HOMES & INTERIORS This month

Top: W Morris Strawberry Thief wallpaper in silver and stone colourway. Above/Right: Jane Churchill’s Stellar, Moonbeam, Monty and Enigma ranges. Right: Hoyland sofa from Duresta in velvet fabric.

Selection of fabrics by Jane Churchill - Zelda, Monty, Fresno and Linear.

Above: Jane Churchill’s Atmosphere fabric in grey.

Right: W Morris Bachelor fabric, shown here in curtains and cloth.

Above/Right: Colefax & Fowler Byram linen in silver and ivory. Havana and Nevada fabrics by Clarke & Clarke.

Delcor Interiors, Stamford 01780 762579 www.delcor.co.uk. Furleys, Rutland 01572 755539 www.furleys.co.uk. H-Works, Stamford 01780 754605 www.hworksdesign.co.uk. Hunters Interiors, Uffington, Stamford PE9 4TD, 01780 757946 huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk. Lumison Lighting, Oakham, 01572 724600 www.lumisonlighting.co.uk. Sarah Harding Interiors, Uppingham, 01572 823389 www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk. n

If festive entertaining is set to become the nightmare before Christmas, now’s the If festive entertaining is set to become the nightmare before Christmas, now’s the time to get the ball rolling on a brand new space to provide state of the art cooking time to get the ball rolling on a brand new space to provide state of the art cooking appliances, plenty of storage and room to stuff even the largest turkey... appliances, plenty of storage and room to stuff even the largest turkey...

Fashion is ephemeral but style is timeless. That’s why you’ll find some of the finest looking kitchens at PDA Kitchens, based in Peterborough, chosen thoughtfully enough to ensure they’ll look great for years to come. The company is owned and run by Simon Jennings who established PDA Kitchens back in 1991 to help people choose designs that not only work well, but look great too. Six years ago the company relocated to its current Werrington premises where you’ll find one of the city’s largest selections of kitchen displays allowing you to pull open cabinets, feel for yourself the quality of the ranges Simon has selected and really get the best impression possible of what your future kitchen can function. “Christmas is a time which reveals how well or betrays how badly a kitchen has been planned,” says Simon. “We’ve installed hundreds of kitchens for clients and have a reputation in the area for the thought and common sense we put into our rooms as well as the creativity with which we plan them.” “Modern kitchens are complicated spaces. They have to be suitable for cooking, dining, socialising... and this year many families have used them as a school or office, during lockdown.” “What’s more, installing a new kitchen in your home is one of the most expensive home improvements you can make but also one of the best ways to add not just financial but intrinsic value to your home when you come to put the property on the market... that’s why it’s important to get it right.” “We typically work with budgets of £15,000 to £25,000 but kitchens are such diverse spaces that we can usually prove competitive with any firm offering quality and have designed and installed kitchens for much less and much more.” “Our selection of kitchen styles range from handleless stone-effect designs that add a clean, sleek dimension to newer properties, to in-frame shaker kitchens which have a timeless look and work well in country properties.” >>

Left: Clarendon is one of the company’s best-loved ranges - which is no surprise. With elegant in-frame shaker lines and the availability of 30 different colours including this sage shade, it’ll suit any home and look great year after year.

>> “We’ve updated the look of these with painted finishes from calming neutral tones to sage greens and bolder blues for a striking look, which we especially love in properties with exposed brickwork or in rustic barn conversions with large expanses of white walls and soaring ceilings.” “Ensuring a kitchen works well for the family involves getting to know clients and their needs and lifestyle, prior to designing a layout. It’s a collaborative design approach which helps to ensure plenty of storage and ensures that keen cooks are well-equipped with everything to hand.” “Add to that a dimension of technology and you create a space that functions well; one that you’ll enjoy working in. In terms of appliances we specify brands that we know prove reliable from Neff to Siemens, Bosch and Miele with products like boiling water taps and integrated coffee machines to take clutter off your work surfaces or

steam ovens to ensure that whether you’re steaming vegetables, baking bread or cooking a Sunday roast your food is cooked evenly and retains beautiful texture.”

