Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i Country Homes & Interiors

FREE DIGITAL ACCESS TO 120+ ISSUES FOR SUBSCRIBERS SEE PAGE 78 FOR DETAILS WHAT A JOY AND RELIEF TO SEE THE FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING! Daffodils spearing through the grass and lighting up the lawn with their bright yellow flowers. The early blossom dressing the trees, with the promise of more to come. And the birds flitting between branches, carrying twigs to build new nests. It really does bring hope and happiness. We’ve taken that feeling and sprinkled it liberally through the pages of this issue, with glorious styling ideas for indoors and out (it’s never too early for a picnic!), greenhouse inspiration and the prettiest climbers to transform your garden’s vertical space. If spring’s energy sees you wanting to reorganise your space, The Cure for ‘Too-Much Syndrome’ (page 124)…

Biophilic design aims to reconnect people with nature in their everyday environments. With its pretty silhouette reminiscent of blossoming flowers, the Organic Flora pendant from The Soho Lighting Co encapsulates the trend perfectly – and with vintage style, too. Choose from green or clear glass and a selection of chain finishes including antique brass and classic nickel, £111, thesoholightingcompany.com POLE POSITION Give your window dressings a stylish edge with Tori Murphy’s decorative curtain hardware and accessories. Designed in collaboration with renowned colour expert Little Greene, the range includes rods, poles, curtain hooks and fabric-braided tie-backs, available in a range of shades – from much-loved neutrals Slaked Lime and French Grey to bold and contemporary Mochi, Blush and Basalt – carefully chosen to complement the designer’s distinctive fabric designs. Prices start…

Despite living in Paris, Anya Seymour and husband Justin were keen to keep their roots grounded in British soil, making regular trips back across the Channel to visit friends and family, including their four children. Looking for a base, they were drawn to Suffolk’s stunning coastline and heathland. ‘As a child, Justin learned to sail dinghies while holidaying here in Orford,’ says Anya. When the couple spotted the small listed three-bedroom cottage in the village for sale in 2022, they snapped it up. They then called on interior designer Laura Parkinson, founder of Palmer & Stone, to help maximise the space available and inject character back into the property. The cottage, which dates from the 19th century, was blessed with ornate windows, period shutters and – the pièce de résistance…

Imbuing the home with a sense of warmth and heritage, wood flooring is a timeless choice. But not all boards are the same. Varying prices, durability, finishes and compatibility all play a part in finding the right floor for your space. Q What are the different types of wood flooring to choose from? A Solid wood flooring can be made from hardwood (such as oak, ash or walnut) or softwood (for example, pine or Douglas fir). The solid planks comprise a single piece of wood, are highly durable and can be sanded and refinished many times (solid wood flooring can last 30-100 years). Engineered wood features a solid wear layer – giving it the look of solid flooring – with cheaper or composite wood beneath. This results in a more…

Very few bags hold provenance, history and a fascinating maker’s story. Perhaps this is what makes them true collector’s items. One such brand is Alli Abdelal’s Ruskin – a business idea that has traversed the hills of the Lake District to be fully realised in the university town of Oxford, where she has set up shop. The handcrafted bags – including clutches, totes and her recently launched backpacks – are made to the highest standards in Herdwick tweed and Italian leather. The business originated with a childhood dream. ‘I had a special love for bags as a little girl and carried one all the time, to a point where my parents nicknamed me “Alli the Bag”!,’ she laughs. A few years ago, while visiting her family in the northern fells…

It’s one of those rare early spring days, cold yet calm and bright, brimming with hope for the season ahead. Having returned from taking measurements at a magical Highland castle a few weeks ago, I’ve spent the past month at the studio table, sewing pleated headers into curtains and adding braided trims and fringes to leading edges to create pieces fit for grand bedrooms. Now, with eight pairs of curtains wrapped and ready for next week’s fitting, I plan to spend the weekend rejuvenating, hands in the soil, seeking the endorphin boost that inevitably follows a day in the garden. At the kitchen garden gate, the landscape appears to transform before me, from empty raised beds to a vivid palette of colour and texture – it is a vision of…

Classic fish pie SERVES 6 Delicious seafood in a creamy sauce with a golden mashed potato topping – you can’t beat it. 600ml whole milk100ml white wine1 bay leaf1 small onion, halved6 black peppercorns30g butter, plus extra melted (optional)30g plain flour120g extra mature Cheddar, grated2tsp Dijon mustard½ pack chives, snipped500g salmon, skinned, cut into 3cm chunks2 packs smoked haddock, skinned, cut into 3cm chunks20 raw king prawns3 x 450g packs ready-made mash (or make your own) 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 6. Warm the milk, wine, bay leaf, onion and peppercorns together in a saucepan. 2 Melt the butter in a medium pan, mix in the flour and cook, stirring, for a few minutes until it smells toasty. Strain the milk/wine mixture, discarding the herbs and onion, and gradually…

