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editor’s letter
W
elcome to the spring issue of Wildflower. We are now well into the bright, fresh days of this glorious season and many of us will be turning our attention to sprucing up
our homes and seeking new ideas for a seasonal refresh. We have plenty to inspire you. One of this season’s hottest home trends is so-called super-sized wallpapers, so turn to page 62 to discover the secrets of decorating with these simply breath-taking botanicals and fantastic florals. Elsewhere, we talk to top kitchen design gurus, who give us their thoughts on long-lasting trends for 2020 (page 49), while biophilic expert Anna Walton has plenty of tips on how to bring nature into the home (page 40). Of course, the arrival of spring heralds the start of the gardening season. It’s wonderful to head outside and to
20% off everything you need for aWildflower beautiful garden readers can receive
20% off* Sarah Raven’s entire range of bulbs, plants and seeds from now until the end of April. See p79 for more information
start planning what to grow this year. I’m delighted to welcome garden expert Sarah Raven (page 72), who shares her love of dahlias, her passion for home-grown food and
P81 Get your garden spring ready with our pick of the season’s buys
her top spots to see wildflowers. And it wouldn’t be spring without the Wildflower team’s pick of the very best events and happenings around the country. From wellness festivals and family fun-runs, to adventure days and bluebell walks, there’s much to inspire you and your loved ones. I hope you enjoy the issue.
Zöe Levey Zoë Levey, Editor
P27 Dress to impress with pretty pastel shades
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WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 5
JESSICA JONZEN Writer
Jessica Jonzen is a journalist and editor and has worked for the Sunday Times, Net-a-Porter and Matches Fashion. She is also the co-founder of an online homes and lifestyle magazine. In this issue, Jessica writes about her love of Cornwall (P102) and why it calls her back year after year. thehomepage.co.uk @jessicajonzen
6 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER
SARAH LAYTON Garden designer and wellbeing mentor
Wildflower’s new columnist — see “The mindful gardener” on P87 — Sarah Layton is a garden designer, wellbeing mentor and founder of Growthfully, which offers garden design advice and support, and helps women harness the wellbeing potential in their gardens to enhance their lives. She also offers regular “Garden Design and Wellbeing” walks around Oxfordshire. Listen out for her podcast My garden, my life, which launches on 25 March. growthfully.co.uk @growthfully
JONATHAN BUCKLEY Photographer
EMMA MORTONTURNER Interior stylist
An award-winning specialist garden and flower photographer, Jonathan has collaborated with many of the great garden writers and his work has been widely published in books, magazines and newspapers worldwide. You can see his work on our feature about gardening guru Sarah Raven (P72). He has taken pictures for several of Sarah’s books, including one that involved a year spent travelling all over the UK photographing wildflowers. He lives in Gloucestershire with his family and three border terriers. jonathanbuckley.com @jonathanbuckleyphotography
An interior stylist and writer for 18 years, Emma has styled magazine photo shoots, company brochures and press launches and has filmed video tutorials for social media. In this issue, she reveals the kitchen trends that are made to last (P49). Emma has worked with an impressive list of magazines, including Ideal Home, House Beautiful, Style at Home, Woman & Home, Country Homes & Interiors, Prima and Beautiful Kitchens, as well as brands including Talking Tables, Harveys Furniture, Kenwood, Delonghi and Tesco. When she’s not writing features for interiors magazines, she running an interiors website, writing blog posts and recording podcasts. She can turn her hands to anything crafty — except knitting — and has been craft editor on Essentials and Prima. She is never happier than when she is baking, sewing or upcycling old furniture, as well as walking her dog Alan Taylor. insidestylists.com @emmamtstylist
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FITNESS FESTIVALS | WILDLIFE WALKS | RETRO REVIVAL | WARHOL’S WONDERS
DISCOVER THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF CECIL BEATON’S BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS, AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON, 12 MARCH-7 JUNE Paula Gellibrand, Marquesa de Casa Maury by Cecil Beaton, 1928. © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive npg.org.uk
WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 11
Bright lights A new exhibition chronicles an infamous set of socialites through the lens of Cecil Beaton
Cecil Beaton at Sandwich, early 1920s. Š The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive
