Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2024 i Country Homes & Interiors

THE BEECH TREES BEHIND MY HOUSE have dropped their leaves, our garden suddenly covered with a crisp bronze carpet. It’s also peak sunset and murmurations season, so I head for the beach as the sun goes down to watch the starlings dance across an orange sky. No wonder autumn is my favourite time of the year – and one I love to celebrate in our pages. This month, we’re heading out to forage (page 120), eating comforting suppers (page 136) and enjoying the brightness of berries in the garden (page 151). Back indoors, the feeling is very much of adding layers and details that bring warmth and interest to a home we’ll be spending much more time in now the weather is colder. Look around and consider what your rooms…

Creative couple Charlie and Caroline Gladstone (who previously ran vintage homeware brand Pedlars) have teamed up with friend and talented designer Sarah Hellen (left, centre) to launch a new luxury lifestyle and fashion brand, Gladstone/Hellen. Ethically produced using the finest British materials, the capsule collection features Shetland wool jumpers (from £225), workwear-inspired tweed-lined jackets (from £600) and organic cotton shirts (from £190), as well as a range of homeware, designed with provenance in mind and built to stand the test of time, gladstonehellen.co.uk DELFT ON THE SHELF It’s the miniature storytelling scenes and delicate designs on Delft tiles that make them so charming – and now you can create your own, with Marlborough Tiles’ new customisation service. Choose your base tile and illustration, then experiment with finishes, flourishes and brushstroke…

When Alison and Ben Kelly bought this 1887 cottage near Macclesfield in Cheshire 12 years ago, it was far from liveable and not nearly as pretty as it is today. Built as part of an estate belonging to quarry founders at Endon Hall, this two-up, two-down house had been disused for four years, and had been without modernisation since the 1970s. ‘There was something magical about it,’ says Alison, recalling first seeing the house. ‘It needed a lot of love, but I knew I wanted to project manage it from start to finish.’ Alison is an interior stylist and is used to being hands-on. ‘Ben is more of a romantic,’ she says, ‘whereas I had more sleepless nights.’ There was a rickety lean-to that Alison was keen to demolish but…

Banjo Beale is the affable breakout star of Interior Design Masters, the TV talent show he won in 2022. Since then, this Australian who happily transplanted to Tobermory on Scotland’s Isle of Mull has built his interior design practice and fronted his own series, Designing the Hebrides (with a second season on the way). His latest book is A Place in Scotland, which features 26 stunning spaces. We find out what life is like for him and husband Ro (and their dogs, pigs, ducks, chickens and peacocks) in their Hebridean home. You describe yourself as Australian by birth and Scottish by choice. What is it that makes you feel so happy in the Hebrides? I feel more at home here than I ever did growing up in Australia. I lived…

Along-favoured decorating staple for country homes, brown is now the leading colourway for more chic interiors folk seeking out cosy and classic tones. And it’s no wonder, when this earthy-inspired hue is intrinsically linked to nature, introducing an organic look to a room and creating a restorative antidote to our busy digital lives. Used since prehistoric times as a mud-based pigment, brown was associated with the humble poor due to its prevalence. The hue of earth, wood, skin, hair and fur, it is the most common natural neutral, and was also the colour of the simple attire worn by religious communities, such as monks and friars. The drab shade acquired greater status with the discovery of sepia (cuttlefish ink) in Ancient Greece and was later adopted by Renaissance artists in…

Regular immersion in the natural world is imperative for some people, and Emma Diaz is one of them. Walking under the leafy canopies of local woodlands, wild swimming in secluded lakes and enjoying the changing colours of each season in the rolling Cotswolds hills is what she does to unwind and refuel her creative energy. This love of nature was key to her change of career. She originally worked in the film industry, studying animation at university before securing her dream job at Aardman Animations in Bristol, where she spent almost 10 years honing an eye for design and detail in feature films. But while city life was exciting and offered many professional opportunities, it was a far cry from her rural upbringing in Kent. When Emma became pregnant, she…

Tonight, the first hard frost is expected to blanket the landscape. By dawn, the garden and fields beyond will shimmer from Jack Frost’s kiss. The sprinkling of icy tendrils will weave a magic spell across the land, signalling the garden’s transition into its winter slumber. As with every season, nature’s cues guide me forward, gently reminding me to venture outside and wrap up the final garden tasks of the growing season while the ground remains workable. With my beanie pulled down low over my ears, I head to the garden, a space transformed by the efforts of my husband, Andrew, from an overgrown rockery into a vibrant plant theatre. This has become my playground for creating seasonally inspired container displays. I dream of a spring-to-early-summer showcase, with snowdrops, muscari, daffodils,…

