Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Country Homes & Interiors

Seeing inside the homes we feature, and the care and love the owners have put into them, is always a highlight of my job. But this month is even more special, as we’re featuring the Winners and Runners-up from our Reader Home Awards. The size and age of each property is very different, and they’re decorated in a variety of styles, but they are all quintessentially country homes, full of warmth, character and charm. Head on over to take a look, from page 23. If you’re inspired to refresh your own interiors, we have lots of ideas to help you get started. Think about a subtle and luminous shade of pink for a room revamp (page 72), discover what it takes to create a stylish and practical hallway (page 80)…

Emma Alington has been creating beautiful, hand-thrown ceramics since 2013. Once an old Scout hut, her Berkshire studio’s rustic walls are covered with inspirational imagery, ‘like an ever-changing mood board’. Following fashion’s foray with scallop patterns, her new collection features decorative ric-rac trims. Talk us through the design process. ‘I’m a 3D thinker, so everything takes shape on the potter’s wheel. My ideas for new forms typically come from things that I love and use around my home already. Once I’ve created a shape, I then ensure it ticks all the functionality boxes before having plaster moulds made, followed by initial slip casts. Batches are made in bone china at the factory in Stoke-on-Trent, then sent to us at the studio to decorate. I love experimenting with different clays and…

Kiran Ravilious’ top-floor studio, nestled under the eaves of a screen-printing factory on the corner of a quiet street in Leicestershire, looks out over the urban rooftops – far removed from the lush greenery of tropical plants that surrounded her as a child growing up in Singapore, and which inspired many of her earliest designs. ‘I would often go to the Botanical Gardens and doodle for hours, and I used to love drawing trees as a child – you get such huge ones over there. But having lived in England for more than 15 years, you can see the influence of British plants in my work now. And the colours, which aren’t as bright here – they are more muted,’ Kiran explains. Her repeat designs for wallpapers and fabrics, worked…

WORTH £42 This beautiful set of Emma Bridgewater floral cake tins is a must-have for any kitchen. The set includes three different sizes, perfect for all your bakes! SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS ❖ BRILLIANT VALUE – ONLY £3.12 PER ISSUE ❖ EVERY ISSUE DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR ❖ RECEIVE FREE EMMA BRIDGEWATER CAKE TINS WORTH £42 SUBSCRIBE NOW WWW.MAGAZINESDIRECT.COM/CHAPR22 OR CALL 0330 333 1113 AND QUOTE A22B Offer closes 31.03.2022. Offer open to new subscribers only. Direct Debit offer is available to UK subscribers only. Subscribe and pay £37.50 every twelve months. We will notify you in advance of any price changes. Please allow up to six weeks for delivery of your first subscription issue (up to eight weeks overseas). Payment is non-refundable after the 14 day cancellation period unless exceptional…

EASTER TREE An Easter tree adds a seasonal touch. Cover papier mâché eggs with a paint wash. Coat the base in PVA glue and dip into a cup of eco glitter, tapping off any excess. Glue small feathers and dried flowers as additional decoration and leave to dry. Hang and display the finished eggs on gathered twigs cut to fit a vase or jug. EASTER EGG CIRCLET Make a simple yet beautiful floral feature with eggshells arranged in a circular shape – ideal for a centrepiece. STEP 1 Blow the contents of duck eggs out and keep for later, then wash and dry the eggs. Break the tops of the eggs away using a pair of scissors to make miniature vases. STEP 2 Using a circular template or freehand, line…

“LOOK FOR ONE-OFF PIECES AT ANTIQUES FAIRS OR REPURPOSE EXISTING FURNITURE FROM ANOTHER ROOM AND BRING ITS PERSONAL HISTORY TO YOUR NEWLY DECORATED SPACE” At my design firm Sims Hilditch, we believe that any home can feel warm and lived in, regardless of age or heritage. While Georgian vicarages and cosy cottages may already be steeped in character and filled with period details, there’s no reason a new-build property or a contemporary addition to a period home can’t be imbued with the same atmosphere. Through soft furnishings, bespoke joinery and carefully curated colour palettes, a new property or extension can feel just as inviting as a heritage home. FOCUS ON NATURAL MATERIALS FOR FLOORS Without dedicated attention, a new-build or contemporary addition can feel cold and unfriendly; ultimately lacking the…

