Innholdsfortegnelse for May-2018 i Country Homes & Interiors

What are your reasons to be cheerful this month? When the Country Homes & Interiors team sat down earlier this year to plan this issue, we shared our love of all things May! Hanging wisteria (pages 57 and 112), scented lilac (page 10) and the planting up of seedlings (page 94) were top in our country gardens, while on the interiors front the new painterly designs in sunny mustard yellows had really caught our eye (page 67), as well the latest patchwork tiles (page 104) and an astonishing array of store-and-carry woven baskets (page 77)! I always find the renovation adventures of our home owners interesting reading (from page 28). Having built and furnished my own country home, it’s endlessly fascinating to hear how others have chosen the location and…

We want these now... With picnic lunches and sundowner aperitifs so temptingly around the corner, it’s time to upgrade your glassware. Sagaform’s mouth-blown schnapps glasses, £38 for six, give the option of two different serving sizes in one chic vessel. The oak box they come in makes carrying the next round out to the garden even easier, too. OUR FAVOURITE CORDIAL PRODUCER Norfolk Cordial Conceived in 2010 after founder John McFarlane noted his girlfriend wanted to enjoy a drink without having alcohol, Norfolk Cordial, which is based in Roughton, produces cordials from British-grown fruits. What’s so special about what you sell? We make probably the purest fruit cordial in the world! We don’t use preservatives, colourings, flavourings, concentrates or added water. It really is just cold-pressed, fresh fruit juices, sugar…

With its brick and white exterior and pretty clapboard garden featuring swathes of cow parsley, Nicola Watters’ picture-postcard home is the epitome of the perfect rural idyll. The family’s move to the country came about nearly 10 years ago. Nicola and her husband, Paul, were living in the centre of a busy town at the time, where their children were at school. Nicola had started her own art business, but was finding it difficult to be creative as where they were living was quite cramped and noisy, so she and Paul started looking for a new house. The search was to take some time. ‘I had grown up in the countryside by the sea,’ says Nicola. ‘I wanted the children to experience a country childhood as I had, and I…

Let nature do the entertaining in warmer months by moving your social space from the dining area to the garden room. Sally’s style secret Grow a collection of mix-and-match pots and fill your space with glasshouse-inspired eclecticism. Modern Country Classic Victorian floor tiles Top of the period features wish list in country homes, this striking flooring style was the height of fashion in Victorian England when the Gothic Revival influenced a return to elaborate decoration. Geometric designs range from chequerboard patterns to more intricate styles with differing shapes and colours. Lay a heritage statement in your conservatory, porch or hallway or with hard-wearing tiles in traditional or more contemporary hues. Where to buy… • Original Style for tiles that leave a lasting impression. • Original Features for traditional or bespoke designs.…

Everyspring, as the pale purple wisteria comes into bloom outside Josephine Burlingham’s pretty stone cottage, its heady scent reminds her of how she first stumbled across her home. ‘I remember seeing a tiny photograph of a house, smothered in flowers, tucked away in the “Property for sale” section of the local newspaper. I could easily have missed it,’ says Josephine. Luckily, the image of the cottage, located in a picturesque village near Exeter, grabbed her attention and she immediately arranged a viewing. What makes this house a home… ‘Its warmth, cosiness and charm. We’ve added so much love that you can feel it as you walk through the door’ What we love most about living here… ‘The quality of village life and the fabulous school, which has given our twins…

