Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2021 i Country Homes & Interiors

Colour is so integral to creating mood and atmosphere in our homes, from tranquil whites to joyful brights. And paint is one of the easiest and most effective ways to play with a palette of shades, which is why I’m thrilled to announce our Modern Country Colours Paint Collection, in partnership with Earthborn. These 12 countryside colours, with names including Yew Maze, Nutkin and Peaseblossom, have been created to make a statement in their own right, or to work in harmony with the Classic Earthborn range. It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with Earthborn, a British company that has been making top-quality, environmentally friendly paints since 2002. We hope you love the new range as much as we do. Also this month, we’ve been stepping inside characterful rural homes (from…

Visit… Hestercombe Gardens (hestercombe.com) is close by and is the perfect place to take the children and dogs for a walk through the stunning gardens – designed by Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edward Lutyens – and woodland, and end up at its cafe for cake and coffee. Go for a meal at… The Greyhound Inn (thegreyhound inntaunton.co.uk) in Staple Fitzpaine has been a long-standing favourite. A traditional country pub that serves fantastic food and has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere; it’s child and dog friendly, too! Shop at… Courthouse Interiors (courthouseinteriors. com) in Wiveliscombe is a wonderfully historic building full of an eclectic mix of interiors, fashion and home accessories.…

MAKE IT COUNTRY As we emerge from turbulent times, interiors are finding a silver lining with a colour story derived from tranquil waters and clearing skies. Wispy cloud motifs mingle with natural materials that have a deep link to land and sea, and a welcome feel of coming together. Let tonal shades blend breezily for a ‘calm after the storm’ effect. OUR EXPERT SAYS…❝ LET THIS BREEZY PALETTE FLOW EFFORTLESSLY WITH RIPPLING TEXTILES, MERGING AND DIPPED FINISHES AND COLOUR-BLOCK SERENITY ❞HOLLY PHILLIPS, STYLE CONTENT EDITOR…

FIXED OR FLEXIBLE Fitting a hand-held shower alongside a fixed shower head provides flexibility, particularly if there is a significant height difference between those who will be using the shower; it can be fitted to a slide rail and the height adjusted accordingly. It’s also handy for rinsing suds from the shower screen. Alternatively, fit a detachable hand-held shower only. The Waterloo shower from CP Hart has both options. 1 GO DIGITAL Fancy a smart showering experience, where you can pre-set the temperature and water flow or switch between types of spray? Mira’s Platinum range, which as well as wireless digital controls, comes with a 250mm fixed deluge head and a 360 hand-held shower head with a choice of four spray modes: relaxing, soothing, powerful and invigorating. You can even…

1 SALVAGED TREASURE The couple grow their own produce and flowers in a walled garden to the side of the house, which is also where they enter and exit day-to-day. ‘I wanted a small room that would act as a buffer for muddy wellies, veg and cut flowers, keeping the kitchen clean,’ says Alice. The granite sink was sourced on eBay by their designer, Chris. ‘We asked for something rugged that we’d never have to be precious about and this was dug up out of somebody’s garden. Perfect!’ 2 WALK-IN PANTRY Both Alice and Charlie are enthusiastic cooks, but while Alice has an enviable collection of cookware and glassware that she loves to display, Charlie hates clutter. The walk-in pantry is the solution to marital harmony. ‘We’re very spoilt to…

Visit… ‘Wyndcliffe Court near Chepstow was also designed by Henry Avray Tipping, and the planting was recently revived by designer Sarah Price. The garden opens under the National Gardens Scheme (wyndcliffecourt.com).’ Go for a meal at… ‘You can have a wonderful lunch nearby at The Whitebrook, a restaurant with rooms run by chef Chris Harrod of Great British Menu fame (thewhitebrook.co.uk).’ Shop at… ‘The Marches Delicatessen in Monmouth town for the most beautiful local produce and fine artisan foods (marchesdeli.co.uk.)’…

Things that make us happy...❝ SUNNY HOTSPOT SNOOZING WITH A GOOD BOOK AND THE PRETTIEST GARDEN VIEW ❞…

Visit… ‘Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest (forestry england.uk/bedgebury) in Goudhurst. It’s wonderful for walking and bike riding, and has adventure playgrounds and a cafe.’ Shop at… ‘Greenfinch (greenfinchshop.co.uk) in Ticehurst. This shop promote local artists and makers and sells everything from jewellery to homeware. It even stocks some of my Zobo Designs.’ Go for a meal at… ‘The Bell (thebellinticehurst.com) in Ticehurst. It’s a welcoming pub with delicious food and an outside seating area.’…