With adult children returning home after university and elderly relatives benefitting from being closer to family, there’s growing interest in annexes that provide additional flexible living space. Building an annexe offers an alternative to moving house and can even add value to your home. WHAT IS AN ANNEXE? An annexe is a self-contained living space featuring kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, which is part of an existing house. The annexe can be attached to the main property or housed in a converted outbuilding such as a barn or garage. For it to be deemed an annexe, not a separate dwelling, it must only be occupied by one household. The main difference between an annexe and an extension is usage. An extension functions as a continuation of the main property while an…

PICKINGS Blanch purple sprouting broccoli as you would asparagus – cook it in boiling water for three minutes, then refresh in cold. It should be tender on the outside and still crisp in the middle. Roast the stalks with a drizzle of olive oil in the oven for a deeper flavour. Zest up with orange or lemon juice, sprinkle with chilli flakes, or toss in sesame oil. PURPLE SPROUTING BROCCOLI With its shaggy leaves and colourful mop-top florets, purple sprouting broccoli brightens the winter dinner table. Its flavour is sweet and nutty and you can eat it all, from shoot to tip; simply trim the end of the stalk and remove any yellow or damaged leaves. Sow from April to June to harvest early the next year; or plant seeds…

There is a wonderful choice of late-flowering spring bulbs that will carry the floral display in your garden into the colourful days of summer. Whether plugging the gaps in herbaceous borders left by their early flowering cousins, or planted in pots to enliven patios and courtyards, these late bloomers are a joy to behold. ‘Alliums make an amazing late-spring display in shades from cerise, purple through to white,’ says Jess Evans, head gardener at Knighthayes in Devon. ‘Erythroniums, or dog’s tooth violets, are one of the loveliest bulbs to naturalise in your garden and there are many different species of Fritillaria that can be grown.’ Many bulbs will naturalise in turf, coming back year after year, while ‘tulips, daffodils and most other bulbs do well in containers planted to one…

Flower pressing holds so many childhood memories for me. I grew up in a remote part of the Scottish Borders, and my tiny village school would hold a flower pressing competition every summer. I took it very seriously! My home was surrounded by fields filled with wildflowers; I’d spend hours searching and I can still remember the excitement I felt when I discovered them. I often relive that feeling when I’m searching for flowers now; it’s very comforting. Simply being outdoors has such a positive impact on my wellbeing. I never get bored of marvelling at what nature creates, and flowers are one of its most beautiful manifestations. When my children were younger, they’d bring me fistfuls of buttercups, forget-me-nots and meadowsweets when we went out on country walks. Not…

Our picks for you…

As with many things in life, there were two sides to the coin when it came to celebrating Easter during my youth. There was the strict convent school side, where nuns would guide my moral learning towards the strictest of the season’s sensibilities – in short, making sure that it didn’t begin and end with thoughts of cakes, feasting and the giving of chocolate eggs. The fun part happened at home – with the gravitas of cakes, feasting and the giving of chocolate eggs! These days my Easter celebrations at Hill House are a mixture of ceremony and celebration. There’s the joy of being among family and friends, and a feeling of gratitude for the imminent onset of spring and the burgeoning beauty that comes with this time of year.…

Potter Keith Brymer Jones believes there is plenty of scope for small businesses to capitalise on their creativity by diversifying into additional income streams – and there’s never been a better time to do so. Keith is a judge on several television shows, including The Great Pottery Throw Down. He is also head of design at MAKE International, a company passionate about collaborating with inspiring designers, including Kiran Ravilious, to create practical, high-quality and stylish products, such as homeware, cookware and stationery. CONNECT WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS ‘For makers keen to diversify, there are many opportunities to take a design and make it work harder, for example, mugs, tableware and cookware,’ explains Keith. ‘In such a competitive market, it’s essential that your products have a solid backstory, reflecting your own talents…

