Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2023 i Country Homes & Interiors

A TRIP TO THE COAST IS THE EPITOME OF ESCAPISM. It’s there in the big sky and wide horizon, the long stretch of strand, and the joyful clamour of funfairs and carousels. No wonder, then, that so many of us long to wake up to sea views and clifftop grandeur. For a glimpse into the lives and homes of readers who have done just this, take a look at the houses we’re featuring this month in our annual August coastal issue (from page 19). We’ve continued the seashore theme with our Turn the Tide decorating ideas (page 72), a handpicked collection of Cornish travel getaways (page 112), and the tough but beautiful flowers we’ve pinpointed as Seaside Specials (page 135). While you might not live next to a beach, nowhere…

Sandringham is the much-loved rural retreat of the Royal Family, but the estate and its surroundings also have properties to own and rent for anyone wanting to enjoy this idyllic slice of the Norfolk countryside. So after missing out on a chance to buy a cottage that had once been part of the Sandringham Estate, Jolene and Jason Marshall were delighted when, out of the blue, another opportunity to own the property presented itself In March 2020 the couple decided to relocate from London to North Norfolk, as they were keen to bring up their three children in a rural environment close to the coast. ‘It’s such a beautiful part of the world and offers so much scope,’ Jolene says. ‘Every time we came to this area on holiday, we’d…

Whether crafted from rich red clays, glistening slate or woven thatch, the roof is the unsung hero of our home. Not only does it play a vital role in defining the aesthetics of a property but it also ensures invaluable protection against the elements. However, a roof is not infallible. ‘Slipped slates or tiles, failing leadwork and roof valleys blocked by debris will all wreak havoc if neglected. When roof timbers become damp, rot, beetle infestation and ultimately structural problems result, and plasterwork to ceilings and walls may also fail or become stained,’ explains Douglas Kent, technical and research director at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). Summer is an ideal time of year to investigate your roofing as the weather will be more favourable for carrying…

ATLANTA, Trevone Bay Two beaches stretch out either side of the large bay windows at Atlanta, in Cornwall’s Trevone Bay. One is rocky, full of fascinating finds including a seawater pool accessible only once the tide is out. The other is of amber sand that arches around the cliff towards the deep blue sea. But matching the stellar views and salty air with its own aesthetic splendour is Atlanta’s interior design. The five self-catering apartments, set into two shingle-covered coastal houses, are layered and decorative, boasting plumply cushioned loveseats, prettily patterned curtains and shiplap-lined kitchens by Neptune. This is coastal décor reimagined for contemporary seafarers. Each apartment comes with two bedrooms, modern bathrooms and log fires for when all that brininess becomes too much. The next cove along from Padstow,…

When I first started my own garden in the Nineties, gardening for wildlife, to my small mind, was the realm of the eccentric, the untidy and the ‘niche’ organic movement. Since then, my mind has opened, and things have changed for the better. Now, the gardens that we would cite as the ‘most gorgeous’ or ‘most influential’ are wildlife gardens – think Great Dixter, Monty Don’s Longmeadow or Chiswick House and Gardens, where I am now head of gardens. Wildlife gardening has a rightful place in any outdoor space. We share our gardens, with an estimated 22,000 total potential species, with the Royal Horticultural Society describing ‘relatively few’ as garden pests. In fact, many long-held gardening principles are in line with gardening for wildlife. For example, when we plan our…

I’m lucky to live by the coast in Cornwall, in the Port Isaac area. For my perfect day, my wife Rachel would be with me, as well as our two children. Jacob is 20 and is studying Musical Theatre, and Jessica, 18, is working with me – she’s a very talented pastry chef. We also have a very cheeky Border Terrier x Jack Russell named George. I can see the sea from both restaurants and Outlaw’s Guest House, and I admit to spending lots of time just looking out at it. I love the sea; I can’t be away from it for too long. Cornwall has some amazing beaches so I’d probably be more than happy to stay here for my perfect day. Or perhaps somewhere on a desert island,…

