Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Country Homes & Interiors

The five crumbling steps up to my front door are currently being replaced (thank goodness; I’ve been worried about our postman’s ankles). It’s not a big project but choosing the design (bullnose, to suit our Edwardian house), sourcing the stone (soft grey Yorkstone) and finding a builder to do the job (thanks, Stephen), has taken time and brain space. Which is why I’m always in awe of the dedication that’s been put into renovating and decorating the houses we choose to feature. I love reading the homeowners’ stories and this month’s are full of surprises, from the friends who designed a house together to the couple restoring the barn conversion they first lived in as newlyweds. Take a look, from page 18. Now the days are getting darker and colder,…

CH&I MODERN Country CLASSIC Zoe’s style tip… CREATE A COSY RUSTIC SCHEME WITH A FOCAL POINT FIRE, RAW MATERIALS AND SINK-INTO FURNITURE…

There is an air of infectious energy that surrounds business partners Jane McCall and Jane Howard, the talented team behind fastgrowing design business Bloomsbury Revisited. McCall, an artist with a degree in art history and visual studies, is the creative talent behind this eccentric range of lighting and hand-painted furniture, inspired by the original Bloomsbury Set who lived at Charleston Farmhouse in East Sussex. Howard, who ran a successful PR agency before selling up 20 years ago to begin a new life farming cattle, sheep and pigs on an East Sussex farm, is the business brains. ‘Our children went to school together and when Jane moved back to East Sussex, I attended a lampshade painting course that she was running,’ says Howard. ‘It sparked the idea for a business and…

OUTDOOR LOUNGING Ease into the evening and linger longer outside with cosy textures on supersized seating around a blazing firepit. Pile on textures for layers of comfort and warmth. CUP OF COMFORT Pour and serve warming drinks in style. This polished metal jug provides gleam and its wicker cosy keeps brews heated for longer. WELCOME HOME Make a hallway that feels like a hug, with snug and smart fittings and furnishings. Plank panelling and brick flooring bring a new-barn feel which is softened with cushions and seasonal flowers. BY CANDLELIGHT Layer a wool runner over a linen tablecloth to create an inviting and informal setting, with relaxed arrangements of seasonal flowers gathered from the garden. Simple brass candlesticks ensure a refined finish. LARDER LOVE Bring the feel of your favourite…

CLASS ACT Made with mouth-blown glass, these pendants from Davey are an elegant interpretation of a classic found in 1920s classrooms and libraries and work well here above a farmhouse table. ‘The glass shade offers not only a softer, more decorative look, but also greater illumination and a more ambient light,’ explains Peter Bowles, managing director, Davey Lighting. 1 TOP BRASS ‘Kitchen lighting will inevitably focus on practical solutions: overhead, in cupboards, as over-counter recessed lights and wall lights. These will help you zone your workspaces and highlight specific details and appliances,’ says George Miller, home designer at Neptune. Ensure functional elements look fabulous by co-ordinating finishes, such as choosing brass wall lamps to match the mixer tap. 2 DOUBLE UP To create a reading nook without settling for bright-white…

1 MOVEABLE CHOPPING BOARD To make food prep easy, Burlanes designed and produced a bespoke whole stave oak chopping board with a custom-made support, so that it can be moved and securely fitted on to different corners of the island. Perfect for prepping veg near the sink and then moving them nearer to the cooker when needed. It can also be used as a serving station for snacks when friends sit at the island. 2 DRESSER & BREAKFAST CUPBOARD Lucy wanted to include more storage, such as a tea and coffee station and somewhere for household paperwork. An original structural oak pillar meant she couldn’t have one large cupboard. Instead, Burlanes created a breakfast cupboard on one side with double doors opening to a coffee maker and toaster, and drawers…