Autumn sees deciduous trees and shrubs shed a fluttering cascade of leaves, forming a carpet underfoot of crimson, russet and bronze. Cold, clear nights brighten into crisp, sunny days, with shafts of slanting light intensifying and illuminating nature’s hues – rich tones from colouring foliage, berries and the last blooms of the perennials. Hardy fruiting plants also continue colour in the garden with their bright berries in golds, oranges, reds and pinks, hanging like mini baubles on stems or shining lanterns among evergreen foliage. Autumn is an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs, including those that produce these jewel brights of autumn and winter. They will keep life going in your garden by attracting a wide variety of fruit-eating birds and other hungry wildlife. While other colours are available,…

DAN DUCHARS photographed the ‘Country Luxe’ house story (page 36). ‘Autumn is my favourite season as there’s such a dramatic colour change after months of lush green,’ he says. ‘Shooting houses at this time is special as it’s when we stay indoors and a homeowner’s love of interiors shines through.’ LEIGH CLAPP shares a love of Bright Berries this month (page 151). ‘I love to see jewel berries glistening with dew and silken cobwebs on faded seed heads,’ says the garden writer and photographer. SARAH GANE takes us foraging in Finders, Keepers (page 120). ‘On autumn walks, I notice how the light and sounds around me have changed. The crunch of leaves and acorns greets me underfoot.’…

Arange cooker can be a significant investment, so before making the leap, here’s all you need to know about efficiency, cooking prowess and fuel type, to find the one for you. Q Do range cookers have to be on all the time? A Historically, range cookers were always on – they heated the home and were always ready for cooking. Some new designs, such as Rayburn Heatranger or Aga R Series, are still designed to be kept on 24/7 – with some models running central heating systems. ‘These can be a great benefit to those who live in an older, draughty property where they can use the cooker as a heat source for the room,’ says Kathryn Lowe, head of marketing at Aga and La Cornue. New designs from Everhot,…

If you’re eager to try living more in harmony with the seasons, you can’t get any closer than foraging through the local woodland and hedgerows for food. Searching out your sustenance from the plants, herbs and trees in the wild for free is something people – our ancestors – have been doing for aeons. While it does take some knowledge and skill (and permission from the landowner), don’t be daunted: we don’t have to look too far to discover useful and delicious plants. The beauty of this ancient practice is that they’re often found right under our noses once we stop to take a look. COMMON SPECIES Plants near you will vary depending on the landscape, the weather and where you are located. Step outside and look around you. Whether…

It was the day of the general election when we arrived at The Bull Inn in Totnes – apt timing as this pub with rooms operates under its own manifesto. Owner Geetie Singh-Watson, who founded the world’s first certified organic pub in London back in 1998, has written a series of ‘No Bull Rules’ for the business to dine by, trade by and work by, encapsulating everything from the ingredients used (seasonal, organic, field-grown not flown) to how they reward their staff (fair pay and fair play) and the energy they consume (green, of course). If that all sounds as dull as a party political broadcast, don’t worry – people are voting with their feet and flocking to eat and stay here, charmed by The Bull Inn’s warm welcome and…

Will originally moved to Falmouth to study graphic design, but he quickly realised his talents stretched to furniture-making. From his harbourside workshop, he taught himself to carve wood and found his rhythm; hand-hewn surfaces and sweeping lines set his stools, benches and tables apart. While fairly fresh onto the design scene, Will’s talents haven’t gone unnoticed – earlier this year, he was selected from entrants worldwide for the New Makers programme established by lifestyle brand, Toast. Talk us through your design process. It usually starts with a concept that’s pretty loose, and it evolves as I begin working with the material. I’m particular about selecting wood that has an interesting grain or character, and from there, it’s a gradual process of shaping the individual components and finding the desired form…

Founded in 2019 by former Vogue fashion directors Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood, Collagerie offers stylish fashion and homeware. Its recent collaboration with John Lewis & Partners showcases the best of British pattern with 86 pieces comprising wallpaper, lighting, tableware and home accessories. ‘The chance to explore and revive prints from an archive rich with the best examples of British heritage has been incredible,’ says Lucinda. Prices start at £8 for a placemat, johnlewis.com TIME WELL SPENT… CELEBRATE National Tree Week (23 Nov-1 Dec) by planting your own or hosting a ‘Tree Party’ in a nearby park. Find resources at treecouncil.org.uk LISTEN to interior stylists Gemma Gear and Maxine Brady chat about decorating, renovating and trends in the How to Home podcast, a fun listen with practical solutions and personal insights.…

