Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i Country Homes & Interiors

THE END OF ONE YEAR AND THE BIRTH OF THE NEXT ALWAYS FEELS SIGNIFICANT. I enjoy having time to reflect on the months that have passed, to relax and relish the ‘Twixmas’ pause, and to anticipate new adventures ahead. It’s in this spirit of ‘celebrate now, plan for the future’, that this issue was created. So, it’s still packed with festive fun, with bedecked houses (from page 21), whimsical winter decorating ideas in Gingerbread House (page 76) and evocative crafts made from the pages of books in A Christmas Story (page 82). But we’re also taking the opportunity to prepare for projects that might transform our homes, and ourselves. Perhaps you’re looking at renewing your kitchen. If so, do you simply want to replace what’s there, or rethink the entire…

After moving from an East London loft to her family Victorian home in 2016, Sandrine became fixated with finding a certain Poul Volther chair. After months of searching fairs and antiques shops, she finally found it, but the process opened her eyes to how difficult it was to source decent pre-loved pieces. In a bid to make buying – and selling – vintage as easy and accessible as buying new, she launched Vinterior, an online emporium specialising in top-notch furniture, whether it’s contemporary, vintage or antique. What makes Vinterior stand out? Vintage used to seem intimidating, just for experts or collectors. We built a community of people who are curious, creative and care about quality. Every seller is vetted, every piece verified, and every purchase protected, to make browsing, buying…

If you’re in Lewes, East Sussex, lifestyle and homeware store Margot, set in a beautifully restored Grade II-listed building, is a must-visit. Hand-thrown ceramics and embroidered linens – designed by husband-and-wife owners, Amanda and Kristian – sit alongside curated pieces by independent makers, including kitchenware, tableware, lighting and more. Tick off your Christmas list knowing that every sale benefits Cook School, the couple’s non-profit initiative dedicated to educating children about healthy (and planet-friendly) food, margotmargot.co.uk TIME WELL SPENT… FOCUS on breathing for five minutes a day to calm both body and mind. Free apps, such as Breathwrk and iBreathe, provide techniques to help you kickstart the habit – the practice may help you sleep better, too. TAKE PART in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey – the RSPB’s Big Garden…

Pulling up to Olivia Ruckley’s house in the village of Ripe in East Sussex, you can see why she and husband Cameron were lured to this idyllic setting. Just around the corner, there’s a church dating back to the 12th century, and the streets are lined with quintessential English cottages. Olivia’s own Edwardian home doesn’t disappoint, with its peg-tiled facade and gingham bow adorning the front door. The couple were previously based in Reigate, but they yearned for somewhere more rural to raise a family. They snapped up the property in 2021 – it was small but ideal for that stage in their lives. However, when their daughter arrived, they knew they needed more space. Not wanting to leave either their home or the village, they set about obtaining planning…

PAGE TURNER Show off favourite Christmas cards or festive photos with a stylish folded book display. 1 Take the first page of the book and fold in half vertically so the edge meets the spine. 2 Repeat for every page in the book. It will naturally start to fan out into a semi-circular shape. 3 Tuck Christmas cards or festive photos into the folded pages so that they stand up. BOOKISH VASE From paper to petals, transform an old book into a vase that’s full of charm. 1 Carefully remove the book’s hard cover, leaving the stack of pages securely attached to the inner binding of the spine. 2 Take a sheet of paper the size of your open book and fold it in half vertically – the vertical fold…

Q What quick fixes can help me get more from my space? A Even a compact room can be made to work harder without a full renovation. First, consider the prep area – is there enough clear worktop with everything required close to hand? Why not consider some wall storage to free up counter space? Shelves and racks with hooks can be used to stack or hang regularly used tools, bowls and even ingredients. Next, maximise storage improving organisation. Racks with adjustable dividers can be used to ‘file’ pan lids and baking sheets in deep drawers or on cupboard shelves. Turntables make it easy to reach for condiments on pantry shelves, as do tiered shelf organisers for cans and spice jars, and stackable organisers for bottles and cans. Finally, rechargeable…

Four storeys above the rooftops of central London is an elegant country garden, complete with beehives and allotment, that’s accessible only to guests at the Ham Yard Hotel. On a frosty winter’s morning, snuggle under blankets, dozens of twinkling pendant lights glinting overhead. In summer, order a chilled glass of champagne, find shade beneath one of the mature olive trees, and listen to the soothing sound of the tinkling fountain. The hotel, named after an 18th-century public house called The Ham, opened in 2014. Part of the acclaimed Firmdale Hotels chain, this is a true five-star experience, with hundreds of pieces of art to enjoy as you explore. Straight off the entrance is one of my favourite rooms – the library. In the nearby drawing room, a large French fireplace…

