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L I V E

T H E

L I F E . . . L O V E

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S T Y L E

& INTERIORS

Relax into Autumn STYLE GORGEO S ROO C L

O R

S S

OCTOBER 2018 Â£4.50 US$9.99/AUS$10.50/NZ$13 RECALL 04/10/2018

20%

OFF COSY CUSHIONS & THROWS AT HOME WITH MELLOW TONES

PERFECT PANTRIES

SEASONS

GET CRAFTY WITH PUMPKINS SAY CHEERS TO BEER RECIPES HOW TO BE A WILD FLORIST

The home of

MODERN COUNTRY Interiors & inspiration

Country homes

138 TO FIND ALL STOCKISTS IN THIS ISSUE, TURN TO PAGE 159

ON THE COVER

•

SURREY NEW BUILD This handsome oak-framed cottage belies its eclectic interior

CUMBRIAN FARMHOUSE A painstaking restoration brought new life into this 17th-century home while maintaining its original character

NORFOLK COTTAGE Coastal shades create a fresh scheme in this historic brick and flint holiday retreat

KENT PERIOD PROPERTY Steeped in history, this Grade-II listed property was ripe to be brought into the 21st century

OCTOBER The things we can’t live without

17 25

HOME NOTES MAKE A HOUSE A HOME An oversized clock

PEACEFUL PATTERN Take inspiration from the seasons to create an organic, mindful look

CUDDLE-UP CUSHIONS Make a sitting room stylish and a boudoir beautiful with cushions in rich weaves and colours

AUTUMN’S NEW LOOKS Embrace botanicals, cocooning hues and tactile textures to herald the new season in decor

PERFECT PANTRIES Achieve organisation heaven in your kitchen with a dedicated space for dried goods, preserves and more

108

MODERN COUNTRY CLASSICS Rustic wood and metal vegetable racks

110

ROOM ELEMENTS Sit pretty on a formal sofa

117

HOME TECH Switch on to smart kettles

145

COUNTRY KITCHEN FOCUS A Victorian barn reimagined for current-day living

152

PLUS GET-THE-LOOK IDEAS FOR EVERY HOME Country Homes & Interiors

85 70

Gardens 21 118

GARDEN NOTES

122

A SENSE OF CALM Statement planting creates a relaxed look in this Suffolk garden

GET CREATIVE Fall for pumpkin season by displaying seasonal squash arrangements

Just for you

118

Seasonal food 19 138

ON THE COVER

•

Country Homes & Interiors

VISIT THE COUNTRY HOMES & INTERIORS CHRISTMAS SHOWS Enjoy a merry day out at our boutique festive fairs

SUBSCRIBE TO COUNTRY HOMES & INTERIORS

SAVE 20% AT BRONTE BY MOON Cosy up your home with warm woven woollen pieces

FOOD NOTES CHEERS TO BEER Indulge in some comforting autumn fare with a tempting tipple added…

Lifestyle

TO FIND ALL STOCKISTS IN THIS ISSUE, TURN TO PAGE 159

OUR FAVOURITE SHOP Peruse lovely homewares at Willow Lifestyle in Hampshire

MY KIND OF COUNTRY Romy Fraser, founder of Neal’s Yard Remedies, welcomes you to her working farm near Axminster in Devon

133

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

137

OUT & ABOUT Stay at the haunted Ragged Cot for a Halloween weekend break in the Cotswolds

152

MY COUNTRY BUSINESS Wild florist Layla Robinson takes inspiration from naturally-occuring foliage

Regulars 159

SHOPPING DIRECTORY All the contact details and websites featured in this issue

SUBSCRIBE T O D AY

Subscribe to Country Homes & Interiors today from £32.99 for 12 months (saving 43%). See page 68 for details.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Things I’ve seen, done and loved this month I always think of autumn as the season of pottering, because of all the practical but enjoyable tasks that need to be done: putting the garden to bed; pulling out the winter bedding, coats and jumpers; sorting and labelling dry goods in the larder, ready for slow-cooked stews and casseroles. It’s also a great time to update your décor, with a feast of new collections in store. Our style team has produced its essential edit of the trends to trust on page 85. And, if you’re inspired to add pattern, but tend to err on the cautious side, let our story on ‘peaceful’ pattern inspire you (page 70). These subtle, tonal and textural designs are just so easy on the eye and painless to incorporate. One of the simplest ways to decorate your home for the season is with pumpkins. Plump and colourful, the different varieties available make wonderful arrangements for your porch or table – turn to page 118 to see how.

(BACKGROUND) ROSE WALLPAPER, £105 A ROLL, THE BOTANICAL COLLECTION, COLE & SON

Plus, if you’re a fan of country walks followed by a pint in a cosy pub, you’ll love beer expert Melissa Cole’s recipes on page 138 – they’re the perfect autumn comfort food!

Vanessa x PS... Is it too early to talk about Christmas?! Whether you’re a forward planner or a last-minute rusher, you’ll find gifts, ideas and inspiration at our shows in Kent and Oxfordshire this November. See page 26 for ticket info.

Country Homes & Interiors

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CIRCULATION 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 rate (12 issues), including postage and packaging: UK £58.40; Europe €148.40; USA $148.40; Rest of World £175.60. For subscription enquiries from the UK, please call 0330 333 1113; from overseas, please call +44 (0)330 333 1113; or email help@magazinesdirect.com.

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OCTOBER

Harvesting ripe and ready orchard fruits with the help of free-range friends! Hurricane lamp, bench and bucket, similar from Oggetto; Wooden crates, similar from Vintage Crates UK.

Country Homes & Interiors

C O U N T R Y D AY S

Fresh air wanderings in essential, snugbug layers. Waxed cotton parka, £210; Lambswool scarf, £39; merino crew neck, £74; Original Celt boots, £150, all Celtic & Co.

1 2

1 Playful trimmings on sofa additions. Textured pom-pom cushion, 43x43cm, £14, Next. 2 Sipping a steaming cuppa. Vegetable mug, H11cm, £9.95, Joules. 3 Baking up batches of fruity comfort food. National Trust Book of Crumbles (£9.99, Pavilion Books), National Trust Shop. 4 Presenting scrumptious nibbles on gorgeously ﬂecked stoneware. Ceramic cheeseboard, L23xW13cm, col Sea Green, £31, Made+Good.

Hosting an alfresco dinner party. Striped tablecloth, £89; striped placemats, £14 each; fringe napkins, £8.90 each; bowls and plates, from £19; tumblers, £12 each, all Lexington.

5 6

8 7 5 Alluring after-dark scents inspired by the English countryside... Honeysuckle and Davana home candle, 200g, £45, Jo Malone. 6 Starting the day full of beans! Coffee pot with ﬁlter, H25cm, col Alice Red, £39, Greengate. 7 Berry pops of botanical-inspired patterns to cosy up the living room. Harley stripe wool throw, L185xW140cm, col Blackcurrant, £75, Bronte By Moon. 8 A super-useful home for shower-power brollies. Rattan umbrella stand, H55xDia25cm, £40, Cox & Cox.

Country Homes & Interiors

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C O U N T R Y D AY S

Getting the hallway ready for action with multi-functional, handy pieces. Mallani hallway organiser bench, £499, Myakka.

10 9

9 Keeping chills at bay with cocoons of colour! Oversized colourblock scarf, £35, White Stuff. 10 Tucking into tasty meals with shapely tools. Gray & Willow Alta 16-piece cutlery set, £45, House of Fraser. 11 Eye-catching serveware inspired by the vegetable garden. Sprouts oblong platter, 30x18cm, £39.95, Emma Bridgewater. 12 Planting for the new season. Whichford Pottery planter, H30xW62xD36cm, £350, Violet Grey.

Losing yourself in layers of nestle-in comfort... Washed linen bedlinen set, col Ashes Of Roses, £174.49 for a double duvet cover and two pillowcases, Linen Tales.

15 16 13 Getting into spooktacular spirit with novelty sweet treats. Halloween collection cookies tin, £35, Biscuiteers. 14 Stylish bulb-shaped beauties. Naryla lanterns, H14cm, £19.95; H23cm, £49.95, both Nkuku. 15 Essential footwear with extra comfort and cute factor. Wellington boots, col Green, £110, Emily Bond. 16 Adding rustic charm with a handcrafted character. Vintage elm coffee table, H49xW103xD56cm, £650, Oggetto. Country Homes & Interiors

C O U N T R Y D AY S

Colour of the moent

RUSTIC BROWN

Fabrics (clockwise from top left): Leather, col Tobacco, £43.02m, Willow & Hall; Jessamy, col Caraway, £65m, Ian Sanderson; Feather & Egg, col Cream, £64m, Peony & Sage; Ashton Stripe, col Plum Pudding, £94.50m, Linwood; Flynn, col Biscotti, £28.99m, Prestigious Textiles; Embroidered union, col Fern Bronze, £42.50m, Ian Mankin; Wool, col Hamish, £72m, Neptune; Mr Hare, col Stone, £60m; Point II Point, col Stone, £64m, both Peony & Sage; Wool, col Slate/Oatmeal, £55.95m, Moon. Paint (from left): Lead Light; Fine Mahogany, both £54 for 2.5L eggshell, Neptune. 14

Country Homes & Interiors

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS STYLING (OPENER) SARA BIRD, (MOODBOARD) HOLLY PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHS (OPENER) DAN DUCHARS, (MOODBOARD) NICK POPE

RELAX INTO THE NEW SEASON WITH THE LATEST NEUTRAL OF CHOICE... OPT FOR GRAINY WARMTH IN EARTHY SHADES RANGING FROM CREAMY HOT CHOCOLATE TO RICH ESPRESSO

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Hoe notes Cosy up together

Perfect for snuggling up by the ﬁre, the Chesterﬁeld Love Seat, £3,195 from Lombok, injects a timeless touch to any living space. Classic styling, such as the button details and hand pleating, is given a modern twist with a soft tan colourway.

O U R F AV O U R I T E D E S I G N E R

Zed & Co

FEATURE VIVIENNE AYERS PHOTOGRAPH (DESIGN BY NATURE) NGOC MINH NGO

Unable to ﬁnd kitchen textiles in simple designs that she loved, Christine Zed launched her own homeware brand, Zed & Co, in 2015. Inspired by the countryside surrounding her home, she designed a range of textiles and tableware in subtle shades.

screens or for direct printing. What makes your designs so special? They are stylish while remaining What inspires simple. The images are you? I love minimalist appealing and the range design and have always of background colours been drawn to the unfussy and uncluttered. My designs are kept subtle. What do you love about are inspired by all sorts of what you do? I love just things in our lovely Sussex about everything! I love garden, from wildﬂowers and wildlife, to the pineapple coming up with new designs and I get great satisfaction statues by the steps leading from interacting with my to the main lawn. I’m also customers. I am also proud inspired by my customers – that all of my products are I learn from them. made in the UK. How long does it take you What’s next? I have several to produce a design? new designs in the pipeline Having decided on the and I’m planning to add subject, a new design could some new products to my take me up to two weeks to range next complete. I begin by drawing year, too. the design on paper, then Zed & Co, convert the image to a digital 01892 782991, version. The ﬁnal images are zedandco. sent to the manufacturers co.uk. who use them to make silk

Statement bunk beds Luxury children’s furniture company Jack & Tara creates beautifully crafted designs that stand the test of time, so now you can decorate your child’s room without compromising on quality or style. As well as having a grown-up aesthetic, the furniture combines sumptuous fabrics with beautiful detailing. We love the deep-buttoned, heritage-style Crown bunk bed, £3,300 in velvet (pictured), that is space-saving as well as elegant – and, best of all where children are concerned, has no hard edges.

L AY E R U P W I T H F L A I R If you’re looking for inspiration for relaxed country interiors, take a peek at Design by Nature: Creating Layered, Lived-in Spaces Inspired by the Natural World by designer Erica Tanov (£30, Ten Speed Press). Erica translates her love of ﬂora, water and wood into elements of home decor, creating beautiful, lived-in bohemian interiors. Country Homes & Interiors

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Fod notes We want this nw...

It's preserving time! Turn foraged blackberries and apples into tasty jam using this stainless steel Maslin jam pan, £29.99, Lakeland. At 4.5L, it's a nice and compact size, and works on all hob types. The thick base means a longer boiling time, so you won't have to worry about burning or sticking, and it’s oven safe up to an impressive 260°C.

O U R FAV O U R I T E PIE MAKERS

Brockleby’s

FEATURE THEA BABINGTON-STITT PHOTOGRAPH (SOUP) PETER CASSIDY, MUSHROOM SOUP RECIPE BY JENNY LINFORD FROM SOUPED UP (£9.99, RYLAND PETERS & SMALL)

Founded in 2003, Brockleby’s is headed up by farmers and pie makers of Melton Mowbray. The company bakes up to 10,000 pies every week from their own beef, other meats and locally sourced ingredients. Managing director Ian Jalland tells us more... What’s so special about your pies? Our pies are special because not only are they delicious but provenance of ingredients is important to us. Our small dedicated team make our pies in Melton Mowbray, preparing, cooking, ﬁlling, baking, packing and labelling, all within the bakery kitchen. What’s your favourite product? That’s like asking which child is your favourite! They are all different but equally wonderful. I love our award-winning, unusually named pies such as Wild Beaver (steak and ale) and Penguin (smoked haddock) made from traditional ingredients. But if I had to decide, I’d go for the Kiwi (beef and Cheddar) and Shepherd’s Delight (lamb and vegetable). Tell us about your pie making classes… It’s an activity that can be enjoyed by all – make your own hand-raised pie on a traditional dolly and ﬁnish

Love mushroom soup

the process by baking and jellying your pie at home. Yum! What do you love about where you’re based? My family have farmed around Melton Mowbray for nearly 500 years, so for us the area is steeped in history and tradition. What’s next for your company? To continue to grow and to develop our online function, while not forgetting our loyal customers who want ethically sourced food that tastes great! Three words to sum up your company? Pastures to Pies! Brockleby’s brocklebys. co.uk; 01664 813200

There’s something so comforting about mushroom soup. To serve 4, heat 2tbsp sunlower oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add a chopped leek, half a chopped onion, and the leaves of a sprig of thyme, stirring for 5min until soft. Add 500g chopped ield mushrooms (stalks trimmed) and stir for 3min until lightly browned. Add a peeled and diced potato, a splash of Madeira and cook for 1min. Pour in 700ml chicken stock and bring to boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25min. Purée the soup, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, then bring to a simmer again. Heat 1tbsp olive oil in a pan over a medium-high heat and fry 200g sliced chestnut mushrooms until browned. Serve the soup with a swirl of cream, fried mushrooms and croutons.

C ROW D F U N D A COW

Try ‘crowdbutching’ with Buyacow.uk. Select a cow and commit to buying a share of it. Only when the cow is 100% sold will it be transported to an artisan butcher where the meat is matured for three weeks before beautiful cuts of British beef are delivered direct to your doorstep. From £54.95 for 3.5kg. Country Homes & Interiors

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Garden notes BORDER CARE As autumn approaches, some choose to cut back borders now while others wait for spring. Neither time is wrong but here are some advantages… Autumn: •Cut back perennials and it will be easier to plant spring bulbs. •Low-growing winterflowering plants such as snowdrops will be seen. Spring: •Untouched borders provide cover for wildlife. •Seed heads and foliage can look stunning with a dusting of frost.

Fiery colours pop even more against lime green foliage

Q&A WITH A SHARING GARDENER

Create a kid’s paradise

FEATURE TAMSIN WESTHORPE PHOTOGRAPHS (BORDER CARE) GAP PHOTOS; (TULIPS) GAP PHOTOS/JONATHAN BUCKLEY, DESIGN SARAH RAVEN

Award-winning designer Ann-Marie Powell has designed gardens for Greenﬁngers, the charity that creates inspiring outdoor spaces for children in hospices. What is the most important feature for a child’s garden? Children love a space of their own. Creating a den using a rhododendron or using willow to build a wigwam to make the space feel private is a great way to encourage them to be outside. Can you recommend a tree that every family garden should have? One of my favourites is the Amelanchier lamarckii. With its spring ﬂowers and autumn berries, which the birds love, and the fact that it’s a great pollinator, it’s the perfect tree for learning about the changing seasons. How do you encourage wildlife into your gardens that will excite children? Children love to see bugs in the gardens. Small log piles encourage creepy-crawlies

Perfect pairing for tulips

and bird feeders will tempt birds into the garden. What’s been the most fulfilling garden you have designed and why? It must be The Woodland Walk at Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice. The garden supports children, parents and carers in their everyday life. Knowing this garden makes life a tiny bit better was life-changing for me. To find out more visit greenfingers charity. org.uk

It’s time to plant spring-lowering bulbs and plan displays for next year. Tulips make a strong statement both in pots and borders, especially when planted with a well-matched partner. Why not try forget-me-nots in pink, white or blue as a foil for pretty, pastel-coloured tulips? Fiery colours will pop more when planted against a lime green foliage backdrop such as Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii, and you could even sow lettuce under the tulips, too! Or, plant your tulips with ornamental grasses of a similar height. Try Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’ with the orange tulip ‘Monte Orange’.

Just what you ned nw... Have your garden gloves seen better days? If so, why not replace them with these stylish new RHS Collection Gold Leaf Malvern gloves? With a soft deerskin leather palm and featuring an image of Iris ‘Mrs Barnard’ they have plenty of give thanks to the stretched nylon backs and come with a stitched wrist for a secure ﬁt. £14.99, from Garden Divas. Country Homes & Interiors

OUT AND ABOUT

A homeware shop and interior design studio in one, Willow Lifestyle is a destination store.

Laid out to resemble a real living space, it is easy to imagine how items will look in your own home.

O U R FAVO U R I T E S H O P F O R D E S I G N E X P E RT I S E

Wilw Lifestyle

Situated on Lymington’s Georgian high street, Willow Lifestyle has become a magnet for visitors to the town. Store owner Rob Burns and his team of stylists sell a curated collection of furniture and home accessories, and customers are encouraged to bring along photos of their homes to receive advice on what colours would work, or how to handle problem areas. Rob tells us more...

south coast, with the New Forest on our doorstep, has led to our particular spin on modern country, refined-rustic style. There is always a blend of texture and tone, natural colours and materials, and an awareness of trends without being trend led. The team like to cherry pick from many suppliers and brands and are skilled at putting together unique looks for customers to recreate in their own homes.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO SET UP YOUR SHOP? A love of all things

WHAT MAKES YOUR SHOP SPECIAL? The building is a quirky,

design, from amazing architecture to inspired interiors. My family has always been in retail, so it was a natural progression for me to open Willow Lifestyle in 2009.

characterful, listed property with a labyrinth of rooms and large floor-length windows. We have an in-house interior design studio run by award-winning senior designer

Country Homes & Interiors

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SHOP STYLE? Our location on the

Jean Urwin, and our location means we style many holiday homes, which has led to us working on our clients’ main homes further afield, too. HOW IS THE SHOP LAID OUT? It consists of three interconnecting buildings, perfect for styling inspirational spaces for different areas of the home. The ground floor focuses on the main living and dining areas, while the first floor houses bedroom merchandise. WHAT’S NEW FOR AUTUMN?

British-made sofas in teal velvet and mustard flannel, with pieces arriving from the Netherlands, too. The store really comes into its own in the colder months, we can’t wait! Willow Lifestyle, 60-62 High Street, Lymington SO41 9AH, 01590 670000, willowlifestyle.com.

FEATURE VIVIENNE AYERS PHOTOGRAPHY TED ALLOTT

PERUSE THE BEAUTIFUL HOMEWARE AND MAKE USE OF EXPERT STYLISTS IN THIS HAMPSHIRE STORE

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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

A clock that keeps you on time! IN OUR ONGOING SERIES, WE SELECT SIMPLE COUNTRY-STYLE HERO PIECES THAT LOOK BEAUTIFUL… AND MAKE LIFE FEEL EVEN BETTER

FEATURE SARA BIRD PHOTOGRAPHS TIMEDIACONTENT.COM

Position a wall clock low down and off centre for a designer finishing touch.

For a similar large vintage clock, try Melody Maison.

