Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i Country Homes & Interiors

I LOVE LIVING BY THE SEA, tucked between the shingle beach and the chalky downs. Twice a week, I take a yoga class in a studio overlooking the waves. Whether we have the doors flung open to catch the salty breeze or shut against stormy weather, it never fails to be an uplifting experience. I hope you find our coastal issue just as inspiring. We have four gorgeous homes, each showcasing a different interpretation of seaside style (page 17). Warm and sandy hues take over from traditional navy and white in Warm Shores (page 76), but if blue floats your boat, we have that hue covered in our colour feature (page 94). Career Shift spotlights Obioma Oji (page 104), who swapped pottery for building boats. And we’ve headed to Venice…

After relocating to Cornwall from Essex, in 2015 Sue Pullin established her design studio and shop from a tiny fisherman’s cottage in Port Isaac. After many successful years, she made the move to a beautifully converted agricultural barn in the pretty hamlet of Porthilly in Rock, just a stone’s throw from the beach. Here, you’ll find a treasure trove of Scandi-style homeware, carefully curated to complement Sue’s own collection of colourful bone china, which is hand painted and kiln-fired on site. Some of her designs are also available on tea towels, cards, gift wrap and notebooks. If you can’t visit the shop in person, the products are also available to buy online. How did Kiln come about? I started painting china as a hobby when my children were young. After…

For all its ubiquity – the sea, the sky! – native blue in the UK is quite rare. There are, however, salvias and delphiniums in cottage gardens, the Common Blue butterfly, blue tit and jay – the latter, with its flash of brilliant blue plumage, always a precious sighting. Natural blue dyes are extracted from a number of plant sources, with indigo producing the renowned deep and inky blue. But blue has also traditionally been derived from woad, iris, cornflower and hyacinth. The blue lapis lazuli stone was first found in Afghanistan in 6BC, and reserved for ceremonial jewellery. And sapphires, discovered in Ancient Persia around 800BC, have long been associated with royalty – there are 17 sapphires in the Imperial State Crown worn by King Charles. But blue is…

It may seem a leap to go from crafting with clay to working with wood, but for potter-turned-boat builder Obioma Oji, it felt like a return. ‘With my hands, I could feel the subtle undulations of the timber, and relished working with its intricacies to create something beautiful and practical,’ she says. Having graduated in ceramic design from Central Saint Martins in London, Obi began her career working in interior architecture and design in various parts of the UK. Keen to expand and share her knowledge, she lectured in interior design and, while studying for her PhD, created a futuristic ‘land-boat’, which she describes as an ‘all-in-one bed, sofa, desk and cocoon’. After relocating from Scotland to design and build room sets for Ikea’s London stores, Obi hit a crossroads…

A few months ago, I went to stay in a cabin for a couple of nights on my own, and it felt like pressing the pause button. The cabin was in a meadow, with woodland and heath close by, and I could feel my shoulders dropping as I set down my bags, and my breath slowing as I watched a pair of pheasants peck across the field. Inside, the beautifully designed space felt cosy, compact and safe. I had a table to eat and work at, a generous hot shower, and a galley kitchen to cook in. The view from the double bed was of pasture and hedgerows. I lit the woodburning stove, put the kettle on the hob, and when its whistle was done, sipped my tea on the deck…

If you build it, as the saying goes, they will come, and this is what happened to Margate in 2011 when the Turner Contemporary gallery first opened its doors. Perched above the harbour, on the spot where artist JMW Turner captured his sunsets, the new gallery’s conception was a key moment in the cultural renaissance of this energetic resort. Since then, Tracey Emin returned to her hometown to set up an art school (her neon artwork is on display next to the Turner), Anthony Gormley’s sculpture Another Time appeared on the rocks below the Turner, gazing out to sea and, in 2023, Banksy sneaked down to create his latest artwork in the less salubrious setting of a Margate alleyway. And as for vintage theme park, Dreamland, its rebirth has seen…

There’s something very indulgent about visiting an admired garden and being able to wander at your leisure, soaking up inspiration and making notes about what plants and features you could try at home. Independent visits are great if you’re short on time and want to follow your own agenda, but in the company of an expert guide, you can often get exclusive access to gardens and truly immerse yourself. Whether you’re looking for a short break or a longer holiday, guided tours allow you to tap into botanical knowledge and take home tips and tricks for your own plot. If you like everything taken care of, there are high-end trips and cruises with accommodation, food, travel and a horticultural tour guide included. If this isn’t your style, some much-loved gardens…

CATHERINE LAW is an author as well as CH&I’s senior sub editor. She reviewed Margate House (page 130) in her flourishing, artistic home town. ‘Living by the sea inspires much of my writing,’ she says. Her latest novel The Map Maker’s Promise (Boldwood) is out this month, August 2024. JONATHAN BUCKLEY creates the beautiful photography for Sarah Raven’s column (page 146). ‘My favourite seaside spot is Mawgan Porth in Cornwall; it holds a special charm, especially off season.’ TAMSYN MORGANS took the photographs for our Très Belle house (page 60). ‘We have beautiful coastline here in Norfolk; I love Wells-next-the-Sea with its vast sands and pastel beach huts.’…

