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L I V E

T H E

L I F E . . . L O V E

T H E

S T Y L E

& INTERIORS

Let’s get together S

JANUARY 2019 £4.50 US$9.99/AUS$10.50/NZ$13 RECALL 03/01/2019

A K

SIMPLE, SPECIAL TOUCHES FOR FESTIVE FEASTING

A CO O U SC O A Y GA

CLASSIC COCKTAILS & BARWARE

SPACE OR R O

WELCOME

CHOCOL ATE-BOX COTTAGES & A CHIC TOWNHOUSE APARTMENT

The home of

MODERN COUNTRY Interiors & inspiration 8 13 20

JANUARY The things we can’t live without HOME NOTES MAKE A HOUSE A HOME With the perfect reading light

SEASONAL LOOKS Be bold with colour and deck out your home in a mix of vintage, new and patterned Christmas decorations

CELEBRATION GLASSWARE Serve your drinks in style this season with gorgeous barware

LET’S TALK FEATHERS And how to work whimsical birdthemed prints into your home

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THE COUNTRY DECORATOR Lay a glitzy table with these festive-inspired place settings O

10 SOCIABLE LIVING ROOMS Get the heart of your home super cosy ready for Christmas

MODERN COUNTRY CLASSIC Snugglers and love seats

ROOM ELEMENTS Relaxed footstools

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HOME TECH Audio-enhancing TV soundbars

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COUNTRY KITCHEN FOCUS A modern update with plenty of room for the whole family

Country homes 24

132 TO FIND ALL STOCKISTS IN THIS ISSUE, TURN TO PAGE 139

ON THE COVER

• 4

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ESSEX COTTAGE Although the interior was challenging, the idyllic location made it all worth while O

ESSEX COTTAGE CONVERSION A gorgeous mix of rustic, period features and modern furniture bring this old shop to life

KENT APARTMENT This cosy, colourful home really comes into its own at Christmas

HAMPSHIRE COTTAGE By joining two thatched cottages together, this family have created their dream country home

PLUS GET-THE-LOOK IDEAS FOR EVERY HOME

126 Gardens 16 GARDEN NOTES 108 A WINTER’S TALE Even under a blanket of snow, with just a few winter berries and flowers poking through, it’s still clear to see the beauty this Somerset garden offers

108 Seasonal food 15 132

FOOD NOTES COOL COCKTAILS Treat guests to a fancy tipple or two as you ring in the New Year together O

Lifestyle

OUR FAVOURITE SHOP Get your homeware and clothing fix in one place at Sue Parkinson

MY KIND OF COUNTRY Hilary Blackford brings the delicious taste of Italian limoncello to the Cotswolds

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MAKE LIFE LOVELY Happy thoughts and ideas for fashion, eco, wellbeing and more

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OUT AND ABOUT Escape to the lakes for fresh air and tasty fare

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MY COUNTRY BUSINESS Discover how artisan perfumers Wendy and Chris de Verteuil make their heavenly scents

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MY FAVOURITE VIEW When Monmouthshire’s Sugar Loaf mountain comes into view, Dee Hardwicke knows she’s almost home

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Country Homes & Interiors

& INTERIORS 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP Telephone 020 3148 5000 Email countryhomes@ti-media.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Vanessa Richmond GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR Georgia Hibberdine EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andrea Childs HOMES CONTENT TEAM EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Rhoda Parry 020 3148 7180 COMMERCIAL EDITORIAL OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Jane Akers 020 3148 7313 HOUSES EDITOR Vivienne Ayers 020 3148 7194 SHOPPING EDITOR Holly Phillips 020 3148 7195 NEWS AND FEATURES EDITOR Thea Babington-Stitt 020 3148 7458 CONTENT EDITOR Tara King 020 3148 7196 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Sara Bird (Style) 020 3148 7181 EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sally Dominic 020 3148 7154 GROUP CHIEF SUB-EDITOR/PRODUCTION EDITOR Sarah Farley HEAD OF SUBS OPERATIONS Maxine Clarke HUB CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Amy Hodge DEPUTY CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Jennie Filer SUB-EDITOR Chloe Hay HEAD OF ART OPERATIONS Alison Walter DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Emma Jackson SENIOR DESIGNER Hannah Bennewitz EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Nicola Tillman DEPUTY EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Clare Willetts

MARKETING Marketing Manager Yasmin Christofi 020 3148 7692 Acting Marketing Manager Elizabeth Pether 020 3148 6237

PUBLISHING Group Managing Director, Lifestyle Angela Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Farrell EA to Group Managing Director Donna McConnell 020 3148 5651

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REGIONAL ADVERTISING Regional Sales Director Katrina Hutchison 0161 601 3720 Sales Manager (Inserts) Canopy Media Katherine Brown 07464 544375

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The mood of the moment: ready to relax into Christmas When I read Susanne Wells’ story in this issue – her gorgeous Essex cottage is featured on page 24 – I loved what she said about taking the time to forage for greenery to decorate the house at Christmas: ‘After all the work we’ve had to do on this house,’ she says, ‘it’s nice to be able to finally kick back and fiddle with foliage rather than doing DIY.’ After a couple of chaotic Christmases since my family moved into our Hertfordshire home, I’m feeling the same! Desperately putting the last coat of paint on the walls or hanging curtains as guests start to arrive… I’ve been there. Last year, things were so disorganised, I was still baking my youngest niece’s birthday cake (she was born on the Big Day), while frantically assembling a wooden doll’s house in the early hours of Christmas Day! This year, I’m looking forward

(BACKGROUND) DEER DAMASK FABRIC, COL GOLD, £63M, BARNEBY GATES

to having a more relaxed Christmas Eve, with carols from King’s streaming throughout the house while we lay the table ready for the next day, decorating each setting with a twist of ivy and fir gathered from the garden, while sipping a Tarquin’s G&T garnished with a slice of lime and a sprig of fresh thyme – heavenly! Wishing you a joyful – and peaceful – Christmas and New Year holiday from the Country Homes & Interiors team…

Vanessa x

Country Homes & Interiors

Things e canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lie without

JA N UA RY

A garden winter wonderland with green wreaths and pine cones. Twig and leaf wreaths, similar from Wyevale Garden Centres.

Country Homes & Interiors

COUNTRY DAYS

1 2

Getting wrapped up in sophisticated style (and wrapping presents)! Wool side-tie knitted dress, £110, The White Company.

4 3 1 Toasty-toes stocking ﬁller! Fleece-lined pom-pom slipper socks, £18, White Stuff. 2 Defrosting ﬁngers around a cup-cuddle of seasonal blends. Tea 24 Advent calendar & tea selection gift, £20, Tea Revv. 3 Planning ahead with animal favourites. Top of the Pops calendar 2019, £15, Anna Wright. 4 A hand-blown beauty to illuminate the night. Flute table lamp with shade, col Graphite, H55xW35cm, £195, Loaf.

Nordic living-inspired space to relax and entertain. Pre-lit 6ft grandis ﬁr tree, £250; Swoon Porto two-seater sofa in Hunter soft wool, £999; Arlo ﬂoor light, £150; Nkuku hurricane, £60; wire star, £20 each; Nkuku rectangular lantern, £50; white wool tree, £15; bark tea light holders, £10 each; gold and white glitter stars, £5 each; grey throw, £60, all Debenhams.

8 5 Embracing the magic of the season with a feather-filled treat. Winter scene cushion, col grey, W30xL40cm, £35, Laura Ashley. 6 Giving taste buds cause for celebration! Marc de Champagne truffle drum, 500g, £38, Fortnum & Mason. 7 Keep the hearth of the home tidy with a fireside dream team. Shovel and brush set, H29xW11xD5cm, £149, Eldvarm at Amara. 8 Lovely chunky rugs. Jamun bobbly wool dhurrie, col light blue, white and beige, 120x180cm, £375, Mahout Lifestyle. Country Homes & Interiors

12 11

15 16 13 Fromage feasts with friends! Kinship marble cheese knife set, £30, Oliver Bonas. 14 A charming, rural design that promises cosy lasting warmth to soothe aches and pains. Stag lavender wheat bag, 43x12cm, £16, Indigo & Rose. 15 Versatile texture for favourite nooks in winter months. Chunky knitted throw, L150xW120cm, £80, French Connection Home. 16 Toasting in the New Year with friends and family. New Year stacking decanter, £20, Bread & Jam at Etsy. 10

Country Homes & Interiors

9 Space to get organised with eco-conscious materials. 2019 weekly planner, col grey, A5, £28, Ponderlily. 10 Filling the room with uplifting scents. Cosy Nights candle, £25, Made For Life Organics. 11 Knitting your own with a stitch and smile this winter. Bobble hat knit kit, col Pufﬁn, £39, Les 100 Ciels. 12 An exotic bedroom addition, handmade from repurposed teak. Sumatra four-poster king-size bed, H202xW163xD225cm, £1,795, Lombok.

Celebrating a green-ﬁngered Christmas! Real Christmas trees, from £25; poinsettias, from £4; mini planted trees, from £6; Gardman metal watering can, from £14.99; stainless steel border spade, £42; stainless steel border fork, £42; RHS pots, from £12.99; wellies, £29.99, all Wyevale Garden Centres.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS STYLING (OPENER) ULRIKA GROENLUND/HOUSE OF PICTURES; PHOTOGRAPHS (OPENER) PERNILLA BERGDAHL/HOUSE OF PICTURES; (MOODBOARD) MORRIS & CO AT STYLE LIBRARY

An organic tablescape with natural touches... Metal star candle holder, £39.99; dinnerware, from a selection; white and green glass tea light holders, £1.99 each; wooden star decoration, £2.99; metal star tea light holder, £1.99; eucalyptus and pine fronds, from a selection, all Dobbies.

C O U N T R Y D AY S

Colour of the moent

GRACEFUL GREY INCORPORATE THIS ENDURING NEUTRAL SHADE INTO YOUR HOME IN LAYERED TONES RANGING FROM CHALKY TO MOODY, FOR A TIMELESS AND COSY SCHEME

Fabric (front to back): Pure Honeysuckle & Tulip Embroidery fabric, both £179m; Pure Laxa Weave fabric, £109m; cushion made in Pure Berwick Weave fabric, £129m, all Pure Morris collection by Morris & Co at Style Library. Country Homes & Interiors

" ! ! ! # # ! # ! # " # # ! ! ! ! ! #

Hoe notes Magical mindfulnes

Unwrap the enchanting Liberty at Christmas colouring book and discover the story of the beloved emporium at the most wonderful time of year, through more than 70 colouring prints and exclusive poems. Liberty at Christmas Colouring Book, £9.99, published by HarperCollins, Liberty London.

Cushion, from £75; stockings, £55 each; decorations, £29 each, all Jan Constantine.

O U R FAV O U R I T E D E S I G N E R

HoneyTree Publishing

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

It was the discovery of a memory box in her mother’s desk, bursting with papers, envelopes and cards, that brought home the importance of putting pen to paper for British artist and illustrator, Lizbeth Holstein. From this encounter with the past, HoneyTree was born, with the idea to record special moments in one’s life in a beautiful and meaningful way. Lizbeth and her husband Sebastian Galbraith-Helps, work with emerging British artists to design and produce bespoke gift stationery. What inspires you? A mix of mid-century design, changing seasons and the desire to provide beautiful stationery on premium materials with an ecological focus. I want customers to be able to personalise their own cards and invitations. What makes your designs special? They are all handdrawn, simple and accessible, covering a large range of subjects. Since launching in 2009, we have added more than 1,000 new artworks from customer suggestions. What do you love most about what you do? I love seeing what our customers

Stitches, sparkle & snow

Personalised charity Christmas cards, £16 for eight; gift tags, £11 for 10.

have ordered. Empowering artists is another thing that I’m really passionate about, too, and all of our artists are proﬁled on the website and celebrated for what they do. What’s next? We’re moving to a bigger studio in Frome, as we’ve now outgrown our one in Worminster Farm! HoneyTree Publishing, 01749 899333, Honeytree publishing. com.

Add a touch of winter wonderland to your home with Jan Constantine’s exquisitely handembroidered stockings, cushions, decorations and wall hangings. The perfect backdrop to long nights spent ireside eating mince pies and drinking mulled wine, the collectible range features iconic motifs including Christmas trees, reindeers, robins and stars lovingly appliquéd onto soft, pure wool felt. Decorations start at £29. Time to get cosy!

P L AY YO U R C A R D S R I G H T This unique table has a competitive edge – it works both as a games table and a place to dine, meaning it’s a winner either way. The Fitzroya Game Table, £1,125, by Oka, is beautifully crafted from weathered acacia, featuring naturally occurring knots and holes so that each piece is one of a kind. Country Homes & Interiors

Fod notes We want this nw... Mason Cash mixing bowls are a stalwart of country kitchens – the classic earthenware has been around since 1902. The new In the Forest collection embosses the bowls and basins with delightful woodland characters. Matching teapots, mugs and cake tins are also available. In The Forest mixing bowls, £17.50–£29.

For a grown-up twist, top with champagne

O U R FAV O U R I T E S A L M O N S M O K E R S

MARRBURY SMOKEHOUSE

FEATURE THEA BABINGTON-STITT RECIPE BERRYWORLD.COM

Husband-and-wife team Vincent and Ruby Marr started their business in 1996, fishing the River Cree in southwest Scotland. Their salmon is served in Michelinstarred restaurants, but you can also buy it through their shop, bistro and website. Ruby tells us more... What’s so special about your salmon? Vincent cures and smokes it by hand over whisky cask chippings and juniper berries and it’s his care of each batch that makes it so special. The smokehouse is just 50 feet away from our home, so it’s not a nine-to-five job. Why did you decide to start smoking salmon? Vincent worked as chief smoker for another company, but was becoming disheartened by the focus on profit over quality. When he came home one day in 1995, I looked outside at our tiny piece of land and said, ‘Right… let’s do it ourselves!’ What’s your favourite of the products you sell? It has to be our traditional smoked salmon. Out of the 20-plus products we create, it still blows my mind when I taste it. What’s the best way to serve your salmon? It needs nothing more than a wedge of lemon, a few capers and some chopped red onion.

Make mine a mocktail Tell us something we might not know about the British salmon industry? Salmon are graded and, depending on how they have been farmed, can vary hugely in quality. Ours is superior grade raised in fast-ﬂowing water and the quality is always consistent. What’s the best thing about running your business? Our marriage is not only to one another, but also to Marrbury Smokehouse, so we get to do what we love. Three words to sum up your company? Passion, pride and consistency. Marrbury Smokehouse, marrbury.co.uk

Whip up Rudolph’s cranberry mocktail – a drink all the family can enjoy over the festive period. To make four glasses, heat 300g cranberries with 100ml water and 100g sugar over a low heat and simmer for 10min. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then strain the syrup through a sieve. For each drink, combine 2tbsp of the syrup, some crushed rosemary, ice and top up with elderlower pressé. To make each of the cheery Rudolph heads, take 1 marshmallow, insert 2 cloves for the eyes, 2 rosemary sprigs for the antlers and then use half a cocktail stick to attach a cranberry nose. Place one on top of each mocktail as garnish.

BEET IT Vegetables are taking centre stage over the Christmas period, and we’re loving Waitrose’s innovative ‘Beet’ Wellington, £6.99. The impressive-looking creation features a marinated beetroot and rich mushroom duxelle within its vegan puff pastry, garnished with tasty beetroot breadcrumbs. Delicious! Country Homes & Interiors

Garden notes PERFECT FOR... WINTER SCENT Folklore has it that witch hazel was a cure for broken hearts and illness. But even without its exciting back story, these winter-flowering plants grab our attention at this time of year. They are hardy, deciduous shrubs, best planted in a sunny spot in an acid-to-neutral soil. Then simply wait for the spidery flowers to fill the air with scent. We recommend Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ (shown) for its fiery dark orange blooms.

Prune raspberries after planting Q&A WITH A SHARING GARDENER

How to keep warm in the garden this winter

How do you light a fire? Make a tepee out of kindling over a heaped bed of dry tinder. Light the tinder and slowly add more kindling and logs in the same shape, as this allows air to circulate. Ash is the best wood to burn, but it needs to be very dry. Any tips for a fire pit or mini bonfire in the garden? Site away from buildings and overhanging trees. A fire pit can be situated on most surfaces but avoid wooden decking; a bonfire requires a cleared area – bare earth is best. Make a slight dip in the base so that the fire rolls inwards on itself. Consider wildlife and build a bonfire just before lighting it so nothing hides inside. Any tips on preparing wood? First, cut the timber into logs. Then store under cover and off the ground, for at least a year. To make your own tinder, save prunings. 16

Country Homes & Interiors

Dead, dry leaves and flower stems, such as lavender and nettles, make good tinder. Hawthorn, birch, juniper and pine cones are great kindling. What’s your favourite meal to cook on a fire pit? Bonfire potatoes and a ‘throw it all in’ stew. Finish it off with baked apples and I’m warmed to the tips of my toes! The Woodee, 01981 550524, thewoodee. com.

Raspberry jam and ice cream – these are just a couple of the goodies you could make next summer if you plant bare-root raspberry canes this month. A fertile, slightly acidic soil and a hot spot will offer the best results. Although vigorous plants, raspberries can be grown in containers if supported. Before planting in the ground, dig in well-rotted farmyard manure with a sprinkling of ish blood and bone. Keep stems supported by running galvanised wires between two strong stakes. A fruit frame will help keep the birds off your harvest. Go for ‘Glen Fyne’ for early fruits or ‘Autumn Bliss’ for later ones.

Just what you ned nw...

Grow your own shrooms with this quick and easy Gift Kit, £8.99, from Merryhill Mushrooms, a specialist family business. Keep the kit indoors, out of direct sunlight, and in a room with a steady temperature. Then mist the compost twice a day and in two to three weeks you’ll be harvesting mushrooms.

FEATURE TAMSIN WESTHORPE PHOTOGRAPHS GAP PHOTOS (MARK WINWOOD/JOHN GLOVER)

Pick of the raspberries

We asked Louise Wright of The Woodee how to stay warm when outdoors.

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OUT AND ABOUT The inviting store feels like home, making it easy to imagine the wares in your own house.

Built in the charming Cotswold stone, Sue Parkinson blends in beautifully with its surroundings.