Visit… ‘The National Trust’s Lanhydrock House (nationaltrust.org. uk), a late-Victorian country property and estate where we enjoy walking the dogs. We also like going to north coast beaches at Daymer Bay, Harlyn Bay and Porthcothan.’ Shop at… ‘St Kew Farmshop & Cafe (@stkewfarmshop) near Wadebridge, serves the perfect breakfast and the best coffee. It’s also a great place to pick up homewares, like local artwork and St Eval candles. They also sell local produce and Rock Gin made in our village.’ Go for a meal at… ‘St Tudy Inn (emilyscottfood.com), in St Tudy, our local pub and restaurant, right on our doorstep, that’s owned and managed by local chef, Emily Scott, who makes the most amazing meals using seasonal ingredients.’…

Visit... ‘Monk’s House (nationaltrust.org.uk/monks-house) run by the National Trust in the nearby village of Rodmell. It is Leonard and Virginia Woolf’s 16th-century country retreat – the garden was a great inspiration to Woolf and is beautiful in early summer.’ Shop at... ‘Flint (flintcollection. com), an independent boutique in the nearby town of Lewes selling great fashion brands, accessories and decorative items for the home.’ Go for a meal at... ‘The Ram Inn (raminn.co.uk), an atmospheric old brick-and-flint pub offering delicious food in the village of Firle. There is also a charming pub garden and terrace for alfresco dining.’…

Visit… ‘Berkhamsted Castle (berkhamstedcastle.org.uk) is steeped in 950 years of English history and, although now only ruins, is a beautiful and atmospheric place to explore and enjoy a picnic in the spring sunshine.’ Shop at… ‘Home & Colonial (homeandcolonial.co.uk), a beautiful antiques and interiors shop on Berkhamsted high street, with wonderful displays of inspirational and unique pieces over five floors.’ Go for a meal at… ‘Rosanna’s Sicilian restaurant (rosannasrestaurant.co.uk). For amazing homemade Sicilian dishes and cocktails in a beautiful setting. You’ll always get a warm welcome and a big smile!’…

Although a vital element in the branding process, brand identity is more than just logo design and packaging. It is what your brand says, what your values are, how you communicate your product and what you want people to feel when they interact with your brand. Essentially, brand indentity should leave a positive and lasting impression on your customers long after you’ve made the sale. Claire and Tracey were clear from the start that they wanted to design something unique, that was made well and beautifully presented. With the help of Briggs & Co, they developed a logo and strong image which has stood them in good stead as the business grew. CREATE YOUR VISUAL IDENTITY ‘From an agency perspective, we take time to get to know our clients well,’…

LAMPSHADE REVAMP ...in 2 hours Give a pendant shade a new look in a couple of hours with a new pattern or colour. Easy to achieve with a wallpaper remnant, simply remove the old cover then measure the pendant’s circumference (adding a couple of centimetres to this) and depth. Draw this oblong shape onto the back of your chosen wallpaper, then cut out. Place glue dots around the pendant frame then wrap the paper around, right side facing out, pressing into the dots. CUPBOARD COVER-UP ...in 3 hours Hide kitchen clutter and add a smart sink style-up with a simple cupboard curtain. Begin by measuring the area you need to cover, then add half again to the width and an additional 7cm for the drop. To hem the edges of…

CREATE A FRESH WELCOME To keep hallways neat and tidy, store leads, poop bags and toys in a basket or bag near the door. Have a microfibre towel or Drying Mitts from Ruff And Tumble ready to rub down mucky pups. Wipe-clean emulsion is a good idea for walls, while washable mats will stop muddy paws trailing through the house; try Turtle Mats. When vacuuming carpets, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda or Planet Detox Lavender Carpet Freshener. PET-FRIENDLY HOUSEPLANTS Ninja cats make their way almost anywhere, but lifting plants onto shelves, and using hangers or standing planters, keeps them out of nibbling reach of most pets. Leaf Envy has a pet-friendly section, with large non-toxic varieties including calathea, kentia and parlour palms, plus smaller varieties such as peperomias, pilea, Boston and…