NEXT MONTH BAR STOOLS

Statement, sizable and striking in both time and style, a handsome, oversized clock has become a classic addition to a country home, adding individuality to walls and rooms. Due to its scale, it draws the eye, adding character and a modern note to the space. WHAT’S THE STORY Clocks, whether mantel, wall hung, alarm or freestanding, have been a mainstay in our homes since the early 1900s, earning a place in family hearts and routines with their individual chimes and sounds. The trend for accessorising with oversized clocks first became popular with the rise of the industrial look and loft living, and more recently with midcentury style. What was once a timekeeper for the warehouse, office and railway, has now become a favourite in the home, not only for its functional purpose but also for its stunning proportions. WHICH STYLE TO CHOOSE For a simple look, opt for an enclosed glass clock with minimal detail on the hands and numbers, offering functionality and on-trend midcentury appeal. If you’re after real wow factor, then the bigger the better! Choose a clock without any glazing detail so the focus is on the face. Most country styles have a vintage look, which suits the old-meets-new decor, and intricate hands or numeral details will all add to the appeal, too. STYLE IT UP Position the clock against a plain background, where it has enough space to be the main focal point of the decor. Marry vintage styles with brocante finds to create a cohesive look. Country Homes & Interiors

Co ❆ m sh e t ow o o ! ❆ ur

& INTERIORS

Christmas

We are thrilled to be hosting two unique and boutique festive fairs at Penshurst Place in Kent from 9-11 November 2018 and at Stonor Park, near Henley-on-Thames, 22-25 November 2018. With over 100 stands featuring home, gifting and lifestyle products from our favourite country makers and brands, plus an artisan food area, you will be able to do all your Christmas shopping in one place.

Eat, drink & have a chat! There are lots of seating areas and great food options so you can stay and relax over a cup of coffee, lunch and afternoon tea, or even a glass of ﬁzz.

See Country Homes & Interiors brought to life! ❆ HOW TO ENJOY YOUR DAY •Parking is free at both of the venues •Pick up a show guide (while stocks last) •Do bring some cash as some exhibitors won’t accept card payments

•Don’t forget to bring some extra shopping bags •Checkout our timetables for details of various workshops and talks taking place •AND most of all, have fun.

Packed with seasonal styling ideas, our festive room set takes its inspiration from the simpler and sophisticated sightings found in wintry woodlands and country copses. Slender trees, silhouette leaves and frosted foliage lend themselves to shapely patterns and reﬁned textures. With a nod to a more reﬁned and elegant Scandinavian mood, this look blends neat furniture styles with a mix of painted and mid to lighter toned woods, neat wicker and woven textures. With our thanks to Collins & Hayes, Sanderson, Oak Furnitureland and Charnwood for helping us to create this most festive of rooms.

Meet some of our stand holders

BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY PENSHURST PLACE 9-11 November Tonbridge Early Bird Ticket Offer £12 (£14 on the door) Book online at ichfevents.co.uk/ CHIChristmas Penshurst or call 01425 277988

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TOAD HALL COMPANY Rebecca from Toad Hall Company will be creating her beautiful illustrations while on the stand and sharing some of her techniques.

GIGGY & BAB Giggy & Bab’s Hornsey retro step stools now come in 10 contemporary colours. Pop along and see if they are as useful as you remember.

STONOR PARK 22-25 November Henley-on-Thames Early Bird Ticket Offer £10 (£12 on the door) *A combined show and house entrance is £16 in advance (£18 on the door)

MILLIE AND ROSE DESIGNS Check out this gorgeous selection of handmade products, all featuring a variety of Scandi-inspired British-made linen fabrics.

❆ Combined house & show ticket only

£16*

HOW TO FIND US Penshurst Place Tonbridge, TN11 8DH

Decorations

From M25, Junction 5: follow A21 to Tonbridge leaving at the Hildenborough exit, then follow the brown tourist signs. From M20/M26: Junction 2a: follow A25 (Sevenoaks, then A21 for Hildenborough, and then follow the brown tourist signs.

Gifts

INDIGO ROSE Choose from gorgeous blankets, throws and cushions in the softest cotton ﬂeece – perfect for creating a cosy winter retreat.

Book online at ichfevents.co.uk/ CHIChristmasStonor or call 01425 277988

YATELEY PAPERS As well as stylish handmade stationery and accessories covered in bespoke designs, see a demonstration of the new 3D origami star kits.

HILLY JO This range of beachware includes versatile peştamals – traditional Turkish bath towels that are ideal for home or holiday.

Stonor Park Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 6HF Stonor is located between the M4 and M40 on the B480 Henley-on-Thames to Watlington Road.

SURREY NEW BUILD

Mellow tones UNABLE TO FIND THEIR FOREVER HOME, SHEILA AND GEOFFREY MCGAUGHEY BUILT THEIR OWN OAK-FRAMED COTTAGE, COMPLETE WITH AN ECLECTIC INTERIOR

Country Homes & Interiors

Kitchen Oak beams bring a sense of history to the new build. Bespoke cabinetry, Richard Ward Joinery.

Exterior As they live in a conservation area, Sheila and Geoffrey chose a single-storey, green-oak-framed design.

Kitchen (Also right and below) Large windows offer views out to the garden. Butler sink, Thomas Ford and Sons. Tea towel, Sam Wilson.

Tray and bowls, all Story in Bray. Artwork, Petersham Nurseries.

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Wooden chair, Story in Bray.

What we love most about living here… ‘Our house is full of light and really warm and cosy’

Kitchen The vaulted ceiling makes a statement and creates a stunning backdrop. Bar stools, John Lewis. Pendant, The Conran Shop. Flooring, Higher Ground.

Country Homes & Interiors

SURREY NEW BUILD

Dining area Soft pinks and warm woods create a mellow look that’s perfect for entertaining. Table, chairs and console table, Neptune. Walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s Strong White.

Country Homes & Interiors

Living room Pops of rich colour combined with ethnic touches create an eclectic feel. Sofas, Voyage Maison. Chair, One World Trading. Coffee table, Oka. Chinese cabinet, Yarrow Art and Design. Rug, John Lewis. Pendant, Petersham Nurseries.

Country Homes & Interiors

SURREY NEW BUILD

Sheila and Geoffrey McGaughey had lived in the same pretty

Surrey village for most of their married lives, having originally moved there so their children could have a countryside upbringing. Once their kids had grown up and left, the couple decided it was time to move from their family home, but were keen to stay in the same village. They had bought a nearby cottage to renovate, originally thinking that they would rent it out, but they ended up selling their house and moving there instead. ‘It overlooked ields and, as it was smaller than the house we were living in, we thought we’d try downsizing,’ says Sheila. Although living in a smaller property felt right, the cottage didn’t feel like their forever home. But then a neighbour mentioned that they were looking to sell some of their land. ‘We have always liked a project, so decided to buy the land and build our own house. We were thrilled at the prospect of being able to design it ourselves,’ says Sheila. The couple applied to build a two-storey barn-style property. However, the plans were rejected for being out of character with the conservation area that they lived in. They were only given permission to build a single-storey house. Undeterred, they visited a homebuilding fair for inspiration and came across green-oak-framing company, Border Oak. ‘We loved their designs,’ says Sheila. ‘We travelled to their Herefordshire base and show home, visiting several times to discuss what we could build. We wanted something not entirely untraditional, but with a slight contemporary edge. Together we came up with the inished design – something between a low California-style house and an English country cottage. They’re a wonderful company.’ In December 2014, Sheila and Geoffrey’s builders J R Kircher laid the foundations. Border Oak then came down with their team for eight weeks to create the frame, before the builders returned to inish it. ‘We were still living three doors down as our buyers were prepared to wait for us, so we were able to watch it taking shape – it was fabulous to witness the progress at every stage,’ says Sheila. Once completed, Sheila went to town on the interior. ‘We bought some new furniture as we wanted to start afresh,’ she says. ‘I found lots of pieces at One World Trading and Neptune. I like scouting things out – I’m a good shopper! The interior is a modern but eclectic mix of things, with lots of items we bought on our travels over the years, too.’ A soft grey backdrop throughout the house provides continuity and a sense of calm to the interior. ‘We painted the walls in Cornforth White and Strong White by Farrow & Ball to make the house look big and light,’ says Sheila. ‘We then introduced pops of jolly colour with the textiles and accessories.’ Sheila and Geoffrey are now conident that they have found their forever home. ‘We love living here,’ says Sheila. ‘We thought it would be too small for us but it’s perfect. It’s like a holiday home as we’re in and out all the time. It’s the best thing we ever did!’ Border Oak, 01568 708752, borderoak.com.

AT HOME WITH... Owners Sheila McGaughey and her husband Geoffrey are both retired. They have three grown-up children – Karen, Nicholas and Amanda – and five grandchildren: Claudia, Jack, Martha, Gabriel and Lyra.

House A three-bedroom new build. They moved here in 2015.

Country Homes & Interiors

* O N O U R D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘Windlesham is a great village and close to many lovely walks and places. Our favourite is Virginia Water in Windsor Great Park, closely followed by Windsor Castle (royalcollection.org.uk) and Hampton Court Palace (hrp.org.uk).’ Shop at… ‘I love shopping and my favourite places to go are Story in Bray (01628 638941, storyinbray.com) in Bray and Bird (01344 622312, birdsunningdale.co.uk) in Sunningdale, which has great gifts for all ages.’

Go for a meal at… ‘We like to eat at The Brickmakers (01276 472267, thebrickmakerswindlesham.co.uk) in Windlesham. For breakfast and lunch, Fego (01344 876464, hellofego.com) in Sunningdale is also a must.’

Main bedroom Sumptuous colours and fabrics create a luxe feel. Bed, Sealy. Throw, bedlinen, The White Company. Cushions, blind, Story in Bray. Chair, Voyage Maison. Bedside tables, Oka. Carpet, Higher Ground.

SURREY NEW BUILD Guest bedroom A palette of zingy citrus and soothing blues creates a cheery look. Bed, John Lewis. Bedside chests, Feather & Black. Cushions, Story in Bray. Blanket, John Lewis.

What makes this house a home… ‘It’s the perfect canvas to display all the memories and treasures that we have gathered on our travels and throughout our lives together’

En suite Skylights brighten the space. Bath, Bette. Flooring, Ceramic Tile Warehouse.

FEATURE VIVIENNE AYERS PHOTOGRAPHS POLLY ELTES

Exterior The back garden overlooks lush green fields.

Country Homes & Interiors

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ROOM IDEAS

Be inspired by

Sheila’s dining room Cast an enchanting glow when hosting an evening soirée with this heritage design updated in a cool nickel finish. RV Astley Desandra table lamp, H56x W20cm, £63.71, Houseology.

Bring countryside calm to your living space with this idyllic scene of rolling hedgerows and blue skies… Cottage and Daisies framed print, H57xW57cm, £70, by Diane Demirci at John Lewis.

Introduce an exotic element – with no watering required! Faux medium potted orchid, H62xW51cm, £165, Sweetpea & Willow.

Embrace the modern approach to relaxed dining and entertaining with upholstered seating.

Sheila’s style secret...

Sit pretty on an upholstered design in pearly pink. Shoreditch chair, col Imogen Oyster Pink, H86xW60xD60.20cm, £710 for two, Neptune.

Create a social eating space with a harmonious blend of blush pinks, warm woods and delicate loral accents.

Choose this naturally textured surface for a wonderfully rustic look. Traditions Rustic Oak Natural engineered flooring, from £76.50sq m, Kersaint Cobb.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Modern Country Classic Sideboard Flat-topped with a choice of shelves, cupboards and drawers, these sturdy, multi-use pieces are handy and handsome additions for dining rooms, used to store all manner of go-to mealtime essentials. For a

modern country look, why not opt for a design with clean lines and a schemetying, colour-painted finish contrasted with a waxed wooden top – polished metal handles will provide a stylish finishing detail.

Where to buy…

•The Cotswold Company for smart designs in a palette of calming country neutrals. •Tikamoon for styles to suit all tastes and interiors. •Titchmarsh & Goodwin for a choice of bespoke pieces.

Country Homes & Interiors

Rustic simplicity LEA AND JONTY HAMPSON HAVE BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO THEIR BELOVED HOME, WHILE RETAINING ALL OF ITS CHARACTER

Country Homes & Interiors

C U M B R I A N FA R M H O U S E Exterior A secluded track leads to Lea and Jontyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farmhouse, nestled at the foot of a wooded hill.

Office The exposed stone wall and fireplace create a warm and cosy place to work. Desk, made by Jonty. Similar chairs, Pamono. Similar pouffe, Graham and Green. Similar Persian rug, Liberty.

Country Homes & Interiors

Hallway The 17thcentury bench and hard-wearing rug makes for a stylish yet practical place to take boots on and off. Sisal rug, Ikea. Similar bench, Selling Antiques. Similar rocking chair, Arlo & Jacob.

It was a love of nature that swayed Lea and Jonty

Hampson’s decision to move from the east end of London to the heart of the Lake District National Park. ‘Growing up in Texas, I spent most of my childhood outdoors, and Jonty had spent most of his playing in the surrounding woods of the very same farmhouse we’re lucky enough to be living in now,’ says Lea. ‘Moving here was a chance for us both to revisit our rural upbringings and have a bit more room and air to breathe.’ Jonty had lived in the property as a young boy in the Seventies, and when his family later moved away, rather than selling the house, they rented it out. ‘When the tenants moved out in 2015, it seemed crazy not to live there ourselves as we wanted more space and Jonty’s business was expanding,’ says Lea. ‘There was more than enough room for him to set up a workshop in the empty barn opposite. So, we decided to let our home in London and move here in spring 2016.’ Jonty’s father had renovated the house in the early Seventies and Jonty had carried out further renovations in both 2006 and 2011. But, although it had been well maintained and looked after, essential drainage work was needed to keep the moisture out as the house sits at the bottom of a hillside. Once this was tackled, it was just a matter of lovingly restoring and decorating the house. As it’s Grade II-listed and set within the Lake District

Country Homes & Interiors

AT HOME WITH... Owners Lea Garrett Hampson, a charity consultant, and her husband, Jonty, founder of Hampson Woods. They moved here in 2016 with their springer-cocker-poodle, Batman. House A three-bedroom, Grade-II listed, 17th-century farmhouse.

C U M B R I A N FA R M H O U S E

What makes this house a home… ‘For 350 years people have lived in this house – it’s nice to be part of that history and the many memories made here’ Living room The large ﬁreplace with exposed brick and a soot black surround is a stunning focal point. The 300-year-old seat (left) gives this cosy space heaps of character. Modular sofa, John Lewis. Similar sideboard, Pamono. Hearth painted in Farrow & Ball’s Pitch Black. Sisal rug (left), Ikea. Basket (left), Olli Ella.

Country Homes & Interiors

What we love most about living here… ‘We’re surrounded by nature and get to appreciate the changing of seasons, something easily missed in cities’

Kitchen Retro-look units combined with repurposed chairs and an old scrub-top table create a welcoming look. Similar kitchen door fronts, The Door Maker. Similar table and chairs, Etsy. Copper pans, TK Maxx.

C U M B R I A N FA R M H O U S E

Guest bedroom A delicate mix of muted ﬂoral cushions and cosy blankets gives the room a tranquil feel. White day bed, Ikea. Chest, similar from Scaramanga. Similar quilts and throws, Soak & Sleep.

National Park, the couple had to be careful not to tamper with the architecture. ‘We love this house, so have renovated and maintained it rather than drastically changing or modernising it,’ says Lea. They’ve kept their renovations minimal, making smallscale improvements, such as rendering the outside walls and restoring the 300-year-old floorboards and woodwork, which was a challenge and much harder than anticipated. ‘I spent a week painstakingly strengthening the original staircase, which would’ve been much easier to remove and replace entirely,’ says Jonty. ‘But that would have meant losing all of its character, which we didn’t want to do.’ Decorating also had its problems as the walls all had delicate lime plasterwork, so lots of patching up was needed before any paint could be applied. Once the renovations and repairs were complete, Jonty added a little pantry to the kitchen and fitted handmade wardrobes in the bedrooms. The pair then turned the top living room into a joint office, and the barn a little way down the driveway became Jonty’s workshop. When it came to furnishing the house, the couple faced the challenge of making their modern tastes work in the rustic space. Painting the walls in light, warm colours instantly gave it a fresh, contemporary feel, and although they’ve not managed to incorporate many modern pieces of furniture into the property, they feel they’ve had

Guest bedroom The couple have freshened up the rich wood tones of the floor with a cream wardrobe and modern rustic accessories. Wardrobe, made by Jonty’s father. Hanging baskets, Olli Ella. Similar laundry hamper, Marks & Spencer.

Country Homes & Interiors

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C U M B R I A N FA R M H O U S E Main bedroom The neutral colour scheme allows for a fun mix of furnishings, patterns and textures. Tasselled bedspread, Zara Home. Similar vintage Parker Knoll chair, Pamono. Similar rug, Liberty.

Bathroom Jonty and

FEATURE SIAN WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHS BRIDGET PEIRSON

Lea have introduced a utilitarian look by adding tongue-and-groove panelling. Accessories, Isabel Haines.

more success with the artwork. ‘Pictures always make us feel at home, especially when they are painted by friends or Jonty’s father,’ says Lea. ‘We had to keep the amount of furniture we brought in to a minimum – there’s so much curve and shape to the walls, windows and floorboards, the rooms fill up quickly and can easily feel too cluttered. But the original architecture and features alone add all the detail and personality this home needs.’ With some hard work and careful consideration of the property’s history, the couple have achieved the homely, cosy atmosphere they were striving for. The living area is now one of their favourite rooms and is full of interesting quirks, including a window that looks through to the hallway. It would have originally been part of an exterior wall, before an extension that was carried out in the 1700s made it an internal one. ‘We love to spend time in this room, especially in the autumn and winter when we cosy up on the sofa in front of the fire,’ says Lea. With everything in the house up and running, Lea and Jonty can spend more time outside on the land. ‘We plan to work on the garden and orchard next year. It’s an absolutely beautiful space with views across the valley and we look forward to being able to spend more time out there and dine alfresco with our friends in the summer – it will be bliss.’ Hampson Woods, 07980 648773, hampsonwoods.com.

ON OUR D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘Windermere (visitcumbria.com) and the surrounding lakes and fells that are only a few miles from our house. It’s a brilliant area for walking, as well as hiking, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing.’

Shop at… ‘Low Sizergh Barn (01539 560426, lowsizerghbarn. co.uk) in Kendal. It’s a 17th-century working dairy farm, which sells its own raw milk and delicious local produce. It’s the perfect place to take friends and sample treats from the tea room.’

Go for a meal at… ‘The Punch Bowl (01539 568237, the-punch bowl.co.uk) at Crosthwaite. Their contemporary restaurant is a good place to eat on special occasions, while the informal bar is great for everyday. You can sample the local Barngates beer while you’re there.’

☎

Country Homes & Interiors

ROOM IDEAS

Be inspired by

Lea’s office snug Direct the light onto your work with this double-function spotlight, which can be clamped into place or secured to the wall. Kvart clamp spotlight, col Black, £6, Ikea.

Have a work break and mini tech-detox with a meditative few minutes poised on this ethnic perch. Vintage Moroccan leather pouffe, H30.4xDia50.8cm, col Dark Tan, £59, Grainger & Jameson.

Add historical contrast in a period property with Scandi-esque, mid-century furniture featuring uplifting upholstery...

Treat your floors to a blushing fashion fix with this warming, Persian-inspired, pretty carpet. Vero rug, 120x 170cm, col Pink, £104.95, Benuta.

Introduce an organic touch to home-office styling with sophisticated lines, slim tapered legs and effortless, design-led style. Vernay oak console desk, H80xW120xD33cm, £249, Made.com.

Celebrate a retro revival with this vintage design featuring looped arms and a high back. Mid-century Czech armchair, H82xW58xD80cm, col Green, £627, Jindrich Halabala at Pamono.

Lea’s style secret... Create a cosy home-ofice environment with comfortable seating, and surround yourself with favourite knick-knacks to inspire creativity and productivity.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Modern Country Classic Fireguard Safety first! Traditionally these grids were placed in front of an open fire to prevent burning wood and glowing embers from falling onto the floor. Now taking on a double function in many modern homes, screens in a variety of

sizes and decorative finishes are used as an attractive focal point, even sans fire. Choose an arched-brow design for a romantic and traditional look, or opt for minimalist chic with a simple glass silhouette.

Where to buy…

•Chesneys for practicality with distinctive design. •Black Country Metal Works for functional and artistic artisan makes. •Fireplace Products for ceramic glass screens.

Country Homes & Interiors

Home from home

AMANDA TOWNSEND TACKLED THE RENOVATION OF A LACKLUSTRE PROPERTY, TRANSFORMING IT INTO A BRIGHT, STYLISH AND WELCOMING COTTAGE

Country Homes & Interiors

N O R F O L K C O T TAG E

Living room An ivory woodburner creates a charming focal point in this cosy scheme. Sofa, Ikea. Similar armchair from eBay. Coffee table, lamp, rug, all Neptune. Woodburner, Charnwood. Reindeer hide (on sofa), Birdie Fortescue. Cushion (on armchair), Joyful Living. Dog cushion, Plum & Ashby. Â»

Kitchen Grey cabinets with a white Aga create a smart yet practical look. Units, painted in Plummett by Farrow & Ball. Wall tiles, Fired Earth. Roman blind, fabric from Ian Sanderson.