EVERYDAY EASY A ‘barely there’ pink is the perfect shade to create a welcoming living space, where warm white furnishings nestle easily against blush walls. SUBTLE ACCENTS Adopt a light touch for dining décor, using decorative details such as glassware, place settings and cushions to bring shell-inspired hues to the table. Soft touch “WHETHER YOU’RE LAYERING PINK SHADES, OR GOING ALL THE WAY WITH PINK WALLS, THE WARMING TONES CREATE A SOFT AND TRANQUIL FEEL”CHARLIE MARSHALL, LOAF FOUNDER EARTHY PINKS Pale tints of terracotta and plaster give pink an earthier edge, which adds depth and warmth to a room. Bare wood, plum and green make for natural partners. GENTLE LAYERS Made for dreamy nights, delicate marshmallow shades inspire a relaxed and peaceful mood, with snug bed styling created from layered…

STEP 1 Prepare quails eggs by blowing the contents out, washing and drying, then painting with a thin paint wash (paint diluted with water). We chose a blend of nude and pastel shades. Leave to one side to dry. STEP 2 Taking a prepared grapevine wreath, twist threads of string around the wreath then tie the ends to secure. STEP 3 Working around the wreath, push flowers into the wreath wire, then add the painted eggs and single flower heads, using a hot glue gun to secure. How to make blown eggs Take a needle and make a small hole at the top of the egg, and a slightly larger one at the base. Cover the holes with your fingers and shake the egg to scramble, then blow the contents out.…

PROJECT PROFILE Owners A couple with young children  House A post-war five-bedroom house in Nottinghamshire  Project A kitchen reconfiguration and extension  Kitchen size 6.5x4m  Designer Krantz Designs, headed by managing director Jamie Krantz  Cabinetry Wollaton Shaker bespoke kitchen in Farrow & Ball’s Black Blue and Set in two acres of mature gardens in the Nottinghamshire countryside, this large Fifties-built house was ideal for family life with young children. Except for one room, as Jamie Krantz of Krantz Designs explains. ‘The kitchen was relatively small and cut off from the dining room, as was typical of the time the house was built,’ he says. ‘Our clients wanted to create a more spacious room with an open-plan design, suitable for cooking, dining, relaxing as a family and socialising with friends.’ Their solution…

This month marks our one year anniversary with our hens, or as we like to call them – our Girls! I had always dreamed of keeping my own chickens; the idea of having fresh eggs every day and living in a more sustainable way is the focus of our life here at Broadspear. It’s been a steep learning curve ever since they arrived. But it’s like anything, you learn as you go along, ask for advice and quickly get into a routine. We have 14 hens in total that live in a lovely fenced area, sheltered by cherry trees, just beyond my kitchen window so I can keep an eye on them. There are two wooden coops perched on stone carved mushrooms that they cuddle up in every night. We…

PROVENCAL-STYLE TART WITH SMOKED SALMON, CREME FRAICHE & CHIVES SERVES 4 This makes a delicious pastry that is easy to work with, doesn’t need to be rested and can be topped with a creamy filling and whatever you have in the fridge. FOR THE PASTRY 175g ground almonds25g Parmesan cheese, finely grated½tsp xanthan gum1tsp baking powder¼tsp salt30g butter or lard, softened1 egg FOR THE FILLING 150ml soured cream or creme fraiche1 large egg150g smoked salmon A small handful of chives, finely sliced A large handful of rocket Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 Preheat the oven to 220C/Gas 7 and cut 2 pieces of baking parchment to fit your oven tray. 2 To make the pastry, put all the ingredients into a mixing bowl with 2tbsp water and use…

