Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2016 i Country Homes & Interiors

Country Homes & Interiors was launched in 1986 as a country lifestyle title that showcased the best of ‘people’s lives, people’s homes and people’s style’. Tastes may have changed, as these front covers show, but our original ethos of ‘Living the life... and loving the style’ is still alive and thriving. These days, you can access us 24/7 in print, on digital and through our social sites (page 12), but I believe the enduring appeal of living by the seasons, being connected to the landscape and creating contented homes that are liveable and lovable is why we’re as popular now as when we started. In celebration, we’ve shortlisted 30 country style icons that have stood the test of time (page 87) and got together with some of your favourite brands…

ENJOY PRISTINE WHITE BLOOMS IN EARLY SPRING Beautiful Magnolia stellata, with its delicate star-shaped white flowers on elegant bare stems, is an ideal choice for a smaller garden. Buy 1 for £14.99 (usually £19.99) saving £5, or buy 2 for £19.99 (usually £39.98), saving £19.99. Order at thompsonmorgan.com/XCH499 thompsonmorgan.com/XCH499 or call 0844 573 1686 (quoting code XCH499). T&Cs apply*. OUR FAVOURITE VEG EXPERT Pippa Greenwood The writer, broadcaster and all-round veg supremo recently launched a clever grow-your-own vegetable scheme, which aims to deliver foolproof growing to beginners… What inspired you to set up the scheme? Too many people don’t get the results they deserve. I hate failing, it makes me want to give up, and I don’t want people to give up growing their own, so I…

Modern Country Classic French doors Add character to a home with traditional glazed doors that let the daylight flood in. Need to know… A row of French doors that open are the classic way to maximise the light and are still top favourites in a country home, but you may prefer updated bi-fold versions on tracks, which concertina. The glazing bars needed for double glazing are thicker than those used in original timber frames, so for accurate copies for period properties, pick a supplier that’s sensitive to the style and detailing, whether lambs tongue, ovolo or square mouldings are specified. Where to buy… • Ayrton for bi-fold timber French doors. • Clement for classic designs in steel. • Lomax & Wood for French doors suitable for conservation areas. FIND THE PERFECT PUTTY PAINT…

AT HOME WITH ... Owner Diane Brittain, a company secretary for her family’s stockholding and racing companies, and property developer. Diane has two grown-up sons, Sam and Tom. She moved here in 2013. House The four-bedroom Grade II-listed mill house dates from the mid-18th century. Diane Brittain is a true country girl who works in the world of racehorse training – but life in a busy stable yard can be less than relaxing and three years ago she decided she wanted a more peaceful home for herself and her two sons. Friends tried to persuade her to move to a flat in York or Harrogate, but she was adamant she needed rural views, and when she spotted a pretty mill house in a quiet village, its appeal was…

Organise and store Store everyday detergents and fabric conditioners in beautiful caddies, jars and easy-pour bottles, and separate lights from darks in pretty baskets. (On counter) Jug, similar from Cox & Cox. Laundry liquid, £5.25 for 1L, Daylesford. Green Socker vase, £10 for 2, Ikea. Personalised English Heritage laundry powder tin, £24.95, Sleepyheads at Not on the High Street. Pegs, £10 for 50; scoop, £2.50, both Plain Useful. Storage bottle, £9.50, Sparrow and Co. Jar, £20 for 3, Cox & Cox. Laundry basket, £34.95, Grace & Glory. Wire basket, £35 for 2, The White Company. Arles tea towel, from £14, The Linen Works. (On sink) Pueblo tea towel, £11.50, Etoile Home. Laundry hamper, £120, Grace & Glory. (In hamper) Latimer Rose duvet cover set, £45, Cath Kidston. Ticking 01 fabric,…