WHAT TO PICK, SEE & DO Admire… autumnal colours on a Leaf Peeping trail through the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley, which has over 20 million trees, visitdeanwye.co.uk. Enjoy… fine organic Cotswolds fare at The Scenic Supper pop-up, 10 November to 18 December, from £50 each, thescenicsupper.co.uk. Roast… pumpkin wedges in the oven at 200C with a drizzle of oil and seasoning. Delicious blitzed into a hearty soup. BEST BAA NONE Based on The Isle of Tiree on the west coast of Scotland, Welan is an independent slow fashion brand producing covetable handmade wool bobble hats and beanies from the fleeces of their own flock (including Noah, Popcorn, Nori and Dot). Set up by Yvonne and Jason Lancaster after rescuing an orphan lamb, it’s a refreshing antidote to fast fashion.…

Things that make us happy… “SHARING LAUGHTER AND MELTING MARSHMALLOW MOMENTS AROUND THE BONFIRE BENEATH THE STARS”…

CH&I MODERN Country CLASSIC Georgina’s style tip… INTRODUCE ACCESSORIES IN TALL AND STAGGERED HEIGHTS TO CREATE AN INTERESTING SENSE OF SCALE…

The pandemic may have bought a shortterm halt to in-person country fairs, but this summer has seen them flourish again. With event organisers up to date on the government guidelines with regards to health and safety, there’s never been a better time, especially with Christmas beckoning, to invest in a stand or stall at a local show or exhibition. CREATE THE MAGIC ‘For us, the stand is the start point at fairs – always a joyous display, thoughtfully curated,’ says McCall. ‘We use handpainted bunting to adorn the frame in true Bloomsbury style. It adds a creative energy that matches the bespoke nature of our products. At every touch point you need to be drawn in: beautifully dressed tables, layered with unique lighting; shades hung eclectically from above, showing the…

OUTDOOR LOUNGING Garden sofa, custom-built. Table, recycled water tank. Antique marble side table, £299; basket planter, £160, all Burford Garden Company. Vintage barrel planter, £45, Country Brocante. Olive Green velvet cushion, £29; sheepskin rug, £150; brass lanterns, £28 each; pillar candles, £3 each, all Nordic House. Recycled wool blanket in Jacob Tartan, £60, The Tartan Blanket Company. Velvet cushions in Dirty Orange and Burnt Orange, both £60 each, Oka. Gingham ruffle cushion, £40, Cutting Floor Cushions. Wentworth throw in Rosehip, £180; Grace rectangle cushion in Harry Rust, £68; Grace square Mustard cushion in Isla Finch velvet, £76, all Neptune. Textured stripe cushion, £55; Khaki woven tasseled cushion, £55; Black vase, £45, all Cox & Cox. Nora Grid throw in Rust, £126; Parrot Green mug, £26 set of two, Also Home…

STORING LOGS INSIDE When stowing logs, they need some air flow to prevent mould forming. Wooden framed stores and woven or metal baskets are ideal; avoid plastic boxes as they may cause moisture build-up. For safety, ensure kindling and wood isn’t stacked against a stove or fire. Make space for logs by repurposing a bookshelf, stacking vintage crates or using space under a bench or console table. FRAME THE FOCAL POINT Create an instant cosy nook around a woodburning stove by framing it with a contrasting paint colour on the wall, using a deep shade. Tiles behind the fire or stove can also add an unexpected dash of colour and pattern; just check that they’re made to withstand temperature. Or why not wallpaper the chimney breast for a decorative statement.…

■ START WITH A THERMOSTAT Most smart heating systems need a control hub and a smart thermostat is just that. Usually made up of two devices, one that links to your boiler, while the actual thermostat is a wireless gadget that you have on display, allowing you to check the room temperature or adjust it. ■ ADD RADIATOR VALVES To have a completely rounded smart heating system, you need to add radiator valves. These are add-ons that attach to your existing valves and can be controlled wirelessly. They can be purchased in a starter pack, bought individually or in packs of three or five (or more) for a lower price. ■ TAILORED TO YOU Scheduling your heating to go up and down in temperature depending on when you’re in and…

