifs blossom across linen napkins and twine their way around candle holders. There is a plenitude of vases, in different shapes and sizes, designed to hold everything from a couple of delicate stems to a large armful of abundant branches. Even her most well-known line – the long-running tableware collection for Portmeirion – sees a simple white dinner service elevated by a nod to the outdoors, its organic, concentric pattern evoking the ripple of water in a pond or the circles in a tree stump.

It comes as no surprise, then, to discover the care and attention that Sophie has put into her garden, at her home set in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside. Along the approach to the house, via a long, winding drive, there are cherry trees

56 THE ENGLISH HOME

laden with frothy white blossom, underplanted with masses of bulbs, the early snowdrops giving way to wood anemones and fritillaries as spring progresses towards summer.

Upon reaching the front of the house – a Georgian manor in honey-coloured Bath stone – it is evident that Sophie is passionate about gardening. Climbing roses cover the mellow, neoclassical facade, and the steps up to the front door are flanked by an array of terracotta pots, planted each season with an everchanging display of blooms.

Sophie bought the property in 2013 and, over the past eight years, has been restoring and adding to the original planting scheme. “The garden had been quite neglected – there hadn’t been much done to it for about 25 years,” she says. “So we’ve been piecing it back together again,  bit by bit, as well as adding some new features.”

ABOVE LEFT Peonies rub shoulders with sweet rocket and foxgloves.

ABOVE RIGHT Sophie enjoying the garden with her dog Mouse and her son Felix’s dog Apollo.

Sophie wears a dress

by Pink City Prints.

RIGHT The beds next to the house brim with alliums, lupins and euphorbia, with large box balls for a sense of solidity.

GARDENS

On the lawn, a set of furniture is perfectly positioned to take in the meadow views and a lovely specimen Judas tree, Cercis siliquastrum.

‘Having old things around me with bumps and cracks are part of who I am. I bought my first antique when I was eight.’



ABOVE “I like having antiques, books and knick-knacks around me, just the right amount of clutter to make a room feel lived-in,” says Leah.

Layered Lounge sells similar brass candlesticks and Striped Ruffled linen cushion is similar from Bombinate.

LEFT A simple picket fence surrounds the house where the couple have kept the immediate gardens as simple and traditional as possible.

THE ENGLISH HOME 57

GARDENS

‘I’m really trying to make everything as alive as possible, filled with flowers and buzzing with bees’ The sheer scale of the project might have felt daunting to some: aside from the gardens that surround the house, there is a separate vegetable garden, a fern garden, a pond, a meadow, and some 30 acres of woodland. However, Sophie, the daughter of famed designer and restaurateur, the late Sir Terence Conran, grew up watching her parents embark on a very similar journey of their own.

“When I was younger, my family moved to a house in Berkshire not all that far from here,” she recalls. “There were falling-down greenhouses and dilapidated walled gardens filled with Christmas trees.

I saw it as my playground and watched my parents as they slowly rebuilt everything, from the vegetable garden to the fruit cages. It gave me a blueprint of what I could do here.”

Having completed several courses in horticulture and honed her eye at her previous gardens in West Sussex and Dorset, Sophie was well-placed to begin the transformation at her new home, although she has allowed it to evolve gradually rather than making a rigid plan. “This place talks to me – it tells me what to do,” she maintains. “I suppose it’s a mixture of instinct and a sympathetic view of the house and its surroundings. I want to create a feeling, so I’m really trying to make everything as alive as possible – filled with flowers and buzzing with bees, butterflies and birds. It’s a place to enjoy, and to be immersed in nature.”

One of the first things she did was to put in a new set of beds at the back of the house, which, in May, brim with a sea of alliums. Their pompom heads, in hues of pink, purple and white, add a playful and colourful note, especially when set alongside velvety irises, purple lupins, and frilly masses of hesperis.

The rounded shapes of the alliums are echoed in the clipped box balls and euphorbia, which add year-round shape and structure to the borders.

Traditionally, 18th-century manors like this one would have been surrounded by acres of parkland with the gardens kept well away from the house.  By introducing planting immediately around the

ABOVE Huge windows look out to the terrace.

LEFT Euphorbia with ‘King Canute’ lupins.

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT On the lawn, a set of furniture is perfectly positioned to take in the meadow views and a lovely specimen Judas tree, Cercis siliquastrum.

Rosa ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’ grows on the wall of the house.

Self-seeded plants in stonework and a relaxed clipping regime give the garden a laid-back air.

Alliums and bearded iris intermingle with fern-like fennel fronds.

THE ENGLISH HOME 59

‘I get very excited about plants – I want all of them.

I’ve planted masses more white alliums’

ABOVE Clematis montana var. wilsonii in full bloom.

RIGHT White camassias with red campion.

BELOW The sweeping driveway leading to Sophie’s Georgian manor.

60 THE ENGLISH HOME

property, Sophie has created the maximum possible impact when looking out from the huge, floor-toceiling windows on the ground floor, as well as integrating her home with the garden.

This is particularly in evidence when you step out of the drawing room and onto the long stone terrace that runs along the back of the house. From there you can look out across the borders to the fields beyond, while Sophie has made a virtue of the slightly dilapidated nature of the terrace itself. “The terrace is made from bits of old stone floors – great big slabs that are completely falling to pieces – so I’ve interplanted it with erigeron, creeping thyme, and aquilegias,” she explains. There are even some hollyhocks and Verbena bonariensis dotted among the paving stones, while ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’ roses spread across the walls, adding to the sense that the place is literally blooming with life.

To the right of the house, the land sweeps up a hill covered in woodland, consisting mostly of old beeches.

Every May, this delightful area is carpeted with drifts of wild garlic, which scents the air with its distinctive tang. Sophie – who is a keen cook and has written several cookery books – picks and uses it in the kitchen to make pesto and garlic butter, and to flavour everything from soups to sautéed mushrooms. She also obtains an abundance of produce from her vegetable garden, which is another ongoing project. “We’ve just had a fantastic new greenhouse reinstated on the site of an old one, using the existing foundations,” she says. “It was made by Woodpecker Joinery, and we’re thrilled with it.” Raised beds contain rows of brassicas, root vegetables and globe artichokes, and close by are two tunnels made from coppiced hazel, one of which is covered in sweet peas, the other with different varieties of beans and gourds.

Sophie has more plans afoot, working alongside the two full-time gardeners who keep the grounds running smoothly. The fern garden, long-neglected, is being replanted, as are the borders at the front of the house.