Sophie’s timeless designs range from bone china mugs to fabrics. She set up her Stamford-based company nine years ago after studying Graphic Art and Design at Leeds Metropolitan University and then working as an illustrator in London. In 2009, she moved back to the Lincolnshire countryside and set up Sophie Allport Limited with her accountant brother, Jem. He heads up the business side, leaving Sophie free to focus on design and product development. We headed to Stamford to meet Sophie and see what’s in store for her this spring… TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE… It’s a 16th-century house in need of some TLC. The building was a bit run down when we bought it, and still is. The house had not had much work done to…

1 Glazed look ‘Fireclay ceramic sinks really look the part in a country kitchen but there are practical benefits to this style of sink, too. The deep bowl can easily accommodate oven trays and large dishes that won’t fit in your dishwasher and the durable glazed finish will last for the life of the sink,’ says David Dare, Managing Director, Shaws of Darwen. ‘Because fireclay ceramic sinks are very heavy, the cabinetry should be in place before installation.’ 2 Industrial chic ‘This stainless-steel Belfast has a classic shape with an exposed front, but is brought up to date with strong, hardwearing stainless steel that will continue to look great for years,’ says Kiran Noonan, Marketing Director, John Lewis of Hungerford. A monobloc mixer tap with minimalist lever handles completes the…

AT HOME WITH ... Owners Victoria and Jack Inglis live here with their three children, Luella, 17, Freddie, 15, and Ludo, 10, and family dogs Fergus and Flora. House A Grade II-listed, late 17th-century farmhouse. Garden Six acres, comprising formal areas around the house – terraces, lawns, a courtyard garden, dining area, pergola, walled pool garden, parterres and herbaceous borders – with informal areas beyond, including a pond and spinney, and modern sculpture throughout. Spring unfolds gradually around ’ Kelvedon Hall ’ in Essex in a series of tantalising glimpses. It s a season that s redolent with hopes of things to come and does not disappoint here, as blossom on hawthorn, ornamental cherries and crab apples breaks out before an explosion of tulips in the beds…

Garden Trading Take a look at Garden Trading’s range of beautifully useful products for your home and garden. New this season is an exciting collection of planters, indoor furniture in gorgeous raw or painted wood and kitchenware. To claim your discount Visit gardentrading.co.uk and enter code CHI20 at the checkout, or call 0845 608 4448 and quote the code. Spend over £60 and get free standard UK delivery, too! TERMS AND CONDITIONS 20% discount applies to full-price items only and excludes all outdoor furniture products. Only one discount code can be used per order and can only be used once per person. Offer is valid until 1 May 2016. Free standard delivery applies to orders over £60 for delivery to mainland UK only. The total order value must come to…

When Emma Hardicker first started selling her artwork after she graduated with a BA in Textile Design from Nottingham Trent University, she didn’t view it as a business – it was simply the natural progression of something she’d always had a passion for. ‘I was an artist following a very unstable dream and I’m sure many people thought it was just something that I had to get out of my system before I gave up and got a proper job,’ says Emma. Even when Emma found a job working as a photographer, she continued to pursue her artistic ambitions. ‘Although I worked full-time, I never stopped painting in the evenings and at weekends,’ she says. ‘It was what I loved doing most and a bit of escapism from my day-to-day…

VIDEO See videos of four favourite country colours at country-days.co.uk…

AT HOME WITH ... Owners Marie-Ann Strömbäck, who founded Scandinavian interiors shop Skandic Hus, and her husband, David Perkins, an intellectual property lawyer. They have six grown-up children between them, who visit often with the couple’s grandchildren, Oscar, Imogen and baby Digby. House A Grade II-listed former vicarage with six bedrooms, built in Cotswold stone. ‘ This house feels like a calm oasis,’ says Marie-Ann Strömbäck. ‘It’s as though you’re shutting out the world for a little while and then pausing to take breath.’ The serene mood that fills this former Cotswold vicarage is, in part, attributable to its beautiful setting beside a pretty village church and with an uninterrupted view of rolling hills dotted with spring wildflowers at this time of year. But it’s also down to…