GET ARTY WITH NATURE Blue Splatter ½ pint mug, £19.95; Blue Splatter side plate, £17.95, both Emma Bridgewater. Bookbinder large jug, col Gold, £25, Edward Challinor at Royal Stafford. Embossed plate, £12.50, Alresford Linen Co. Floral trinket box, £6; Speckle ceramic vase, £6, both George Home. Handmade Speckled Flowers oval plate, £30, Laura Bird. Paintbrush, £8 for 16, Hobbycraft. Vintage bird print,from a selection, Lewes Antiques Centre. Damselfly greetings card,£3.15; Pressed Fern Leaf Pattern washi tape,£3.30 for 10m, both Helen Ahpornsiri. Hand-illustrated Herb recipe notecard, £6 for 5 assorted, Witshop. Flowers, from £80 for a bouquet, Pulbrook & Gould. WALK INTO THE WOODS Wallpaper,Bosky Wide Width, col Mellow, £65.52m, Lewis & Wood. Witham oak shelf, £148, Rowen & Wren. Oak mini benchThree, £525; oak house numbers, £18.50 each, all Another Country.…

This season, capture the joyful essence of a cottage garden with home furnishings and accessories inspired by the nostalgic art of preserving flora. Honouring past crafts and traditional patterns, all manner of country flowers and foliage – from daisies to leaf trails – have been applied as budding and beautiful designs. Go for colourful picks that will bring wild and free life to walls, perk up tableware, and even lend a natural touch to must-have technology (fancy a pretty pressed-flower phone case, anyone?) LOVE THIS LOOK? THEN TRY… Preserving foraged finds with an easy-to-use flower press or heavy book. Creating the illusion of a floating meadow on a wall or window by displaying a collection of glass-framed mixed leaves. Decoupaging tired furniture with bright flower heads to give a fun,…

Total transparency Virtually invisible, a frameless greenhouse allows clear views of your garden’s flowers and produce, both inside and out. Made from 10mm-thick toughened glass joined by slimline stainless-steel brackets, this design features an innovative full-ridge glass-to-glass ventilation system that promises commercial-level air control. Even the shelving is frameless, allowing maximum light to reach plants on the lower levels. The only downside is the tidiness factor – with everything on show, there’s nowhere for a messy gardener to hide! Harness the sun ‘Victorians were the first to design vinehouse-style greenhouses, which utilise existing garden or house walls. One advantage of a vinehouse over a lean-to greenhouse is that the roof pitch is offset, so it doesn’t require such a high wall to achieve a structure of decent height and width,’…

PATTERN IS BACK. Florals, geometrics, painterly effects – whichever tiles take your fancy, a unique patchwork panel locks them together to make a striking backdrop for your kitchen sink area. ‘PATCHWORK PATTERNS HAVE BEEN AROUND IN INTERIORS FOR YEARS, from homemade quilts to hanging wall tapestries, and the trend is still going strong,’ says Jane Addis, new products and design manager, Original Style. ‘Modern interiors are now often inspired by patchwork, which brings colour and texture to walls and floors.’ The patchwork style is particularly suited to country homes, whether your preference is a riot of colours, picked out from the shades of a cottage garden, or a classically simple yet effective blue and white scheme. THE FIRST CHOICE FOR PATTERNED TILES IS OFTEN GEOMETRICS. ‘These tiles go beyond the…

This summer, barbecuing is all about the classic charcoal grill, albeit with the latest mod cons. There are, on the whole, three main types: kettle, ceramic and barrel. The kettle is usually the most affordable and portable. Ceramic grills are the most versatile, but with a price tag to match. The barrel looks like a typical gas grill with a hinged top and tends to sit in between the others price-wise. In terms of lighting, look for bio-fuel lighter fluids or a chimney starter, and use a surface thermometer for the best results. 1 Best for... PRECISE COOKS 31401 Dorado Charcoal, £230, Landmann The Landmann Dorado (H111xW132x D66cm) is great for controlling the temperature with its integrated thermometer and height-adjustable charcoal grate. Its cast-iron cooking grill also helps to cook…

