Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2023 i Country Homes & Interiors

ENTERTAINING at home is something I still get nervous about. Growing up, we didn’t tend to have many people coming round for dinner or drinks, and while I love house parties, I’d rather be a guest than the person hosting. Partly that’s practical – our house doesn’t have a large space for gathering, so it’s easier to invite small groups than a crowd. The exception was the time we lived in an apartment with a big living room and threw a fantastic New Year’s Eve party for all our friends. It was a brilliant night but over time, I’ve learnt that intimate events are more my style – brunch, book group, drinks for six. And when I’m feeling relaxed and at ease, everyone has a better time. If you’re planning…

I grew up in a household where any excuse was a good excuse for a party. My Caribbean-born parents were natural hosts, welcoming friends, neighbours and strangers from all walks of life into their home to mark every occasion, from birth to life, love to loss. They were from a generation where a cocktail in the hand was merely a temporary prelude for having two more waiting beside you in the bush, and where every ‘stranger’ was simply a friend you hadn’t met yet! I have definitely inherited the same love of hosting people, and creating a welcoming atmosphere that starts with the offering of a good cocktail and fun music. Music is an integral part of creating a jolly mood as soon as anyone steps over the threshold at…

The festive season is a time to relax for Laura Butler-Madden, husband Patrick and their three-year-old daughter, Lily. ‘It can be hugely stressful if you put too much pressure on a “big day” like New Year, so we allow ourselves to take it slowly. We‘ll have a leisurely breakfast, then a sociable stroll with both families - Patrick‘s visit from Madrid each year. Lunch comes late, around 4pm, and consists of an Anglo-Spanish meal combining a traditional British roast with Iberian delicacies such as aged hams and piquant olives.’ Home is an elegant Georgian townhouse in Bath that Laura and Patrick completed work on a couple of years ago. ‘We fell for the house because of its architectural history and saw the scope to breathe new life into it without…

Is there anything more appealing than a cosy chair and the expectation of a fire to toast the toes? Warm wintertime floorboards with a thick felted rug Celebrate the crafted and the reclaimed; pieces that reveal the hands of the maker and the marks of time. We treasure items when we feel their emotional connection Delightfully patterned throws not only provide layers for chilly evenings, but are perfect for introducing a softer, homespun feel to country interiors…

METAL As the centrepiece of a hardworking wet zone, the sink should be good looking and in keeping with your kitchen design, but it also needs to be practical, durable and easy to keep clean. Stainless steel has long been a material of choice for its hygienic properties, resistance to stains, rust and corrosion, and affordability. But it is not the only metal on the market; copper and brass sinks can be used to make a design statement. ‘Solid brass is actually a very traditional material to use for a sink,’ says Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL Kitchens. ‘It’s a showstopper, but also a really practical and natural product that will age gently and beautifully over time.’ INTEGRATED ‘With the trend for open-plan living, aesthetics have never been more…

Standing on Chepstow’s elegant old Wye Bridge, it is technically possible to be in two places at once – one foot in Wales, one in England. But it is the views that really transcend. The Wye is Britain’s second-highest tidal river, producing dramatic scenes, even when the waters have been sucked right out and only a silty, sludgy picture remains, with the ruins of Chepstow Castle looking down. No wonder the town is credited as ‘the birthplace of tourism’ – such scenes became fashionable in the 1770s with artists arriving in canopied boats as part of the ‘Wye Tour’. But it’s not all parasols and paintbrushes. The Monmouthshire town was once a centre of shipbuilding, with cargoes of millstones, timber, copper, oak bark and wine all passing through. The town…

Househunting can be a frustrating affair – all those properties that look great on the estate agent’s website, only to disappoint when you see them in person, or that are snapped up before you can arrange a viewing. But what if you could hire someone to do the legwork for you; a property expert with an enviable contacts book, in-depth knowledge of your desired area, and the inside track on what homes are due to come on to the market, even before they hit the listings? Househunter services are increasingly sought out by clients who want to take the angst out of finding their forever home. And Katy Campbell, eye-candy Instagram @katy_campbell_house_ hunter, and author of At Home in the Cotswolds (£45, Abrams), is queen of the crop. We met…

