Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Country Homes & Interiors

My dream house would have a seamless flow between indoors and out, and rooms bathed in natural light (much as I love my home, the awkward steps to the garden and shady sitting room mean that’s not the case for now). It does mean that I’ve loved choosing the bright and airy properties in this issue, which are full of inspiration for opening up the space and letting the sunshine in. Take a tour around them all and discover the stories behind their transformations (from page 22). I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to make the most of these summer days, so we’ve brought you gorgeous garden room ideas (page 82), recipes for the perfect picnic feast (page 122) and scented rose garden loveliness (page 131). If you fancy…

YEAR-ROUND APPEAL Turn a summer hotspot into a four-season room by introducing cosy and comfortable furniture and textile choices. Opt for upholstered seating which can be dressed up or down as the weather changes – think lightweight linens in summer and cosier covers when it’s colder. FABRIC MATTERS Bright sunshine can bleach fabrics, making your choice of blinds and furnishings crucial. You could opt for fade-free and purpose-made materials to ensure longevity. Alternatively, go for lighter and whiter coloured options that keep their looks for longer. Canvas and denims look better with age, while bleaching sunshine keeps whites bright. DAY TO NIGHT The glazing that lets light flood in during the day can make a sunroom seem cold and featureless at night. Dress the windows with voiles and light curtains…

PRIORITISE A POTTING BENCH If you’re planning to use a shed for sowing seeds, pricking out seedlings and repotting, then a potting bench is a must. Choose whether you want your bench at sitting or standing height for comfort. When it comes to where to position the bench, think about light – sowing seeds is detailed work, so either have your potting bench near a window, or have a good lamp to hand – an adjustable hanging pendant is ideal. Opting for a potting bench with drawers or a shelf beneath the work surface will give extra storage. For a decorative element, add a curtain over open storage to conceal the clutter and add a touch of personality – a vintage botanical print is just the thing. GATHER SMALLER ITEMS To…

There is much more to successfully painting the exterior of a house than simply choosing a paint colour and brushing it on. Paint functions to protect the building and its fixtures from degradation caused by the weather, as well as enhancing the appearance of a building. The paint you choose needs to be compatible with the surface its covering, as well as durable, maintainable, historically suitable and well applied. It should also have environmentally sound credentials. And while you may be tempted to give plain brickwork a facelift, it’s preferable not to paint original walls that have been previously left bare. COMPATIBILITY MATTERS What lies beneath is important, and any new paint must be compatible with existing coatings. For example, the use of a water-based Latex paint over existing alkyd…

PICKINGS Press your fingernail into one of the kernels to see if the corn is ripe. If the liquid that runs out is cloudy, they are ready to eat. Twist the corn off the stem and eat as soon as you can after harvesting, as the natural sugars that give sweetcorn its name quickly turn to starch. Roast sweetcorn on the barbecue, wrapped in foil. Serve with butter flavoured with chilli, Parmesan, or lime and coriander. SWEETCORN Corn picked fresh from your garden is sweet, tender and a must for summer barbecues. The plants need space to thrive and should be settled in a sunny, sheltered position, as their height makes them vulnerable to winds. Plant kernels from April through June, once the risk of frost has passed, water and…

Taking a stroll between beautiful, blousy blooms on a warm summer’s eve and breathing in the delicious fragrances is one of the greatest pleasures in gardening – and scent is a particularly sought-after quality in roses. ‘They are enormously variable in fragrance, so it’s good to try and include all different types of roses in your garden,’ advises world-leading rosarian Michael Marriott. Old roses, which mostly flower once, tend to be the most richly fragrant – the classic perfume is found in gallica roses and their hybrids, such as damasks, while clove scents are found in musk roses. Modern roses are repeat-flowering, with diversity of form, colour and fragrance, and include hybrid teas, climbers, floribundas, miniature and David Austin English roses. Versatile shrub roses can take the combined characteristics of…

Our picks for you…

Who doesn’t feel the frisson of excitement the moment the clocks spring forward and we anticipate the arrival of the season for alfresco living! Our garden tables may have been gathering dust leant neglected against garage walls, or been inadvertently used to house wintering mosses and sheltering bugs, like a giant wrought-iron petri dish. However, with a quick scrub, they will be ready for the new season. From April until October, I like to imagine my interests morph into a modern version of Priapus and Antheia, the Greek gods of vegetable gardens and flower wreaths respectively. And with the longer evenings, I may be forgiven for throwing in a bit of Dionysus, the god of wine and festivity! It is also the season where flowing dresses return in force and…

It sounds ridiculous, but despite having lived on the same road for years, I’d never really taken any notice of this house before,’ says Mairead Holland. ‘It was sort of shut up and neglected looking. It was only when a friend told us that it was for sale four years ago, that I actually stopped to look at it properly… and then made an appointment to view it!’ What she and husband Alexander were to discover was rather daunting. The mid-Victorian property had endured myriad changes over the decades. Originally two perfectly symmetrical houses that had been knocked together, it had at one time been a boarding school for the local college, then was later converted haphazardly into four separate flats. Having renovated several properties over the years, however, the…