Modern Country Classic Double butler’s sink A classic fireclay sink with two bowls makes light work of the washing-up. Need to know… Made from practical fireclay with a smooth, glazed surface, butler’s sinks and the closely related Belfasts are never out of place in a country kitchen. If there’s space, opt for a double version, 80cm to 100cm wide; some include a half-bowl, or small strain-and-drain areas. Plain fronts are typical, but decoration can include ribs or patterns. A classic bridge tap, mounted on the worktop, will enhance the effect, or select a version with pre-made holes for taps. Where to buy… • Brass & Traditional Sinks for French farmhouse sinks. • Rangemaster for a double sink with tap holes. • Shaws of Darwen for a good range of double sinks. FIND THE…

1 Refreshing blue-greens ‘Pale shades needn’t lack punch,’ says Jamie Telford, Director, Roundhouse. ‘We love the refreshing tones of this paint colour, which has a blue base warmed with green. It can be lifted further with limed-oak flooring and chunky oak shelves. We doubt you’ll ever tire of it, but if you do the beauty of a painted kitchen is that the colour can be easily changed.’ 2 Pretty in pink ‘Keeping strong colours, such as this Dusty Pink, to below eye level will reduce their prominence in the room, allowing you to go a few shades bolder than you might otherwise dare,’ says Barry Walker, Executive Operations Manager, Chalon. ‘Use polished worktops such as granite or quartz in pale shades to bounce the light and keep the overall look…

1 BEST FOR… French flair La Cornue, 77L, gas, £9,750 Smaller than some ranges, the Grand Maman 90 (H90xW90xD70cm) is big on personality. Its vaulted oven shape circulates heat without fan assistance for maximum moisture retention, while its stainless-steel hob boasts five 3.5kW burners. Choose from 30 colours or a custom finish in virtually any shade. 2 BEST FOR… Modern Aga-owners Aga, 227L, dual fuel, £12,275 Devoted Aga fans who hanker after the efficiency and speed of induction will love this latest launch. The five-oven Dual Control model (H91.3xW147.8x D69.8cm) available in 14 colours offers an induction hob alongside the boiling and simmering plates, giving Aga cooking a whole new dimension. 3 BEST FOR… Easy basting Rangemaster, 155L, dual fuel, £1,649 This flexible Classic 100 (H93xW99.4 xD60.4cm) range cooker’s best…

‘Sculpture not only leads your eye,’ says Victoria, ‘but it adds character and surprise.’ Installation of major pieces takes effort, so it’s vital to make the correct choice first time. Need to know... • Always go to see an artist’s work – it’s not something to buy online. • Choose a style of sculpture and materials that suit your setting. • Decide on its purpose – to mark the end of an allée or as a centrepiece for a parterre, for example. • Work out whether it is to be seen from one direction or various angles. • Before buying, check the optimum proportions that will fit in the setting. • Gain additional height by standing the sculpture on a plinth.…

1 Organise a village bake-off party Whether you love to make cakes or just like to eat them, this is a fun-filled event for the whole community. Ready, set… bake! Invite keen bakers to take part via your village Facebook page or local newspaper. Plan ahead. The village hall is a good venue. Could you borrow or hire tables? A local company might sponsor drinks or prizes. Offer recipes for contestants to choose from, sending them out a week ahead. Biscuits, cupcakes, pies and pastries are a good idea to ensure there’s plenty for everyone. Create a voting slip with categories such as ‘most mouthwatering’ or ‘best looking’. Find volunteers to hand out and collect voting slips on the day, serve drinks and clear away. Start tasting and enjoy the…

 When you design and make your own products and business starts to expand, there will come a point when approaching other people to help with manufacture becomes inevitable. Handing your design over can be difficult and it is essential that your chosen manufacturer can produce something that is as good quality as you would do yourself at a fair price. These tips will guide you through the process and help you find the right people to work with... The one lesson I’ve learned... ‘NOBODY RUNNING THEIR OWN BUSINESS IS LUCKY – YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE DREAM, BUT A LOT OF IT IS DOWN TO HARD WORK AND RESILIENCE’ Find someone to prototype your products. Creating the preliminary samples of your products or finding someone to do it for you…

