Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Country Homes & Interiors

Being a burner rather than a tanner, summer has never been my season and I’m always relieved when the autumn fogs and earthy smells begin. It has been a season tinged with sadness after my dad found out he was dying in autumn 2017 and the damp weather and drifts of leaves became associated with that time. But eventually the happy memories return to the mix and now they remind me of walks with him and our springer, Ziggy, when I was a teenager, plodding along in Dr Martens, picking up conkers and scanning the wet undergrowth for the dog, who would burst out, soaked and coated with burrs (which Dad would patiently tease out later), and with legs so shaky Dad would have to lift her into the car.…

“THE PROPERTY IS MORE THAN JUST FOUR WALLS – IT HAS SOUL, PURPOSE AND MEANING AND RESETS THE NATURAL RHYTHM FOR EVERYONE WHO STAYS ❞ Nature is working its magic in rural Trentham, Australia, assisted by the nurturing touch of Sandy McKinley and Rob Roy, the creative force behind Acre of Roses. Their plot includes a former miner’s cottage, artfully transformed into a wellness retreat, a sustainable micro flower farm planted by the couple, and a venue for workshops and weddings. ‘I grew up on the coast surrounded by land, sea and flowers,’ says Sandy. ‘My late father was an aviation designer for Air New Zealand and our home was always alive with neighbours, friends and international colleagues. I wanted to replicate that energy and harboured a desire to create…

Seven years ago, when they realised their new romance had turned into something more serious, Naomi Stuart and her partner Richard Fetherston felt it was time to swap their two separate houses in two different Hertfordshire towns for a home they would choose, renovate and decorate together. After viewing 45 properties, the couple finally gave this quaint Victorian cottage in a peaceful Buckinghamshire village due consideration. ‘It was a little further away from our business in Hemel Hempstead than we would have liked,’ says Naomi, a marketing and PR manager, ‘which is why we initially discounted it. But with options running out and the sale of my previous house near completion we thought we should take a look. ‘When we saw the cottage, our reservations disappeared,’ she continues. ‘The potential…

Visit… ’Catherton Common Nature Reserve (shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk), which is close to my home and a great way to enjoy wild and wonderful Shropshire.’ Shop at… ‘The Plant Centre (ludlowplantcentre.co.uk) just outside Ludlow has an exciting selection of tempting gardening goodies.’ Go for a meal at… ‘Ludlow Farmshop (ludlowfarmshop.co.uk) stocks a wide range of local produce. I love nothing more than a picnic in a field with a hamper of local meats and treats. Alternatively, I often enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in the Ludlow Kitchen Café, which is just adjacent to the Farmshop.…

A BLAZE OF FOLIAGE & FLOWERS Virginia creeper and dahlias put on a show. For a similar folding garden chair, try Lovingly Made. Enamel teapot, £15, Newbury Vintage Fair. Pink and Green plaid blanket, Frome Sunday Antiques Market RECREATE AUTUMN’S FIERY GLOW Deep, rich reds and the berry tones of autumn sit beautifully with warm florals and pretty pastels. Love this look? Then try... PUMPKIN BRIGHTS & DARK NIGHTS A newer palette of neutrals emerge with warm terracotta and shades of dark brown that sit with cool greys. Love this look? Then try... A SEAT AT THE HARVEST TABLE Dark chocolate walls are spiced up with bold yellow table linen. Make a dried flower bouquet or garland to decorate a chair with helichrysum bracteatum ‘Salmon Rose’, £1.95 for 250 seeds,…

■ A FIREPLACE IS USUALLY MADE UP of three components: the surround, the hearth on which it sits and the insert, which is usually decorative. All-in-one designs are available or you can buy separately from a specialist to create a customised look. ■ CONSIDER MATERIALS Reproduction surrounds come in a host of styles and can be made of marble, stone, cast iron or wood. Marble and stone are suitable for most fire types, while cast iron creates period style. ■ SIZE MATTERS Generally, fireplaces come in 1520mm and 1370mm widths, but do vary as there is no such thing as a standard size chimney breast. Choose a size that balances with the proportions of your room. ■ REFINE YOUR REQUIREMENTS Do you want a fireplace as a decorative feature or…

CABINETRY Charles Yorke Edwardian bespoke kitchen, from £35,000, Krantz Designs, in Purbeck Stone and Railings estate eggshell, £64 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball SURFACES Ludlow Royal Collection quartz worktops, around £5,500; glass splashback back-painted in Farrow & Ball Purbeck Stone, around £360, both Krantz Designs. North Cape Flags Sand porcelain floor tiles, 80x80cm, £89sq m, Studio Ceramics. APPLIANCES 150i range cooker in Graphite, from £10,325, Everhot. Cache built-in extractor, 800mm, £881, Westin. K37272 iD integrated fridge, £1,599; FNS 37402i integrated freezer, £2,149; G 4263 Vi fully integrated dishwasher, £899, all Miele. SINKS & TAPS Pro3 Classic Fusion Square all in one tap, £1,350, Quooker. Iron/Tones 6625 undermounted cast iron sinkin White, £1,202, Kohler. ACCESSORIES Bespoke solid American Black Walnut dining table, £2,500, Krantz Designs. Bespoke chairs in Swaffer Whitworth 04…