A private enclosure, a frame for rambling roses, a secret spot in the shade – there are many reasons to place a pergola in your garden. Perhaps you want it to shelter an eating area, provide vertical interest, frame a pathway or create structure. Whatever the function is, there’s a shape, size and style of pergola to suit your garden. ‘A pergola needs to have a purpose. Usually it is to lead you somewhere, forming a focal point, or creating a sense of division by adding a layer in the garden that isn’t a solid boundary,’ explains garden designer Jo Thompson. ‘It should be integral to the layout of the garden, instead of an afterthought. Carefully considering views to and from a pergola is key to enabling it to feel…

We love being at home. Jack travels a lot for work so when he’s back here in the UK, our home near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds is our favourite place to be together as a family. Our perfect day in the country is spent with our three children, Connie, Winter and Celeste, and our three dogs, Maggie, Milou and Peggy. We’d probably have close friends and extended family with us, too. I love to wake up before the madness of family life kicks in. The light is incredible as the sun rises so I love to paint at this time. It’s very peaceful and a great time to get creative. My studio is next to the kitchen and I love to paint among the hustle and bustle of family life…

KEEP CALM AND DRINK TEA In a bid to combat food waste and encourage mindful moments, Jessica Nester founded Tea in the Moment – a unique tea brand that uses the discarded shells of cacao beans to create a tasty range of sugar and caffeine-free infusions. ‘The name represents the need to pause, reflect and bring yourself back to the present,’ she says. There are seven flavours, including mint, rose and chai, £6.99 per 50g box of loose-leaf tea. Did you know OVER 7 MILLION MATTRESSES ARE SENT TO LANDFILL EVERY YEAR? BUTTON & SPRUNG HAS LAUNCHED A NEW COLLECTION WITH 100% NATURAL FILLINGS, DESIGNED TO BE FULLY RECYCLABLE AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE. AND THEY’RE SUPER-COMFY, TOO. SEW EASY Enjoy the calming effect of embroidery and create something…

It was always our dream to design a house ourselves and build it from the ground up,’ says Lisa Wallace of the beautiful home she and husband David have constructed. For Lisa, it was important to create a calm and unique home that centred around family life, with a work space nearby to give a good work-life balance in her job as a reiki practitioner. Lisa and David had searched for years for land so that they could fulfil their dream. Eventually in 2019, the perfect plot with planning permission came up for sale down a nearby rural lane and Lisa and David were keen to buy it. They hadn’t sold their house and there were complications and setbacks around the purchase, but eventually it was theirs. They changed the…

There was a time when country house hotels were a humbler proposition. Often family run, they provided their guests with simple pleasures: newspapers by the fire, good food, a comfortable bed in a grand setting. They were homely and definitely not setting the style zeitgeist as they do today. Their shift to modernity didn’t happen overnight, but gained momentum when the doors opened to Babington House about 20 years ago. A Georgian property near Frome in Somerset, Babington ushered in a sense of cool. In came the leather club chairs, velvets and ikat prints – influencing the way so many of us decorate today – and exciting interiors became a prerequisite to success. ‘English country houses, even smart ones, were rarely buzzy or glamorous, and they’ve had to reinvent themselves,’…

CLEVER LINK Fitting a bank of built-in cabinets along a hallway provides ample storage while seamlessly linking the spaces together. ‘If built-in joinery can be incorporated into the design, then consider using the space under the stairs or creating a run of cabinets along one wall. Not only will this provide storage, but it will keep everything organised and out of sight,’ says Emma Deterding, founder and creative director, Kelling Designs. TRANSFORM ALCOVES Made-to-measure joinery is ideal for awkward spaces. ‘With good-quality fitted storage, a hallway can essentially be transformed into an extra room, such as a home office with hidden desk space and built-in bookshelves and filing,’ says Jamie Godfrey, senior designer at Neville Johnson. ‘A statement library wall can also be incorporated into this space.’ TALL ORDER Make…