We want this now... Congratulations to The Cotswold Company on its first 20 years of producing beautiful wooden furniture. This sideboard, handcrafted from oak, is designed with country-style homes in mind. Its 12 drawers with brass handles are perfect for storing everyday bits and bobs. The natural oak multi drawer sideboard, H83xW139xD42cm, costs £475 from The Cotswold Company. OUR FAVOURITE DESIGNER Emma Mawston As Head of Design for Liberty Art Fabrics Interiors, Emma is the creative powerhouse behind the brand’s textile and wallpaper collections. How did you get into textile design? It was always evident that I would be a designer. I’d often get home from school and start painting or drawing on large sheets of paper. My mind thinks in design and repeat, and I can visualise how I…

The place to go... Haworth Located in Brontë country, this pretty village in West Yorkshire is a delight for its literary connections and magnificent moors… • Celebrate Charlotte Brontë’s 200th birthday (21 April) with a visit to author Tracy Chevalier’s exhibition, Charlotte Great and Small, at the Brontë Parsonage Museum (bronte.org.uk). • Walk the path from town to Haworth Moor. Spot the signs to Top Withens, inspiration for Earnshaw’s house in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, then head for beautiful Brontë Waterfall. • Eat at The Stirrup Eating House (103 Main Street, thestirrup.co.uk) for seasonal dishes and cakes prepared with Fairtrade and locally sourced ingredients. • Stay at The Old White Lion Hotel (6-10 West Lane, oldwhitelionhotel.com) for its 300 years of heritage and spectacular views. Easter fun! At Brogdale Farm in Kent,…

What makes this house a home… ’Each room has its own character and atmosphere, with space for everyone, young or old, to do what they want’ AT HOME WITH ... Owners Megan and David Collinge, Director and Managing Director, respectively, of Ian Mankin. They have three children, Sammi, 23, William, 21, and Philippa, 18, and two Black Labradors, Xena and Kiwi. House Four-bedroom Victorian farmhouse that was originally part of an estate. It incorporates a barn dating from the 1800s. When I first saw this house, I thought it was fantastic,’ says Megan Collinge of the period home she shares with her husband, David, in the rolling Lancashire countryside. ‘You drive in from the lane and can only see the back of the house and the barn, and…

Settle on wood seating. Hungarian storage bench, H93xW161xD46cm, col Clay, £450, Garden Trading. Colour in the details. Ekelund Kaprifol table runner, L120xW35cm, £24.50, Skandic Hus. Glass tealight holders, £5.50 each, Oliver Bonas. Pick elegantly classic chairs. Provencale dining chairs upholstered in linen, £575 for 2, Laura Ashley. Go for ornate lighting. Vintage-finish Florence chandelier, H49xW61cm, £140, Cox & Cox. Invest in timeless pieces. Pins & Ribbons Huntingtower Tweed stool, from £300, Not on the High Street. Linum Village cushion, £51, Scandi Living. Other items, stylist’s own. Modern Country Classic Mora clock Bring home a piece of Sweden with a striking painted floor clock. Need to know… Once encountered, the distinctive shape of a Mora clock, with its round belly, is never forgotten, but these Swedish clocks are decorated in various…

All the details: PRODUCTS AND PRICES Pages 66-67 GATHER ROUND THE TABLE Ercol Goldsmith chairs, £145 each; reclaimed wood dining table, £900, all Home Barn. Stools, similar from Ebay. Pink stool, painted in Viola’s Bloom, £48 for 2L, Paint by Conran. Yellow stool, painted in Daisy Chain, £35 for 2.5L, Earthborn. Pendant lights, £120 each, Lyngard Ceramics. Table runners in Squirrel & Hedgehog, col Seaspray/Charcoal, £56 m, Sanderson. Dormston, col Flint, £78 m, Cloth & Clover. Cushions (from left): 1 Elfie, £20, Barker and Stonehouse. 2 Polka Dot, col Apple, £45 m, Sarah Hardaker. 3 Pinvin, col Raspberry (on chair at back); 4 Lulsley, col Plum, both £78 m, Cloth & Clover. (On table) Cup and saucer sets, £27 each, Branksome China. Cake stand, similar from Laura Ashley. Plates, from…