Below: Tallulah Bankhead by Cecil Beaton, 1932. The Museum of the City of New York. © National Portrait Gallery, London. Clockwise from left: The Bright Young Things at Wilsford by Cecil Beaton, 1927. © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive, Cecil Beaton and Stephen Tennant by Maurice Beck and Helen Macgregor, 1927. National Portrait Gallery, London
EVENTS
T
hey were the darlings of a golden age, the so-called bright young things who charmed high society with their avant-garde antics. And at the heart of this glamorous group from the 1920s and 30s was photographer Cecil Beaton, chronicling their every move with his inimitable style. Now London’s National Portrait Gallery is hosting a major exhibition of the famed photographer’s works, bringing together some 150 pieces — many of which are rarely exhibited. Cecil
The Silver Soap Suds (left to right: Baba Beaton, the Hon. Mrs Charles BaillieHamilton and Lady Bridget Poulett) by Cecil Beaton, 1930. © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive
Beaton’s Bright Young Things takes visitors through a glittering, long-gone world, bringing to life “a deliriously eccentric, glamorous and creative era of British cultural life”, according to curator Robin Muir. Expect to see portraits of the leading socialites of the day, such as Edwina Mountbatten — whose affairs shocked London society — and Diana Mitford, who went on to marry British fascist Oswald Mosley. American actresses and confirmed Anglophiles Tallulah Bankhead and Anna May Wong make a very elegant appearance; then there are the fabulously costumed images of friends such as Stephen Tennant, considered the brightest of the bright young things. The former lover of poet Siegfried Sassoon was said to have inspired the character of Lord Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisted. We will also see vintage prints of Beaton’s earliest subjects — his glamorous sisters Nancy and Baba — plus glimpses of high-spirited revels at country house weekends and city balls. Beaton’s own life and relationship with the group is also woven into the exhibition with self-portraits and images by his contemporaries, and we see his transformation from middleclass suburban schoolboy to darling of the social scene and much-soughtafter photographer — he would be Vogue mainstay for some 50 years. The portraits will delight lovers of this glittering era, with letters, magazines, invitations and the like all helping to capture the hedonistic, extravagant and endlessly fascinating world of the Bright Young Things.
Below: Constant Lambert by Christopher Wood, 1926. National Portrait Gallery, London
Cecil Beaton’s Bright Young Things is at the National Portrait Gallery, London from 12 March to 7 June 2020
WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 13
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events
THE EVENTS EDIT from ancient art to adrenaline-fuelled adventures, wildflower’s pick of the season has something for everyone
TUTANKHAMUN: TREASURES OF THE GOLDEN PHARAOH, SAATCHI GALLERY, LONDON UNTIL 3 MAY Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the ever-fascinating boy king’s tomb, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see these artefacts before they head back to Egypt to be permanently displayed at the vast new Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids of Giza. This touring exhibition has already broken visitor records in France and it’s not hard to see why — more than 150 glittering pieces are on display, including the statue that guarded the burial chamber and even the gold-inlaid miniature coffin that contained the king’s liver after it was removed for the mummification process. saatchigallery.com
25 APRIL–31 JANUARY You can never have too many bags, as the saying goes — and this exhibition is bound to leave you wanting even more. Dedicated to the ultimate accessory, visitors will see everything from Margaret Thatcher’s iconic handbag to statement pieces worn by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Kardashian. There’s also a workshop available if you want to learn how to make your own. vam.ac.uk
GAUGUIN AND THE IMPRESSIONISTS, THE ROYAL ACADEMY, LONDON 29 MARCH-14 JUNE With works by Manet, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro and Degas, this exhibition is a rare treat for lovers of Impressionism. Many of the 60 works from this private collection from Denmark have never been seen before in the UK and provide something of a roll-call of Impressionist masters. The headline act here, though, is Paul Gauguin, one of the Impressionist movement’s most influential — if controversial — figures. Renowned for his bold use of colour and expansive style, the exhibition includes a series of works that span his career, giving an insight into his influences and artistic innovations. royalacademy.org.uk
BAGS: INSIDE OUT, V&A, LONDON
LET’S MISBEHAVE — THE 1920S AT BLENHEIM PALACE UNTIL 14 APRIL Step into the heady world of the Bright Young Things at this wonderful exhibition celebrating the Roaring Twenties. Organised by Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, expect costumed characters, vintage cars, music, dancing and plenty of fabulously decadent fun. blenheimpalace.com WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 15