BUY BRITISH Urban Cottage Industries One of the pioneers of the industrial lighting aesthetic, this company began life when the founders salvaged and resold original light fittings from redundant factories in Yorkshire. The stylish range, including the large balloon light bulb cage (above), brings a modern touch to a country home. There’s also a next-day bespoke lighting service: choose everything from the shape, size and finish of the shade to the colour of the fabric cord. Listen out for nightingales These secretive birds are in full song from May through to June. Sadly, they are on the RSPB’s Red List as their numbers have fallen dramatically. Head to the south of England for the best chance of hearing them. SLOUCH IN STYLE Perfect for cool spring and summer evenings, this…

1 MIRRORED SPLASHBACK Emma spent time researching antiqued mirrored glass to create a splashback that would add light and interest to the room. ‘I found a company called Rough Old Glass, who were wonderful to work with,’ she says. ‘The splashback is especially lovely at night when it reflects light from the chandelier and candles that I place on the shelf in front of it.’ 2 FLEXIBLE RANGE COOKER The cast-iron range cooker has all the homely connotations of a traditional range but is an electric, on-demand version that works better for the family’s modern lifestyle. ‘I love the classic design but, as we’re out at work all day and have underfloor heating, we didn’t need the heat of a traditional Aga,’ says Emma. ‘It instantly responds when needed and…

A  ABODE 01226 283434 abodedesigns.co.uk AGA 0800 111 6477 agaliving.com AIRE airestudio.co.uk ALEXANDER & PEARL 020 8508 0411 alexanderandpearl.co.uk ALEXANDER ROSE 01444 258931 alexander-rose.co.uk ALITEX 01730 826900 alitex.co.uk ALL THINGS BRIGHTON BEAUTIFUL allthingsbrightonbeautiful.co.uk ALRESFORD LINEN COMPANY 01962 734221 alresfordlinen.co.uk ALSO HOME 01483 608611 alsohome.com ALTERNATIVE FLOORING 01264 335111 alternativeflooring.com AMARA 0800 587 7645 amara.com AND SO TO BED 0808 144 4343 andsotobed.co.uk ANOTHER COUNTRY 020 7486 3251 anothercountry.com ASPACE 0800 021 9015 aspace.co.uk B  BARKER AND STONEHOUSE 0333 355 9321 barkerandstonehouse.co.uk BASKET BASKET 01420 85112 basketbasket.co.uk BATHSTORE 0800 023 2323 bathstore.com BELL TENT BOUTIQUE 0115 966 3535 belltentboutique.co.uk BELYNDA SHARPLES 01508 531171 belyndasharples.co.uk BERT & MAY 020 3744 0776 bertandmay.com BESPOKE LIGHTS 01643 707505 bespokelights.co.uk BILLINGHAM 01384 412700 billingham.co.uk BIRDIE FORTESCUE 01328 738634 birdiefortescue.co.uk BLENDWORTH 023 9259 4911…

Time for tea? Add a stylish touch to your stove top with this retro-look kettle by Kate Spade New York. We love the polka-dot design and its charming spout engraved with words to live by: ‘whistle while you work’. The Deco Dot Tea Kettle costs £63 from Amara. OUR FAVOURITE DESIGNER MAKER Starkeys Lane Gail Jones decided to set up Starkeys Lane in 2015 after gaining a textiles degree in screenprinting and working as a fashion stylist and illustrator. Based in the Chilterns, she creates art prints, cards and stationery inspired by nature. What influences your designs? Definitely nature and the countryside. I often photograph things when I’m outside to work on later. I’m a magazine addict, too, and keep sketchbooks of inspirational cuttings. I especially admire the artist Sir…

Alex and Ali Cooke founded online home and lifestyle company Nkuku over a decade ago, followed by their bricks-and-mortar store in 2016. Housed in a collection of barns, the shop offers a broad range of products, from decorative accessories to furniture, with a delightful café providing the perfect place to relax over a cuppa. We asked Alex to tell us more… WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO SET UP YOUR SHOP? We stumbled across a beautiful courtyard of derelict stone barns, just outside Totnes. Despite the exposure to the elements and more than 20 years of neglect, we quickly saw it was the perfect place to bring Nkuku to life. WHAT IS NKUKU STYLE? It’s all about distressed, pared-back industrial, rustic finishes and materials. We love imperfections and simple style, so we…

