Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 i Country Homes & Interiors

We want to make it ‘a December to remember!’ so we’ve filled the pages of this Christmas edition with the very best of country ideas and inspiration. From stunning houses styled up and down for the holidays (from page 24) to cosy-cabin decorating advice (page 72), and from handmade decorations for porch, door and gate (page 94) to truly unique gifts (page 84), there’s something here for those of us who love the fizz of excitement at Christmas time. We also have a lovely present for you – our 2017 calendar is filled with beautiful seasonal moments to take you through the year ahead. Plus, don’t forget to give a gift subscription to friends and family with our great-value offer on page 8. COME TO THE SHOW! Join us at…

How did your business come about? After taking a degree in 3D design, I began working at a joiner’s. As my traditional cabinetry skills grew, I started making and designing furniture. I have such a passion for natural, honest materials, setting up my own business seemed like the next step towards making a living and enjoying life. Where are you based? In the beautiful rolling hills of Dorset. My workshop has an incredible view towards Eggardon Hill, a National Trust Iron Age hill fort. Describe your workshop. It’s in a beautiful old farm building in the middle of nowhere surrounded by peace and quiet, and wildlife. I’ve got a large room for making and prototyping, as well as a small office clad in local wood, where I design sitting at…

We want this now... Whether you’re looking for a special present or new ideas for entertaining this Christmas, award-winning chocolatier William Curley’s new book, Nostalgic Delights (£25, Jacqui Small), is a must-have. From confectionery and cakes to desserts and decadent treats, you’ll find something here for everyone. We particularly love his homemade take on Toblerone and Walnut Whips! Delicious… homemade tipple… Serve a festive liqueur Made from berries gathered during autumn foraging, homemade tipples are a lovely touch for seasonal parties, served neat or splashed into fizz. A liqueur made from quinces – ready to harvest now – is great with a cheeseboard. Daylesford and Bramley & Gage both sell a version, but it’s easy to make your own. Peel and core 3 quinces and chop into 2.5cm chunks. Place…

What inspired you to open your shop? When I had my children, I wanted to find a decorating scheme for a bedroom that would suit both a boy and a girl but didn’t include pirates and fairies! Starting at a really wonky kitchen table, I developed my brand Aurina, and a few years later, I found the perfect premises to showcase all the products I love. What is your shop style? Aurina designs use stylish prints and colours that work together across our range of fabrics, stationery, lampshades and tableware. Our fabrics and wallpapers are all printed in England and we find British manufacturers who make up our designs from fleece stockings to tablemats. In store we also stock beautiful accessories and a seasonal scented home fragrance and candle range.…

Inglenook fireplace A cosy nook enclosing a fire or woodburning stove is the place to be on a cold winter’s evening in the country. Need to know… A welcoming and warming part of country-home design for many centuries, the inglenook was taken up again by Arts & Crafts architects such as CFA Voysey and Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott (see outstanding examples at Blackwell, the house he designed in Cumbria (015394 46139, blackwell.org.uk ). Typical country inglenooks are in stone or brick, often with a timber lintel and a brick hearth. For restoration purposes, select irregular handmade bricks from reclamation yards, and set them with lime mortar. Where to buy… • HG Matthews for handmade bricks. • Traditional Oak & Timber Company for oak fireplace beams. • Stone Federation of Great…

French doors These traditional room dividers let the light shine through yet are a feature in their own right. Need to know… Whether fully glazed or with solid panels at the base, French doors are the classic way to divide a room. Along with the usual multi-pane style, you’ll find contemporary designs with two, three or four glazed panels. Typically fitted as a hinged pair, French doors can also be extended at the sides with fixed sidelight panels, or arranged as folding doors on a track. Sliding versions are good for smaller spaces. The new way is to divide rooms with a wall of steel-framed glazing, incorporating glazed doors. Where to buy… • Cotswood for room dividers. • Crittall for steel-framed doors. • Jeld Wen for traditional and contemporary folding French doors. FIND…