O U R FAVO U R I T E S H O P F O R FA S H I O N, GIFTS AND FURNISHINGS

Sue Parkinson

THIS CHIC COTSWOLDS BOUTIQUE IS A ONE-STOPSHOP FOR UPDATING YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO OPEN SUE PARKINSON?

My daughter Sally and I love interiors and wanted to offer an edit that reflects our own taste rather than the formulaic style available on the high street. I opened Sue Parkinson in 1973, initially selling clothing and gifts, but soon added a line of eclectic pieces for the home, too. WHO VISITS YOUR SHOP? Our customers are often shopping for gifts or they are working on a 18

Country Homes & Interiors

renovation and want to source their furniture, lighting, mirrors, etc. Our clients’ style is fun and colourful. They like a mix of classic pieces and playful decor to give their home plenty of personality. ARE THERE ANY UNIQUE TOUCHES TO YOUR SHOP? The stores –

located in Broadway and Cirencester – are all very different, each with their own quirks. Being family run means we are able to react quickly to trends and what our customers want, as well as allowing us to build relationships that have lasted years and years – a lot of our staff are actually former shoppers! WHAT MAKES YOUR COTSWOLDS LOCATION SO SPECIAL? We are in

a thriving local community, as well as a popular tourist destination. The

Cotswolds has never lost its charm – it’s still full of stone cottages, little boutiques and cafés. ANY FAVOURITE PRODUCTS?

Our range of contemporary Danish pieces from Skagerak, handmade South African ceramics from Wonki Ware, artisan pieces from Nkuku, Scandinavian soft furnishings from Linum and Branche d’Olive’s French home fragrances. ANY EXCITING PLANS? We have recently relaunched our website. It now has a strong focus on interactivity so our online customers can enjoy the same personal touch that they would get if they were shopping in one of our stores. Sue Parkinson has locations across the Cotswolds. 01386 859233, sue-parkinson.com.

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY

Sitting pretty in an old stone cottage is beloved Cotswolds stalwart Sue Parkinson, a stylish store full of gorgeous clothing and homeware. We caught up with Sue to get the full story…

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C O U N T RY S T Y L E I C O N S

Make a house a home

The perfect light for reading Vaudeville lamp, col Antique Gold, H52xW17xD17cm, £225 (shade not included), Oka.

Choose fabric shades that complement the room’s furnishings and upholstery for a cohesive, designer look.

Country Homes & Interiors

Task lighting is about pooling brightness into a small area, creating a zone to illuminate words and pictures for an all-round pleasant reading experience. Finding the right table lamp is all about matching style with purpose, but this simple home accessory can also be an attractive addition to a corner of a country home too. WHAT’S THE STORY? Lighting in the domestic home leaped in the late 19th century from candle to incandescent flame when Joseph Swan and Thomas Edison separately invented the commercially viable bulb. The two combined forces soon after to create the Edison & Swan United Electric Light Company. Initially lamp design took a more practical stance with industrial style stands, but with the great design explosion of the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movements, lighting bases and additionally shades became a new way to add style and brightness to a home. A choice of materials was explored, from ceramic and stoneware to metal and glass, making for very individual and imaginative pieces. WHICH STYLE TO CHOOSE Match the lamp to the scale of the surface it sits on. Keep it simple with a candlestick-style wooden base and linen lampshade. Or for a more opulent touch, choose a patterned shade and ornate metal stand. STYLE IT UP Mix and match different materials for lamp bases and shades for individual style. Different shaped shades also draw the eye and offer a range of looks, from classic country cones to modern drums and cubes.

FEATURE SARA BIRD

IN OUR ONGOING SERIES, WE SELECT SIMPLE COUNTRY-STYLE HERO PIECES THAT LOOK BEAUTIFUL... AND MAKE LIFE EVEN BETTER

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E S S E X C O T TAG E

All wrapped up for Christmas SUSANNE WELLS HAS GIVEN A TRADITIONAL COTTAGE A NEW LEASE OF LIFE WITH THOUGHTFUL REMODELLING AND A LITTLE FESTIVE FLAIR

Country Homes & Interiors

Susanne’s home is surrounded by ﬁelds, and she has plenty of space in the garden for her chickens to roam.

Kitchen Handpainted units and a vintage Rayburn create a homely feel. Cupboards painted in Bone, Farrow & Ball. Handles, Neptune.

Conservatory Antique wooden furniture brings a warm touch to the pale walls. Similar pew, Antique Church Furnishings. Hanging star, Notonthehighstreet.com.

Dining room The table is set for Christmas dinner with layers of white china, glassware and decorations. Dining table and chairs, Wesley Barrell. Similar sideboard, Packhouse.

What makes this house a home… ‘When doing up this house we didn’t spend lots of money but really used our imagination to make it the very best it could be’

Country Homes & Interiors

E S S E X C O T TAG E

Living room Neutral-coloured furniture puts the focus on the period features, including the beams, inglenook and stove. Sofa, Sofa.com. Walls in Milk White, Crown. Woodburning stove, Villager.

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Country Homes & Interiors

Living room The other end of the space features an inviting vintage leather chair and a pretty tree. Chair, throw and cushion, all Little White Box. Similar clock, Newgate Clocks.

Country Homes & Interiors

E S S E X C O T TAG E

A last-minute

decision to view a rural cottage turned out to be a fortuitous one for Susanne Wells and her husband Barry. They were on their way home from viewing another property when they spotted it. ‘We were blown away by its rural position – it has a very pretty approach and is surrounded by ields,’ says Susanne. ‘And despite the interior being a challenge, we fell in love with it.’ The property was originally part of a run of three farmers’ cottages and had become very run-down. Susanne’s neighbour had once owned the cottage and did much of the early renovation work, but, after she moved out, the new set of owners changed the decor and used some very strong colours. The low of the cottage also felt awkward to Susanne, with higgledy-piggledy layouts, strange staircase arrangements and uneven looring. ‘Every wall was covered in wood chip, even some of the ceilings,’ says Susanne. ‘I’m sure it was glued on with PVA as removing it was such hard work. On the landing, unbeknown to us, the paper was even holding part of a wall in place – when we removed it, the surface fell apart!’ Structurally, the couple levelled some of the loors and sorted out the low of the rooms, making it easier to navigate around the house. They also had heating installed. ‘The house had no heating source, except for one small radiator off the back of the stove, which only warmed the bathroom,’ says Susanne. ‘We invested in a new boiler and had underloor heating itted in the conservatory. It made such a difference.’ Renovating the bathroom was another challenge. Susanne wanted a space with modern amenities, but that also retained the character of the room, so she approached local interior design company Little White Box. ‘We loved their ideas and were thrilled with the result,’ she says. One of Susanne’s favourite rooms is the kitchen, which features a vintage Rayburn, ceramic sink and a lovely wooden draining board. Having inherited the hand-built kitchen, the original idea was to have it replaced, but after a while the couple grew to love it so decided to give it a makeover instead. The lacklustre cupboard doors were removed, and new storage areas itted. When it comes to decor, Susanne is a believer in upcycling and making good from old. ‘Having moved into an old cottage from a modern house, I wanted to ind accessories that were unique,’ she says. She and Barry scoured local auctions, antique fairs and boot sales looking for pieces of furniture that would suit their home. ‘We would bring bits home, clean and tweak them and luckily they all seemed to it,’ says Sue. During the winter months, the interior of the house comes into its own. ‘I’ve always liked decorating and making a house look good at Christmas. With all the ields and hedgerows nearby, we go out and forage for lots of greenery and berries to make it look festive,’ says Susanne. ‘After all the work we had to do on this house, it is nice to be able to inally kick back and iddle with foliage rather than doing DIY.’

AT HOME WITH... Owners Susanne Wells, an administration manager, and her husband, Barry, who works in the glazing industry. They have three grown-up children who have left home, plus five granddaughters. The couple live here with their dachshund, Tod, and wire hair fox terrier, Eric, plus lots of chickens. House Three-bedroom cottage, believed to have been built in the early 17th century.

Guest bedroom Cosy throws, cushions and stockings make this a snug space to sleep. Stocking and throws, all Little White Box.

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O N O U R D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘Sudbury Water Meadows, immortalised by artists Constable and Gainsborough, is a wildlife sanctuary with the River Stour running through it and is perfect for beautiful wintry walks.’ Shop at… ‘Little White Box (01376 564015, little-white-box.com) in Coggeshall is a combination of an interior design consultancy and delightful shop offering all kinds of ideas for the home. It’s also well known for its beautiful window displays.’

Go for a meal at… ‘The Fox (01371 810151, thefoxinnfinchingfield.com) in Finchingfield is a 16th-century coaching inn serving delicious seasonal food, made with local ingredients.’

Main bedroom Located under the eaves, pretty ﬂorals and pinks bring a feminine touch to this room. Similar bed, Laura Ashley. Bedlinen, John Lewis & Partners. Walls painted in Milk White, Crown. 30

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Bathroom Fitting a footed tub has brought a spacious vintage feel to Susanne’s bathroom. Bath, Bathstore.

What I love most about living here... ‘I love the combination of the location and the aspect, as well as all the little bits I’ve done to make the house feel like home. It really is as pretty as a picture.’

Landing A vintage chair adds interest. Similar pendant light, Wayfair.

Guest bedroom Mismatched

FEATURE SARA BIRD PHOTOGRAPHS DAN DUCHARS

furniture adds personality to this cosy space. Similar bed, The Original Bed Company. Similar bedlinen, Laura Ashley. Prints, Little White Box.

Country Homes & Interiors

ROOM IDEAS

Be inspired by

Susanne’s conservatory

Invite woodland favourites inside – well, it is that time of year! New England squirrel ornament, H14xW13xD2cm, £6, Gisela Graham at The Contemporary Home.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPH DAN DUCHARS

Lay down a natural look with these realistic, slate-effect porcelain floor tiles in moody charcoal and grey hues. Antracita tiles, £31.25sq m, Krokda at Walls and Floors.

Light up grey, wintry days with this starry bright wooden delight! Group a variety of lantern designs at staggered heights to create a warming ambience. Wooden star tea light holder, H35.5xW33.5xD8.8cm, £19.50, Marks & Spencer.

Charm the stockings off guests with a Scandi-folk scheme of berry-red pops, bark accents and woodlandinspired tree decorations…

Welcome holiday visitors into your cosy hideaway with this festive softie that depicts star gazing reindeer, and is finished with a playful, pom-pom bobble trim. Christmas oblong fir tree cushion, 30x50cm, col red, £25, Ragged Rose.

Susanne’s style secret...

Reflect the beauty of your scheme with this classic piece, inspired by antique ceiling rosettes. Clara round mirror, H102xW102cm, from £565.25, by Deknudt at Houseology.

Be inspired by winter hedgerows and decorate your home with foraged foliage and trailing sprigs for an informal display…

Modern Country Classic Monk bench These sociable pieces are characterised by a long wooden bench with a sturdy backrest and arms. As a relative of the humble chest, shapely designs often benefit from discreetly built-in storage – perfect

for popping into entrance areas to stash away outdoor attire and dog leads. Cosy up these heritage-inspired hardwood designs with a scattering of cushions and let artisanal craftsmanship make a statement.

Where to buy…

•The Old Forge for bespoke settles and monk benches. •The Cotswold Co stocks designs that offer convenient storage and painted finishes. •Preloved has a wealth of antique or second-hand finds.

Country Homes & Interiors

Old curiosity shop GIACINTA DEL MONACO AND DAVID PEARSONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PERIOD COTTAGE HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED FROM AN OLD SHOP INTO A STUNNING COUNTRY COTTAGE THAT COMBINES A LUXE INTERIOR WITH OLD WORLD CHARM

Country Homes & Interiors

E S S E X C O T TAG E Living room This sparkly throw brings a little bit of bling to the room. Sequin throw, Voyage Decoration. Cushions, Little White Box.

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Living room White shades are used to keep the space feeling light and bright. Sofa and ottoman, Restoration Hardware. Coffee table, Long Melford Antiques. Walls in Timeless, Dulux.

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Dining room Giacinta has warmed up a smart metal and wood table with stylish wicker chairs. Dining table, Restoration Hardware. Dining chairs, Neptune. White upholstered chairs, Sofa.com.

It was a chance find and a little bit of persuasion that

AT HOME WITH... Owners Giacinta Del Monaco and David Pearson both work in finance. They have two grown-up sons, Chris and Stuart.

House A three-bedroom Tudor cottage in an Essex village.

lead Giacinta Del Monaco and her husband David Pearson to buy this pretty little cottage. Bought as a home-from-home for when they are visiting the UK, the property is a place to escape, relax and catch up with their English family. ‘We split our time between here and the States,’ explains Giacinta. ‘David is from this area originally and still has family nearby. We’ve always liked it here as the village has a lovely feel – it was once an antique hunters’ paradise with a number of vintage shops and this has always been one of our interests. So when we started looking for a property in England, it made sense to make this village our home.’ Although the house is stunning now, it was a very different picture back in 2011. The property had been a shop until around 2000, and had an incredibly unattractive Sixties-style double frontage. ‘When my sister-in-law first suggested it to us, we both said no,’ says Giacinta. ‘We saw the photographs and thought it was too ugly, but she persuaded us to go and have a look at it. Once we’d stepped through the threshold, we started to see its potential.’ In need of a total renovation inside and out, the Tudor building was dark and dingy and hadn’t been touched

Country Homes & Interiors

E S S E X C O T TAG E Kitchen The pale-hued theme is continued with muted marble tops, grey painted cabinets and coolcoloured flagstone tiles. Custom kitchen, Little White Box.

What makes this house a home… ‘We have a lot of things from our travels that we’ve incorporated into the design, so it feels very homely and unique to us’

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Living room A retro-style chest of drawers is a welcome storage solution and place to display decorations and family photographs. Sideboard, Little White Box. Chair, Made. com. Similar rug, Amara.

Main bedroom A handsome button-backed headboard draws the eye. Upholstered bed, The White Company. Bedlinen, Ralph Lauren Home. Fawn throw, Little White Box.

for years. Period features had been obscured, all the beams had been painted black, accentuating the gloomy feel, and the cluster of small rooms made the cottage feel very small. ‘We wanted to make it bigger, lighter and brighter,’ says Giacinta. ‘We like period charm but we also wanted it to feel modern, too, so we enlisted the help of local architect Neil Jennings and interior designer Rebecca Brooker of Little White Box, to help us achieve this.’ The plan was to add a single-storey extension to the back of the house and new simple-front windows to the façade, as well as to remodel the interior. To get the cottage into a reasonable state for decorating, it was gutted, rewired and the beams were stripped. Floors were rescued and renovated, walls re-plastered and new heating installed with period-style radiators, which Rebecca found. Rebecca and Neil also custom-designed a modern kitchen and separate utility room to go in the new extension. Keeping the two separate has given the couple a smart entertaining space that flows seamlessly into the dining area. ‘We like the contemporary country blend and it works well when we have guests over,’ says Giacinta. ‘All our family gravitate to the cottage when we’re here which is lovely, especially at Christmas time.’ This smart country-style is repeated in the first-floor bedroom and bathroom areas. Both bedrooms are

Main bedroom The couple even add a few festive touches to the bedroom. Similar Christmas tree, Marks & Spencer. Candle, Heal’s.

Country Homes & Interiors

En suite Dark grey tiles offset the white walls and beams, lending a modern touch to the period setting. Custom-made bathroom, Little White Box. Tiles, Topps Tiles.

Country Homes & Interiors

O N O U R D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘The largest walled private estate in Essex, Braxted Park (01621 892305, braxtedpark.co.uk), near Great Braxted, plays host to an award-winning cookery school with many different courses, including seasonal festive menus.’ Shop at… ‘Buntings (01376 561233, buntingfoods.co.uk) in Coggeshall, for fabulous fine foods, top cuts of meat and store-cupboard favourites in a delicatessen-cum-butchers.’

Go for a meal at… ‘West Street Vineyard (01376 565 303, weststreetvineyard.co.uk) in Coggeshall. This local vineyard serves homegrown and carefully selected wines alongside a delicious seasonal menu in a fantastic wine barn setting.’

FEATURE SARA BIRD PHOTOGRAPHS DAN DUCHARS

pared-back yet luxurious, featuring designer beds and classic-style furniture. The size of the main bedroom meant there was scope for an impressive en-suite bathroom to be added into the space. Specially-sourced fittings and furnishings for this room successfully created a smart cottage look with a handsome designer twist. ‘We wanted that contemporary-country vibe, so went for a tiled wet room from which you could then walk into a bedroom backdrop full of Tudor timbers and features,’ says Giacinta. ‘It really did play with that old-meets-new look.’ The couple enjoy their home all year round, but it’s over the Christmas period that the house really comes into its own. It’s the perfect canvas for the festive decorations that are added throughout, and the couple embrace the festive atmosphere. ‘We entertain family and friends and love dressing the house for our guests,’ says Giacinta. ‘We buy a fresh tree, hang up foliage and have ornaments that we’ve picked up on our travels arranged around the home.’ The spacious house design and easy room flow means the couple have created a stylish setting for guests to enjoy their open-door policy, both at Christmas and throughout the rest of the year – be it for cosy nights by the roaring fire, cocktails in the kitchen or fine dining at the festive table.

E S S E X C O T TAG E Guest bedroom A faux fur throw and luxurious linens make this eaves space cosy and inviting. Headboard, The White Company. Fur throw, Little White Box. Blue throw, Heal’s.

What I love most about living here… ‘We love the fact you can walk everywhere – it's a small place, with loads of little shops’

Country Homes & Interiors

ROOM IDEAS

Be inspired by

Giacinta’s guest bedroom Mix vintage industrial finds with contemporary designs for a characterful old-meets-new scheme.

Perfect for rooms with higher ceilings, make a crowning statement overhead with this magnificent dark rust design. Rustic globe chandelier, Dia90cm, £628, Alexander & Pearl.

It’s the little (snow-dusted) things that count… Delight guests with a scattering of petite, Nordic-inspired festive decorations. Snow tipped mini tree, H42xDia20cm, £18.50, Cox & Cox.

Discs of fabric in place of the usual buttons, gives a relaxed feel to this elegant bed. Billow king-size bed, col Smoky Grey clever velvet, £1,255, Loaf.