Existing plants are being catalogued throughout the garden and new ones are constantly added, including three paulownias, commonly known as foxglove trees because of their clusters of spectacular lilac blooms.

“I get very excited about plants – I want all of them,” she says, laughing. “I’ve planted masses more

GARDENS

white alliums, including ‘Mount Everest’, and I love Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’, which just goes on flowering for months on end. One of my absolute favourites is a peony called ‘Coral Charm’ – it’s particularly beautiful because it starts out a wonderful coral colour before fading to pink and then ends up turning almost white.”

Alongside the careful planting are plenty of self-seeders, including red campion and linaria, which have been given the freedom to romp through the garden, filling in gaps and creating a cheerful abundance of flowers that feels both romantic and quintessentially English. It’s the sort of place that you never want to leave – and, for now, Sophie certainly isn’t planning to. “I really love living here,” she concludes. “It keeps me fantastically busy – there’s always so much to do!” n

ABOVE The land around Sophie’s Wiltshire home includes a pond and meadow, as well as 30 acres of woodland.

LEFT ‘Mount Everest’ alliums bring a cool freshness to late-spring planting schemes; add clusters of their bulbs in autumn for a display of stylish globes.

This article originally appeared in our sister publication The English Garden, also available in the US. For more, visit theenglishgarden.co.uk THE ENGLISH HOME 61

BESPOKE VICTORIAN GRAND MANOR Wisconsin, USA

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. The Royal Horticultural Society, and its logo, are trade marks of The Royal Horticultural Society (Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262) and used under licence from RHS Enterprises Limited.

STYLE INSPIRATION Our special section dedicated to interior design and decorating begins here

FEATURE KATY MCLEAN

DAY DREAMING Enjoy the beauty of nature with an indulgent daybed to sink into and while away the hours on blissfully sunny days. Dressed with boldly patterned cushions for added character and the canopy rolled up for a cooling breeze or unfurled for extra shade, this smart design will look chic in any setting – from a rambling country garden to a smart townhouse patio.

Karama Daybed, £1,695, plus cushions from a selection, all Oka

THE ENGLISH HOME 63

Interior

OASIS

Bring the natural world inside with plant motifs, nature’s hues and organic textures

DECORATING

A

s the weather brightens and warms up, the boundaries between indoor and outdoor life blur. Embrace this way of living with interiors that echo the garden and beyond to create soothing and uplifting interiors.

Green hues are an obvious place to start, creating a connection with the world outside. Add patterns in botanical designs – gentle trailing leaves, bursts of floral colour and climbing foliage – to further enhance the relationship between the two spaces.

For cohesion, use the palette from the garden as inspiration, bringing in pale pinks, yellows, crisp whites and bolder cornflower or sky blues.

Consider natural textures for flooring, with stone or wood in spaces that directly connect to the outside, adding warmth and comfort underfoot with rush or coir rugs and carpets in bedroom or living areas.

Furniture, too, can provide a link between inside and out, with bamboo or rattan pieces providing a relaxed contrast to tailored, upholstered chairs.

Consider rustic, simple finishes on wooden furniture to gently associate with the outdoors. If keeping to polished, refined pieces, introduce decorative choices related to the garden.

Ensure views to the garden and beyond are made the most of, with doors and windows opening out to vistas, allowing fresh air and warm breezes to drift through on sunny days. Create a window seat or position furniture to enjoy the view when venturing outside is not an option.

Finally, from house plants to freshly cut flowers, or even an indoor tree, bringing the natural world inside will truly offer the garden’s organic, inspiring, and  natural beauty to enjoy year-round.

OPPOSITE Use flo ers to ins ire an interior alette Pink Harmony, Salmon Peach, Dusk Pink paint, all from £27 for 0.94l, Benjamin Moore ABOVE osition rnit re to en o ie s to t e arden Claverton dining chair, Mushroom Grey, £895; Cythera extendable dining table, £1,495, both Oka

THE ENGLISH HOME 65

STYLE NOTES: • A nature-based scheme can be balanced with smart period features, antique furniture and refined finishes.

• Echo colours from the garden, such as pinks, yellows, blues and whites, with a green or neutral backdrop.

ABOVE Introduce a sense of the outdoors with an immersive design.

Wallpaper, Aula, Hummingbird, £171 a roll, Romo

66 THE ENGLISH HOME

RIGHT Enrich neutrals with res cornflo er l es Dining chairs in Verbena, Blueberry, £25.20 a metre, Meadow collection, Prestigious Textiles

DECORATING

ABOVE An updated classic chintz design in smart greens and pinks is a sophisticated choice for a period home.

Lavenham, rose, £95 a roll, Warner House Fabrics ABOVE RIGHT Chic stripes and a beautiful green and gold chest of drawers form a subtle way to create synergy with the garden.

Kingston chair in Szepvis Stripe linen £1,500; wallpaper, Sarkozi Embroidery, Taupe, £135 a roll, both Mind The Gap RIGHT The combination of zesty green paint, a large leafy motif

wallpaper and a bamboo sofa frame offers a polished yet playful nod to garden style.

Wallpaper, Tropicane, Chelsea Green, £111 a roll; woodwork, Chelsea Green paint, £75 for 2.5l Architects’ Eggshell, both Paint & Paper Library BELOW Combine geometrics that echo trellis with delicate floral rints and e roideries in a stylish blend of greens and pinks.

Wallpaper and fabrics, all Ashmore collection, GP & J Baker



THE ENGLISH HOME 67

ABOVE LEFT Blush, sage and mellow yellow sets a dreamy natural scheme.

King-size Emily upholstered bed frame in Aquaclean Harriet Rose, £649, and all bedding and furniture, John Lewis & Partners ABOVE RIGHT Rattan and wood furniture offers a connection to the outdoors.

Rattan folding chair, £99, and all furniture and accessories, John Lewis & Partners LEFT Colours from the garden continue into this romantic bedroom with a few floral details or good measure.

Cushions, V&A Paradise, Rose, £75, Arley House RIGHT Botanical wallpapers instantly evoke the outdoors.

Wallpaper, Millefleur Tapestry, Garden, £175 a roll, Little Greene

68 THE ENGLISH HOME

STYLE NOTES: • Use plants and flowers to bring elements of the natural world inside.

• Create a connnection through textures and materials. Wood panelling can softly echo fencing. Wood, stone and natural fibres for flooring blur the boundaries.

DECORATING

Enliven a sleek scheme with luxurious chinoiserie. Here used as panels, rather than all over the wall, the effect is of a custom artwork. Try Fromental for similar.