‘The lower ground floor is dedicated to an open-plan cooking, eating and entertaining space with a lively mix of natural textures and utilitarian charm’ Russell Jarvis and remarkable spaces, it seems, go hand in hand. ‘For me, a home is not just a place to live but also an expression of personality and an opportunity to experience exceptional buildings,’ he says. Previous homes include a quaint Victorian cottage, an apartment at a former jam factory in London, a flat in Bath’s Georgian Royal Crescent and a huge loft space in an old watermill that once produced paper for the artist JMW Turner. Wanting to return to the UK after years spent abroad, and inspired by equally exceptional places seen on his travels, Russell purchased two adjoining properties on the North…

Despite being a major traffic thoroughfare – and often the first design element people see when they walk through your front door – the staircase is one of the most frequently overlooked areas of the home. But its visual impact can reflect upon the entire property. From spirals to spindles, glass to granite, there is plenty of scope for making a statement. You may decide to renovate your existing flight of stairs, clad the structure to give it a completely new aesthetic, or replace your existing steps with a new design to maximise the flow, space and look of your home. A STEP AHEAD Replacing a staircase is akin to knocking down a structural wall. But if your stairs are poorly positioned, ugly or hinder light flow through the house,…

DENIM DESK POCKETS Upcycle pairs of old denim jeans to make handy wall storage for a desk area. You’ll need wooden embroidery hoops for the frames, plus jeans in a mix of denims if you would like a variety of colours. 1 Cut around the jean pockets, creating circles of denim 5cm wider than your hoop. 2 Place the denim in the hoops, stitch to gather the excess fabric at the back and secure. Position on the wall at staggered heights above your desk. Embroidery hoops, from £3.50 each, Hobbycraft JAM JAR WALL VASES Display flowers differently with a vintage-style wall display. 1 Take two pieces of painted wood, around 30x20cm each. Rub with sandpaper to round the edges and create a weathered effect. 2 Screw in a cup hook…

The pungent scent of alliums is wafting out from the shed, and I can barely squeeze through the door with the crates I have stacked high, laden with this year’s curing garlic, shallot and onion harvest. At moments like these, I wish for Inspector Gadget arms, as my snips are perched just out of reach at the far end of the shed. ‘I think we should build an outdoor crop drying station,’ I call out to Andrew, while mid-split over the crates. ‘Let’s finish the chicken coop first,’ he responds, amusement lacing his tone. ‘Ha, got them!’ I exclaim to no one in particular. With my trusty snips in hand, I delve into the first crate overflowing with bulbs of hardneck garlic, with their large cloves and easy-to-peel skins. We’ve…

Laura Ashley is officially back in fashion following the launch of its first standalone collection (exclusively available at Next) earlier this year. Outfits are inspired by the brand’s extensive archive, so expect a modern twist on silhouettes from the 1970s, with playful patterns, bold blooms, ruffles and frills that offer timeless appeal. ‘We want to make sure our heritage remains relevant to the woman of today,’ says Helen Ashmore, the brand’s head of design, lauraashley.com TIME WELL SPENT… PLAN an off-grid trip with CampWild – an online directory of some of the UK’s most beautiful wild camping spaces, campwild.uk FOLLOW a family-friendly art trail of beautifully decorated lighthouse sculptures – designed by talented artists, schools and community groups – across Southampton and Cowes on the Isle of Wight, lightthesouth.co.uk PLEDGE…

The timing was perfect,’ says Rich Proud. ‘I saw the flyer and said, “That’s our house!”’ The stone-built property, tucked down a narrow lane in Padstow, Cornwall, is now home to Rich and his wife, Emma, and a regular destination for their two grown-up children, Will and Eleanor, and new grandchild. A detached Georgian house, it has the eternal appeal of its era, plus a slice of sea views and even a vista over the neighbouring deer park. For many years, Emma and Rich spent family holidays in a small cottage in the town and, while exploring, often walked past this house. ‘It had size, location, parking – a rarity here – and beautiful views,’ recalls Rich. So, when they sold their business and the house came on the market,…

Kitchenware takes on a subtle coastal feel, with rippled glassware, shingle-toned ceramics and vases with the undulating edges of floating seawrack fronds Choose colour schemes inspired by windswept dunes – driftwood tones, bleached beach sand and spiky tussocks of green marram grass Motifs recall organic seaside forms – shells, coral and smooth-edged seaglass picked up from the shore. Find them on cushions, mirrors, headboards and framed artworks…

WARM WOOD For rustic character, timber is hard to beat. ‘Wood is beautifully tactile and naturally warmer to the touch than stone, so it offers a more relaxed and gentle approach to worktops, especially in kitchens that blend into living areas,’ says Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL. Hardwoods, such as iroko and oak, are good choices, but all timber worktops will require regular maintenance. Avoid direct exposure to heat and prolonged soaking, although it is usually possible to rub down and re-oil the surface to repair any damage. ‘Keep the wood nourished and, in return, it will give you an ever-changing patina that gets better and better over time,’ Helen notes. CLEVER COMPOSITES ‘A composite stone worktop is easy to maintain with no sealing required, unlike natural stone, and…