OXFORD LITERARY FESTIVAL, OXFORD
12 MARCH-6 SEPTEMBER The king of pop culture, Andy Warhol defined the Swinging Sixties and created an art movement the like of which had never been seen before. This major retrospective is the first Warhol exhibition at the Tate Modern for some 20 years and includes works never before seen in this country. His iconic images of Marilyn Monroe, Debbie Harry and Campbell’s soup cans are all there, of course, but there are also little-seen works from his Ladies and Gentlemen series of portraits of black and Latino drag queens, plus the immersive Silver Clouds and Exploding Plastic Inevitable. tate.org.uk
27 MARCH–5 APRIL Prue Leith and Janet Ellis join a host of authors at the 24th annual Oxford Literary Festival, taking place at various locations across Oxford. Harry Potter fans will delight in a celebration of JK Rowling’s books at the Sheldonian Theatre, while there’s also plenty for fans of Shakespeare and, should you wish to put pen to paper and become an author yourself, there are also plenty of creative writing workshops to take part in. oxfordliteraryfestival.org
NICK KNIGHT: ROSES FROM MY GARDEN, WADDESDON MANOR, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 28 MARCH-25 OCTOBER In a departure from the high-fashion photography for which he is best known, the ever-innovative Nick Knight looks to his garden for this new exhibition. Although inspired by the work of 16th and 17th still-life painters, Knight has created his incredible shots of fresh-cut roses with the use of an iPhone and the latest cutting-edge technology. waddeson.org.uk
LITTLE WELLY, HENLEY-ON-THAMES 6-7 JUNE Run, jump, climb and get seriously muddy! Little Welly is back for its sixth year with new obstacles and an even longer obstacle course. There’s also live entertainment and plenty of food and drink in the festival village, plus Laser Quest and a circus skills workshop. Exclusive to Wildflower readers, there’s a 10% discount on all ticket types when you use the code WILDFLOWER10 at the checkout. thelittlewelly.co.uk
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987). DEBBIE HARRY 1980. PRIVATE COLLECTION OF PHYLLIS AND JEROME LYLE RAPPAPORT 1961 © 2020 THE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC. / LICENSED BY DACS, LONDON
ANDY WARHOL TATE MODERN, LONDON
events
ART OF THE WILD: GERTRUDE HERMES AND THE NATURAL WORLD, HENLEY RIVER & ROWING MUSEUM UNTIL 4 MAY Drawing on the rich collections of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, this features innovative prints influenced by the British sculptor’s fascination with the natural world, as well as wood engravings of birds, fish and flowers, and her colourful 1950s linocuts. rrm.co.uk
DUXFORD AIR FESTIVAL, DUXFORD, CAMBRIDGESHIRE 23-24 MAY Watch those magnificent men (and women) in their flying machines take to the air for a festival like no other. Representing the past 100 years in aviation, it brings together the classic and the modern, with Spitfires, Chinooks and even wing walkers among the aerial acrobats taking to the skies. On the ground, explore the Imperial War Museum Duxford, home to hangers housing B-52 bombers, Tiger Moths and Concorde. And, if you can’t get enough aviation, there’s another taking place in September to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain. iwm.org.uk
STONOR SUPERCAR SUNDAY, OXFORDSHIRE
YOUNG REMBRANDT, THE ASHMOLEAN UNTIL 7 JUNE Exploring the early years of Dutch artist Rembrandt, this new exhibition is the first in the UK to explore his formative years. Starting from his earliest-known paintings, prints and drawings in the mid-1920s, the installation will continue until the moment he rocketed to stardom in Amsterdam 10 years later. With 34 paintings, including the newly-discovered Let The Little Children Come To Me, visitors will see his astonishing transformation to iconic artist. ashmolean.org
17 MAY Set in a sweeping valley in the heart of the beautiful Chiltern Hills, the lush green lawns of Stonor House will once again be filled with everything from pioneering race cars and classic sportscars to modern hypercars. Petrolheads are in for a real treat — last year’s stars included a pioneering 1932 Bugatti Type 55, two Ferrari 250 SWBs, a mint McLaren F1 and a fleet of modern hypercars including a Lamborghini Huracan Performante. Street food stalls, gourmet picnics and children’s activities such as the Stonor Wonder Woods Adventure Playground, fairground rides and Laser Tag make this a great family day out. stonor.com WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 17
events GIFFORDS CIRCUS, VARIOUS LOCATIONS 9 APRIL–27 SEPTEMBER When Giffords’ inspirational and muchloved founder Nell died last December, she left behind a lasting legacy, bringing the traditional travelling shows of old back to life with a whole new audience. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Giffords is promising one of its most spectacular shows yet with The Hooley, inspired by the rhythms and magic of ancient Celtic culture. For an extra treat, head to Circus Sauce after the show — a unique 60-seater restaurant that follows the circus to each ground. Housed in two showman’s wagons with a wonderful awning lined with old tapestries, the grand candlelit oak tables are set up with Emma Bridgewater crockery and mis-matched cutlery. giffordscircus.com