There’s no doubt at all where Hannah Madden’s creative influences stem from. Her rural home on the South Wales border and the land surrounding her studio in Lingen, North Herefordshire, is replete with natural inspiration. ‘The landscape in these parts is breathtaking. I often start the day with a walk, camera in hand, either by myself, with our labrador, or with my husband David and our two children, Isla, who’s nine, and Ethan, seven. If I find something interesting along the way, I’ll take a few shots and sketch it later,’ says Hannah. Hannah was born and brought up in the village of Sedlescombe, East Sussex, and studied Art and Design at nearby Hastings art college. She specialised in printmaking but with a lack of financial support, and concerned about…

ON SHOW ‘Mirrors can be treated like artwork, especially if you find ones that have architectural details and bold design,’ says Amy Leferink, designer at Interior Impressions. ‘It’s an easy, low-cost way to create a focal point and add visual intrigue.’ Consider grouping several mirrors together to create a gallery-style display. 1 AGED BEAUTY When decorating with mirrors, there are lots of elements to consider. As well as thinking of the style of the frame and its placement, also think about the appearance of the glass itself. ‘Mirrors are a viable alternative to expensive pictures, and function as works of art in their own right,’ explains Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum. ‘What most people would call “worn out” is a joy to others. Where the silvering and foxing on a…

Like many a house built over a century ago, the original kitchen in this Arts and Crafts home was small, dark and not given much importance. When new owners moved in, they soon planned an extension to the rear of the property to make room for a larger, light-filled kitchen. With architect’s plans drawn up, they called upon the skills of designer David Sant of Martin Moore. ‘I could see the potential for a magnificent kitchen-dining area geared to modern family life,’ says David, recalling the moment he first saw the drawings. Solid oak beams add character to the space, while wraparound glass affords the best views of the garden and allows maximum natural light to flow in. ‘The brief was to combine traditionally made cabinetry with a contemporary feel,…

PEA, TARRAGON & MASCARPONE ARANCINI Prep, 10 mins. Cooking, 1 ¼ hours MAKES 25 I love eating arancini as soon as they are fried, but that will never be possible on a picnic, so I’ve found a way of ensuring the rice stays soft even when cold. Out with the butter (which hardens when cold) and in with luscious mascarpone. 400ml vegetable stock1tbsp olive oil1 onion, finely chopped125g risotto rice3tbsp dry vermouthor dry white wine60g frozen peas, defrosted2tbsp chopped tarragon2tbsp mascarpone3tbsp freshly gratedParmesan cheese75g plain flour75g panko breadcrumbs1 egg1tsp milkSunflower oil, for fryingSea salt and freshlyground black pepperLemon wedges, to serve 1 Bring the stock to the boil in a saucepan, then lower the heat to a slow simmer. 2 Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan over a low…

Whether you’re time poor or green-finger challenged, it is possible to enjoy a garden full of variety through the seasons. With careful planning and design, you can still create beautiful beds and borders brimming with colour and interest, with little maintenance required Not only can a more hands-off approach benefit a gardener, but plants and wildlife can also reap the rewards of reduced intervention. Benefits include improved soil health and structure through no-dig practices; having a more sustainable garden with native and resilient plants that require less feeding and watering; and attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects, and so improving biodiversity. ‘Low maintenance doesn’t have to mean evergreen or sterile,’ explains garden designer Sheila Jack (sheilajack.com). The key is to include planting choices that are tough, consistent, have numerous seasons…

A couple of years ago I found myself getting caught up in world news. The doom and gloom was having an impact on my mental health. One afternoon, I decided to unpack some paints I’d had since university and give painting a go. That’s when I realised there’s nothing more grounding than painting in nature. Time slows and worries melt away. My primary purpose for being in nature is to spend time unwinding and finding peace, but a happy by-product has been discovering my passion for painting. I’m always surprised by how much inspiration I find on my doorstep all year round – carpets of snowdrops in the churchyard, window boxes in summer, allotments on the edge of town and rows of cherry blossom lining the streets in spring. I’m…

HOLIDAY VIBES Bring a sunshine feel to outdoor gatherings (even if it’s raining) with Lisa Corti’s new collection. Playful prints inspired by secret gardens and exotic destinations feature across textiles, homeware and clothing; everything you need to create the perfect summery setting. The Nizam Stripes Blue Natural collection is priced from €48, lisacorti.com. SUSTAINABLE STYLE In a bid to reduce waste in the interiors industry, Haines Collection resells textile offcuts that would otherwise go to landfill. Now, founder Jules has taken her mission a step further with the launch of Haines Curates – a new online offering that brings together a community of eco-conscious designers and homeware. ‘This means you can feel confident of supporting interiors brands that are working hard to have a minimal impact on our planet,’ she…

