Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2016 i Country Homes & Interiors

Can you smell autumn in the air? This issue is dedicated to savouring the start of a new season and an instinctive impulse to gather ourselves for cooler times ahead. Traditionally, it’s a time when interior styles turn cosier, richer and more textural, as we make the move from an outdoor life to a nesting one. One of our favourite ways to decorate this autumn will be with the explosion of colourful and captivating pattern, evident in the latest fabric and wallpaper collections. Our 12-page decorating guide (from page 67) showcases five new trends – from Archive to Botanica and Floral to Fusion – and shows you how to create beautiful and characterful room schemes. We also take a look at the country colours your walls will love in our…

We want this now... So much more attractive than the standard plastic bin, this wooden composter is practical, too. With its propped lid and a hinged flap at the bottom, you can easily tip in prunings and kitchen peelings, then scoop out the compost to use as a mulch or soil improver. Painted or untreated, it’ll be a feature in its own right. Beehive compost bin, £104.99, The Worm That Turned. OUR FAVOURITE WILDLIFE CHAMPION Chris Baines Follow these top tips from Chris Baines, National Vice President of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. How can we encourage wildlife in our gardens this autumn? Leave seedheads for birds and over-wintering minibeasts, and sweep leaves under hedges for hibernating hedgehogs and foraging birds. You can begin to feed the birds regularly…

What we love most about living here… ‘We all unwind completely. The remote pace of life here is very relaxing and grounding’ What makes this house a home… ‘Homes are built on happy memories. After spending 17 years here during weekends and holidays, this is where we feel most together as a family’ This was a brilliant opportunity to create an escape away from the hectic pace of London, in a place that we already loved,’ says Harriet Hastings of her home in Suffolk. The Grade II-listed timber house had originally been built as a parish meeting hall, then converted into almshouses after the war before falling into disrepair. In the 1960s, architects Michael and Patty Hopkins bought the property and transformed the space into a family retreat…

Gallery wall Arranging paintings or prints together gives favourite artwork a chance to shine. Need to know… For best results, map out a plan on the floor first, shuffling the images until the sizes and colours please. To create a more formal group, hang identically framed, themed prints close together in a grid arrangement. Some companies will do the hard work for you, supplying artwork of different sizes, carefully chosen to fit together for a feature wall. Picture pins are fine for hanging lighter pictures, but if the picture is heavy, screw in hooks using a wall plug. Where to buy… • Degreeart.com, an online gallery for student and graduate art. • Red Rag Gallery for landscapes. • Trowbridge Gallery for a themed gallery wall of pictures. FIND THE PERFECT GREY WALL PAINTS…

What makes this house a home… ‘We have the best of both worlds: contemporary, open-plan living with a country feel – very much “The White Company meets vintage”’ We were living in an old property in another part of Hertfordshire, which was lovely but on a busy road,’ says Mandy Stanley. ‘We really wanted to move somewhere quiet.’ So when a property developer approached Mandy and her husband, Nigel, with a view to buying their home, they leapt at the chance of starting a new life in the country. They came across a cottage online, on the Munden Estate, that looked interesting and, although the house had fewer bedrooms than they wanted, Mandy was drawn to it. ‘It sounds clichéd, but it was love at first sight,’ she says. ‘My…

MOODBOARD Wallpaper, Pure Acorn, £65 a roll, Morris & Co. Fabrics (from left), Crosshatch Check, £130 m, Mark Alexander. Meadow Fruit, £59 m, GP&J Baker. Grapevine, col Rose; Rosehip, cols Linen/Ecru, Rose, £52 m each, Morris & Co. Antique sheet, £20, Wayward; dyed with Dylon fabric dye, col Rosewood Red, £7.65, John Lewis. Zinc plate, £38 for 4, Rowen & Wren. Knife, £85 for 16 pieces, Cox & Cox. Paint, Rolling Fog, Baked Cherry, from £4.25, Little Greene. String, £1.50, Re. Candleholder, £30, Home Address. Rug, £195, Loaf. MODERN ARCHIVE Wallpaper, Pure Acorn; curtain, Rosehip, col Rose, both as before. Curtain pole, 17p cm; finials, £7.70 each; pendant light, £75.40, all Jim Lawrence. Chairs, similar from I&JL Brown. Cushions, Meadow Fruit, as before. Napkins, Grapevine and Rosehip, as before. Chevron…