AMANDA OWEN, fondly known as The Yorkshire Shepherdess, is also an accomplished writer. On page 120, she conjures the beauty of life and festivities in the Dales in the wintertime, where she finds peace and quiet amid the hubbub of her nine children, plus countless sheep and other animals. SUZY BENNETT uses a vintage photographic technique to capture her portraits of artisans, page 126. ‘I’m looking forward to discovering more makers blending old skills with modern design in 2026,’ she says. THERESA BAUMGÄRTNER is a hostess and chef based in Luxembourg, but with a passion for the food and landscape of Scotland. Discover her Highland Hogmanay recipes on page 132.…

For country classics that are both cosy and stylish, we recommend Cotswold Fox. Founded in 2021 by Jemima Gray, the enterprise started as a university assignment while she was studying her master’s degree at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester. Her collections for women and men have a fun and preppy feel, influenced by equestrian lifestyle and rural living. Layer up with quarter-zip sweatshirts and fleeces, all crafted from organic cotton, cotswoldfoxclothing.com HOUSE OF CLAY County Hall Pottery invites visitors to step inside HOUSE, a playful exhibition, running until 24 December, that reimagines how contemporary ceramics live within the home. It features the clay-crafted works of 50 artists from around the world, innovatively displayed across a series of ‘rooms’. Pieces include barbecues, bookends, stools, tape dispensers and more, countyhallpottery.com…

‘We designed and made the wall of floor-to-ceiling shelves ourselves, including the secret door concealed with vintage books that leads into the adjacent snug’ Ivy resonates heavily with Jack Kinsey and partner Alex Walters, and not just at Christmas. ‘When we bought this old chapel, it was derelict – the roof literally had ivy growing through it,’ explains Jack. ‘I was on a job and had some spare time to do a bit of house hunting,’ he says. ‘The chapel had been listed on Right move for 30 minutes, and I knew I wanted it.’ So, after a frantic call to the agent, an offer was put forward and accepted. Jack then returned home to explain all to Alex. Fortunately, he loved it and was on board. Now ivy adorns…

The weather may be unpredictable at this time of year but for Claire Georghiades, winter is probably her favourite season. ‘There is something very special about heading out for walks by the sea and then warming up by the wood burner,’ says Claire, who moved to the seaside town of Selsey in West Sussex with her husband, Chris, in 2019. ‘We are both Londoners but we decided we wanted to be by the coast; we fell in love with this area because it has so much to offer – from wonderful vineyards and coastline to the beautiful South Downs,’ she says. Three years after moving to Selsey, the couple decided that they wanted to purchase a holiday let. ‘I had come into a small inheritance and we wanted to find…

A NEW CALENDAR A paper diary is useful, but looking up from the page and out into nature is another, more creatively conscious way to record the passing of the days. The Almanac author Lia Leendertz asks her Substack followers to share a pic of their ‘usual spot’ each month to witness the seasons. Why not go a step further and revive the idea of a nature table to bring each month’s bounty into your home?…

Awobbly stack of Christmas boxes sits partially open along the upstairs hallway, while I go through the task of downsizing nine boxes to an overly ambitious goal of four. Each ornament I unwrap holds a tiny echo of time spent here. There’s the 15-year-old fairy, her wings now broken in two parts from the time she took a rather dramatic tumble off a nine-foot tree a few years back. No amount of superglue will hold her together. I add her to the discard pile on the urging of my eldest daughter, who is far more ruthless at this downsizing malarkey than I am; the fairy now lying awkwardly atop a pile of broken baubles and a tangle of lights that have twinkled their last. It feels right somehow that Christmas…

Spice-cured salmon SERVES 6-8 Scottish salmon is known for its quality, and when cured at home, it tastes absolutely exceptional. FOR THE SALMON 1.5kg salmon fillet with skin1tbsp coriander seeds1tbsp black peppercorns1tbsp caraway seeds1tbsp grated fresh ginger70g light brown raw sugar70g sea salt FOR THE PICKLED RED CABBAGE ½ red cabbage (about 550g)1 small white onion50g light brown raw sugar1 clove1 bay leaf3 juniper berries100ml white wine60ml white balsamic vinegar FOR THE DILL-MUSTARD SAUCE 120g medium-spicy mustard100g light brown raw sugar6tbsp white balsamic vinegar150ml rapeseed oil FOR SERVING 1 lemon½ bunch fresh dill1tbsp pink peppercorns 1 Two days before serving, remove any remaining bones from the salmon using tweezers. In a small dry skillet over medium heat, toast the coriander, pepper and caraway seeds until they release their aroma. Let…

