Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2015 i Country Homes & Interiors

Christmas 2015 is just around the corner and we are proud to present a country Christmas special. In our busy and sometimes uncertain world, ‘The gift of home’ is a real blessing, so I hope you’ll join us in being inspired by the modern traditions that make this time of year reassuring and magical (page 58). It’s the little things that have got us excited this season – from lights, garlands and baubles in glowing, natural and icy colour schemes (page 70) to ‘Things we can’t live without’ in jewel brights (page 10). The less-is-more approach to festive decorating is also beautifully revealed in the cottages, conversions and country houses (from page 22), where woodland wreaths, hand-chosen fir trees and welcoming get-togethers sum up the true pleasures of today’s simple…

We want this now... The ultimate eco garden accessory, this beautiful broom is made from fallen coconut leaves, coir and coconut shells. You can use it in all weather conditions either as a rake or broom, and even to sweep up snow and pine needles. £25, The Original Garden Broom. OUR FAVOURITE PLANT EXPERT Carol Klein Writer, TV presenter and horticulturalist Carol Klein is one of the UK’s best-loved gardening experts. Her latest book, Making a Garden (£25, Mitchell Beazley) will inspire you to think about your garden in a new way. Does your garden play a part in your Christmas festivities? We have a lot of evergreens and berries growing so we like to collect these to make beautiful holly wreaths. What are you up…

AT HOME WITH ... Owners Ali Jackson, co-founder of The Dining Chair Company, and her husband David, a commercial property developer, who live here with daughter Anya, 19. They have three dogs, Sam, a Labrador, Bonnie, a Cocker Spaniel, and Rossie, a West Highland Terrier, and a cat called Lucky, plus they keep horses. House An 18th-century mill house with a barn-style extension. Christmas in Ali Jackson’s home is centred Hampshire home is centred around good, but easy, living: delicious food, fine wine, plus friends and family. ‘I need to keep everything about Christmas as simple as possible because there’s always work to be done here – the horses still need mucking out and feeding, even on Christmas Day, and there are 14 lunch guests to cook for,’…

FIND THE PERFECT NEUTRAL CARPET Modern Country Classic Upholstered beds Rounded curves, softness and comfort make a fabric-covered bed the ultimate in lavish luxury. Need to know… Whether you’re a fan of Parisian chic or traditional country style, an upholstered bed is an opportunity to add another layer of pattern. The padded shape is a natural match for the current trend for deep buttoning, although a smooth finish, edged with piping, will show off a patterned fabric more distinctly. Customising the frame with paint and an antique finish add further to the appeal. Where to buy… • French Finds for vintage upholstered beds. • Leporello for custom-painted upholstered beds. • Simon Horn for beds in your choice of fabric. For more ideas go to housetohome.co.uk/  countryhomesandinteriors…

AT HOME WITH ... Owner Vicki Cree, who works for an animal and plant health agency. She lives here with Patterdale Terrier, Tag. Her horses, Freddie (above), JJ, Peggy and Hamish are kept in stables on her parents’ property, which is adjacent. House A one-bedroom Victorian stable conversion. Getting on the first rung of the housing ladder is a challenge for most young people, but imagine trying to find your first home with enough outdoor space to stable your horses. Luckily for Vicki Cree, her parents had a huge garden with outbuildings ripe for turning into a home for her and with enough stabling nearby for her equine brood. ‘It made sense to build in my parents’ garden,’ says Vicki. And that’s exactly what she did. Her new…

Lights and candles Create a warm and opulent atmosphere with scented orange and cinnamon candles set alight inside burnished and bronzed lanterns. Wreaths and garlands Put on a wonderful wintery welcome in a hallway with snow-frosted wreaths, garlands and mini trees. Baubles and decorations Go for a cool, contemporary look. Choose decorations in icy shades of blue and steel, with a hint of Scandi style.…