SEAMLESS STYLE If you’re looking for blinds for a large window, consider hanging a series of Roman blinds outside the frame and flush beside each other – this will achieve a seamless look while giving control over the light levels of individual bays. Choosing a small repeat design in a neutral shade will help the space appear larger. 1 LET THE LIGHT IN Venetian blinds are a great choice for bathrooms, as they have adjustable slats, also known as louvres, which allow you to control light levels and privacy. ‘Wood Impression Venetian blinds offer water resistance suitable to a bathroom environment,’ says Leah Aspinall, head of creative at Blinds 2go. ‘Alternatively, roller blinds with polyester or polyester mix fabric are resistant to damp and humidity and are easy to wipe…

CABINETRY Wollaton Shaker bespoke kitchen, from £40,000, Krantz Designs; in Black Blue and Blackened modern eggshell, both £77 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Bespoke boot room in Black Blue, £4,200, and utility room furniture, £13,200, in Farrow & Ball Plummett; both in Wollaton Shaker, Krantz Designs SURFACES Royal Collection Ludlow quartz worktops, around £5,000; antique mirror splashback, around £1,200; North Cape Flags White porcelain floor tiles, £108sq m, all Krantz Designs APPLIANCES Similar range cooker, Professional Deluxe 110 Dual Fuel in Slate with Chrome trim, £2,375, Rangemaster. Cache 800mm extractor, £796, Westin. Similar built-in microwave, MBB1755SEM, £470; KKK884500M built-in coffee machine, £1,999; SKK8182VDC integrated larder fridge, £749; ABE682F1NF integrated under counter freezer, £649; FSK63700P fully integrated dishwasher, £649, all AEG. WC6511 wine cabinet, £1,372, Caple. Evolution 200 S food waste…

For many of us, a rural idyll includes contented chickens and fresh eggs daily. But keeping hens is not just the preserve of country dwellers. ‘There are now 1.2 million domestic fowl kept as pets in the UK. During lockdown, our waiting lists were longer than ever, with almost 30,000 hens reserved,’ says Jane Howorth, founder of the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT). Before you go ahead, check there are no restrictions on keeping poultry in your area. WHERE SHOULD I SOURCE CHICKENS? ‘We’d encourage everyone to adopt ex-commercial chickens. Every year we save 60,000 hens from slaughter and rehome as family pets,’ explains Jane. If you do choose to buy your hens, Clare Taylor, The Chicken Whisperer, advises: ‘Some people buy hybrids from a supplier. These are easy “starter…

IN BLOOM Forget-me-nots Legend says the Greek god Zeus named all plants, except this starry-eyed flower, which pleaded: ‘forget me not’. It loves moist, well-drained soil in borders or shady spots, where it will self-seed. Auriculas Traditionally grown in terracotta pots and displayed in a ‘theatre’, these beauties sport a tutu rosette of petals. Keep in a cool spot. Ranunculus Rose-like blooms with tissue-thin petals, these are a favourite for bouquets. Plant the corms in autumn, ready for cut flowers in spring. PLANT CARE & PRUNING With spring in full swing, there is much to look forward to and do in the gardening schedule. As the ideal conditions for cultivating and sowing arrive, the planting year can get off to a good start. Check for any pests and diseases, keep…

Settle is a word defined in the dictionary as becoming quiet and calm; relaxed and comfortable; finding a place to be. Such descriptive terms were carefully considered when Jo and John Morfoot began creating their unique venture which offers guests an opportunity to slow down, unwind and reset. The idea for such a tranquil haven came to the couple several years ago, combining their love of nature and the great outdoors with an appreciation for a simple, honest aesthetic. Settle lies within 30 acres of parkland in Breckland in south Norfolk, an area steeped in ancient history. It was also here, nearly 50 years ago, that a young John and his father – who’d bought the land with a friend at auction – planted 50 species of trees, established a…