I can still remember the first time that I fell in love with horse riding. I was 11 years old, sitting on my pony, when I felt a deep connection with him. I quickly realised that structured lessons weren’t for me. I learned through natural instinct instead – falling off a few times certainly taught me what not to do! My priority was to build a relationship with the animals and take my cues from them. There was a huge period of my life where I stopped riding altogether. I can now see that the relationship I had with them as a child completed me. I didn’t realise that’s what was missing until I had horses in my life again. Five years ago, I started taking my son to riding…

Things that make us happy... “GRATEFUL GATHERINGS – BE THAT AROUND A FIREPIT, DINING TABLE OR PUMPKIN PATCH ❞…

Visit… ‘RedBeard Historic Bakery (redbeardbakery.com.au) in Trentham. They have one of the few working traditional Scotch ovens and their fermented sourdough bread is delicious.’ Shop at… ’Atelier Chocolat (atelierchocolat.com.au). Laetitia Hoffmann is a traditional French chocolatier who hand makes divine chocolates and cakes.’ Go for a meal at… ‘Annie Smithers, Du Fermier (anniesmithers.com.au) for gorgeous, seasonal meals made with produce from Annie’s farm.’…

Visit ... ’Dyrham Park (nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park), a 17th-century house, garden and deer park. It has beautiful gardens, scenery and art, so there’s something for everyone.’ Shop at ... ‘Marshfield Country Stores (marshfieldcountrystores. com). Run by two sisters, they know all their customers and offer everything from grocery essentials to homemade cakes, oven-ready meals and freshly-made sandwiches. All with a smile and a friendly chat.’ Go for a meal at ... ‘The Vine Tree at Norton (thevinetree.co.uk). It’s a privately owned, traditional, friendly pub with local produce that changes daily and has a great wine list’…

Visit ... ‘Waddesdon Manor (waddesdon.org.uk). This National Trust property is home to the amazing Rothschild Collection of paintings, sculptures and decorative art. The grounds are beautiful and are home to fantastic events throughout the year.’ Shop at ... ‘Parrott Brothers Farm Shop and Butchers (parrottbros.co.uk) and PE Mead & Sons Farm Shop & Tea Room (pemeadandsons.co.uk) provide homemade goods and locally sourced meats and produce.’ Go for a meal at ... ‘Five Elms (fiveelmsweedon.com). We love this intimate 400-year-old thatched inn offering delicious home-cooked English food.’…

Visit… ‘There are amazing beaches all along the Lake Simcoe waterfront and plenty of great walking trails. Innisfil Beach Park is a great location for picnics, dog walks and swimming. Kempenfelt Bay leading into Barrie is a good spot for ice fishing.’ Shop at… ‘Harbour Home Interiors (harbourhomeinteriors.com) is a lovely shop for the home with plenty of gift ideas, gorgeous linens and accessories. Similarly, Halliday House & Co in nearby Cookstown (hallidayhouseandco.com) has beautiful homeware and flowers.’ Go for a meal at… ‘The lakeside resort Friday Harbour (fridayharbour.com). It has a series of restaurants, all with tasty food and waterside tables.’…

SET IN STONE In the heart of Arundel, this beautifully presented two-bed flint cottage at 41 King Street has a rear garden and balcony with views to the coast, all for £550,000. LOOKING SHARP This handsome 1880 property at 42 Maltravers Street has bags of space for £695,000, with three double bedrooms, three receptions and a garden. GREEN AND PLEASANT High ceilings and period features abound at Flat One, Tower House on London Road, which also has parking and a garage. The price is £750,000.…

Lou Archer started her alpaca farm after unexpectedly receiving the gift of two pregnant alpacas from her husband. She now sells alpaca products and more from an online store and via wholesale. Creating an online business so intrinsically linked to her home has allowed her to work and yet still be there for her family. ‘Keeping livestock is full on and means that you can’t just go away for the weekend on a whim. This is more than just a new career – it’s a complete change of lifestyle,’ warns Lou. ‘You need adequate land – enough to rotate animals and give the paddocks a rest and you’ll need to maintain that land.’ Lou shares her advice... DO YOUR RESEARCH Make sure you get advice from those who are credible…