Romilla Arber has been interested in food since she was a child. Growing up in Basingstoke in the 1970s, she had a foodie mum who was way ahead of her time serving hummus and imaginatively dressed salads when everyone else was dishing up Smash and Vesta curries. Despite going on to have a successful career as a lawyer, Romilla’s first love remained food and, in 2008, she set up the Food Education Trust, a charity to promote the benefits of a balanced home-cooked diet. Then came her collection of family recipes and experiences of feeding her family of four children in the book What’s For Dinner?, followed recently by Second Helpings. Fulfilling a long-held dream, in January 2014 Romilla set up the inspirational Honesty Cookery School in Hampshire, followed the…

1 Extend the warmth With a decorative ivory finish and soaring flue, this focal-point stove is the ideal heating solution for an extension, conservatory or garden room. ‘We often find homeowners want to incorporate a woodburning stove into one of our oak-framed buildings,’ says Carol Parry, Marketing Manager, Arboreta. ‘It ensures that the room can be used comfortably all year round.’ 2 Flexible fuels ‘If you are burning both wood and smokeless fuels, look for a stove with a decent multifuel converting grate,’ says Ced Wells, Director, Charnwood. ‘Wood burns best on a flat bed of ash, while smokeless fuels burn more efficiently on an open grate where the air can draw up through the fuel. A converting grate that switches from open to flat will ensure you can easily…

B&Q understands how daunting a kitchen project can be and its dedicated experts are there to help and to ensure that planning a kitchen doesn’t take as long or cost as much as you might think. Whether you need to update your kitchen or are planning to change the layout of your room, a new design will bring a new lease of life to your home. Work out how you would like to improve on your current kitchen and how you intend to use the space, for example, whether you want more storage or an informal dining area. Once you’ve decided, why not try B&Q’s new interactive online design tool, Spaces, which makes designing your kitchen even easier. When you have a look you love, the high-tech 3D planning tool…

British wool is one of the nation’s most valuable heritage materials. Reared in the highlands and lowlands of this country, over 60 breeds of native sheep produce sustainable, environmentally friendly and inherently warm wool. This year, the Campaign for Wool and British Wool are showcasing stunning weaves and home furnishings made using 100% British wool. Available from well-known interiors names, from Brintons to Heal’s, this shortlist of stunning upholstery fabrics, carpets, rugs, cushions and throws aims to bring the story of British wool to the fore. From the shearing of the fleece to the carding, spinning, dyeing and, finally, weaving of the wool, this is a journey that goes back generations and wouldn’t be possible without the passion and pure talent of designers, weavers and manufacturers in the UK. Inspired…

MIDDLETHORPE HALL, YORK, NORTH YORKSHIRE We love it because… If you want to shop in York but prefer to stay away from the centre, Middlethorpe Hall, a William and Mary country house hotel, can’t be beat. Owned by the National Trust, it’s a great base for visiting the Yorkshire Dales, too. What is the accommodation like? Traditional-style rooms, period features and magnificent gardens set the tone in this stately Downton Abbey-esque abode. Dining here is a lovely experience, too, with a tempting menu of modern English food. Where to shop? Head to York, where a festive feel can be found in the characterful shops along The Shambles, made all the more inviting by strings twinkly lights glowing from timber-framed buildings. Dart down the side streets to find more independent gems.…

I love painting happy things,’ says Lisa Wright of Polkadot. ‘My ceramic and papier mâché Christmas baubles feature everything from robins and holly to festive fairy cakes.’ In the summer, when Christmas isn’t even on the horizon for most people, Lisa is hard at work in her cottage in the Buckinghamshire countryside, designing and painting her new season’s Christmas decorations, including baubles, vintage-style cotton reels, signs and tags. ‘Christmas does seem to go on all year round in our house,’ she says. ‘I concentrate on painting in the summer and then the lead-up to Christmas is my busiest time as I go to craft fairs to sell my decorations. We have been known to have our tree up for the entire year, and we always have baubles in the window.…

