Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Country Homes & Interiors

FREE DIGITAL ACCESS TO 135+ ISSUES FOR SUBSCRIBERS SEE PAGE 80 FOR DETAILS I’M CONSIDERING PAINTING OUR LIVING ROOM FIREPLACE RED, THEN MAKING THE WALLS A MID-SKY BLUE. Too much? Maybe. But this colourful combination feels like the definition of dopamine décor, and who doesn’t want a wallop of wonderful, happiness-boosting colour right now? This issue is saturated with tints, shades, hues and tones to rev-up your interiors. Of course, we like to fill our pages with colourful updates every month, but for May we’re taking it up a notch, with vibrant homes (and their equally brilliant owners, from page 25), a feature on the ‘comeback colours’ we’re loving now (page 84), plus paint-box decorating techniques (page 90), and twice-as-nice, two-tone kitchen ideas (page 97). We’ve not forgotten the garden,…

Q How do I know which tap to buy for my kitchen? A The right tap can complete a kitchen. From a simple mixer delivering hot and cold water to a multi-functional design dispensing boiling, filtered, sparkling and chilled drinking water from a single spout, there are options to suit every need and budget. Any tap must be suitable for the water pressure in your home (check with a plumber) and for the holes on the sink – one hole will require a monobloc mixer, two holes a deck-mounted (bridge) mixer, and three holes, a spout and two handles. Wall-mounted mixers, including pot fillers, offer another option, while pull-down nozzles are useful for washing pans. Taps are available in a host of traditional and contemporary designs, and in many finishes. While chrome…

The phrase ‘thrives on neglect’ is often used to describe plants that require little to no care. But is it really neglect, or just nature’s way of reminding us that sometimes its age-old, quiet wisdom takes matters into its own hands better than we ever could? I must confess that many areas of my garden have been sorely neglected over the past seven years; a nearly two-acre haven that has seemingly evolved into a living testament of the unexpected beauty of neglect. The initial overwhelm I felt when we took on Greenfields still rears its head on occasion. Usually this occurs when storms undo my efforts or as I catch myself comparing its untouched corners to the polished perfection often served up online, shining a light on what others may…

As a child, Emma’s fervent imagination was sparked by wildlife and mythology, but it wasn’t until she studied textiles at London’s Royal College of Art that her signature surrealist flair truly came into its own. Following a successful graduate show, collaborations with brands including Atelier Swarovski and Aspinal of London propelled her into the design world. She recently partnered with Clarke & Clarke on Mythica – a vibrant collection of beautifully textured wallpapers and fabrics. How would you describe your style? Whether it’s a cushion, wallpaper or piece of jewellery, I aim to create designs that feel like a journey into an enchanted, mythical world. I love to play with surreal elements and bold colours, combining fine detail with a sense of otherworldly magic. Describe the design process. I start…

For Rosi de Ruig, the lampshade maker known for her colourful shades and glossy lacquer table lamps, her house in the rolling chalky hills of west Dorset has grown alongside her business. ‘As I gained confidence with my work, I became more confident with how I decorated this house,’ says Rosi, who founded her company in 2015. ‘I would never have painted this room green when we bought the house almost 10 years ago, but through my lampshades, I’ve become more comfortable using layers of colour and being a bit bolder,’ she says, referring to the apple-green kitchen, which looks out over the garden to the hills beyond. ‘It didn’t come to me until after we’d painted it, but I realise the colour was hugely inspired by the landscape around…

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FREE! WORTH £8.99 Are you passionate about gardening and inspired by seeing how other people tend and cultivate their plots? Then The Big Book of English Gardens is the perfect companion for you, providing garden planning and design ideas, practical tips and plant solutions for your plot. You’ll find 16 glorious garden case studies through the seasons, from formal designs to wild and wonderful planting schemes, that bring together the beauty and wide diversity of gardens in England, all tended to and cherished by their proud owners. HOW TO CLAIM Scan the QR code below to download your free copy of The Big Book of English Gardens. Offer available 3 April to 1 May 2025. CHECK OUT MORE AMAZING BOOKAZINES AT WWW.MAGAZINESDIRECT.COM/GUIDES-AND-SPECIALS…

Early summer sun sparks life into our pastures, rewarding the onlooker with a blend of green-to-golden grasses and blue petals. Cereals and cornflowers are naturally complementary in their tones. From afar, they offer broad banks of wind-wafted colour, but up close they reveal shifts of shades in each stalk, seedhead, bud and bloom. Encapsulate this natural scene in a room by balancing neutrals with joyful deep-blue dashes. A base in shades of oatmeal and straw creates a calming backdrop for walls and furniture, with streamlined designs mirroring the slender lines of stems. Mimic the soft greens of maturing crops in areas such as windows and around doorways – threshold spaces between indoors and out. Save the stronger blue hues for hero furnishings, where the soft textures of unfurling petals can…

