Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2021 i Country Homes & Interiors

I love this time of year, and not just because my husband, my daughter and I all have birthdays in September! This month always sees a subtle gear shift, as summer’s hazy days mellow into autumn’s golden tones – and we celebrate that beautiful transition in this issue. It’s a wonderful time to be in the countryside, watching the turn of the leaves and relishing the crisp air. I recently read Do Walk by Libby DeLana (Do Books) and her daily #morningwalk has inspired me to get outside more and to see where those steps lead me – creatively and emotionally, as well as finding new places on my doorstep. The homes in this issue each tell of fresh starts, whether that’s moving away from the city, after the end…

Moving back to the countryside had always been Hannah Coulson’s plan. ‘I have happy childhood memories of village life. I fondly remember playing in the fields and seeing the same familiar friendly faces in the local shops – it was a lovely village community,’ says Hannah. In 2016 she and her former partner decided to turn that idea into a reality. ‘We wanted to stay within easy reach of work and family, so searched within a 10 mile radius of Oswestry and eventually we found this home in a picture-perfect location.’ The cottage was south facing and had a charming country garden, with fruit trees and climbing roses, all in a peaceful semi-rural setting. Since the town was only a 10 minute drive away, it offered the perfect combination of…

A love of the water and a deep-rooted, ancestral connection to the sea have been an integral part of Zoe Dunford’s life for as long as she can remember. ‘I am never happier than when I’m in or on the water,’ she confides. ‘Whether swimming, surfing, rowing, kayaking or sailing, the water makes me feel invigorated and alive.’ Having relocated from London in 1998, Zoe lives with her husband Simon, Head of Research Communications at the University of East Anglia, and their daughter Rosa, 15, in a rural North Norfolk village. When lockdown struck, Zoe was unable to sail, or even visit the beautiful coastline nearby that she loves, where the big skies meet the sea. ‘Before long, I was suffering from withdrawal symptoms,’ she says. ‘Desperately missing the sight…

MAKE IT COUNTRY Bright, bold designs inspired by sweet and zesty fruits are made for country styling – what could be more natural than a harvest of organic motifs and juicy colours? This trend takes a palette of berry reds, crisp apple greens and zingy citrus shades, ripening across heritage-inspired wallpapers, quirky storage and the pick of linens, like a delicious fruit salad. OUR EXPERT SAYS… “ TAKE YOUR PICK… CUE TIMELESS NOSTALGIA WITH ORCHARD DESIGNS IN RICH HUES, OR GO CONTEMPORARY WITH BRIGHT AND BREEZY, STYLISED FORMS” HOLLY PHILLIPS, STYLE CONTENT EDITOR…

RUSTIC SUPPORT Handmade from solid birch and featuring a tactile cord seat, this quality chair comes in a range of heritage colours to mix and match chattily around the table – colour me happy! Hobnob kitchen chair, H97xW48x D52cm, £380 a pair, Loaf SOCIAL COSY-UP Spread the seat-sharing love with this generous smoothie. Featuring stylish oak wood legs and studded detailing, it has a wide seat with room for four people. Plus, it’s comfy enough to use as extra seating in the living room. Stafford leather dining bench in Smoke Blue, H92xW200x D59cm, £1,995, Oka SUPPER SERENITY “ TRY A VERSATILE COMBINATION OF CHAIRS AND A BENCH TO PROVIDE INTEREST WITHOUT THE FORMALITY AND ‘CLUTTER’ OF AN ALL-CHAIR COLONY” Determined angles bridge the boundaries between design and function on this…

• BOWL CAPACITY If you’re a batch baker, buy as large a bowl as possible. Some can be as small as 3.3ltr, but they average between 4-5ltr, with a few 6ltr bowls available. Look for stainless steel rather than plastic bowls, as these are better for handling dough and pastry. Some have a glass bowl, which allows you to keep an eye on your ingredients. • MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ATTACHMENTS Most mixers will have three tools as standard: a balloon whisk for whipping, a dough hook for kneading bread and a beater for general mixing. New machines often have silicone tips that help scrape the bowl down as it mixes. Kenwood famously sells a host of accessories, including meat grinders, blenders and even pasta makers. • VARIABLE SPEED While power is often…

