Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i Homes & Gardens

This month, in a special 14-page section on page 66, we are showcasing emerging interiors trends in fabrics, furniture and accessories to create schemes that, while in tune with current fashions, also have longevity. Some are bold and dramatic, others more subtle in their approach, but what unifies them all is that they offer a template, allowing you to take the elements you love to use in your own home in your own way. In complete contrast, Easter is a time-honoured tradition and, for many, it’s an opportunity for a relaxed get together of family and friends. With the joys of spring just around the corner, we’re celebrating this long weekend in a fitting way on page 95, with a simple seasonal menu full of fresh flavours, perfectly suited to…

CHILD’S PLAY The super stylish Danish designs of Ferm Living, 0045 7022 7523, fermliving.com, are now available for little ones with the launch of its Kids Collection, just the thing to spark young imaginations. Made using environmentally friendly materials, the range includes wallpapers, cushions and accessories, such as this adorable Seaside mobile, £36. MAKE THE CUT One of our go-to sources for tiles, Domus, 020 8481 9500, domustiles.co.uk , has launched the Modello collection, £242.05sq m. Cut with a high-pressure water jet, the range of patterns, colourways and layout variations offers a bonanza of design potential. Shown are the Classic tiles in P1 and P1a. SPIN A YARN Kasuri is a traditional Japanese weaving technique in which dye is applied to yarn to give a brushstroke effect. Three new designs…

How would you describe your Instagram account? It’s a gallery of the things I’ve found on the banks of the Thames. London beachcombing is called mudlarking and you can find anything from Roman pots to Georgian pipes. I like to tease out the stories behind my finds. Who would you recommend we follow and why? Michael Turner, @gardensandtheantique, is incredibly knowledgeable and erudite. His images are mainly of classical statuary in English gardens, masterpieces brought over during the era of the Grand Tour. He brings antiquity zinging to life with his storytelling. London in Fragments: A Mudlark’s Treasures by Ted Sandling, £16.99 (Frances Lincoln).…

Are you looking for an easy way to brighten up your home this spring or searching for an original gift for a family member or friend? Bloomon’s imaginative flower arrangements could be just the thing. Simply choose the size of your bouquets and how often you would like them to be delivered, and the rest will be done for you. Each arrangement is a lovely surprise, having been designed by a dedicated in-house flower artisan using blooms in a range of colours from pretty pastels to bold brights. The specially chosen seasonal flowers, which are cut by the grower and delivered to you the next day for ultimate freshness, are also available with an optional matching glass vase, perfect for displaying your bouquet. As you can pause your online subscription…

IDEAL FOR LIVING SPACES 1| Swan neck in Antique Brass with Hazelette shade in Opaline, H9xdiam16cm, £54, Pooky. 2| Icarus with bespoke silk shade, H16xW15xD22cm, £150, David Hunt Lighting. 3| VV Cinquanta in White, H19xW25.5xD36.5cm, £480, Vittoriano Viganò for Astep at Viaduct. 4| Tom in polished nickel and Aqua, H20xdiam22cm, £300, Hector Finch. 5| The Knurled Pelham, H15xW12xD13cm, £1,425; White card shade, £87; both Soane Britain. 6| Toby, H17xdiam18cm, £65, Loaf. 7| Arc Mid-century sconce in Antique Bronze, H31xW18xD15cm, £59, West Elm. 8| VL38, H19xdiam13.5cm, £264, Louis Poulsen at Skandium. 9| Isaac in Brushed Chrome, H19xW23xD16, £70, Laura Ashley. 10| Altman in Antique Brass, H14.5xD16cm, £158, Tinsmiths. SPECIALLY FOR BATHROOMS 1| Fitzgerald in chrome with plain shade, H48xW22.5xD28cm, £200 each, Fired Earth. 2| Polaris Star in nickel and glass with…