For a coastal scheme with a modern twist, accent chalky neutrals with painterly motifs across textiles and crockery. Combine practicality and stylish good looks with smooth, grained flagstones. Fossil Buff Honed sandstone, £42sqm, Mandarin Stone. Hand-carved from solid elm and beech, this mid-century design is the epitome of ergonomic shaping. Originals Windsor dining chair, H89xW49xD52cm, £405, Ercol at Heal’s. Choose a ticking design in a seaside hue for relaxed mealtimes. Hampton Stripe tablecloth, 130x 230cm, col Denim Blue/Dove Grey, £34.99, Walton. Introduce a touch of beachy charm into your home with this cute-as-a-pebble, coastal-inspired cuddler. Seahorses cushion, 45cm sq, £45, Nicola Watters. Serve a toppling salad or fork-twirling pasta in handmade and hand-painted pottery. Oscar pasta bowl, Dia28cm, £29.50, Susie Watson Designs. Nicola’s style secret Create an interesting focal and…

It was my childhood in Switzerland that influenced our move to the countryside,’ says Joli Wright. ‘I grew up on a farm in the mountains, like Heidi. It was idyllic – we swam in the lakes in summer and sledged and skied to school in winter. I was a complete country girl. I met my husband Alex there, and when we moved back to England we were looking for a rural upbringing for our children, too.’ Alex was due to take over the family business and he and Joli wanted to be near Cambridge as Alex’s parents and the business were nearby. Joli looked online and found a beautiful manor house at the centre of a village. What we love most about living here… ‘This happy family home is multipurpose.…

Consider furniture placement to zone a seating area. Add a rug and coffee table in the middle to create a sense of intimacy. Josephine’s style secret Raspberry ripple accents work well with serene greens for a fresh modern country scheme blushing with cosy appeal. Modern Country Classic Skylight A strategically placed roof window in almost any space, such as an extension, a storage room, loft bedroom or bathroom, allows your home to be flooded with natural light while giving tantalising glimpses of treetops and clouds. Classic styles range from flat glass roof-lights to pitched roof skylights, and are commonly designed to open from either top-hung or side-hung hinges, operated manually or electronically. Where to buy… • Velux for an extensive range and special-function designs. • Glazing Vision for glazing renovations. • The…

British fabric designer Zoe Glencross is known for her beautifully elegant countryside-inspired designs, from over-sized tumbling leaves and birds in flight to abstract land and mineral textures. These hand-sketched, block- and screen-prints are translated onto soft, natural linens, suitable for curtains, blinds, cushions and upholstery, and are available in a gorgeous palette of soft, chalky colours. Zoe’s latest collection is called Nordic Story and was inspired by her travels to Sweden and Denmark. Our favourite designs include the versatile Paper Leaf print and the large-scale Nordic Trail for impact. Balance these with the delicate North Star and Honeycomb prints to create a relaxed yet stylish scheme for your country home. This month, Zoe Glencross is offering Country Homes & Interiors readers 15% off her entire range of fabrics – simply…

Helen is a countrywoman through and through. She lives with husband Anthony, four dogs, an ex-racehorse, a pony and numerous guinea fowl, just a few miles from the farm where she grew up. She remembers as a six-year-old moving from their cottage to the farmhouse, travelling with her siblings on a tractor-drawn trailer, piled high with furniture. Since discovering a passion for working in willow, Helen creates sculptures, finding inspiration in the animals, plants and countryside around her. We headed to her stunning house and grounds to find out more about Wakelins Willow... TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE. Our Suffolk farmhouse has an eclectic mix of styles. The oldest part is dated 1350, with additions in the 17th century and a modern wing built in 2004, which has a…