Pages 72-73 (Opener) Lantern, £24, One World Trading Company. Fenomen candle, £4 for 5 assorted, Ikea. Glass Swirl Drop bauble, £2.50, Sainsbury’s. CREATE THE WARMEST OF WELCOMES White lanterns, £16 (large), £7; Nornäs bench, £70, Ikea. Bench, painted in Arts Club, £26 for 1L, Mylands. Black lantern, £14.99, Wyevale Garden Centres. Honeycomb decorations, £11 for 3 assorted, Talking Tables. Embroidered Snowflake Hoop decorations, £4.50 each, John Lewis. Naked wire lights, £15 for 5m, Cox & Cox. Light-up star, £25, The Contemporary Home. Handmade scented garland, £120 for 3m, Stella Rose Flowers. Pines and potted Christmas tree, from a selection, Potter & Rest. (On bench) bucket, £15, Sunbury Antiques Market. Red Berries cushion, £12, Sainsbury’s. Kirkstall cushion, £35, Fleetwood Fox at The Emporium Somerset. Wreath, £45, The Contemporary Home. Basket, £30,…

1 LAY IT DOWN ‘Buying wine young and storing it for years was tradition in old country houses. If it’s a good vintage, it’s also the best way to secure it at a decent price, before demand renders it scarce,’ says Robert Boutflower, Private House Sales Director at Tanners. While it’s fine to store screw-top bottles upright, ensure those sealed with a cork are laid on their side to prevent the cork from drying out and shrinking. Here, an old wine barrel makes the perfect tabletop for an impromptu tasting. 2 KEEP IT COOL ‘Temperature consistency at around 10-15°C is key for storing wine in its optimum condition, with a wine fridge being a cost-effective alternative to a specialised cellar,’ says Jennifer Docherty, Master of Wine, Liberty Wines. Opt for…

1 Keep it cool A walk-in pantry with floor-to-ceiling shelving is always useful, but during the high-pressure entertaining season it will seriously earn its place. The best versions have at least one external wall, and no heating for a naturally cool interior that’s perfect for storing volumes of cheese, cold meats and puddings on the big day. Thick stone flooring and marble shelves also help keep the temperature down. A dark-painted interior is good for foods that need to be stored away from bright light. 2 Set the right mood A classical chandelier hung low over the table will create a more intimate atmosphere for dining in the kitchen. ‘We recommend choosing LEDs with a warm colour rendition,’ says Sheena Lawrence, Co-owner and Designer, Jim Lawrence. ‘A dimmer switch allows…

JUNIPER-CURED SALMON A Scandi-style salmon that you cure yourself. Serve as an appetiser with the sweet/tangy mustard sauce. SERVES 10 2x500g skin-on, even-sized salmon fillets, each cut from the thick end, scaled and boned 1½ tbsp juniper berries, roughly crushed 2 tbsp finely chopped rosemary or winter savory, plus extra sprigs to garnish 3 tbsp finely chopped parsley 40g sea salt 50g caster sugar For the sauce 2 tbsp French mustard 1 tbsp grainy mustard 1 tbsp caster sugar 100ml bought or homemade mayonnaise Lemon wedges, to serve 1 Place one salmon fillet, skin side down in a shallow ceramic dish in which it fits snugly. Mix the juniper, rosemary or savory, parsley, salt and sugar and spread over the salmon. Sandwich with the second fillet, skin side up. 2…

Country-style CHRISTMAS GREETINGS…

We want this now... This lovely compendium of herbs is so much more than a list of uses, planting info, anecdotes and cookery tips. Each variety is exquisitely and colourfully illustrated by Caz Hildebrand, the award-winning designer of the Moro cookbooks. A great gift for a foodie, gardener or anyone intending to plant a herb garden. Herbarium by Caz Hildebrand (£16.95, Thames & Hudson). Shimmer and shine… have a sparkling Christmas Make your garden glow A brilliant introduction to the country garden this winter are beautiful life-like, LED-lit trees. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and finishes and bring atmosphere and festive sparkle to entrances or courtyards. Top of our list is the elegant and simple 3m silver birch version (above), £200 from Cox…

How did it all start? Robert bought me a pair of geese for my birthday. We decided to add a few more to the flock for fattening up and giving to family and friends at Christmas. Now we sell 5,000 geese a year. What’s so special about your geese? Everything is done by hand. We dry pluck them, which means the skin crisps up to a golden finish. They have a distinctive yellow flesh and a deep meaty flavour. Hung for 10 days and on sale from November, they come oven ready, complete with giblets and a chunk of goose fat. Tell us how you’d cook it for Christmas lunch. Roast simply in the traditional way with sage and onion stuffing, and serve with apple sauce, braised red cabbage and,…