“And finally, we’re keen to ensure that your investment in a new kitchen is as hassle-free as possible.”

“That’s why we always provide full project management with experienced tradespeople we know and trust, so from building work to electrical, plumbing and gas installation, to the fitting of your kitchen right down to the decoration, tiling and flooring work, your kitchen is well planned, well-structured and installed without a fuss, providing you with just a single point of contact.”

“Creating a kitchen you’ll like takes skill and flair, but with our help, we’ll provide you with a room that looks great and works well year after year... after all, a kitchen is for life, not just for Christmas.” n

Find Out More: Simon Jenning’s PDA Kitchens is based on Papyrus Road, Peterborough PE4 5BH. Call 01733 894422 or see www.pdakitchens.co.uk.

At Hunters we aim to reflect your individual taste and to ensure that all details work in harmony with the rest of your home. Whether you prefer florals or stripes, traditional or contemporary, bold or subdued, you can choose from a wide range of paints, wallpaper, fabrics and John Sankey furniture.

Serving excellent coffee, delicious cakes and light lunches. Open Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 4 pm.

Showroom and Coffee Shop Open Monday - Saturday 9.30 am - 4.00 pm

It’s hard to believe, but just over a year ago, this cool contemporary home was just a tired old barn standing on farmland on the Rutland and Leicestershire border. Its transformation is down to Simon Lewington and the team at Natural Structures...

DRIVE AROUND Rutland & Leicestershire and it won’t be long before you come across unloved old farm buildings which have seen better days. Even in their formative years these were utilitarian structures, intended to be practical, not pretty.

But where the rest of us see function, Simon Lewington sees form... and potential. That’s because he heads up Natural Structures, the Leicestershire-based design-led building firm which specialises in the creation of unique buildings with the latest building methods combined with materials like French oak, glass, steel and stone to create beautiful buildings from concept to completion.

Traditionally when we’ve shown off Simon’s talent, it’s been to demonstrate his team’s ability to create oak-framed extensions, usually on period properties, to add modern usable spaces to older buildings, typically in conservation areas and adjacent to listed properties - in other words, achieving modern structures whilst ensuring these remain in keeping with their surroundings.

This project, though, along with two other similar projects now complete, is designed to show how Simon and his team can create an entire structure and a stunning contemporary home in even the most utilitarian setting. “The owner and I both loved the building and saw its potential right from the start,” says Simon. “From a planning perspective it would have been difficult to gain permission to remove the building and start again with a conventional development.”

“Quite aside from the fact that the existing structure itself was huge, its location was great. We felt it had great potential as the starting point for a spacious, modern family home.”

“Because it was an old farm building we were able to achieve planning permission on the basis of the Permitted Development rules (known as ‘Class Q’) which apply to rural buildings.”

“One of the many parameters that the existing building must fit with in is the rule that stipulates that the property created must be of the same footprint and utilise the existing structural elements of the building. Suits me!”

“The underlying structure was a concrete portal frame, which meant there were no material intrusions into the large vaulted ceiling space. However it also meant that the roof structure had to be lighter than those created with conventional building materials.” >>

Natural Structures created this stunning contemporary property from an old barn, retaining the concrete skeleton and augmenting the existing structure with Super Insulated Panels and French oak.

Main: The property’s clean lines were enhanced with black metal doors and windows for contrast, plus large expanses of glass.

Right: The property has three bedrooms, with dressing rooms and en suites including this master en suite with its indulgent round bath.

“That plays into our strengths as we have a keen understanding of the structural demands of these utilitarian farm buildings. The roof structure we designed was well within the advised weight calculated in pounds per square inch, despite having no fewer than 11 layers.”

“We stripped away much of the existing construction, so now the property is created with modern energy efficient equivalent SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) that provide excellent insulation.”