Giacinta’s style secret...

Be the ultimate hostess and spoil holiday guests with a festive breakfast in bed. Breakfast serving tray, W42xD26cm, £16.99, Alpen Home at Wayfair.

For a smart country look, pair designer furniture classics with layers of luxurious linens in natural and neutral colourways.

Drape this sumptuous softie over your bed or favourite chair for instant cosy-cabin indulgence and strokeable texture. Luxury faux-fur rug, L90xW70cm, col Oyster, £120, Helen Moore at Black By Design.

Modern Country Classic Stable door

Country Homes & Interiors

the open top. Increasingly popular in modern homes, this 17th-century ideal has evolved, combining the latest thermally efficient and durable materials with high performance finishes and security features.

Where to buy…

•George Barnsdale for traditional barn styles. •UK Oak Doors for handcrafted designs using sustainably-sourced oak. •Evolution Windows for low maintenance options.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Consisting of an upper and lower leaf, the original purpose of this dual design was to keep animals out of farmhouses, or to keep children and pets inside, while allowing air ventilation and light to filter through

Original Art & Limited Edition Prints

RUNWAY GALLERY w w w . r u n w a y - g a l l e r y. c o m / c o u n t r y h o m e s a n d i n t e r i o r s in association with

Pictured: Phoebe 7 by Bruce Atherton, original oil on canvas, 60cm x 70cm Â£9100

A CHARACTERFUL CHRISTMAS MANDI AND MURDOCH CRAWFORDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STYLE COMBINES COSY COLOURS AND VINTAGE FINDS TO CREATE A HOME FULL OF PERSONALITY

Country Homes & Interiors

K E N T A PA R T M E N T

Living room A gallery wall makes an eye-catching focal point. There is plenty of space beyond the sofas for complementary furniture and, in December, the Christmas tree takes its usual place in the window corner. Walls painted in Clunch, Farrow & Ball. Re-wired vintage wall lights, Odeon Antiques & Interiors.

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Country Homes & Interiors

Living room The ﬁreplace is the true heart of the space in winter, with the seating arranged so everyone can share its warmth. The overmantel offers tiers for housing tealights that spread the golden glow. Find similar sofas, Ikea.

Exterior At Christmas, the Crawfords add a few festive touches to the entrance to welcome friends and family.

For Mandi and Murdoch Crawford, home is a moveable

feast. They already owned a cottage in France when they decided to move their English base from Derbyshire to Kent in 2011. As their children, Lauren and Alisdair, had both finished their education and were pursuing their own careers, it was the right time for the couple to find a new home within 30 minutes’ drive of the Channel ports, so they could easily pop back and forth to France throughout the year. The Crawfords wanted a period property, but one without a garden for easier maintenance. The apartment they found is on the first and top floors of an 18th-century townhouse in a pretty market town. They loved the original floorboards and the scale of the living room with its generous sash windows, but most importantly, the apartment provided the combination of spaces they needed. ‘Having a kitchen large enough to eat in and a proper living room reflects the way we live,’ Mandi says. ‘There are two bedrooms on the top floor, but we also needed an office for Murdoch. He was able to take over a small room leading off the dining room. And as the dining room extends beyond the table area, it usefully doubles as a third bedroom if Lauren and Alisdair both decide to visit at the same time.’ As soon as they moved in, Mandi began redesigning the kitchen. ‘It was fitted with 1970s limed oak

Country Homes & Interiors

* AT HOME WITH... Owners Mandi Crawford, who buys collectibles at French brocantes and, as one of The Three French Hens, holds three sales a year at a local farm in Kent. Her husband, Murdoch, is director of an international packaging company. They have two grown-up children, Lauren and Alisdair. House An apartment across two floors of a Grade II-listed townhouse.

K E N T A PA R T M E N T

What we love most about living here ...

Kitchen Mandi included a breakfast corner in the kitchen reﬁt. It can seat four on a built-in settle and English church chairs. Blind in Weymouth Ticking, col Crimson, Jim Lawrence. Wall shelf, Weathered & Worn.

‘ Living in a beautiful market town with a long, tree-lined high street and many independent shops is a unique experience.’

Country Homes & Interiors

What makes this house a home ... ‘ We’ve filled the characterful period features with items we treasure’

Kitchen Open-fronted storage cubes give depth to the workspace. The pink splashback is a section of an old French shutter that Mandi bought for its colour. Walls in Breakfast Room Green; cabinets in Old White, both Farrow & Ball. Ceramic sink, Ikea. Edison pendant light, Olive & the Fox. 50

Country Homes & Interiors

K E N T A PA R T M E N T

Dining room Mandi wanted a square table in a rustic style and had this one made by a joiner using reclaimed timber. Walls in Rectory Red, Farrow & Ball. Similar church chairs, Antique Church Furnishings.

floor-to-ceiling cabinets and the effect was overpowering,’ she says. So Mandi commissioned a joiner to make a series of open cubes for wall storage, and deep drawers below a new oak worktop. ‘I don’t like wall cupboards because you can’t see what’s inside them. This arrangement is functional and a lot of kitchenalia is attractive, so why not have it out on show?’ she says. Mandi loves the proportions of the 18th-century rooms, which represent a change from all the country cottages she has lived in. ‘But I found decorating them quite a challenge,’ she says. ‘The living room in particular didn’t lend itself to my normal rustic style. It needed a bit more elegance and I promised myself it wouldn’t be full of pieces from French brocantes!’ The generous size of the room easily accommodates three sofas. ‘We use this room every day and I wanted plenty of seating so that we can all sit around the fire in winter and chat, even when there are lots of us.’ The status of the room is enhanced by an arrangement of framed botanical prints, part of a set given to Mandi by her stepfather, a world-leading expert on ferns, who worked at the British Museum. With its large windows, the living room benefits from a lot of natural light and Mandi has responded with furniture and decoration in pale tints to amplify the space. In other rooms her decorating choices have again responded instinctively to the quality of the natural

Landing Mandi loves all the old wood on the top landing. Shelving houses a mix of collectibles, from apothecary bottles to cast-iron ﬁgures. Similar shelving unit, Etsy.

Country Homes & Interiors

Bedroom Mandi mixed

K E N T A PA R T M E N T

two tints of blue to ﬁnd the shade she wanted for the bedroom walls. Similar bed, Marks & Spencer. Quilt, Weathered & Worn.

Library The end wall of the dining room acts as a family library. Chair upholstered in Crawford tartan, Lochcarron of Scotland.

Country Homes & Interiors

ON OUR D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘On special dates throughout December, Alastair Hendy opens his restored Tudor house (01424 447171, aghendy. com) in Hastings Old Town to the public, all decked out ready for a traditional Christmas.’ Shop at… ‘Silcocks Farm Shop (01580 763351, silcocksfarmorganics.co.uk) for meat, cheese, cream and ice cream all produced on the farm. It’s also where we hold our Three French Hens sales.’

Go for a meal at… ‘The Globe Inn Marsh (01797 225220) in Rye for its open layout with no bar, but hosts waiting to serve visitors. Excellent food, too.’

FEATURE CELIA RUFEY PHOTOGRAPHS JODY STEWART

light. ‘We live here mostly through the winter and so I’m decorating for winter daylight and to make each room visually warm, welcoming and comfortable,’ she says. ‘Red, green and cream are the colours I love most and, of course, they all have a special link with Christmas.’ This rich colour scheme continues throughout the rest of the living spaces. ‘The dining room is always dark and you can’t argue with that, so I’ve painted it deep red to make sure it’s cosy,’ says Mandi. ‘Though we don’t have a pendant light above the dining table, I hang up a wire construction and decorate it according to the occasion, and of course that means with natural greenery at Christmas. For festive meals we always dine by candlelight for extra cosiness, too.’ When Lauren and Alisdair come home on Christmas Eve, the decorated tree is already positioned in a corner of the living room and stockings are waiting to be filled beside the fire. ‘We all buy small presents for each other so every stocking has a mix from each of us,’ Mandi explains. ‘We open them early on Christmas morning, then enjoy Champagne as we open presents from under the tree at around 11 o’clock. It is often at Christmas that we realise how lucky we are to have a period property like this, for us and our children to come back to. Though we lock up and leave it now and again, this apartment always serves up a warm welcome when we return to it, whatever the season.’

ROOM IDEAS

Be inspired by

Mandi’s kitchen

Cascade light evenly across your prep station with this striking vintage feature. Orlando vintage cage pendant light, H21.5xW10xD10cm, col Dark Pewter, £49, Industville.

This cast-iron classic’s generous capacity and extra depth contains splatters while taking up less space on the hob. Signature cast-iron deep casserole, 24cm, col Cerise, £160, Le Creuset.

Create an attractive focal point and make your space look brighter with open shelving – beautiful bowls don’ t deserve to be hidden away!

Cheer your walls up with this shade, named after the usually east-facing room designed for eating the first meal of the day. Breakfast Room Green modern emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.

Warm up from the inside out with this wood-fired, hand-thrown Cornish clay cutie. Mug, H10xW8cm, col white/orange, £35, Rebecca Proctor at Toast.

Mandi’s style secret... For a quirky twist, go for a unique splashback like a weathered and colourful old French shutter.

Open up your space with this inviting ‘help yourself’ displayand-store solution. Kallax shelving unit, H147xW77x D39cm, col white, £40, Ikea.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Modern Country Classic Butler sink For a splash of farmhouse style, a timeless, white ceramic sink is just the thing to make a stand-out statement. Similar to, but not to be confused with, a Belfast sink, butler sinks originated in 17th-century London,

when water needed to be conserved. These durable and practical chunky beauties are ever popular in traditional kitchens and utility rooms, with modern designs often featuring double-bowl options for convenience.

Where to buy…

• Victorian Plumbing for high-grade ceramic designs. • Shaws of Darwen for luxury, traditional models, handcrafted in the UK. • Tap Warehouse for great value, service and sizes.

Country Homes & Interiors

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H A M P S H I R E C O T TAG E

Past and present SARAH FREETHY AND PHIL NOCKLES HAVE TRANSFORMED TWO ANCIENT THATCHED COTTAGES INTO ONE LARGE HOUSE THAT CELEBRATES ITS PAST, WHILE PROVIDING A PRACTICAL, YET BEAUTIFUL, HOME FOR THE FAMILY

Hallway This is one of the cosiest parts of the house thanks to the large fireplace with its wood-burning stove. Chair and footstool, both Monoqi. Wall painted in Woad matt emulsion, Little Greene. Rug, Cox & Cox. Country Homes & Interiors

H A M P S H I R E C O T TAG E

Exterior The two cottages have been knocked back into one welcoming home.

Dep, comforting colours and the warmth of aged

wood create a timeless feel in this old thatched cottage, which comes into its own during winter, when it’s adorned in an abundance of freshly cut foliage for the festive period. ‘I enjoy all the seasons, as they sweep in and out of our lives,’ says Sarah Freethy. ‘But these shorter days make me really appreciate just how cosy this house is. I love to sit in the kitchen and watch the weather rolling down the valley towards me, yet still feel perfectly safe and warm. It’s an incredibly inspiring house, too – one that constantly encourages me to drink in its beauty, and that of the surrounding countryside.’ Although Sarah and her partner, Phil Nockles, feel very much at home here now, they had to travel a fair distance to arrive at this quiet, special place. ‘Around 10 years ago, Phil and I needed to find a location that would work for both of us,’ says Sarah. ‘He was living in Southampton at the time and I was in Devon, so a house in Hampshire with easy access to London for my work seemed ideal. And as Phil travels all over the world for his job, we figured being close to the major airports would help make his commute as easy as possible, too.’ The home the couple now share with their seven-yearold daughter, Esme, and lively lurcher, Martha, is not quite the home they bought all those years ago, as

Country Homes & Interiors

* AT HOME WITH... Owners TV producer Sarah Freethy, who is also an amateur photographer and an interiors and lifestyle blogger (peonyandpraxis.com), and her partner Phil Nockles, who works in TV production, bought the cottage in 2009. They have one daughter, Esme, seven, and a lurcher, Martha. House Grade II-listed brick and flint thatched cottage, built around 1500, with three bedrooms.

Music room Phil’s

What we love most about living here... Living room The cosy space is situated in what was once the second cottage. Soufﬂé sofas, Loaf. Nuvole Fornasetti panel wallpaper, Cole & Son. Cushions, West Elm.

‘This house has made our dreams of family life in the countryside a reality’

collection of vinyl is stored in cube shelving, with some favourite art displayed above. Shelves, painted in Woad intelligent eggshell, Little Greene. Radiator, Arroll.

Kitchen diner Sarah chose to paint the beams in the dining area to make the room appear brighter and more spacious. Similar table, Wildwood Antiques. Chairs, Garden Trading. Vintage lights, Lassco.

Country Homes & Interiors

H A M P S H I R E C O T TAG E Sarah explains. ‘It was built around 500 years ago as one cottage that was later extended and turned into two separate dwellings,’ she says. ‘We bought one of them initially, but dreamt that one day the other would come up for sale so we could turn it back into a spacious family home. So we were thrilled when, shortly after Esme arrived, that opportunity arose.’ Unfortunately, having become a pair of listed properties, the merger was not that straightforward. ‘We had to go through a very long planning process,’ says Sarah. ‘We brought in architect David Gregory to guide us through all the paperwork and help us redesign the internal layout, so that it would feel like one cohesive family home. David also designed an amazing oak-framed extension at the end of the house to replace a horrid Sixties one with tiny windows that had been there previously. David also introduced us to a brilliant building team at IW Payne & Co who specialise in extending period houses in this way. It’s only a few feet bigger than the original footprint of the building, but it has bathed the kitchen in light and given us that incredible valley view.’ With all that structural work to contend with, plus a new kitchen, utility room and two bathrooms to fit, Sarah and Phil were pleased that the other rooms didn’t

Kitchen A seating area in the new oak extension takes in views down the valley. Armchairs, Made. com. Cushions, Mark Hearld at Tinsmiths. Tripod table, Cox & Cox.

Sarah likes to create pretty vignettes using colourful ﬁnds. Blue candlestick, Kartell. Green candleholder, Catkins & Pussywillow.

What makes this house a home… ‘We both love art, folklore, music and nature, and we wanted our home to reflect that. It’s also filled with much-treasured family heirlooms’

Kitchen diner The redesigned space is perfect for cooking and baking, which the whole family enjoys. Kitchen, painted in Hicks’ Blue intelligent eggshell, Little Greene. Antiqued Ash Limestone ﬂooring, Floors of Stone. 60

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H A M P S H I R E C O T TAG E

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Esme’s room The simple scheme comes to life with colourful lights, accessories and decorations. Bed, Ikea. Blanket, Cath Kidston. Vintage Swedish rug, Beyond France.

Family bathroom Cheery green tiles create a fresh feel. Bath, Bathstore. Mat, The Braided Rug Company. Cinema Tiles, Fired Earth.

☎

Country Homes & Interiors

ON OUR D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘There’s nothing like a winter’s walk to blow away the cobwebs. Dog walks through the Itchen Valley (eastleigh.gov.uk) make us feel so lucky to live here. Further afield, we love nipping down to the coast – Lepe Beach is only about 40 minutes’ drive away and it’s beautiful all year long.’

Shop at…‘The Hambledon (01962 890055, thehambledon. com) is a fantastic independent homeware and clothes shop in Winchester. I would happily buy everything they stock.’

Go for a meal at… ‘We love The Black Rat (01962 844465, theblackrat.co.uk) and The Black Boy (01962 861754, theblack boypub.com) in Winchester. The food in both is so inventive and the atmosphere so quirky and cosy – perfect for winter indulgence.’

FEATURE NAOMI JONES PHOTOGRAPHS ROBERT SANDERSON

need anything more than a little redecorating. ‘Esme’s room was lime green and pink when we moved in,’ says Sarah. ‘Needless to say, we soon painted over all that in a shade of white. We wanted to continue this neutral, simple scheme throughout the rest of the house, too, and introduce lots of natural materials. I felt each of the rooms could have their own accent colours and character, but equally they had to work alongside one another to create a nice flow, so all the adjoining rooms now have colour palettes that harmonise well.’ The decor is a blending of Phil’s mid-century furniture and music posters, with Sarah’s collection of artworks and vintage finds. Rather than jarring, the quirky mix of belongings only adds to the character of the house. ‘That combination has enhanced the organic feeling we were after to celebrate the history of the building, while reflecting all of our passions, too,’ says Sarah. ‘We love this house more than we thought possible,’ she says. ‘It’s such a fantastically calm place to be. And I love taking photos of all the different corners of it as the sun moves round the space. Winter’s light is particularly magical; it definitely adds another beautiful element to our wonderful old home.’ For more information on David Gregory Architects, call 01747 870854, or visit davidgregoryarchitects.co.uk.

H A M P S H I R E C O T TAG E Main bedroom Sarah and Phil love the quirks of their home, such as the sloped ceilings, but it does make decorating a little harder. Walls painted in Cooking Apple Green estate emulsion, Farrow & Ball. Grey throw, Ikea. Other throws; cushions, all John Lewis & Partners.

Country Homes & Interiors

ROOM IDEAS

Be inspired by

Sarah’s snug Dare to be different with this medieval-inspired, muted indigo – a true partner to period features... Woad intelligent matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5L, Little Greene. Refresh your festive scheme with soothing, energising garden and woodland-inspired hues... Baubles, col green glass with gold leaf, £3.99 each; green swirl glass, £5.99 each, both Dobbies Garden Centres.

Choose a deep and comforting hero shade and repeat across walls and upholstery for a striking look full of cosy confidence.

An elegant addition for inside or out, wrap these warm-glowing, realistic faux fronds around a rustic branch to cast a magical ambience. Pre-lit garland, L180cm, £21.99, Lights4Fun.

Sink into laid-back angles in a weathered oak frame with feather-filled cushions. Karla armchair, H75xW72x D90cm, col Cobalt, £649, Swoon.

Make a playfully stylish statement on your floor with this charming, handcrafted, pom-pom edged design. Bubbly round washable rug, Dia120cm, col Soft Blue, £80, Lorena Canals at Amara.