CABINETRY Kitchen cabinetry, from £35,000, Emma Merry Styling; painted in Rubine Ashes intelligent eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene; island in oiled oak veneer and Pigeon modern eggshell, £73 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Cotswold mushroom knobs, £10.04 each, and Aberdovey drawer pulls, £22.40 each, Armac Martin SURFACES Caesarstone Calacatta Nuvo worktops, from £800sq m; Dekton Taga splashback, from £450sq m; both Croydon Granite. Chateau Oak wood-effect porcelain floor tiles, £47.94sq m, Total Tiles. Walls in Ceviche intelligent matt emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene APPLIANCES B57CS24H0B ovens, £1,159 each; S189YCX01E fully integrated dishwasher, £1,139, all Neff. Similar microwave, RHM2076S, £73.99, Russell Hobbs. Pure induction hob and extractor, £2,460, Bora. Similar fridge- freezer, GSX961MCCZ, £2,199, LG. Evolution 250 food waste disposer with Gold sink flange, £924.83, Insinkerator SINKS & TAPS…

Things that make us happy...“ SEPTEMBER’S SUBTLE SHIFT FROM SUMMER SUNSHINE RAYS TO AUTUMN’S MELLOW CHEER AND MISTY MOMENTS!”…

Visit… ‘Hever Castle (hevercastle.co.uk) for beautiful gardens and lakes and an amazing play area. It was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and is my favourite castle!’ Shop at… ‘The Tulip Tree Shop and Café (thetuliptree.biz) in Chiddingstone is a treasure trove of gifts, delicious cakes and retro sweets. The shop dates back to 1453 and is a great starting or end point to many footpath walks.’ Go for a meal at… ‘The Rock pub (@therockhoathcorner) in Chiddingstone Hoath is a small but perfect local pub with fantastic food. It’s the hub of the local community and is surrounded by stunning Kent countryside.’…

Visit… ‘Waddesdon Manor (waddesdon.org.uk), a 19th-century National Trust property, where I like to walk around the huge grounds to clear my head. There’s an outdoor aviary and often art and sculpture exhibitions held within the gardens. Shop at… ‘From (fromthame.com) in the market town of Thame, a treasure trove of art, jewellery, homewares – every item is made by a local artisan or creative. I love the concept of a local independent supporting local talent.’ Go for a meal at… ’The Hundred (thehundred.co.uk) in the little village of Ashendon is a cut above the rest, the menu is condensed but incredible and I love the rustic interiors.’…

Visit... ‘The Mere at Ellesmere is an award-winning park with beautiful lakes, gardens and woodland walks. You can also enjoy tea and cake at the historic Boathouse.’ Shop at... ‘Gillham’s Delicatessen and Eatery (gillhamsdeli.co.uk) in Oswestry sells a wide range of delicious produce sourced principally from the British Isles. Pop by and select some cheese from the famous cheese counter.’ Go for a meal at... ‘The Townhouse (townhouseoswestry. com) is an award-winning restaurant, with an element of fine dining combined with flamboyant cocktails in a warm and welcoming environment.’…

Visit… ‘Westonbirt, The National Arboretum (forestryengland.uk) near Tetbury. Home to 2,500 species and with year-round events. Dyrham Park (nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park) is a beautiful 17th-century house, while Iford Manor Estate (ifordmanor.co.uk) hosts music events in the grounds throughout the summer.’ Shop at… ‘Tetbury for antiques shops and Stroud farmers’ market for local produce. The Malthouse Collective (themalthousecollective. co.uk) in Stroud brings together antiques, vintage furniture and décor plus homewares from local makers.’ Go for a meal at… ‘The Gumstool Inn at Calcot Manor Spa (calcot.co) is a favourite for posh pub grub. Also, The Hare & Hounds (hareandhoundsbath.com) in Bath with its striking views.’…