The success of a garden is not just about how it looks. The whole plot should pulse with life – from microbes in the soil to a wide range of crawling and flying insects. An important step lies in choosing nectar-rich plants to attract pollinators, such as bees, hoverflies, butterflies, moths and beetles. This easy decision fills gardens with a range of colourful and fragrant blooms all year round. With their different life cycles, habits and tongues of varying lengths, insects seek a choice of flower shapes and opening times. The secret to success lies in aiming for a diversity of flower forms. Note the most popular flowers, such as borage, sage, open daisy-like heads, honeysuckles and foxgloves, and plant in generous numbers so there is plenty of nectar to…

CHARLOTTE LUXFORD wrote about the gorgeous home we’ve dubbed a Little Charmer (page 24). ‘I have a fondness for small-space design and enjoyed speaking to owner Anya about the challenges of working with a tiny footprint. Her cottage is both charming and space-savvy!’ CHRIS SNOOK shot the Little Charmer house for us. ‘Showing the atmosphere, change in light and beautiful pieces arranged to create unique homes is what I love about my photography work,’ he says. ADITI SHARMA explored the making of Ruskin bags in Career Shift (page 108). ‘Founder Alli’s story reassures that no matter where you start in life, it’s possible to pivot and make an idea succeed.’…

Online store Different Kind encourages kinder, slower shopping by only stocking top-quality products from socially motivated producers and independent artisans worldwide. Founder Liz Warner (pictured), formerly CEO of Comic Relief, says: ‘Our goal is to help consumers make thoughtful purchasing decisions by providing items that not only look beautiful but also do good.’ Brands include Lux Luz candles (helping survivors of domestic abuse), Refuge Chocolate (supporting an end to human trafficking) and Shetland Soap Company, which employs people with autism and learning disabilities to produce handmade toiletries and skincare. thedifferentkind.com DATE FOR THE DIARY… With its dark skies and dramatic scenery, County Durham’s High Force Waterfall is one of the most impressive stargazing locations in the UK. This month, book onto a Stargazing Supper – visitors can expect a three-course…

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Undulating uplands share promising purple shades across their scenic slopes, perfect for bringing misty, moody colour to a scheme. Under rain-heavy clouds and pockets of clear sky, mystery and magic can be found in heathland plants, such as bracken, bilberry and heather. In a decorating scheme, these organic tones can be conveyed in blended ombres or colour-drenched backdrops. In a room that has few architectural features, be bold with a single mauve-based tint, using accessories as highlighting accents. Shades of earthy green are used to balance these tones and are, in turn, grounded by bronzed purples. Wild and wonderful, the colours share a spiritual force and are perfect for roomsdestinedfornurturingor reflection – a bedroom, library, bathroom or hobby space. In the intimate room, shown right, the walls and cabinetry offer…

There are many ways to holiday, but arguably none as gratifying as a trip where creativity and learning are at its heart. A beach in St Lucia is lovely. Montmartre in spring, divine. However, a few days away with like-minded people, absorbed in an activity that you adore (plus great food, captivating surroundings and gorgeous accommodation – tick, tick, tick) is hard to surpass. This is a holiday where you get to invest in your passions, and that is good for the soul. Workship is a food, portrait and interiors photography experience that embraces all of the above. Set at Within the Village, a collection of holiday homes that caters for experiential holiday groups, in the Connemara coastal village of Roundstone, it is an inspiring creative weekend with attendees from…

Do you have cupboards filled with junk, wardrobes bursting with clothes and drawers crammed with all sorts of things you never use? You keep meaning to have a clear-out, but something always holds you back. You’ve watched Sort Your Life Out and read Marie Kondo, so you know all about only hanging on to things that ‘spark joy’. If only you could ditch all the gadgets and glassware cluttering your kitchen, the unworn clothes, unloved gifts and teenage love letters taking up space in your home. ‘There’s owning your stuff and there’s when your stuff owns you,’ explains Tracy McCubbin, author of Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You’ll Ever Need (Sourcebooks, £13.99). ‘When you have too much clutter, constantly thinking about how you’re going to manage…

Originally from Dorset, Ellen left her beloved countryside and moved to London to study at both Central Saint Martins and Camberwell College of Arts. She worked as a print designer for a couple of years before realising her passion lay in textile design. She went back to college, where she achieved an MA in textiles at the Royal College of Art, before establishing her London studio in 2021. Her vibrant fabrics – all produced in England using traditional techniques – saw collaborators such as Anthropologie, Pooky and Daydress come flocking. Ellen has since moved to the seaside town of Winchelsea, East Sussex, where she has opened a homewares shop and showroom. Where are you based? We occupy the old butchers on the High Street in Winchelsea, where we have a…