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT… Greenhouse temperature control Making sure your greenhouse temperature is at the optimum level is key to plant-growing success. Marcus Eyles, head of horticulture at Dobbies Garden Centres, has the following advice: • Monitor the temperature of your greenhouse daily to ensure you use your heaters more efficiently and adjust them when needed. • A greenhouse thermometer should have a range of -20°C to +50°C and be splashproof. Avoid temperatures over 27°C to reduce plant damage. • A maximum-minimum thermometer lets you track temperatures over long periods, which is ideal for planning venting and shading in high summer. • Digital thermometers usually have a dual display function, showing the daily maximum, minimum and current temperature; these are really easy to read and simple to reset.…

This elegant tap dispenses filtered boiling and cold water, and comes in a choice of five finishes. Omni Contemporary 4-in-1 copper tap, £1,552, Franke. It has a traditional style, but this chrome mixer uses ceramic discs to control the flow. Provence 4750 2-hole sink mixer tap with lever handles in chrome, £503, Perrin & Rowe. Also available in chrome, this low-pressure tap has a handy pull-out spray. Langley Bridge mixer tap with spray in pewter, £574, Abode.…

The British plantain (not the banana-type fruit) is the common ribbed-leaved weed that has both edible and medicinal uses. Use a wildflower ID book to make sure you have the right plant and pick leaves from clean, dog-free areas. 1 It’s great as ramblers’ first-aid. Clean, freshly picked leaves can be crushed or chewed and placed on bites and nettle stings for a quick anti-inflammatory, anti-itch remedy. 2 Mix with kale to create plantain kale chips. Wash and chop young plantain leaves, mix 50-50 with kale and toss with olive oil, garlic salt and smoked paprika. Spread evenly on a tray and bake on the lowest possible setting until crispy – it takes just minutes. 3 Brew up as a hayfever tea. Plantain can be used as a soothing stand-alone…

SMOKED MACKEREL PâTé This is a zhuzhed-up version – the beetroot adds colour and sweetness, and the horseradish adds a bit of bite. SERVES 4 For the chutney 2 large red onions, finely sliced Thumb-sized piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 3 cooked beetroots, roughly chopped ½ tsp Chinese five spice 4 tbsp soft light brown sugar 100ml red wine vinegar 100ml red wine For the pâté 4 smoked mackerel fillets, skin and pin bones removed 2 cooked beetroot, cut into small cubes Small handful parsley, finely chopped 1 tbsp freshly grated horseradish 1 garlic clove, finely chopped Juice ½ lemon 2 tbsp crème fraîche Sourdough or soda bread, to serve 1 Make the chutney at least a week in advance so the flavour…

It comes as no surprise that a love of birds lies behind Emma Evans-Freke’s business, Blackbird House. Emma, an artist and screen-printer who lives and works in the heart of East Sussex, creates wildlife and country-life inspired prints and homeware, and her passion was inherited from her grandmother, Merlin. ‘I grew up in a creative home in the north of Scotland but spent holidays in Wiltshire with my grandmother, who loved birds,’ she says. ‘Her father was a falconer who had called his daughters after birds of prey, and Merlin owned Jacobin pigeons, bantams, a parrot and a Muscovy duck that used to wander in and out of the house! She was very artistic and drew animals with pastels, which I found inspiring. I collected and drew feathers and was…

The village of Kirdford is the epitome of everything I love about Sussex – it’s the sort of place you could stumble across while driving through the countryside and never want to leave. The village is so pretty with its lovely Sussex high street, stunning church, avenue of leafy mature trees, houses covered in wisteria and beautifully maintained, quintessentially British gardens. When you’re there you just want to sit down and paint the scene around you – it really is that gorgeous. The most important thing though, is the pub! I’ve been going to The Half Moon pub on and off my entire life. I grew up nearby in Ewhurst, and my parents would take me there for Sunday roasts as a child, then as a teenager I’d hang out…