Visit…‘The North Norfolk salt marsh is flooded twice daily, so can only be explored by those with a knowledge of the tides. The Coastal Exploration Company (coastalexplorationcompany. co.uk) runs sailing adventures, so you can experience the wildlife safely and in a low-impact way.’ Go for a meal at… ‘Wells Crab House (wellscrabhouse.co.uk) in Wells-next-the-Sea. Enjoy delicious seafood, a wonderful gin selection and decadent puddings.’ Shop at… ‘Tatty Tides (tatty tides.co.uk ) in Holt. Find stylish cushions, sumptuous blankets, elegant ceramics and lighting, and much more.’…

WOW WITH WALLPAPER Paper a wall, or just a panel, to create a floral backdrop, then pick up on the blossom theme with upholstered seating. A simple basket-weave on this chair lends a contemporary touch. CREATE A GARDEN CENTREPIECE Double-down on the garden setting by covering the table with a floral-print cloth – beautiful blooms make a fantastic backdrop for late-summer dining. Delicious details DRESS PLACE SETTINGS WITH A SWEET MIX OF COLOURFUL CHINA AND SHATTERPROOF TABLEWARE, FOR A LOOK THAT BLENDS THE PRACTICAL AND THE OH-SO PRETTY DRESS UP A PERGOLA Create an outdoor lounge by draping a pergola with fabric for shade and screening. Upgrade from a deckchair with folding seating that can be moved easily between home and garden. Travel light A BIKE FESTOONED WITH BLOOMS WELCOMES…

BREATH OF FRESH AIR One of the best ways to integrate a work space into your home is with the addition of a garden room, where you can literally step away from household chores and noise. Refit an existing outbuilding or opt for a purpose-built room that will be watertight and have access to electricity. Before you settle on a location, make sure that the Wi-Fi extends from the main house, or that you are able to add an extra router. SHELF LIFE Library spaces are perfect for integrating home offices into. If you have a floor-to-ceiling built-in shelving unit, then make it work harder by carving out a desk space into the middle of the bookshelves. In terms of space, the desk will need to be roughly twice the…

MAKE A STATEMENT Give a fresh feel to a classic style with a Belfast or Butler sink in a dramatic colour, then team it with your worktops for added impact. ‘We chose a black Belfast sink in this oak Henley kitchen,’ says Meaghan Hunter, Neptune. ‘Not only is this a modern take on a classic, it also blends seamlessly with the work surface and sets off the black-bronze handles beautifully.’ 1 HANDCRAFTED COPPER This copper beauty is handcrafted in a wooden mould and subtly hammered to achieve its rustic style. Copper doesn’t just look beautiful, it’s recognised for its anti-bacterial properties too, making it a great choice for a kitchen sink. Whether you keep it polished or let it develop a rich patina is up to you. There’s the option…

The estate agent’s photograph of this mock-Tudor house was taken from such an odd angle, Emma and Charles Merry almost decided not to view it. And when they did, its dark rooms discouraged a return visit. ‘But something made me go back,’ recalls interior designer Emma. ‘I wanted to find out if I could see beyond the gloom.’ ‘It was the two beautiful windows at the front of the house, which reminded me of Liberty’s in London, that made me reconsider,’ she explains. Inside, pulling back the heavy curtains that were blocking out the light, Emma began to plan how she might be able to reconfigure the layout and create a brighter feel. It was enough to persuade the couple to put in an offer, keen as they were to…