Hampton sofa, Twill Beige, £5,860, Kingcombe



THE ENGLISH HOME 69

STYLE NOTES: • Bring aesthetics of outdoor furniture inside with bamboo, rattan or cane pieces.

• Allow large botanical motifs to trail across walls and curtains.

• Consider the view and make the most of the light and fresh air.

70 THE ENGLISH HOME

ABOVE Create a perfect garden room complete with loungers for enjoying a day inside and out.

Inside & Out outdoor fabrics, plains £192 a metre; stripes, £206 a metre, George Spencer Designs FAR LEFT A medley of fruits in a colourful trailing design.

Wallpaper, Orchard W7686-01, £230 a roll, Osborne & Little LEFT Prints and embroideries of painterly birds and delicate florals in fresh leaf greens are ideal for bringing elements of the countryside indoors.

Selection of fabrics from the Ashmore collection, from £89 a metre, GP & J Baker

FEATURE KATY MCLEAN PHOTOGRAPHS P65 © DAMIAN RUSSSELL. P67 (WARNER HOUSE) TERRY CLIFF; (PAINT & PAPER LIBRARY) © PAUL RAESIDE. P70 (OSBORNE & LITTLE) © JON DAY

DECORATING

A classic country look, combining leafy prints with checks and stripes for a relaxed, considered living room that connects to the garden beyond.

Blinds, cushions and armchair, Woodfern, Old Blue, £85 a metre, and all other fabrics, Colefax and Fowler n

FOR WHERE TO BUY SEE ADDRESS BOOK

THE ENGLISH HOME 71

72 THE ENGLISH HOME

FOR WHERE TO BUY SEE ADDRESS BOOK

ENTERTAINING

SET THE SCENE FOR:

dining al fresco Make the most of the balmy days of summer by entertaining outside with charming tableware and accessories to suit

W

hether a lazy lunch on the patio or an enchanting supper under the stars, few things are more uplifting than dining outdoors during the warm summer months. For added romance, find a sheltered spot under the bow of a tree or a quiet corner of the garden, surrounded by the fragrance and colour of seasonal flowers, and enjoy entertaining al fresco with family and friends.

Separate tables can easily be put together and covered with overlapping tablecloths to hide the joins, and a mix of different styles of chairs adds to the charm. A long bench with cushions is handy for extra guests, and a stack of blankets is a good idea for evening get-togethers. Add atmospheric lighting with outdoor festoon lights or lanterns, or enjoy the simplicity of candlelight.

For the table, fill jugs of sweet-scented flowers, picked fresh from the garden if possible, for a relaxed elegance guaranteed to delight. Be inspired by nature’s riot of bright hues and source tableware, linens and glassware in cheerful pinks and oranges and refreshing blues and greens to add a summer feel to existing pieces. Remember, too, to raise a glass for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, incorporating a regal splash of red, white and blue on tables laid for garden or street party celebrations. (For Platinum Jubilee shopping inspiration, see page12.) 

Hand-embroidered tablecloth, £282; Green Gingham cotton napkins, £29 for two; Red Pear linen napkins, £19 for two; Dillie champagne saucers, £39 for four; Handmade stoneware dinner plates, £34 each; 42-piece Vintage Satin cutlery set, £156; Alexander rush pad chair (left), £650; Salome cane chair (right), £249, all Rowen & Wren

FOR WHERE TO BUY SEE ADDRESS BOOK

THE ENGLISH HOME 73

FLICKERING LIGHT Classic dinner candles will add formality and sophistication to even the simplest of outdoor suppers, while several votives scattered down the table will ensure plenty of little pockets of glow. Look out for candlesticks that bring colour and pattern to the mix, and in varying heights for visual interest. For extra illumination, strings of outdoor fairy lights will create an atmospheric backdrop. Combine with lanterns that can be hung from branches of nearby trees, or dotted around on the patio or lawn.

ABOVE Candlesticks, from £35.50; candles £25 for set of six; tumblers from £15, jug £70, all Birdie Fortescue LEFT Nancy Bamboo oval platter, £138; Bamboo cutlery, £88 for a five-piece set; Valentina tablecloth, from £49; Nancy Sand placemat, £72 for four, all Mrs Alice BELOW Round drinks trolley, £70, Garden Trading

NICELY SERVED Ensure there is a good supply of platters and serving bowls for easy transportation of salads, meats, vegetables and even desserts, particularly if the table has been placed at the far end of the garden. Pretty decorative detailing such as a ceramic bamboo edging will chime with the outdoor setting, particularly when paired with linens depicting colourful florals and rattan accessories.

TAKE A SIP Welcome guests outside with an aperitif or summer cocktail served straight from an outdoor drinks area.

A tall table would suffice, but a bar trolley on castors makes for easy mobility on a smooth surface area and adds a special element to the occasion. Accessorise with an ice bucket, wine cooler and plenty of glasses.

74 THE ENGLISH HOME

ENTERTAINING

BLUE TONES Source elaborate patterned linens to co-ordinate with existing china and serveware. A single colour can be used to create a cohesive feel, marrying together traditional patterns with bold designs, and even stripes, to create a charming, eclectic and hugely visual table scenario.

Blue and white is a classic combination and all shades from rich indigo to pale powder tones work beautifully together, particularly in a summer garden setting.

Petal Neeli tablecloth, from £70, Faro Home



THE ENGLISH HOME 75

Sunny additions Create a summertime vibe with bold patterns, bright hues and texture finishes

Emerald splatterware dinner plate, £22; Rose splatterware salad plate, £20, Designers Guild

Set of three solar hanging baubles, £16.99, Lights4Fun

Yellow & White Stripe linen napkin, £25, Summerill & Bishop

SHORT BUT SWEET Pretty tumblers that are short and robust in design but elegant in style and colour are ideal for serving any type of al fresco drink, from cordials, cocktails and even wine, reducing the risk of long-stemmed glasses getting broken outside. For an extra special summer touch serve drinks with homemade flower ice cubes by simply adding an edible flower head or sprig of herb to an ice tray before filling with water and freezing.

FLOWER POWER No summer table would be complete without flowers picked fresh from the garden, whatever the colour palette, displayed in ceramic jugs and vases or vintage containers. Philippa Craddock, founder and creative director of Philippa Craddock: Design Studio and Flower School, advises: “Look to your immediate surrounding and use the same greenery and flowers for outdoor entertaining. By doing this, even with just a few stems, it will help you to blend the table designs with your garden, blurring the boundaries and therefore effectively giving the illusion of a larger display.”