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We want this now... Every country kitchen needs a good copper pan and this one is perfect for mulled wine. Put fruit juice and alcohol (try flat cider) in the pan with spices and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Take off the heat and leave to infuse before gently re-heating. Copper stockpot, 24cm, £40, George Home. OUR FAVOURITE CHEESEMONGER Hero Hirsh British Cheesemonger of the Year 2012, Hero Hirsh has worked at Britain’s oldest artisan cheese shop since 2009. Paxton & Whitfield began as a cheese stall in 1742 in Aldwych and today has four shops including branches in Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon. What’s so special about Paxton & Whitfield cheese? We have a long history in how to care for cheese so when our customers buy it from us it’s at…

FIND THE PERFECT STONE FLOOR TILES Modern Country Classic Extending dining table You can easily invite extra people for lunch as there’s plenty of space at these practical tables. Need to know… It’s a case of the more the merrier around an extending table. The flexible options have extra leaves that unfold, slide out or slot into place. Often leaves are stored beneath the table top, and a mechanism on runners extends the table. In a tight spot, a drop-leaf table folds away neatly when not required, then one flap or both can be raised to top up dining space. Check in store that runners glide smoothly and hinges are supportive. Where to buy… • Leporello for a painted table for 10. • Oka for tables that seat up to 18. • Raft…

FIND THE PERFECT NEUTRAL PAINT Modern Country Classic Wooden stool Varnished or painted, with plain or turned legs, this versatile piece makes a great fireside perch. Need to know… It’s the sort of item you might pick up at a country antiques market or fair, small enough to pop in the back of the car and just needing to be brought up to scratch with a little attention. Fix a wobbly stool by re-gluing and tightening any loose joints, and restore the finish with wax filler sticks and touch-up pens (try Liberon). Complete with a coat of wax or varnish to bring out the beauty of the natural colour. Where to buy… • Adams Antiques for antique stools. • Another Country for stools and benches in beech, oak and ash. • Rectory Blue…

1 An empty alcove at the side of a chimney breast is the ideal space for storing a hefty stock of split firewood to keep it within reach of the fire. Make the most of its design potential, too, and pile wood in a neat stack to the ceiling to create a lofty focal point and give the illusion of added height in the room. 2 TUCKED IN Even the tiniest of spaces can be used to create a dramatic display of firewood. Keep an eye out for any nooks and crannies in your house that might offer up the perfect spot for storage, such as this gap between two kitchen cupboards. Otherwise dead space, it’s now an eye-catching store with a quirky mix of logs in a variety of…

Tiles are the ultimate practical solution in a country home – perfect for hall floors, heart-of-the-home kitchens and smart bathrooms. With friends and family visiting for Christmas, now is the perfect time to spruce up splashbacks, walls and flooring ready for their arrival. So it pays to shop at a tile specialist that can offer you a vast choice of beautiful high-quality and good-value tiles. Topps Tiles is the UK’s leading tile retailer with designs sourced around the world that are guaranteed to make a style statement. From on-trend brick tiles to delicate mosaics and from this season’s must-have patterns to wood and stone-effect, Topps Tiles has something for every interior. Such a huge selection may seem daunting but Topps Tiles’ friendly staff are on hand to offer expert advice.…

BEST FOR… Big birds Wolf, 125L, C-rated, £6,060 You’ll struggle to find a turkey that won’t fit in this ICBSO30PM/S/PH M-Series Single Oven (H72xW75.9x D58.4cm), which packs an impressive internal cavity of 125L. Wolf’s Dual VertiCross Convection System also promises faster, more even cooking, while a digital temperature probe ensures food is thoroughly cooked. BEST FOR… Hassle-free cleaning Smeg, 65L, A-rated, £699 Pyrolytic cleaning brings the classic SFP6925PPZ Victoria Aesthetic oven (H58.8xW59.7x D54.8cm) right up to date. At the touch of a button, high temperatures (500°C) will turn grease and residue into ash, leaving you to get back to the festive celebrations. It also features 20 automatic programs and five cooking levels. BEST FOR… Juicy joints Whirlpool, 73L, A+ rated, £399 Enjoy delicious rotisserie-style roasts via the AKZM 755/IX (H59.5xW59.5x…