THE BEAR GRYLLS ADVENTURE, NEC BIRMINGHAM OPEN DAILY Skydive, swim with sharks or tackle an assault course at Bear Grylls Adventure, which promises a truly adrenaline-fuelled family day out. Everybody’s favourite Boy Scout and all-round adventurer, Bear has devised a heart-thumping set of challenges that include escape rooms, Europe’s tallest high ropes course, a zip wire experience like no other, plus archery, shooting and an appropriately named Fear Zone at this brand new attraction from theme-park masters Merlin. Suitable for ages 8+. beargryllsadventure.com
VE DAY 75 CELEBRATION BLETCHLEY PARK, MILTON KEYNES 8-9 MAY It was one of the first organisations to learn about the surrender of Germany, the day before VE Day was formally announced on 8 May 1945. Now Bletchley Park, the former top-secret home of Britain’s Second World War codebreakers, will be celebrating that momentous event with a family-fun-packed weekend. Enjoy dancing to live 1940s music, plus delicious food and drink at a special street party — you can even “meet” Winston Churchill and listen in to one of his iconic speeches. bletchleypark.org.uk
GARSINGTON OPERA WORMLEY ESTATE 28 MAY-15 JULY Kicking off the season with a programme to make your heart sing, Garsington brings one of Verdi’s rarely performed operas, Un Giorno di Regno, to spectacular life, plus Mozart’s incredible extravaganza Mitridate, re di Pono, composed when he was just 14 years old. Garsingtonopera.org 18 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER
‘Leading the way in educational initiatives is instinctive for this dynamic Oxford school.’ TATLER SCHOOLS GUIDE 2020
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Running mates
back at runfest for another action-packed weekend, athlete extraordinaire paula radcliffe tells wildflower why she is keen to keep spreading the wellness word
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here’s nothing like a fun-packed festival to kick-start the summer, but many of today’s discerning festival fans are often looking for something a little more enriching for mind, body and soul than the traditional booze, bands and mud bath that often accompany a weekend of live music. Step forward Virgin Breakfast Show host Chris Evans, who will be hosting his second annual RunFestRun weekend camping festival, dedicated to — you guessed it — running.
“There’s something for everyone — the vibe is very relaxed, familyfriendly and lots of fun,” champion marathon runner Paula Radcliffe tells Wildflower. As one of the team captains at the event, which takes place at Windsor Great Park in May, she is looking forward to introducing as many people as possible to the joys and benefits of running.“It really is such an inspirational weekend,” she says. Chris agrees. “RunFestRun was off the charts last year,” he says. “It was so completely different to any event I’ve ever been to before.”
EVENTS
CHRIS EVANS
This year’s attendees can expect more of the same feel-good factor as thousands of families and runners from all over the country take part in everything from costumed family fun runs to neon-clad night dashes. There are also plenty of challenging races, meanwhile, where runners compete against each other over distances of up to a half-marathon. “There was a run for everyone last year — and we will be doing the same this year,” says Paula, who is joined by fellow team captains Steve Cram and Colin Jackson, plus Chris’s wife Natasha. “I love the extra camaraderie and fun created by the team aspect,” she says. “You get your runs in, but also spend some really fun, quality time together with family and friends.” For those not charging around Windsor Great Park, there are classes to suit all ages and abilities at the Get Active Studio, from the bound-to-be-fabulous Voga — a mix of yoga and Voguing — to high-intensity workout sessions. If you feel you are flagging, there are
inspirational talks a-plenty from the likes of ultra-marathon runner Ben Smith, mental health activist Dan Keeley, track champion Sally Gunnell and many more. And there’s no need to worry if your kids aren’t as keen on a 5k as you — the organisers have thought of everything. Parents can safely leave their charges at a nurserystyle yurt run by Mortimer Nannies while they run footloose and fancyfree — or head to The Retreat spa for a restorative massage. Away from the exercise, there is, of course, the music. A spectacular line-up this year includes Toploader, All Saints and The Feeling, as well as a DJ set from Basement Jaxx. There’s also an extensive shopping village, healthy food stalls — and the opportunity to retox at the bar. We’ve even spied a cheeky cocktail caravan that’ll be pitched up on site. “There used to be a preconception that if you paid attention to health and wellbeing you couldn’t also have fun and enjoy yourself,” says Paula.