EASY ELEGANCE Soft and delicate, the new Bookcase collection of paints from Valspar is perfect for country homes. Made up from quintessentially British colours, such as soft off-whites, fresh greens and delicate blues, many shades are inspired by charming works of English literature, including Willow Wind, a pretty green that will add a fresh feel to a country bathroom, and Haversham (shown), ideal for adding a splash of understated sophistication to a living room. Country classic Earthy shades continue to be popular this season. ‘Take your lead from the surrounding countryside and be sympathetic to your property’s character by introducing heritage colours in neutral shades,’ says Jason McIlvenny, Head of Retail Marketing and Paint at Graham & Brown. Pale and simple White is transcendent, timeless and has an unrivalled versatility…

Plant cachepot Use crop sacks to make simple cachepots to add a homespun country touch to unattractive plastic plant pots. Place your pot inside a sack and roll over a cuff to the desired depth for the height of your pot. We rolled the folded edge over again to give a neater finish (see below). Remove the pot. Thread a bodkin (a large-eyed needle) with a length of narrow ribbon. Leaving a tail to tie a knot or bow, sew the ribbon in and out evenly through the holes in the open weave of the fabric halfway down, around the sack, through both layers. Again leave a tail to tie. Place the pot in the sack, gather the ribbon ends together and tie them in a knot or bow. Trim…

1 Accent piece This low-level cabinet with individually decorated drawers fitted with assorted knobs and handles makes a distinctive piece for a modern country scheme. With subscription TV and film streaming reducing the need for DVDs, the three sliding trays, two shelves and four drawers offer ample storage, while the pale mango wood balances the colourful elements. 2 Streamline style This robust grid design fits perfectly with the room’s architecture. ‘Speakers are hidden behind acoustic cloth, which has been colour matched to the grey-stained oak, and the TV sits flush up front,’ says Scott Nicholson, Head Designer, Chamber Furniture. Handleless cabinets enhance the linear look and conceal wires and sockets. 3 Simply elegant ‘Designing cabinetry to display the TV alongside other accessories helps it blend subtly into a room,’ says…

HONEY YOGURT WITH BLUEBERRIES AND ALMONDS Raw creamed honey has a butter-like consistency and is made by whisking honey as you would double cream. It makes a deliciously easy dessert combined with strained natural yogurt and cream. SERVES 4 500g natural yogurt 3 tbsp raw creamed honey, plus 1 tsp (try Hilltop Honey Raw British Creamed Honey, £6 for 340g) 3 tbsp double cream 150g blueberries 4 tbsp blanched almonds, sliced, or flaked almonds 1 Rest a sieve lined with a sheet of kitchen paper over a bowl. Turn the yogurt into the sieve and leave for at least 4 hours or overnight until the watery whey has collected in the bowl underneath, leaving the thick, creamy yogurt in the sieve. Reserve the whey to use in another recipe (see…

Half-price Triumph tulips 64 bulbs for ONLY £19.98 We’re offering a range of reliable, sturdy tulips with classic cup-shaped blooms in mid- to late-spring. The Collection comprises: • Tulipa ‘New Design’ Delightfully soft pink blooms, flushed with white and yellow and attractive white margined leaves. H45cm. Spread 15cm. • Tulipa ‘Ronaldo’ Rich and fruity, purple-maroon blooms. H50cm. Spread 20cm. • Tulipa ‘Snowstar’ A classic Triumph tulip with pure white, cup-shaped flowers. H50cm. Spread 20cm. • Tulipa ‘Yellow Flight’ Clear yellow, cup-shaped blooms. H35cm. Spread 15cm. Buy 16 of any variety for £9.99. Buy 64 (16 of each variety) for £19.98 (usually £39.96) – half price! How to order Call 0844 573 1686, quoting XCH507. Online Go to thompson-morgan.com/XCH507. By post Please complete the coupon below. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Lines Open 9am-6pm (7 days a…

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Delicious damsons Clusters of dusky damson plums in hedgerows are the equivalent of foraging gold. They make wonderful jam or chutney to accompany cheese, are delicious in crumbles, clafoutis and cobblers, and perfect with game, particularly duck. Turn damsons into a purée to serve with puddings. Weigh damsons (stones in), put in a preserving pan and add a third of their weight in caster sugar. Add enough water to just cover. Simmer until the sugar dissolves and the fruit goes pulpy. Scoop off any stones and push through a sieve. Taste, sweeten then pot in sterilised jars. We want these now... Do you love Halloween? So do our friends at Biscuiteers, who have created a collection of spooky hand-iced biscuits to celebrate and are offering you an exclusive 15% off.…