Just what you need now... Keep your climbers under control with the Flexi-Tie Set from Sarah Raven. The kit, £15.95, includes a reel of 35m long, 3.5mm tie, ideal for supporting roses and woody plants, and a reel of 60m long 2.5mm tie for climbing veg and sweet peas. The soft, brown tie looks natural and is kind to plants. Q&A WITH A SHARING GARDENER Grow your own cocktails Food writer and grower Mark Diacono shares his tips on how to create the perfect tipple. What’s the secret to flavour? Cocktails are like dressings – most need something sweet, sharp, aromatic, some alcohol and often something to extend them to be at their best. Your garden can provide many of these. I find the best things to grow for cocktails,…

Display favourite pots, gardening tools and a rotation of seasonal greenery on open shelving. After a day of potting, planting and planning for the season, high on the wish list is a place to rinse off and let go of the dig-and-do list. More than just a basin, counter and storage space, a back-door work station is a place to pot up and arrange flowers. WHAT’S THE STORY? Originally created as an area to bridge the gap between the store, the shed and the garden itself; the idea of a place to pot up and bring on plants protected by the elements developed as growing and horticulture became more popular. You can find them in all shapes and sizes, from simple shelving and a work surface to a glorious glasshouse…

Sally Crossley had long admired one particular house in the conservation area of a village that had been part of the West Yorkshire silk, cotton and woollen industries, but she never imagined that one day she would live there. The house was also noteworthy as it had once been owned by a local businessman who had saved the village from demolition in the 1960s. Sally was living with her daughters in a village a couple of miles away and when she met John, who shared a home with his daughters in another village, they wanted to find a house they could all move into. ‘We were looking for a comfortable but not enormous house that had six bedrooms,’ says Sally. ‘It also had to be near where John and I…

Team soft, natural tones with blush, fuchsia and rose for a cheery scheme with grown-up appeal and attitude! Joli’s style secret Inspire creativity with playful decorations and energising colour pops, while cleverly containing clutter with versatile, storage-savvy furniture. Modern Country Classic Children’s desk A country-style desk is the ideal way to turn a small space into a dedicated study zone. Young minds will benefit from practical designs that feature plenty of drawers or cubbyholes for storage – just the thing for reading, writing or computer activities. Opt for wood or laminate finishes that are hard-wearing and easy to clean. Choose rounded edges and soft-closing drawers and doors to prevent trapped fingers. Where to buy... • Ferm Living for simple, subtle, contemporary pieces. • Barker and Stonehouse for a range of designs…

Match a painterly design taken from nature with geometric and smudge patterns for contrast. WALK INTO THE WOODS Create a fairytale hallway with an atmospheric wallpaper of forest trees and foliage by artist Alexander Hamilton. Classic oak peg rails and a bench for storage complement perfectly a coir carpet and woven baskets. See page 74 for details. GET FRESH IN THE KITCHEN Gather around a gorgeous table laid with a runner in a daubed design. Built-in box cupboards make for a modern-day dresser – the ideal place to store favourite pieces. See page 74 for details. » SHINE ON Give a classic-shaped painted lamp base a modern twist with a pleated, splattery shade. See page 74 for details. Blend painted and wooden materials to create a cheerful and inviting country…

Colour and pattern Catch the eye with colour-block, dipped, striped and geometric designs in earthy tints and hues. Rustic textures Keep things simple by choosing natural designs with beautiful finishes in tactile wicker, rattan and palm leaf. Playful trimmings Turn up the fun factor and enjoy classic designs reworked in assorted shapes and adorned with pom-poms, tassels, sequins and beads.…