Modern Country Classic Two-door woodburners A toasty focal point in any country home, woodburners are cleaner and more efficient than fireplaces and are just the fit for nooks and poky areas. Plus, they can even help reduce heating bills. They are traditionally

Country Homes & Interiors

black, but advances in the enamelling process have enabled colour finishes to suit a lighter space. Timeless, functional and glowing with nostalgia, these warm characters will always have a place in our heart and hearth.

Where to buy…

•Charnwood for stoves built using the latest technology. •Arada for efficient and clean-burning eco designs. •Stovax for traditional and contemporary, multi-fuel, gas and electric options.

Adorn a space with freshly cut foliage, subtle fairy lights and candles to bring it to life for the festive period.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHS ROBERT SANDERSON

Sarah’s style secret...

' $ # ' $ & &!

# $!# ' $ ! $## ! % #

CHRISTMAS c o m fo r t & j o y Fill your home with festive cheer with an easy-going look that combines vintage decorations, bold colours and accessories in make-you-smile stripes and spots. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to a happy Christmas 66

Country Homes & Interiors

SEASONAL LOOKS

LET FESTIVITIES START EARLY… …as soon as you walk in the door. From the wreath outside to a heap of presents in the hall, a decorated entrance ﬁzzes with Christmas spirit. Mismatched wrapping paper and boldly coloured baubles bring a happy, relaxed vibe.

ANYONE FOR A MINCE PIE? If the kitchen is your Christmas hub, add a touch of sugar and spice with candy-coloured decorations and ribbons around the cookie jars. Seasonal crockery and kitchen linens make serving up homemade bakes extra special.

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SEASONAL LOOKS

MIX OLD AND NEW AT THE TABLE Turn your table decor into a true conversation starter, with a mix of ‘You must remember this’ favourite serveware and ‘Where did you get that?’ new pieces. Dot baubles and foliage around each place setting for a pretty, relaxed look.

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SEASONAL LOOKS

HUNKER DOWN WITH HOMELY HUES Did Christmasses past always seem a bit brighter and more fun? Recreate those simple pleasures with lots of cushions and throws to add cosy pops of colour to classic furnishings. Retro decorations bring a dash of nostalgia.

Country Homes & Interiors

TOAST THE ONES YOU LOVE A beautifully decorated bar cart becomes a spot to gather around and raise a glass with family and friends. Super-stylish but practical, too â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it keeps the kitchen free for festive food prep.

Âť

Country Homes & Interiors

RELAX FOR A MOMENT A comfy chair and warm throw invite you to sit down and recharge while you observe the ï¬&#x201A;ow of festivities around you.

Country Homes & Interiors

SEASONAL LOOKS

CREATE YOUR OWN ‘GROTTO’ Dress a bedroom in Christmas country style, with a hotchpotch of patterns, colours and textures. Fairy lights and stockings say it’s the night before Christmas…

Country Homes & Interiors

SEASONAL LOOKS

Al the details

PRODUCTS AND PRICES COMFORT & JOY

Christmas wreath, from £70, The Fresh Flower Co. Vintage decorative baubles, from £4 each, RE. Small coloured baubles, from £7.50 a set, The Contemporary Home. Ribbons, from £1 a roll, Flying Tiger.

LET FESTIVITIES START EARLY Walls in Farthing Wood Silver wallpaper, £59 a roll, Sanderson. Woodwork in Mole’s Breath estate eggshell, £60 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Cider Mill table, £935, IJL Brown. Edinburgh bench, £630; coat rack, £63, both Neptune. Basket, £50, Garden Trading. Baubles, from a selection at Gisela

ANYONE FOR A MINCE PIE?

Pages 68-69

Cidre sideboard, £645, Loaf. Vintage tray, £8.50; pastry brush, £2, both RE. Brompton cake rack, £15, Garden Trading. Christmas tea towels, £12.50 each, Helen Round. Spotty tea towel, £20 for three, Boden. Snowﬂake cutters, £6 a set; Kilner jar, from £2, both Dunelm. Baubles, as before. Bowl, £12.99, Brixton Pottery. Hugo Hare jug, £20, Elsie & Fleur. Mince pie plate, £22.95, Emma Bridgewater. Winter wonderland biscuits, £35 a tin, Biscuiteers. Stollen mince pies, Sainsbury’s.

MIX OLD AND NEW AT THE TABLE Walls painted in Purbeck Stone estate emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Salvadore natural rug, from £14.99, Carpetright. Natterbox chair, £230 for two; Chortler chair, £330 for two, both Loaf. Spindle chair, £165; basket, £50, both Garden Trading. Zigzag cushion, £78, Catherine Tough. Cushion, made in Lowick Plaid, col red/ sage, £95m, Colefax & Fowler. (In basket) Kimnel blanket, £146, Rowen & Wren. Gift wrap, from £3 a roll, Paperchase. Cashmere scarf, £90, Boden.

Pages 70-71

Pages 72-73

HUNKER DOWN WITH HOMELY HUES Walls painted in Down Pipe estate emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Tolsey rug, £410, Neptune. Tree, from a selection at Kingswood Christmas Trees. Baubles, from £3.50 at Gisela Graham and The Contemporary Home. Plain baubles, from £2 each; tree lights, £45 for 500, both John Lewis & Partners. Tarran sofa, from £1,165; Lemington throw, £55, both Laura Ashley. Orange throw, £120, Christy. Cushions: 1 In Kaya Gold; 2 in Kaya Jade, both £79m, Jane Churchill. 3 Fair Isle cushion, £78, Catherine Tough. 4 In Stag All Star, £54m, Peony & Sage. 5 In Tavistock Pomegranate, £48.80m, Voyage Decoration. Trunk, £300, Raj Tent Club. Lit dome, £30, Cox & Cox. Tray, £33, Emma Bridgewater. Crackers, £25 for six, at Nancy and Betty Studio and Thornback and Peel. Archive throw, £150, Rowen & Wren. Harp chair, £1,200, John Lewis & Partners.

RELAX FOR A MOMENT Armchair, from a selection at Louisa Grace Interiors. Similar throw, £25, Sainsbury’s Home. Star, from a selection at Talking Tables. Baubles, from £7.50 a box, The Contemporary Home. Ribbon, as before. CREATE YOUR OWN ‘GROTTO’ Silver rug, from £64.99, Carpetright. Similar bed, And So To Bed. Islay side table, £85; Cabbages & Roses bedlinen, from £20, both John Lewis & Partners. Knitted cushion, £35, Christy. Cushion, in

Country Homes & Interiors

Graham, Raj Tent Club and The Contemporary Home. Robin gift wrap, from £9.75 a set, Nancy and Betty Studio. Tea light holders, from £4 each, Nordic House. Lantern, £4.50, Ikea. North Pole personalised Christmas Eve box, from £40, Seahorse at Notonthehighstreet.com. Craft gift wrap, £3 a roll, Paperchase; with gold star stamp, from £4, The English Stamp Co. (On coat rack) Fair Isle hat, £35; scarf, £45, both Boden. Stocking, £45 for three, Cox and Cox. Bauble, £8, Raj Tent Club. (On bench) Cushion, made in Stag All Star, £54m, Peony & Sage. Blue cushion, £78, Catherine Tough. Boots, £140, Boden. Basket, £4.50, Ikea.

Ribbon, from £3 a roll, John Lewis & Partners. (On table) Tablecloth, made in French Ticking, £64m, Peony & Sage. Runners, £30 each, John Lewis & Partners. Rural Retreat napkin, £8 for four, Sainsbury’s Home. Reindeer bowl, £19.95, Emma Bridgewater. Christmas tree bowls, £13.97 each; plates, £14.60 each, both Brixton Pottery. Gold tumbler, £13, T2. Pink Ella tumblers, £37 for six, Neptune. Red wine glass, £10, Laura Ashley. Red goblet, £8, John Lewis & Partners. Mini crackers, from a selection at Talking Tables. Stag hurricane, £18, Gisela Graham. Candlestick, £10, The Contemporary Home. Frosted tea light holder, £6 each, Gisela Graham. Tea lights, from £4, Nordic House. Bird decoration, from a selection at Talking Tables. Glitter baubles, from £7.50 a set, The Contemporary Home. (On mantel) Dome ornament, £30, The Contemporary Home. Card, from a selection at Honey Tree Publishing. White tree, £15.50, Cox & Cox. Wooden squirrel, £8, The Contemporary Home. Wreath, £45, Gisela Graham. Cards, from a selection at Nancy and Betty Studio and Poppy Treffry.

Metal cart, £125, Cox & Cox. Cider Mill table, £935, IJL Brown. Stag head, £8; star jug, £5, both George Home. Wine glass, £20 for two, Cath Kidston. (On mantel) Kempton mirror, £245, Loaf. Garlands, from £9 each; mini trees, from £7 for two, all Gisela Graham. Stag ornament, £8, Sainsbury’s Home. Mirrored baubles, £16.95 each, Nkuku.

TOAST THE ONES YOU LOVE Makrana trolley, £310; champagne ﬂute, £19.50, both Rockett St George. Ruby tumbler, £42, Joanna Wood. Isla champagne coupe, £34 for two, Rowen & Wren. Wine glass, £20 for two, Cath Kidston. Slingsby London Dry Gin, £39.99, Spirit of Harrogate. Ramsbury Single Estate Gin, £35, Ramsbury. Tea light holder, £30 for three, Raj Tent Club. Plate, £22.95, Emma Bridgewater. Sparklers, £5 for ﬁve, Talking Tables.

Pure Bramble Embroidery, £135m, Morris & Co. Hot-water bottle, £42, Catherine Tough. Yellow throw, £17.99, H&M Home. Knit throw, £150, Cox & Cox. Purple throw, £140, Christy. Blanket, as before. Spot stocking, £42, Catherine Tough. Stocking, in Florence, £59m, Sarah Hardaker. Garland, £42; wreath, from £24, both Rowen & Wren. Star garland, £15.95, Rockett St George. Bauble cluster, £24.95, Nkuku. Tree, £18.50, Cox & Cox. Snow globe, £20, Talking Tables. Mug, £4.99, The Contemporary Home.

FEATURE/ART DIRECTION/ADDITIONAL STYLING SARA BIRD STYLING ANNA MALHOMME DE LA ROCHE STYLING ASSISTANTS RIVER GIBBS, INDIA JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHS DAN DUCHARS

Pages 66-67

GLASSWARE POP THOSE CORKS AND TOAST THE NEW YEAR WITH COCKTAILS SERVED IN GLASSWARE THAT’S FIZZING WITH STYLE

Drink in the details... Dress your table or drinks trolley with a measure of elegance, courtesy of delicate, engraved designs. Vintage-style coupes evoke a timeless, bygone-era glamour...

Fern champagne glasses, £69 for set of six, Rose & Grey.

T H I N G S T H AT M A K E U S G O O O H !

Cut-glass accents Sturdy stems add stability to stylish glasses featuring delicate patterns and subtle etched details. Don't be afraid to mix silhouettes; staggered along the length of the dinner table, they'll add an alluring sense of occasion.

Champagne coupe, £7.95; cocktail shaker, £16.95; champagne glass, £7.95; Cognac tumbler, £7.95; wine goblet, £7.95; tea light holder, £5.95; gold-plated double measure, £19.95, all Graham and Green.

Country Homes & Interiors

T H I N G S T H AT M A K E U S G O O O H !

1 Floral etched glasses will delight your dinner guests. Wine glass, £8.50; champagne ﬂute, £9; tumbler, £6; carafe, £16, all Emma Britton. 2 Contemporary ﬂutes pep-up prosecco time. Avery prosecco glass, £38 for set of four, Rowen & Wren. 3 A variety of square, round and rectangle designs will make shapely containers for a selection of spirits. Crystal-look decanters, £45-£65, The Forest & Co.

Country Homes & Interiors

NEXT MONTH BATHROOM BLISS

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

HANDY TIP... To give your glassware an extra sparkle, hand wash in a vinegar and warm water solution. After washing, scrub with lemon slices to remove odours left behind from food and drink before giving them a final rinse to remove any residual pulp.

C O U N T RY T R E N D

Let’s talk...

FEATHERS THE ILLUMINATOR Nest lampshade, col gold, from £65, Mogwaii Design.

With an air of bygone quill-to-paper romance and ‘free like a bird’ symbolism, the trend for feather-decorated homeware and furnishings will let your space take light. Feather your New Year nest with airy patterns and wing-light motifs inspired by nature and soaring birds. Go for delicate yet striking displays of wispy plumes repeated across wallcoverings, and gentle hand-drawn designs loating prettily across soft furnishings, upholstery and glazed ceramics.

THE DISPLAY PIECE Contemporary feathers print, H30xW21cm, £9.95, Over & Over at Not onthehighstreet.com.

LOVE THIS LOOK? THEN TRY… @

THE DINNERWARE Olney sugar bowl, £14; milk jug, £11; teapot, £25; plate, from £8 for a side plate, all Neptune.

Perking up your lower arrangement or table setting with a plucky design of pretty quills of discarded feathers on handmade earthenware. Mix and match with other pieces for an eclectic feel. @ Plumping up the plumes on scatter cushions! Give your living room an instant update with feather-inspired designs, combined with other natural-world motifs. @ Celebrating individuality in nature with a luminous statement wallpaper.

THE HEAD REST Samui couture silk cushion, 60x35cm, £59.95, Annabel James.

DID YOU KNOW…? Superstition suggests it’s unlucky to see a lone magpie, while a group of the black and white birds are said to predict the future.

THE WALLPAPER Tranquil Jet feather wallpaper, £90 a roll, 1838 Wallcoverings.

THE PROTECTORS

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Feather coasters, Dia10cm, £24 for four, Club Matters.

THE DECORATION Feather wreath, Dia30cm, £55, Plucking Fabulous.

Country Homes & Interiors

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M Y K I N D O F C O U N T RY

‘MY ITALIAN LIQUEUR LIMONCELLO IS PERFECT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR’ A rtisan fod producer, Hilary Blackford

fter settling back in the UK 15 years ago, Hilary Blackford’s been making the most of her Cotswolds home, where she produces artisan food and drink inspired by travels with her husband Paul. She makes limoncello and pompelmocello, along with lemon curd, marmellata, lemon cordial and blackberry liqueur. We headed to her 200-year-old stone cottage to see how she makes her products, sample a tipple and hear how she’ll be seeing in the New Year… WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME? Cerney Wick, a village established by royal charter in 999 and now part of the Cotswold Water Park. We moved here after many years in the US, Italy, Belgium and Germany for Paul’s work. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE? I love being in a small, friendly village with a good town, Cirencester, close by. Plus, I can catch a train and be in London within an hour and a half if I need a city ix. I adore that we can leave the house and walk straight into the landscape. WHAT GETS YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MORNINGS? Coffee and Freddie, our energetic springer spaniel! We walk for miles 82

Country Homes & Interiors

and sometimes go for swims together. I love the sight of our cottage when I’m on my way back; the stone has such a warm feel. WHAT IS LIMONCELLO AND WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY IT? Limoncello is a delicious Italian after dinner ‘digestivo’ made by infusing spirit with lemon zest. It’s popular across Italy and most families have their own recipe. Mine was given to me by a lady who made limoncello for a little bar I visited in Marina del Cantone. It’s best served ice cold, straight from the freezer. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE LIMONCELLO MAKING BUSINESS? Paul and I have always tried to get into the local lifestyle wherever we’ve lived. I used to serve my limoncello to friends and family after supper and this led to requests for bottles for Christmas and birthday presents. We were sitting around our dinner table one evening when one of my sons suggested that I turned it into a business, predicting that it would go down a storm in London. Thus, Blackfords was born. I started making the lemon curd, using a recipe given to me by my Aunty Betty, and marmellata because I didn’t want to waste the juice left after

Limoncello bottles are carefully labelled by hand.

Hilary has crates of lemons sent over from Sicily. For small batches, Hilary sometimes hand-juices the lemons.

The beauty of the Cotswolds is right on their doorstep.

Sicilian lemons are large, knobbly and misshapen, but are the perfect choice for limoncello.

Velvety lemon curd is poured into warmed jars.

Hilary and Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home lies within the Cotswolds Water Park and is the perfect place to walk Freddie the dog.

The Masons Arms, one of Hilaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite spots to eat.

Nothing is wasted, Hilary makes lemon curd and marmellata from the leftovers.

One of ﬁve roundhouses located along the Thames & Severn Canal.

Hilary’s lemons growing in Sicily.

I couldn’t lie without...

‘THE CHEERFUL CHAOS OF FAMILY LIFE AND THE JOY BROUGHT BY EACH NEW ADDITION; FRIENDS, VAN MORRISON AND OPERA, AND HOW EVERY DAY BRINGS A NEW DISCOVERY’

Blackfords Limoncello all bottled up and ready to sell.

Country Homes & Interiors

Cerney Wick’s original George VI postbox.

This homely cottage kitchen is where Hilary makes her delicious products.

M Y K I N D O F C O U N T RY

zesting all the lemons. I also make pompelmocello with grapefruit, a blackberry liqueur and a lemon and mint cordial. WHEN DOES THE FESTIVE SEASON START FOR YOU? We put together our bottle order at the end of the summer and start making limoncello and picking blackberries, ready for Christmas sales in early autumn. WHERE DO YOU SOURCE INGREDIENTS? Our oil-rich, organic and unwaxed Sicilian lemons come direct from a farmer who grows them on the edge of an olive grove overlooking the Mediterranean. The alcohol we use is made in Essex, and the free-range eggs used in the lemon curd come from local hens, including Cathy and Mike’s in our village. I grow the mint on an allotment. YOUR BOTTLES ARE LOVELY – WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? We import them from specialist Italian manufacturers in Treviso. I like to think that people reuse them as vases once they’ve enjoyed the limoncello. WHAT’S YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT? I was thrilled to have my products accepted by Demijohn in Edinburgh, Glasgow and York. It was also great to be asked to make limoncello for Daylesford Organic Farm.