Animal skin rug Go the rustic route and add a distinctive hide to a room. Need to know… Cow hide rugs look great slung on the back of a sofa or on a bench seat but, if you are planning to use them on the floor, they are not suitable in areas of heavy traffic, and you should move them around occasionally to even out the wear. Reindeer rugs are particularly delicate. Give the skin a regular shake, blot up any spills straightaway, and check with your supplier regarding cleaning. A pure sheepskin rug is the soft option on your armchair; brush occasionally with a wide-toothed pet comb to keep its good looks. Where to buy… • Celtic & Co for sheepskin rugs. • City Cows for cowhide rugs. • Hide Rugs for…

What makes this house a home… ‘The children are so happy here: they all have space to ride and play, and Ollie likes chasing the chickens around the garden’ Linda and Miles Roberts are living the country dream. Their stunning home is surrounded by enough land to keep chickens and an assortment of other animals, including alpacas, ponies, Archie the Labrador and two orphaned sheep. The land – and the opportunities it would offer – was what first attracted the couple to the 200-year-old former shepherd’s cottage, set in seven acres overlooking the South Downs National Park. They had been living in a much more modern house elsewhere in Hampshire, but wanted space for their daughter Francesca’s pony Tabby. ‘We’re only 10 miles from Winchester here but it feels wonderfully…

Sliding-door wardrobes The ultimate space-saving bespoke fitted storage can be built to any height or configuration. Need to know… Sliding-door wardrobes accommodate uneven walls, sloping ceilings and exposed beams with ease, so are ideal for a country home. The ‘front frame’ type consists of a facade with doors, behind which internal fittings are fixed directly to existing walls. Wardrobes can also be built with complete frames and backs. The bottom track, if raised by a panel, will stop carpet fluff building up and preventing the smooth running of the soft-close doors. Where to buy… • Hammonds for wood- and glass-door wardrobes. • Sharps for wardrobes with customised artwork or doors ready to wallpaper. • Smallbone of Devizes for designs with painted and glazed sliding doors. FIND THE PERFECT WHITE-WASHED WOOD FLOORING For…

Leading online marketplace notonthehighstreet.com is passionate about supporting new talent. Its website is packed with beautiful and unique products all lovingly made or sourced by the creative designers and artisan producers who sell through it. This year the company has collaborated with University of the Arts London (UAL), to offer its students – the next generation of independent designers – an amazing opportunity to design a print for notonthehighstreet.com’s first collection of its kind. After narrowing it down to four hopefuls, the challenge was won by third-year textile design student Natasha Playell, who created a striking print in a beautiful palette of indigos, teals, grey-greens, pinks, terracottas and antique whites. ‘What excited me about Natasha’s designs was her mature use of colour,’ explains Sally Bendelow, Creative Product Director for notonthehighstreet.com.…

As the nights draw in, there’s nothing more appealing than cooking up plates of comfort food and hunkering down in front of a roaring fire. Laura Ashley has everything you need to make your home ready for cosy autumn and winter months, from vintage-style cookware and crockery to classic investment furniture and accessories in warm and welcoming hues. Laura Ashley has long been associated with a country-chic aesthetic and its new interiors collection, Woodland Scene, reflects this strong heritage. Prints and fabrics include bright florals, classic checks and textural stripes, all in a nature-inspired palette of Hedgerow and Cranberry. Patcham wallpaper (bottom, right), with its depiction of squirrels, pheasants and owls in their natural habitat, is a charming celebration of the British countryside. Combined with furniture in natural materials such…

Charlotte’s debut fabric and wallpaper collection was an instant sensation, but then surprises are the Northumberland designer’s strong suit. She gave up university to paint warplanes in Paris for Steven Spielberg’s film Empire of the Sun, moved to Cumbria to open a design and paint effects store, then built up an online paper business as a home-based mother of two. Colour, pattern and heritage are at the heart of what she does, and the ideas keep coming. We met her in the border county to find out more… TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE… It’s an old gamekeeper’s cottage we’ve extended into cart sheds and stables on my husband Tom’s family farm. It dates back to the mid-1800s and was derelict when we took it on. I loved the whole…