THIS MONTH, admire classic elegance in a sensitively renovated New York apartment (page 107), how one family built their dream timber- and flint-clad home (page 117), dramatic artworks and striking furniture imbue a London new-build with personality (page 126), and a sense of flow pervades this modern villa in Antwerp (page 134). As spring bursts into life, we bring you two gardens, a waterside scheme (page 143) at a vicarage and a Spanish design that reflects its wild surroundings (page 152).…

Can you describe this project? The house is only five years old but it is built in a neoclassical style with authentic sash windows. The clients were already living on this quiet, leafy street in west London, but they needed more space, so when this property came onto the market they snapped it up. Their first task was to swap the locations of the original kitchen and living room, giving the cooking area a closer connection with the garden. What was the brief? The owners wanted a kitchen with plenty of room for dining and entertaining. We worked closely with their interior designer, Darren Gayer of Sheldon Projects, who was charged with recreating the feel of an upmarket Manhattan loft apartment, while incorporating touches of English design. Unusually, given the…

Can you describe the space? We were both the architects and interior designers on this project, a new-build house in Rose Bay, Sydney. The space pictured is the informal seating area of a large open-plan room that incorporates a dining area and an eat-in kitchen (there is also a fully equipped butler’s kitchen out of sight). Our clients wanted a stylish scheme that would encourage interaction and socialising in these family areas of their home. Tell us about the architectural details. The exterior of the house has many Art Deco references, and we continued these inside with the curved cornicing and wall treatments. The owners were keen to have all-white walls, so we added a dado rail to prevent them feeling sparse and created subtle relief detailing on the ceiling,…

WHICH LIGHT FITTINGS WORK BEST WITH LOW CEILINGS? We had anticipated having a pendant lamp in our sitting room but the low ceiling means this isn’t a suitable option. What alternatives can you suggest? EW, Stroud, Gloucestershire. Look for ceiling lights described as flush fittings, then bypass all the designs intended for bathrooms and corridors. The Pentland Flush Bowl CL0057, £522, Vaughan, 020 7349 4600, vaughandesigns.com, would work well in a contemporary or traditional sitting room. Its curved profile in semi-opaque strié glass conceals the bulb and fittings, and it is just H16.5cm. Brabin & Fitz, 01745 730866, brabinandfitz.co.uk, offers a more decorative option, with curling stems of leaves or flowers on its flush fittings. Try the Flush Oak Leaf FCL1/S ceiling light in Antique White, H23cm, which costs £616.…

• We’re currently seeing a lot of interest in Seventies-inspired designs that incorporate bronze, golds and metallic finishes. Circular mirrors with distressed metal frames are very popular, as are natural rattan and bamboo for a more bohemian look. Shapes with rounded contours remain a favourite. • Placing mirrors near light sources will brighten your space and maximise the reach of the light. To create an extra light source in a room, try placing a full-length mirror between two windows. Alternatively, reflect daylight and your garden in your home by positioning a large mirror opposite a window. • You can frame and give impact to a large piece of furniture by putting a mirror directly behind it, while mirrored furniture, such as tables or chests of drawers, blends easily into any…

FIVE-STAR EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES Eight days from £1,199 per person or 15 days from £2,499 per person. Departures from April to October 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Choice of ten cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Main, Rhône and Seine. Return rail* and Eurostar, or flights, taxes and transfers. Five-star cabins with hotel-standard beds, private bathrooms and river views. Exceptional cuisine with full-board throughout. Extensive tour programme with escorted sightseeing. SICILY Eight days’ half-board from only £869 per person. Selected departures from April to October 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Return flights to Catania, taxes and transfers. Seven nights in a four-star hotel on a half-board basis. Fully escorted sightseeing including Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, the island’s capital Palermo, the beautiful hilltop town of Taormina, Mount Etna, Monreale’s medieval cathedral and the ancient…