A manda Townsend says she has never regretted shelving

AT HOME WITH... Owners Amanda Townsend, who runs a holiday cottage in Norfolk named Ford House, and her husband, Taras, a company director in the food industry. The couple’s four children are Lily, 19, Ruby, 17, Henry, 15, and 10-year-old Beatrice.

House A three-bedroom detached cottage, dating from the 1700s.

her original plan of buying a French holiday house in favour of snapping up a quaint cottage in picturesque north Norfolk, just an hour’s drive from her Suffolk home. ‘In hindsight, there was absolutely no way that we would ever have visited a holiday home in France as regularly as we have done in the UK,’ says Amanda. ‘Making the decision to buy in England has given my husband Taras and me so many more opportunities to make such precious memories of fun-filled times with our children.’ Back in 2011, having identified north Norfolk as their preferred location, Amanda’s next challenge was tracking down a suitable property to create a dream holiday cottage for her family, preferably close to the stunning coastline. As luck would have it, while Amanda was discussing her ideas with a friend over coffee, fate intervened. ‘A chap sitting at the next table overheard our conversation and casually remarked that he was a home-finder and more than happy to help with the search,’ says Amanda. Having successfully used a homefinding service when they moved in to their current house, the Townsends decided to take up the offer. ‘Within weeks, he had discovered a property that suited our criteria,’ says Amanda. Arriving at the brick and flint cottage on a hot summer’s day to be shown around by an estate agent, Amanda was

Country Homes & Interiors

N O R F O L K C O T TAG E

What makes this house a home… ‘I love its proximity to the sea. And we’re constantly finding fantastic new places to explore’

Dining area A farmhouse-style table and mismatched chairs create a laid-back feel. Walls and tongue-andgroove panelling painted in Old White by Farrow & Ball. Table, Plain English. Limestone floor tiles, Tile Giant. Table runner, Ikea.

What we love most about living here... ‘We feel very much a part of the community and have made great friends here. It’s a thriving, vibrant village’

Bathroom Tongue-and-groove panelling provides the perfect rustic backdrop for a classic rolltop bath. Walls painted in Old White; panelling in Plummett, both by Farrow & Ball. Bath, Victoria + Albert.

N O R F O L K C O T TAG E

Main bedroom Amanda favoured a soothing cream palette with accents of blue for this room. Bed, Feather & Black. Bedding, throw, both John Lewis. Rug, Ikea.

instantly charmed by the feel of the cottage, as well as its wealth of character, history and potential. ‘At the time, a couple who’d once been missionaries owned the property,’ says Amanda. ‘It was full of dark, wooden furniture and objects such as tribal masks, plus several multicoloured rugs and a burgundy Aga. When I mentioned that the bones were definitely there, but that the cottage needed to be gutted to create a brighter, less oppressive home, the estate agent told me that her husband James was a local builder and could assist.’ Having snapped up the lacklustre property in January 2012 and with James on board, an extensive renovation project began. Amanda and Taras agreed that the house, which had started life as two cottages before becoming a pub and finally residential accommodation, deserved to be lovingly restored. ‘We didn’t compromise on anything, from fittings to finishes, since we yearned for a quality build,’ says Amanda. Over the next six months, the building was reroofed, all the windows were replaced and the interiors were totally stripped back. Gradually, a beautiful new-look cottage began to emerge, complete with a bespoke kitchen including a smart white Aga, new bathrooms, more practical flooring and a woodburner in the living room. The walls were replastered and the property was repainted throughout, giving it an uplifted, fresh palette. ‘I chose different colours from those in our Suffolk home,’ says Amanda. ‘Instead, I picked blues, soft greys and off-whites to

A single, fresh rose and a stack of vintage books make welcoming touches. Lampbase, Birdie Fortescue.

Country Homes & Interiors

N O R F O L K C O T TAG E

Children’s bedroom

House The centuries-

A vibrant yellow chair adds a bright and breezy air. Chair, fabric from Linwood. Bunk bed, Aspace. Rugs, Ikea.

old cottage has been sensitively restored. Door, painted in Slate Blue by Marston & Langinger.

Country Homes & Interiors

O N O U R D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve (01485 210779, rspb.org.uk). Birdwatchers come from all over the world to discover this peaceful spot on the north Norfolk coast. It really is twitcher heaven.’ Shop at… ‘Thornham Deli (01485 512194, thornhamdeli.co.uk), near Hunstanton, an award-winning café and shop that stocks everything from tasty food to beautiful gifts and home accessories. The staff are delightful.’

Go for a meal at… ‘The Duck Inn (01485 518330, duckinn.co.uk) in Stanhoe, between Docking and Burnham Market. It is a cosy, coastal pub serving delicious bistro-style fare with an emphasis on local produce. The staff are friendly and the place has such a welcoming atmosphere.’

FEATURE JANET MCMEEKIN PHOTOGRAPHS ANDREAS VON EINSIEDEL

reference the location’s closeness to the coast. For simplicity and cohesion, I selected just two shades: Farrow & Ball’s Old White and Plummett,’ she explains. When it came to soft furnishings, Amanda predominantly opted for ticking fabrics as a gentle nautical nod. ‘We were thrilled when the project was finished and for years we visited as often as possible,’ she says. ‘Often, I’d pick the children up from school on a Friday evening, bundle them into the car and head to Docking, where we’d pick up fish and chips for supper and spend the whole weekend enjoying quality family time.’ As the children grew older, their commitments in Suffolk meant the family began spending less time in the holiday abode. ‘It seemed a shame for our lovely house to be sitting vacant when other families could be staying there,’ says Amanda. So in 2016, she took the plunge and began renting the cottage out. ‘I decided that nothing would be out of bounds and went the extra mile to ensure that the house would be a true home away from home for both ourselves and guests,’ she adds. Since making the decision, Amanda has been overwhelmed by the response. ‘The fact that so many other people are creating their own special memories here is incredibly rewarding,’ she says. ‘I’m just thrilled that we didn’t look any further afield and chose this wonderful area.’ Ford House, flintnorfolk.com.

ROOM IDEAS

Be inspired by

Amanda’s bedroom Create a relaxed coastal feel all year round with lived-in linens complemented by natural textures.

Introduce refreshing fronds of nature with this delicately detailed, cream of the crop. Botanical fern leaves picture canvas, H43xW31cm, £36, Shabby Store.

Place a pair of these sizeable woven wonders on bedside tables for a textured look. Tanjore large rattan table lamp and natural shade, H50xDia 38cm, £364, Oka.

Unravel this unique scattering of handwoven florals to adorn your floorboards. Alvine flatwoven rug, col Grey, 170x240cm, £159, Ikea.

Classic Victorian gaslight style to satisfy the die-hard romantics and traditionalists. Botanist double metal bed frame, H122xW144.3xD199.6cm, £275, John Lewis.

Amanda’s style secret... Embrace your home’s history and story – exposed beams make a charming feature in a light and airy scheme.

Sleep smart courtesy of climate control, snooze mode and 360º air circulation bedding… zzz… Washed linen duvet cover, col Melange, 150x210cm, £127.14, Linen Tales.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Modern Country Classic Painted floorboards We’ve rolled up the carpets and sent them to the moths! Eye-catching and easy to maintain, a wood floor can provide a lovely backdrop. Get down and dirty with a spot of DIY, or opt for a quick fix update with a pre-finished

supply. Magic up a light, spacious illusion with bright whites, natural shades or subtle greys, or for highfashion maximalist flair, dare to go dark with blacks that have undertones of green, blue or red.

Where to buy…

•Farrow & Ball for richly pigmented colours. •Little Greene for hardwearing, washable and eco-friendly recipes. •The Healthy House for safe, allergy-friendly options.

Country Homes & Interiors

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KENT PERIOD PROPERTY

All change PURCHASING A RUNDOWN VILLAGE HOUSE WITH A FEW ACRES OF LAND ALTERED SALLY AND ANDY LITTLESTONE’S LIVES IN WAYS THEY HAD NEVER IMAGINED

Kitchen To allow space for more cupboards, Sally compromised with bifold windows instead of doors, which open out onto the garden. Underﬂoor heating discreetly warms the room. Bifold windows, Sussex Construction. Oak flooring, Naos Floors. Country Homes & Interiors

KENT PERIOD PROPERTY

Kitchen Architect Julian Bluck designed the lofty timber-framed extension in new oak. Range cooker, Everhot. Clock, John Lewis.

When

* AT HOME WITH... Owners Sally Littlestone and husband Andy who rear free-range, rare-breed pigs on their smallholding (Sissinghurst Pigs, 01580 714998, sissinghurstpigs.co.uk). They live here with their son, Seb, 11, daughter, Chloe, nine, and labrador, Pebbles. House A Grade II-listed, six bedroom house dating from 1530, with later additions, bought in 2014.

Sally and Andy Littlestone decided to move from London to Kent in 2014, Andy was planning to commute to work. The couple were looking for a family house, so when an agent tried to tempt them with a period property in Sissinghurst village that needed total restoration, they wouldn't even look at it, not believing they had the skills or experience for such a project. But as weeks passed with no suitable properties to view, they were finally persuaded to take a look. ‘We walked in, saw its dilapidated state and all the overgrown land, smiled at each other and knew this was it,’ says Sally. It was the start of a completely unplanned and life-changing learning curve for the family. The oldest part of the house dates from 1530 when it was a two-up, two-down cottage. It was extended in the 17th century and again during the Edwardian period. Before the Littlestones bought it, the same family had lived there for more than 80 years, but no meaningful repairs had been carried out since the Seventies. ‘On our first night in the property, there was a summer storm and the roof sprung 28 leaks,’ says Sally. ‘We were hurriedly unpacking, trying to find bowls and buckets to catch the rain. For months we continued to put towels at the bottom of walls to catch water.’ Their first year was taken up with going through the planning process with their architect, and the second year was spent living with the builders. The wiring had to be

Country Homes & Interiors

Exterior The

Hall Part of the 17th-century

brickwork and timber cladding is typical of Kentish style.

extension, this is the junction between the two oldest parts of the house. Walls, painted in Shaded White by Farrow & Ball.

What makes this house a home… Living room Although the ﬁreplace is a more recent addition, which the family plan to replace, this room is part of the original cottage. Gaston armchair is similar, Swoon.

‘When friends and their children pile in for a meal, there’s room for everyone’

KENT PERIOD PROPERTY Main bedroom A white blackout roller blind is a discreet alternative to curtains. Hanson wall lights, Jim Lawrence. For similar bedlinen, try John Lewis and Forever England.

What we love most about living here... â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We have a big enough garden to keep chickens and pigs, but are still in walking distance of the village pub and tennis clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Guest bedroom Sally has

Guest bathroom The couple

mixed in some antique furnishings, which complement the period features. Nursing chair, ﬁnd similar on Etsy. Illustrations, Emma Cowlam.

love the warm colour and texture of the plaster, so decided to leave the walls bare. Taps, St James Collection. The Salisbury bath is similar, Bathstore.

renewed urgently, with plumbing and heating to follow as work progressed. Life in the house became a moveable feast, though Sally says, ‘Our wonderful builders always left us with a kitchen and two bedrooms throughout the works.’ Their architect designed a new oak timber-framed kitchen as an extension to the Edwardian living room, giving them a large, open-plan family space. Andy and Sally’s task was to work out exactly what they needed from this new kitchen. ‘I wanted it to always look tidy,’ says Sally. ‘Andy loves cooking and has a huge amount of gadgetry so we specified deep storage cupboards with internal sockets for the appliances. That way we could open doors on anything, from coffee maker to food processor, and use it in situ.’ Between banks of tall cupboards is a four-oven electric cooking range, and the large island incorporates a sink, induction hob, under-counter fridge and dishwasher. The character of the house changes as it moves through the centuries and Sally has made choices that take note of this. ‘We’ve used rugs rather than carpets, so all the floorboards are exposed, which gives continuity and looks right in a period house,’ she says. ‘I chose an old white tint to paint both the walls and ceilings, as the shade helps rooms with low ceilings and no straight lines feel more spacious.’ An exception has been made in the main bedroom suite because it receives lots of natural light. Here, Sally decided to use a mid-grey for the walls and built-in furniture as

Shower room Painted MDF panelling cleverly hides away all the pipework, while a mirror conceals the opening of a storage recess. Vicenza stone basin, Clearwater Baths. Vestry wall lights, Dar Lighting. Panelling painted in Farrow & Ball’s Manor House Gray. Country Homes & Interiors

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Smallholding These woolly

KENT PERIOD PROPERTY

Mangalitsa pigs, originally from Hungary, are one of the rare breeds reared by the Littlestones.

FEATURE CELIA RUFEY PHOTOGRAPHS JODY STEWART

Garden Sally grows ﬂowers in raised beds, which she sells in bunches at her gate.

a way to inject a repeated contemporary note and move the interior style of the house forward. Throughout the renovation, Sally and Andy were keen to work alongside the builders and, as Sally was the one on site most of the time, she acted as project manager. ‘Each month I took a job from the builders’ to-do list, such as pulling up carpets, sanding floorboards and of course, painting.’ The pair used old doors and oak off-cuts from the kitchen to construct storage in the hall for the family’s coats, and in the living room Sally’s gift for découpage transformed an unloved low table into a unique coffee table. Sally was also keen to get outside and plant a garden for flowers and vegetables. ‘Then Andy decided it would be cool to keep our own pigs,’ she says. ‘When friends tasted our pork they asked us to keep a couple of pigs for them, too, and within the first year of living here we found ourselves with 20 pigs. We’ve since started breeding them and now have more than 100.’ As the reputation of Sissinghurst Pigs grew and work on the house was approaching its final stages, Andy gave up his London partnership to concentrate on developing this new smallholding business. ‘It had never crossed our minds that we might become pig farmers,’ says Sally. ‘As you can imagine, pigs cause a lot of mud, which doesn’t go too well with clean interiors… Yet we want this house to be truly lived in so my solution is to always have a mop at the ready!’

* ON OUR D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘Sissinghurst Castle Garden (01580 710701, nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurstcastle-garden). Just a short walk from us, it’s always inspiring to take a stroll around the amazing gardens while admiring the castle.’

Shop at… ‘Symonds Salvage Yard (01233 820724, symondssalvage. co.uk) in Bethersden. I love upcycling and am always finding old treasures here that I can get creative with.’

Go for a meal at… ‘The Curious Eatery (01622 299359, thecuriouseatery.co.uk) in Boughton Monchelsea. It’s a quirky and fun restaurant within The Albion pub which is equally perfect for casual Sunday lunches with your close family and special birthday suppers with a big group of friends and relatives.’

Country Homes & Interiors

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ROOM IDEAS

Be inspired by

Sally’s kitchen This petite pop of colour features a decorative cement tile print in a charming retro style. Armelle wooden stool in blue patina finish, H48 xW29xD29cm, £43.19, Maisons du Monde.

Transform your island unit into a standout piece with a lick of this cool, architectural grey. Manor House Gray estate eggshell, £60 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.

Get quirky with mix-and-match upcycled stools in decoupage and distressed painted finishes… Use this natural charmer as a chopping surface, or serving or sharing board. Dual-purpose end grain board, 42x28cm, £34.99, T&G Woodware.

Tick (tock!) all the boxes for iconic style with this suave timepiece, featuring a vintage-style metal case and classic Roman numerals. The Battersby wall clock, Dia50cm, £115, by Newgate at Amara.

Sally’s style secret... Keep your space tidy and organised with deep cupboards itted with internal sockets so that you can use appliances in situ.

Serve your favourite fruity refreshments in this curvy, crystal design. Jugs Coolers mineral water jug, H27cm, £79, Dartington Crystal.

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Modern Country Classic Pantry An ancillary storage room to the kitchen, these utilitarian spaces are enjoying a resurgence in country homes. With an affectionate name derived from the French word for bread ‘pain’, traditional types included a butler’s or

serving pantry and a cold pantry for dairy produce. Today’s built-in designs can be tailored to meet individual needs and styles; or you can go for a freestanding pantry cupboard for plentiful storage in a smaller footprint.

Where to buy…

•The Cotswold Company for standalone pieces. •Plain English for handmade options created using quality materials. •Artichoke for designs with English period detail.

Country Homes & Interiors

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P E AC E F U L PAT T E R N Create a mindful look with calm, organic designs. Inspired by seasonal changes, dried lower and seed head shapes, the latest understated patterns are delicate in feel yet still striking. Choose colours in an earthy autumn palette, from on-trend tan to woody copse shades. Add gently shaped furniture in loose linens.

SEASONAL LOOKS

CHOOSE SUBTLE LAYERS OF PATTERN Create a refined feature wall with designs based on the silhouette of grasses and foliage. An intricate rug brings the floor into focus, while mid-tone cushions on a slouchy sofa and a reclaimed wood table add to the relaxed feel.

Country Homes & Interiors

SEASONAL LOOKS

STYLE UP A SEASONAL TABLE Dine off delicately detailed dinnerware with patterns inspired by nature, and textural and imprinted finishes.

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COSY UP FOR SUPPER Gather around the table with the crackling of the fire as the soundtrack to your evening. Hang patterned panel curtains at the window to filter the light and create an intimate, laid-back mood.

Country Homes & Interiors

FALL FOR ELEGANT PATTERN Create a bespoke splashback with a sycamore wallpaper framed and finished with on-trend protective glass panels.

SEASONAL LOOKS

DISPLAY NATURE PRINTS Celebrate the season with a gallery wall to dawdle near. Framed prints inspired by foraged finds feel harmonious when displayed in a group.

Country Homes & Interiors

SEASONAL LOOKS

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PATTERN Make a moody, cocoon-style sleeping space with visual trickery by using pretty patterned paper on the ceiling. Luxurious linens bring warmth and softness to a hung headboard with pattern pops to match the upward views.

Country Homes & Interiors

SEASONAL LOOKS

Al the details

PRODUCTS AND PRICES Pages 70-71

PEACEFUL PATTERN Wall, papered in Ripple concrete, col White, £370, Surface View. Beech Leaves wallpaper, col Kraft, £69 a roll, Hannah Nunn. Luna linen-mix in Wild Rose, £64.90m, Linwood. Elements teacup, £24, The Future Kept. Small spotted vase, £25; tall vase, £40, both Olivia Jeffries. Fern vase, £95, Lindy Barletta Ceramics. Limited Edition bird vessel, from £49, Abigail Edwards. Bowl, £15, Olivia Jeffries. Lali terracotta pot, £6, Rowen & Wren. CHOOSE SUBTLE LAYERS OF PATTERN Wall, papered in In The Tall Grass,

Pages 72-73

col Kraft, £130 for three 330cm panels, Hannah Nunn. Radley large sofa, col Calm Linen, £2,622, Collins & Hayes. British herringbone throw, col Ochre, £59, The Future Kept. Cushions (front to back): 1 in Kabalya Indigo, £95m, Mark Alexander. 2 Milan Gold, £49.95, Bronte By Moon. 3 Liberty Curry, £39, Idyll Home. 4 in Luna, col Wild Rose, £64.90m, Linwood. Maise

STYLE UP A SEASONAL TABLE

Pages 74-75

Tablecloth in Luna, col Wild Rose, as before. Patterned tablecloth in Tree Bough, col Ivory, £95m, The Whiteworks. Nalbari pizza board, £39.95, Nkuku. Vintage knife, The Big Brocante. Wild Autumn faux bouquet, £655, Fox Flowers. Freya water glass, col Amber, £38 for six; Ani wine glass, col Amber, £10, both Dassie Artisan. Diamond plate, £16, Murmur. Gray & Willow Alta plate, £12; Alma napkin, £12 for four, all House of Fraser. Cartier place mat, from £6, Dassie Artisan. Design Project No.098 coupe plate, col Grey, £5, John Lewis. Hansa terracotta pinch pot, £3, Rowen & Wren. Stripe bowl, £15, Olivia Jeffries. Honey dipper, £9, The Future Kept. Fern platter, £48, Lindy Barletta Ceramics. Riviera tapas bowl, col Pebble, £12.95, Dassie Artisan.