Fragrant flower and egg display Style tip Try mixing in different coloured spring flowers as they become available during the season. Floral fortune eggs Style tip To protect the eggs when gifting, place inside a small box with tissue or straw. Egg hunt pots Style tip Make your own Easter treats, like the bunny below, using fondant icing and a silicone ice-cube mould. Butterfly tattoo eggs Style tip Arrange the eggs on platters or pile into clear glass bowls to display their designs. How to MAKE THEM YOURSELF Fragrant flower and egg display To make this seasonal centrepiece, begin by cutting decorative washi tape into different lengths – use a combination of sizes and shapes for best results. Cover polystyrene eggs with the cut washi tape, leaving a gap between…

Practical and decorative, tiles can bring your home to life in an instant. Whether updating your country kitchen or reviving a bathroom or living area, a wall or floor makeover is a great way to usher in spring. Topps Tiles travels the world for inspiration, sourcing beautiful designs that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else, making it the UK’s leading tile retailer. You’ll find hundreds of designs to choose from, including Mixara with its marble effect, the digitally printed porcelain Thurston range and our three favourites: Berkeley, Archivo and Piscola (all shown). If you need help deciding, Topps Tiles staff are available to offer advice, or try the Visualiser – a user-friendly tool which you can access at toppstiles.co.uk that lets you create a room scheme to see your project…

These spring-flowering bulbs bring some welcome colour and interest to your garden after the drab days of winter. They are supplied as bulbs ‘in the green’, which means they still have their leaves attached so you will be able to instantly see how they will look when planted in your garden. Woodland Bulb Collection 1 Single-flowering snowdrops: elegant, pure white, bell-shaped flowers. H15cm. 2 English bluebells: beautiful, violet-blue bells hanging from upright stems. H25cm. 3 Double-flowering snowdrops: upward-facing, white blooms with green markings. H15cm. 4 Winter aconites: golden-yellow, cup-shaped blooms with bright green ruffs. H8cm. Buy 25 of any variety for £14.99. Buy 50 of any variety for £19.98 – saving £10. Buy 100 of the Woodland Bulb Collection (25 of each) for £29.99 (usually £59.96 – saving £29.97). Buy…

SCANDI-STYLE CANAPES Serve these pickled herring treats as a nibble with drinks, or as a casual starter. Just pile them on a board or platter and pass around. The topping can be made ahead, and then the canapés assembled an hour or so before serving. SERVES 6 2 medium free-range eggs 200g sweet pickled herrings from a jar, drained (try ocado.com ) 2 shallots, chopped 50g Greek yogurt Salt and freshly ground black pepper 75g mayonnaise 12 small, thin slices of rye bread Red lumpfish roe and finely chopped chives, to serve 1 Put the eggs in a small saucepan, cover with boiling water from the kettle and cook gently for 8 minutes. Drain and leave to cool. 2 Pat the herrings dry on kitchen paper and…

My favourite country retreat is Lucknam Park, situated in beautiful countryside near Bath. I have visited it many, many times with my family and adore it. It’s such a special place, an English country house hotel set in acres of parkland. My favourite view is also there – it’s the sight of the house, as you approach it from the tree-lined drive, which is about a mile long and bordered by fields with grazing horses. I could never tire of this view; it is very special to me. I’ve stayed there many times in spring and the bulbs are stunning. We were there last Easter, which is probably my favourite time of year to stay. A foal was born overnight and it was simply magical. We saw the young animal…