In bloom WITCH HAZEL (Shown) Shaggy yellow petals light up bare branches and send spectacular scent into the winter air. Likes sun or part shade and needs only minimal pruning. GIANT FENNEL Yellow flowers don’t appear until spring, but frothy fronds bring vibrant greenery to the garden now. Grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. SWEET BOX This evergreen quietly shows its glossy green leaves for the majority of the year, before getting a glow-up in winter, when fragrant flowers are followed by berries. 3 OF THE BEST FLOWERS TO SOW The grounds of Glyndebourne opera house in Sussex are renowned for their beautiful gardens. Kevin Martin, Glyndebourne’s head gardener and in-house flower arranger, shares his monthly to-do list. ‘Hardy annuals are good to sow under glass in January.…

As the New Year beckons, I love having the time to look back on how the past 12 months have gone, and plan for a better year ahead. This is when I am most grateful for keeping a farm journal. I write in it every evening, nothing too detailed, but a record of what I planted, a sick chicken, the first appearance of a fruit or vegetable, plus a note on the weather. It helps me gauge what’s to come every year. So much happens each day that it is impossible to recall it all if I’m not diligent about writing it down. I begin January by planning out the year’s vegetable rotation to ensure I grow each crop in a different bed to previous years. By rotating the plants, it…

With her flair for pattern and colour, interior designer Emma Deterding knows how to create an inviting home. After years spent curating beautiful living spaces for her clients, she decided ` to launch her own homeware collection in 2018. Sophisticated, vibrant and charmingly quirky, KDLoves epitomises everything there is to enjoy about Emma’s signature style. Following her London store, she has now opened a stunning showroom in Norfolk, where customers can view the extensive range of wallpaper, headboards, cushions, tableware and more. How did KDLoves come about? I founded my interior design company, Kelling Designs, back in 2006, and my reputation for colour and pattern truly set us apart. The success led to the launch of KDLoves, a unique range put together by myself and my team, in collaboration with…

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Nestled in the lee of the village church and with views out onto the winter-grey Atlantic, Katharine Pooley’s North Devon cottage is a special place to spend Christmas. ‘It was in a state when I first saw it and my husband was horrified. But I knew I could make it right for us,’ she says. The house had previously been divided up by a property developer and the result was a disjointed space in the main house with an annexe that was too small to be useful. There were three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but not enough to accommodate Katharine’s family of four and their extended family who often join them for holidays. Katharine realised that she could make space for another two bathrooms and an additional bedroom by creating…

TOP TABLE ‘Creating a celebratory table is such a key part of the festive season. I like to start with a foundation of white linen and ceramic Christmas trees in various sizes. Arrange them down the centre with a fir garland. Add warmth with brass candlesticks and cutlery; it adds an element of relaxed luxury.’ PERSONAL TOUCH ‘For a relaxed setting, I like to fold a coloured napkin on a stack of plates, then loosely wrap with ribbon offcuts left over from wrapping presents. A personalised decoration adds a festive flourish and doubles up as a lovely gift for guests to take home.’ SUZY HUMPHREYS and husband Paul launched their online lifestyle store, Layered Lounge, inspired by their search for good-quality pieces in natural materials and a neutral palette with…

When considering changes to make in your garden to benefit wildlife, adding a pond is a must. Every animal, from tiny insects to larger mammals, needs a source of water in order to thrive. A pond can dramatically increase the biodiversity of your garden and so help your garden to flourish. HOW TO BUILD There are lots of different ways to build a pond; however, the three most popular methods are using a pond liner, using a preformed base, or creating a container pond. Lined pond The traditional method of pond construction, a lined pond starts life as a large hole, dug into the ground. Ensure there are no stones in the hole as these could pierce the liner, then coat the hole with sand. Next, build a trench around…

They may be small and seemingly simple plants, but snowdrops (Galanthus) are capable of creating much excitement. Whether it’s the first sighting of exquisite flower heads on the darkest of winter days suggesting all in the garden is not asleep, or the spectacle of a carpet of snowdrops, as magical as a fresh dusting of the real thing. And with so many variations available – in flower forms (including showier ‘doubles’ with several layers of petals), sizes, colours, fragrances and the green or yellow markings on the petals – it’s no surprise that snowdrops inspire collector’s fever. Snowdrops are best planted ‘in the green’. This is when they’re still growing, rather than when they’re dormant, which means, unlike most bulbs, now is the season to purchase as well as enjoy…