Susannah and Ivan Forsythe, the owners of this former cowshed in Dorset, acquired the ramshackle structure four years ago. ‘I poked my head inside and thought how the heck will this become a wonderful space to spend time in?’ Susannah admits. She and Ivan had their eye on the cowshed and the adjacent threshing barn ever since they bought their 16th-century farmhouse in the Stour Valley 20 years ago. ‘These buildings were once part of the farm and we always thought they would make lovely accommodation for our grown children, their families and friends,’ Susannah explains. The cowshed dates from the late 19th century and is the larger of the two barns (the renovated threshing barn was featured in the May issue). ‘We wanted to show the features of the…

A fundamental area of Hannah’s work involves making her products in a sustainable and ethical way, using a natural cotton sourced in the UK. We spoke to Ian Mankin and Toast – two companies renowned for their conscientious approach – to explain more about sourcing fabrics responsibly and promoting a sustainable business. USING CONSUMER POWER Simon Blackley is managing director of Ian Mankin (ianmankin.co.uk), which has been designing and weaving natural fabrics since the 1980s in its Burnley mill – one of the last surviving cotton mills in Britain. ‘Buying sustainable fabrics reduces our environmental impact, and we all play our part,’ he says. ‘The fashion and textile industry has the main control over this but the consumer has the power to move this quicker with their purchasing patterns.’ ‘As…

“TO BRING THE WHOLE HOME TOGETHER, THE GARDEN SHOULD BE AN EXTENSION OF THE INDOOR SPACE” When designing any room – and particularly those that overlook a garden – it’s vital to ensure a visual connection between the décor inside and what lies outside, beyond the windows and doors. ‘When designing a home, it is important to consider the exterior to ensure that it fits harmoniously with the interiors,’ explains interior designer Emma Sims Hilditch, founder of Sims Hilditch design agency. ‘To bring the whole home together, the garden should be an extension of the indoor space. When seeking colours for the garden, try to create flow between the two spaces for a sense of cohesion.’ These are Emma’s top tips for creating synergy between garden spaces and the interior…

1 CHIMNEY BREAST In keeping with traditional style, the Aga is built into a faux chimney breast, which is designed to add character to the new kitchen and enhance its role as the focal point of the design. A modern clean-lined overmantel is used to conceal a built-in extractor with lighting, and its straight chamfered corbels add to the modern look. The dramatic veining of the marble-effect quartz splashback catches the eye, and is also eminently practical as it is stain resistant, non-porous and easy to wipe clean. 2 TAPS Keen to avoid cluttered surfaces and maintain the calm, contemporary feel, the owners created a drinks station with a sink and all-in-one tap which dispenses hot, cold and boiling water from one spout, replacing a kettle. It is by the…

Whether you want to grow your own fruit and veg, create more space for beautiful blooms or improve your soil, raised garden beds offer the ideal solution. ‘The position of a raised bed is important, as exposure to the sun helps to warm the soil more quickly, which helps plants to germinate and extends the growing season,’ explains garden designer Claudia de Yong. Self-contained raised beds also allow you to introduce a different soil type for growing specific plants. ‘This means that if your garden has problem soil, such as heavy clay, you can provide better soil conditions too.’ WHAT TYPE OF WOOD SHOULD I USE? ‘Most raised beds are made using timber, however even the toughest wood, such as oak or cedar, will rot over time unless treated,’ Claudia…

IN BLOOM Alliums Pom-poms to dot your borders and pots. Plant bulbs in beds in autumn or containers in spring for colour from May to August, depending on the variety. Bearded Irises Spear-like shoots with shapely flowers that bloom in succession. Plant in a sunny, dry spot at the front of a border or in a gravel garden. Foxgloves Hardy cottage garden favourites. From seed, foxgloves will produce leaves in the first year and flower spires the next. They do well in full and partial shade. PLANT CARE AND PRUNING July is the perfect time to bask in the sunshine while you tend your flowers and veg and salad plants. Crop seeds will germinate quicker for extended harvests from the vegetable patch, but do keep on top of watering. On…

I rarely get a chance to visit the English countryside so when I do it’s such a treat. I live most of the time in a village called Deià, in the mountains of Mallorca, Spain, and north London, with my partner Joseph, daughter Skye and our border terrier, Mr Plum. On the rare occasions I can spend time in the British countryside, I’d turn it into a long weekend and head to Soho Farmhouse just outside of Oxford, as it’s such a great place to base myself and my family for a mini, long-weekend vacation. The last time I visited the Cotswolds it became the inspiration for my new homeware designs. I sketched out all my prints for the bedding here and imagined a ‘countryside revival’ collection for my exclusive…