AUTUMN SALAD OF ROASTED SQUASH WITH SERRANO HAM & MANCHEGO CHEESE TAKES 45 min SERVES 6 1 medium butternut squash (around 900g)3tbsp olive oil½tsp paprika150g sliced Serrano ham2 handfuls of watercress, thick stems removed50g Manchego cheese, rind removed FOR THE DRESSING 1 garlic clove, peeled, bruised and bashed slightly2tbsp sherry vinegar½tsp Dijon mustardPinch of caster sugar4tbsp extra virginolive oil 1 Peel, deseed and cut the squash into cubes, setting aside the seeds. Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Toss the squash with 2tbsp oil, season and spread out on a roasting tray. Roast for 30 min, until golden and soft. Set aside to cool. 2 Toss the squash seeds with the remaining oil, paprika and a little salt. Spread out on a baking tray and roast for 6 min, until…

As the calendar turns to November, the clocks have changed and dark descends earlier each day. But the light we retain is soft across the sepia tones that shroud the fields, tree branches and hedgerows. This is not a time to be too tidy in the garden. Skeletal stalks, grasses and seedheads are the favoured spots for insects to wait out the cold winter. Hollow stems fill with ladybirds and lacewings, and goldfinches feast on thistles and teasels. This bowl of late-autumn beauty celebrates the last of the dahlias. Mixed with grasses and medlar fruits, berries from the mountain ash, hydrangea skeletons and golden leaves, it is a celebration of what will soon be a lovely memory. How to create… A RUSSET-HUED LATE-AUTUMN DISPLAY This bowl of seasonal reddish-brown hues…

Update your home in a transformative flick with Romo’s gorgeous new curtaining. Contemporary and artistic, the Itami collection offers a variety of drapery possibilities to suit any interior, from rural nest to urban apartment. Featuring stylish weaves and stunning embroideries that take cues from nature’s beauty and diversity, the designs include wistful trees, painterly blossoms and dramatic patterns in a rich, vibrant palette. See them at romo.com.…

MAKE IT COUNTRY Forget the safe plain plaid; this season, checks are bigger, brighter and bolder than ever before. Cheerfully hot-trotted from the summer catwalk into homes, this rustic-ruffled pattern comes freshly delivered with a breezy, mischievous attitude – giving upholstery and everyday homeware a cheerful dollop of whimsical wholesomeness. The chirpy checks tick all the new-nostalgia boxes. OUR EXPERT SAYS… “RUSTIC YET PUNCHY, CHOOSE DISTINCTIVE CHEQUERBOARD DESIGNS IN RETRO SHADES, COMPLETE WITH SHAPELY SILHOUETTES AND RUFFLED TRIMS”HOLLY PHILLIPS, STYLE CONTENT EDITOR…

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“CURVED, SCALLOPED DESIGNS EVOKE A COCOONING FEEL, WHILE TALL, STATUESQUE STATEMENTS ADD A SENSE OF GRANDEUR”…

PROJECT PROFILE Owners Lucy and Mark Dickinson live here with their family and pets House A four-bedroom converted barn, dating back 500 years, in Kent Project A new kitchen Kitchen size 5x4m (excluding dining area) Designer The team at Burlanes Interiors Cabinetry Wellsdown kitchen painted in Mylands’ Artillery Ground After a decade living in their home, interior designer Lucy Dickinson, founder of Woolhouse Designs, and her husband, property developer, Mark, decided that it was time for a kitchen refresh. ‘The cabinets were here when we moved in, so they had seen plenty of use and were looking very tired,’ says Lucy. ‘We also love to cook and entertain, but the existing layout wasn’t very efficient.’ The couple share their home in a former wool merchant’s barn with sons Harry, 21,…

KITCHEN MAGIC Unboxing the Magimix Cook Expert is an ‘abracadabra’ moment. Combining elements of a food processor, blender and whisk with an advanced cooking bowl, it enables you to make soup at the touch of a button, as well as slow cook, stir-fry and sous-vide. It will even knead your bread and then prove it, or make yoghurt overnight. It also comes with a 30-year motor guarantee. Magimix Cook Expert (£1,195, magimix.co.uk) FORAGER’S SPIRIT Botanist Gin has launched a gift-wrapped bottle of their exquisite gin ready for the festive season. Twenty-two of the botanicals used in the recipe are handforaged by The Botanist’s in-house forager. Incredibly, it takes seven months of the year to collect every flower and leaf but, as the flavour and quality proves, it’s worth it (£35.08,…