1 Touch of glamour  Marble shelves and a brass frame create a sturdy crystalware store. Green marble and brass drinks trolley, £325, Mia Fleur. 2 Compact class  This model has handles on two sides for ease of travel and three bottle supports. Odin drinks trolley, £422, Rowen & Wren. 3 Talking point An innovative circular shape that will catch the eye of guests. Round brass and marble drinks trolley, £340, Rockett St George. 4 Tiered display This Art Deco design in an antiqued brass finish has three tiers to keep bottles and glasses on display looking organised. Stirling drinks trolley, £299, Atkin and Thyme. 5 Structured storage A show-stopping geometric design in nickel-plated iron with bottle supports. Riley bar trolley, £298, Atkin and Thyme. 6 Easy movement  This simple vintage…

What we love most about living here... ’The house expands when all the family come to stay, with mattresses, futons and sofabeds in various niches’ What makes this house a home… ’The comfy sofas – we love to cosy up and chat into the night’ Some houses are made for Christmas and the just Victorian manor house in Surrey owned by Sarah and Paul Ridout is one of them. The warm and comforting aroma of spicy candles and burning logs wafts across the hallway. Follow your nose and you’ll find the large, comfortable living room, the air thick with the scent of festive pine, and woodburner blazing. The house has plenty of space to welcome family and friends, which is just how Sarah and Paul like it. The…

Reclaimed doors An old wooden door is an open-and-shut case for creating an authentic country look. Need to know… Salvaged doors are unlikely to be an exact fit for your doorway, but they can be carefully trimmed down or a filler strip can be added to make them larger. Avoid caustically stripped doors since the process can damage the wood. Check, too, that the doors are not warped, or cracked around the hinge area. The traditional ledge-and-brace door, which is still made, has solid vertical planks on one side, held in place by ‘ledges’ and ‘braces’ on the other, for rustic country style. Where to buy… • Arc Reclamation for reclaimed internal and external doors. • Early Doors for reproduction and reclaimed period doors. • Broadleaf for new oak plank doors. FIND THE…

The season of festivities, food, gifts and gatherings, Christmas is a magical time of year. And often, the run-up to the event is just as enjoyable as the day itself. So, whether you’re hosting family, planning parties with friends or inviting the neighbours, start preparations early and take pleasure in the build-up. Neptune’s winter and Christmas collections are full of ideas to help you make your home guest-ready. All of its designs have been meticulously made using the finest raw materials and finishes. The results are beautiful pieces for every room with an alluring mix of old and new that will appeal for a lifetime. However you celebrate at home, embrace the joyful sights, smells and sounds of the most wonderful time of the year with inspiration from Neptune. Set…

How to MAKE THEM YOURSELF Twiggy heart wreath Wreaths are a must for every country home at Christmas, and this heart shape version is easy to recreate. We made ours with stripped willow, which needs a good soak for a couple of days to make it pliable. Either place in a bath weighed down or buy a special soaking bag. Taking four strips of soaked willow, arrange so the thickest ends are together and bind with twine or wreath wire. Tie again about 30cm along the length. Divide and bend the strips to make a heart shape, using the image as a guide, then secure at the base of the heart. The remaining willow ends create an attractive ‘tail’. To shape these together use a temporary tie which can be…

1 Hunker down ‘A Berber carpet is perfect for supplying that wonderful feeling of comfort the Danes call hygge,’ says Jemma Dayman, Buyer, Carpetright. ‘In thick, rugged yarn, this loop-pile carpet is supremely durable and hard-wearing. Created from 100% wool pile, it feels beautifully soft underfoot. The carpet comes in a range of earthy hues and neutral tones, which is ideal for achieving the relaxed Scandi look. This soft grey shade works well with the rustic exposed brick wall.’ 2 Back to nature ‘Pared-back designs with natural elements feature a lot this year,’ says Jodie Hatton, Textile Designer, Brintons. ‘This wood-grain effect is a nod to nature and enhances the carpet’s cosiness. Our collaboration with Timorous Beasties was a perfect fit, as its style challenges convention and a woven carpet…