FEATURE/ART DIRECTION SARA BIRD STYLING MARIE NICHOLS STYLING ASSISTANT INDIA JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHS DAN DUCHARS

FALL FOR ELEGANT PATTERN

Page 76

Wall, papered in Sycamore Trail, £56 a roll, Sanderson. Toughened glass 6mm splashback, £200, Glass & Fusion. Kibbo tall stool, £165, Also Home. Autumn faux gift bunch, £65, Fox Flowers. Fowey brass wall light with glass shade, £128, Rowen & Wren. Songbird chopping board, £25, Hinchcliffe & Barber. Acacia cutting board, £38; textured storage jar, £18, both Murmur. Apothecary vessels, from £20 each, Abigail Ahern. Vintage ink bottle, £4, The Big Brocante. Casserole, from £149, Le Creuset. Liquid body soap, £17.50, Wattle & Daub.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PATTERN Headboard in Woodgrain Storm linen-mix, £160m, Mark Alexander. Selene washed linen duvet cover, col Gazelle, £372; Selene washed linen pillowcases, col Daim, £121 a pair, both Caravane. Cushions (from back): 1 Tuscan Linen, col Dusk, £47.20m, Linwood. 2 Bird cushion cover, £95, Abigail Edwards. 3 Lance fern cushion, col Blush, £20 Gray & Willow at House of Fraser. 4 in Stirling Flax, £59.50m, Ian Mankin; trimmed in woven leather braid, col Mahogany, £89m, Samuel &

basket, £28, Gray & Willow at House of Fraser. Loco floor lamp, £245, Loaf. Artificial maple, £89.95, Artificial Landscapes at Notonthehighstreet.com. Shanxi antique stool, £95, Lombok. Small sisal basket, £7.99, HomeSense. Birch chevron rug, £309, Sofa.com. Reclaimed oak top trestle coffee table, £900, The French House. Armetis glass vessel, from £16, Abigail Ahern. Barni terracotta honey pot, from £6, Rowen & Wren. Songbird exercise books, £12 for three; hardback notebook, £12, all Hinchcliffe & Barber. Bronze tray, £29, Idyll Home. Datia short mug, col Mustard, £12.95, Nkuku. Stoneware grand teapot, col Flint, £42, Le Creuset. (On mantel) Vintage ceramic bottles, from £2 each, The Big Brocante. Hera bottle vases, from £20 each, Abigail Ahern. Leaf vase, £48, Lindy Barletta Ceramics. Berry Abstract 1 mixed media on board, £150, Emma Tweedie Art. Hanson small storage box, col Tan, £33, Neptune. Candle, £19.50; glazed plant pot, £17.50, both Wattle & Daub.

COSY UP FOR SUPPER Wall, painted in Muddy Boots claypaint, £44 for 2.5L, Earthborn. Curtains (from right): 1 in Botani Rust, £95m, Mark Alexander. 2 in Alserio Osprey, £94m, Romo. Henley table, £905, Neptune. Agna rug, £175, Cox & Cox. Woodcroft Windsor chair, £495, One World. Nuzzler sheepskin, £65, Loaf. Vintage Dutch leather armchair, £795, Louisa Grace. Etch throw, col Charcoal, £60, Murmur. Paper Meadow cushion, col Charcoal, £59, Hannah Nunn. (On table) Selena washed linen tablecloth, col Daim, £198, Caravane. Bay pots, col Pink, small £10; large £15, both Neptune. Hagan ridge mug, col Salmon, £11, Dassie Artisan. Mokko mango bowl, £30 for two, Also Home. Lambswool Melbourne throw, col Gold, £89.95, Bronte By Moon. Mango wood trug, £45, Also Home.

DISPLAY NATURE PRINTS Kibbo bench, £265, Also Home. Linen tablecloth, col Natural, £66, Rowen & Wren. Fern cushion, col Rust, £20, Gray & Willow at House of Fraser. Mustard throw, £45, John Lewis. Nina slippers, col Chestnut, £49.95, Idyll Home. Roam bag, £169, The Future Kept. Wardley boxes, small £58; medium £64, both Neptune. Oak frames, from £45 each; picture clips, £12.50 each, both Cox & Cox. Art (clockwise, from left): 1 Cow Parsley sepia print, £30, MR Studio London. 2 Midnight Shimmer, £70; 3 Winter Sun, £85; 4 Winter Sun 2, £85, all Zena Hamon. 5 Little Meadow print, £30; 6 Cow Parsley set of four A5 lino prints, £60, both MR Studio London.

Sons. 5 Harra cushion, col Charcoal, £45, Murmur. Linen throw, col Charcoal, £185, Wattle & Daub. Juno bedside cabinet, £250, Perch and Parrow. Round mirror with rope, £38, The Orchard at Notonthehighstreet.com. Moment No 28 original drawing, £50, Olivia Jeffries. Fowey pendant in brass, £128, Rowen & Wren. (On bedside table) Bottle, from a selection, The Packhouse. Vase, £65, Lindy Barletta Ceramics. Soy wax candle, £22.50, Wattle & Daub. Pure Beeswax dinner candles, £12 for two, The Future Kept. Hanson pen pot, £17, Neptune. Stripe tea cup, £25, Olivia Jeffries.

Country Homes & Interiors

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

CUSHIONS UPDATE YOUR SOFA IN AN INSTANT WITH A BEAUTIFUL SCATTERING OF COUNTRY-STYLE TEXTURE, COLOUR AND PATTERN. GET COSY WITH THESE FAVOURITE FEATHER-FILLED PICKS...

Tribal texture Take your seating on a global journey with an ultra-tactile fusion of nomad weaves, tufted geo designs and Scandi looms and fringing in a mix of neutrals and earthy reds.

(Cushions from left) 1 Tri Sanis cushion (top), £45, Graham & Green. 2 Klim woven cushion (bottom), £55, Also Home. 3 Jacquard pom-pom cushion, col Rust Natural, £60, Projektityyny Ruska at Trouva. 4 & 5 Trinx square cushion, col Black and White, £45; Atitlan square cushion, £50, both Graham & Green. 6 Fora tufted cushion, £30, Cox & Cox. 7 Antigua oblong cushion, col Pink, £110, Wicklewood.

Country Homes & Interiors 79

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

Artisan patterns Pretty up a boudoir with decorative block- and screenprinted repeats and motifs inspired by organic natural shapes in chalky mid-tones and country pastels.

(Cushions from top): 1 Journeyman bolster cushion, col Valencia Duck Egg and Orange Ochre, from £45, Kate Medlicott. 2 Varx block-printed cushion, col Venetian Red, £75, Bonﬁeld England. 3 Meadow scene cushion, col Golden Ochre, from £60, Victoria & Rebecca. 4 Journeyman cushion, col Valencia Teal, from £45, Kate Medlicott. 5 Ikat Assam cushion, col Pink & Blue, £47.50, Bohzaar. 6 Oakleaves cushion, col Yellow, £85, Wicklewood. 7 Pratham scallop cushion, col Green £49.95, Birdie Fortescue.

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

Happy scatters! Embrace the novelty factor with fun picks to perk up any room! Spread delight with cheerful brights, playful pom-pom trimmings galore and quirky, experimental shapes...

FEATURE & STYLING HOLLY PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHS NICK POPE

(In basket from left) 1 Shake your pompoms cushion, col Ivory, £38, The French Bedroom Company. 2 Otter cushion, £25, Cath Kidston. 3 Scribble stripe square cushion, col Grey/Blue, £75, Bohemia Design. 4 ‘Head in the clouds’ cushion, £30, Tillyanna. (On ﬂoor from left) 5 Merino pom-pom bolster, col Tumeric Yellow/Geranium Red, £170, Shepherd England at The New Craftsmen.6 Elsie stripe cushion, £29.95, White Stuff. 7 Letter cushion, £60, Jonny’s Sister. 8 Sloes cushion, £55, Mimi Emmett England. 9 Kirra tribal cushion, £55, Graham & Green. 10 Scribble stripe cushion, col Chartreuse/White, £94, Bohemia Design. Log basket, similar from Garden Trading.

82 Country Homes & Interiors

NEXT MONTH FLOWER VESSELS

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TREND SPECIAL THOUGHTFUL ARTISAN NUZZLES OF TEXTURE

REVERSE B O TA N I CA L PAT T E R N

THINK OUTSIDE THE BLOCK

MOSS SERENE

M USTA R D S Q UA S H

AUTUMN’S NEW LOOKS GET RUSTLED AND READY FOR THE NEW SEASON WITH OUR FORAGED SHORTLIST OF COUNTRY TRENDS. WE’RE SAYING HELLO TO NATURAL-WORLD INSPIRATIONS, COSY TEXTURES AND WONKY-BUT-WONDERFUL ORGANIC FINISHES… »

Country Homes & Interiors

TREND SPECIAL

REVERSE BOTANICAL PATTERNS

Sometimes it really is as simple as black and white… Embrace the versatile appeal of simplistic mono with nature-inspired motifs in contradicting switched, inside-out and flip-flopped repeats. This trend is all about the striking contrast between dark and light. Go for dramatic grandeur with a statement feature wallcovering in ditsy or large-scale print, or amp up everyday and occasional dining with charcoal designs decorated with stylised, eye-catching florals.

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Patterned side plate, £3.75 for two; pasta bowl; dinner plate, both £4.25 each, all Rural Retreat range at Sainsbury's Home. Pure Thistle wallpaper, £99 a roll, Morris & Co at Style Library. Throws (from top): Blickling botanical jacquard, £35; twill, £30; Illusion, £35; basket weave, £35, all National Trust Shop.

Country Homes & Interiors

Hustle at 5pm matt emulsion, Â£39.50 for 2.5L, Fired Earth.

Woodland Yellow active emulsion, Â£47 for 2.5L, Sanderson at Style Library.

MUSTARD SQUASH

Add a warming colour condiment to your home with this cosy, harvest-hued palette â&#x20AC;&#x201C; earthy in charisma with a contemporary pack-a-punch attitude. The hottest dollop-on shade for homely interiors this season, timeless mid-deep yellows create a happy mood-enhancing environment thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lovingly nested. Introduce wholesome accents through heavily textured cushions and layered throws, teamed with smoky greys and chalky neutrals, or invite a nibble of mid-century flavour with turmeric-hued accent furniture in clean-lined shapes for a side of modern retro flair.

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* India Yellow estate emulsion, Â£45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.

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Olivia rufï¬&#x201A;e cushions, Â£60 each; Lisbon bedlinen, from Â£135 for a double duvet cover; Izu knitted cushion, Â£65; Izu knitted throw, Â£125; Misi velvet cushion, Â£32; Kibo tall stool, Â£165; Krem coffee cup, Â£20 for two, all Also Home.

TREND SPECIAL

Mohair wool rug, Â£165; sheepskin rug, quad size, Â£355; Mongolian cushion, Â£145; ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sheepskin bootee slippers, Â£69; kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sheepskin bootee slippers, Â£38, all Celtic & Co.

NUZZLES OF TEXTURE

Cocoon your home (and self!) in voluminous mountains of tactile luxury â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this story is all about sensory nestles in whisper-soft knits, mohair and permed sheepskinâ&#x20AC;¦ As an antithesis to an increasingly connected world, our homes are evermore becoming a refuge for peace and comfort. We crave basic living, simple materials and, ultimately, to be free and switch off. Layer longwool rugs in natural shapes on the floor and over chairs, keep piles of large-stitch chunky throws and blankets on hand for instant wrap-around cuddles and take a running dive into a snug full of super-sized, crimped and shaggy cushions.

Country Homes & Interiors

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MOSS SERENE Take your walls through a woodland walk and reconnect with nature by using soothing greens in wilderness shades to evoke feelings of relaxation and calm.

Go foraging and be inspired! Replicate luscious hues and textures with a living space that blurs the lines between the outdoors and indoors. Harmonise tonal variations of leaf, forest, sage and bark on walls, and let life in with fresh plants and foliage. Open up your space with furniture in grainy woods and accessorise with earthy terracotta, russet and pale blush to soften the atmosphere and add modern contrast.

Walls painted in Jewel Beetle; dresser painted in Chocolate Colour and True Taupe; ceiling painted in Pique, each £43.50 for 2.5L absolute matt emulsion, all the National Trust colour collection, Little Greene.

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CHOSEN BY US FOR YOU Glen Coe Aqua throw, £75; Glen Coe Heather throw, £75; Parquet Camel throw, £89.95; Glen Coe Mustard cushion, £49.95; Glen Coe Aqua cushion, £49.95; Parquet Camel cushion, £49.95; Glen Coe Heather cushion, £49.95

Melbourne Aqua & Camel throw, £89.95; Parquet Aqua throw, £89.95; Prince of Wales Aqua & Camel throw, £89.95; Harlequin Aqua cushion, £49.95

ENJOY 20% OFF AT

Bronte by Moon CENTURIES OF EXPERTISE HAVE GONE INTO CREATING BEAUTIFUL WOOL FABRICS AT THIS HISTORIC YORKSHIRE MILL — ENJOY THESE LUXURIOUS DESIGNS FOR LESS quintessentially British brand that can trace its heritage back to 1837, Leeds-based Bronte by Moon produces luxury wool home accessories in its fully vertical mill. Each part of the process, from dyeing and blending raw wool fibres, spinning, warping, weaving and finally finishing the fabrics in Yorkshire spring water to the highest of standards, takes place on one site. With more people seeking out and supporting British design than ever before, iconic brands such as Bronte by Moon are strengthening their presence in the marketplace and becoming treasured staples for the home.

Priding itself on a reputation for consistent quality and innovative design, Bronte by Moon has brought in new colourways – Aqua & Camel, Monochrome and Coral & Mint – to refresh and modernise core collections. And with its introduction of large floor cushions and picnic blankets, the company is continuously expanding its offering of woollen home furnishings.

r HOW TO CLAIM YOUR 20% DISCOUNT Simply visit brontebymoon.co.uk and enter COUNTRYHOMES20 at the checkout to receive 20% off.

TERMS & CONDITIONS 20% off discount code is valid from 6 September 2018 until midnight on 4 October 2018 when you enter COUNTRYHOMES20 at the online checkout. The 20% discount code is only valid on cushions and throws and cannot be used on any sale or fashion items. UK customers only. Discount is available for one use per customer only.

Country Homes & Interiors

TREND SPECIAL

THINK OUTSIDE THE BLOCK

Explore dramatic colour in new ways with framed, block-painted areas to create a dynamic space full of impressive mystery.

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Observing an archive palette with a contemporary take, we’re embracing a bold new vision of colour in our homes. Experimenting with contrast and scale, painted boundaries between light and dark highlight architectural features, creating a deep and powerful sense of opulence in any room, large or small. Apply an intense heritage shade within defined, clean lines, offset with dusky neutrals and delicate pastels on upholstery updates for a distinguished look that’s gracefully moody.

Wall, painted in Napoleonic Blue and Country Grey; line detail in Antoinette, all £4.45 for 100ml wall paint; sofa, painted in Paris Grey chalk paint, £5.95 for 120ml, ﬁnished with clear chalk paint wax, £4.95 for 120ml; upholstered in Antoinette and Old White linen, £39.95m; curtain in linen in Provence and Old White, £39.95m, all Annie Sloan. Country Homes & Interiors

TREND SPECIAL

THOUGHTFUL ARTISAN

Honouring craftsmanship and natural materials, everyday items have been given a loving, handmade touch as we seek individuality and beauty in imperfection (say au revoir to mass-produced clones). Add to your rustic boards collection with sustainably sourced, skilfully made patchwork beauties that highlight rich texture and natural colour variations. Celebrate a vibrant fusion of colour, texture and lustre fresh off the potterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wheel with dipped glaze and hand-thrown ceramics. And treat your hard-working home to a toasty plethora of everyday lovelies with felt, the latest â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;soft spotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; material of choice for practical and stylish homewares.

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FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Nalbari chopping boards, from Â£29.95 each, Nkuku. Espresso cup, Â£8; ceramic mugs, Â£14 each; Take My Hand & Run wall art, Â£65, all Oliver Bonas. Southwold basket with wooden handles, Â£72; Southwold ombre basket, Â£80, both Garden Trading.

Country Homes & Interiors

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

‘MY SCHOOL TEACHER INSPIRED ME WITH A LOVE OF WILD FLOWERS’ Romy Fraer, Founder of Neal’s Yard Reedies owadays we’re used to all sorts of wild and wonderful natural ingredients in our beauty products – sea kelp, kale, even bee venom would hardly raise an eyebrow. But it wasn’t so long ago that inding a shampoo containing any sort of genuine plant extract was no easy task. Romy Fraser changed all that, blowing a breath of fresh air into the industry when she opened a small shop in Covent Garden in 1981, selling balms and lotions made from real herbs and lowers, all presented in elegant blue glass bottles. The business quickly lourished, with Neal’s Yard Remedies among the irst to have its goods certiied by The Soil Association. But Romy, a former teacher, always had a greater goal in mind: to set up a working farm where she could teach skills to help towards a more sustainable future. At Trill Farm near Axminster in Devon, that longheld dream is quietly taking shape. We went there to meet Romy, as well as some very inquisitive Gotland sheep…

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? A village in Surrey near the North Downs. I loved the beech woods and the chalky downs. We had a big garden with rambling orchards, where 94

Country Homes & Interiors

I would pick an apple on the way to school every morning in autumn. My dad grew vegetables and we sold the surplus – a kind of forerunner to veg box schemes! We never ate processed food. I remember my mother not allowing me to have an orange ice lolly because of the colouring in it. I think that’s one of the reasons I became so interested in natural ingredients. TELL US ABOUT TRILL… It’s 300 acres of woodland, pasture and water meadows, with a 16th-century farmhouse at its heart. There’s a lake near the house with a small island, where my ive grandchildren camp out in summer. We have lots of small businesses based here – falconry, wood turning, pottery, a herb garden, soapmaking… They all make the place so creative and fun. In the Old Dairy Kitchen, our resident chef, Chris Onions, runs cooking courses and provides delicious communal lunches for everyone on the farm to enjoy. There’s also a vegetable producer, who supplies all our own needs, as well as selling to nearby restaurants, such as River Cottage. We also host a range of courses from carpentry to beekeeping, and hold suppers with talks by interesting speakers. My two

Gotland sheep roam the farm.

Products are packaged in this crafts workshop ready to be sold in Trill's farm shop.

Seasonal hampers full of delights are available to buy at the farm.

Wellies on, ready for a tour of Trill.

Freshly-picked beetroot from the vegetable garden.

Chillies in the vegetable garden.

An aromatic blend of autumnal ﬂavours.

Swans live on Trill Farm’s many lakes.

One of Romy’s favourite local seaside haunts.

Gotland wool is also used to make luxury blankets.

Everyone can tuck into tasty meals at The Old Dairy Kitchen.

I couldn’t lie without... ‘MY FAMILY. I THINK MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE A HUGE PRIVILEGE. AND I’D BE MISERABLE WITHOUT MUSIC’

Enjoy beautiful views at the Hideaway Cafe on Seaton beach.

Rosie the eagle owl provides falconry displays.

Country Homes & Interiors

Trill Farm shop sells natural products.

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

daughters, Tamsin and Lara, contribute to the running of the farm and visit often.

RO M Y ’S C O U N T RY V I B E FAVOURITE ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE? Well, the kitchen is where we spend a lot of time. We built the cupboards and island using larch timber from the farm. It is sun bleached with beautiful etiolated colours. I love the Blue Lias lagstones that I discovered under three layers of itted carpets and concrete screed. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START NEAL’S YARD REMEDIES? My love for nature goes back to a wonderful primary school teacher, whose lessons prompted me to study botany A level. Then later, when I was pregnant with my irst daughter, I joined a meditation and homeopathy group, where I learnt a lot. At the time I was teaching in a democratic school, Kirkdale, in Sydenham, south London. My friend Nicholas Saunders, who founded Neal’s Yard whole foods in Covent Garden, helped there. He asked if I wanted to rent a unit, and generously offered to guarantee an £18,000 bank loan. The company grew from there.

FEATURE SOPHIE GALE PHOTOGRAPHS CAMILLA REYNOLDS

HOW DID YOU CREATE YOUR PRODUCTS? Using suppliers and manufacturers I felt I could trust. I would purchase the best herbs and oils I could ind. The inest ingredients will always make the best products – just as with food. From early on, I saw how effective herbal treatments can be, not only for irst-aid situations, but also in supporting the body to recover from chronic conditions. Ten years after opening the business, I also set up our own facility to grow herbs on an acre of land in Dorset at The Springhead Trust. WHAT IS THE ETHOS AT THE HEART OF TRILL FARM? It is about creating a codependent community of ventures, which support each other and use practices that are in harmony with the land. Our falconer Karen Stead-Dexter is a good example. Rosie, her beautiful eagle owl, not only stars in her falconry classes, but also catches rooks – which in turn helps to reduce their poaching from the vegetable garden. HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE FARM… We are currently working to create an educational programme for young adults,

What’s your October recipe? I love roasted squash, pumpkin seeds and feta. What will you be doing when the clocks go back? Getting up early and being ahead all day! What do you love about autumn in Devon? Frosty mornings when I’m taking the dog for a walk.

which I hope will take root. We have run a couple of residential stays for child asylum seekers, too. We squash in as many wonderful activities for them as we can, ensuring that they also have plenty of free time to run around exploring the farmland. GREATEST CHALLENGE OF YOUR CAREER? Selling Neal’s Yard Remedies in 2005. I had always run the business with the aim of being a good inluence in people’s lives. Suddenly it was boiled down to igures on a balance sheet. But making money to inance an educational project was why I set up the business in the irst place. FAVOURITE FRUITS OF AUTUMN… We have miles of hedgerows at Trill that provide us with crab apples and hawthorn berries to make a wealth of preserves. And the wonderful colours of the trees at this time of year always ill me with energy. PERFECT PASTIMES… Pottery, walking and swimming in the stream in our woods. I am also learning French. One day I hope to feel conident enough to argue my case. HOW DO YOU LOVE TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY? Chatting, eating, going for walks, and sharing a drink. MUST-VISIT BEAUTY SPOT? Seaton beach. Happiness is going for a swim there on a sunny day, followed by a coffee and a pastry at the Hideaway Cafe, which is tucked away on the promenade. We took our asylum seeker kids there and the owner gave them all free ice creams. Gestures of kindness like that are so important in life. ☎ Trill Farm, trillfarm.co.uk.