“Going for a run makes me feel better, helps me to gain a better perspective on life and enables me to think more clearly. If I have a problem to solve or a lot of work to do, going for a run helps me to think more clearly and work far more productively” Paula radcliffe
“RunFest clearly demonstrates how wrong this is. Families can come, find something for every family member, spend quality time together, improve their health and wellbeing, listen to some great music, eat some great food and have a lot of fun.” She is excited, she explains, to be spreading the word to such a big crowd about the benefits of running. “The physical health benefits of running are talked about so often and are fairly obvious, but it is equally beneficial for mental health. Going for a run makes me feel better, helps me to gain a better perspective on life and enables me to think more clearly. If I have a problem to solve or a lot of work to do, going for a run helps me to think more clearly and work far more productively when I get back. “I believe it makes me a nicer person to be around for the rest of the day.” RunFestRun, Windsor Great Park 22-24 May runfestrun.co.uk
PAULA RADCLIFFE
STEVE CRAM
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BLUE YONDER
Bursting with beautiful colour, the exquisite carpets of bluebells that adorn woodlands across the country are an uplifting sign that spring is truly on the way
living
O
ne of our best-loved British flowers, bluebells have inspired poets, writers and artists for centuries with their delicate blooms combined with incredible colour. And it’s not just creative types — these flowers attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies in their droves, with their nectar providing vital sustenance in the early spring months. Ancient deciduous woodlands provide the perfect environment for wild native bluebells — they are happiest in ground that has lain undisturbed for years, with plenty of moisture in winter and shade in summer. They also grow in hedgerows and park or grassland, often following the line of an old hedge or where trees once stood. Bell-shaped, with six petals and up-turned tips, the sweet-smelling flowers droop to one side of the flowering stem and have creamy white-coloured pollen inside. They are reasonably rare outside the UK, with more than half of the world’s population found in this country. However, their delicate nature has meant the rise of a hardier usurper — widerleaved, upright and scent-free Spanish bluebells were introduced to this country some 300 years ago and hybrids of the two can now be seen in the wild, leading to fears that our fragile native might disappear altogether. There is nothing like a walk through the dappled shade of an ancient wood to see these brilliantly hued beauties, but do take care: bluebells have soft, succulent and very sensitive leaves. If they are trodden on, they are easily damaged and are then unable to absorb the sun and photosynthesise so they die back. In turn, this means they can’t put food back into their bulbs, reducing their ability to produce flowers and seeds. By sticking to the paths, you will ensure that these fragile flowers are enjoyed for generations to come.