1 Changing your kitchen is a big undertaking, so take a look at your space and decide whether you want a complete refit or whether some simple cosmetic changes, such as new cabinet doors or a new worktop, will give you a simple refresh that will make all the difference. 2 Write down a wishlist of things you would love to have in your kitchen and what you need to change – you may long for an informal eating area or a table that the kids can do their homework on, or you may have your heart set on an island with lots of extra storage. Make the space work for you and your lifestyle. 3 Take inspiration from around you. Scour magazines and brochures, research websites such as housetohome.co.uk and…

1 Join an online knitting group Whether you’re new to knitting or a pattern pro, here are some online ‘close-knit’ communities you can click on to... Knitting Haven Struggling with a new stitch? Have a natter with fellow knitters of all levels in this friendly forum to help you gain valuable insight and advice. Visit knittinghaven.com. Craftsy Fancy learning new techniques? These web-based knit-alongs are just the thing. Watch videos featuring expert instructors who can provide feedback. Visit craftsy.com. Love Knitting Post pictures of your latest knits here, and browse and comment on what others have created, too. Visit loveknitting.com. 2 DECK THE HALLS Looking to spruce up your Christmas decorations this year? Create rustic wreaths, garlands and centrepieces for the festivities, using freshly picked greenery, grown and harvested at…

Colourful and distinctive, Margo Selby’s woven textiles, produced by her own design studio, have a modern edge which will enhance and blend perfectly in country interiors. Her design philosophy is about pushing the boundaries of weaving by uniting the very best weavers with high-quality fibres, including British Wool, to create beautifully crafted products. Margo’s expertise in weaving is central to the whole design process. This begins with hand-woven textile concepts, which are then developed with specialist mills and artisan weavers. The result is an exciting range of textile products in a vibrant mix of colours and geometric motifs, including furnishing fabric and accessories such as cushions, throws, towels and rugs. Margo’s textile designs work effortlessly with both classic and contemporary styles, and so will add a luxurious and vibrant modern…

Selling at a craft fair is something every maker should try. ‘It’s an opportunity to meet customers, see people’s reactions to your work and test products... and that’s before you even get any sales!’ says Camilla Westergaard, of online marketplace Folksy (folksy.com). ‘But there are also some drawbacks: you need to make a lot of stock in advance, and days spent standing, carrying and talking can be physically exhausting. Plus, if you pick the wrong fair or it doesn’t pull in the crowds, you can be left feeling demoralised.’ Here are Camilla’s tips to get the most out of a market. Do your research. ‘It’s really important that you pick the right fair for your work. Although inexpensive local fairs can be tempting, consider whether they are really the right…

We want this now... This freestanding pantry is both beautiful and perfect for Christmas. Made from beech, it has spacious shelves, drawers and adjustable bottle storage, plus a handy chalkboard, and comes in seven country-inspired shades including cranberry (left). £2,350, Laura Ashley. OUR FAVOURITE DESIGNER Vicky White Vicky is the founder of British homewares and lifestyle brand Plum & Ashby, known for its iconic designs inspired by unofficial mascot Bertie, her Wirehaired Fox Terrier. How did Plum & Ashby come about? I couldn’t find anything that fitted both my city flat and the rural cottage I’d just bought in Bedfordshire, so I decided to create products that had a timeless country look – but without a hint of floral! Describe your design process. I based my brand on the old…

Shop at a festive fair Enjoy a day out and buy gorgeous crafts, gifts and homemade treats to decorate your home and give to friends. Join Country Homes & Interiors at The Country Brocante Winter Fair (above) in West Sussex (Cowdray Park, 28 November), for pop-up stalls and shops offering antiques, French-style gifts, and modern country-style inspiration for the home from British designers and makers, thecountrybrocante.co.uk. Or visit the Selvedge Artisan Fairs in Bath (The American Museum, 12 December) and London (Chelsea Old Town Hall, 3-4 December) for handmade textiles, decorative storage baskets, vintage-inspired sewing patterns and much more, selvedge.org. The place to eat... Fancy a break from cooking the Christmas dinner this year? Let someone else do the hard work and book a table at Armathwaite Hall, Cumbria. Relax…