James Fox describes the story of the Grade II listed oak-framed home that he shares with his wife Rose, their four children, the family labrador and numerous farmyard animals, including several pigs, 25 Herdwick sheep and a couple of dozen rare breed hens, as a ‘constantly evolving renovation and adaptation’. It’s over 20 years since he first set his eyes on the property in a secluded part of rural Kent. ‘I knew the house before it came onto the market as I regularly rode past it and had always loved the quiet, almost secret valley in which it sits,’ he says. ‘It never had a “For Sale” sign up and I found out that it was being sold at a lunch, dropped in on the way home, fell in love…

Pick out a key hue from your wallpaper print and apply it in block colours to add ballast to your room scheme – plain panelling or a piece of hero furniture will add the weight you need Even when wallpaper is wraparound flowers, don’t be afraid to mix other patterns into the room scheme. Checks, stripes, scallops and even other florals bring a modern, playful touch…

ON THE WALL Wall-mounted extractors are available in a host of designs, offering an ‘off the peg’ affordable solution or something more elaborate to suit ultra-powerful range cookers, for example. They are also referred to as ‘chimney’ cooker hoods, because of their canopy shape, ducted through a chimney. They can also be integrated into to a purpose-made chimney, to create a look in keeping with the room. ‘It is important to get the size of extractor right,’ says Kathryn Lowe, head of marketing at Aga. ‘Too small and it won’t extract effectively and too large would be pointless, but it has to cover the cooking zone.’ Here a 90cm-wide extractor covers the hot plates above a 100cm-wide cooker. MAKING A STATEMENT Much like pendant lights above an island, a striking…

Ashelter over the front door – whether that’s an enclosed porch, a canopy or something in between – is a welcome addition to many country homes. As well as offering protection from the elements while unlocking the door, it can provide the perfect finishing touch to your home’s exterior. MATTERS OF DESIGN There are three major styles of porch. Compact canopies are attached to the wall and provide a shield from the weather. These designs can also be a valuable addition to a rear door. Open porches create more of a visual statement, with some designs including benches or storage for wellies and logs, keeping them out of the house but still close at hand. Enclosed designs act as a mini extension, improving insulation and home security while providing somewhere…

For keen collectors and those simply searching for unique pieces for their home, auction houses are prime hunting ground. But how to get the most out of sale day? It all starts with good preparation, says William Summerfield, head of sale at fine art auctioneer Roseberys. ‘Most auction houses have an online presence with easily accessible catalogues, and at Roseberys we have an online calculator that helps in understanding fees. ‘Buying at auction has so many advantages. You’re able to see a significant number of items, honing your eye and allowing you to discover new passions,’ William continues. ‘Sales can also be a great forum for rediscovering forgotten artists who may be difficult to find elsewhere.’ One consideration is whether the piece you have fallen in love with has any…

Roasted pumpkin fondue with crispy sage SERVES 6 The flavour combination of pumpkin, Parmesan and sage is a classic of course, but here it is taken to a new level in this roasted pumpkin fondue. 1 x 1.75kg pumpkin or potimarron1tbsp olive oil2 garlic cloves, bashed1 rosemary sprig, bashed2tbsp dry white wine2tsp cornflour150g Cheddar, grated150g Gruyère or Emmental, grated75g crème fraicheA little freshly grated nutmeg30g butterA small handful of small sage leavesSea salt and freshly ground black pepperGriddled bread, to serveRoasting pan lined with baking paper 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Slice the pumpkin and scoop out and discard the seeds. Drizzle the inside of the pumpkin with oil and season with salt and pepper. Pop the garlic and rosemary sprig into the hollow, replace the lid and…

Have you ever stopped to admire the quiet elegance of bare stems and trees in the winter garden, or the striking outlines of fading perennials, shrubs and grasses? We might be missing the colours and abundance of our summer gardens, but there’s much to celebrate in the sparse beauty of the colder months. I love the transparency of leafless trees that extends my views a bit further, both in my plot at home and in the wider landscape beyond. When the New Perennial movement began to use plants and grasses in a way that echoed natural prairies and meadows, designers including Piet Oudolf were interested in how these plants look in winter. At one time, gardening convention might have had us cut these plants down as soon as they finished…

Home is Glebe Cottage, where I have lived with my husband for 46 years. My garden is my favourite place to be, so I’d head out first thing with a cup of Earl Grey tea and a digestive. Fifi, my Lakeland terrier, would be with me. I amble and ramble, but always stop at my greenhouses to see how my plants are getting on. Then I’ll catch up with whatever job I was doing the day before. Autumn is a great time for reorganising and replanting. I’ll head inside at lunchtime for a boiled egg and some sourdough toast. The afternoon is for writing, whether that’s a book or a magazine article. I have a ‘soon-to-be’ study outside but it’s been soon-to-be for about 12 years, so I work at…