When Martin Knight found himself at a career crossroads, the beehive at the bottom of his garden inspired him to turn a hobby into a business. It had already changed his family’s life – Martin credits his home-produced honey with curing his daughter’s chronic hay fever (a topic of scientific study, following anecdotal evidence that eating local honey can reduce symptoms). ‘I was thrilled when my daughter’s hay fever disappeared after she began eating the honey my bees had made,’ says Martin. ‘Several years later, these incredible little creatures were the catalyst for turning a mindful pastime into a full-time job I’m passionate about.’ Martin studied graphic design, deliberately choosing Falmouth School of Art and Design in Cornwall for the beauty of its surroundings. ‘I have always appreciated the natural…

There are some places that have a magical ability to offer a generous sense of space that’s perfect for big, noisy, let’s-spread-out gatherings – yet somehow manage to make a smaller group (in our case, just two of us) feel cocooned and cosy. So it is with Holwell Farmhouse. Settled deep in a lush Devonshire valley, this Grade-ll listed beauty can sleep up to 16, but is so welcoming, we had no sense of rattling around waiting for the party to arrive. This is partly due to Holwell’s rambling, delightfully crooked character. Endless nooks and crannies lead from one comfy space to the next, all peppered with gnarled beams, heavy oak doors and exposed stonework, while deep window seats and old fireplaces are set into the thick aged walls –…

Adjapsandali, Georgian-style ratatouille SERVES 4 Dried marigold petals would be needed for authentic Adjapsandali, but this easy version is ideal for midweek. 2tbsp sunflower oil1 small aubergine, cut into bite-size pieces Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper2 large onions, roughly chopped1 large chilli, deseeded and finely chopped1 red or yellow bell pepper, roughly chopped2 garlic cloves, grated½tsp cayenne pepper½tsp ground cumin½tsp dill seeds1 large potato, chopped into bite-size pieces260g canned peeled plum tomatoesHandful of mixed fresh herbs, leaves and tender stems (basil, parsley, coriander and celery leaves all work well), choppedJuice of ½ lemon 1 Heat 1tbsp of the oil over a high heat in a large, lidded casserole then stir-fry the aubergine with a good pinch of both salt and pepper until completely soft. Remove and set aside…

There’s nothing my dog enjoyed more as a puppy than roaming through my borders, decimating foliage and flowers. It was both frustrating and cute, but also fraught with hazards, and I wondered if beautiful gardens and dogs could ever be compatible. Is the casual companionship Monty Don shares with his dogs as he tends his gorgeous garden on TV achievable? As Monty prepares to unveil his RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, designed alongside Jamie Butterworth, he’s promising a plot that is both show-grade perfection and pooch-friendly. Monty says the garden is inspired by his own at Longmeadow but is ‘above all a celebration of the way that so many of us share our gardens with our canine companions’. Plans for the garden…

Peonies are some of the most spectacular garden flowers, adding dazzling splashes of colour to perennial borders in late spring and summer. They range in colour from ghostly white, cream and lemon to pale or lipstick pink, apricot and coral, through to scarlet and dark red. The flowers vary in form from singles with a large boss of stamens encircled by broad petals, to semi-doubles or sumptuous doubles in which ruffled petals fill the centres, often concealing the stamens. In anemone or Japanese peonies, crowded ‘petaloids’ replace the stamens. Tree peonies – deciduous shrubs that suit informal areas and light woodland – flower from late spring. Most stand between shoulder height and several metres tall, bearing sensational bowl-shaped flowers. Hybrid herbaceous peonies flower from mid-May until late June. Itoh hybrids…

Looking over the open fields of prime Lincolnshire countryside, this Georgian farmhouse has proved itself the perfect setting for Chloe Jonason and husband Tom to raise their young family. Their home also makes a wonderful backdrop for the bright and beautiful textiles that Chloe sources ethically from across the globe, and which she uses in her interior design business, creating bespoke homewares and furnishings. Originally built in the early 1800s, and extended over the years, the farmhouse has plenty of space for Chloe’s treasured collections of one-off antique textiles, including suzanis, kantha quilts and silk lampshades, many of which are sourced in India. Each brings its unique style, and a cornucopia of colour and pattern spills out from every room. ‘My approach to interiors is always to be brave; I’m…

Andrea Curtis and her husband Alistair were happily settled in a house in the Welsh market town of Bridgend, with no intention of moving. But a regular drive down a nearby road took Andrea past a house she had always admired, and this time she noticed a For Sale sign outside. ‘I would pass the property when taking my girls to school, and it always caught my attention. It’s quite unusual for the area, as both this house and its neighbour have an elaborate outside porch, which is a beautiful feature,’ she explains. She and Alistair arranged a viewing. ‘I really liked it, but it needed so much work we said no in the beginning. Then we came back and had another look and changed our minds,’ she adds. Twenty…