NEXT MONTH FABRIC DESIGNER CAROLINE INCHYRA

Country Homes & Interiors

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PANTRIES EVERYONE WANTS ONE! CREATE ORGANISATIONAL HEAVEN WITH A DEDICATED SPACE FOR STORING SEASONAL PRESERVES, HOMEMADE WINE, EVERYDAY DRIED GOODS AND SO MUCH MORE. STEP THIS WAY…

Open wide Harwood units in Anthracite and Platinum, £8,000, Laura Ashley Kitchen collection.

Think generously when planning the entrance to a pantry – double doors will lend an expansive feel. ‘The larder feels like an extension to the kitchen, rather than a separate space, and the look is brought together by itting shakerstyle doors and knobs similar to those of the kitchen cabinets,’ says Ashley Brunt, senior designer, Laura Ashley Kitchen Collection. ‘If you have the space, a walk-in larder will store all those family essentials, and this one even has room to incorporate a large wine cooler, too.’

Country Homes & Interiors

Pantry unit, part of Arbor kitchen, from £18,000, Harvey Jones.

CH&I

LOVES

Larder in Inchyra Blue estate eggshell, £60 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

Essential ingredients ‘Our love of pantries and larders harks back to more traditional values in living, as seen in the current trend for home cooking and growing your own food,’ says Melissa Klink, head of design, Harvey Jones. Kitted out with deep drawers for pans and utensils, smaller ones for cooking ingredients and spices, as well as wine racks for storing jars and bottles, a larder can provide the complete kitchen storage solution. ‘This larder can be customised to your exact requirements – you could even include a granite cold shelf for food preparation and cleverly concealed removable trays.’

ROOM IDEAS

Conversion tactic Many country homes have nooks and crannies that aren’t earning their keep, yet with a bit of creative thinking they can be conscripted to take the overload from the kitchen. ‘A little time spent adding tongue-and-groove panelling to a small space, perhaps even a corridor or alcove, can transform it into a country-style store,’ says Helen Parker, creative director, deVOL Kitchens. ‘Simply put up some shelves on wooden brackets, paint them the same colour as the panelling and that’s pretty much it, you have a pantry!’

Classic English walk-in pantry, £3,000, deVOL.

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ROOM IDEAS

Utility room with Portobello units, from £25,000, Mark Wilkinson Furniture.

Practical aspect One of the most useful additions to any working room has to be an extra sink – make it stand out with a beautiful Calacatta marble splashback and a hardwearing composite stone worktop. ‘Pantries and utility rooms have recently started to take on a new lease of life,’ says Iain O’Mahony, director of special projects, Mark Wilkinson. ‘These super-functional spaces provide a useful back-up to the kitchen and, with careful planning, can add lots of storage and worktop space, as well as room for hidden appliances or even a wine cooler.’

Aide memoire

Chalkboard painted in Oxford Gray chalkboard paint; woodwork painted in Grant Beige Aura eggshell, both £27.50 for 0.94L, Benjamin Moore.

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Country Homes & Interiors

An upcycled cabinet gets a second chance when put to good use as a store cupboard for dried goods. Turning the door into a chalkboard means you can easily keep track of what you’ve run out of or what needs using up. ‘You can turn virtually any surface into an erasable chalkboard in any colour you like,’ says Helen Shaw, marketing director, Benjamin Moore. ‘Our Chalkboard paint is extremely easy to apply, and dries with a decorative eggshell inish that is durable and wipeable. Using Oxford Gray instead of black adds to the rustic scheme.’

Corner shop Neat, discreet and versatile, a corner unit is a compact option when there is no room for a walk-in pantry, making good use of an awkward space. ‘It allows you to access everything with ease and offers the chance to incorporate varied storage into your kitchen design,’ says Tori Summers, design expert, Benchmarx Kitchens. ‘This corner pantry has wide shelves to house bulkier items as well as handy storage to keep bottles neat. When closed, the doors follow the lines of the adjoining cabinets and plinths, for a seamless effect.’

Somerset Grey corner pantry, from £1,560, Benchmarx Kitchens.

Arcadian kitchen and pantry, from £30,000, Mowlem & Co.

Old to new While renovating this period home and former coach house, Mowlem & Co tucked a walk-in pantry and separate boot room/laundry area behind a new stud wall, without stealing too much footprint from the main open-plan room. ‘The frosted-glass door, a design feature in itself, is wide enough for someone carrying shopping and the work surface is broad enough to accommodate appliances,’ says Jane Stewart, design director of Mowlem & Co. ‘Remember to consider ventilation, either as aeration bars in a door, or by ducting to the exterior.’

ROOM IDEAS

Clearly practical Framing is on everyone’s wish list right now, thanks to a growing interest in Crittall-style windows. The trend, which has also found its way onto shower enclosures, has been adopted in a unique way by Kitchen Architecture Wilmslow to create a see-through pantry area. The trick with this style is to keep things tidy – open shelves, hanging hooks and extra worktop space are all incorporated. On the loor, the area is mapped out by porcelain tiles designed by Patricia Urquiola, in a lively mix-and-match pattern to accentuate the framing.

Glazed porcelain tiles, Azulej by Mutina Bianco combination, £120sq m, Casa Ceramica.

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ROOM IDEAS

Georgian kitchen and pantry, from £25,000, 1909 Kitchens.

Classic good looks

Door rack

Limehouse larder unit, £2,430, Neptune by Sims Hilditch.

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Country Homes & Interiors

At the end of a run of units, a modestly-sized larder unit packs in the essentials. ‘This hand-crafted solution is cleverly designed with storage in mind,’ says Emma Sims-Hilditch of interior design studio Sims Hilditch. ‘The larder has a deep central cupboard area with adjustable shelving. A rack sits on the inside of the door providing storage at varying heights. Further to this, there is an oak pull-out rack providing even more storage space. This feature is particularly useful for those frequentlyneeded store-cupboard items.’

FEATURE CAROLINE RODRIGUES PHOTOGRAPHS KITCHEN ARCHITECTURE WILMSLOW (KITCHENARCHITECTURE.CO.UK)

It’s important to get the style as well as the practical aspects right. Choose units and colours that complement or match those in the main kitchen. ‘The intention is always to design a pantry that respects the natural features and proportions of the room,’ says Graeme Smith, head of design, 1909 Kitchens. The smaller details deserve as much attention as the units themselves. ‘Classic knobs like these, or cup or latch handles have the country vibe and will stand out against painted cabinetry.’

reasons to love

VEGETABLE RACKS KEEP SEASONAL VEGGIES ORGANISED AND ARTFULLY DISPLAYED WITH OUR ROUND-UP OF SPACE AND STORAGE SAVVY TIERED UNITS

Shelf stacker

FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS

Transport, stack and stock fresh from the vegetable patch in these mix and match wonders, perfect for versatile storage. Large display rack, H41.4xW31.4xL45.5cm, £107; Baroque large crates, H7xW30xL42cm, from £23.50 each, both T&G Woodware.

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Country Homes & Interiors

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

Rustic hoard

Store a harvest of ripe and ready orchard fruits in this three drawer pine unit – it fits snugly on a worktop or in the larder for space saving appeal, too. Vegetable store, H46xW52xD41cm, col Spruce, £125, Garden Trading.

Put a label on it

Organise your favourite veg and keep muddy spuds separate in this personalisable rack. Personalised vegetable store, H53xW36xD26cm, £269, Plantabox at Notonthehighstreet.com.

Multitasking roller

Market fresh

Get the farmers’ market look at home with this attractive tilted organiser in a rich antique brown finish. Casterton display rack, H135xW67x D35cm, £159.99, Brick & Barrow at Wayfair.

Trusty tallboy

Pop this artistically scripted piece into your chef’s parlour for a dash of utility-meetsclassic country style. Solid mango wood vegetable storage rack, H100xW45xD40cm, £281, Designer Furniture Ltd.

Providing stylish storage with three generously-sized baskets, this freestanding industrial-look wire design will happily nestle into any style of interior, from rustic to contemporary. Beri vegetable rack, H99x W44xD31cm, £69.95, Nkuku.

This kitchen hero has it all – wheels, roomy shelves, a towel rail and a rubberwood surface for on-thespot prep action. Croft wood butcher’s trolley, H89.7xW79.9x D50cm, col Grey/ Natural, £249, John Lewis.

Wired inspired

Pantry partner

This lean-to tidy mate features five wire baskets in varying sizes on a lovely wooden ladder, providing display space for all of your healthy, nutritious seven-a-day produce! Storage basket ladder, H170x W47cm, £127, The Orchard.

Compact professional

Featuring a drawer for utensils, three baskets and a wine rack at the bottom, this handy helper can be wheeled from pantry to prep station in a jiffy, thanks to its clever castors. Fiesta kitchen trolley, H86xW 44xD30cm, col Beech/Cream, £110, Hahn at John Lewis. Country Homes & Interiors

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SOFA WITH COMPACT SHAPES AND CLEANER LINES, THESE NEW LOOKS COMBINE OLD-SCHOOL TRADITION WITH A MODERN-COUNTRY EDGE BE CREATIVE WITH FABRIC AND ADD VISUAL INTEREST with contemporary weaves and colours.

A formal sofa can make a confident statement to any country interior. ‘Take the other elements you have in the room into consideration when picking out fabric styles and patterns,’ says Tricia Guild, founder and creative director of Designers Guild. For understated elegance opt for textural wool, felt or linen in calm, neutral shades to complement any existing natural stone floors or wooden beams. Whereas plush velvet in dramatic shades and bold patterns will bring a touch of glamour and highlight any period detailing. SIZE IS KEY TO CREATING A BALANCED INTERIOR.

Traditional styles, such as high-backed and scroll-arm sofas, have more generous dimensions than neater, modern boxy styles. Lynda Rowe, buyer for upholstery at John Lewis advises, ‘When choosing a sofa for any home there are a few things to consider: the comfort level, the seat height and what size sofa is best for you.’ IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL. Upholstery with button

detailing, pleating and cord piping will add classic formality to a room in an instant. For a playful modern take on tradition, introduce trims in vibrant, contemporary shades. Choose your legs carefully, too – turned wooden legs on castors are classic in style, while simple pale wood alternatives will complement modern sofa shapes. You can also use classic designs to make smaller country interiors feel more spacious, as Sarah Massouh, founder of Willow & Hall, explains: ‘Traditional sofa styles commonly have wooden feet and fixed upholstery, which can be used to make the room appear bigger by drawing your eye to the floor and the space underneath.’ 110

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Roman three-seater sofa in Hunter Green Velvet, H82xW219x D91cm, £1,350, Perch & Parrow.

ROOM ELEMENTS

Consider colour

Fabrics in shades that echo those of the natural world make a stunning statement in a country home. The Roman sofa in lush green velvet from Perch & Parrow does just that as Caroline Lozano, marketing and content assistant at Perch & Parrow explains: ‘Velvety, dark green upholsteries, such as our Hunter Green, will refine and emphasise the bucolic atmosphere of a country house, drawing inspiration from the rolling fields outside. Opt for wooden legs with prominent grain – think oak, mahogany or walnut.’

Kingswood sofa in Broad Weave Linen Seashell, H93xW186x D90cm, £1,364, Willow & Hall.

Find the angles

Classic design features will always add elegance to a period country home, particularly when offset against original details such as wood panelling or ornate plasterwork. This sofa does just that and, as Sarah Massouh, founder of Willow & Hall points out: ‘you can so easily add elegance and style to your country home with a sofa that exudes luxury. Choose classic details that add character, such as a structured silhouette or soft button back. The Kingswood sofa would be top of our list for country styles.’

DESIGN TIP SCATTER CUSHIONS AND DECORATIVE TRIMMINGS, SUCH

CH&I

LOVES

Reginald ottoman, from £380, Perch & Parrow.

AS CORD, PIPING, OR TASSEL TRIM IN COLOURS THAT CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE ROOM SCHEME (SUCH AS IN THE PAINT, WALLPAPER OR CURTAINS), CAN HELP GIVE A COHESIVE OVERALL LOOK.

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3 Lovely lines

Clean lines and boxy shapes combined with sumptuous colour will add modern formality to a country interior. ‘The look and feel of a more traditional room should be soft and round,’ says Lynda Rowe, buyer for upholstery at John Lewis. ‘While somewhat contemporary in style, the elegant, classical lines and button back of the Draper sofa means it fits perfectly in a country scheme.’

CH&I

LOVES

Esempio round coffee table, £399, John Lewis.

Draper Grand four-seater sofa, H87xW222xD95cm, £1,999, John Lewis.

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ROOM ELEMENTS

Matilda large sofa in Uniform Easy Velvet, H89xW195xD87cm, £1,375, Arlo & Jacob.

3 OF THE BEST...

Formal side tables COMPLEMENT YOUR SOFA WITH A STYLISH TABLE

Perfect for a modern country setting, this pedestal combines a traditional silhouette with a contemporary metal finish. Pedestal side table in Brass, £99, John Lewis.

Made with recycled elm, this ornate latticed table adds shapely interest to a scheme. Fontana side table, £645, Oka.

Tailored elegance

Rich colours and textures can act as an aesthetically pleasing contrast to wattle and daub plaster walls, peeling stucco and aged cornicing. ‘Consider high-backed sofas with sweeping arms finished with pleat detailing,’ advises Laura Barnard, product manager at Arlo & Jacob. ‘Traditional studding adds a touch of elegance, while tapered wooden legs provide height with a modern twist. Plush cotton velvet is an ideal fabric choice which, combined with the refined shape of the Matilda sofa, elevates the overall look.’

Shoreditch threeseater sofa in Pale Oat, H75xW200xD87cm, £1,960, Neptune.

With a marble top and metal legs, this handmade table adds a sleek contrast to your soft sofa. Emerson round marble-top side table, £89, Out There Interiors.

5 Sociable symmetry

Modern, boxy shapes can help balance a room, particularly when teamed with matching armchairs. Use symmetry when organising seating in a room to not only make a strong visual statement but, as John Sims-Hilditch, co-founder of Neptune explains, ‘to encourage a more sociable setting.’ The Shoreditch sofa is ideal for creating this sort of look. ‘It was made to bring contemporary comfort to all room sizes – it’s an exceptionally neat sofa,’ he says. ‘The soft cushions and high arms create cosiness and the contrast piping makes it just a little bit fun, too.’

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ROOM ELEMENTS

Palermo four-seater sofa in Brera Lino Graphite, H92xW240x D90cm, from £2,650, Designers Guild.

Curve appeal

Elegant, modern updates of traditional designs are ideal for adding a relaxed and graceful formality to the country home. ‘The shape of this sofa is perfectly contoured, offering superior comfort and design with elegant visual appeal,’ says Tricia Guild, founder and creative director of Designers Guild. ‘The refined outline forms a sweeping line along the wingback, which runs seamlessly in a continuous curve through the arms and down to the lightly sprung base on uniquely tapered legs.’

DESIGN TIP PRACTICALITY IS A DEFINING FACTOR WHEN BUYING A NEW SOFA SO THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING ON FABRICS AND COLOURS, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHETHER THEY ARE SUITED TO YOUR HOME LIFE AS WELL AS HOW COMFORTABLE THEY ARE.

Don’t be afraid to go for modern designs, even in a more country-style home. Dimitri Pappas, director of My Furniture, suggests the Ravello sofa: ‘This features clean, structured lines, which are softened by the luxurious velvet fabric that has been selected in a beautiful deep Wedgwood colour. The elegant diamond pattern on the walnut veneer has a high-end, contemporary feel and ties in perfectly with the shapes found in traditional period panelling.’

Clean lines, such as these sleek, metal legs, add a touch of modern formality to a sofa; but balance with sumptuous cushions. 114

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Ravello two-seater sofa, H75xW145xD86cm, £999.99, My Furniture.

FEATURE SARA EMSLIE

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SMART KETTLES FROM APP-CONTROLLED TO ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE, WE’VE FOUND THE BEST HI-TECH DESIGNS FOR YOUR COUNTRY KITCHEN

iKettle, £99.99, smarter.am.

Best for… RAPID BOILING

Signature Collection Polished Multi-Temp, £80, Cuisinart The 3kW element of this brushed stainless-steel kettle will boil your water before you’ve had a chance to get the mugs out. The sleek 1.7L design has a smart blue LED light that illuminates the water as it boils, and you can adjust the temperature from 85°C to 100°C. To save energy, a handy LCD display tells you how hot the water is inside, to help avoid any unnecessary re-boiling.

FEATURE CHRIS HASLAM

It turns out that there’s more to the modern kettle than simply boiling water. The latest models overflow with features designed to make boiling water faster and easier. If you’re a lover of decent coffee and delicate herbal teas, you can now adjust the temperature of the water to create the

perfect drink. But the hottest feature is the ability to control the kettle with a smartphone or even voice control via Amazon Alexa, so you can set the kettle to boil at specific times and temperatures – great for groggy mornings, or if you’ve got a baby and a night feed to negotiate.

DID YOU KNOW? BOILING WATER (100°C) SHOULD NEVER BE USED TO MAKE COFFEE, AS IT WILL BURN THE GROUNDS, WHILE ANYTHING LESS THAN 91°C WILL NOT EXTRACT THE FLAVOUR PROPERLY. NEXT MONTH TUMBLE DRYERS

Best for… DESIGNER LOOKS

KLF04, £149.99, Smeg Ideal for serious tea brewers, Smeg’s latest retro-style 1.7L design can boil at seven temperatures between 50°C and 100°C, including a 95°C that’s perfect for coffee. Built from stainless steel with a soft-opening lid and washable limescale filter, it’s available in a gorgeous country-style cream, soft pastel pink, blue and green, plus a more edgy black, red and chrome.

3 Best for…

SMART FEATURES

Appkettle, £129, myappkettle.com As well as using your home’s wi-fi and Amazon Alexa, you can actually control the 1.7L (2.4kW) Appkettle from your smartphone when you’re out of the house – handy if you’re late home and thirsty! You can also control the temperature, from 60ºC to 100ºC. It senses how much water is inside to avoid boiling dry and you can keep water at the ideal temperature for up to 30min after boiling. Country Homes & Interiors

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Faling for

PUMPKIN SEASON Turn mini Munchkin pumpkins into votive holders – simply scoop out enough ﬂesh to insert the candle.

Often associated with harvest time and Halloween celebrations, the humble pumpkin is not just a kitchen staple at this time of year, it is also ideal to display in the home. A cultivar of the squash plant, pumpkins come in many shapes, shades and sizes, feature smooth and knobbly skins and are illed with succulent lesh and seeds. Believed to originate in North America, the name ‘pumpkin’ is of Greek origin – ‘pepon’ means ‘large melon’. Grown on ground-creeping vines and requiring a summer of much watering, what is technically a fruit is treated as a vegetable in the kitchen where it is roasted, sautéed, mashed and puréed for use in soups, casseroles, pies and more. Alongside the culinary uses, pumpkins have long been carved and crafted into seasonal decorations. Our modern-day jack-o’-lanterns have roots in ancient Celtic times, when pumpkins were carved and hung up on All Hallows’ Eve to ward off spooks and spirits. 118

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PICKED FROM THE GARDEN PATCH OR FOUND IN FARM SHOPS, SQUASHES ARE A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR CREATING A SEASONAL DISPLAY IN YOUR HOME Add glow to a room with golden pumpkins and copper fairy lights. Place Munchkin and miniature dried pumpkins in a jar with the lights, disguising the battery box by pushing underneath the pumpkins. Begärlig vase, £14, Ikea. Copper wire lights, £3.25 for a string of 20, Lights4fun.

G E T C R E AT I V E

1 WARM WELCOME

A beautiful pumpkin and squash arrangement by the door is a wonderful way to welcome visitors. Choose a range of different sizes and varieties for impact, such as the distinctively shaped Turk’s Turban, pale green Crown Prince, striped Festival, white Baby Boo, plain orange Harvest Moon, tiny Munchkin and knobbly Knuckle Head. Pile high in wooden crates and scatter on the floor and steps.