FEATURE SUE BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHS LYNN KEDDIE

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF YOUR SUCCESS? We developed the business slowly, which has given us time to discover our strengths and weaknesses. Initially I found it dificult to market my limoncello, but now I love taking our products to fairs and explaining how they’ve evolved. Our branding has worked well – it uses the colours of Gloucestershire County Council’s banner of arms. IT’S TIME TO KICK BACK – HOW DOES YOUR PERFECT WEEKEND SHAPE UP? I love spending Sunday mornings at Westonbirt Arboretum, especially during winter. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE COTSWOLDS AND WHY? I love visiting Tetbury for its antiques shops and boutiques, as well as the fabulous Yellow Lighted Bookshop, which often has book readings, and Tetbury Goods Shed Arts, where we go to see ilms and listen to jazz. I share an

H I L A RY ’S C O U N T RY V I B E How do you spend New Year’s Eve? We get together with a group of friends from the village for dinner and bubbly. Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Generally not, but I think about what I have done in the past year and things I should do more of. How do you toast the New Year? With a glass of English sparkling wine, such as Nyetimber or Chapel Down. How to you keep warm when the winter chills bite? By wearing woolly jumpers and Ugg slippers, and moving closer to our claret red Aga.

allotment there with a friend too, and I love meeting up with her for a natter and a bit of digging. We often end up going for a walk in search of coffee and cake afterwards. DO YOU GET INVOLVED IN LOCAL LIFE? I run a book club and Paul is on the village committee and is also a parish councillor. WE’RE COMING TO VISIT YOUR VILLAGE FOR A WINTER BREAK – WHAT MUSTN’T WE MISS? The annual panto in Cheltenham is a hoot. This year’s show, Aladdin, will see the return of Tweedy the Clown, who lives in Gloucestershire, and performs with Gifford’s Circus, which is our must-see summer show. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOP LOCALLY? The Jesse Smith Farm Shop and Coffee House in Cirencester is a fantastic place to buy locally-produced and properly hung meat, along with fresh fruit and vegetables and great cheese, such as Cerney Ash, which is made in North Cerney. For sausages I always go to Michael Hart & Son in Cricklade or Cirencester – they’ve won prizes. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PUB/CAFÉ/ RESTAURANT LOCALLY? We go to The Masons Arms at Meysey Hampton for our book club Christmas dinner each year, with Paul organising a get-together for the ‘abandoned husbands’, and we love the food served at The Falcon Inn in Poulton, too. ☎ blackfordsfoodanddrink.com Country Homes & Interiors

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LIVING ROOM SPECIAL

Sociable

livi g oo s GOT FRIENDS AND FAMILY DESCENDING FOR CHRISTMAS? MAKE YOUR CELEBRATIONS EXTRA SPECIAL WITH A COSY LIVING ROOM FINE-TUNED FOR FESTIVE ENTERTAINING

Channel Scandi style Pure, simple, restful materials are a signature of Scandinavian style and the reason it remains such a popular look in rooms designed for laid-back lounging. ‘Natural materials, such as weathered wood, slubby linen and marbled slate, connect us back to the earth and will always touch us more than the artiicial,’ says Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company. ‘Using different weights and weaves of fabric allows the decor to be kept simple without becoming bland,’ she adds.

Earlsfield sofa, £2,200; luxury square pouffe, £295; Brocklesby console table, £695; St Ives table lamp, £250; round jute pouffe, £145; seagrass oval baskets, from £45; pure cashmere throw, £325; Harrogate wool tassel rug, from £495, all The White Company. Country Homes & Interiors

LIVING ROOM SPECIAL

A similar open-plan space (including a kitchen and sitting room) designed by Sims-Hilditch would start at around £40,000.

Open house Christmas is a time when open-plan layouts come into their own – it’s certainly easier to ensure everyone is happy if you are not shut off in the kitchen. ‘It’s more sociable as hosts can interact with guests while prepping and cooking,’ says interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch. ‘In an open-plan living room, you can create a decoration theme that lows naturally throughout the spaces,’ she adds.

Establish cosy corners The trend for adding extensions and converting barns means today’s country homes are often spacious. But you still need a snug corner, as seen in this barn conversion by Fiona Watkins Design. As the living space is partly double height, Fiona has zoned off a corner with a low ceiling, then added soft seating and rugs to provide a comfy area for guests to gather. 88

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A similar living area by Fiona Watkins Design would start at £28,000.

Warm up your windows In summer, you can afford to leave large windows minimally dressed. Come winter, it’s time to get the heavyweight drapes out – fully lined if possible – or use clip-on thermal panels. Floor-to-ceiling curtains keep out the cold and are a stylish way to introduce joyous colour into living rooms.

Wallpaper, Espinillo, £72 a roll; curtains, Burnet, £96m; sofa, upholstered in Folia Velvets, col mustard, £62m, all Harlequin at Style Library. Country Homes & Interiors

Embrace metallics While warm metallic inishes like copper and brass remain a strong inluence within interiors generally, their glamorous golden glow feels even more relevant at Christmas. Here, metal-framed furniture and artwork is mixed with heavyweight curtains and plenty of feather-illed cushions in rich damasks and shiny satins. The result sings of luxury and opulence, while ramping up those all-important comfort levels. Another great use of metallics is on the inside of lampshades, where the electric light will cast an even rosier glow on festivities.

Curtains, in Heiress Damask, £139m; blind, in Lennox Stripe, £119m; Chesterfield sofa, upholstered in Rose Absolute Linen, £119m; Zoffany Wyatt sofa, upholstered in Curzon, £115m; walls, painted in Gargoyle emulsion, £53 for 2.5L, all Zoffany at Style Library. 90

Country Homes & Interiors

LIVING ROOM SPECIAL

Light candles Fast-track your way to a sparkling atmosphere by embracing the magic of candlelight. ‘Warm candlelight draws everyone together in its homely glow,’ enthuses John Sims-Hilditch, co-founder of Neptune. ‘A circle of white tea lights makes a simple centrepiece for dining. Incorporate a pair of candlesticks for a touch of class.’ Add an aromatic treat with cinnamon, sandalwood and pine scents.

Lottie sofa in Harry Mortar, £2,240; Arthur stool in St James leather, £960, both Neptune.

Country Homes & Interiors

LIVING ROOM SPECIAL

This bespoke living space is by Helen Green Design.

Seating plans There’s an element of science to arranging living room seating successfully for socialising. ‘For a casual gathering with close friends, a lower seat height and deeper seat depth works well,’ says Tim Murray, creative director at Helen Green Design. Also consider eye contact. ‘In this space we positioned seating on four sides, which allows as many people as possible to face each other when talking,’ says Tim.

Slow burn ‘The crackle and lickering of real lames from a woodburning stove create an inviting ambience for entertaining and give a room a stunning focal point,’ says Declan Walsh, managing director at Morsø UK. Seek out a model accredited with a SIA Ecodesign Ready label, which means it will comply with the latest low-emission initiative. It will give out more heat than an open ire, too. 92

Country Homes & Interiors

3112 Badger woodburning stove, £1,040, Morsø.

Provide a good spread Swap your regular coffee table for an outsized piece that can be loaded up buffet-style when entertaining. Go for a naturally distressed surface that can handle wear and tear, and won’t leave friends and family nervously reaching for the coasters. The deep groove around the top of this rustic low-level table is particularly practical; any major drink spillages will fall into the channels rather than the rugs below. Vinterior is a good hunting ground for similarly robust salvaged tables.

Curtains and cushions, all from £29.99m, Hemingway collection at Prestigious Textiles. Country Homes & Interiors

LIVING ROOM SPECIAL

The velvet touch

Walls, painted in Grenache pure flat emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5L; ceiling, painted in Lady Char’s Lilac architects matt, £53.50 for 2.5L; woodwork, painted in Grenache architect’s eggshell, £66.50 for 2.5L, all Paint & Paper Library.

Country Homes & Interiors

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPH (9) ANDY MARSHALL

Ballroom-scale spaces are undoubtedly impressive but they can leave guests feeling exposed and cold. ‘Painting in warm, rich tones is a great way to make a large space feel less imposing, as they soak up light and have a velvety appearance that’s sumptuous yet cocooning,’ advises Ruth Mottershead, marketing director of Paint & Paper Library. ‘Go for a darker tone than white on the ceilings and carry the same shade partway down the walls. This will trick the eye into thinking the ceilings are lower, again achieving a cosier atmosphere,’ she adds.

CHOSEN BY US FOR YOU

The Amesbury sofa or sofa bed, handmade to order, from £979.

ENJOY 15% OFF AT

Willow & Hall MAKE THE MOST OF OUR SPECIAL READER OFFER AND TREAT YOURSELF TO A COSY NEW SOFA, SOFA BED OR BED FOR 2019

tart the new year in style with a fabulous new addition to your home from British brand Willow & Hall. All of their beautiful furniture is handmade to order, using carefully selected luxurious fabrics from artisan suppliers and crafted and upholstered in their very own workshops. And now, Country Homes & Interiors readers can enjoy 15% off the full prices quoted across their entire range. This great offer means you can grab a bargain without having to wait for the January

sales, and enjoy delivery in just 4-5 weeks. Pick from Willow & Hall’s gorgeous range of sofas, sofa beds and beds, then customise your piece with a choice of 259 fabrics, plus a selection of seat cushions and mattresses.

r HOW TO CLAIM YOUR 15% DISCOUNT Simply visit willowandhall.co.uk and enter code CH3119 at the checkout. Alternatively, place your order by calling 020 8939 3800 or visiting the London showroom and quoting the code CH3119 to the salesperson.

TERMS & CONDITIONS 15% off code is valid for orders placed between 6 December 2018 and 23.59pm on 3 January 2019. The discount code cannot be used in conjunction with any other sales promotion or discount, and can only be redeemed once per user/delivery address. All items are delivered for free nationwide within 4-5 weeks and with a no quibbles 30-day free returns policy.

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Modern country classic

SNUGGLERS AND LOVE SEATS SHARING IS CARING – BIGGER THAN AN ARMCHAIR, SMALLER THAN A SOFA, THEY’RE PERFECT FOR LOVEBIRDS OR A COSY COCOON FOR ONE

Traditional details

Hunker down beside a roaring fire in this luxuriously proportioned and generously stuffed feather and down, timeless silhouette. Olivia love seat, col Harris Tweed Bircher, H88xW121xD110cm, £2,215, Neptune.

Country Homes & Interiors

M O D E R N C O U N T RY C L A S S I C S

Slender silhouette

Bring style and grace to any living space with this sophisticated addition featuring dainty, handmade wooden feet. Atworth love seat, col Cotton Capri, H93xW134xD90cm, £893, Willow & Hall.

3 Made to order muse

Oozing fit-for-royalty appeal, kick back and unwind in the sweeping curves of this plush, pastel creature – because sumptuous upholstery makes everything better! Fontaine snuggler sofa, col Duck Egg Blue Velvet, H84xW127xD107cm, £799, Cult Furniture.

Contemporary update

Squish up in everyday luxe, courtesy of these wide arms, padded back and sink-into cushions. Available in a variety of fabrics and colours to suit your scheme. Askem love seat, col Acor Saffron Yellow, H83xW130x D105cm, £795, Habitat.

5 Nostalgic feel

Zero plumping required, this glamorous damsel is inviting you to retreat in contented restfulness – just bring tea and cake rations! Dixie love seat, col Tuscan Pink Clever Softie, H69xW130x D105cm, £1,395, Loaf.

Lived-in luxe

This versatile, vintagestyle leather cuddle chair has natural beauty, is generously stuffed with duck feathers for extra snug-factor and offers tactile texture aplenty! Howard leather snuggler, col Vintage Tan, H85xW120x D105cm, £1,390, Old Boot Sofas.

Woven in Lancashire by expert upholsterers and individually deep-buttoned, its beautiful fabric blends together a rather lovely rustic yet contemporary aesthetic. Hampstead love seat, H77xW132xD103cm, from £1,600, The White Company.

Statement opulence

This sumptuous, velvet piece is a modern twist on boudoir design – with plenty of room to share with someone special! Claudia love seat, col Peacock Blue Velvet, H72x W130xD89cm, £499, Made.com.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Elegant romance

Standing tall

What better place to Snuggle up and snooze post festive feasting than in the comforting arms of this amply proportioned, deep-seated beauty. Cartwright snuggler, col Heritage Plaid Harbour Grey, H81xW132xD113cm, £1,395, Arlo & Jacob. Country Homes & Interiors

RELAXED FEET UP AND RELAX… SOPHISTICATED OR CASUAL, THESE DESIGNS ARE QUITE THE COMFIEST WAY TO SPEND SOME ME TIME DRAW UP A FOOTSTOOL ALONGSIDE YOUR FAVOURITE CHAIR AND EASE OFF YOUR SHOES

for that relaxing moment. Footstools have decorative advantages, too – they’re an easy way to add an extra element to an interior scheme. And if a quick tidy up is required, a storage footstool or ottoman provides the perfect hiding place. SIZE IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN CHOOSING A FOOTSTOOL. Too big and the room will become

an obstacle course, too small and you’ll lose out on comfort. An open-plan room can be all the better for a dramatic, large-scale footstool, working with the sofa to create a focus in the space, as well as doubling up as a coffee table. Look out for a low-level bench with an upholstered top, ideally one with a storage shelf underneath, for added practicality. THERE’S A WHOLE ASSORTMENT OF FOOTSTOOL SHAPES TO CHOOSE FROM, including cute

cylindrical stools and neat cubes that are ideal for small spaces as they can easily be tucked in a corner, out of the way, after use. Oval shapes have a sophisticated look, while rectangular stools offer the widest range of sizes. Select an end-of-bed ottoman to provide a place to pack away spare pillows and throws, or bedding for a sofabed. FURNITURE STORES AND ONLINE SHOPS OFFER FOOTSTOOLS IN A HUGE ARRAY OF FABRICS AND COLOURWAYS. Velvets are big news this season,

while linens always work well in a country scheme. Avoid silks and embroidered cloths, or anything with a metallic or printed surface coating as these will wear quickly, especially if they come into regular contact with shoe heels. When ordering a footstool, ask whether it has been pretreated with a stain retardant, or whether it is possible for one to be added for extra protection. 98

Country Homes & Interiors

Reginald footstool, H39xW85xD77cm, col Mallard Blue, £390; Joan armchair, col Newport Harbour, £550; Roman three-seater sofa, col Hunter Green, £1,350, all Perch & Parrow.

ROOM ELEMENTS

Beautiful buttoning

Three of the latest trends – rich blue, tactile velvet and deep buttoning – come together in this inviting footstool. ‘Never underestimate the timeless appeal of buttoned upholstery; it adds texture and distinction to any design,’ says Carolina Lozano, buyer at Perch & Parrow. ‘The buttoning helps to show off the luxurious velvet pile as the light reflects from different angles, adding depth and character.’ Turned wood legs always add a sophisticated touch, whether stained dark or kept natural.

Claude rectangular stool, H37xW121xD61cm, £895, Kingcome Sofas; covered in Melisande, £120m, Colefax and Fowler. Fairfax sofa, £4,200, Kingcome Sofas; covered in Casper, £120m, Colefax and Fowler.

Eminently tactile

For such a small part of the overall room design, a footstool holds its own, especially when upholstered in sumptuous fabric. ‘This luxurious, tactile, printed velvet has an appealing, ethnicallyinspired print,’ says Sarah MacGregor, design director at Colefax and Fowler. ‘The velvet lends itself well to the rich copper tone.’ In this room, the richness of the fabric used for the curtains and footstool is the perfect foil for the neutral walls, sofa and carpet. The stool is also available in a square design.

DESIGN TIP FIX UP A TIRED FOOTSTOOL WITH A SMART NEW COVER. A REMNANT OF FABRIC CAN SIMPLY BE STAPLE-GUNNED IN PLACE, OR YOU COULD MAKE A LOOSE COVER. FOR A TAILORED LOOK, HIRE AN UPHOLSTERER. FIND ONE AT THE ASSOCIATION OF MASTER UPHOLSTERERS AND SOFT FURNISHERS, 01494 569120, UPHOLSTERERS.CO.UK.

Country Homes & Interiors

3 Two’s company

There’s something comfortingly familiar about this pairing of a chair and footstool, developed by Simon Pengelly and Sitting Firm Chairmakers. ‘The chair has been meticulously handcrafted using long-established techniques, as an update to the classic Windsor style chair,’ says David Barrett, furniture buyer at John Lewis & Partners. ‘The addition of the upholstered footstool adds not only to the overall design, but also increases the comfort. These pieces are so exquisite we hope they will be passed down for generations to come.’

CH&I

LOVES

Ansel floor lamp, £175, John Lewis & Partners.

Harp footstool, H44xW68xD60cm, £599; Simon Pengelly Harp chair, H122xW84xD84cm, £1,200, both Croft Collection at John Lewis & Partners.

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ROOM ELEMENTS

Willow footstools, H37xW77x D67cm, col Dusty Pink/Olive Green/Hybrid Flora, £450 each, Sorsha Rose Designs.

3 OF THE BEST...

Table lamps CREATE A POOL OF SOFT, GOLDEN LIGHT TO READ BY AFTER DARK

It’s all about the contrast when gloss meets concrete-effect ceramic. Drip glazed lamp, H24cm, with white shade, Dia30cm, £90, Cox & Cox.

Satisfyingly rounded, this base comes in a choice of four colours. Hulu lamp, H52cm, col Celadon, with pleated shade, Dia40cm, £245, Oka.

4 Slot together

‘Willow was my first collection, inspired by Scandi interiors and angular lines,’ says Georgina Saunders, founder of Sorsha Rose Designs. ‘I absolutely love being part of the whole process, from designing and creating, to sourcing and marketing. The hexagon shapes allow for a single style statement, or you could connect a few together to create the ultimate footstool. The legs are handmade by a local carpenter, and a bespoke service lets you choose your wood and fabrics to create a completely unique design.’

This neat ceramic lamp is part of a matching set. Arley table lamp in blue/grey, H34xDia20cm, £65 for two, John Lewis & Partners.

5 Super drape

Lavinia armchair, H95xW112xD96cm, col Bliss Porcelain, £1,254; footstool, H47xW58xD58cm, £368, both Collins & Hayes.

Loose covers have always been a favourite of country decorators and with good reason – their easy fit shrugs over plump armchairs, adding to the relaxed look. They do just the same job for a footstool, where they have an added advantage, as they can be removed once footprints show and whisked away for dry cleaning or a wash, depending on the fabric chosen. When it’s time for a change, a footstool has such a simple shape, it’s easy to make your own replacement cover. Contrast piping is an optional extra for adding subtle detail.