Lumière candlestick, £75, Vaisselle Boutique

Lilac & Olive hobnail glass jug, £75, Quince & Cook

Verde decorative salad bowl, £50, Rose & Grey

76 THE ENGLISH HOME

ABOVE Ella tumblers, £48 for a set of six, Neptune RIGHT Kelpie tablecloth in Pink and Blue, from £72; Hand-painted Spanish dinner plates, £38.50; Bumble napkins in Blue, £54 for four, all The Mews Fabric & Furnishings BELOW Online Floristry Fundamentals Masterclass Course, £495, Philippa Craddock Flower School

ENTERTAINING

GLOBAL TONE Take inspiration from places associated with holidays to sunnier climes and invest in Mediterranean-style terracotta olive jars and bowls or hand-painted ceramic jugs, platters and plates. Look further afield to Africa, Latin America and Asia for artisan seagrass and raffia baskets for serving bread and crackers, trays for serving drinks, or tablemats and coasters for a rustic addition to place settings. Include dashes of elaborate prints such as hand-blocked Indian florals or ikat patterns for a charming and eclectic holiday-at-home table setting that evokes memories of favourite faraway places. n

FEATURE SARAH EMSLIE PHOTOGRAPHS P76 (LIGHTS4FUN) HYLTON PHOTOGRAPHY. P77 (THE MEWS FABRIC & FURNISHINGS) © ANDREW STEEL

Floral food cover, £8.95, Annabel James

Rattan tray, £28, Rebecca Udall

Brass square lantern, from £50, Layered Lounge

Lani Green tablecloth, £70, Molly Mahon

Blush textured tumblers, £20 for a set of four, Cox & Cox

Natural wood handle salad servers, £72, Rebecca Udall THE ENGLISH HOME 77

Join our 2022/2023 small group tours in

The Four Corners of Cornwall An Historic County in the Southwest of England Like all our tours, no daily packing and unpacking, just leisurely daily excursions from a base hotel 2, 5, or 8 day pre-organized, custom-built and private tours.

Including Doc. Martin and Poldark locations. Visit the Isles of Scilly while there.

Transfers from anywhere in Britain plus international flights if needed.

Castles & Mansions

Relaxing Coastal Villages for a pint and Fish and Chips

The traditional Cornish Cream Tea

Rain Forests and other wonders at the Eden Project IMAGES COURTESY OF LOUISE WEST

Your specialist for Vacations and Tours in Britain Call or email Barry Devo for brochure. Call 330 284 4709 EDT Canton OH Email barrydevo@prepcotravel.com or visit www.prepcotravel.com and click on Start Planning

KENTCHURCH BUTLERS

An ideal present that will last forever. Hand painted and crafted in the U.K., these delightful wooden side-tables are fun pieces of furniture to rest your drinks etc on. Standing 38’’ high, their sturdy trays are 25’’ above ground, an ideal height to place your favourite tipple when resting on your sofa after a hard day eventing.

Perfect for that birthday, wedding, anniversary or retirement present. Jockeys can be painted in your own silks and soldiers in your regiments.

USA customers should allow 20 days for delivery.

To see over 50 models and to order, visit our website below.

Kentchurch Butlers +44 (0)7774 959561

www.kentchurchbutlers.co.uk 78 THE ENGLISH HOME

LIFESTYLE

Beach Hut Heaven Designer Pearl Lowe reveals why the rows of cherished and much-desired huts in all their hues and forms on Britain’s beaches make her heart sing, and how one in particular chimes with her love of whimsical, eclectic interiors

T

here is something so quintessentially British about a beach hut. These simple single-storey structures are a legacy left to us by our Georgian and Victorian ancestors. Despite relishing the benefits of a restorative dip in the sea, they were quite prudish when it came to changing out of their high-necked, ankle-scuffing attire into their swimwear, so much so that they invented the “bathing machine” in the 1750s. This device, when wheeled down the sands by an attendant, would take bathers

from the shore to the water without compromising their modesty. For more than a century, the machines were very popular among the wealthy and aristocratic – including Queen Victoria herself, who had one of her own on the Isle of Wight. In later years, that concept would evolve into the beach hut, still a place where you could change in comfort, but one that was more accessible to the masses. Not for that generation the struggle of wriggling out of your wet bathing suit behind a strategically placed towel.

ABOVE What makes this beach hut really special is that it is at the end of the row.

This means that, unlike the other cabins, it has a dual aspect via windows at the front and on one side of the structure.

THE ENGLISH HOME 79

Even though the space is small, it is filled with so much character and personality. Flags on the ceiling and a crocheted hanging bring colour to the roof and doorway. An old wrought-iron hospital bed has been covered in the prettiest of throws and topped with a vintage eiderdown to make it all the more inviting. It is the perfect spot to settle down for an afternoon snooze, a good read or just to lazily admire this incredible view of the sea.

80 THE ENGLISH HOME

LIFESTYLE

That said, beach huts have, thankfully, remained with us and are very much part of the landscape of our coastline. In fact, they are now so popular that in some areas there are long waiting lists for them and a modest beach hut can cost the same as a sturdy deposit on a one-bedroom apartment. Despite the expense, most are still used simply as a place to change, and as a storage space for seaside items – deckchairs, buckets and spades, possibly a kettle and a couple of mugs – for holidaymakers and weekenders: nothing more than glorified, albeit prettily painted, sheds by the sea.

But that is not the case when you visit the beach hut belonging to the artists Claire Fletcher and Peter Quinnell, in St Leonards-on-Sea. They own a house in Hastings but their hut, just a 10-minute cycle away from the town, is very much their home from home.

This is the place they come to when they have time to swim, to relax, to eat, for a lungful of sea air and even to work, no matter what the season or the weather.

And as soon as you walk into their hut, you can see that they have filled it with their innate sense of style, their personalities and so much love.

ABOVE This magical little cabin has a timeless feel to it.

Also, unlike so many beach huts, which are used simply for changing or storage, this is very much a home from home and is in use throughout the year.

THE ENGLISH HOME 81

LIFESTYLE

ABOVE Peter, who creates wonderful art installations, loves to collect old salvaged signs such as this one advertising ‘Donuts’, which is attached to the back of the door.

BELOW On this wall hangs a tambourine, onto which Claire has painted this wonderful picture of a mermaid – a motif that runs through much of her work as an illustrator.

ABOVE Towards the back of the cabin the couple have installed this charming tiny retro kitchenette.