Crates, for similar try Packhouse. Blankets, from a selection at Elanbach. Jug, £29.50, Falcon. Wicker wreath, from a selection at Hobbycraft.

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G E T C R E AT I V E

* PRESERVING YOUR DISPLAY * Extend the life of your carved pumpkin by giving the insides a spritz with lemon juice. Placing it in a cool space will also help keep it looking its best.

2 PUMPKIN VASE

The perfect shape for arranging flowers, a pumpkin can easily be carved and shaped to become a vase. Taking care not to pierce the skin and allowing a wide enough opening at the top, carefully remove the inside flesh and seeds. Pour in some water, then arrange seasonal flowers, leaves and berries, such as sedum, waxflower, eucalyptus, dahlia and hypericum berries.

3 SEASONAL WREATH

Add a colourful touch to a door with an easy-to-make decorative wreath. Begin by pushing wire through the base of some mini Munchkin pumpkins and attach to the base of a ready-made twig wreath (try Hobbycraft). Wind a faux oak leaf garland (find on eBay or Amazon) around the twig wreath, then push fresh oak leaf branches and waxflower stems into the gaps to complete the wreath.

4 PRETTY PLACE SETTING

Miniature dried pumpkins (try Amazon) are the perfect size to be crafted into cutlery ties. Simply push wired string through the base and wrap around the cutlery. Cutlery, from a selection at Amara. Emily napkin, £36 for six, Neptune. Pure dinner plate, £15.95; Amma votive, £9, both Abode Living. Arabesque plates, £23.50 each, Sthål. Jug, £19.50, Falcon.

FEATURE, STYLING & PHOTOGRAPHY SARA BIRD AND DAN DUCHARS/THE CONTENTED NEST

For creative carving, use saw edged or paring knives and spoon scoops to slice and shape your pumpkin or buy special carving kits and templates.

5 GLOWING CENTREPIECE

Draw the eye to the centre of a table with a tray of seasonal pumpkins surrounding a candle lantern. Mix different sizes of fresh and dried pumpkins and include autumnal leaves for interest. Garden tray, for similar try Etsy. Lantern, from a selection on eBay. Vintage linen, from a selection at Parna. Country Homes & Interiors

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The house sits at the centre of the terraced garden built on a surrounding hill.

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SUFFOLK GARDEN

A sense of calm AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, SOFT PLANTING BRINGS A SOOTHING FEEL TO THIS CONTEMPORARY GARDEN PUNCTUATED WITH STATEMENT FEATURES AND QUIRKY TOUCHES Country Homes & Interiors

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The beech tree at the front of the house turns to golden autumn tones.

When Liz Goodrich and Peter Mavroghenis and their two

AT HOME WITH... Owners Liz Goodrich and Peter Mavroghenis, who live here with George, 17, Anna, 14, and Mister the labradoodle. Liz co-owns terracotta pot company Italian Terrace and Peter is a lawyer.

House Built in 1999 in traditional Suffolk cottage style.

Features One-and-a-half acres including four terraces, hosta courtyard, ornamental grasses, knot garden, sculptures, kitchen garden and greenhouse.

children moved to Suffolk in 2010, they swapped a tiny London garden for a blank canvas. ‘The previous owners kept horses and this was a barren space,’ recalls Liz. ‘It was full of potential, but scary as we had almost no experience of gardening.’ Today, it is an elegant contemporary country garden, with an air of calm created by a restricted palette of plants and the gentle sound and sway of ornamental grasses. Bold features, including hard landscaping of oak sleepers and rusty metal, mingle with carefully considered focal points and whimsical notes, such as the table and chairs clothed with sedums. The Union Jack and American lag painted on the old barn celebrate the transatlantic inluences of this imaginative collaboration between Liz from New England and London-born Peter. The house is built in the style of a typical Suffolk cottage. ‘It’s on a steep slope, which we irst saw as a massive problem, but came to consider a great asset,’ says Liz. ‘The hill lent itself to terracing, which adds so much interest to the garden. And the house is right in the middle, which meant we could create separate areas and make focal points at different levels.’ Liz and Peter had other challenges to tackle, including the local wildlife. ‘Initially, we found the rabbits adorable then discovered how destructive they can be. After fencing everywhere to protect the plants, we realised that water was the next problem. Our free-draining soil needs regular rainfall to keep most plants happy, and we’re in one of the driest regions in the country.’ The solution was to choose plants that can cope with dry conditions, such as succulents, nepeta, Alchemilla mollis and

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SUFFOLK GARDEN

Mister, the family’s beloved labradoodle.

Formal beds are interspersed with terracotta pots.

What we love most about this garden…

Birdhouses adorn the boundary fence.

Succulents and rusty metal are main themes.

‘The fact that we both created it together. Although the structure is quite formal, it is packed with personality and elements of surprise.’

A sedum-covered table and chairs add character and fun.

Painted US and UK ﬂags nod to Liz’s and Peter’s heritage.

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Steps made from metal and oak are planted with succulents to blend into the landscape.

Bold pink cosmos and dahlias extend the ďŹ&#x201A;owering season.

ornamental grasses, which are the gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature plant. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been drawn to grasses,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; says Liz. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;They have a simple quality but when planted in abundance become something more. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d seen beautiful grasses at RHS Hyde Hall and wanted to do the whole darn garden in them!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; With admirable restraint, Liz has introduced other plants, such as hydrangeas, echinacea, gauras and salvias, all enhanced by grasses as a foil. Before the planting began, however, Liz and Peter took many measurements and did numerous drawings to understand the space. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We had to get the scale right. The layout is formal, inely measured on a grid with every point lowing from the house,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; says Liz. The main axis, seen from the kitchen, features broad, shallow steps made of oak sleepers interplanted with succulents. Beyond is an avenue of hawthorn drawing the eye to a large pot holding a magniicent phormium. The top lawn was divided into eight beds of three by four metres each, with two metres between. The boundary fence is lined with Malus â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rudolphâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; underplanted with Euphorbia wulfenii. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The euphorbia is such a crazy green; it has so much personality,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; says Liz. Further along is a glade of three multi-stemmed silver birch (Betula jacquemontii) enclosing a sphere of horseshoes made by Simone Aresu of Art Steel Work. Assorted old garden tools hang along the fence, together with a dozen quirky birdhouses from the US. The couple inherited a retaining wall of sleepers supporting the steep gradient, but this has been extended with a woven rusted metal wall by Dominic Watts of Metallurgi. His craftsmanship is evident throughout the garden, in the form of planters, a tree

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Modern Country Classic

Sleepers Use new or recycled oak railway sleepers for hard landscaping and garden features with strong lines and durability. Ĺ&#x2DC; 6RXUFH VOHHSHUV DW UHFODPDWLRQ yards or timber merchants. Ĺ&#x2DC; 7KHVH ZRRGHQ VXSSRUWV DUH DQ ideal foil for plants as they change colour with the weather â&#x20AC;&#x201C; pale when dry and dark when wet. Ĺ&#x2DC; 7R PDNH VWXUG\ VWHSV PHDVXUH carefully and leave 10cm at the back of each riser. Fill the spaces with sedum or other tough plants to soften the effect. Ĺ&#x2DC; 7DNH GHVLJQ LQVSLUDWLRQ IURP Manhattanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s High Line and create a horizontal garden feature. Lay sleepers in rows on the ground DQG JURZ VHGXPV RU RWKHU ORZ spreading plants in the gaps.

SUFFOLK GARDEN

What makes this garden so special... ‘I love the calmness. We work frantically at it all weekend, and it requires a lot of energy, but when we stop and sit it’s very peaceful.’

A dense sweep of feathery swaying grasses contrasts with the crisp lines of the parterre. Country Homes & Interiors

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A gravel path lined with papery-barked Tibetan cherry leads the eye to a Tuscan oil jar.

Rusted metal tulips are a quirky counterpoint to slender white stems of silver birch.

seat and a six-foot three-loop sculpture based on a Russian wedding ring. ‘I love the metalwork,’ says Liz. ‘Its rusty colour goes so well with lowers and plants.’ The stepped wall of sleepers creates a strong presence, with nepeta giving way to block plantings of Miscanthus ‘Starlight’ on the top row. The garden lows from one room to the next, past a small box parterre with a backdrop of purple sage into a secluded corner by the house. Here, a tiny but dramatic area features a giant rhubarb (Gunnera manicata) lanked by towering black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra). The axis on the north terrace looks onto a lat rectangular bed of sleepers inspired by the High Line, a public park built along a redundant railway line in New York City. The sedums change colour throughout the year ‘like a magic carpet’ says Liz, who trims them with a strimmer – or sometimes a bread knife! A greenhouse provides another anchor point overlooking a mini kitchen garden with raised beds and enclosed by a wooden fence adorned with espaliered apples and pears. Through the arch is a straight view across the garden to an Amelanchier ‘Robin Hill’. Liz and Peter have transformed a bare paddock into a splendid garden for all seasons. In winter, 83 carefully placed trees give strong structure. In spring, bulbs vie with blossom for attention, then the ornamental grasses create a backdrop to summer planting before taking centre stage from September to New Year. Brookside, Moulton, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8SG (07973 622136) is open for the National Garden Scheme (ngs.org.uk) on Sunday 9 September from 2-5pm. 128

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ON OUR D O O R S T E P. . . Visit … ‘Palace House, Newmarket (01638 667314; palacehousenewmarket.co.uk) to see National Lottery funds superbly well spent. Enjoy displays about the history of horseracing, a remarkable collection of paintings, an excellent gift shop and café – it’s a great day out!’

Go for a meal at... ’The Packhorse Inn, Moulton (01638 751818; packhorseinn.com), our very friendly local with a great restaurant and delicious bar food. We ﬁnd it the perfect place to relax after a bracing walk.’ Shop at... ‘Simpson’s Nurseries, Fordham (01638 720194; simpsonsnurseries.com). This family-run business offers mainly own-grown plants and trees, all at very competitive prices.’

SUFFOLK GARDEN

Liz’s early autumn favourites 1 The kaffir lily Hesperantha coccinea ‘Pink Princess’ is ideal for pots. 2 Rosa ‘Hyde Hall’ is a repeat-flowering shrub rose bred by David Austin. 3 Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ makes a lovely addition to a parterre. 4 Pennisetum ‘Fairy Tails’ is a superb ornamental fountain grass. 5 Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’ (syn. ‘Jane’) fades to soft pink. 6 Geranium Rozanne has beautiful violet-blue flowers with white centres. 7 Perky pink and white lewisia on slim stalks sits well in terracotta pots.

FEATURE WIDGET FINN PHOTOGRAPHS ZARA NAPIER

8 Dahlias of all kinds are excellent for borders at this time of year.

NEXT MONTH A COLOURFUL SCOTTISH GARDEN

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For her living room, Pearl choose Oralia Ochre curtains by Hillarys. The delicate pattern adds a sense of understated elegance.

LOVE THE VINTAGE LOOK FASHION AND TEXTILE DESIGNER PEARL LOWEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOMERSET HOME IS FULL OF STYLE INSPIRATION, INCLUDING ELEGANT WINDOW DRESSINGS FROM HILLARYS

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

LEFT The guest bedroom is a relaxed sanctuary. ‘One of my favourite things to do when I’m decorating a house is to mix textures and different prints. I love how the tweed wool blind sits with the star wallpaper, paisley chair and brown battered trunk,’ says Pearl. Wallace Chartreuse Roman blind, Hillarys.

BELOW Pearl’s bathroom plays with colour and pattern. ‘The reason I chose this beautiful ﬂoral blind was because it works so well with the yellow and green patterned tiles and the pink velvet roll-top bath. The bathroom now feels really jolly,’ says Pearl. Delizia Nectarine Roman blind, Hillarys.

earl Lowe has a knack for spotting pieces that will add character to the Georgian home she shares with her musician husband and family in Frome, Somerset. With an eclectic mix of one-off vintage inds from local antique shops, beautiful fabrics and contemporary pieces, she’s created a home that’s sometimes described as ‘rock’n’roll meets vintage granny chic’. The key to her look is an artful mix of four or ive interesting pieces that really stand out in each room – wind your way through Pearl’s luxuriously restored home, and you’ll see fabric designs that work perfectly together in each room. For starters, there’s the spacious and elegant living room with mismatched lorals, animal print, vintage tassels and contemporary, made-to-

measure curtains that are perfectly in keeping with the room’s light, airy feel. ‘We chose the pale mustard coloured linen-look curtains as there’s a lot going on in this room and we didn’t want it to feel too much by adding more. The curtains have a delicate pattern, which is great. It feels warm and eclectic,’ Pearl tells us. To cosy up the mood in the guest bedroom, Pearl has paired a tartan Roman blind with a star-design wallpaper and a French-style armchair covered in a paisley fabric, linking all three designs together with a subtle, tonal colour palette. Pearl’s bathroom is a delight with a wow-factor, bright pink roll-top bath, complemented by a pretty loral Roman blind. Vintage details such as the pink glass doorknob and a silk, fringed throw add a charm that makes this home one of a kind.

Find the perfect look for your home from the full range of Hillarys made-to-measure blinds, curtains, shutters and carpets at hillarys.co.uk or call 0800 916 7744 to book a free in-home appointment with your local advisor.

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Make Life Loely

FASHION, WELLBEING, ECO, PETS AND OTHER NICE THINGS

CARRY OFF A CAPE

GO FOR SOCIAL SOAP

Keep warm and toasty on country rambles with this gorgeous tweed cape, £130 from Cath Kidston – ideal for those chilly autumn days.

The Soap Co is a social enterprise that creates luxurious, ethical, handcrafted bath and beauty products, while providing training and jobs for visually impaired, disabled and disadvantaged people. Made from natural ingredients, all of the products are free from chemicals, and the packaging is a mix of recyclable, biodegradable and compostable materials. We love the Geranium & Rhubarb body wash, £19.

CHOOSE A CRAFT TOOL Perfect for crafters and DIY enthusiasts, the Stylo+ by Dremel, £56, allows you to carve a pattern on wood, personalise and engrave leather, or polish a piece of metal. The lightweight gadget can also be used on stone and glass, as well as for sanding.

Fake it! Bring seasonal colour into your home with this beautiful, realistic faux-flower arrangement, £120 from Fox Flowers. The Autumn Gift Bunch combines orange protea, chrysanthemum and rudbeckia stems with quintessentially English roses, snowberries and green blackberries, as well as delicate ferns, eucalyptus and magnolia leaves. All of which comes wrapped in hessian and is hand-tied.

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HAPPY THOUGHTS AND IDEAS

3 REASONS TO LOVE…

A meaningful space 1 YOU WILL ENJOY coming home to somewhere you can rejuvenate and feel at ease. 2 SURROUNDING YOURSELF with things that bring you joy and that ground you, creates a home that invites serenity and awareness. 3 YOU CAN BE YOURSELF. Pay attention, unplug, relect and discover how your space can – and should – be, one that relects your quirks, your story and your own unique style.

BUY BRITISH

Christy Heritage brand Christy is renowned for its cotton bedlinen and towels. Founded by Henry Christy in 1850 at the height of the industrial revolution in Manchester, Christy introduced the Western world to the concept of the terry towel, before moving on to weave cotton sheets and linen. The Christy HQ is still based in Greater Manchester and the company now produces a range of bedroom and bathroom essentials such as duvets, pillows, bathrobes and slippers, and is the official textile supplier of both Ascot and Wimbledon.

Taken from Do Inhabit by Sue Fan and Danielle Quigley (£8.99, The Do Book Company).

Jaipur cushions, from £30 each; Jaipur throws, from £140 each, all Christy.

WASH WITH AN ECO WHISK Cut down on plastic in the kitchen with this washing-up whisk, £7, from The Small Home, made from cereal root with two windings to make it extra robust. Perfect for cleaning pots and pans, simply pop the whisk in boiling water for a few minutes before its first use.

TAKE THE BISCUIT Give your pooch a treat with delicious handmade dog biscuits from Barney’s Biscuit Boxes. From £3.95, they come in several lavours including Apple & Cheese, Banana & Honey, Carrot & Ginger and Peanut Butter, and are made using fresh ingredients with no derivatives, preservatives or additives. Country Homes & Interiors

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HAPPY THOUGHTS AND IDEAS

ADD COLOUR, NATURALLY

Love a barn If you’re planning an autumn wedding or special celebration and looking for a rustic venue, take a peek at the six spectacular barns restored and transformed into idyllic wedding and party venues by familyrun Cripps & Co. Dotted throughout the countryside, each barn has a distinct look featuring flagstone floors and fireplaces.

Plant dyes have been used for thousands of years, and in Botanical Inks: Plant-toPrint Dyes, Techniques and Projects (£16.99, Quadrille), botanical dye expert Babs Behan shows you how to transform flowers, plants and food waste into natural dyes and inks. Step-by-step instructions guide you in the art of dye-making and application methods, as well as teaching you how to bring your new skills to life.

GAZE UP AT THE MOON On 23 September, take a moment to look up at the night sky and appreciate the Harvest Moon. The name was given to the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, due to the extra light it provided farmers with during the harvest season.

Cripps Barn in Gloucestershire.

3 OF THE BEST…

Eco cleaning products

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Kinn Living Choose a washing up liquid that’s gentle on your hands but tough on grease. Kinn Living Eco washing-up liquid, £3.50 for 500ml, has a plant-based formula that uses pure essential oils and is free from petrochemicals, all other harsh chemicals and dyes.

Country Homes & Interiors

Wilton London

This luxury concentrated non-bio laundry liquid detergent uses natural oils to leave your washing with a long-lasting botanical scent. The chemicalfree formula, £9.95 per litre, is as kind to delicate skin as it is to the environment.

Mangle & Wringer Pure Liquid soap by Mangle & Wringer, £7.80 for 500ml, is a gentle castile soap made from organic coconut and sunlower oils. It can be used to clean just about anything – from loors and worktops to wall tiles and carpet stains – and is also kind to sensitive skin.

FEATURE VIVIENNE AYERS PHOTOGRAPH (BOTANICAL INKS) KIM LIGHTBODY

KEEP YOUR HOME CHEMICAL-FREE AND SMELLING LOVELY WITH THESE NATURAL BUYS

OUT AND ABOUT

The 17th-century coachhouse has been lovingly restored.

Cosy, contemporary interiors mean you’d never suspect this unassuming inn is thought to be haunted.

THE BEST SPOT FOR A HAUNTED HALLOWEEN

The Ragged Cot

FEATURE THEA BABINGTON-STITT

VISIT THIS BOUTIQUE COTSWOLDS COUNTRY INN FOR A COSY STAY AND A SCARY STORY With a history dating back more than 300 years and an isolated setting near Minchinhampton, the Ragged Cot has expertly kept its history alive while fully embracing modern style and comforts. ENJOY A LITTLE LUXURY The nine double rooms are kitted out with mod-cons and home comforts, such as a strong wi-fi connection and Cole & Lewis toiletries. Down in the restaurant and bar, the decor is in keeping with the inn’s past with a deep-set fireplace, stone walls and flagstone flooring; while floor-toceiling windows, an impressive food menu and a newly heightened ceiling add a contemporary touch. GET SPOOKED A number of ghost sightings have been reported in the Ragged Cot, making this a fitting

location for a Halloween break. Guests often report seeing the ghosts of a mother and child, and hearing the sounds of a horse-drawn stagecoach. The story goes that Bill Clavers, the landlord in 1760, was in a drunken stupor when he decided to rob a passing stagecoach. In his rush outside, he knocked his wife and child down the stairs, killing them. He then hid their bodies in an old oak trunk before getting sentenced to death himself. Whether there’s any truth in this we don’t know, but it makes for a chilling Halloween tale! SPEND TIME OUTDOORS If ghost stories make you a tad nervous, then step outside to explore the 600 acres of National Trust land that the inn backs onto. The

beautiful, ancient market town of Minchinhampton is only a few minutes away and is home to a selection of award-winning market stalls, sure to tempt your tastebuds. A short drive from here will bring you to the nearby picturesque towns of Tetbury and Cirencester, and there is also a whole host of activities to try out and attractions to visit, including the Cotswold Gliding Club, The Cotswold Wildlife Park and the Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Of course, there are ample opportunities to go walking, cycling and horse riding, too. HOW MUCH? From £80 a night for a double room, including breakfast. The Ragged Cot Inn, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton GL6 8PE, 01453 884643, theraggedcot.co.uk.

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TO BEER! Fancy something a little bit traditional, a little bit country pub? Melissa Cole has perfected the art of cooking with beer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and not just any brew will do...

Pumpkin season

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GOOD TIMES, GOOD FOOD

Proper Scotch eggs Â»

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GOOD TIMES, GOOD FOOD

PUMPKIN SEASON

PROPER SCOTCH EGGS

A bowl that you can eat, bubbling with cheesy pasta

Somewhere between a snack and a meal, cutting into

goodness, has to be the ultimate in greedy delight.

a well-made Scotch egg is a source of instant salivation.