MAKE IT COUNTRY… Tapestry-inspired geometrics have an organic, textural simplicity that suits a country home. Now the designs have travelled beyond rugs to upholstery, tableware and more. For a twist on the traditional earthy palette of rich reds and spicy turmeric, statement diamonds and octagonal shapes have been reworked in pretty pastels and modern monochromes. OUR EXPERT SAYS… “TAKE A LESS-IS-MORE, SCANDI APPROACH AND START WITH AN UNCLUTTERED FOUNDATION TO LET THE COLOURFUL, GEO DESIGNS REALLY POP ❞HOLLY PHILLIPS , STYLE CONTENT EDITOR…

After a farm sale, Helen and Nathan Clarke found themselves with a little time on their hands. Time enough, they felt, to tackle the renovation of the Lincolnshire farmhouse they had inherited from Helen’s grandparents and lived in since they were first married in 2002. ‘The kitchen was stained from a water leak and the cabinets were starting to look very tired,’ says Helen. ‘I’d hankered after a traditional painted kitchen for years, because I felt it would perfectly suit the period style and countryside setting of the house, so this was my chance.’ The couple decided to widen the room by stealing some space from an under-used corridor, moving an internal wall in the process. They visited kitchen suppliers to select the new design, getting as far as placing…

The house sits high on the plot and when Calista and Steven first moved in, the garden felt very removed, whereas they were keen to feel a connection with the outdoors from both inside the house, and as soon as they went out onto the deck. • Steep banks and slopes always pose a challenge for gardeners, and planting them is a great solution, explains designer Nic Howard. ‘Planting can absorb a level change and is not only softer to look at than terraces created from hard landscaping materials, but is also much more cost effective.’ • Using plants also has the advantage that the roots reach down, binding the ground and preventing soil erosion. • Once established, planting helps to ‘ground’ a house, bridging the gap between building and garden, making it…

■ MANUAL VS DIGITAL While some models feature traditional, rotary-operated functionality, others have digital presets and even LED displays. While the benefits of digital displays include a variety of settings, as well as handy timers to prevent over-mixing, others may argue that these are unnecessary distractions and would prefer to rely on intuition. Which you opt for is really down to your personal preference. ■ MULTI-FUNCTION ATTACHMENTS Any stand mixer worth its salt will come with three standard attachments – a whisk, a beater and a dough hook. If you’re investing in a pricier model, it’s definitely worth looking for one that you can add more attachments to so that you can expand its use, as well as eliminating the need for buying separate different appliances or gadgets. ■ SIZE…

CHARGRILLED SAFFRON SQUID WITH CHILLI & CHARRED LEMONS Chargrilled squid always reminds me of summer holidays in the Mediterranean. Every time I cook it, I wonder why I don’t make it more often, as there is nothing fiddly involved. The crispy garlic, charred chilli and the juice from the lemons in this recipe turn this dish into something truly spectacular and packed full of flavour. SERVES 4 Vegetable oil, for frying 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 8 frozen squid tubes (about 400g total weight), defrosted 2 pinches of saffron threads 2 lemons, halved 2 long red chillies 50g rocket leaves Olive oil, for drizzling Maldon sea salt flakes and black pepper 1 Line a plate with a double layer of kitchen paper. Pour vegetable oil into a small saucepan to…

American artist Jeff Muhs is one of the sought-after artists featured on Runway Gallery, an online showcase of contemporary art. His innovative, abstract style shines through in oil paintings and concrete sculptures. Here, he shares his passion for nature and explains how it influences his work. I grew up in the Hamptons, surrounded by natural beauty. My father was a hunting and fishing guide, so I was out on the water with him as a young child from sunrise to sunset. I’ve always been passionate about drawing and painting, so it seemed natural for me to study at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan where I learnt the traditional techniques of oil painting. I moved back afterwards and have lived and worked here ever since. I think of my…

Paint from Cox & Cox This season, a fresh lick of paint comes in a carefully considered palette from perennial homeware brand, Cox & Cox. Spanning 16 soothing shades including essential neutrals, definitive greys, timeless blues and trend-led statement hues, the collection uses earth pigments for effortless application and coverage. The range is virtually solvent- and odour-free, making it kind to you, your family and the environment. Available in both matt emulsion and eggshell finishes, from £50 for 2.5ltr. ZOE DOES FRAGRANCES Echoing the essence of her signature fabric collections, Zoe Glencross’ latest offerings travel from cloth to flame (literally!). Beautifully presented in a honeycomb keepsake box, the luxurious soy wax candles make a gorgeously scented home addition or gift for a loved one. Prices start at £35 for a…

Sandy’s style tip... KEEP COUNTER SPACE CLUTTER-FREE AND FOOD PREP READY WITH WALL-HUNG AND BUILT-IN STORAGE AND DISPLAY SOLUTIONS…

Joanna’s style tip... A SIMPLE BEDSTEAD NESTLES COMFORTABLY INTO THE EAVES, MAKING AN UNCONVENTIONAL SPACE FUNCTIONAL AND WELCOMING…