Having met while teaching a workshop a few years ago, Sarah Campbell and Pukka Print founder Juliet Cornell bonded over their admiration for the woven textiles of Bauhaus artist Anni Albers. They spoke about the possibilities of creating block-printed designs that shared the Modernist aesthetic and the resulting collection is truly striking. The five spirited patterns are hand-printed in India across four vibrant colour stories: Library, Forest, Light Blue and Bright Blue. Talk us through your artistic process. It typically starts with a palette of freshly mixed paints: gouache is my preferred medium, as the colours are rich and opaque – great for laying a flat ground and essential for covering one’s mistakes! I paint everything by hand, brush on paper, making the repeats rather laboriously with tracing paper and…

For 10 years before they bought their house on the north coast of Kent, Skye O’Neill and Jamie Corner regularly escaped to Whitstable for weekends and holidays. From their home in southeast London, with their two young daughters, Eilidh and Esme, and dog Daffy, it was an easy drive of just over an hour. ‘Having grown up in Sydney, I really missed the sea – Whitstable was the nearest bit of coastline we could get to,’ explains Skye, who is co-founder of Fieldfare magazine and a freelance photographer. ‘Jamie felt the same way; he grew up in St Andrews on the east coast of Scotland. Living in London can feel very claustrophobic when you’re used to being near the beach.’ The couple met in 2006 and settled in the capital.…

FOR RURAL DWELLERS & DREAMERS LIMITED EDITION WORTH £44.85 • Annie Sloan Charleston paint set in Tilton plus a countryside bird stencil and flat paintbrush • Never miss an issue – for yourself or a friend • Free UK home delivery Visit www.magazinesdirect.com/chiaug23 or call 0330 333 1113 and quote B92J Offer closes 8 August 2023. Offer open to new UK subscribers only. Direct Debit offer is available to UK subscribers only. Pay only £42.99 every 12 months, saving 34% on the cover price. Savings are based on the annual subscription rate. 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…

Instantly soothing and peaceful, the perfect coastal design requires a finely nuanced approach. When you first think of seaside-inspired style, your mind will go to blue and white stripes, driftwood décor and shelves filled with shells and miniature lighthouses. However, this approach will create a novelty feel that will quickly age. ‘For me, coastal design is about capturing the “sense” of being by the coast through light, natural colour tones, textures and patterns, rather than adding nautical trinkets,’ says interior designer Zoe Glencross. TAKE A NATURAL APPROACH ‘A great coastal interior scheme should be relaxed, informal, understated and uncluttered, accessorised subtly with natural materials such as wood and basketware. Most of the patterning in a room should come from fabrics – printed linens are a great choice. Linen is such…

It’s not surprising that coastal motifs feature in so many of the designs that Katie Ebben Smith creates in her design studio, Tablet & Haar. Inspiration abounds for the artist who works in the tiny fishing village of Crail perched on the East Neuk of Fife, on the tip of the Firth of Forth and the North Sea. ‘It is one of a string of villages each with their own character,’ explains Katie. ‘Crail is best known for its picturesque harbour; you can still buy freshly landed lobster and crab in season, and we have huge vistas of sea and sky, with stunning sunrises and sunsets.’ Visual references are ripe for the picking, with fronds and blades of seaweed, gulls, seals and even the fishermen’s ropes and crates stacked against…

I’m not one of those people who is in desperate need of a holiday abroad. The truth is, I’d rather be pottering about my own home and garden than be anywhere else in the world. It’s not that I won’t go away but utter the term ‘staycation’ and it is like music to my ears. In this era of hybrid working, it’s often seen as a downside when the line between work and home begins to blur, and I can totally understand why this is a negative for many. So, how can we step away from the day job if we are attempting to enjoy a holiday at home? It was for that very reason that I designed a home office that would suit not only my work but also…