1 BEST FOR… Adjoining rooms Parkray Consort 15, Hunter Stoves, £2,858 Designed to suit a fireplace shared by adjoining rooms, this double-sided, double-depth woodburning stove (H65.6xW68.1xD100cm) has the bonus of a great view of the flames from both sides. It puts out a powerful 17.8kW of heat and if the look appeals but you’re short on space, it also comes in a single-depth version. 2 BEST FOR… Colour options Belgravia, Chesney’s, £1,194 Country colour schemes will be complemented beautifully by this 4kW woodburning stove (H55.6x W45.6xD30.3cm), available in Parchment (shown), Black, Silver, Atlantic Blue, Sage Green, Terracotta or Autumn Leaf. The 83.9%-efficient stove is Defra-approved for use in smoke-control areas so can burn logs no matter where you live. 3 BEST FOR… Compact spaces Ø4, Morsø, £975 The fuss-free shape…

In the Cotswold towns of Nailsworth and Tetbury, Libs Lewis can often be seen unloading her roof rack and taking armfuls of decorative booty into either of her two Domestic Science shops. Here, she sells a mix of all things reclaimed, repurposed and reused, along with an edit of contemporary pieces that complement her vintage offerings. With cafés at both shops and regular artisan pop-ups and workshops, both locations have become the destination stores for collectors and interior aficionados on the hunt for something unique. ‘Since I was a child I have always loved collecting,’ says Libs. ‘Instead of wanting to visit the sights on family holidays, I was desperate to rummage in junk shops. Obsessed with “tiny things” I would seek out treasures to display in my bedroom: snuff…

LIGHTEN UP Keep your home bright and beautiful as the nights draw in with this lampshade from the British Garden collection by textile designer Lorna Syson. Inspiration for the Buds and Butterflies design came from flora and fauna spotted on walks through the countryside with her pet dog, Jenkins. Available for £52 from notonthehighstreet.com . OUR FAVOURITE DESIGNERS Georgia Hinchcliffe and Wendy Barber Husband and wife team John and Wendy set up Hinchcliffe & Barber in the 1980s, designing ceramics inspired by the countryside. After John’s death in 2010 their daughter, Georgia, joined the company to work with her mother. We talked to her about reinventing their archive designs for modern living. Describe the design process. Each season my mother and I go through the archive and…

The place to go… Battle The Battle of Hastings took place here in East Sussex, changing the course of history. Explore the original site plus Battle Abbey, independent shops and cafés (visit1066country.com/battle). Celebrate 950 years since the battle; watch the impressive re-enactment at the original battlefield over the anniversary weekend of 15-16 October (english-heritage.org.uk/1066). Enjoy Battle bonfire and fireworks display on 5 November (visit1066country.com) and see the Battel Bonfire Boyes in a torchlit procession. Eat at the Orangery Tea Room, serving local food in a 220-acre garden (ashburnham.org.uk). Stay at Powder Mills (powdermillshotel.com), an 18th-century house-turned-elegant country hotel. Visit a food festival Head to England’s smallest city for the Wells Food Festival (9 October, wellsfoodfestival.co.uk ) in Somerset. More than 100 local artisan producers will offer delicious…

In autumn, the earthy hues of Mandy Haberman’s home are colour matched to the leaves falling outside – a cascade of russets and ochre browns. ‘The setting, hidden in a dell surrounded by ancient oak and beech trees, sold this property to me,’ says Mandy. ‘I had that heart-pumping moment you only get when you’ve found The One.’ Mandy and Steven had lived just up the road for 21 years. ‘The children had left home,’ Mandy says, ‘and we’d been looking for a project for a while but, despite living so close, we had no idea this place existed. It was like stumbling upon a secret garden, although the house itself was rather a mess.’ The structures of the former stables, laundry, hayloft and worker’s cottage for the grand country…

Dog bed Every pooch deserves a good night’s sleep in a place to call its own. Need to know… Next time you plan a boot room or fit a new kitchen, spare a thought for the dog. Bespoke furniture companies will, as part of the brief, accommodate a country-style wooden bed into a design of fitted furniture or a freestanding island unit. Raised from the floor and with a slatted base, the bed overcomes the problems of damp, condensation and draughts. A freestanding dog bed will give a similar look, especially if painted to match. Where to buy… • Barnes of Ashburton for bespoke furniture including a dog bed. • Chatsworth Cabinets for personalised wooden dog beds. • Chelsea Dogs for dog sofas and four-poster beds. FIND THE PERFECT TERRACOTTA TILES For…