PERSIAN MARZIPAN SWEETS (TOOT) These little sweets are simple to make. And as they don’t require any time in the oven, they are a great hands-on treat to shape with children. MAKES 20 150g ground almonds 75g icing sugar 3 pieces of mastic gum (from health food stores and online suppliers) 1tsp cardamom seeds 2tbsp rose water 75g granulated sugar 2tbsp slivered almonds and pistachios 1 Place the ground almonds and icing sugar in a food processor. Grind the mastic with the cardamom seeds in a pestle and mortar until a fine powder forms. Add to the food processor and blitz for a minute to combine. With the motor running slowly, pour in the rose water in a trickle until the mixture comes together when you pinch it between your…

• Stick to a palette of rich autumnal tones that work with each other, such as purples, deep pinks and golds to create a tapestry of colour. • Consider how the plant will look after flowering has finished. You want strong structure that will last through winter. • The ideal place for this sort of planting is in an open, sunny spot that catches the frosts. Put transparent plants such as ornamental grasses somewhere where the low light will shine through them. • Tall grasses work well in areas without too much rainfall, as they can easily look sad and soggy. If stems are broken by bad weather, it is best to cut them down. • Choose fruiting trees such as crab apples or rowans, not only to provide colour, but also as food for…

WHAT TO PICK, SEE & DO Pick… blackberries, to make your own compote. Serve with yogurt and granola for breakfast. Learn… about herbal remedies on a one day Natural Wellbeing course in Hampshire, £75, sustainability-centre.org Visit… the Chelsea Flower Show; moved to September for the first time ever! rhs.org.uk Look… out for swallows and housemartins before they migrate for winter. PRAIRIE STYLE Channel your inner Laura Ingalls in a Liberty dress by Minkie London. Made with pretty ‘deadstock’ Liberty London Mulberry Tree fabric, these dresses are not only on trend and easy-to-wear, they’re hand made to order in the company’s Camden studio. There’s a V-neck version, choice of beige, navy, pink or pale blue and midi or maxi length too, from £149, Percy Langley MANY HAPPY RETURNS Cultivate…

Journal your way to wellbeing PLANT YOUR IDEAS Printed with beautiful, historic botanical illustrations from the 1730s. Botanical Art notebooks, £10.99 set of three, Bodleian Library SMALL AND BEAUTIFUL Delicately painted with a single-haired brush and natural pigments by rising art star, Laila Tara H. Choose lined, dotted or plain paper, from £16.99, Papier ECO CHOICE Let your ideas flow in this hand-illustrated journal, which is made from 100% FSC pulp and vegetable-based ink. A5 notebook, £4.50, The National Trust Shop…

Lisa’s style tip... CHANNEL HOTEL CHIC WITH A BATHTUB IN THE BOUDOIR FOR SOAK-TO-SLEEP INDULGENCE AND SERENITY…

When launching Collingwood Coastal, Zoe Dunford discovered it was worth investing in imagery to help catch the eye of editors on her marketing list. ‘Having initially struggled to get the photography right, I tracked down a super location and teamed up with local stylist Louisa Sugden,’ Zoe explains. ‘Louisa understood my brand story and shared my vision. With her props and thoughtful styling, we produced images that got Collingwood Coastal off to a flying start.’ KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY Lifestyle and interiors photographer Brent Darby believes that when it comes to bringing your brand to life and telling your story, inspiring imagery is essential. ‘Photography to promote your business needs to grab attention in what’s often an overcrowded and competitive market,’ he says. ‘Your message needs to be…

STARTING OUT To qualify as a genuine antique, the piece should be over 100 years old. Vintage is deemed as anything over 20 years. If you’re looking to find a piece to fit a certain space, take measurements before setting off on your search. Look for potential – if there is repairable damage that won’t cost a fortune to fix, or a sturdy framed armchair that can be reupholstered, it could still be cheaper than buying new. BUYING AT AUCTION Will Gilding, director, Gildings Auctioneers gives us the rundown on buying via auction. ‘Estimates are used as guides, but keep your eye on the market to see how realistic they are. As well as bidding live on an auction house’s website, find upcoming auctions and bid on sites invaluable.com and…