1 Start with the basics Use a florist’s foam ring as the basis for your wreath and attach a hanging wire. 2 Find your foliage Choose ivy, yew or eucalyptus, all of which make a good base layer. 3 Build it up Start from the outside and work around, leaving a gap in the centre. 4 Fill in the gaps Bulk up the wreath with extra foliage such as holly, senecio and rosemary. 5 Introduce colour Spray paint some pine cones in festive red and attach wire. 6 Go for extra interest Include cinnamon bundles, dried apple slices and sprayed birch twigs. 7 Add the final flourish Continue to fill up your wreath and attach the sprayed pine cones. 8 Put it on display When your wreath is complete, hang…

Laura Fisher’s heart was always in the country, where she grew up surrounded by flowers. ‘As a child I lived in a little West Sussex village and we did all things country – walking, riding our friends’ ponies and we also went fishing with my dad. I remember picking wildflowers when we went out walking, and my mum would always make a little posy when we visited friends. My grandparents were big gardeners and they had a beautiful garden. My grandmother was also involved in the annual Staplefield Flower Show, which we used to visit when we were children.’ Fast forward a few years and Laura found herself working in media sales on magazines in London. Having spent 12 years in the industry she felt ready for a change. ‘I…

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Fall in love with velvet We couldn’t resist the Rose sofa in Burnt Orchid crushed velvet from new furniture brand The Lounge Co (from the company behind Parker Knoll, G Plan and Duresta), which offers a small, but carefully created range of sofas, chairs and stools in more than 110 fabric and colour options. A two-seater sofa starts from £949. Luxe… glamorous… Christmassy… Cosy up to faux fur Chic and comforting (not to mention animal-friendly), faux fur is top of our wishlist this year. Inspired by the rustic interiors of snow-covered log cabins, this seasonal trend is as practical as it is stylish, keeping you super snug when the temperature drops. Less is more, so choose an accent throw or rug, or tactile cushions to add texture to sofas and…

Tell us a little about poinsettias… The plants are native to Mexico and named after the diplomat and botanist Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced them to the US in 1828. Why are they such a Christmas favourite? Most Europeans know poinsettia as the ‘Christmas Star’ and the British buy six million every year. They’re almost as Christmassy as the tree itself! The big colourful ‘petals’ are actually leaves, and the flowers are the tiny little pips, called cyathia. How should we look after them? The important thing is to enjoy them over the festive season; don’t worry if they don’t last forever. Give them light, warmth (15-20°C), water sparingly and keep them out of draughts. Do they feature in your home at this time of year? I bring a few…

GET HOOKED ON CROCHET Go along to Toft Alpaca farm in Warwickshire and find out how to crochet or knit pretty gifts for friends at a family-friendly Christmas Open Day (17 December, thetoftalpacashop. co.uk ). It’s free entry for the day with a variety of workshops to try (from £3 each) including the opportunity to crochet a snowflake (pictured) for a festive tree. A historic setting... by the riverbank The place to go… Henley Located in the Chiltern Valley, this pretty market town (henleytowncouncil.gov.uk) is a wonderful place to explore historic architecture including the 14th-century Old Bell building and 16th-century St Mary’s Church tower. Enjoy a scenic ramble along the towpath from Henley to Hambleden Lock where you can see the old bread mill…

Timber kitchen Bring warmth and character to a country kitchen with wooden doors. Need to know… The attraction of solid-timber units lies in the natural variations of colour, texture and grain patterns available. But go for veneered doors and the choice opens up a large variety of wood species, including book-matched exotics. Reclaimed wood and other rustic looks can be copied using veneer or textured laminate. If you want cabinets made entirely from oak, expect all the benefits and cost of a bespoke design. Where to buy… • Mark Wilkinson Furniture for unique bespoke wood kitchens. • Second Nature for reclaimed wood-effect laminate doors. • Smallbone of Devizes for kitchens in oak, rosewood, mahogany, American walnut and maple. FIND THE PERFECT GRANITE WORK SURFACE…

  What makes this house a home… ‘Looking forward to my children visiting at Christmas. We still have decorations they made when they were little’ The woodburner crackles, the candles glow and the fairy lights twinkle as Paula and Richard Tennant wrap up warm to take Scruffy for a walk. Living in rural west Cornwall, they are surrounded by woodland, fields and farmland and, just a short drive away, the beach at Marazion that looks out towards St Michael’s Mount. ‘We love our long walks with the dog,’ says Paula. ‘In the autumn you can’t move for sloes in the hedgerows – we pick them and make sloe gin to drink with the family at Christmas. We also hunt for branches to make our improvised Christmas tree.’ Paula and Richard…