A 1950s-style cabinet gives them storage for cutlery and a surface for food preparation. Above the window, a simple wooden shelf provides room for their collection of commemorative and souvenir mugs.

The hut has an old-worldliness to its design but it is actually a relatively new build, as with most of the huts you see dotted around our coastline. That is because, thanks to our cold and rainy climate, not to mention the salty sea winds, these structures rarely weather the elements for long. The wood eventually has to be replaced and the cladding will need to be restored and repainted every couple of years.

But when you first look at this enchanting hut, you’d be forgiven for assuming it was constructed long before you and I were born. That feeling extends into its interior, from the 1950s-style kitchenette and the paraffin lamps to the vintage furniture and the artworks. It is as though you have been transported back in time. n

82 THE ENGLISH HOME

DISCOVER MORE This is an edited extract from Faded Glamour by the Sea

by Pearl Lowe, published by Ryland Peters & Small ($35).

Photography by Dave Watts © Ryland Peters & Small

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Inspired by life on and off the water

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Photo by kind permission of Jane Churchill Interiors

84 THE ENGLISH HOME

QUINTESSENTIALLY

Inspiration for seasonal pastimes and making the most of life at home starts here

FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE

NATURAL NARRATIVE

Decoupage is an artful-yet-simple technique to enrich furnishings and treasured objects with decorative paper embellishments that are lacquered to create a beautiful finish. Thought to originate from Eastern culture and introduced to Britain via Europe around the 18th century, decoupage is synonymous with classic motifs. Annie Sloan’s new decoupage collection, the result of a collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), showcases illustrations of flora and fauna inspired by 18th- and 19th-century publications in the RHS Lindley Library’s worldfamous collections.

RHS Decoupage Paper Songbirds, £11.95 for a pack of two decoupage papers (700mm x 480mm), Annie Sloan

THE ENGLISH HOME 85

MY ENGLISH HOME

Matthew Fort FROM PATCH TO PLATE

W

hen I was but a lad, summer proper kicked off with strawberries.

They were a seasonal gastronomic starting pistol. I waited for them with almost uncontrollable excitement, and then I’d gorge on strawberries and cream for five or six weeks. Not just me, to be honest. My whole family – brothers, mother, father, grandmother. Not my sister. She had yet to be born. I may be indulging in the rosy dreams of nostalgia, but the strawberries of my youth – Cambridge ‘Royal Sovereign’ if memory serves me correctly – had an intensity and brilliance that none I’ve eaten since have quite matched.

After strawberries came raspberries – ‘Malling Admiral’ – that we favoured even more highly because the raspberries’ extra tartness meant an extra dollop of cream (unpasteurised double cream from a Jersey or Guernsey cow for preference, as yellow as buttercups, sliding with slow grace from the lip of the jug) and a spoonful of caster sugar.

Strawberries and cream, raspberries and cream, morello cherry jam, rhubarb crumbles, gooseberry pies (try poaching the gooseberries in a splash of elderflower cordial first), redcurrant jellies, mulberry fools – when you

come to think of it, fruits define the English summer. They are the quintessence of summer, the soul of summer. It is the only season with a pudding named after it – summer pudding – that combines produce (white, red or blackcurrants, or best of all, in my view, mulberries, at the height of their ripeness and deliciousness), with old-fashioned thrift. Summer pudding is best made with old-school sliced white bread to create one of the glories of the pudding world.

The odd thing about our summer fruits is how few of them actually originated here. Take strawberries.

Little appreciated in Britain before the 17th century, when that great gardener John Tradescant the Elder brought wild strawberries from Virginia and began the long process of crossbreeding that has led to the brilliant fruit we know and love.

Gooseberries arrived from France – there is a fruiter’s bill to the court of King Edward I (1239–1307) mentioning a delivery of gooseberry bushes from Normandy. Raspberries started their long journey south in Alaska; mulberries came from China; cherries and rhubarb from Asia; and red, white and blackcurrants hailed from Northern Europe. We welcomed them all and have made them our own.

My mother was particularly fond of currants. She would dip clusters of white and redcurrants first in egg white and then in icing sugar so that each cluster sparkled like a pendant earring and each tart berry was coated in a sweet shell.

I still try to emulate my mother’s skill in growing, preparing and cooking fruit, and my father’s appreciation of her efforts – the latter with rather more success than the former. Each plateful marks that period when the garden and its produce are at their most beautiful and most edible.

NB: What about plums, apples, pears and quinces? I always think of them as late summer to early autumn fruits and I’ll turn to them when their season is due. In the meantime, let us just celebrate strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, cherries … and cream, of course.

To hear more of Matthew’s thoughts on the delights of berries, download The English Home podcast at podcast.theenglishhome.co.uk About Matthew Best known as a judge on BBC2’s Great British Menu, Matthew is an award-winning food writer and critic.

He was the Food & Drink Editor of The Guardian for 15 years and is the author of four books.

PORTRAIT GRANT SCOTT ILLUSTRATION ELENA PIMONOVA / SHUTTERSTOCK. PHOTOGRAPH LILIYA KANDRASHEVICH / SHUTTERSTOCK

The food writer and critic celebrates the virtues of freshly picked berries as a defining treat of an English summer and reveals how best to enjoy them

FOOD

ETON MESS Strawberries, cream, meringue – summer in a mouthful. Somewhere in my files, I have an article by Heston Blumenthal about making Eton Mess. He said he and his team had tried all kinds of ways of deconstructing it, putting it back together and altering the ingredients. After days of experimentation, the great man decided that the original, untidy, haphazard, fabulously indulgent original could not be improved on. This is not taken from his recipe – I don’t think he would countenance shop-bought meringues but I do because this isn’t a pudding of the utmost refinement.

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS Six shop-bought meringue nests 500g ripe strawberries 50g caster sugar ½ lemon 450ml double cream 1 tbsp icing sugar

METHOD •Hull the strawberries, slice them in half and put them into a bowl.

Squeeze the lemon over them, sprinkle with the caster sugar and leave them for an hour or so.

•Whip the cream until just short of stiff.

•Break up the meringues into pieces of various sizes and work them into the whipped cream.

•Crush the strawberries gently with your hands then work them into the cream and meringue mixture.