Modern archive Use historical designs and prints to bring a charming heritage vibe to rooms. Favourite patterns from design greats have been reworked and recoloured, to reveal clean lines and fresh colours that are beautifully in tune with modern country style. Match with warm wooden furniture and polished metals for a luxurious yet relaxed look. Choose a country COLOUR PALETTE Go for rich russets, garnets and glowing coppery shades inspired by the autumn woodland. How to make this pattern work • Go for simple motifs in a single colour for walls and windows. • Mix in busier patterns on a smaller scale and anchor with a plain fabric in a toning shade to pull the whole scheme together. Rustic fusion Bring a touch of global chic to your country home with hero…

Baking bread… Prepare and bake delicious artisan bread with beautiful essentials to hand. Add character to the kitchen workspace with orchard colours on tactile ceramics and organic motifs decorating linens. Expand your wooden board family with chunky personalised rustic slabs. Animal bread bin, £35, Next. Brentanella mixing bowl, £23.95, Anthropologie. Wooden chopping board, £70; Wallflower 1½ pint jug, £34.95, both Emma Bridgewater. Retro Magnetic timer, col Red, £12, Berry Red. Vintage Shop scales, col Ivory, £49.95; Vintage Apple flour shaker, £5.95, both Dotcomgiftshop. Ceramic loaf mould, £19.50, Nom Living at notonthehighstreet.com. Lara linen napkin, col Rust, £5.49, Linen Me. Red Striped plate, £18 for a 12-piece dinner set, George Home. Oven gloves, £15, Debenhams. Helga tea towel (hanging on oven), £8 for 2, Habitat. Linum natural linen tea towel, £13.99…

Plant cachepot Style tip Thread the covers with raffia or chunky wool for extra rustic texture. Framed noticeboard Style tip Add a colourful detail by gluing a contrasting ribbon around the inner edge of the frame. Stencilled rug Style tip Refine the decoration by using two or more toning colours for the painted motif. Crate storage stool Style tip Give the crate a distressed paint finish for a beautiful aged look.…

1 Watch your back Reading in bed is a great way to unwind before sleep, and a tall, softly padded headboard will provide support without a cricked neck. ‘As well as adding comfort, upholstered headboards can be designed to complement your room scheme by using different shapes and fabrics,’ says textile designer Vanessa Arbuthnott. ‘The headboard here is in a classic buttoned style, made using my cosy Harris Tweed fabric, which brings an earthy, grounded and rustic feel to a room.’ 2 Create a textured wall Enjoy the natural beauty of wood in a fresh way by installing a shingle feature wall. ‘The contrast between the timber and crisp linen, textured knits and velvets, makes this bedroom welcoming,’ says Anna Schmidt, owner of Also Home. Check your chosen cladding is…

1 Have a go at growing your own vineyard Fancy turning homegrown grapes into wine? Follow these tips to get you started… Grow wine varieties outdoors, such as Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe, in a sheltered, sunny spot – dig in manure mulch in springtime to help fruit production. Pick ripe grapes in October when they feel soft to the touch and taste sugary. Discard any rotten ones and remove all stems, then batch freeze until you’re ready to go. Invest in a wine-making kit. You’ll find a broad selection at lovebrewing.co.uk. Sign up to a wine-making course or workshop to learn the techniques involved, from juicing and fermenting to bottling and maturing. Meet enthusiasts at local wine-tasting societies or by helping out at a community vineyard. There are many across the…

The term unique selling point (USP) was first used in the 1940s to describe the reasons behind a successful advertising campaign. USPs are essentially why a customer may show loyalty to one brand as opposed to another. According to the late Theodore Levitt, professor at Harvard Business School: ‘Differentiation is one of the most important strategic and tactical activities in which companies must constantly engage.’ And, nowadays, the term USP refers to how individual businesses are positioning themselves in the market to create a point of difference. So, if you are an independent retailer like Libs, it is important to create opportunities for your customers to come into contact with you and to choose you over your competitors. The following practical pointers may provoke some ideas for getting you started…

Life is so busy that it’s lovely to have somewhere really peaceful to escape to. This glorious view of the Scottish Highlands is at Glenisla, East Perthshire, where Forter Castle sits in an acre of land – the perfect country bolthole. My father bought the castle in August 1988 and we began to restore it, completing it in July 1990. While working on the project, we commissioned skilled craftsmen who used authentic materials and traditional techniques throughout. The castle has its own chapel and rooms are spread over five floors, each reached by a stone spiral staircase. I was particularly involved with the interior design. While we wanted to preserve the castle’s sense of history, we also wished to transform the property into a home by bringing in modern comforts,…