KNOW YOUR SYSTEM ‘If you have a combi boiler, which heats water on demand, the mains pressure is usually sufficient for a power shower. Older properties with a tank in the loft may need to install a pump,’ says Howard Birch, director, Aston Matthews. CHECK THE SHOWER PRESSURE ‘Shower specifications will include the minimum and maximum bar pressure required to work sufficiently. Usually, the larger the showerhead, the more bar pressure you will need,’ says Rebecca Milnes, designer, CP Hart. CHOOSE EXPOSED OR CONCEALED PIPEWORK ‘Go for an exposed shower if you have a wall that you can’t channel into, such as a party wall, or exterior wall,’ says Rebecca Milnes. ‘The only parts that go into the wall would be your hot and cold water feeds, which require very…

CABINETRY Bespoke kitchen in Little Greene’s Jewel Beetle intelligent eggshell. Kitchens from £12,000, Hush Kitchens SURFACES Neo Calacatta quartz, from £400sq m; aged zinc splashback and worktops, £950sq m, Hush Kitchens. Castile Heavy Tumbled Limestone flooring, £54sq m, Beswick Stone. Walls painted in Slaked Lime intelligent emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr; woodwork in Slaked Lime Deep intelligent eggshell, £33 for 1ltr, both Little Greene APPLIANCES 2-oven electric Aga in Oyster, £7,925 (new price), reconditioned by Midland Cookers. B57CS24H0B pyrolytic oven, £1,159; B47FS34H0B Slide & Hide oven with steam, £1,499; D57MH56N0B canopy extractor, £629; T26DA59N0 gas hob, £439; S517T80D6E dishwasher, £1,189, all Neff. RS90A1 French door integrated fridge-freezer, £3,435, Fisher & Paykel SINKS & TAPS Taps: (main sink) Ionian mixer taps in aged brass, £658; Parthian Mini hot tap in aged brass,…

Did you know? IF YOU’RE SHORT ON FORMAL SEATING, CONSIDER A PICNIC-STYLE SOIRÉE WHERE GUESTS CAN RELAX AND MINGLE ON MATS, POUFFES AND SCATTER CUSHIONS IN EFFORTLESS COMFORT.…

Zoe’s style tip... GO FOR BOLD WITH A RAINBOW OF SPLASHBACK TILES, COLOUR-CONTRAST WALLS AND MIX-AND-MATCH DINING CHAIRS…

Nicola’s style tip... BLUR THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN INDOOR-OUTDOOR LIVING WITH COMFY HOME LUXURIES AND PRETTY, DECORATIVE DETAILS…

Aline’s style tip... ADD LAYERS OF DEPTH AND COSINESS WITH A TACTILE MIX OF SUMPTUOUS AND RELAXED TEXTILES.…

Danielle’s style tip... ORIGINAL PANELLING AND BEAMS ARE COMPLEMENTED BY WORN TEXTURES AND JEWEL HUES FOR A HOMELY, CHARACTER-FILLED SCHEME…

When Claire Briggs and her family moved into an old coach house in Somerset’s Quantock Hills five years ago, she knew they would be spending a lot of time sorting out the extensive yet overgrown garden. Nevertheless, Claire felt excited to reclaim this beautiful space for her family to enjoy. And that’s how the idea for her utilitarian clothing brand, Fieldware, evolved – while knee-deep in yet another garden-clearing session. ‘My husband, Ian, and I were working away in our scruffy old clothes when we started thinking about gardenwear and aprons. I didn’t feel enamoured with what was already on the market; it was either too floral or old fashioned,’ says Claire. ‘I just knew I should set up my own garden clothing brand.’ After 15 years working as an…

TAKE A SEAT Indoor-outdoor furniture makes hopping from sitting room to garden room a breeze. Go for classic rattan with an elegant high back, and accessorise with a leafy print cushion. LET’S EAT OUT Banish bright melamine and introduce beautiful glassware, rattan and brass to create an elegant outdoor table. Shade with a simple canopy and arrange fabulous foliage for a lush dining experience. YOGA AND CHILL We’ve all got used to exercising at home, but add style to your stretching routine with a blissful yoga mat, a smart radio for chill-out tunes and oxygenating pot plants. Instantly calmer… EAT WITH GREENS Enjoy a healthy-eating plan with dinnerware favouring the five-a-day approach – don’t skip the leafy greens. ALL FIRED UP Food always tastes better when cooked outdoors. Inspire the…