AT HOME WITH ... Owners Ashley Nuttall, who is joint owner of interior design business Hudson Homes & Interiors with her sister Abi, and her husband James, who runs a business in London trading commodities. They live here with their children, Oli, 13, and Immy, 10, Darcy the Fox Red Labrador and Lettie the cat. House A six-bedroom country house built in 1924. We’re really looking forward to Christmas in our house this year,’ says Ashley Nuttall. ‘The last time we spent it here we had no electricity because of storms and we had to sit in darkness. The Aga went off, so we barbecued the turkey. We’re hoping that the celebrations go more smoothly this year!’ The beautiful country house where Ashley, her husband James and their…

FIND THE PERFECT GREY WOOD FLOORING Modern Country Classic Washstand Support the basin in elegant fashion, on a pair of shapely legs. Need to know… In the days before plumbed-in bathrooms, a washstand comprised a small table holding a basin and jug (or ewer). So when Arts & Crafts designer William Burges created a washstand filled from a cistern in 1880, it was considered the height of luxury. Today, it’s the graceful look of a washstand rather than its plumbing that appeals. Washstands lack the storage capacity of a vanity unit, but you can source designs with shelves or built-in towel rails. Where to buy… • Balineum for a design with chrome legs and glass towel rails. • Fired Earth for one with glass legs. • Heritage Bathrooms for a washstand with ceramic…

Usher in friends, old and new Decorate the porch with a woodland and rose wreath, pots of cyclamen and gathered holly. A vintage trolley will help guests with their luggage and piles of presents. See page 68 for details. Gather round the fire Festoon the room with homemade rag garlands and card strings. Pop tealights into carved apples, and marry tartan details on stockings and throws with dark floral accessories and giftwrap. See page 68 for details. Raise a toast Serve warming port hot toddies. Decant the port into a handsome decanter and top up with hot water from attractive flasks. Serve in folksy mugs with fruit and nut nibbles. See page 68 for details. Get personal! Layer classic plates on rattan chargers. Top with chalkboard name tags on seasonal foliage…

Homemade monogram cookies Style tip Make the gift extra special by wrapping ribbon sewn with a bespoke message around the jar. ‘Promise’ gift vouchers Style tip Try your hand at calligraphy and draw vouchers by hand or add freehand sketches to printed text for a personal touch. Bespoke Christmas crackers Style tip Add layers of paper strips and ribbon, then double-tie with colourful ribbons and string for a jolly look. Personalised gardener’s pots Style tip Use translucent glassine paper envelopes as well as regular brown ones to package the seeds. Ho to MAKE THEM YOURSELF Homemade monogram cookies Surprise foodie friends with delicious treats presented in a decorative jar. Start by making cookies following your chosen recipe. Using a cookie cutter, press and cut the dough into monogram initials and…

1 Garden room If people come to stay often, dedicated guest accommodation is worth considering. Garden buildings and spaces above garages can be converted or built from scratch. Make the room extra tempting with a warming woodburner and tactile bedlinens. ‘Pile the bed with throws and cushions in a neutral palette that can be accessorised to bring in more colour and texture,’ says Lucy Ackroyd, Design Manager, Christy. 2 Your very own bath ‘A large guest bedroom is a great place for a freestanding bath,’ says Dan Cook, Designer, CP Hart. ‘The tub will become the focal point and, unlike a shower or wetroom that would need to be fully waterproofed, all you really need here is stone, ceramic or wooden flooring around the bath and adequate ventilation – you…

A kitchen is one of the biggest and most exciting investments you’ll make, but it can be hard to know where to start. At B&Q, the UK’s No.1 kitchen retailer*, you’ll find a huge choice of stylish designs and ranges to suit all budgets, beautifully crafted to the highest standards. You’ll also find a number of quality appliances, finishing touches and plenty of expert advice so you know you’ll be in safe hands.…