SERVES 2

2 soup bowl-sized edible squashes

3 medium eggs, at room temperature

Sea salt and black pepper 80g cauliflower, grated or pulsed in a food processor 225ml double cream

½ medium onion, very finely chopped ½tsp chilli flakes, crushed ½tbsp each of very finely chopped sage, thyme,

150ml Farmhouse ale

parsley and mint leaves

1 bouquet garni made up of 6 sage leaves, 2 bay leaves, 4 squished garlic cloves, 4 sprigs of thyme, 2 sprigs of rosemary, tied together

Small knob of unsalted butter 1tsp freshly ground black pepper 1L groundnut oil, plus extra for greasing

200g macaroni or chifferi rigati

50g black pudding, at room temperature, chopped

1tbsp cornflour Knob of butter Splash of basic olive oil

100g sausagemeat, at room temperature 100ml traditional bitter 2tbsp milk

150g good-quality mature Cheddar, grated

50g plain flour

175g Gouda or Emmental, finely chopped 40g Stinking Bishop or Taleggio, finely chopped 100g chorizo picante, diced and fried until crispy

100g panko breadcrumbs 2 trays of ice

chilli flakes (optional)

1 Put a saucepan of salted water on to boil. Fill a

2g Parmesan, grated

large bowl with cold water and add the ice cubes. 2 Place 2 of the eggs in the boiling water for 4½min, then put straight into the iced water. 3 Fry the onion, chilli and herbs in the butter over a low heat until the onion is softened. Season with pepper. Place in a bowl lined with paper towels, and put in the freezer to cool for 10min. 4 Take the onion and herb mixture out of the freezer and discard the paper towels. Rub your hands with a little oil and mix the black pudding and sausagemeat with the onion mixture, slowly adding the beer a splash at a time. Pop the bowl into the freezer for 20min to irm up. 5 Peel the chilled boiled eggs carefully. 6 Whisk together the remaining egg and milk and pour into a medium-sized shallow dish. Put the lour and breadcrumbs on 2 separate plates. 7 Oil a 30cm piece of cling ilm, then place half the meat mixture on it. Lightly lour an egg and place it in the centre of the meat then, using the cling ilm, mould around the egg. Repeat with the other egg. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes. 8 Heat the oil in a large pan to 170°C. Unwrap the eggs and roll in the lour, then the egg and milk mixture and then the breadcrumbs. 9 Using a slotted spoon, carefully lower the eggs into the hot oil and fry for 8min, until golden brown and the internal temperature of the meat is 69°C. This is a couple of degrees below the safe temperature but the eggs will continue to cook after you remove them. 10 Drain on paper towels, cut in half and serve with a sauce of your choice.

1 Preheat the oven to 170°C/Fan 150°C/Gas 3

and heat a baking tray. 2 Cut the top off the squashes, set the ‘lids’ aside, scoop out the innards, and season with sea salt and pepper. If needed, take a thin slice off the bottom of the squashes to ensure they sit stably. 3 Wrap kitchen foil around the squashes to help prevent splitting. Put the lids back on, place on the baking tray and cook for 30min. 4 Meanwhile, put the caulilower, cream and ale in a pan with the bouquet garni over a low heat. 5 Put a saucepan of salted water on to boil. Add the pasta. After 5min, take 2tbsp of the starchy water and mix it with the cornlour to make a paste. After 7min, drain the pasta (reserving more of the pasta water), then put back in the pan and mix with the butter and a splash of olive oil to stop it sticking together. 6 Take the bouquet garni out of the cream mixture, add the cornlour and mix in all but a few handfuls of the cheeses with the cream. 7 Using a hand-held blender, blitz the sauce (if it gets too thick, add a little more pasta water). 8 Mix the sauce and pasta and spoon into the squashes, pop the lids back on, turn the oven down to 150°C/Fan 130˚C/Gas 1 and cook for 20 minutes. Take the lids off, top with the rest of the cheese, chorizo, chilli lakes and Parmesan. 9 Remove the foil and turn the oven up to 170°C/ Fan 150°C/Gas 3 and bake for 10-15min. Leave to rest for 8-10min before serving.

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BEER TIP Spruce, juniper and pine beers can be seasonal, so feel free to substitute for a tripel, gently heated for a few minutes with rosemary or pine/spruce tips and left to stand for 10min.

Lamb boulangĂ¨re Âť Country Homes & Interiors

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GOOD TIMES, GOOD FOOD

Pumpkin season: Saison Dupont, Belgium Proper Scotch eggs: Black Sheep Bitter, UK Lamb boulangère: Pihtla, Estonia Apple crumble beer pie: Floris Apple, Belgium

Beers to pair with... Pumpkin season: Two Brothers Domaine DuPage, US Proper Scotch eggs: West Berkshire Good Old Boy, UK Lamb boulangère: Westmalle Tripel, Belgium Apple crumble beer pie: Hook Norton Double Stout, UK

LAMB BOULANGÈRE This is one of my go-to lazy Sunday roast recipes. I’m not renowned for my patience and normally for a dish like this you’d be exhorted to poke little holes in the lamb skin and stick anchovies, herbs and slivers of garlic in them – but it’s such a lot of fuss, so I’ve devised a simpler and, pleasingly, more efﬁcient way to infuse these ﬂavours into your meat.

SERVES 6–8 2.25–2.5kg bone-in lamb shoulder 4tbsp anchovy paste (if none available, pound 20-30 preserved anchovies to a paste in a pestle and mortar) 10 large sprigs of lemon or ordinary thyme, leaves picked and ﬁnely chopped 1.5kg waxy potatoes, sliced 2 red onions, sliced 1 large garlic bulb, cloves lightly crushed 2tsp ﬁne sea salt 2tsp freshly ground black pepper 330ml spruce or pine beer 500ml chicken or lamb stock

For the gravy 1tbsp cornﬂour 1tbsp dark soy sauce 1tbsp red miso paste 1 Preheat the oven to 140°C/Fan 120°C/Gas 1. 2 Turn the lamb shoulder skinside down and

make 3cm-deep incisions to create a large diamond grid pattern in the lesh. Take the

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anchovy paste and 1tbsp of the thyme leaves, mix them together and rub them into the incisions. Set aside. 3 Into the base of the roasting tray, slice two-thirds of the potatoes and all the onions, scatter over the garlic cloves and the remaining thyme leaves, season with half the salt and the pepper. Mix together with your hands, breaking the onions up into rings as you go. 4 Roughly smooth out the top of the potato mixture, add the beer and the chicken or lamb stock, then, with the remaining potatoes, make two neat overlapping rings, one inside the other on the top around the outside. 5 Put the lamb shoulder, leshside down, in the middle of the potatoes and very lightly score the top in a smaller diamond grid pattern, literally just scratching the surface with the knife. Season with the remaining salt and pepper. 6 Put the lid/foil on and cook in the oven for 30min. Turn the heat down to 120°C/Fan 100°C/Gas ½ and cook for 5-6hr. When the lamb is ready, you will be able to pull the shoulder bone out with little or no resistance. At that point, lift the lamb out very carefully and place on a large plate, cover with kitchen foil and pop back in the oven. 7 Carefully pour off any excess roasting juices from the potatoes into a large saucepan. 8 Turn the oven up to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6, take the lamb out and put the potatoes back in. Leave the lamb somewhere warmish to rest. 9 To make the gravy, mix the cornlour, soy and miso in a small bowl, add a ladle of the cooking juices and whisk together with a fork. 10 Add this mixture to any juices in the saucepan and allow to bubble gently over a low heat and reduce to your desired gravy consistency. 11 When the potatoes are browned, turn the oven off, crack open the door slightly, and return the lamb to the middle of the dish. Put your serving plates in to warm. 12 Cook whatever vegetables you require and bring everything to the table to serve.

Recipes taken from The Beer Kitchen: The Art and Science of Cooking and Pairing with Beer by Melissa Cole (Hardie Grant, £20)

NEXT MONTH AUTUMN COMFORT FOODS

PHOTOGRAPHS PATRICIA NIVEN

Beers to cook with...

APPLE CRUMBLE BEER PIE WITH MILD CUSTARD

1tsp vanilla bean paste 4 large egg yolks

Ahhh, crumble, it’s something that nowhere in the world does as well as we do in the UK.

1 Heat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4.

SERVES 6 1kg cooking apples 100ml apple or pumpkin beer 1tbsp plain ﬂour, plus extra for dusting

For the crumble topping 200g plain ﬂour 100g rolled oats 150g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 200g demerara sugar

For the custard 200ml double cream 700ml whole milk 3tbsp cornﬂour 2tbsp mild beer 185g caster sugar 1tbsp maple syrup

Grease and lour a 20cm pie pan. 2 Peel, core and slice the apples. Put them in a pan with the beer and heat for 7min. 3 Gently stir in the lour, then allow to cool. Put all the topping ingredients in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles fat breadcrumbs. 4 Spoon the apples into the pie pan and top with the crumble. Bake for about 30-40min. 5 To make the custard place the cream and milk in a saucepan over a low heat and gently bring to just below boiling point. 6 Meanwhile, in a bowl, blend the cornlour with the beer, then whisk in the sugar, syrup, vanilla and egg yolks. Whisk in the warm cream mixture. 7 Return the mixture to the saucepan and warm slowly, stirring constantly for about 5min. Serve poured over the crumble pie. Country Homes & Interiors

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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

Umbria, Perugia and Assisi: The Heart of Italy

Selected departures from April to October 2019. 8 days from only £899pp. Price includes: Discover hidden cultural treasures in the Guided tour charming traditional villages of inland Sardinia of medieval Alghero’s fascinating Catalan heritage Guided 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 Discover the ancient thousands of Bronze Age settlements Phoenician ruins at Tharros Visit a family-owned wine estate and enjoy a tasting of Sardinia’s excellent wines Return flights from the UK Four-star hotel accommodation with daily breakfast and four dinners The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

Selected departures from April to October 2019. 8 days from only £899pp. Price includes: Guided tour of Perugia, capital of Italy’s Wander medieval Assisi, the beautiful Umbria region birthplace of St Francis Cross into Tuscany to explore Take the ferry across Lake Trasimeno to hilltop Cortona Maggiore See Spoleto’s ancient Roman and Romanesque architecture Explore the enchanting Frasassi Caves Journey through the history of one of Umbria’s oldest towns, Gubbio, on a land train tour of the sights Take the funicular up a volcanic rock-face to the hidden town of Orvieto Visit a 101-year-old chocolate factory Return flights from the UK Four-star hotel accommodation with daily The services of our experienced tour manager breakfast

Montenegro: Budva, Cetinje and the Bay of Kotor

Spain’s Basque Country, La Rioja and Burgos

Selected departures from April to October 2019. 8 days from only £849pp. Price includes: Guided tour of Budva’s medieval old town See the incredible Ostrog Monastery Tour the atmospheric walled town of Kotor with a local guide, plus visit Venetian Perast and its island church of Our lady of the Rocks Enjoy a guided tour of the Albanian town of Shkodër, one of the most Learn about Montenegro’s best ancient cities in the Balkans kept secret with a tour and tasting at one of the most unusual wine cellars in the world, hidden 30 metres underground Explore elegant Cetinje, Montenegro’s royal capital, and visit King Nikola’s palace with a guide, before sampling delicious local specialities Return flights from the UK Four-star hotel accommodation with daily breakfast and four dinners The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

Selected departures from April to October 2019. 8 days from only £899pp. Price includes: Enjoy a guided tour of beautiful Bayonne, capital Ascend to the peak of La of the French Basque Country Take a guided Rhune mountain by vintage cog railway walking tour of Burgos and explore its outstanding Gothic cathedral Tour one of Rioja’s most revered vineyards and Visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum in enjoy a tasting Bilbao Enjoy a guided tour of Pamplona Explore Santillana Discover San Sebastián, an alluring coastal beauty del Mar Sample delicious pintxos at a traditional bar in San Sebastián Marvel at the superb prehistoric cave paintings of UNESCOReturn flights from the UK Four-star hotel listed Altamira accommodation with daily breakfast and one dinner 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

Set on a plateau above the Lower Wey Valley, the newly designed kitchen enjoys extensive views.

PROJECT PROFILE Owners Paul and Jane Howard, who are both retired.

House A four-bedroom,

installed to create a seamless connection with the terrace and stunning views.

detached barn conversion in rural Surrey.

Kitchen size 5x6m. Designer Graham Jones of

Project The space was

John Lewis of Hungerford.

increased for a sociable modern kitchen, and bifold doors were

Cabinetry Pure Kitchen range from John Lewis of Hungerford.

Â»

NEW BEGINNINGS THIS 160-YEAR-OLD BARN HAS BEEN CREATIVELY REIMAGINED WITH A STYLISH MODERN KITCHEN PERFECT FOR MODERN LIVING AT ITS HEART

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Walnut-topped units near the dining table act as a serving area when the couple entertain.

Drinking in the glorious views across the

Lower Wey Valley, it’s easy to see what attracted Paul and Jane Howard to their new home. ‘We wanted breathing room,’ says Paul, ‘and this area gives us that by the bucket load.’ The couple had been looking for a more rural location for quite a few years and had always liked the idea of a barn conversion. So inding one already partially converted, with an outdoor pool and the bewitching views, was a dream come true. The barn had one large internal space attached to a single storey run of outbuildings when the couple bought it in 2016. Work soon started to create a kitchen, dining and living areas in the main barn and sleeping quarters adjacent. ‘The overall concept was to retain as much of the original barn as possible inside, keeping the oak frame, cladding and ironstone plinths exposed,’ explains Jane. Glass was used extensively and the 12 steels that host the mezzanine level that was built above the kitchen were also left unclad. The choice of a smart, contemporary kitchen was an attempt to celebrate the barn’s latest incarnation. ‘We 146

Country Homes & Interiors

The island is the room’s linchpin – a practical workspace, as well as a sociable gathering spot.

felt a modern, clean look would complement and enhance the natural colours of the oak beams and other original features,’ says Jane. ‘As we both love cooking, as well as entertaining, the room needed to be spacious. The latest kitchen technology was also key.’ The couple discovered the perfect modern design in John Lewis of Hungerford’s Pure range, but it was the company’s reputation for bespoke solutions and quality itting that sealed the deal. ‘We seem to attract owners of these wonky old buildings as our kitchens can be tailored to it onsite, no matter the loor levels or undulation of walls,’ says designer Graham Jones. While Paul and Jane had a clear vision for the look of their new kitchen, John Lewis of Hungerford added the technical knowhow and spatial design skills that really make it sing. The island unit has proved a particular success. ‘We do everything from it!’ says Paul ‘The design team were also really savvy about maximising the storage for us, too so we have far more than we thought we would have. In fact, the whole kitchen is pretty much perfect!’

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

Steel pillars and oak beams are cleverly worked in to the kitchen design.

CH&I

LOVES

Lansdown glass pendant lights, £285 each, Jim Lawrence.

‘We’ve always loved the style of converted barns and when we saw this space, we knew it would make for the most incredible kitchen’

Hob

Tall units

Larder

Staircase

Wine conditioning unit

Bifold doors

Sink

Pan drawers

The layout

The main kitchen is orientated to make the most of the views – in summer, bifold doors can be pulled right back. Stools at the end of the island create a pleasant spot to sit and look out. The dining area, with a 22-seater table, is open plan and double-height, maximising the vaulted ceiling.

A multifunctional sink features an integral chopping board and serving containers.

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design solutions TO INSPIRE YOU

RO O M AT T H E BA R

Making space for bar stools on two sides of the island means Paul and Jane can enjoy the views from all directions. ‘Our favourite thing about this whole project is that, together with John Lewis of Hungerford, we have made cooking a much more social enterprise,’ enthuses Jane. Do think about the size and position of your stools to ensure they don’t become a trip hazard when cooking.

The couple chose backless stools that can be tucked neatly under the island when not in use. 148

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

The couple were keen to use the latest technology, including the Quooker 3-in-1 tap.

F L OAT I N G SHELF

The details

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHS JON DAY STYLING KARINA GARRICK

In order to give the appearance of loating effortlessly, this chunky wooden shelf needed to be carefully secured to the kitchen wall. The solution was to use specially made, deep steel rods, which are pushed into the barn wall and carried right through the depth of the shelf.

CABINETRY Pure range cabinetry from John Lewis of Hungerford, painted in Earl Grey with island in Cardoon. Kitchens start from £17,500.

SURFACES Verona quartz composite worktops, from £400sq m, Silestone. Solid walnut worktops, from £450sq m, John Lewis of Hungerford.

APPLIANCES

Built-in CVA 6800 coffee machine, £3,675; DGM 6800 steam oven with microwave, £4,124; H 6860 BP oven, £3,849; DGC 6860 steam combination oven, £5,799; ESW 6229X warming drawer, £1,325; G6660 SCVi dishwasher, £1,299; KWT 6321 UG wine conditioning unit, £2,549; KMDA 7774 FL induction hob with integrated extractor, £3,499, all Miele.

TA N D E M D R AW E R S

Deep pan drawers can mean wasted space above the pots and pans. Enter Tandem Drawers, a smart solution featuring an inner slimline drawer that will take care of all your utensils and tools. ‘You do have to open the main drawer to access the inner one, but many of our customers think it’s worth it to achieve the sleek design of a single drawer front,’ adds Graham.

SINKS & TAPS Stages 3761-NA stainless-steel sink with accessories, £2,506, Kohler. Fusion Round Pro3 boiling, hot and cold tap, from £1,150, Quooker.

Oak-lined drawers provide top-quality storage in the island.

ACCESSORIES Easymaid bar stools, £235, John Lewis of Hungerford.

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

Make the most of outdoor space 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

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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.

PHOTOGRAPHS MARTIN BENNETT / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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‘MY WREATHS ARE INSPIRED BY THE HEDGEROWS AND GLORIOUS COUNTRYSIDE WHERE I LIVE’ Wild florist Layla Robinson t’s not hard to see where Layla Robinson’s creative flair for flowers comes from. Her home, just off the Offa’s Dyke path on the Radnorshire/Herefordshire border is surrounded by an awe-inspiring landscape full of beautiful foliage, which she collects for her creations. ‘It’s where I feel my happiest – walking along the quiet roads or hilltops with my husband Rob and our three girls Matilda, 10, Marigold, eight, and Meredith, three, picking through the hedgerow for interesting grasses, berries and foliage.’ Layla has always loved flowers and nature, even as a child, having been raised in the Golden Valley in Herefordshire, renowned for its stunning landscape. That passion carried through to adulthood when she studied amenity horticulture at Pershore College of Horticulture and also went on to do an apprenticeship in landscape design and management while working as ground staff. She used these new skills to set up her first business, working as head gardener and designer for a number of country houses in the Herefordshire area, including a 14thcentury farmhouse, Wellbrook Manor, in

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Peterchurch, and a Georgian property, Winforton House, in Hay-on-Wye. The experience of working for country estates led her to start her first independent business venture, Darling Buds of Hay, a locally-grown floristry enterprise specialising in weddings, events and arrangements to order. With the help of Rob, Layla set up two polytunnels in her garden so she could start growing the flowers for the business. ‘Using homegrown stems meant that the business was dictated by the seasons,’ says Layla. ‘So it thrived in the warmer months and then became quieter and more limiting in the winter months.’ It was when she was asked to do a winter wedding for some friends that the idea of a wreath business developed. ‘I had to think outside of the box as I can’t grow many flowers at that time of year,’ she says. ‘So I had to get creative with the foliage available to me in local hedgerows and fields.’ Layla produced a wild, twiggy garland for the chapel door and a heart-shaped wreath to display inside, which the bride kept as a memento of the wedding. It then dawned

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

Layla tending some of the many ďŹ&#x201A;owers she grows in polytunnels for her business. Country Homes & Interiors

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What I loe most... ‘BRINGING TOGETHER THE SEASONS, COLOURS AND TEXTURES AND SEEING WHAT DIFFERENT ELEMENTS CAN BE USED TO MAKE A BOUNTIFUL WREATH – IT’S A REAL JOY TO PUT TOGETHER’

on Layla that her business could thrive all year round if she diversified to make longlasting natural wreaths using dried flowers and foliage, too. It was just a matter of getting organised and planning ahead to make it a success, so she always had enough dried flowers to last the colder months. The flowers are sown in the spring, then cut throughout the summer and autumn and stored in a drying cupboard. Willow and birch, which Layla uses for the base of the wreaths, is picked after the leaves drop just before the hedge cutter destroys it. ‘I have been known to be cutting willow whips with the hedge cutter close behind me, working as rapidly as I can before it catches up,’ she says. Other materials found on hilltops and hedgerows

Layla twists lengths of willow together to make the base.

are picked depending on how the season has gone, because what’s available, and when, can vary from year to year in the wild. Layla makes the willow frames first, and then adds layers of foliage and flowers tailored to suit the client’s personality. It’s this bespoke touch that people love most about her work. The stone barn opposite Layla’s home and the covered veranda in front of the house are where she makes her creations. ‘The light is best here and there’s plenty of space to spread out everything I need,’ she says. During busy months, the walls of her home are covered in her wreaths as she has to keep them dry until they go out for delivery. As each one is unique, the majority of them are bespoke commissions. ‘Probably the most important thing I’ve learnt so far is that the process takes time, and I have to be sure to factor that into the pricing,’ says Layla. She has to prepare a year in advance to plant all the bulbs and sow all the seeds she needs to experiment with new ideas. The longevity of the wreaths is an important factor in her pricing and business model, too. Layla stresses to her customers that they are more like works of art rather than disposable decorations. A lot of Layla’s custom comes through word of mouth and she promotes her work through her social media channels, too, which are gradually growing and becoming more successful. She also showcases the wreaths in the Majestic Bus, a converted Thirties bus that Layla and Rob rent out to holidaymakers. Running her own business has made it easier for Layla to bring up her three children alongside her work. ‘It’s such a pleasure working from home and doing something I really enjoy,’ she says. ‘The stages of the process provide plenty of variety and, as each wreath is bespoke, I am able to try out new ideas and challenge myself in different ways with every one.’ Layla Robinson, Layla Robinson Design, 01497 831733, majesticbus.co.uk, @LaylaRobinsonDesign.