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ROOM ELEMENTS

Large Club footstool, H43xW150xD66cm, from £440, Sofa.com; covered in Plain Linen, col charcoal, £48m, Vanessa Arbuthnott. Sofa, covered in Simple Ticking Detail, col charcoal, £49.50m, Vanessa Arbuthnott.

Lovely linen

When other furnishings are patterned, a plain linen union provides a natural point of repose, which helps to balance the room. ‘Linen is a very durable, strong fabric, and one of the few that are stronger wet than dry,’ says fabric designer Vanessa Arbuthnott. ‘Cotton-linen blends are even tougher, making them perfect for upholstery; the blend prevents the fabric from creasing so much and going floppy. The yarns are woven into a cloth especially for me in Fife in Scotland, then dyed to match my printed fabrics.’

DESIGN TIP BEFORE YOU GET CARRIED AWAY AND PRESS THE BUTTON TO ORDER ONLINE, DO REQUEST A FABRIC SAMPLE AND LOOK AT IT IN YOUR ROOM, AGAINST THE SOFA AND ARMCHAIRS, IN BOTH DAYLIGHT AND ARTIFICIAL LIGHT, TO BE SURE IT’S THE ONE.

Resembling the light and dark reflections of ripples across a lake, this footstool fabric introduces pattern in a gentle way, in harmony with the plain sofa and armchair. Designed by Barbara Barry, the Panorama collection comes in soothing, knocked-back shades and was inspired by nature, particularly her native Californian landscape. For a softer look, opt for an oval rather than rectangular footstool – both DFS and Marks & Spencer have some classic options.

Use a gently multicoloured footstool to tie together various colours and bring a cohesive feel to your room scheme 102

Country Homes & Interiors

Footstool, covered in Kravet, col Panorama Awash Water, £98m; sofa, covered in Kravet, col Ground Plain Plum, £165m; armchair, covered in Kravet, col Cliffhanger Heron, £98m, all GP&J Baker.

FEATURE CAROLINE RODRIGUES

7Relaxed pattern

HOME TECH

audio-enhancing

TV SOUNDBARS SOUNDBARS AND SPEAKERS GIVE TV AUDIO A CINEMATIC BOOST, WITH SOUND GOOD ENOUGH TO REPLACE YOUR HOME’S HI-FI

These sleek models won’t distract from your decor

Best for... THE CONNECTED HOME

Beam, H6.85xW65.1xD10cm, £399, Sonos New from multi-room maestros Sonos, the Beam is a compact soundbar that can connect seamlessly with an existing family of Sonos speakers, sound great as a standalone streaming hi-fi, or make your favourite Netflix series sound sensational just by plugging in the HDMI cable. It comes with Amazon Alexa built in and, for even better TV audio, you can add two Sonos One wireless speakers (£199 each) to create a serious 5.1 system for totally immersive surround sound.

2Best for...

FEATURE CHRIS HASLAM PHOTOGRAPH PAUL RAESIDE

NOT MISSING A WORD

A soundbar – typically a long, slim box filled with speakers – plugs into the back of your TV and sits directly in front of it, greatly enhancing the sound quality of whatever you’re watching on the box. The central speakers hone in on dialogue, while the ones at the edges fire

sound left and right to mimic cinema surround sound. But the latest models offer more. Many feature voice control (such as Amazon Alexa) so you can tell the TV to change volume, while others have Bluetooth, allowing you to stream music from your phone.

DID YOU KNOW? DOLBY ATMOS-COMPATIBLE SOUNDBARS HAVE SPEAKERS AIMED UP TOWARDS THE CEILING THAT BOUNCE SOUND AROUND – SO WHEN A PLANE FLIES OVERHEAD ON SCREEN, THE SOUND DOES THE SAME.

HW-N650, H5.9xW110xD10cm, £699, Samsung A worthy partner to your new 4K TV, this sleek 360W soundbar has eight individual speakers, each aimed in different directions to bounce the sound off the walls and trick your ears. Meanwhile, a dedicated ‘centre channel’ speaker plays only dialogue, so no matter how loud the action, voices will remain clear and easy to hear. This model also comes with a wireless subwoofer that adds real depth to any soundtrack and Bluetooth for streaming music at serious volume.

3 Best for...

CRYSTAL-CLEAR SOUND

Q Acoustics M3, H9xW100xD12.5cm, £229, John Lewis Q Acoustics is making waves in the audio industry with a wide range of high-quality speakers that sound far better than their price would suggest – and this bargain soundbar is no exception. There’s a wonderful clarity to the sound quality, and the set-up is mercifully simple, with a choice of HDMI, optical and 3.5mm inputs and aptX Bluetooth, which lets you wirelessly play high-definition music from a compatible smartphone. It can be wallor table-mounted, and while it’s not the most stylishlooking box, the sound quality more than makes up for it.

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FESTIVE PLACE SETTINGS FROM FAMILY FEASTS TO CELEBRATION SUPPERS, DECK YOUR DINING TABLE IN ITS BEST FESTIVE FINERY THIS SEASON

1 Bring a rustic, woodland flavour to your ALL THE TRIMMINGS

table with foliage foraged from outdoors. ‘Place a decorative runner along the table, with a few votives dotted here and there, working in branches to add texture and height to the table,’ says Dan Cooper, Christmas Shop buyer at John Lewis & Partners. ‘Consider making each guest’s place that extra bit special by layering your best crockery on rustic wooden chargers and personalising each setting with gifts wrapped to match your scheme.’

Acacia place mat, £18; Pine cone napkin rings, £12 for four; votives, £18 for three, all John Lewis & Partners.

DESIGN SECRETS

Fenton Platinum plates, from £78 for six; Emily napkins, £36 for six; Stuart cutlery, £305 for a 36-piece set, all Neptune.

S O P H I S T I C AT E D S I LV E R

C H R I S T M A S A L A C A RT E

While grey might not be the obvious colour choice for Christmas, mixing in accents of mercury glass on baubles and votives, teamed with platinumedged tableware, adds just the right amount of sparkle. ‘My biggest tip for decorating the table is to adorn the entire room with the same motifs,’ says Rebecca Malyon, head of product design at Neptune. ‘It makes the table look even more spectacular.’

Festive printed menus, from £15.40 for 10, Papier.

Pull out all the stops and print personalised menus of the festive fayre on offer, as a keepsake for guests. ‘Dress up your table by pairing unexpected colour combinations, like the light blue tablecloth against the bright pink menu,’ says Christina Forman, creative director at Papier. ‘Choosing colours that aren’t traditionally associated with Christmas allows you to be more creative.’

4 An abundance of florals and foliage is an F E S T I V E F O L I AG E

easy way of dressing up white linen tablecloths and napkins, with hand-tied sprigs at every setting. ‘A simple white table is timeless and elegant,’ says Ronny de Koning of Petersham Nurseries. ‘Flowers and foliage together with scented fir and waxflower, make a classic setting that’s easy to replicate using cuttings gathered from your own winter garden.’

Rimini napkins, £12 for four, John Lewis & Partners.

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Celestial place mat, £31 for four; Sara Miller London.

Symons bowl, £14; Pear place card holder, £25 for six, all The White Company.

5 Add sprigs of foliage and pine cones to plain S PA R K L E A N D S H I N E

white china, and finish with jazzy place card holders. ‘If you do nothing else to your home, make it light and sparkly,’ says Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company. ‘Choose glass candle holders, and add fairy lights in a big glass bowl or hung from a mantelpiece. The Christmas table should look warm, inviting and glittery.’

6 Put on the glitz with a dramatic midnight blue M I D N I G H T AC C E N T S

and gold dinner table. ‘Bring your table to life by layering it against a navy background, adding richness and depth with twigs, pine cones and foliage,’ says designer Sara Miller. ‘Add tiny gold stars to hint at a magical, starry night sky. Gold leaves and mini baubles in Moroccan tea glasses add an element of luxury and set the scene beautifully.’

7 Take a pared-back approach with linen napkins Similar goblet, £9.90, Villeroy and Boch.

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and place mats on a rustic wooden table. ‘I love bringing the outside into the house using natural decorations – berries, fir branches and foliage,’ says interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch. ‘Then I’ll buy life-like winter flowers and berries to twist around the garlands. I’ll add offcuts from real trees, too, so you capture that lovely pine smell.’

NEXT MONTH DECORATING WITH PLANTS

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI

SIMPLE SETTING

DESIGN SECRETS

8 For a glam alternative to traditional P R E C I O US M E TA L S

Dinnerware set, £25 for a 12-piece set; jug, £5; flutes, £6 for two; tumblers, £5 for two; cutlery, £25 for a 16-piece set; leaf plate, £12; candle jar, £6, all George Home.

festive greenery, go for a luxe palette of copper, blush and rose gold. Take a shimmery runner as your starting point. ‘Complement with delicate dinnerware, rose gold cutlery, glittery glassware and fairy lights,’ says Julie Varma, senior design director at George Home. Then personalise each setting with a handwritten place card and ribbon-tied cutlery. Country Homes & Interiors

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A winter’s tale TUCKED UNDER A BLANKET OF SNOW, THE BEAUTY AND STRUCTURE OF ANNIE STANFORD’S COTTAGE GARDEN, WITH VIEWS OVER THE BLACKMORE VALE, IS STILL PLAIN TO SEE

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SOMERSET GARDEN

Annie and Chris’s Grade II-listed cottage sits in a commanding position with stunning views.

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A collection of old soil sieves, artfully arranged on the side of the potting shed looks even more decorative under a drift of snow.

Snw doesn’t often settle on the tiny hilltop village of

AT HOME WITH... Owners Annie Stanford, a botanical artist, and her husband Chris, who is retired from the Royal Navy. They live here with whippets Flynn and Albie.

House A Grade-II listed property that was originally three workers’ cottages. Garden A sloping two-acre plot on loam soil, which includes evergreen shrubs, cottage-style planting, a potager, a ﬁeld with an orchard and birch grove, two shepherd’s huts and a renovated railway carriage and wagon.

Cucklington in Somerset, but when it does it’s spectacular. A pretty patchwork of ields appears in magical monochrome, drifts swept up by the wind form dramatic waves along narrow lanes and, in Annie and Chris Stanford’s two-acre garden, spherical mounds of clipped evergreens stand out in all their glory. ‘You tend to think of this time of year as being dreary, but having so much clipped topiary it never feels that way,’ says Annie. ‘Evergreens give interest and all-year structure and I love the low when you repeat them all over the place. My favourite is box, but I also grow plenty of yew and bay. During summer you don’t really notice the topiary because of the froth of herbaceous plants all around it, but during winter it comes into its own.’ Annie and Chris’s cottage has breathtaking views across the Blackmore Vale. When they moved here 27 years ago with their four young children, there was nothing but a large hedge, two lilac trees and a small, lonely hydrangea in the middle of the lawn. As a keen gardener, and with no particular plan in mind, Annie immediately started digging out lowerbeds and planting. Such a beautiful location does have its challenges, however. As well as coping with the strong westerlies that can knock down trees or whip tiles off the roof, Annie had to work with the garden’s fairly steep gradient. ‘If I were moving here now I would have it terraced properly,’ she says. ‘With latter land I might have designed a different garden, too. I thought I’d get terribly it living here, but I still puff and pant coming up from the bottom!’ The delight of Annie’s sloping plot is that no matter where you pause to catch your breath, there’s a new perspective on it:

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SOMERSET GARDEN The water bowser seems to be stopped in its tracks, while a shepherd’s hut makes a focal point beyond the fence.

A greenhouse from Gabriel Ash provides protection for tender plants over winter.

A picotee-edge double hellebore perches prettily in a galvanised trough.

What makes this garden so special… ‘It brings me great joy, peace and satisfaction. I wouldn’t feel like a complete person if I didn’t garden and so it’s very much a part of me’

Hedera helix has glossy heart-shaped leaves and its berries are a food source for birds in winter.

Ferns are a favourite plant for Annie, grown throughout the garden, in containers and beds.

This shepherd’s hut was rescued from a bonﬁre. Now restored, it’s a perfect playhouse for Annie and Chris’s grandchildren.

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SOMERSET GARDEN

A Japanese â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Shirotaeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ďŹ&#x201A;owering cherry tree spreads its bare boughs against the leaden sky.

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paths meander past curved beds and borders, which in summer GURSSHG IURP LWV WZLVWHG EUDQFKHV brim with cottage-garden favourites in pink, purple and red. At this time of year, Annie has planned pops of bright colour from rowan, holly and skimmia berries, the shiny hips of Rosa rugosa and R. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mevrouw Nathalie Nypelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and the vibrant fruit of crab apple Malus x robusta â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Red Sentinelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve repeat-planted â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Red Sentinelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; everywhere because it has such large, fat fruits, which I thought the birds would feed on, as I have other crab apples, which they take really early on, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t touch it. The result is the trees look pretty all winter, hung with bright red fruit like Christmas tree decorations.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Annie has a passion for vintage gardenalia and her large collection of galvanised watering cans, troughs and ribbed dolly tubs planted with evergreen ferns, bergenias and dainty pink hellebores, as well as a water bowser underplanted with snowdrops, are displayed artistically throughout her garden. Arguably, though, the gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most eye-catching feature is Long Hill Carriage, a Victorian railway carriage, with a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;platformâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; illed with an ever-changing arrangement of terracotta pots and vintage containers. Its days of carrying Great Western Railway passengers may be over, but the 1882 third-class carriage still gets plenty of use, thanks to Annie and Chrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard work. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;My brother, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mad keen on railways, has an old carriage in his garden and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d always secretly longed for one,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Annie recalls. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;About 10 years ago I asked him to look out for one, and he found this one for sale.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; It was in a ield in Devon, but it was in reasonably good condition. Annie and Chris had it transported to a barn and then every

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Modern Country Classic

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The shiny jewel-like fruit of crab apple Malus x robusta â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Red Sentinelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; provide a cheerful pop of colour beside the drive by the cottage.

SOMERSET GARDEN

ON OUR D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘Stourhead (01747 841152, nationaltrust.org.uk/ stourhead), near Mere in Wiltshire. It’s the most beautiful garden 365 days of the year. I never tire of it; there’s always something to see.’

Shop at... ‘Sprout & Flower (01747 860300, sproutandﬂower. co.uk) in Mere, for lovely ﬂowers, plants, fruit and veg, as well as coffee and cakes. Also try The Botanical Candle Co (01747 859200, thebotanicalcandleco. co.uk) in Shaftesbury, where they make deliciously scented, hand-poured soy wax candles in vintage containers.’

Go for a meal at… ‘Roth Bar & Grill at Hauser & Wirth (01749 814700, rothbarandgrill.co.uk) in Bruton in Somerset, for seasonal local produce, the chance to see some amazing art and, of course, Piet Oudolf’s wonderful prairie-style garden.’

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weekend for about six months drove down to scrape and paint, gradually bringing it back to life before moving it to Cucklington. The couple used it as a summerhouse and ofice for about ive years until Chris retired, when they had the idea of turning it into a holiday let. ‘There wasn’t enough space for a bed, so we bought a 1952 railway wagon for £500 on eBay – it then cost us about £1,000 to move it here!’ It was in beautiful condition and now serves as a bedroom and bathroom alongside the carriage, which houses the living area and a little kitchen. Inside, Annie has continued the vintage theme with mid-century-style furniture and fabrics and – always – fresh lowers from the garden. When the last guests have left in November and before the next ones arrive in March, Annie and Chris have their glorious garden to themselves – time for jobs such as digging, moving plants and maintenance. Annie confesses to having a philosophical approach to her plants’ survival during the coldest months. ‘I do virtually nothing to protect them,’ she says. ‘I always used to wrap the standard bays in leece to protect them from burning in the wind, but this year I never got round to it and they survived. Although I’ve lost plants in the greenhouse, most in the garden have done well. The snow acts like a blanket – it helps rather than hinders. ‘I do quite a lot of plotting and planning during this period, which seems like a really good idea until the following summer when I wonder why on earth I dug another lowerbed because now I have to look after it! You do that kind of thing in the winter.’ To stay at Long Hill Carriage, visit longhillcarriage.co.uk or call 01747 840658.

FEATURE ANNE ESDEN PHOTOGRAPHS HEATHER EDWARDS

Standard bay trees and galvanised planters mark the entrance to Annie and Chris’s restored rolling stock, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue.

P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E

Make the most of outdoor space DISCOVER HOW SANIFLO CAN HELP YOU CREATE A SELF-CONTAINED ROOM IN YOUR GARDEN

omeowners are becoming increasingly inventive with clever ways of boosting a property’s space. Understairs cupboards have become bijou shower rooms, cellars restyled to make useful utility areas and now it’s the turn of garden rooms. Studios, shepherd’s huts and garages are experiencing something of a design renaissance, with creative and enterprising families converting them into chic and practical studios to be used as a guest room, kids den, home ofice or hobby space. And to make these renovations truly functional, adding a small kitchen space, en-suite bathroom or toilet is a great idea. But before you start factoring in expensive plumbing work, look

to industry experts Sanilo for a range of innovative drainage products, designed with even the smallest and trickiest of spaces in mind. With more than 60 years experience, Sanilo has practical solutions to suit a variety of different renovation projects, with no major building work required. If you’d like an en suite in your garden room, the Saniplus Up is economical and easy to install, quietly pumping away waste water from a basin, WC, and even a high output power shower. It’s also perfect to it snugly behind a cupboard or cistern and boasts a removable lid that makes maintenance a breeze. If space is really tight,

a Sanislim or Sanicompact (a loo with an inbuilt macerator) may also be good choices to consider. Whatever garden room project you’re planning, you’re sure to ind the right solution from Sanilo’s huge range of products, so you can make the most of your new room for work, rest or play, and even add value to your property.

Visit discover-saniflo.co.uk, email discover@saniflo.co.uk or call 020 8839 2612 to find out more about all of Saniflo’s products.

Make Life Loely

FASHION, WELLBEING, ECO, PETS AND OTHER NICE THINGS

SEASONAL SCENT Switch your signature scent for something more sultry. Jo Malone’s new Bronze Wood & Leather cologne, from £75 for 50ml, offers a heady combination of rich hide and smoky wood, with hints of vibrant juniper and grapefruit. It can be layered with other Cologne Intense collection scents, such as Pomegranate Noir or Myrrh & Tonka.