AT HOME WITH... Owners Sarah Ward, a volunteer on the East Lothian Children’s Panel, and her husband Max, who is in the financial world. They live here with dogs Tilly, Crumble and Nell, plus donkeys, pigs, chickens and ducks. Grown-up children Laura, Charlie, Fred and Antonia often visit. House Originally built as a farmhouse in the 1720s, Stobshiel has been much added to over the years. Garden Walled garden of box, clematis, lavender and roses; pond; shrubberies; woodland garden. Even in deepest winter Stobshiel House is impressive, its five acres of gardens only adding to the sense of grandeur. The 18th-century house looks out on to a formal walled garden of box-edged beds and topiary. Beyond lie shrubberies, a kitchen garden, a pond and a woodland area…

Escorted Italian lakes tours Selected departures from April to October 2016 Lakes Maggiore and Orta, plus the Matterhorn Eight days’ half-board from £879 per person. Visit Lake Maggiore, which straddles the border between Italy and Switzerland. What’s included Return flights from most UK airports; taxes and transfers. Seven nights’ half-board stay in a four-star hotel. A visit to Isola Bella, Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, viewing the Matterhorn, Lakes Como and Orta, plus Orta San Giulio. A Centovalli rail journey and a lake cruise. Escorted by an experienced tour manager. Lake Como, St Moritz and the Bernina Express train Eight days’ half-board from £829 per person. Take in stunning Lake Como and enjoy a scenic journey through the Alps. What’s included Return flights from most UK airports; taxes and transfers.…

SALTED CHOCOLATE AND ALMOND TART A delicious mix of dark chocolate, almonds, and a sprinkle of sea salt in a sweet pastry case. SERVES 10-12 For the sweet pastry 175g plain flour, plus extra for dusting100g firm, slightly salted butter75g icing sugar2 medium egg yolks For the filling 50g blanched almonds, finely chopped400g good-quality plain chocolate, choppedinto small pieces300ml double cream100g light muscovado sugar1 tsp sea salt flakes, plus a little extra to sprinkle50g butter, dicedEdible flowers, to decorateCrème fraîche or lightly whipped cream, to serve 1 Put the flour in a food processor and add the butter, cut into small pieces. Blend until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Briefly blend in the icing sugar to combine. Add the egg yolks and 1 tsp cold water and mix to a…

No-water Giant Flowering Glitter Amaryllis * Buy one Glitter Amaryllis for £19.50 or two for £39 and get one FREE. Available in red (shown), gold and silver bulbs – choose one in each colour or three the same. * Perfect if you love plants but often forget to water them, these bulbs need no water to grow and are guaranteed to flower. Each plant comes with a unique support to hold it upright. Pots not included. Pretty Paperwhite Narcissi * Buy 15 Paperwhite bulbs for £15 or 30 for £18 – a saving of £12. * One of the easiest bulbs to force into flowering indoors for Christmas Day, Paperwhites are incredibly elegant and highly fragrant. The plants reach 25cm in height and 20cm spread and are supplied as top-quality…

WIN GREEN Let your children explore their imaginations through creative play with Win Green’s delightful playhouses and accessories. Embroidered with beautiful detail, designs include a Pirate Shack, Princess Castle, Beach House and Butterfly Cottage. Create your world of imagination at wingreen.co.uk. MAGGIE MUMFORD For something different, take a look at Maggie Mumford’s designs, all painted onto her beautiful handmade tiles. Includes bespoke hand-painting and ranges available to order immediately. Call 01372 844586 or visit maggiemumford.com. ELEPHANT TRADING COMPANY Visit elephanttradingcompany.com or call 07795 254176 for a fabulous selection of thoughtful gifts and gorgeous homewares to delight and inspire. Standard and Next Day delivery available. FREE delivery on all orders over £75. Make life easy with our gift wrapping service! SUGAR & SPICE Come and meet us at The Country Brocante…