Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Country Homes & Interiors

For our annual celebration of coastal living, we’ve taken an immersive dip into seaside style. Whether that’s checking out which brand of sailor chic floats your boat, from page 68 (I’m in the Modern Coastal camp) to buys with a beachy vibe (page 8), plus planting ideas inspired by dunes and clifftop settings (from page 129), we’ve encapsulated the essence of the sea for you. Not forgetting our homes, of course! The four houses we’ve chosen (from page 20) are united by their proximity to water, but their differing architecture and décor showcases the diversity of country-coastal living. There’s a look for everyone – tell us your favourite! And just in case coastal style isn’t for you, there’s plenty more inside. I’ll be using the painting techniques in our Wall…

When they met at a trade show in London a few years ago, Zoe Glencross and interior designer Bee Osborn bonded over a mutual love of natural linen. Bee had always dreamt of creating patterned fabrics with a connection to nature, which is very much akin to Zoe’s design handwriting. Together, they’ve created natural and elegant fabrics that work anywhere, in both urban and country homes. Talk us through the creative process. Understanding Bee’s natural style was key. Her emphasis on subtly layering up natural materials in her own schemes had to be reflected in the combination of prints I put together – I wanted them to feel like they belonged in her beautiful Cotswold cottage [featured in the February 2021 issue of Country Homes & Interiors]. I set to…

Combining work with your passion and a sense of purpose is the ideal for most. Add to this the ability to live where your heart has always desired and you really are getting close to the Holy Grail. In 2020, Silvana de Soissons set about bringing her dream to fruition, moving to a village in Dorset and launching her business Farm Soap Co, handmaking soaps and skincare just minutes from the rugged beauty of Chesil Beach. ‘A lot of people say they want to live by the sea, don’t they,’ says Silvana, ‘And I’ve wanted to make a home on the Jurassic coast for as long as I can remember. It goes back to when I first moved to England at the age of 16. I vividly remember standing on…

COASTAL CHIC Not every dining room is designed to host lavish dinner parties; for many it is a family space that is relaxed, somewhere everyone can feel comfortable. Here, panelled walls and weathered wood flooring, paired with a navy blue and white colour scheme, channel a coastal look, evoking fond memories of holidays by the sea. NEAT AND TIDY Storage and décor are key considerations in every room, but are sometimes overlooked for a dining area. In this formal space, built-in cabinetry creates a warm and welcoming backdrop, displaying treasured possessions and family photographs alongside candles and other decorative pieces. WHIMSICAL TOUCH A formal dining room by its very nature can appear slightly stiff-backed and serious. Take the starch out of suppertime (if not your tablecloth) by bringing a light-hearted…

“WHEN DESIGNING THE INTERIOR OF A HOUSE BY THE SEA, SUBTLETY IS THE GOLDEN RULE” A sense of place is essential to any successful interior design, whether that’s a sandy beach on your doorstep or the fields stretching beyond your back gate. But knowing when a reference turns to pastiche is key. Interior designer Emma Sims Hilditch, who owns a home in Cornwall and has decorated many a seaside pad, says it pays to tone down sailor style for a more pared-back seaside aesthetic. ‘When designing the interior of a coastal home, subtlety is the golden rule,’ she suggests. ‘There are plenty of clever ways to hint at a home’s seaside location, without being swept away by nautical trends and an excess of blue, white and red.’ BROAD HORIZONS ‘To…

Take the difficulty out of decorating by following a few simple tips and tricks, while these inspirational room schemes will give you the confidence to get creative at home. MEASURE UP Most paints will cover about 10 to 12 square metres per litre. Start by measuring the length and width of the room, then add two times the length and two times the width together to get the perimeter. Standard ceiling height is 2.5 metres, so if you multiply the perimeter by 2.5, you will have the total in metres squared. If you have large windows, multiple doors or built-in cabinets, deduct these from the total. Finally, double the overall metre-square total to account for applying two coats. PREP PROPERLY Most walls can be washed using a sponge and warm…

PLUMS Easy-to-care-for plum trees are a gift for any garden, giving beautiful blossom in spring, wonderful foliage in summer, and richly coloured, juicy fruit in September and October. Damsons, greengages, mirabelles and bullaces are all members of the plum family, varying in colour and flavour, from deep and tart to sweetly honeyed. Plant two, at least, so they can pollinate each other. PICKINGS Infuse cream, syrups and vodka with freshly picked plum blossoms for delicate, floral intensity. Skewer wedges of plum with halloumi and red onion to make a kebab, drizzle with olive oil and griddle until charred. Pair plums with almonds, hazelnuts and cinnamon in sweet dishes, or with pork and duck to add a sweet-sour flavour.…