1 BOTANICAL BEAUTY Make a statement and filter light with a patterned sheer. ‘With the trend for botanical imagery still strong, a delicate silhouette leaf trail is the perfect way to update your window,’ says Gemma Drury, senior designer at Kai Fabrics. ‘Rosa is a stunning burnout sheer, which, hung alone or alongside a semi-plain fabric, will add sophisticated pattern and subtle colour to your home.’ 2 SHEEN SUPREME Ensure privacy and understated glamour with a voile that has a delicate shimmer. Team with co-ordinating luxe cushions on a window seat for a cohesive look. ‘Sheers soften daylight and provide privacy without creating dark corners,’ says Nicola Brumfitt, marketing director of Prestigious Textiles. ‘Our double-width sheers mean no seams, no fuss – just beautifully dressed windows in an instant.’ 3…

1 Flexible seating Enjoy cosy dinners for two, or butterfly it out to allow enough elbow room to seat six comfortably. Shalstone round extending table, H75xW120-160x D120cm, £899, Ercol for John Lewis. 2 Industrial edge Featuring an adjustable height mechanism, this quirky iron piece is just the thing for slight and tall folk alike! Dining table, H75-100xDia75cm, £430, Home Loft Concept at Wayfair. 3 Pale and interesting With its timeless good looks and low-maintenance finish, this satin cream pedestal design suits a modern country kitchen perfectly. Oakham round extending dining table, H76.5xW120-160xD120cm, col Cream, £1,150, Laura Ashley. 4 Petite qualities Pop this circular table into dainty spaces for snug brunching with a flourish of natural characteristics. Round oak dining table, H76xDia100cm, £465, Graham & Green. 5 Sturdy design Crafted from…

This is the perfect time of year to become your own botanist. Start by taking a sketchbook and pencil with you on a woodland walk, carefully observing and, where appropriate, collecting interesting twigs and leaves. Of course, people have drawn plants since the dawn of time. Some of the oldest drawings on record date back before 1600BC. During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, the artistic reproduction of plants really took off when artists began travelling with explorers to new lands to record never-seen-before varieties. These illustrations differed from what we recognise as botanical art, as the emphasis was on the scientific record and botanical accuracy to enable the plant’s identification, while the emphasis of botanical art is, of course, on the aesthetics. These days it’s…

1 RHS Malvern Spring Festival 10-13 May, Three Counties Showground, Worcestershire. Set against the beautiful Malvern Hills, highlights include a pavilion of art and flowers, giant terrariums and the world’s first knitted garden – the Work of Heart Garden in aid of Sue Ryder, rhs.org.uk. 2 Holker Hall & Gardens Spring Market 19-20 May, Holker Hall, Cumbria. Enjoy award-winning gardens and visit the market, held in the courtyard and piazza, where you’ll find artisanal food, glorious flowers and plants and handmade gifts, as well as live entertainment, holker.co.uk. 3 RHS Chelsea Flower Show 22-26 May, Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London. This year’s event features 10 inspirational Show Gardens, as well as a new Space to Grow category, Artisan Gardens and more than 90 exhibits from the world’s best growers in the…

‘We chose pale colours that we can change if we fancy an update, but I don’t think we’ll ever tire of the design’ The bucolic village of Bowdon, perched high above the Cheshire Plain, is known for its broad, tree-lined roads and handsome period properties. Partially owned by the National Trust, it’s an architectural treasure trove of 17th-century and Arts and Crafts homes. So, for many, a 1970s property might not have been popular but, when seeking a bigger family home in 2016, Emma and Chris Kyte saw past the inelegant architecture to the space within. ‘We were drawn to the location, and we could see the house had potential,’ says Emma. A year later the property had been given a total facelift, with a new roof, windows and…

For many people, the decision to start their own business working from home, is driven by the desire to create a better work/life balance. It’s also the solution for many people with young children. Bear in mind, however, that when you first work from home, it can often take some time to get that balance right. You will need to plan it quite carefully and take certain factors into consideration. Create a dedicated workspace. Many businesses are literally started at the kitchen table, but as soon as you are able, create a separate area where you can work. If you don’t have much space or you have children, set aside a space, such as part of a room with a curtain divider, like Emma Evans-Freke, or a spare room. When…