Channelling coastal and country vibes, cladding is a popular and affordable way to update the exterior of your home. It can cover render or brickwork, elevate an understated façade, or help an extension blend in with the rest of the house. It also bolsters a property’s insulation. ‘Cladding adds another cavity to the exterior of your home so it helps with noise insulation and improves the building’s thermal properties,’ says Simon Cresswell, director of The Gutter & Cladding Company. Q What is the best material to clad a home with? A There are several materials available and the right choice will depend on the look you want to achieve. Cladding options range from paintable render and timber to metal, uPVC and stone. ‘Consider choosing a material that holds extra benefits.…

1 VARIEGATED SCALLOP The most common scallop species in Britain, this is found all around our lower shores down to depths of 80m on rocky seabeds. The ribbed shells, which can be pink, yellow, orange or red, and often bear pretty patterns, are frequently washed up on the beach, although that didn’t stop collectors paying high prices for them in the 1830s. Today, queen, great or king scallops garner the higher prices for their culinary value. 2 ARCTIC COWRIE Cowries from warmer climes have been used in jewellery, as money and as gambling tokens. Here in Britain, we afforded them less value, calling them sea lice or, at John O’ Groats, where they can be found on the beaches, groatie buckies. These pearlescent ridged carnivores can often be found on…

Seafood risotto SERVES 4-6 The very best risotto undoubtedly comes from the Veneto, where seafood is in abundance. We Italians like to serve our risotto all’onda meaning ‘like a wave in the sea’. 750ml home-made fish broth150ml dry white wine125g monkfish, cut into2cm cubes300g large raw prawns, with heads and shells on4 queen scallops, halved4 fresh squid, cleaned and cut into strips250g mussels, cleaned125g clams2tbsp olive oil3 shallots, finely chopped225g carnaroli risotti rice1 garlic clove, finely choppedHandful of flat-leaf parsley, choppedSea salt and freshly ground black pepper FOR THE FISH BROTH (MAKES 750ML) 1kg white fish and/or seafood carcasses3 fresh bay leaves1 celery stalk1 carrot2 onions1 fresh parsley stalk 1 Toss all the fish broth ingredients into a large stockpot or saucepan with 1ltr water and boil for 25 minutes.…

Filling the garden with colour and beauty during late spring and early summer, bearded irises have ruffled flowers that bloom atop stems that can reach more than one metre tall. Easy and fuss-free to grow, they are best planted now, in August, for a riotous display next year. Choose a sunny site with rich but well-drained soil. Bearded irises need at least six hours of sun a day or they will not bloom. They prefer soil that is not acid and hate wet or shady conditions. As garden plants, bearded irises are top performers and low maintenance, requiring minimal water and food. Their sword-shaped, blue-green leaves, produced in fans, have an architectural quality and the blooms have a sweet perfume. A few are ‘remontant’, meaning they may flower again in…

It’s worth having some plants up your sleeve that you know carry on looking good however hot and dry our summers become – tough things that thrive in arid, Mediterranean conditions. Here, I’ll give you my top recommendations – plants that are fabulous however harsh the summer, however small your garden space. AGAINST WALLS AND OVER FENCES For a sunny, dry spot, I’d always start with placing a slatted bench wherever there’s even a short run of fence or wall. Then I’d plant all around it. Place your bench just in from the base of the wall and plant three rosemary cuttings, one underneath the back in the middle, and the other two at each end. Your three mini plants will start to grow through the bench to form a…

ONLY £24.97, SAVE £20 CORTADERIA SELLOANA ‘TINY PAMPA’ Tiny Pampa will provide your garden with interest all year long. Growing to just 60cm tall, Cortaderia selloana is the most compact pampas you can get. It flowers abundantly during the summer with feathery plumes and is a perfect choice for smaller gardens, balcony displays and patio pots. Supplied as three established plants in 9cm pots Item code 561081. Cost £29.97, save £15 BLOOMING FAST SUPERIOR PLANT FOOD This concentrated soluble fertiliser is a must for bountiful blooms. Supplied as a 100g sachet; makes 100 litres of high-quality feed. Item code 100085. Worth £4.99. Free with every order SEMPERVIVUM CHICK CHARMS GIANTS GOLD MINE This succulent forms a huge rosette in eye-catching maroon and gold. The low-growing evergreen perennial boasts fleshy leaves,…

Home is a cottage on my parents’ farm in Hampshire, where I grew up, and it’s where I would spend my perfect day in the country. My husband, Simon, a writer and historian, our daughter Lilochka, 23, and son Sasha, 21, would be with me. My brother also has a house on the farm, so together with his four children, we’re a large group. We built a wooden cabin during lockdown for my father’s 80th birthday. It’s got the most beautiful uninterrupted view of rolling fields and woodland. I’d spend the day outside, in the woods, just enjoying being in nature. It’s my happy place. I’ve always been really close to nature and feel the pull of the spirit world. I always start the day walking my dog around the…