YOUR LIFESTYLE Consider how often you entertain or cook for a crowd and whether others like to help with the prep. ‘The style of sink you choose should reflect the size and shape of your kitchen as well as your aesthetic and lifestyle,’ says Ben Burbidge. THE PRACTICALITIES Think how you’ll be using the sink. Is it just for filling pots and washing up or are you a keen gardener who may be harvesting muddy veg? ‘The sink has to suit all your daily needs, as well as how you’d like it to look,’ says Annie Tullett, home designer, Neptune. MATERIAL MATTERS Durable and easy to clean, ceramic is good for a busy kitchen, however, avoid placing hot pans onto it. ‘Stainless steel is functional, but doesn’t age as well…

1 FAUX DOORS The L-shape of the room allowed Emma to include an area for drinks, around the corner from the main working zone of the kitchen. ‘I didn’t want to include a second dresser, nor did I want to see an ugly side to a cupboard on entering the room, so I added faux door fronts to disguise the side panel and make it look more attractive,’ she says. Two tall units provide storage for bottles and supplies, while a central section of shelving offers space to display Emma’s vintage glassware. 2 HOB ‘I didn’t have a great deal of space to play with along the wall run, so I wanted to avoid a bulky extractor hood above the hob,’ says Emma, who chose an induction hob with an…

HONEY FROM THE PRAIRIE Canada s delicacies go beyond maple syrup and bacon. St Lawrence Gold has now brought Canadian honey to the UK, created by bees from the beautiful grassland prairie in the Province of Manitoba. Blueberry Blossom and Organic Prairie Wild Flower (from £5.99, 330g, Waitrose) are not just for toast; use them in recipes and drizzle as a topping. Grow, eat, recycle, repeat Around 40 per cent of food waste is disposed of via landfill in the UK. Sage’s new FoodCycler (£399.95, sageappliances.com) turns food waste into EcoChips, which can then be disposed of (meaning less room taken up in landfill) or, even better, planted into the topsoil of your garden or allotment. Though the chips need a few months to settle in before planting, they will…

There is a special, honeyed light in September that stretches across the garden, still offering welcome warmth. In early morning, it picks out dew-clad cobwebs on the grass. My daily walk is punctuated by berry-picking pit stops. The hedgerow is heavy with plump blackberries, while in the garden fruit trees, apple, plum and pear, perfume the air with a cidery scent. Borders are fading into a mellow looseness; a hint that the best is passing and this final flourish must be relished. Carnival zinnia, crisp strawflower, floaty cosmos and bronzed sedum now weave through the grasses and seed heads. In the greenhouse, the beginnings of next year are sown – the hardy annuals, poppy, ammi, cornflower, nigella and marigolds, ready for late spring. This design captures the last hurrah of…

LINEN is a natural fibre that has temperature regulating qualities, keeping you cool on warm nights and cosy when it’s chilly. MADE from the flax plant, linen comes from a more sustainable and eco-friendly crop than cotton, as it needs far less water, fewer pesticides, and can be processed into fibre without using chemicals. THERE’S no need to iron linen, thanks to its slubby texture and casual effortless style, saving time and energy – it even gets softer and more comfortable with each wash. Cream 100% linen double duvet cover, from £135; housewife pillowcases, from £18, Secret Linen Store…

STONEHENGE The famous prehistoric monument and World Heritage Site is just 20 miles away. Get close to the 4,500-year-old monoliths with a Stone Circle Experience, english-heritage.org.uk. THE ROMAN BATHS, BATH Discover the city’s 2,000-year-old Roman thermal spring baths and what life was like in Ancient Britain; a 35-minute drive away, romanbaths.co.uk. HAUSER & WIRTH, BRUTON The famous gallery in Bruton, Somerset, is hosting an exhibition of the German visionary artist Gustav Metzger’s work until 12 September, hauserwirth.com.…