•Dust with icing sugar. Tuck in. n

THE ENGLISH HOME 87

Picnic

OCCASION TO

With the summer social season in full swing, we explore the history of event picnicking and the evolution of its most glamorous incarnation at Glyndebourne Festival in East Sussex 88 THE ENGLISH HOME

LIFESTYLE

I

t is unclear exactly when the concept of picnicking began in Britain but by the 19th century, aspirations had moved on from simple feasting in a picturesque exterior setting to the fashion for enjoying elaborate picnics at outdoor events. This evolution was noted by renowned figures of the time, such as Charles Dickens, who commented of the Epsom Derby: “Look where I will … I see Fortnum and Mason. And now, Heavens! All the hampers fly wide open, and the green Downs burst into a blossom of lobster salad!”

By the 20th century, this elevated form of picnicking – combining a cultural setting, engaging entertainment and a pause in proceedings to indulge in a delicious picnic – had become an established ritual at many British events, from Goodwood to Henley Regatta and, not least, Glyndebourne in East Sussex.

A highlight of the season, Glyndebourne Festival has become as well-known for the resplendent picnics in its grounds as for its programmes of world-class opera.

In 1934, when the Festival’s founders, John Christie and his wife Audrey Mildmay, first welcomed ticketholders to experience opera performances in Glyndebourne’s historic manor house, the only provision for dining was in the formal restaurant. “It was in the following year that a few brave people took a more informal approach to interval eating, spreading out rugs in the car park on which to eat,” explains

Glyndebourne archivist Philip Boot. “Over the next few years, the picnickers gradually spread from the car park into the main gardens, thus starting a trend that would gradually become such a key and much-loved part of the Glyndebourne experience.”

According to research conducted by Boot’s fellow archivist, Julia Aries, and opera specialist Alexandra Coghlan, the idea of having a formal event built around a central interval “long enough for a relaxed supper” may not be out of the ordinary now, but it was a “startling innovation” in 1934. “Black tie and formal dress have been the suggested Glyndebourne attire since the beginning,” adds Boot.

Archive images capture the striking contrast of people wearing glamorous outfits while sitting on picnic rugs in Glyndebourne’s grounds. It is the idyllic garden backdrop that elevates these al fresco scenes and the beautiful setting soon attracted the admiration of famous garden designers. In 1953, poet, novelist and horticulturalist Vita Sackville-West noted, “The graciousness of civilisation here surely touches a peak where the arts of music, architecture and gardening combine.”

From the very start, visitors were not shy about seeking out the best locations for their picnic.

“Many of the favoured spots then, remain popular today – by the lake, on the main lawns, and close to the ha-ha,” explains Boot. “Some people have just rolled out a rug; others are set 

OPPOSITE The glamorous appeal of event picnicking is shown in this 1959 archive shot of Glyndebourne visitors dressed up to the nines while enjoying a leisurely lakeside picnic.

ABOVE Glyndebourne Festival’s sweeping grounds are offset by the estate’s grand English country house, the origins of which are thought to date back to before the Elizabethan era.

THE ENGLISH HOME 89

up with a table and chairs, enjoying their preferred choice of refreshments.”

Once settled in a chosen spot, picnic provisions can be unveiled. Mrs Beeton, in her famous 19th-century guide, The Book of Household Management, for a gathering of 40 picnickers, recommends an adequate selection of drinks should include ale, ginger beer, soda water, lemonade, sherry, claret, champagne, light wine and brandy. She notes, “Coffee is not suitable for a picnic, being difficult to make.” In addition, the book’s extensive picnic food list includes many kinds of cold roast meat and a wide range of puddings. By the 20th century, fashions for picnic food still followed this advice – at Glyndebourne, Virginia and Leonard Woolf attended a 1935 performance and reportedly picnicked by the lake, enjoying “a plate of ham” as a delicious treat.

Although picnic food may have become more sophisticated today, most elements have not altered.

“Looking back at the photos of picnickers at Glyndebourne over the decades, what strikes you is how much stays the same,” says Boot. “In many cases, if it was not for a few small giveaways, such as an old-fashioned wine cooler, you couldn’t easily say with confidence what decade a photograph is from.”

Just as in previous years, this summer, come the interval, picnickers will settle down in the picturesque grounds to enjoy their carefully packed delicious morsels. The experience can be as relaxed or lavish as desired. House manager Jules Crocker has seen the most extravagant of cakes suddenly appear from a large Tupperware box, and says, “To make their picnic extra special, visitors might set up a table in their chosen spot, often with a linen tablecloth, silverware, a vase of flowers, or even a candelabra.”

Combining outstanding scenery, culture and food, event picnicking remains a delightful part of the British summer season. Boot concludes, “As eccentric as it might first seem to find yourself seated on a rug in the English countryside, dressed in formal wear, eating a picnic, it’s lovely to know you are treading in the footsteps of others, including notable figures like Virginia Woolf and David Hockney, to name just two.”

VISITING GLYNDEBOURNE FESTIVAL • The festival runs from 21 May – 28 August, featuring four new productions including Ethel Smyth’s The Wreckers, Handel’s Alcina, Puccini’s La Bohème and a Poulenc doublebill of La Voix Humaine and Les Mamelles de Tirésias.

• Ticketholders can either bring a picnic or book Glyndebourne’s freshly prepared traditional sharing picnic (there are also three restaurants on-site). Visit glyndebourne.com/festival

90 THE ENGLISH HOME

TOP To keep glasses charged with cool drinks, visitors use inventive ideas.

“People used to tie their champagne and wine bottles with rope and drop them in the lake to chill before the interval,” says head gardener Kevin Martin.

RIGHT Popular picnic drinks in the Fifties ranged from flasks of tea to favourite tipples, all equally enjoyed at this annual event.

ABOVE Over time, new parts of the garden have been opened up for picnickers. John Hoyland, Glyndebourne’s garden advisor, explains, “There are the close-cut lawns that overlook the downs, the sweep of grass that skirts the lake and the meadows that rise up from the lake.”

LEFT Today, the order of three-course picnics at Glyndebourne is starter pre-performance, main and pudding during the interval, and coffee post-performance.

FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE PHOTOGRAPHS P88 © GUY GRAVETT/GLYNDEBOURNE PRODUCTIONS LTD. P89 & P90 (TOP) © JAMES BELLORINI PHOTOGRAPHY. P90 (MIDDLE) © GUY GRAVETT/GLYNDEBOURNE PRODUCTIONS LTD; (BOTTOM) © SAM STEPHENSON. P91 (MIDDLE) © VICKY SKEET

LIFESTYLE

CHALK STREAM TROUT RILLETTES This delicious sharing dish is new for Glyndebourne’s summer series picnic menu. Executive chef Steve Groves recommends serving it with crusty bread and pickles and pairing the dish with a white wine such as Chenin Blanc. He recommends transporting the rillettes in a sealed pot or jar in a cool bag and not leaving it anywhere warm for longer than two hours.