SHERRY COSMOPOLITAN Serves 6 I find serving this cheeky cocktail on ice makes for a much more refreshing, and less lethal, version of the original. 350ml cranberry juice 60ml fino sherry 225ml vodka 225ml Cointreau 2 limes, plus 1 lime cut into 6 wedges 6-7 ice cubes Crushed ice Combine the cranberry juice, sherry, vodka and Cointreau in a large jug. Squeeze in the juice of the two limes and stir well. Add the ice cubes and set aside until the ice has melted. Keep chilled until ready to serve. Half-fill 6 glasses with crushed ice. Pour in the chilled cocktail and add a lime wedge to each. Give each glass a gentle stir and serve. PADRÓN PEPPERS WITH SPICED ALMONDS Serves 6 These effortless nibbles have just the right…

No matter how you use your living room, creating a relaxing, inviting and clutter-free space is the key to success, so these pages are packed with inspiration to help you do just that. We showcase looks in every style, from flowing open-plan designs and small-space solutions to formal arrangements and casual family schemes. In our Trends feature, top interior designers reveal how they are incorporating technology, media and innovative style into their latest projects. With all this, alongside our sourcebook of furniture and accessories, you’ll find lots of ideas to create a room that perfectly suits your needs.…

The design philosophy of the distinctive British interiors brand Neptune is based on classic, understated elegance, balanced proportions and timeless beauty. Founded in 1996 by friends John Sims-Hilditch and Giles Redman, the company is now recognised for its exacting standards, sophisticated style and expert craftsmanship. Although perhaps best known for its kitchens, the collection embraces everything from fabrics and tableware to lighting. Launching two inspirational seasonal collections each year in spring/summer and autumn/winter, Neptune continually introduces new designs to sit alongside its elegant classics. The collections are part of its ‘whole home concept’, which includes furniture, lighting, paint, tiles, flooring and accessories for indoors and out. All are designed to work together effortlessly, creating a versatile look that suits town and country living. To find out more about Neptune,…

We’re bringing a quirky, contemporary note to Easter decorating with hand-patterned eggs. Easy to create using fine felt-tip pens, they look striking displayed in combination with delicate mottled quail eggs and pretty pralines.…

How did your business start? Maud & Mabel was born out of my passion for the hand-crafted and I was inspired and informed by my time working for Pan Henry at the Casson Gallery. The shop began in a small shared location in Hampstead, but when I was recently offered a retail space in an pretty spot nearby, I warmed to the opportunity to develop and expand the business. How would you describe your design aesthetic? The focus is on thoughtfully made everyday objects and collectables in a muted palette with clean lines and the occasional splash of washed tone. This is combined with some pieces that have interesting textured surfaces and an element of surprise. We celebrate elegant design with contemporary craft and believe aesthetics and functionality should go…

Can you tell us a little about your background? I graduated from London College of Communication in 2006 with a degree in Surface Design and went on to work in the head office of Cabbages & Roses. I worked closely with the director Christina Strutt for five years, developing fabrics and running the home section. I then joined John Lewis, buying fabrics at its head office. After five fantastic years, I left last May and am now working full-time on Pillo. Why did you launch Pillo? I began the business while working at John Lewis as a creative outlet, a respite from the large retail format. I wanted to offer a selection of homewares that were unique and could bring a touch of distinction and character to a room. I…

Interior designer Kathryn M Ireland did not hesitate for a moment when she first viewed the property that was so soon to become her family home. Seduced by its privacy, the new build, a few blocks from Venice Beach in Los Angeles, offered all the features she had been looking for. Here, she tells us more about it. “The pale palette of the walls lets the textiles, furnishings and artwork be the stars.” Why did you choose a new-build home? I loved having a blank canvas to work with. Typically, I fall for older houses or Spanish styles, but I have really enjoyed putting some age and soul into this place; it was fun to warm it up. The developer had done such a great job that all I had…