GET READY TO PARTY If you’re planning a party to welcome in the New Year, consider setting up a stylish self-serve drinks station. Whether it’s mulled wine, fizz or festive mocktails, guests will enjoy making their own tipple, and it gives you a break from hosting, too. Don’t worry about matching glasses – a mix looks stylish on display, and makes it easier for guests to keep track of their drink!…

SCHPLENDID IDEA Schplendid is a new sofa brand from Rohan Blacker, who brought us both Sofa.com and Pooky. It offers super-comfortable sofas that are ‘built to stay, not be thrown away’, using only natural, recyclable materials. Despite the affordable prices, you can rest assured that quality is top of the agenda. Rohan says: ‘I wanted to create a brand that takes sofas seriously – but not itself. We’ve cut the plastic, and focused on what really matters – design integrity, natural materials and comfort.’ Prices start at £2,500, schplendid.com ON THE GRAPEVINE Facial treatment gel Pelegrims pairs plant-derived retinol with the brand’s signature grape leaf extract (sourced from local vineyards, it would otherwise go to waste). It boosts skin’s natural elasticity for a glowing complexion. Lightly scented with fennel, lavender,…

Tawny orange and pine tones bring richness to room schemes, whatever the season. Layer botanical, floral and check patterns for extra depth and comfort Sugar and spice and all things nice… Bring sweet flavour to your kitchen with toasted marshmallow walls and accessories with a festive theme…

STORAGE SOLUTION While an island forms the kitchen centrepiece, it often also serves as a storage hub with drawers and cupboard space. Adam Peden, director of Peden & Pringle, developed this large island with table end in response. ‘It has the storage required for a modern kitchen,’ he explains, ‘while giving the feel of a traditional farmhouse kitchen table.’ The table-style end adds character and allows family and friends to pull up a stool and gather. ‘It also helps with the feeling of space in a room, as a full cabinet island can be dominating,’ says Adam. Note, too, the antique brass feet on the legs, designed to protect against everyday knocks and to accentuate the table-like look of the design. THE CLASSIC ‘Much of our inspiration comes from English…

Every creature has an important role in the ecosystem – whether that’s breaking down waste, pollinating plants, seed dispersal, benefiting the soil or occupying a crucial spot in the food chain. However, this doesn’t mean you want them getting comfortable in your home. Some infestations could damage the fabric of your property, while others simply want to rest and raise their young in the warmth and safety of your loft space. Knowing the difference is key, as is preventing and treating unwanted, troublesome pests. WASPS For the most part, wasps are a minor nuisance buzzing around during the summer months, but they are not just a fair-weather problem. ‘By October, most wasps will have died but the new queens will be searching for spots – like lofts, sheds and garages…

Nicky Thompson wades knee-deep into the river, silhouetted against the glare of the midday sun. Positioning herself in front of her subjects – two swimmers resting on mossy boulders – she huddles beneath a ruby-red cape and sets her vintage camera to record the scene with a 19th-century photographic process that allows no room for error. With a six-second exposure, the pair must stay completely still despite the stiff breeze because even the slightest movement will ruin the image. This is their third attempt – and with clouds rolling in, the last. A few minutes later, in a mobile darkroom on the riverbank, Nicky sees a silvery, dream-like image of the swimmers appear on a pane of glass. At last. Dating from the 1850s, wet-plate collodion is one of the…

Fragrant firelighters These pretty fire starters will not only spark a roaring flame, they look gorgeous and smell delicious, too. YOU WILL NEED Pine sprigs and cones Cinnamon sticks Whole cloves Star anise Deep blush flower confetti, £1.50 for 10g, Hobbycraft Birch pine cones, £4 for 50g, Hobbycraft Vegetable wax blend, £13 for 1kg, Hobbycraft Double boiler, or saucepan and heat-proof glass jug Scissors Tablespoon Cooking thermometer White cupcake cases, £2 for 50, Hobbycraft 12-cup muffin tray, £5.50, Hobbycraft Pre-waxed 80mm wick assemblies for soya wax, £3 for a pack of 10, Hobbycraft 1 Begin by gathering together a selection of decorative and fragrant seasonal botanicals and spices for your firelighters. Forage hedgerows for fresh pine sprigs and pine cones, and raid your pantry for fragrant wintry spices, such as…

Being outdoors, planting, sowing, weeding, pruning and generally getting dirt under my fingernails and air in my lungs undoubtedly soothes life’s complications. It’s always been this way for me. From the broken hearts and hangovers of youth to more complicated life stresses and recovery from serious illness and trauma, nature in all its forms has been the medicine I have gravitated to, often without knowing I needed it. Quite simply, it has always made me feel better; literally more grounded, safer, happier. Of course, it’s no big secret that gardening is good for you – most of us gardeners have known it all along. It is food for mind, body and soul. But in the last decade, awareness of the healing potential of plants and green spaces has been measured,…