While the garden lies, for the most part, sleeping, a few hours spent on maintaining spades, trowels, secateurs and shears will pay dividends in the next growing season. ‘Keeping your garden tools clean and sharp will help you to work efficiently in the garden,’ says Rainer Schubert, managing director at Burgon & Ball, makers of RHS-endorsed tools. ‘Sharp cutting blades are also important for plant health. A blunt blade may crush stems as it struggles to make the cut, leaving the plant with a ragged wound that is more vulnerable to infection.’ How often should you maintain garden tools? ‘Cleaning your tools after each use means that regular maintenance checks are less arduous,’ says Edd Hames, co-founder of Tinker and Fix, experts in caring for quality tools. ‘We suggest cleaning…

We live off the beaten track in East Devon with gorgeous views of rolling hills. Our youngest daughter is still at home and our three eldest are now working or studying away but they all come back pretty often. We have dogs, goats and chickens, too. Right here, ideally with the children, is where I’d spend my perfect day in the country. Fortunately, we often do! My day begins with a cup of tea and then a swim in the pond. A couple of years ago I managed a pond swim every morning from September to March, but at the moment it’s more likely to be a couple of days a week. Weekends are a pretty mellow time, walking, cooking, going to the beach and pottering in the garden. The demands…

FLAG THIS Artist and designer Georgia Bosson has joined with Neptune to create Flags, a collection of cushions from £65, made from fabric offcuts destined for landfill. Often called ‘flags’ in the retail trade, Georgia has used these scraps as both material and inspiration for the range, forming designs reminiscent of sails and maritime flags. The collection includes four quilts, from £1,750, named after the seasons. ‘The quilts are all hand stitched which marks a shift in direction for me, away from digital embroidery,’ Georgia explains. Exclusively available at georgiabosson.co.uk GO WILD There’s nothing like a cold-water swim to beat the January blues, but what to wear afterwards? Dry robes may be all the rage, but we’re all about the new Wylding suit, £160. Waterproof and thermal lined, it’s guaranteed…

Interior designers have a series of rules and tips that help to guide their decor schemes. Here, Nina Campbell shares her insight on how to create a harmonious and characterful space that’s brimming with personality. FIGURE OUT YOUR FLOORPLAN ‘Start by working out the central point of the room; this will guide the placement of large pieces of furniture. This is a fairly easy task in a room with a fireplace or large windows. If you do not have those, then look at the room as a whole and figure out which feature or object will act as the room’s central point. Next, factor in the practical elements – where are the windows and the doors? Do your windows go to floor level or could you place furniture in front…

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While nothing beats wild habitats or natural green spaces, planners are increasingly factoring wildlife provision into the design of homes. In Brighton & Hove, planning laws require that new properties include special bee bricks and swift bird boxes within structural walls. Sue Young, head of land use planning at The Wildlife Trusts, believes that nature should be ‘at the heart’ of our planning system to create healthy spaces for people and wildlife. ‘Bird boxes, swift and bee bricks, green roofs and wilder areas should all be considered during the design process,’ she says. When building an extension or renovating your home, there are lots of ways to introduce space for nature. BEES More than 240 species of British bees are solitary and, along with other pollinators, are responsible for a…

YOU WILL NEED… VESSEL & PROP ‘I used a small compote bowl (15cm diameter) and a Kenzan (a reusable pin holder that supports and holds your stems in place),’ says Philippa. ‘You can find both pieces of equipment from various stockists online.’ INGREDIENTS ‘My selection of winter flowers includes late-flowering hellebores, narcissus and early flowering ranunculus, plus a few foraged stems including dried grasses, ferns and small branches with dried leaves.’ MAKING YOUR CENTREPIECE… USING A KENZAN ‘Place the Kenzan inside your compote bowl, and add water. The Kenzan pin holder will support your stems, firmly and gently holding them upright in whichever position you choose. As you add the stems to the vase, hold them almost like a pencil, with your hand towards the end of the stem. This gives…