CELEBRATE BURNS NIGHT Burns Night commemorates the life of Scottish poet Robert Burns, who was born on 25 January 1759. If you’re attending a Burns supper, expect cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, neeps and tatties accompanied by bagpipes, reciting the poet’s Address to a Haggis and whisky toasts. To end the evening, a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, one of Burns’s most famous works. 116

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WINTER WARMER Beat the chill with Celtic & Co’s luxurious floor-length hooded sheepskin coat. Made from silky, long-wool Toscana sheepskin – an ethical alternative to fur – it comes in Nutmeg brown or Vole with contrast interior.

Hooded Toscana coat in Nutmeg Tipped, £1,575, Celtic & Co.

Make your own A lovely last-minute gift or a treat for yourself, Marks & Spencer’s Make Your Own Candle kit, £10, contains all you need to make two neroli, lime and basil candles, from the glass holders to the wax and wicks, all packaged in a pretty labelled box. Other ‘make your own’ kits include a bath bomb or soap.

HAPPY THOUGHTS AND IDEAS

3 REASONS WHY…

DIY flowers Putting together a gorgeous floral display can be a struggle, so Posy & Posy has come up with a solution that walks you through it. Its new floral recipe box subscriptions are delivered to your door and contain all the fresh flowers you’ll need for an arrangement, together with a ‘recipe booklet’ showing you how to put it together. Subscriptions are available on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, and prices start at £32 for a month’s subscription.

YOU SHOULD DECLUTTER

1 A LIFE FILLED WITH CLUTTER CAN DRAG YOU DOWN, HEM YOU IN, DRAIN YOUR ENERGY… TIP: Tackle a clutter hotspot – that bowl, shelf or corner of the table where lyers, bills and catalogues accumulate. Get to it now. Never think of it again. 2 IT CAN CREATE A EUPHORIC FEELING – IF YOU CAN TACKLE THIS YOU CAN TACKLE ANYTHING TIP: Clear out The Drawer. You know the one. Crammed with rubber bands, batteries, bits of string, chopsticks. No one ever needs more than 10% of what’s in The Drawer.

IT’S A WRAP Ditch single-use cling film and plastic bags and try an eco alternative for covering food. Bee Green Wraps are made from a blend of beeswax, tree resin and jojoba oil on sheets of cotton; they simply wrap around a bowl or individual item, moulding to its shape. Washable, chemical-free and biodegradable, they come in six sizes and a range of designs, with each sheet lasting up to a year. From £4.75 for a small 20x20cm wrap, or £23.99 for a starter pack of four different-sized wraps.

3 GET THROUGH IT BY SEEING EVERY BIT OF YOUR DEJUNKING EFFORTS AS AN INVESTMENT IN FUTURE SUNNY DAYS TIP: Stay in the moment. Break down tasks into doable components. It may feel too overwhelming to tackle all your books right now so, for today, just sort through your gardening books. Taken from Declutter – the Get-real Guide to Creating Calm from Chaos by Debora Robertson, illustrations by Alyana Cazalet (£12.99, Kyle Books) Country Homes & Interiors

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HAPPY THOUGHTS AND IDEAS

Kas Navy cushion, £45; Andalucia Zahara rug, available in ﬁve sizes, from £130, both Weaver Green.

ROLL WITH IT Always have the charger or cable you need to hand with the Gaucho tech roll, £99, Soda Shop, with a charger, power bank, ear phones, USB stick and two cables. It’s iPhoneand Android-compatible, and made from cowhide leather with chevron embroidery.

BAG IT

Carry your dog-walking kit in style. Oops! is a chic new range of leather poop bag holders in four colours from Teddy Maximus, which clip discreetly on to a lead, belt loop or bag. Choose from round pouches, £14.95 each, to carry a few poop bags at a time or the larger rectangular bags, £19.95 each, that hold a whole roll.

BUY BRITISH

Weaver Green After seeing fishing ropes made from plastic bottles in Asia, Barney and Tasha Green founded eco-interiors brand Weaver Green. Its rugs, cushions, throws and bags are made from up to 3,000 recycled plastic bottles, with a soft, wool-like feel. Dust-mite and stain resistant, they’re also machine washable.

3 OF THE BEST…

2019 planners

KEEP TRACK OF ALL THOSE IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS

With cute illustrations, this diary has weekly, monthly and yearly layouts, plus perforated shopping and to-do lists and a book of fun stickers to help you to get organised. Sweet 2019 A5 weekly diary, £21, Kikki.K.

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Say it with lowers

Know what each month has in store with this pretty appointment book, with loral illustrations for each month, plus pages for notes and contacts. Rile Paper Co 2019 Bouquet appointment notebook, £14, Papermash.

Seize the day

A neat size for a handbag, this diary is dotted with inspirational quotes and illustrations, and has weekly and monthly layouts, blank pages and graph paper, plus an elastic loop. 2019 A5 diary, £23.50, Oliver Bonas.

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI; THEA BABINGTON-STITT

Picture perfect

OUT AND ABOUT

Modern furnishings and warm neutrals, make this large guest house feel like a home away from home.

Linthwaite House’s beautifully manicured lawns are ideal for a picnic when the weather’s on side.

A COSY BASE FOR EXPLORING THE LAKES

Linthwaite House

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY

ESCAPE TO THIS LAKE DISTRICT BOLTHOLE FOR ELEGANT INTERIORS AND ITALIAN CUISINE A haven of modernity among the more traditional hotels that pepper the Lake District, Linthwaite House offers a sophisticated take on classic country house hospitality. Part of the chic South African Leeu Collection, the property offers all the comfort of a grand home without any of the faded chintz or stuffiness. With manicured gardens, irresistible grub and the pictureperfect towns of Bowness and Windermere just minutes away, Linthwaite is just the ticket for this year’s post-Christmas winter escape. ADMIRE THE ART After a head-to-toe refurbishment when it was taken over by Leeu, the Edwardian building now conceals a series of stylish, fresh interiors that take

their lead from art, culture and refined interior decor. The design steers clear of clichés, instead channelling a classic but easy going elegance that helps guests to feel immediately at home. A palette of calming neutrals is contrasted with dashes of ethnic pattern and warming shades of terracotta and emerald green. The artwork is well curated, with many pieces borrowed from the South African owner’s private collection. ENJOY ITALIAN FARE In-house restaurant Stella offers guests a delectable menu of gourmet Italian food. Expect tempting plates such as confit duck and chestnut pappardelle, and octopus with pumpkin and aubergine caponata.

Post-dinner nightcaps can be enjoyed in the cosy bar and conservatory, which also serve a menu of lighter dishes. RELAX OR WANDER Guests love curling up with a newspaper or good book in one of the many lounges and little nooks scattered around the house. Plus, dog-friendly Linthwaite has a stash of walking boots and wellies available for those guests determined to explore the local landscape come rain or shine. HOW MUCH? Double rooms start at £200 a night with breakfast included, based on two sharing. Linthwaite House, Crook Road, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3JA, 01539 488600, leeucollection.com/uk.

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F U L LY E S C O RT E D T O U R S

Sardinia: Alghero, Costa Smeralda and Corsica

Lake Como, St Moritz and the Bernina Express

Selected departures from April to October 2019. 8 days from only £899pp.

Price includes: Discover hidden cultural treasures in the charming traditional villages of inland Sardinia Guided tour Guided of medieval Alghero’s fascinating Catalan heritage tour of Italian-influenced Bonifacio in French Corsica Admire Costa Smeralda’s picturesque coastal towns and villages Marvel at the Santu Antine nuraghe, one of thousands of Bronze Age settlements Discover the ancient Visit a family-owned wine Phoenician ruins at Tharros estate and enjoy a tasting of Sardinia’s excellent wines Return flights from the UK Four-star hotel accommodation The services of our with daily breakfast and four dinners experienced and insightful tour manager

Price includes: Visit chic St Moritz in the heart of the Swiss Alps, with a journey on the Bernina Express Take a lake cruise to stunning Bellagio on Lake Como, with a private visit to the enchanting Villa del Balbianello Spend a day visiting Enjoy a full-day visit and guided majestic Lake Maggiore tour of Bergamo Visit Lugano, a stylish and elegant Swiss town by the lake Return flights from the UK Seven nights in a choice of well-located four-star accommodation with breakfast and dinner (stays at the Grand Hotel Menaggio are on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with dining options available) The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

Lake Garda, Venice and Verona

Pompeii, Capri and the Bay of Naples

* * * *

Selected departures from April to October 2019. 8 days half-board from only £659pp. Price includes: Tour wonderfully unique Venice with a local guide – choose our classic or ‘undiscovered’ tour to uncover Enjoy an entire day exploring the less-explored highlights beautiful Lake Garda, both on land and by boat Tour medieval Verona with a local guide and see its classic sights or choose our ‘undiscovered’ tour to delve into its lesser-known gems Spend the day in the breath-taking Dolomites seeing Enjoy two free some of the finest alpine scenery in the world days to further explore at leisure or relax and soak up the incredible scenery Return flights from the UK Seven nights in a choice of conveniently located accommodation rated three-star to four-star superior, with breakfast and The services of our experienced and insightful dinner tour manager

** *

Selected departures from April to October 2019. 8 days from only £699pp. Price includes: Discover the ancient Roman town of Delve deeper into the Herculaneum with a local guide mysteries of Pompeii on a guided tour and visit the Naples Take a full-day tour of the Archaeological Museum breath-taking Amalfi coast Spend the day visiting the Enjoy a walking orientation tour stunning island of Capri of Sorrento Return flights from the UK Seven nights in a choice of conveniently located accommodation rated three-to four-star superior, plus breakfast and dinner (stays at the Hotel Mediterraneo are on a bed-and-breakfast basis) The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

** *

To book or request a brochure, call 01283 523454 or visit cohriviera.co.uk Additional entrance costs may apply. Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to finite availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd. ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, a company wholly independent of Country Homes & Interiors, published by TI Media Limited. Prices correct at time of going to print.

C O U N T RY K I T C H E N F O C U S

SUBTLE DISTINCTION A RESTRAINED COLOUR PALETTE MEANS IMELDA LEONARD’S KITCHEN REMAINS SLEEK WHILE REVELLING IN ROMANTIC DETAIL

PROJECT PROFILE Owners Imelda Leonard and Neil Stringwell and their miniature sausage dog, Rollo.

House A four-bedroom semi-detached extended cottage in West Yorkshire.

Project A kitchen and dining room were knocked through to create one large space including a snug area and dining room.

Kitchen size: 8.5x4m. Designer Craig Atkinson, owner, AKA Interiors.

Cabinetry Ashbourne classic-style kitchen with solid ash doors and Portland oak frame, made by Masterclass, and painted in Masterclass Light Grey (units) and Dust Grey (island).

Taking down a wall made a huge difference – the room is so airy now, with plenty of light from the large bay window, and the view to enjoy.

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Glass-fronted open-display dresser doors help break up the lengthy run of cabinetry along this wall, and add depth.

CH&I

LOVES

Similar FirstLight 8300CH Imperial lights, £111 each, Ocean Lighting.

Having four grown-up children, as well as seven

grandchildren, all living close by in and around the Dales of West Yorkshire, means that Imelda Leonard and Neil Stringwell are never short of a dinner guest – or several. ‘We get together regularly,’ says Imelda. ‘And there’s no trouble itting folk round the table and island now – it doesn’t feel overcrowded.’ The couple’s home of more than a decade, made from two cottages knocked into one and extended over the years, wasn’t always so accommodating. Until last year, the kitchen and dining areas were separate. ‘You were cut off from everyone when preparing and cooking food,’ recalls Imelda. ‘We wanted a room where we could all be together.’ So a plan was devised to remove the dividing wall and create an airy new room, complete with a cosy snug at one end, which opens onto the patio. The couple were both set on a look that was modern at heart, but with subtle country touches. ‘We knew we wanted whites and greys from the outset. But we didn’t want anything clinical-looking,’ says Imelda. In the nearby showroom of AKA Interiors, a designer

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and itter that supplies units made by Masterclass Kitchens, they discovered colours and cupboards that hit the mark. Owner Craig Atkinson was another excellent ind. ‘He grasped what we wanted straight away,’ says Imelda, ‘as well as coming up with lots of great ideas.’ Together they devised an elegant, understated kitchen. ‘Overall, it’s still a contemporary feel,’ Craig explains. ‘But the lavish island worktop, the glass-fronted display cupboards, and the lack of right angles – all the end panels on cabinets and the worktops are curved – softens the effect. It’s like we’ve sneaked a few carefully considered Victorian lourishes into an otherwise modern design.’ Even though Neil, whose business supplies driveways, and Imelda, who takes care of their company’s admin, are used to dealing with building works, the renovation still felt like a slog in the initial phases. ‘There was just so much dust, and for a while we had only a kettle and a microwave to get by with,’ says Imelda. ‘But now, I love the sense of space, the openness and light. It was more than worth it.’

C O U N T RY K I T C H E N F O C U S

The breakfast bar stools add a decidedly sleek note.

‘Our designer put us in touch with a previous client. Seeing their new kitchen was so helpful’

Range Table

Bench seat

Fridge

Island

Sink

The layout

This 8m-long room, with lengthy island to match, has a dining area tucked into a bay at one end, and a snug at the other. A peninsula unit helps zone the different areas. There is a generous amount of cabinetry, all kept to one side of the room, which preserves a sense of space on the other. Curved edges and many different elevations to the design – cooker height, island level, tall fridges, peninsula etc – help to break up this bank so it doesn’t overpower.

With bench seats and bar stools for guests, cooking is a sociable experience.

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design solutions TO INSPIRE YOU

LONG ISLAND

For the island worktop, designer Craig suggested double thickness and bevelled, or ‘bird’s beak’, edging to add a splash of luxury. The couple love the statement effect, even if installing it was tricky. ‘It’s a half-tonne slab,’ says Neil, ‘and it took nine of us hours to manhandle it into position.’ Craig adds: ‘It’s not something you’d ind in an ultra-modern kitchen, and makes the island more of a centrepiece.’

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Chrome handles add a modern ﬁnishing touch to the classic cabinetry.

C O U N T RY K I T C H E N F O C U S

All the appliances are arranged along one side of the kitchen

The details

POP UP SOCKETS

CABINETRY Classic Masterclass Ashbourne cabinetry, painted in Light Grey and Dust Grey, from £20,000, AKA Interiors.

A contemporary addition are these Sensio pop-up socket towers. Each has two sockets and two USB ports. ‘The grandkids use them all the time to plug in their iPads,’ says Neil. ‘It saves on unsightly wiring trailing from the walls to the island.’ The towers, itted in chrome to match the cabinet handles, cost £69.99 each.

SURFACES International Stones IQ Carrara quartz worktops, £422sq m; island worktop, £595sq m, both AKA Interiors. Victoria Crackle splashback tiles, £55sq m; Sequoia Legni Grigio ﬂoor tiles, £55sq m, both Italian Tiles Outlet.

APPLIANCES Rangemaster Professional Deluxe 1100mm dual-fuel oven, £1,910, John Lewis & Partners. KIV38X22GB 70/30 fridge freezer, £669; SMV40C30GB dishwasher, £350; DHL785CGB 700mm integrated extractor, £438, all Bosch. All supplied by AKA Interiors.

B U I LT I N STORAGE

In the bay window, there is built-in bench seating, and within it are three storage units with bottom-hinged doors, which pull out for easy access. ‘Many of the main cupboards are display cabinets for glasses and ornaments,’ says Craig, ‘so drawer space beneath the benches was a great way to compensate.’

SINKS & TAPS Franke ceramic 1.5-bowl undermount sink, £441; Quooker Fusion boiling water tap, £1,240, both AKA Interiors.

ACCESSORIES Under-bench storage is a good use of otherwise wasted space.

Carcaso bar stools, £60 each, Simply Bar Stools. Salisbury table, £749, Barker and Stonehouse. Highland Check curtains (also used for cushion covers), col Dove Grey, from £65, Dunelm.