Create the warmest of welcomes Greet one and all with a festive first impression. Set the scene with potted trees, berry swags, a bench painted in jolly red and candlelit lanterns. See page 81 for details. Host memorable meals Invite your guests to dine in relaxed style with mix-and-match tableware and seating. Dress the table with a striking print tablecloth accented with a bright red runner and pretty displays of seasonal foliage. See page 81 for details. Enjoy a seasonal tipple Style a help-yourself festive bar with Kilner drinks dispensers and punch bowls. Use rustic log slices to give height to your display and add tealight glasses for atmosphere. See page 81 for details. Bring in natural elements Serve traditional Christmas biscuits from leather-handled storage jars and a dark wicker…

3 ONLINE SUPPLIERS OF PERSONALISED PRESENTS MORSE TOAD sends your message in chocolate and you can make it extra special with a photograph and personal note. From £11 including UK delivery. BLOOM & WILD puts the wow factor back into giving flowers with stunning on-trend bouquets, hand-packed and posted through the letterbox. Single bouquets, from £23 including free UK delivery. LETTERBOX GIFTS offers lovely goodies hand-selected from independent British producers (below). Each gift set is beautifully presented in a bespoke box with a gorgeous greetings card. From £22.95. Design your own wrapping paper. Add personalised tags to presents in the shapes of people’s favourite things – from animals to leaves. NEXT MONTH IDEAS FOR GUESTS SLEEPING OVER…

I couldn’t live without.... ‘MY FAMILY, MY SPINNING BIKE – AS I SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON IT – AND GEELONG WOOL JUMPERS, WHICH ARE SO SOFT AND LONG LASTING’ North Cornwall’s rugged coast, where Kathryn Whitworth spent a happy childhood in the fresh air and sea spray, provided the inspiration for her company Celtic & Co. With buckets of determination to create a living in her hometown of Newquay, Kath and husband Nick started making sheepskin boots for the surfers the area famously attracts. The fleecy footwear – then generically called ‘Uggs’ – keeps toes warm and is machine washable to remove tide marks. Twenty-five years on, Celtic is renowned for a range of clothing and soft furnishings in the finest natural fibres, with understated luxury the hallmark of…

1 BEST FOR… Instant warmth Calor, £269.99 A gas-powered model with realistic burning-coal effect, this traditional Provence Portable stove (H80xW46xD56cm) boasts a powerful 3kW output and heats quickly and evenly, despite being portable. Authentic design without costly installation. Electric ignition and two heat settings; requires a separate butane gas cylinder. 2 BEST FOR… All year round Dyson, £400 This reimagined Hot + Cool AM09 electric fan from Dyson (H59.5xW15.3xD11.3cm) does away with typical fan blades and uses something called Air Multiplier, which creates a smooth and silent jet of either warm or cool air to keep you comfortable whatever the weather. Also features a thermostat and auto-off timer for superb efficiency. 3 BEST FOR… Classic country looks Prem-i-Air, £69.99 Weighing just 7kg and featuring a useful carry handle, this traditional,…

1 Set up a village Secret Santa Exchange gifts, make new friends and spread some festive cheer at a community get-together! Invite neighbours to take part via your village Facebook page or newsletter. Set a price limit for the surprise presents and include the gift-giving date in your announcement. • Make it clear that individual donors’ identities are not to be revealed until the gifts are opened. • Set up a ballot box in your local corner shop, church or school for people to drop in their names and ask everyone to include a few clues about their interests and preferences to help prospective gift buyers. • Let people know the name of the person they will be buying a present for. Either draw names out by hand or visit…

The one lesson I have learned...‘STICK WITH YOUR STYLE AND DON’T DEVIATE FROM YOUR BRAND. I ONLY WANT TO DO NATURAL AND WILD COUNTRY, SO I CHOOSE THE FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE THAT FIT WITH THAT LOOK’ Many people have more than one career in their lifetime, like Laura Fisher. The feeling of being in need of a change might be the deciding factor that encourages you to launch your own business. An unexpected windfall, such as a redundancy pay-off or an inheritance, is often the catalyst for a change of career, giving you the chance to follow your dreams. Career consultant Sherridan Hughes advises: Recognise when you should change career. ‘If you are stressed or struggling and dreading going into work, or even if you are unfulfilled or in a…