LAID-BACK SCANDI With a focus on adaptable design and sustainable materials, this height-adjustable table gives you the flexibility to go from lounging to outdoor dining in an instant. Simply add cosy throws and warming textures in the chillier months. Bramblecrest Chester modular sofa dining set, comprised of: table, H68xW80xD100cm; stools, H45xW42xD42cm; sofa, H75xW196xD80cm; sofa, H75xW125xD80cm, £1,599, Dobbies STYLISH HOST The ultimate combination of comfort, style and utility, this clever fusion design welcomes all to relax, recline and dine. The set also includes a backless bench (not shown) and features minimal wood and metal styling with plump cushions. Albany corner dining set: table, H73xW100xD100cm; left and right arms, H70xW142xD80cm; corner, H70xW80xD80cm; bench, H70xW130xD40cm, £2,250, Cox & Cox LAZY LUNCH DATE ❝ VERSATILE SETS WITH AN INTEGRATED FIREPIT ARE POPULAR AS WE…

In December 2016, the farmhouse home of Alice and Charlie, and their young son Wilbur, went up in flames – two weeks before they were set to hold their wedding there. Luckily the family were safe, but the electrical fault devastated the property and they lost almost everything, including Alice’s wedding dress. As married life goes it wasn’t the easiest start, but Alice and Charlie reframed their misfortune as an opportunity to achieve their dream family home. ‘The farm was bought by my maternal grandfather in 1955,’ explains Alice. ‘We’d always planned to remodel the interior, especially the kitchen, which was in the smallest, darkest room in the house.’ The process took three-and-a-half-years to complete. ‘From the outside, the house is still traditional and reassuringly familiar, but inside we now…

SUMMER FRUIT ROULADE WITH LEMON THYME Jewel-like redcurrants and pretty lemon thyme are so flavourful as well as making a lovely cake decoration. SERVES 8-10 FOR THE SPONGE 120g caster sugar 4 eggs 100g plain flour 25g ground almonds ¼tsp salt 1¾tbsp butter, melted 1tsp vanilla sugar or extract FOR THE FILLING 1 nectarine or peach 120g redcurrants 20 leaves fresh lemon thyme 1 portion pastry cream (see page 124) Extra red or white currants, to garnish Icing sugar, to garnish 35x30cm Swiss roll pan, lined with baking parchment 1 Preheat the oven to 160C/Gas 3. Using a mixer, beat the sugar and eggs at high speed for around 5–6 mins until ribbon stage (the whisks should leave a trail in the mixture when lifted). 2 Sift together the flour,…

HERBACEOUS BORDERS Design stunning planting schemes like Helena with her top tips: • Harmony and unity of colour is really important. Decide on your colour scheme first, before you order any plants, and stick to it. We have mostly blues and yellows in the double borders, and pinks and mauves in the terrace borders. • Get the heights right. Place lower-growing plants, like lady’s mantle, at the front, the middle-sized ones, like astrantia, in the centre, and taller varieties, like delphinium, towards the back. • Don’t be tempted to put just one little specimen in. Plant in big stands and drifts, just like Edwardian garden designer Gertrude Jekyll advised, placing several of one plant together. • Repetition will unify a whole scheme, so use the same plants, or those of similar colour or form,…

WHY BATTERIES? Simplicity is the key. There’s no mains electric cable to limit how far you can go, and no smelly, noisy petrol engine to struggle with. You just pop in an easily recharged battery and you’re away, so zero emissions at the point of use – and these mowers are quiet. The batteries often fit other gardening tools from the same range such as hedge trimmers. ANY DRAWBACKS? Cordless mowers tend to be more expensive than mains-powered versions because the batteries themselves are expensive. They’re not as powerful as mains-electric and petrol mowers, and can struggle with very long grass. They don’t offer the very tight bowling-green cuts available on some mains or petrol mowers, leaving the grass a little longer. MAKE THE BEST CHOICE If you have a…

WHAT TO PICK, SEE & DO Pick... elderflowers and make a batch of elderflower cordial. Mix with iced sparkling water to sip on sunny days. Go on... a butterfly walk. Most common species can be spotted this month, as they’ll be seeking nectar-bearing plants. Look out for Peacocks, Orange Tips and Holly Blues. Celebrate… the Summer Solstice. The longest day is marked by many European countries with feasts, picnics, music and dancing. Discover… a prehistoric world of dinosaur footprints on the two-hour Island Gems Fossil Trip with Felicity the fossil guide on Brook beach, Godshill, Isle of Wight. Book at englandscoast.com. FOREVER FASHION see you through endless summers. Designed to last by Lemuel MC, it’s made to order by skilled seamstresses in London with 100% linen deadstock fabric…