Redefining the country cottage was not something Nigel Hunt set out to do, yet that’s exactly what he has achieved with the transformation of his two-bedroom home in a sleepy Cotswolds hamlet. There may be roses by the front door but you won’t find chintz or chippy furniture inside. Instead, it’s tailored and considered and makes a beautiful setting for quiet breaks with his partner David. Property renovation and design is both Nigel’s passion and occupation, so his first glimpses of the cottage’s dark kitchen, cramped main bedroom and ladder stairs to the loft didn’t put him off. ‘We loved the house instantly. It felt remote, and the village untouched,’ he says. There were exciting changes to come, as Nigel set about making the most of the available space. The…

Let’s do lunch! Set up a table for lunch in the garden to celebrate the return of warmer days. Reflect the setting with daffodil motifs, and add tortoiseshell and amber tones The first picnic Have a basket with rugs and cushions ready to take outside for an impromptu afternoon tea on the lawn. Checks and leafy embroidery reflect spring’s energy Springtime welcome It’s time to invite friends over after winter’s hibernation. Greet them with joyful daffodil displays and a gift of homegrown bulbs to take home…

UP ON HIGH ‘Tall cabinetry will fully maximise vertical space,’ explains Tim Higham, managing director, Higham Furniture. Here, tall cupboards, some with fluted glass fronts, offer shelves to store china and glassware. The glazed sections are especially effective in the evening when the integrated lighting is switched on, creating a sense of depth and enhancing the feeling of space in the room. ‘Above the cupboards are side-by-side top boxes, designed to house items used infrequently,’ says Tim. These ‘boxes’ are ideal for seasonal tableware and large platters used for special occasions. They can be reached via a ladder that hooks over a rail, which is both attractive and practical. IN THE DRAWER Anyone familiar with crawling around to search for tins at the rear of a cabinet will appreciate the…

FREE! WORTH £6.99 Discover the simple pleasures of crafting, making and baking, with step-by-step projects to try at home. It’s the perfect way to slow down for a while, taking comfort in stepping away from screens and busy life, learning new skills and finding joy in creating handmade items for yourself and your home. From seasonal recipes to sewing and stitching ideas, fresh and dried flower displays to homemade crafts, there’s sure to be a project to entice you. Plus, we take you inside the artisans’ studios and share their inspiration. HOW TO CLAIM Scan the QR code below to download your free copy of Mindful Craft. Offer available 6 February to 5 March 2025. CHECK OUT MORE AMAZING BOOKAZINES AT WWW.MAGAZINESDIRECT.COM/GUIDES-AND-SPECIALS…

Handmade wildflower stationery By using wildflower seed paper for this project, you can plant the cards and tags after use to grow flowers next year. YOU WILL NEED Selection of flowers and leaves Gardener’s scissors, £5.95, Rex London Ruler Cutting mat and craft knife Wildflower seed paper, £1 per sheet, Etsy Chopping board Baking parchment Rubber mallet Tweezers Fine line pen Raffia, twine or string 1 Begin by selecting suitable flowers and foliage for your project. Choose small flowers that are as flat in shape as possible, so they hold their outline well during the pounding process. Violas, cosmos, calendula and wildflowers, such as vetch and willowherb, all produce great results. Look for leaves with lots of moisture in them to give the best results. Ferns, maples, dandelions and herb…

The Out-the-Door Basket An out-the-door basket is a simple hack you can use to cut the clutter by the front door and corral the items you frequently need. Since we don’t have a proper entryway, I hang an over-sized French market tote on a hook by the front door, and it functions as a catch-all for everything from my daughter’s bike helmet to the dog’s leash, harness, and balls. The beauty is we can dump these unsightly (but necessary) items in the basket and easily grab what we need as we head out the door. If you find yourself without a place to centralise shop returns, library books or the roasting pan you borrowed from your neighbour, an oversized tote placed near the front door will do the trick. The…

With their ability to twine, twist, cling and clothe, climbers are some of the most valuable plants in our gardens. From roses, jasmine and sweet peas, to wisterias, grapevines and ivies, we’ve learned to harness their natural habits to adorn our gardens and houses. If you planned a garden around climbers alone, you would be guaranteed foliage, scent and beautiful flowers all year round. Climbers are programmed to seek out the light and having this in their DNA makes them incredibly versatile. Unlike trees and shrubs, they often don’t have strong enough stems to support themselves, so they need an ally – in nature, they might find a tree, shrub or a rock. It’s only when they meet the right vertical partner that they start growing upwards. They might use…

There’s a certain timeless magic to a greenhouse – sun filtering into a room made of glass that is dedicated entirely to plants, infused with the scent of damp soil, cedar wood, geraniums and ripening tomatoes. It’s a grower’s paradise. I’m still dreaming about a greenhouse of my own, although perhaps for a time when football is no longer played in the garden. But I relish my moments in community greenhouses, sowing seeds at tall benches that rapidly fill up with tray after tray of young shoots. As far back as Roman times, gardeners have used glass-covered structures to protect plants through the winter, and grow strange new exotics they had traded or discovered, and they found that seeds grew quickly in the added warmth. But it wasn’t until the…