A clifftop walk or shoreline amble is punctuated with plantlife – tufted dune grasses and spiky sea holly; tiny star-like flowers and rampant rhododendrons. There are myriad coastal plants that suit the conditions of a garden by the sea. These hardy flora can easily handle the strong gusts, salty air, poor soil and sloping, dry sites that often come with a coastal view. ‘Many Mediterranean plants that have silvery leaves, such as lavender, artemisia and santolina, are drought and wind tolerant,’ explains garden designer Sue Townsend (suetownsendgardendesign.co.uk). ‘Spiny or curled leaves prevent the plants from losing moisture, such as native sea holly, Eryngium maritimum. Plants with thick, shiny, waxy leaves, such as Euonymus japonicus, Griselinia littoralis and Olearia traversii, work well as a coastal hedge in many locations. While sedums…

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Would I prefer a sea view or the sight of green fields? When it comes to the beauty of my surroundings, I am visually greedy, so my preference would be to enjoy each view from different sides of the house! I see fields from my garden gate, but there is something incredibly appealing about having a room with a view of the sea. I relish a window through which one can spend many calming moments watching as the waves dance rhythmically with the tide and distant boats. Like many people, I find the coast to be so calming. The shoreline is one of the places that I am drawn to on days when I am seeking moments of solitude. Long and leisurely walks collecting shells with my dog have provided…

Building on an informed passion gives a head start in business, and is particularly potent if you can see a gap in the market. Silvana had been using botanical skincare for decades, and working for the Culpeper herbalist shop in Bath in the Eighties gave her insight into the natural products sector. ‘It set a seed germinating, and the products, displays, branding and quality control there were very high,’ she says. Before she made the move to Dorset, Silvana spent more than two years preparing for her business. Investing a great amount of time and energy into self-education led to her learning about product formulation and creation. KNOW RULES AND REGULATIONS Every potential business owner needs to fully understand and can satisfy all legal requirements for their sector. ‘It took…

AND RELAX… Garden décor doesn’t have to be a permanent addition to your plot. An impromptu picnic, complete with cosy rugs, a host of cushions and a hammock strung between two trees will set the perfect backdrop for a lazy summer day. Choose weatherproof options that can withstand damp and be cleaned easily. SURFACE STYLE Patios are a great way to zone your garden, providing the perfect space to relax on an outdoor sofa or to set up a table for alfresco dining. Opt for terracotta tiles laid in a herringbone pattern as a characterful alternative to decking or concrete slabs. If installing a tiled patio, be sure to select tiles that are suitable for outdoor use and with an R12 slip rating. ON REFLECTION Decorating with mirrors is not…

As part of a project to renovate a barn conversion in the Berkshire countryside, the owners commissioned the design team at Roundhouse to create a new kitchen. ‘They wanted to have a welcoming space which would make the most of the generously sized room,’ explains designer Sam Hart. ‘The couple enjoy socialising and entertaining, so they also wanted to link the room to the terrace at the rear of the property, so that parties could spill outside on warm days.’ Celebrating the original timber beams, stone floor and exposed brickwork of the barn, the owners were keen to create a kitchen that sat comfortably in the space, while catering for all their needs. ‘The design is clean-lined and pared back, so that it doesn’t clash with the stunning architecture, using…

At this time of the year in the garden we have an abundance of vegetables and fruit – more than we can manage to eat! I pickle and preserve as much as I can so that the delicious flavours from the summer last throughout the autumn and there is no waste. I absolutely love seeing my shelves stocked with a rainbow of wonderful bright colours from the jars of preserved produce. It really does bring so much cheer over the colder months. You can pickle or preserve pretty much any vegetable or fruit – this week I am pickling courgettes, beetroots and cucumbers, as well as making tomato chutney and fig jam. To start, you need jars – and lots of them! Large Kilner jars are brilliant for vegetables, and…

SMOKED MACKEREL, BEETROOT & RADISH SALAD Prep, 10 mins. Cooking, 30 mins SERVES 2 This salad is colourful and packed with goodness and flavour. Beetroot and mackerel work well together, and combined with the bitter chicory, sweet pear and crunchy pine nuts, it makes for a delicious lunch or impressive light starter. 2 raw beetroot200g radishes, halved Drizzle of olive oil2 chicory, leaves picked and shredded50g lamb’s lettuce or watercress2 skinless smoked mackerel fillets (the peppered fillets work well)2 firm pears, such as conference, sliced lengthways50g pine nuts, toasted Sea salt and freshly ground black pepperDill fronds, to garnish FOR THE VINAIGRETTE DRESSING 2tbsp olive oil1tbsp lemon juice1tsp Dijon mustard1tsp runny honey 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Start by roasting your beetroot. Wrap them in tin foil, place…

I love nothing more than to ride my Pashley bicycle to the beach. I live on the South Coast between Rye and Hastings with my husband Danny, our two youngest children, Frankie and Betty, and our two dogs, Angie, a 13-year-old King Charles Cavalier, and Doris, a year-old Australian Labradoodle. I’ll fill the bike basket with a packed lunch, drink, blanket, book and iPad and I’ll sit on the beach all day until sunset. Danny and all my four children, including Daisy and Alfie, and the dogs would be with me. It’s heaven! On a typical day, I start the morning with a strong oat latte, listening to music while I clear up from the night before. I take the dogs for a long walk along the beach, go for…