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‘WE MAKE LOVELY HANDMADE PERFUMES FROM THE HEART OF RUTLAND’ A rtisan perfuers, Wendy and Chris de Verteuil

urveyors of uncommon objects and needful paraphernalia’ is the intriguing promise on Priddy Essentials’ website. The Priddy Essentials shop, in an elegant Georgian building on the high street of the market town of Uppingham, is a treasure trove of handcrafted merchandise. It’s filled with the work of local artisans, but pride of place goes to Priddy Essentials’ beautifully packaged perfumes and products, which are displayed on apothecary-style shelves. Founded by husband and wife team Wendy and Chris de Verteuil, Priddy Essentials is a hive of activity, but especially in the lead up to Christmas, its busiest time. Wendy and Chris met at Winchester School of Art where Chris studied woven constructed textiles and Wendy studied printed textiles. They moved to Uppingham from London in 1990 and had their four children, Hugo, Gus, Tilly and Esmée, all now grown up. ‘We love the open space, the fresh air and light of Rutland. It’s a gentle way of life and a lower level of stress,’ says Wendy. When a shop came up for sale on the high street, they bought it and Wendy started

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Deliverance County, selling her hand-painted pottery. ‘By 2000 a large quantity of bowls had built up and we decided to add candles to them to give an added value to the product. We learnt how to fragrance candles through much experimentation and started selling them and the business went from strength to strength.’ This led to commissions from the fragrance industry and, through a few specialist courses, Chris learnt the core skills of how to blend fragrances. ‘It wasn’t a specific decision but it happened organically,’ he says. Wendy and Chris sold their shop and then bought the larger listed Georgian building. Chris gave up working in consultancy and the couple decided to start their own fragrancebased business, rooted in the design principles from their textile backgrounds. They opened Priddy Essentials in 2011. The name came about through a variety of factors. ‘We were using essential oils and I had an aunt nicknamed Priddy,’ says Wendy. ‘We were into recycling and upcycling, and my aunt used to make do and mend.’ Wendy and Chris were keen to create a brand with a difference. ‘Our main aim is a

M Y C O U N T RY B U S I N E S S

Chris and Wendy inside their shop, Priddy Essentials. Country Homes & Interiors

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What e loe most... ‘FINALLY BEING ABLE TO DO JUST WHAT WE WANT AND WHEN WE WANT. WORKING TO OUR OWN BRIEF, AND WITH FASCINATING PEOPLE’

pared-down approach to what is perceived as a luxury item,’ says Chris. ‘We’re challenging the deluxe image in a way; we didn’t want something overly fussy. We have created blends referencing the more romantic era of the Thirties and Forties, while modern fragrances have taken a different turn. ‘Unitexte was our first collection using woody and herbal notes, as a nod to the past and the noble fragrance houses of Jermyn Street. Lavender, bergamot, sandalwood and patchouli are softened with surprising accords of liquorice and mint,’ he says. The Priddy Essentials’ ranges are designed to appeal to both men and women. ‘We are trying not to define any fragrances. Inspired by traditional planting in English cottage gardens,

Wendy with her Dachshund Edie in the packing area called The Packadamy.

the Arborescent collection was introduced in 2012 as a floral complement to Unitexte.’ Other collections include Boro, a collage of citrus-based fragrances with its origins in the Far East. The relaxed, easy and breezy Otvungen range came about after a family holiday in Scandinavia, while Ex Libris is a library of scent designed for en-suite and guest bathrooms. Each range comprises a spray, body lotion, hand cream, soap, handwashes, shower gel and bath essence. Developing each fragrance can take up to eight months. Wendy and Chris work with fragrance houses in the UK. ‘We do a sketch and a mock-up blend from a variety of ingredients including essential oils and then work with a fragrance house to interpret the concept commercially,’ says Chris. The finished products are made by hand using paraben-free bases in the Priddy Essentials workshop. Wendy and Chris design the packaging themselves. ‘We prefer paredback designs and use recycled boxes for a craft feel. Everything is done by hand. We’re making something lovely and it takes a lot of effort to put together,’ says Chris. Priddy Essentials went on to exhibit at trade fairs so its products could reach a wider market. ‘We knew we had to look outside Uppingham,’ says Chris. ‘We became known by other retailers who wanted to sell our products. We like being stocked by niche independents.’ Stockists now include Petersham Nurseries, Snape Maltings and Burford Garden Company, as well as The Hambledon in Winchester. Wendy and Chris now employ a team of six. As well as their own products, the de Verteuils sell work made by local artisans. ‘There are a lot of talented people in our area who are not always given a platform,’ says Wendy. ‘We support local artisans and artists. The shop has a constantly reimagined selection of curated products. Perfect for Christmas shoppers!’ Priddy Essentials, 25 High St East, Uppingham, Oakham LE15 9PY, 01572 821890, priddyessentials.com.

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Wendy adding labels to perfume bottles.

Products from the citrus-inspired Boro collection in a Deliverance County mug.

Inside the store, the apothecary-style shelves are ďŹ lled with Priddy Essentialsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perfumes and fragranced products.

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@ ON OUR D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘Uppingham – it’s a picturesque historic market town in Rutland with a host of independent shops. Everything we need is here.’ Shop at… ‘The fascinating and wellpriced Uppingham Antiques Centre (01572 822155, uppinghamantiques. com) on the high street, which has interesting and collectable items from every era. Also, the marvellous Goldmark Gallery in Uppingham (01572 821424, goldmarkart.com).’

Go for a meal at… ‘Scandimania (07951 345807) in Uppingham, which serves homemade Swedish pastries for elevenses. Or try Lake Isle (01572 822951, lakeisle.co.uk), also in Uppingham, a restaurant that’s great for a family celebration.’

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M Y C O U N T RY B U S I N E S S

Smal busines advice

HOW TO MAKE YOUR BRAND STAND OUT Follow our guide to creating a strong visual identity for your product

A brand’s identity isn’t just about a certain logo or colour palette; it’s

FEATURE VIVIENNE AYERS PHOTOGRAPHS ALUN CALLENDER

about all the ingredients that go together to make it stand out from its competitors. ‘A strong visual brand identity is important because you need to be able to communicate with your customer,’ says Chris de Verteuil. ‘By setting the look, you are talking to a certain set of people, and you can begin to build a community who will relate to your style. It builds loyalty and trust.’ Be inspired. ‘You need to start by creating the look you want,’ says Chris. ‘Be very clear about who you are and the message you want to convey. The Priddy Essentials look, for instance, is creating a romantic view of a bygone era. We draw from different inﬂuences when we create a new range – it could be an 18th-century newspaper or a 20th-century print design. We constantly visit antiques centres so, for example, we might ﬁnd a Georgian tea chest inspiring and, in terms of packaging, we would try and work out how to bring the feeling of that item into today’s materials.’ A good way of working out your brand identity is by creating a mood board (or a Pinterest board) of what’s caught your eye. ‘Don’t be intimidated by the enormity of what is on offer on the internet,’ says Chris. ‘We

find that it’s best to set a time limit for surfing and then print off a hard copy of the images to reassess their importance.’ Prepare the key visual elements. Part of having an identity involves having a logo, so work out what’s most effective. •Logo: make sure you come up with one that is flexible. It should work with various background colours and in different shaped formats. Is it simple enough for someone to understand it at a glance? Is it in line with your brand personality? Is it web-friendly? Are you able to scale it up or down? •Fonts: consider using a web-safe font, such as Arial, Helvetica or Times Roman. •Colour: think carefully about which ones you will use so that you can be consistent. ‘We don’t use sharp colours,’ says Chris. ‘We use tertiary level colours so that the product feels comfortable in the shop.’ The colours that Priddy Essentials use also link through to those used in the shop decor. ‘We opted for dark walls in the apothecary room – it creates a moody feel which sets off the recycled packaging.’ Translate your vision into reality. If you don’t have a design background, you will need to brief a designer. Choose a designer whose work you like and who will listen to you. ‘You need freedom to

exchange ideas,’ says Chris. You also need to give the designer a proper briefing with all the background information related to your brand story. Allow your visual identity to grow with your brand. ‘Stick to your message but be flexible enough to play,’ says Chris. Ensure your visual identity is cohesive. Each piece should complement the brand identity so that the look flows. An important aspect of Priddy Essentials’ packaging is the recycled element. It incorporates vintage papers in the packaging of its products and it has followed the same resource strategy throughout the shop – for example the ceilings are decorated with old pages torn from a redundant directory. Curate your product displays. In the atmospheric apothecary room, for instance, the shelving display of bottles is organised and clear. ‘Because the stock was different shapes and sizes we knew that it was important to avoid a cluttered look,’ says Chris. ‘There is a light and bright room for clothing, while downstairs mainly consists of homeware and works from the variety of artists we’re in collaboration with. We arrange our collaborators’ work around our shop as we would in our home.’

The one leson e hae learnt...

‘A TREND IS ALWAYS A TRAP. JUST DO WHAT YOU LIKE MOST, IT’S ALWAYS MUCH MORE HONEST’ Country Homes & Interiors

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Ruby punch

Say ches to the New Year

WITH COOL COCKTAILS Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hosting a drinks party or celebrating with family, toast 2019 with these top tipples 132

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GOOD TIMES, GOOD FOOD

Vodka and cranberry spritzer Â»

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GOOD TIMES, GOOD FOOD

RUBY PUNCH Serve glasses of this classic punch as your guests arrive – it’s the perfect warm welcome. SERVES 12-15

Herb garden spritzer

1 Pour about a quarter of a bottle of red wine

into a pan and add 4 cinnamon sticks and 8 star anise. Heat gently until very hot, but not boiling. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. 2 Pour into a bowl and add 400ml each of port and vodka and the rest of the wine. Add some tangerine slices and top up with 1L of soda water just before serving at room temperature.

VODKA AND CRANBERRY SPRITZER Festive ﬂavours don’t come much cooler than this ice-cold cranberry and orange concoction. SERVES 4 1 In a jug, mix 75ml vodka from the freezer,

juice from a quarter of a lemon and 150ml chilled cranberry juice. 2 Divide between four champagne glasses, top up with prosecco and add some cranberries and a twist of orange to serve.

HERB GARDEN SPRITZER No alcohol but lots of ﬂavour – Mediterranean herbs bring a botanical punch to this refreshing beverage. MAKES 4 1 Put a handful each of mint, basil and

rosemary into a jug with 1/2 tsp each of salt and sugar. Pour in 100ml sparkling water and add half a cucumber, sliced into ribbons. 2 Leave to infuse for 2hr. Top with sparkling water and divide between four glasses to serve.

BITTER CHERRY OLD FASHIONED If you ﬁnd most cocktails too sweet, this is the choice for you. The cherries add an appealing sour note. MAKES 4 1 Fill four tumblers with ice cubes and stir to

Bitter cherry old-fashioned

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cool the glass. Pour 100ml whisky over each with a dash of Angostura bitters, a pinch of caster sugar and 4 sour cherries. 2 Stir well to dissolve the sugar and serve with a slice of orange in each glass.

* BARTENDER’S NOTE A citrus twist isn’t just an attractive finishing touch; in making it, you release oil from the peel, so always use washed and unwaxed fruits.

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GOOD TIMES, GOOD FOOD

Citrus and apple spritz SHERRY SWEETIE A touch of bitter-sweet sophistication takes a glass of sherry from aperitif to after-dark cocktail. MAKES 4 1 Pour 300ml Amontillado sherry into a jug

with 200ml St Germain elderlower liqueur and a few dashes of Angostura bitters. Mix well and leave in the fridge until well chilled. 2 To serve, pour into short-stemmed glasses and garnish each with a twist of lemon zest.

CITRUS AND APPLE SPRITZ The blend of citrus and apple juices brings zesty freshness to this effervescent spritzer. MAKES 4 1 Mix together the juice of 3 small limes, 1

lemon and 1 orange with 180ml cloudy apple juice and 180ml gin in a jug. 2 Half-ill four glasses with crushed ice, pour over the juice and gin mix and top up with cava and a slice of apple.

NEGRONI SPUMANTE An Italian classic gets an extra touch of ﬁzz – because nothing says ‘New Year’s Eve’ like a glass of bubbles. MAKES 4 1 Fill wine glasses with cubed ice, then pour

* Negroni spumante

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BARTENDER’S NOTE Stock up on garnishes and mixers, such as citrus fruits, olives, herbs, tonic, sparkling water, ginger beer and cordials.

RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

over 100ml each of dry gin, Campari and Martini Rosso, and stir well. 2 Pour 75ml prosecco into each glass and garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit.

AWA R D -W I N N I N G R I V E R C RU I S E S On the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Douro, Seine, Saône or Dutch waterways Riviera Travel’s award-winning river cruises include everything you need for an exceptional experience. Cruise Europe’s most beautiful waterways aboard the finest ships, featuring superb dining on board and spacious suites and cabins – many with a French balcony for unrivalled views. Choose from 12 fascinating river cruises that take you to the iconic highlights as well as lesser-known gems in destinations such as Cologne, Trier, Koblenz, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Basel, Lucerne, Douro Valley, Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, Avignon, Arles, Bruges, Paris or Rouen. Cruise includes: • Spacious and beautifully appointed suites or cabins with hotel-style beds, en-suite bathrooms and river views • Exceptional cuisine with full board throughout • A choice of 12 stunning cruises • Extensive and fully inclusive touring programmes • Return flights from a choice of regional airports or standard class reserved seat on Eurostar from London St Pancras • Return rail connections on selected dates and cruises from over 50 regional stations (supplements may apply) • The services of our experienced cruise director and tour manager

C O U N T R Y H O M E S & I N T E R I O R S PA R T N E R S H I P

Art with soul MEET AWARD-WINNING ARTIST BRUCE ATHERTON, PAINTER FOR THE VATICAN, WHO IS NOW SELLING ON THE NEW ONLINE RUNWAY GALLERY

rtist Bruce Atherton communicates his thoughts visually across painting, sculpture and photography. He feels it takes guts to expose your innermost thoughts creatively and says there’s a little piece of his soul in every artwork he makes.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND IN ART… At the age of three, I would draw fanatically, encouraged by my mother and father. She was a midwife and he was a consultant surgeon. Coming from a non-arty family meant there was a freedom, with no expectations placed upon me. I went to art school but in the late 80s it was all super abstract expressionism, and I loved the Old Masters. I left art school and by my mid-20s, I was an advertising art director who needed to ind his inner Michaelangelo. So I handed in my notice, went to Italy and studied at an advanced life painting school. I also taught and did portrait commissions. A one-man show at the Cannaviello gallery in Milan led to more international exhibitions. YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN COMMISSIONS FOR THE VATICAN, HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? In 2000, I was recommended to the Vatican by an Italian health minister whose portrait I had

Phoebe 7 by Bruce Atherton

painted. It was an honour to work for the Vatican, not least bcause I’m neither catholic nor Italian. I made 13 paintings of newly canonised saints and oficial portraits, plus I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy tea with two popes!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Beauty and the search for perfection and truth. ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUY ART FOR THEIR HOME? Choose a piece you love that’s true to your taste.

DISCOVER ART THROUGH THE RUNWAY GALLERY Art is often in the headlines when it’s sold for millions at auction but 94%* of us buy art because we love it. And helping people discover new artists’ work is at the heart of the new online Runway Gallery. Created by artist SYRETT, it hosts 14 artists including Bruce Atherton, Louise Dear, Dara Vandor, Astrid Vos, Sandro

Hyams and SYRETT – all of whom exhibit internationally. Prices start at £200 for limited edition prints, rising to £20,000 for original, signed works. SYRETT has also set up the Soho Salon Supper Club – monthly London soirées where art enthusiasts meet up-and-coming artists and view their work. Tickets

cost £45 and include an artist’s talk, life drawing session, plus cocktail and three-course dinner at London restaurant Scarlett Green. To book Soho Salon Supper Club, go to designmynight.com. To view and buy artwork, visit runway-gallery. com @xiiiuntitled @runwaygallery

Shoping DIRECTORY YOU’LL FIND ALL THE COMPANIES IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE HERE

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DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? GENERAL ENQUIRIES 020 3148 7190

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TI Media Limited, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, 020 3148 5000. Website: ti-media.com. ©TI MEDIA LIMITED 2018. Distributed by Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, London E14 5HU, 020 3787 9001. Country Homes & Interiors, ISSN 0951-3019, is published monthly, 12 times a year. Manuscripts and illustrations are welcome but on the understanding that we cannot be liable for their safe custody or return. We are sorry that manuscripts and illustrations cannot be returned, nor letters answered or acknowledged unless sent with a stamped addressed envelope. Published monthly by TI Media Limited. Colour origination by Rhapsody. Printed in the UK by the Wyndeham Group. Country Homes & Interiors is sold subject to the following conditions, namely that it shall not, without the written consent of the publishers first given, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price shown on the cover (selling price in Eire includes VAT) and that it shall not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or affixed to or as part of any publication or advertising literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. COUNTRY HOMES & INTERIORS MAGAZINE One year full subscription rates for 12 issues including postage & packing: UK £58.40; Europe €148.40; Rest of world £175.60. For subscription enquiries please call 0330 333 1113, overseas call: +44 330 333 1113 (Lines are open Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm UK Time) or email help@magazinesdirect.com. The US annual subscription price is $148.40. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named Worldnet Shipping Inc., 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Subscription records are maintained at TI Media, 3rd floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Air Business Ltd. is acting as our mailing agent. All prices include postage and packaging. US Postmaster: Enquiries and address changes should be sent to: TI Media Ltd, Rockwood House, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3DH or call +44 330 333 1113 (Lines are open Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm UK Time) or email help@magazinesdirect.com.

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Fashion

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Furniture

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Garden Furniture

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Home Improvements

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Kitchens

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Lighting

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Sofas & Sofabeds

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Staircases

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M Y F AV O U R I T E V I E W

‘Sugar Loaf, Monmouthshire welcomes me home’ De Hardwicke, artist, designer and kniter

love seeing it when I’m homeward bound after a creative and fulilling day in the studio. As soon as I look to my right and see Sugar Loaf – one of the peaks in the Black Mountains – with the Brecon Beacons straight ahead, I feel as if I’m being welcomed home. My husband, Richard, and I travel to and from Monmouth together so it’s very special to be able to share the view with him. We sometimes go walking on the mountain at weekends and it’s amazing to have such a different perspective on the landscape when we’re suddenly part of our favourite view!

Sugar Loaf really stands out from the surrounding landscape because it’s such a distinctive shape. It always reminds me of Mount Fuji in Japan, and when it’s only just emerging from a swirling winter mist it looks very much like something from a Hokusai print. I love watching the ever-changing patterns of the shadows cast by the clouds.

The view of Sugar Loaf and the beautiful Usk Valley winding around it inspires and enriches me every day. The landscape is so familiar to me, and yet still surprises me because it’s constantly, albeit subtly, changing. Even thinking about the view makes me realise how it ills my heart. It’s 146

Country Homes & Interiors

such a reminder that while it’s exciting to explore and experience new places, it’s also very special to come home to such spectacular countryside.

Even when the weather’s at its most wild and wintry, Sugar Loaf somehow exudes a reassuring sense of calm. It still looks beautiful even on the greyest of days when it forms a dramatic, almost sculptural outline. As winter really takes hold, I’m always thrilled to see the snow-topped summit sparkling against a brilliant blue sky – it’s such a magical sight.

I’m a big fan of pulling on lots of layers and heading off into the countryside whatever the weather – which is possibly why my knitwear designs tend to include plenty of sweaters and scarves! I’m particularly inspired by the glorious array of colours that you can ind in the landscape on the cusp of the seasons. There’s a little wood on the southern side of Sugar Loaf called St Mary’s Vale and I love to sit and sketch there. In late autumn and early winter, drifts of fallen leaves pile up underneath the enchantingly gnarled oak trees, and the wood feels like something out of a fairy tale. It’s a perfect place to indulge in a spot of daydreaming while I’m bundled up in several sweaters and a scarf, contentedly sketching the beautiful countryside all around me. See Dee Hardwicke’s designs and shop your favourites at deehardwicke.co.uk.

FEATURE THEA BABINGTON-STITT PHOTOGRAPHS ALAMY, IAN HALL

I’m incredibly lucky to see my favourite view virtually every day as it’s on the drive between my home in Crickhowell and my studio in Monmouth. I particularly