“Together with the lightweight roof design, concrete portal trusses, oak-clad roof, and the bespoke windows engineered especially for us, the whole structure is strong, light and doesn’t compromise the architectural drama or the practicality of the huge space. It also remains warm in winter and energy efficient - despite its size and open plan nature - with just underfloor heating required in the very coldest months.”

“The main structural element was also the main visual element, that being the concrete skeletal trusses which have purposefully been left exposed, this makes most of the building’s clean lines and pared back look with large expanses of windows providing natural light, polished concrete floors and no skirting boards or architraves. Even door handles were hidden to avoid them breaking up the property’s clean lines. Its location provides a 180° panoramic view of the surrounding farmland and natural light, which is another aspect of its success.”

“We styled the property with powder coated metal doors and window frames, a monochrome colour palette with black, white and natural oak, plus neutral linen fabrics to diffuse hard light. The whole house is around 460m2, and took less than a year to create. It has four bedrooms with en-suites and dressing rooms plus a separate utility, open plan living space and a separate snug and additional mezzanine reception room to the first floor.”

“I believe a space can be designed in such a way as to stifle or to inspire and I wouldn’t want to create a space that doesn’t feel special. What’s more, the way we’ve minimised material choices, used the latest construction methods along with contemporary materials means we’ve managed to ensure continuity through minimal design. It has far better environmental credentials and offers more space than a conventional barn conversion. The whole building works structurally and practically whilst feeling inspiring and beautiful. The client expectations were exceeded and we’re proud of it too!” n

Find Out More: Natural Structures specialises in creating unique buildings with traditional materials and building methods. For a free no obligation chat about your project call 01858 545518 or see www.natural-structures.co.uk.

STAMFORD STONE

Words: Kate Cadman

It’s the practical, stylish and on-trend way to turn your house into a home and ensure it looks great prior to Christmas and ready for winter. Employing natural stone on your floors, walls and everywhere else will achieve a unique and special look, and choosing from a huge range just became easier with Stamford Stone’s new e-commerce site!

Stamford Stone at Home is celebrating the launch of its sparkling new e-commerce website which could provide the answer to all your last minute woes about getting your home décor Christmas-ready.

Along with the ability to buy stunning natural stone flooring, paving and fireplaces online, you can now browse a new, bold and exclusive range of on-trend decorative natural stone, ceramic and porcelain wall and floor tiles from tiling specialists, Ca’ Pietra.

The handpicked edit by Stamford Stone at Home includes over 70 handcrafted designs in exquisite colours - all inspired by the beauty of nature. The tiling collection has been chosen to complement Stamford Stone at Home’s natural stone flooring range.

“We’re excited to be part of Ca’ Pietra’s trusted network of hand-picked retailers,” explains Luciana Ciarla, Stamford Stone at Home’s Showroom Sales Manager. “As a fellow family-owned British business, they hold many of the same values as Stamford Stone at heart, and we’re looking forward to a long, successful partnership,” “We love the bright designs and variety of tiling textures. They work brilliantly with our own stone fireplaces and flooring and together these products will bring elegance, permanence, quality and warmth to any home setting - traditional or contemporary.” “And choosing natural stone is a practical choice; not only does it always looks incredible wherever it’s used, it can add value to your home and quality to your life in so many ways. The qualities of stone are that it is incredibly hardwearing - and actually improves with age!” “It’s also easy to clean and keep dust-free, perfect for households with allergies and as a natural conductor of heat - it works well with modern, underfloor heating systems.” “It’s also really unique. Every single piece is different in colour and markings, making it extra special to have in your home,” adds Luciana. n

n Transform a space in your home into a design statement with Ca’ Pietra’s stunning tiles pared with natural stone flooring. Browse, buy or order samples online at www.ssathome.co.uk. If you’d rather view any of the collections up close and personal, call to book a showroom appointment with Luciana on 01780 740970.