Though it may be a cliché, location, location and, yes, location, was the mantra that drove Russell Jarvis’s property search and purchase of a pair of run-down adjoining buildings overlooking the sea just outside the village of Lynton, North Devon. ‘For me, these three Ls were simple,’ he says. ‘First, there was the remote beauty; second, the access to Bath and friends; and third, the variety of the setting.’ After living and travelling abroad for five years, Russell was keen to return home to settle, ‘I was dreaming of one day owning a house in a special corner of the UK. And Exmoor has wildness, peace and natural beauty, with spectacular sea views and access to the coast.’ Rockton Mews is one part of the renovation. ‘I now live in…

Arrange pebbles and ornamental shells in a castaway display. A console, shelf, footstool or table will anchor your collection Recreate the tranquillity of a lazy afternoon on the beach with easy breezy furnishings in shades of sand dune and sailcloth, lapping waves and soft sky blue Serve fish suppers on tableware adorned with subtle seaside motifs. Coral-covered plates and seaweed-patterned place mats are decorative fruits des mers Accessories are all it takes to bring briny freshness to a simple living space. Create a new wave with painted panels, woven baskets and seascape colours…

FITTED FEEL ‘A fitted larder cabinet will create an astonishing amount of storage in a small space,’ says Simon Temprell, design manager at Neptune. Planned as part of a cabinet run, a fitted unit can add a pleasing sense of continuity, created to suit your room and efficiently maximising available space. Storage racks on the inside of doors help to use every inch and keep the pantry organised with groups of like items. ‘For anyone who enjoys seeing neat rows of cans and bottles, a fitted larder is a dream,’ he says. ‘You may wish to add complementary cabinetry and accessories on either side,’ he continues. ‘Do you need a bin nearby? Would a wine rack or fridge be useful here?’ FREESTANDING FIND A freestanding pantry can add character to…

CAKE STAND DISPLAY A lovely idea for party favours. Remove potted pansies from their containers and pop the soil and roots in a small plastic bag. Wrap with a square of hessian or linen, tie in place with ribbon, then group on a cake stand. Guests can take one home at the end of the day. CUPCAKE POTS Bake chocolate cupcakes in clean clay pots or ramekins, lined with baking paper. Once cooked and cooled, decorate with a sprig of lemon balm, so that it looks as if the plant is growing from the cupcake ‘earth’. VASE COLLAGE Large clear glass vases provide display space for more than just flowers. Here, small pebbles and fine twigs found on the beach create a base for a vintage clock and pansies wrapped…

Seared mackerel with a quick pickle & crispy capers SERVES 6 Ask your fishmonger to butterfly-cut your fish for you and they will remove the bones, leaving the tail attached. It will keep the fish intact as it cooks and looks striking when served. 100g capers Rapeseed oil150g shallots200g red/orange carrots200g yellow carrots220g ‘watermelon’ or‘red meat’ radishes6 mackerel, butterflied250g radicchio Grumolo250g Castelfranco radicchio250g Rosella di Lusia radicchio (or a mix of any radicchio/endive that you can source)Extra-virgin olive oilPicked fresh herbs, to garnishSalt and pepper PICKLING LIQUOR 350ml red wine vinegar350ml white wine vinegar600ml water1 sprig thyme1 pinch dried chilli30g brown sugarPeel of 1 orange1tsp fennel seeds2 star anise 1 To fry the capers, first make sure you have drained them and dried them on a towel. Heat up a…

Here in the UK we have around 19,500 miles of coastline, including islands, and everything seems different close to the sea. The sea kale and sea beet on shingle shores, and thrift and sea campion on cliff pathways, are part of our native flora. Other familiar plants are the stalwarts of coastal gardens, many from New Zealand, Chile, the Mediterranean and California. Plants able to tolerate seaside conditions share a range of adaptations, including low growth, leathery or hairy leaf surfaces, and silvery foliage that can reflect light. The same traits come in useful for inland gardens where poor soil and drought are a problem. Seaside gardens are blessed with views, so use the toughest low-growing plants in strategic gaps, and establish windbreaks of evergreen olearia, elaeagnus or escallonia to…