Serves 6-8 as a sharing dish INGREDIENTS 500g chalk stream trout fillet 40g salt 40g sugar 1 lemon A few sprigs of fennel tops or dill 50g leek or 1 shallot 15ml olive oil 40g crème fraiche 20g mayonnaise 1tbsp chopped chives METHOD • Chop the fennel tops, finely grate the lemon zest, and mix

with the salt and sugar, then sprinkle this all over the trout.

• Allow to cure lightly in the fridge for two hours. Rinse in cold water and dry thoroughly.

• Cut the leeks or shallot into thin strips and lay along with some fennel tops or dill on the middle of a double layer of tin foil that is large enough to make a parcel around the trout. The leek and fennel will keep the fish elevated away from the direct heat of the baking tray as well as lightly flavouring the fish.

• Add the olive oil, juice of the lemon and around 100ml water and seal the parcel. Place on a baking tray and cook at 100°C for 30 minutes, then allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.

• Peel the skin and blood line from the fish then flake it into a bowl, try not to mush the fish up too much.

• Mix with the crème fraiche, mayonnaise, and chives, then season with salt, pepper and a little lemon juice.

• Serve with some pickles and crisp toast or crackers. n

THE ENGLISH HOME 91

The art of

THE GRAND TOUR 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

A

BELOW The honey-hued stone cottages and verdant hills of The Cotswolds are irresistibly charming.

RIGHT Although one can be optimistic when packing for a holiday in England, it is wise to pack for all types of weather.

fter the rather disastrous camper van trip of last year, Mr M has agreed that he will no longer be in charge of manoeuvres. I think he is secretly relieved. The gap in his expectation of camping and the reality was as wide as the Grand Canyon, another place he has often suggested we visit.

Our travel planning goes something like this: I suggest popping off for a weekend to a gorgeous little boutique hotel I have discovered in Devon. He counters with “how about a jolly to Paris?”.

I respond with delight and go off to Waitrose to buy supper. By the time I come back, he is muttering something about Paris being passé and is researching white-water rafting trips to Wyoming, during which we could learn to build a canoe from driftwood and reeds and survive in bear-infested forests for six nights.

It is all rather exhausting. So, this summer, we have agreed I shall oversee planning our holiday, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I have decided we’re staying in Britain. Our airport system seems on the verge of collapse and there is nothing less relaxing than watching Mr M pace a departure lounge like a caged tiger. Of course, if I were to share those thoughts, he would immediately have us off on an exotic safari.

My must-haves on every stop are lovely walks, sweet market towns, good food, and luxury accommodation.

Mr M’s only requirement is a decent whiskey menu.

He’s a simple creature really.

I see it as a grand tour, where I sleep in delightful rooms and get a whole host of interiors and menu ideas. The past couple of years have been a bit of a drought when it comes to inspiration. We were, of course, happy to stay home and do our bit, but now we are allowed out, I would be lying if were to say it is not sheer bliss.

Under Mr M’s rather brusque exterior beats a romantic heart. He sobs when Lassie heroically saves the day and cheers at the end of Love Actually each Christmas. Years ago, when I was young and Mr M was less old, we went to Edinburgh and stayed at The Balmoral hotel. I have decided we will begin our trip here. This is partly because I hear a few years ago there was a marvellous renovation and I am very keen to see it for myself. Edinburgh is a wonderful city and I adore it at night. Mr M – who once had a Scottish nanny – feels it is ingrained in his soul somehow, so he thoroughly approves of this first stop.

Next on the list is Soho Farmhouse. I have always adored Babington House, but Soho Farmhouse feels like a step beyond. I have only ever been there for supper, so am itching to try the beds. I have my heart set on a cabin. Firstly, because the decor looks utterly divine – all reclaimed wood panelling, squishy mattresses, and gorgeously faded rugs – and, secondly, some even allow dogs, which will make Mr M happy.

The Cotswolds area feels as if a film director were allowed to create a region. It could not be more lovely: mellow stone cottages, lush green hills dotted with adorable sheep, and lovely shops and restaurants.

I have already booked supper at the Wild Rabbit in Kingham. Mr M gets a little grumpy in smart restaurants where they insist on kale three ways. He is much more fond of a nice piece of fish or an interesting game recipe, so my choice hits the right

Mrs Minerva Writes...

HOTEL STYLE AT HOME Having reassessed the notion of holidays overseas this summer, Mrs M finds interiors inspiration to take home from her English stays FURNITURE FINDS

Soho House and its outposts are the perfect places to glean interiors inspiration. Somehow its design team gets choosing furniture just right and the launch of Soho Home has been notable for those who adore good style. Of course, it is not simply bedrooms where it has the most covetable pieces – I, for one, am rather desperate to have the beautiful Foxbury dining table at home. It has a solid oak base, a butterfly extension mechanism and can seat up to eight people.

Becoming a member entitles one to a discount on all products.

Visit sohohome.com

PHOTOGRAPH P92 (COTSWOLDS) © CARON BADKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK; P93 (SUITCASE) © FLORAL DECO/SHUTTERSTOCK

spot for both of us. Plus, the interiors are a Cotswolds dream with beautiful limestone floors and a handsome stone fireplace for when the late summer evenings turn a little chilly.

Then it is to Cornwall, where I spent all my childhood summers. We shall be staying at the Carbis Bay hotel. It has a rich history and has provided a bolthole for some of the nation’s finest writers. When I booked, I made sure to let them know that I, too, am a writer with something of an international fanbase. I am rather hoping they will see that I need to be gripped by the muse and will provide a few extra inspirational touches.

If one is a Rosamunde Pilcher fan, one will be delighted to know the Carbis Bay hotel features as The Sands hotel in her novels The Shell Seekers and Winter Solstice. Cornwall is all about the sea, so we will be staying in a lodge directly on the beach. The lodges have floor-to-ceiling windows, and I cannot wait to watch the sun go down.

Our final stop will be North Norfolk and The Harper. Mr M has a particular fondness for the county as it is where he spent his summer holidays as a young boy. I have not visited nearly enough, so am rather excited. The big skies and stunning beaches are, of course, a draw, but I am intrigued by this newly opened hotel. Norfolk does not really do luxury – it is a pragmatic county which relies on its natural beauty to bring people in – but The Harper has changed this.