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M Y C O U N T RY B U S I N E S S A sample of the items needed to make a wreath.

A chicken wire fence keeps the helichrysum ﬂowers under control.

A second vintage bus sits in the yard awaiting a makeover.

Layla’s barn is the ideal place for her ﬂoral creations.

Layla has two polytunnels on her land for easy access to her ﬂowers.

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@ ON OUR D O O R S T E P. . . Visit… ‘Llanthony Priory (01873 890487, llanthonyprioryhotel.co.uk) in Monmouthshire. It’s a magical ruined priory in a fabulous Black Mountain location, which also has an underground bar in the cellar.’ Shop at... ‘The Old Electric Shop (01497 821194, oldelectric.co.uk) in Hay-on-Wye. It sells a great variety of vintage clothes and an eclectic mix of home and gardenware.’

Go for a meal at... ‘Tomatitos (01497 820772, haytomatitos.co.uk) in Hay-on-Wye, for fabulous tapas in a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere.’

Layla wanders the quiet back roads foraging for willow whips and foliage in the warm autumn sunshine. 156

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

Smal business advice

HOW TO GAIN COMMISSIONS Follow our guide to get orders and price your work conidently

FEATURE SIAN WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHS BRENT DARBY

Just as Layla Robinson has found, gaining commissions takes time. Caroline Jackman, Talent

work. Breaking it down in an email or on paper will further aid understanding.’

Development Manager at the Crafts Council, has been supporting makers for more than 15 years and has worked for the Crafts Council for the past two. She understands fully the importance of good marketing strategies to bring in income. Here are her tips on gaining a regular source of commissions…

Provide good visuals of your proposal. ‘Use supporting images relevant to your work, as well as a CV of your experience. If you are new to working to commission and don’t have examples of work, be sure to provide a detailed outline of how you would achieve the project instead, including drawings and a written outline.’

Listen to your client. ‘What are they asking for exactly? Can you fulﬁl the brief within budget and to deadline? What particular conditions and details of the project are they asking for? If you need to be competitive in applying for a commission, it’s good to do as much additional market research as possible so that you have the competitive edge – ﬁnd that special something that sets you apart from everyone else.’

Have good images of your work. ‘It’s even more apparent today that anyone promoting a small business should have the best images possible of their work, especially as so many artisans and makers market themselves on social media and websites. There are lots of really good apps for your phone, tablet or computer that will allow you to crop, enhance and lay out your pictures. However, if you are not comfortable taking pictures yourself, it can be worth investing in a professional photographer to help you. As well as enhancing your website and social media channels, these images could potentially lead to editorial promotion, too.’

Be really thorough and concise in costing your proposals. ‘Budget correctly and never assume your client understands the processes you use. You might have to explain them in detail, as well as talk through the cost of materials and the time required to complete the project, in order for them to understand your price point and the value of your

Allow people to get to know you. ‘People love to get to know artisans and makers especially when they are considering buying your work. They like

to ﬁnd out your background and are always inquisitive to know where your ideas and inspiration comes from. Setting up an open studio session or exhibiting at local craft fairs are always good ways to get chatting to people, which can then lead on to business opportunities.’ Keep the communication lines open. ‘Having a good relationship with a commissioner is important. If possible, invite them to visit your studio or workshop. If you have a commission from abroad, arrange your initial meeting with them via Skype or FaceTime if you can, using email and phone calls to follow up.’ Whether you work in the UK or abroad, it’s important to keep your records in check. ‘Having a paper trail is important while you are in the process of preparing or working on your projects. If your correspondence is by phone or face-to-face rather than in writing, remember to follow up each discussion with an email summary. Ask for a response for any amendments needed on the work or to check that nothing has been missed out in the detail to keep them engaged in conversation.’ Caroline Jackman, Talent Development Manager, Crafts Council, craftscouncil.org.uk.

The one lesson I hae learnt...

‘EVERY YEAR IS DIFFERENT DUE TO THE FLUCTUATIONS OF THE GROWING SEASON, SO YOU HAVE TO RELY ON YOUR OWN ABILITY AND FLAIR TO MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT’S AVAILABLE’ NEXT MONTH LIGHTING DESIGNER EMILY BUTTERILL

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

Lake Maggiore, Orta and the Matterhorn

Lake Como, St Moritz and the Bernina Express

Selected departures up to October 2018 and April to October 2019. 8 days’ half-board from only £999pp.

Selected departures up to October 2018 and April to October 2019. 8 days from only £899pp. Price includes: Visit chic St Moritz in the heart of the Swiss Alps, with a journey on the Bernina Express, one of the world’s Take a lake cruise most spectacular alpine railway journeys to stunning Bellagio on Lake Como, with a private visit to the Spend a day visiting enchanting Villa del Balbianello majestic Lake Maggiore Enjoy a full-day visit and guided Visit Lugano, a stylish and elegant Swiss tour of Bergamo town by the lake Return flights from the UK Four-star hotel accommodation with daily breakfast and dinner (stays at the Hotel Menaggio are on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with dining options available for 2019) The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

Price includes: Cruise to the enchanting islands of Isola Pescatori and Isola Bella, with a guided tour of the 17thcentury Baroque villa Travel through the Simplon Pass to Full-day Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, seeing the Matterhorn tour to shimmering Lake Como Visit charming Cannobio and chic Locarno Journey on the famous Centovalli Visit romantic railway, famous for its stunning alpine views Lake Orta and the delightful medieval village of Orta San Giulio Opportunity to join a complimentary guided walk Return flights from the UK Four-star superior or fourstar hotel accommodation with daily breakfast and dinner The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

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Puglia, Lecce and Vieste – Undiscovered Italy Selected departures up to October 2018 and April to October 2019. 8 days’ half-board from only £849pp. Price includes: Discover Lecce, the ‘Florence of the South’, and See its many stunning architectural gems with a local guide the instantly recognisable trulli houses of Alberobello with their conical roofs, set against undulating countryside reminiscent of Tuscany Enjoy a guided tour of medieval Matera and its Tour the old astonishing cave village hewn entirely from rock town of Bari with a local guide and see its remarkable Romanesque cathedral See the beautiful Foresta Umbra nature reserve and visit the crusader church of Monte Sant’Angelo Learn the fascinating craft of pasta-making Return flights from the UK Four-star hotel accommodation with daily breakfast and dinner The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

* * *

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

ABIGAIL AHERN 020 7354 8181 abigailahern.com ABIGAIL EDWARDS 07946 455277 abigailedwards.com ABODE LIVING 01273 621116 abodeliving.co.uk AGA 0800 111 6477 agaliving.com ALSO HOME 01483 608611 alsohome.com AMARA 0800 587 7645 amara.com AMAZON amazon.co.uk ANNIE SLOAN 01865 803168 anniesloan.com ARLO & JACOB 0333 222 1643 arloandjacob.com ARTICHOKE 01934 745270 artichoke-ltd.com ART STEEL WORK 07853 756457 artsteelwork.com ASPACE 0800 021 9015 aspace.co.uk

BARNEY’S BISCUIT BOXES 07541 297654 barneysbiscuitboxes.co.uk BATHSTORE 0800 023 2323 bathstore.com BENCHMARX KITCHENS benchmarxkitchens.co.uk BENJAMIN MOORE 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk BENUTA 020 3608 0595 benuta.co.uk BETTE 0844 800 0547 bette.de BIRDIE FORTESCUE 01328 738634 birdiefortescue.co.uk BISCUITEERS 0870 458 8358 biscuiteers.com BLACK COUNTRY METALWORKS 0800 688 8386 blackcountrymetalworks.co.uk BOHEMIA DESIGN 0131 555 2485 bohemiadesign.co.uk BOHZAAR 01531 553000 bohzaar.co.uk BONFIELD ENGLAND 01460 30268 bonﬁeldblockprinters.com BORDER OAK 01568 708752 borderoak.com BRONTE BY MOON brontebymoon.co.uk BRORA 0345 659 9944 brora.co.uk

GLASS & FUSION 020 8243 8912 glassfusionltd.co.uk GRAHAM & GREEN 01225 418200 grahamandgreen.co.uk GRAINGER & JAMESON 0800 193 1332 graingerandjameson.com GREENGATE greengate.dk HABITAT 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk HAMPSON WOODS 020 8985 1005 hampsonwoods.com HANNAH NUNN 01422 646118 hannahnunn.co.uk HARVEY JONES 0800 389 6938 harveyjones.com HIGHER GROUND 01276 63809 higherground.co.uk HINCHCLIFFE & BARBER 0161 946 1234 hinchcliffeandbarber.com HOBBYCRAFT 0330 026 1400 hobbycraft.co.uk HOMESENSE 01923 473561 homesense.com HOUSE OF FRASER 0141 404 3747 houseoffraser.co.uk HOUSEOLOGY 0330 363 0330 houseology.com

CARAVANE 020 7486 5233 caravane.fr CASA CERAMICA 0161 870 2108 casaceramica.co.uk CATH KIDSTON 0333 320 2663 cathkidston.com CELTIC & CO 0844 557 8877 celticandco.com CERAMIC TILE WAREHOUSE 01276 678845 ceramictilewarehouse.co.uk

CHESNEYS 020 7627 1410 chesneys.co.uk CHRISTY 0845 758 5252 christy.co.uk CLEARWATER BATHS 01322 473222 clearwaterbaths.com COLLINS & HAYES 01424 720027 collinsandhayes.co.uk COX & COX 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk CRIPPS & CO 01285 740035 crippsandco.com CROWN 0330 024 0281 crownpaints.co.uk CUISINART 0870 240 6902 cuisinart.co.uk DAR LIGHTING 01295 672200 darlighting.co.uk DARTINGTON CRYSTAL 01805 626221 dartington.co.uk DASSIE ARTISAN 01290 211147 dassieartisan.com DESIGNER FURNITURE 0800 170 1228 designer.furniture DESIGNERS GUILD 020 7351 5775 designersguild.com DEVOL 01509 261000 devolkitchens.co.uk DREMEL dremeleurope.com

EARTHBORN 01928 734171 earthbornpaints.co.uk EBAY ebay.co.uk

ELANBACH 01543 410550 elanbach.com EMILY BOND 01173 763067 emilybond.co.uk EMMA BRIDGEWATER 01782 407733 emmabridgewater.co.uk EMMA COWLAM 07988 819144 emmacowlam.com EMMA TWEEDIE ART emmatweedie.art ETSY etsy.com EVERHOT 01453 890018 everhot.co.uk FALCON falconenamelware.com FARROW & BALL 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com FEATHER & BLACK 01243 380600 featherandblack.com FIRED EARTH 01295 814396 firedearth.com FIREPLACE PRODUCTS 01268 200139 fireplaceproducts.co.uk FORD HOUSE flintnorfolk.com FOREVER ENGLAND 0844 264 0424 foreverengland.com FOX FLOWERS 01892 322075 foxflowers.co.uk

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IAN MANKIN 020 7722 0997 ianmankin.co.uk IAN SANDERSON 01635 33188 iansanderson.co.uk IDYLL HOME 01270 812717 idyllhome.co.uk IKEA 020 3645 0000 ikea.co.uk ISABEL HAINES isabelhaines.com ISLE OF SKYE PAINT COMPANY 01478 612379 isleofskyepaintcompany.co.uk ITALIAN TERRACE 01284 789666 italianterrace.co.uk

JACK & TARA 020 3371 1508 jackandtara.co.uk JIM LAWRENCE 01473 826685 jim-lawrence.co.uk JO MALONE 020 7720 0202 jomalone.co.uk JOHN LEWIS 0345 604 9049 johnlewis.com JOHN LEWIS OF HUNGERFORD 0700 278 4726 john-lewis.co.uk JONNY’S SISTER 01935 873186 jonnyssister.co.uk JOULES 0345 250 7160 joules.com JOYFUL LIVING joyfulliving.co.uk JR KIRCHER 01276 474428 kircher.co.uk JULIAN BLUCK 01825 873553 julianbluck.co.uk

KATE MEDLICOTT 01458 851668 katemedlicott.com

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KERSAINT COBB 01675 430430 kersaintcobb.co.uk KINN LIVING 01883 626628 kinn-living.com KOHLER 0844 571 0048 kohler.co.uk LAKELAND 01539 488100 lakeland.co.uk LAURA ASHLEY KITCHEN COLLECTION 01226 446000 lauraashleykitchencollection.co.uk LE CREUSET 0800 373792 lecreuset.co.uk LEXINGTON 01494 787210 lexingtoncompany.com LIBERTY 020 7734 1234 liberty.co.uk LIGHTS4FUN 01423 816040 lights4fun.co.uk LINDY BARLETTA CERAMICS 07887 483275 sheenpottery.co.uk LINEN TALES linentales.com LINWOOD 01425 461176 linwoodfabric.com LITTLE GREENE 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com LOAF 0845 468 0698 loaf.com LOMBOK 020 7736 5171 lombok.co.uk LOUISA GRACE INTERIORS 07956 650895 louisagrace.co.uk

MADE.COM 0344 257 1888 MADE+GOOD madeandgood.com MAISONS DU MONDE 0808 234 2172 maisonsdumonde.com MANGLE & WRINGER 01451 833600 mangleandwringer.co.uk MARK ALEXANDER 01623 756699 markalexander.com MARK WILKINSON FURNITURE 01380 850007 mwf.com MARKS & SPENCER 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com MARSTON & LANGINGER 01243 214550 marstonandlanginger.com MELISA DORA CERAMICS melisadora.com MELODY MAISON 01302 741000 melodymaison.co.uk METALLURGI 07775 514885 metallurgi.co.uk MIELE 0330 160 6600 miele.co.uk MIMI EMMETT ENGLAND mimiemmettengland.com MOON 01943 884713 moons.co.uk MORRIS & CO stylelibrary.com/morris&co MOWLEM & CO 020 7610 6626 mowlemandco.com MR STUDIO LONDON mrstudiolondon.co.uk MURMUR 0333 200 7331 murmur.co.uk MYAKKA 0345 460 3122 myakka.co.uk MY FURNITURE 0800 092 1636 my-furniture.com

NAOS FLOORS 01825 873553 naosﬂoors.com NATIONAL TRUST SHOP 0300 123 2025 shop.nationaltrust.org.uk NEPTUNE 01793 427300 neptune.com NEPTUNE BY SIMS HILDITCH

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01249 783087 neptunebysimshilditch.com NEXT HOME 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk NKUKU 0333 240 0155 nkuku.com NOTONTHEHIGHSTREET.COM 020 3318 5115 OGGETTO 01305 881010 oggetto.com OKA 03330 042042 oka.com OLIVER BONAS 020 8974 0110 oliverbonas.com OLIVIA JEFFRIES oliviajeffries.co.uk OLLI ELLA 020 7713 8668 olliella.com ONE WORLD 020 8974 2211 one.world OUT THERE INTERIORS 020 8099 7443 outthereinteriors.com

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QUADRILLE PUBLISHING 020 7601 7500 quadrille.co.uk QUOOKER 0345 833 3555 quooker.co.uk

RICHARD WARD JOINERY 01751 431895 ROMO 01623 756699 romo.com ROWEN & WREN 01276 451077 rowenandwren.co.uk

SAINSBURY’S 0800 328 1700 sainsburys.co.uk SAINSBURY’S HOME 0800 636262 sainsburyshome.co.uk SAMUEL & SONS 020 7351 5153 samuelandsons.com SAM WILSON 01386 841116 samwilsonstudio.com SANDERSON 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com/sanderson SCARAMANGA 01334 657642 scaramangashop.co.uk SEALY 01697 320342 sealy.co.uk SELLING ANTIQUES 01293 804684 sellingantiques.co.uk SHABBY STORE 01509 323102 shabbystore.co.uk SILESTONE 01256 761229 silestone.co.uk SMEG 0344 557 0070 smeguk.com SOAK & SLEEP 01483 437762 soakandsleep.com SOFA.COM 0345 400 2222 STHAL sthal.se STORY IN BRAY 01628 638941 storyinbray.com STYLE LIBRARY 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com SURFACE VIEW 0118 922 1327 surfaceview.co.uk SUSSEX CONSTRUCTION 01892 655660 sussexconstruction.co.uk SWEETPEA & WILLOW 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com SWOON 020 3319 6332 swooneditions.com

T&G WOODWARE 01275 841841 tg-woodware.com TEN SPEED PRESS crownpublishing.com THE BIG BROCANTE thehopfarm.co.uk/events/ the-big-brocante THE CONRAN SHOP 0344 848 4000 conranshop.co.uk THE COTSWOLD COMPANY 0333 200 1725 cotswoldco.com THE DO BOOK COMPANY 020 3287 2665 thedobook.co

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Y Z

YARROW ART & DESIGN 07860 580424 yaad.co.uk

ZARA HOME 0800 026 0091 zarahome.com ZED & CO 01892 782991 zedandco.co.uk ZENA HAMON zenahamon.com

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

‘The Old Man of Coniston is a view worth working for’ Kate Quilton, T V Peenter you’ve made your way up the well-trodden paths to the summit, you’re rewarded with endless panoramic views of the surrounding green hills and fells, punctuated by rugged slate and the magical inky water of the Coniston Lake below. All under one of the biggest skies you’ll ind in Britain. It really is an extraordinary sight and one of my favourite views on the planet.

I love views that you have to work for. It’s like when food tastes so much better when you have to put the extra effort in – like with iddly crab or shelling prawns! To get to appreciate the view at the top of the Old Man, you’ve got to put in a full afternoon of effort, you’ve got to power yourself to the top, it’s the only way. And although it’s not too strenuous, it can deinitely make your calves squeak a bit later on, but that’s a great excuse to warm yourself by the ire at one of the local pubs for a pint once you’ve made it down, with the sun setting and the cool winds starting to roll in.

It’s a spot that I love in just about any of the changeable autumn weathers, but if it rains in that part of the world, it really rains! My friend once got caught in a storm at the top and by the time he’d made it back to the bottom, his pockets were bulging with water, as if he had a goldish bowl in each one. It killed his 170

Country Homes & Interiors

phone, and his sense of humour, albeit momentarily. That said, the best weather has to be a sunny, clear day when you can see as far as the Isle of Man.

On one of those lovely sunny, fresh days my boyfriend and I decided to scale the Old Man. It’s one of our favourite spots and we walk it at least once a year. Usually at the top he’d pull out some delicious little morsel and tuck in as we look at the view. But this time, out of his rucksack he pulled a little black box. I was so shocked I think I laughed for about ifteen minutes before he even opened the box to reveal the ring. He then proceeded to pull out a bottle of champagne, and two glasses, which he'd somehow hauled all the way up without me hearing a chink.

Since we created such a special memory in that spot, there’s no one I’d rather share the view with than my brilliant and hilarious husband. A glass of champagne is fantastic, too, but only if you have the muscle to hoof it all the way up!

I’m so lucky that I get to travel the world with my job. I have seen some of the planet’s most breathtaking views but the British landscape still has to be my favourite. From the drama of the Lake District, to the epic Northumberland coastline, to the majesty of Scotland, and everything in between, Britain is beautiful. And it’s home.

FEATURE THEA BABINGTON-STITT PHOTOGRAPH (MAIN) GARETH JONES/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

In the Furness Fells of the Lake District is the highest point in the county – the Old Man of Coniston. Once

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