CALL OF THE SEA A heart-lifting walk along the coast doesn’t just feel good for you – it really is. Research shows that spending time near expanses of water makes people feel happier, while watching and listening to the crashing waves helps calm a busy mind. Paisley fringed canopy, £360, Cox & Cox. SPECIAL DELIVERY Looking for a gift for a new arrival? Family-run company Little Paw offers a range of gift boxes filled with special finds. From the softest organic babygrows and sustainable toys to luxury candles and freshly ground coffee, everything has been considerately sourced with new babies – and new parents – in mind. From £30, littlepaw.co.uk. HERE COMES THE GROOM Mucky pups will soon be clean with Madekind’s planet-friendly dog grooming collection. Handmade in the Peak…

When Katie and James Brasher first entered what was to become their permanent home on Jersey, they discovered a view they wanted to build their lives around. From its vantage point on the hill, the house looks out over a sweeping lawn to Mont Orgueil Castle on the coast and France in the distance. ‘We’d rented two other properties on Jersey but when our landlord decided to sell we felt we couldn’t live with the uncertainty anymore,’ Katie explains. ‘James was just back from a business trip to Australia and I’d lined up some houses for us to view. This was the last property we visited and even though he was jet-lagged, James was excited by it and we both had the feeling this was the one.’ While the view…

Like a sea breeze… NEW ENGLAND STYLE Channel a relaxed Hamptons aesthetic by embracing off-white shades across painted furniture and tongue-and-groove walls, creating depth with washed woods and beach finds. The key is to keep it simple – just add the occasional sun-umbrella stripe for that preppy-style-on-holiday vibe. Ahoy-there surfaces Choose tiles that echo seaside hues and wood-effect flooring with a worn look Becalmed paints Explore this palette of blues to create dramatic depth or a soothing, subtle effect on your walls Chic castaway… MODERN COASTAL Resist grabbing anchor prints and sailing-boat motifs to launch this look. Instead, try block colours. Blue is essential, but keep to just one bold hue and a cohesive palette. Pair with orange, woven rugs and natural accessories for relaxed beach-life style. For pattern, go…

TALL ORDER Floor-to-ceiling vertical panelling makes ceilings appear higher and, painted in a soft cream, it creates a relaxed country vibe. For a DIY option, make a batten framework for the wall as a fixing point and slot the tongue-and-groove timber together before nailing in place. It makes a clever cover-up for walls that are less than perfect. 1 IN THE LIMELIGHT Create contrast by arranging strips of panelling in both vertical and horizontal formations. Here, the smooth finish of the green-painted wood on the wall juxtaposes the rough texture of the limed-oak kitchen island. By choosing planks of the same width, the look comes together harmoniously. 2 CABIN CLASS Swap a headboard for Scandi-style simplicity of paint-washed pine planks fixed vertically behind the bed. If you are installing the…

1 EXTRACTION The ducted-out Stratus Blade hood from Westin is a discreet solution to kitchen extraction. Flush-fitted into the ceiling, it draws steam and odours from pans on the hob to keep air clean, especially important in an open-plan room like this to prevent cooking smells drifting to other parts of the home. ‘Unlike chimney hoods suspended over an island, an unobtrusive ceiling model does not obstruct sight lines and allows pendant lights to be used as the eye-catching feature instead,’ says the designer Sam. 2 SECOND SINK Next to the bifold doors to the garden, the second sink is handy when entertaining. The wall-mounted tap can be used to fill jugs of cold water for alfresco meals, or wash vegetables for grilling on the barbecue, without entering the main…

Romantic wildflower meadows provide a rich tapestry of food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife. You don’t need acres – you can create one in your own garden instead of an area of lawn or a border. ‘The look of a wildflower meadow is ephemeral and appealing, but preparation is key,’ says Rob Jones, director of The Garden Design Company. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES? There are both annual and perennial wildflower meadows. ‘At its most simple, an annual meadow does best in areas where nutrient levels are high, but will need re-sowing every year,’ explains Rob. ‘A perennial meadow often lacks poppies and cornflowers, but the result is permanent and the look changes from season to season, year to year. There are mixes to suit different situations, whether…

IN BLOOM Helenium With its Latin name inspired by Helen of Troy, as the flowers were said to have sprung from the ground where her tears fell, Helenium has yellow or orange daisy-like flowers (shown) and blooms from late summer to mid autumn. Chocolate cosmos These have dark and dainty flowers on long stems and smell quite deliciously of Green & Blacks. A perennial, they flower from early summer to early autumn. Japanese anemone They may look delicate but they stand up well to wind and rain. White or pink flowers nod above foliage in late summer and early autumn. They like dappled shade and can be grown in pots. PLANT CARE AND PRUNING Often the hottest month of the year, August is a time to step up a gear…