Yellow Buttery soft, lemon or gold, this cheerful tone looks beautiful in a small-scale pattern, with a gentle ground of cream or oatmeal. Pair with rattan, wood or linen for natural texture Purple From palest lilac to potent amethyst, this regal shade works best offset by dark green or black, and with a shot of ice-cold white to temper its power Terracotta Nostalgic brown-orange tones bring grounding comfort. Make them modern by mixing with forest green, gentle fawn and soft white for cosy country looks…

HIGH AND LOW Introduce depth and personality to a kitchen by painting base and wall cabinets in different colours. ‘This two-tone approach helps to break up large expanses of cabinetry, making the space more dynamic,’ says Stacey Cobley, senior designer at Harvey Jones. ‘It can also be used to highlight architectural features or create zones within the room, enhancing both form and function.’ For a balanced result, Stacey suggests painting about 60 per cent of the kitchen cabinetry in one colour, 40 per cent in the other. ‘Opting for darker base cabinets can ground the space,’ she says, ‘while using a bold colour on the upper cabinets can draw the eye upward, making the ceiling feel higher.’ ISLAND CONTRAST ‘Choosing to paint an island a different colour to your fitted…

Showering was once seen as the functional alternative to indulgent bath times, but high-end enclosures and wet rooms have elevated our bathrooms and transformed our daily ablutions. Wet rooms are now more reminiscent of a wellness spa than the rugby club changing rooms, while shower enclosures are filled with hotel-style rainfall heads and massaging sprays. But which is the best option for your country home? These professional tips will help you decide. Q Which is easier to install, a shower or a wet room? A Ease of installation is a decisive factor in choosing between a wet room and an enclosure. In general, enclosures are the easiest option. A freestanding shower enclosure with four sides of glass is the luxe choice, but it is also the easiest option to install.…

Working as a stylist and designer, I am passionate about curating art that tells a personal story, and I encourage others to do the same in their own homes. For me, art is not something to fill gaps, nor a decorative element to be chosen quickly from generic high-street sources. It is about taking the time to find pieces that connect with your taste, your quirks and your passions. When you get it right, art transforms blank walls and surfaces, providing insight into your character and creative eye, while adding atmosphere and personality. COLLECTIONS TAKE TIME In my own home I love to mix a high-low balance of antique, vintage, contemporary and abstract art. Over time I have collected a few treasured abstracts from the likes of Liza Giles, Mary…

Floral decorations Add a fresh dimension to any plain walls with these decorative paper flowers YOU WILL NEED Wallpaper offcuts (we used a selection from Lust Home)A4 kraft cardPencilRulerCutting matCraft knife or scissorsHot glue gunGlue sticksCompassBlu Tack 1 On a piece of A4 kraft card, draw a large petal shape, measuring 24cm long x 11cm at its widest point. Cut out using a sharp craft knife. Use this template to trace petals on to the back of a wallpaper remnant. You will need 8-12 petals for each large flower. Cut out the petals. 2 To make smaller flowers, trim 1cm from around each template and cut out more petals at this size. Repeat, trimming the template by 1cm each time, until you have enough petals for all the different-sized flowers…

SAVE UP TO £30 Grace your garden with the classic look of evergreen trimmed topiary, in the form of tall standard lollipop trees with clouds of scented flowers – great as a pair in large pots framing a door. Ceanothus, also called Californian Lilac, produces sky blue flowers in clusters for several weeks in spring. After flowering, the evergreen foliage will provide year round interest, too, and is easily clipped to shape once a year. Hardy in all but the severest of winters. 1 x 3ltr pot, £29.99 (RRP £39.99). SAVE £10. Item code 510199 2 x 3ltr pots, £49.98 (RRP £79.98). SAVE £30. Item code 510200 More lilacs to choose… CALIFORNIAN LILAC SHRUB A charming ornamental shrub with glossy evergreen leaves, it will also bring drifts of powder-blue flowers…

Herbs are powerful plants, with extraordinary medicinal and culinary properties entwined in their histories. Their scent alone, released from crushing the leaves or simply by brushing past them, has a magical force, capable of transporting you to another time or place. Whether you have a windowsill, terrace or an acre of land, you can grow a huge range of herbs for picking all year round. Boost your cooking with the fresh flavours of leaves, young stems and flowers in salads, flavoured vinegars and syrups, as well as adding piquancy to soups, sauces and stews. Modify your mood and wellbeing with medicinal teas and herbal cocktails. And enjoy your garden abuzz with pollinators and brimming with textures, aromatic leaves and colourful flowers. Jekka McVicar has been growing herbs for 40 years…