A beautiful, traditional, brick-and-flint house, it has the perfect bedrooms, with warm oak floors, original art, huge, modern four-poster beds, and stunning bathrooms. Plus, there is the spa, where I intend to have some stress-relieving massages and hope to persuade Mr M to get a pedicure as his crusty feet were the subject of much discussion at his last GP check-up.

Spa treatments are not his cup of tea – “one for the girls, darling, I think” – so just another thing we agree to disagree on. He will probably concede this point if I promise to go birdwatching the next day. He is sure to have some intel on the lesser-spotted something or other being seen in a field near the hotel.

And that, I feel, is the essence of a good holiday n

ENROBE IN LUXURY

One of the loveliest things about staying in hotels is the gorgeous bathrobes. Always super soft and fluffy, putting one on makes one feel as if the holiday has begun. Often, we neglect this joy at home, but I think this needs to end and we all need something utterly delicious to climb into at the end of the day. These robes from The White Company are the perfect choice if you are looking to recreate that hotel experience.

From £60. thewhitecompany.com

BOUTIQUE STYLE

Kit Kemp of Firmdale Hotels has a special way of creating stunning interiors. Each hotel and its rooms have their own personality but are somehow recognisably designed by Kemp. She uses colour and pattern to great effect and knows exactly how best to place furniture within a room.

With a number of books under her belt, in which she imparts her wisdom, it is easy to learn from her. My favourite is Every Room Tells a Story. It is published by Hardie Grant and costs £30.

THE ENGLISH HOME 93

PROPERTIES FOR SALE

HOUSES WITH CHARACTER This month, our selection of properties all feature outstanding gardens

1

BEAUTIFULLY BALANCED A fine example of William and Mary architecture, this seven-bedroom dwelling, found in the village of Plymtree, was extended in the Victorian era, while a 25-pane window was added in the 20th century. Both the house and gardens encompass a balance of formal and informal styles. Inside, the morning room, drawing room and dining room are replete with smart original architecture, such as

94 THE ENGLISH HOME

wood panelling, sash windows and grand doors. By contrast, the kitchen has a more casual, contemporary décor. Outside, formal gardens include yew hedges and roses. For a more relaxed mood, a wildflower area edges the lawns. With over eight acres, a stroll reveals a gravel garden, a large pond, an orchard and a paddock.

Plymtree manor, Devon £2,500,000, Strutt & Parker

2

3

2

YEAR-ROUND GREENERY With an impressive front garden, this historic property is situated in the village of Hursley. At the end of a large driveway, opening the garden gate reveals a Buxus parterre with apple trees growing among the neatly clipped bushes. Further along a stone pathway, the rear garden comprises large lawns and well-tended borders with a paved sun terrace for lingering a little longer. A self-contained annexe is suitable for guests staying over, with a separate studio offering views across the garden. The main fourbedroom property is believed to date back to the 17th century and was originally under the ownership of Oliver Cromwell’s family.

The house has been sympathetically enlarged, retaining period details include ornamental chimneys and Inglenook fireplaces.

The Old School House, Hampshire,

3

COTSWOLD STYLE Briming with cottage charm from the inside out, this Cotswold home is thought to date back to the 16th and 17th century. The property is nestled in the pretty village of Broad Campden and it retains a wealth of authentic period characteristics, including oak-painted panels and windows with leaded lights, while modern conveniences, such as underfloor heating, make it practical for family life. There are eight reception rooms and five bedrooms, with the master suite enjoying a garden vista. Passionate gardeners will appreciate the care that has gone into the beautifully kept lawns, well-established flower beds and neat topiary. For long weekends, the loggia area is an outdoor entertaining area and there is a separate guest annex.

Sedgecombe House, Gloucestershire, £3,250,000, The Country House Department THE ENGLISH HOME 95

4

4

SPACE TO ROAM The elevated setting of this Georgian manor allows for panoramic countryside views across the Brett Valley. With seven bedrooms and three reception rooms (in addition to the kitchen), a comprehensive renovation has instilled this grade II listed home with attention to detail. In the sitting room, luxurious aspects include an elegant stone overmantel and floor-to-ceiling bookcases with a discreet speaker system.

Venturing outside, guests can enjoy an entertainment barn with heated swimming pool, seven stables, a separate flat and a tennis court. Alongside sweeping lawns and formal gardens, highlights of the three and a half acres include a woodland walk and an eye-catching sunken garden and large pond.

Sulleys Manor, Suffolk, £2,550,000, Jackson Stops

96 THE ENGLISH HOME

5

6

GARDEN SUPPERS Recently renovated, this secluded farmhouse is thoughtfully finished for rural Yorkshire life. A galleried entrance hall, with exposed beams and painted wood panelling, sets the tone for the rest of the four-bedroom property. Reception rooms include a boot room, essential for practicality when taking off muddy garden boots, and a dual aspect dining room, ideal for family gatherings. During the summer months, dining outside is fully catered for with an impressive patio area including a large wooden pergola and built-in brick BBQ. With almost one acre of ground, the land also includes south-west facing gardens, various outbuildings and a further grass area that could be used to extend the garden.

High Hazel Farm, south Yorkshire, £750,000, Fine & Country

6

SUNNY RETREAT The sprawling garden of this Edwardian home will delight one and all.

The terrace and croquet lawn are sun traps perfect for a relaxing or sporting afternoon. For those who relish a walk, the grounds are fringed with mature trees and colourful rhododendron bushes. The four-bedroom house is situated at the end of a long gravel drive, with its two and a half acres creating a sense of quiet privacy despite its location within the village of Slindon. Inside, a vaulted reception hall ensures a light and bright welcome. The other reception rooms include a sitting room and dining room, both with original beams. A spacious conservatory allows the garden to be admired in comfort.

Millstones House, west Sussex, £2,500,000, Knight Frank n

FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE

5

ADDRESS BOOK FOR READERS IN THE USA AND CANADA The English Home tries, where possible, to ensure featured items can be bought by readers in the US and Canada.

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THE ENGLISH HOME 97

ONE FINAL THING…

Enhance a corner of the garden with relaxing details

W

hether hosting friends of the two or four-legged variety, create an inviting setting with an outdoor rug, cushions and a throw or two to keep a chill evening air at bay once the sun goes down. Keep the mood going seamlessly from day into night by having atmospheric forms of lighting at hand, wherever a cosy spot has been set up in the garden.

Arana lanterns, from £19.99, Contemporary Country range, Dobbies Garden Centres

98 THE ENGLISH HOME

H AMISH MACKIE SCULPTURE LIFE IN BR O N ZE

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