Naomi’s style tip... INCORPORATE ANTIQUE FINDS IN WORN, WARM WOODS TO ADD AUTHENTIC CHARM TO A MODERN EXTENSION…

Lynne’s style tip... CHOOSE STATEMENT LIGHTING AND A FOCAL POINT FEATURE WALL TO GIVE A HIGH-CEILING SPACE PERSONALITY AND INVITING APPEAL…

When Lou Archer moved to Shropshire with her family 10 years ago, she was not a country girl. Lou and her husband Paul were keen to be closer to his business and give their children Antonia and Warwick a rural lifestyle. Some 14 miles from the market town of Ludlow, high on the Shropshire Hills, they found The Larches, a Victorian house with a slight nod to the Gothic. ‘The property was engulfed in foliage, but as we are The Archers and the property is called The Larches, it seemed to be fate,’ says Lou. ‘Relocating from a small, modern Oxfordshire cottage, to a lofty, 1000ft above sea level, rural 15-acre smallholding, was definitely life changing. Our friends all thought we’d gone potty.’ With Paul at work, Lou and the…

TAKE A FROSTY VIEW With its decorative patterns and frosted effect, window film is a great way to create the impression of etched glass at a fraction of the cost, with the added benefit of providing privacy while letting in natural light. Surface View offers designs in bespoke sizes, with either a clear background (which maintains the clarity of the glass) or frosted. This subtle woodland design creates a country feel, whatever the view outside your window. FINISHING TOUCHES Curtain trimmings are an easy way to refresh existing curtains or to create a bespoke look. The simple addition of a contrasting trim makes fabrics appear even more luxurious. It’s especially effective on plains; have a bit of fun with on-trend pom-poms in contrasting shades or opt for tasselled edges or…

OLD AND NEW Give a period fireplace a contemporary makeover by painting the surround in the same shade as the walls and skirting and introducing bold pattern. ‘Here, an oversized geometric hearth brings a traditional fireplace into the 21st century without sacrificing its vintage charm,’ says Amanda Telford, marketing manager at CTD Tiles. ‘Be sure to choose heat resistant tiles durable enough to protect your floor from any damage – porcelain or glazed ceramic are good examples.’ RESTORATION PROJECT If you’re lucky enough to have an original fireplace, consider restoring rather than replacing. ‘If it’s covered, pull away plasterboard to see what you’re working with – we’ve come across rare Minton tiles and exquisite marble before now,’ says Owen Pacey, restoration specialist and founder of Renaissance London. ‘If you decide…

1 ISLAND DINING AREA The size and square shape of the room made it tricky to include both a large island and a separate dining table with sufficient circulation space around the furniture. ‘By merging the two together, there is room for the family to eat together in comfort,’ explains Maria-Elianna. ‘Helen and Nathan wanted to avoid a long row of bar stools, so the curved banquette seating and bespoke circular dining table make a more sociable design as the family can see each other to chat.’ 2 COLOUR AND FINISH ‘I wanted a contrasting colour for the island, as I was keen to avoid a sea of muted shades,’ says Helen, who chose a soft black with blue undertones to stand out against the gentle grey of the wall…

Did you know? HEDGEHOGS ARE LACTOSE INTOLERANT SO NEVER LEAVE THEM A BOWL OF MILK. INSTEAD, PROVIDE FRESH WATER IN A SHALLOW DISH…

THINGS TO SEE, PICK AND DO Pick… sloes, in season mid-Oct to early Nov. Collect after the first frost or freeze overnight to soften their skins. Follow… Ashridge Estate’s Autumn Colour Trail to see Hertfordshire’s trees in full colour (nationaltrust.org.uk). Learn… the art of loom weaving at a one-day workshop in Bristol, 28 Sept, £130 (thebristolartisan.com). Celebrate… the written word at Cheltenham’s Literature Festival, 2-11 Oct (cheltenhamfestivals.com). SLEEP WELL Making early nights twice as nice, British brand Piglet has added to its pyjama collection with a variety of comfortable new nightwear styles, from cute cami sets to stylish shirts and dresses, all made from 100% natural linen. They can be personalised, too. White linen night dress, £59, Piglet Zero to hero New beauty brand Milly & Sissy are revolutionising…

What kind of cook are you? ‘I’ve never been somebody to sweat the small stuff when it comes to cooking. I just go with the flow and I don’t have rules in my kitchen. I hate when we are told “what should be” because it is so limiting. It is about providing inspiration rather than a recipe that you cannot deviate from.’ Do you like to be very organised in your kitchen? ‘I’m a crammer – you open the cupboard and you’ve got to duck half the time because you don’t know what is going to come flying out at you…’ What do you eat and cook with most? ‘[I] swing from Vietnam to Mexico to Peru to Persia [and] England – you’ve got to keep it interesting. Most of…