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“There is nothing like a walk through the dappled shade of an ancient wood to see these brilliantly hued beauties�
living
Top ten spots to see bluebells ASHRIDGE ESTATE, NEAR BERKHAMSTED, HERTFORDSHIRE Follow a guided trail through Dockey Wood to see the woodlands as they burst with spring colour. nationaltrust.org.uk
CLIVEDEN HOUSE, TAPLOW, BERKSHIRE Take a self-guided bluebell walk away from the gardens of this infamous country house and into the woods, with panoramic Thames views. clivedenhouse.co.uk
BASILDON PARK, READING, BERKSHIRE 400 acres of beautiful parkland around this imposing country house provide a perfect day out. Join a ranger-led walk to discover the best places to see bluebells. nationaltrust.org.uk
GREYS COURT, HENLEY-ON-THAMES, OXFORDSHIRE Set in the rolling hills of the Chilterns, the estate grounds surrounding this Tudor house are full of wooded parkland and rambling walks. nationaltrust.org.uk
BLICKLING ESTATE, AYLSHAM, NORFOLK This Jacobean mansion house is surrounded by some 950 acres of woodland and parkland. Go bluebell spotting on an Estate walk through the Great Wood. nationaltrust.org.uk
HEARTWOOD FOREST, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE Head to Langley Wood within this 858-acre forest. From its easyaccess, all-weather paths, you’ll see a brilliant display of bluebells throughout the spring. heartwood.woodlandtrust. org.uk
FLORAL TRIBUTES: TAKE A WONDROUS WOODLAND WALK THIS SPRING TO ENJOY THE STUNNING SIGHTS OF THE SEAS OF BEAUTIFUL BLUEBELLS
HUGHENDEN, HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE With more than 680 acres, the estate around this country house has plenty of the native beech woodland so beloved by bluebells. nationaltrust.org.uk KINGS WOOD, NEAR CHALLOCK, KENT Renowned for its stunning displays of spring bluebells, you’ll find this 1,500 acre ancient woodland in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. visitkent.co.uk
PENN WOOD, NEAR BEACONSFIELD, BERKSHIRE One of the largest ancient woodlands in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this 435-acre wood erupts into a beautiful sea of blue in spring. woodlandtrust.org.uk SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDEN, NEAR CRANBROOK, KENT Head out of the worldrenowned garden created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, and explore 180 acres of beautiful bluebelldecked woodlands. nationaltrust.org.uk
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HEART
Connecti Connecting Conn ectinng with with nnature aature ture is iimportant mporrtttant ant for wellbe wellbeing, ing but you don’t have to venture outside to enjoy it, as Anna Sjöström Walton of sustainable interiors store Chalk & Moss explains
interiors
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he love of nature is deep rooted in many, translating into not just enjoying the great outdoors itself, but bringing the outside in when it comes to interiors. Biophilic — literally, a love of the natural world — design aims to reduce stress and improve wellbeing, as well as create a beautiful home. Anna Sjöström Walton of online biophilic homeware company Chalk & Moss, explains: “We humans have an innate need to connect with nature for our wellbeing and incorporating biophilic design at home can really help you feel happy and healthy.” She tells Wildflower how to embrace biophilia at home and the impact being more connected to nature can have on your wellbeing...
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“Nature-connected homeware design, to me, means a return to simplicity — raw, honest and long-lasting materials in natural colours and textures, with real, breathing, air-purifying, mood-lifting plants” ANNA SJÖSTRÖM WALTON
interiors I’m Swedish and nature really is an important part of who I am. I don’t think I appreciated until I was in my teens how I need to get into the wild for my physical and mental wellbeing. When it comes to my home, I’ve always used natural materials and colours in a calm, Scandinavian style. When I heard about biophilic design for wellness, it was a real light bulb moment — I knew what I wanted to do. Biophilia refers to our love of life and innate need to connect to nature for wellbeing. So, with biophilic design, the boundary between inside and out is blurred. In the corporate world, it’s been shown that bringing nature into our spaces improves our productivity, creativity and wellbeing, as well as reducing absenteeism. Switched-on companies such as Apple and Google aim to improve the health and wellbeing of their employees and spend huge sums creating green spaces
indoors, outdoor workspaces, expansive nature views, water features and surfaces in natural materials. However, Chalk & Moss was the first to focus on biophilic design in the home. As awareness of environmental issues has increased, people are eager to find eco-alternatives and I felt making healthy and responsible choices in their homes. Nature-connected homeware design, to me, means a return to simplicity — raw, honest and long-lasting materials in natural colours and textures, with real, breathing, air-purifying, moodlifting plants. Having natural materials in your home also has the added benefit of reducing toxins and plastic waste, so it goes hand in hand with sustainable living. When it comes to adding biophilic design elements to your home, research shows that we tend to have a preference for colours, patterns and textures that link to or allude to nature. Calming interiors with natural textures evoke the calm feeling we experience when we’re in or close to nature. Try to bring in elements such as natural wood flooring and soft furnishings in natural materials such as wool and leather. It can also be artwork, a pattern, a wool blanket or a tactile wooden surface — calming
OUTSIDE IN: INTERIORS WITH NATURAL TEXTURES HELP TO EVOKE THE CALM FEELING EXPERIENCED WHEN IN OR CLOSE TO NATURE
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