BLACKENED  The natural wood tones of recent seasons are starting to be replaced by wood furniture and accessories with an intriguing charred appearance. This technique shows off the wood’s enhanced grain to dramatic sculptural effect. FURNITURE Curve bench in Vulcano finish cedar, £3,882, H45xW180xD36.7cm; Clessidra stool in Volcanised cedar, H45xdiam39.5cm, £1,008; both Riva at Heal’s. ACCESSORIES Moon trays in black painted birch, small, H5xdiam8cm, £14.90; medium, H6xdiam11cm, £19.90; large, H3xdiam18cm, £29.90; all Normann Copenhagen. Piper Nigrum FAC11011 (on bench), scorched English oak, £1,450; After Hepworth CAF11013 (under bench), scorched English oak, £1,450; both Alison Crowther at Contemporary Applied Arts. Charcoal sketch by Serene Khan. THE PALM HOUSE  A sense of 1950s playfulness accompanies the new tropical prints in which historical garden-design documents and Paul Gaugin-esque scenes combine to exhilarating effect.…

Part-time Manhattanite Mary Fox had a modest wish list when she set out to find her city pied-à-terre: it had to have great views and a wood-burning fireplace. The apartment she found in 2014 certainly exceeded her expectations. Perched atop a grand 1920s building by renowned architect J E R Carpenter, the compact but perfectly proportioned home Mary now shares with her husband boasts a smart Upper East Side address and vistas over Central Park. RESTORED TO GLORY The interior was in reasonable repair when she bought it, but it did require an update. “With the exception of decorating, I don’t expect to make any adjustments over the next few years, so it had to be future-proofed,” says Mary. With this in mind, the interior was carefully taken out so…

SUBTLE BEAUTY Slung low over an island unit or a dining table, this Ifold suspension light is strong enough to attract admiring eyes yet elegantly understated, so it won’t overwhelm the space. Made from copper and crystal-clear glass, it costs £495, Christopher Wray, 020 7013 0180, christopher wray.com. THE CUTTING EDGE A hidden 2m-long wooden slab that slides out from the island to provide an extra worktop or a dining table and a nanotech finish that self-mends minor scratches are just two of the many ingenious features of The Cut kitchen. Made in Italy by Record è Cucine, it is coming to the UK via Hub Kitchens, 020 7924 2285, hubkitchens.com, priced from £40,000. BLUE NOTE Denim shades are in demand this year, but Aga says its latest colour option was…

Can you describe the project? This is the main bedroom of a penthouse in London’s Mayfair, which we refurbished for an art collector with an eclectic style. The double doors connect it with a beautiful grey oak dressing room and a bathroom clad in rich Fior di Bosco stone. We spend a lot of time ensuring the flow and journey from space to space is good, framing views along the way. For example, the Marc Chagall watercolour is centred on the sightline from the dressing room, so it is the first thing you see when you enter the space. Did the room present any challenges? It has low ceilings and smallish windows, so in order to counteract these proportions we took the wall treatment, curtains and door frames from floor…

SPRING-FLOWERING ‘SUNRISE’ MAGNOLIA Buy 1 for £9.99 (was £29.99). Buy 2 for £19.98 get 1 free (was £89.97). Magnolia denudata ‘Sunrise’ bears creamy goblet-shaped flowers with a red streak in spring.This deciduous shrub is ideal for a border or patio and is suitable for small gardens. Height and spread: 1.8m. Supplied as a bare root. The pot shown is also available to buy. HOW TO ORDER YOUR ‘SUNRISE’ MAGNOLIA BY POST Complete the coupon below. ONLINE Visit www.thompsonmorgan.com/XHG508Z. BY PHONE Call 084w4 573 1686 and quote XHG508Z. Lines are open 9am to 8pm (weekdays) 9am to 6pm (weekends). Offer available to readers on the UK mainland only.All orders will be acknowledged by letter or email, advising you of the expected despatch date. Offer subject to availability.Your contract for supply of…

1| Stately looks Monaco console, H73xW160x D50cm,£2,355, Chaplins, chaplins.co.uk. 2| Simply sleek Mirror Mirror wall-mounted console, H85xW110xD38cm, £2,533, Twenty twentyone, twenty twentyone.com. 3| Golden age Verbier gold and mirror console, H78xW122x D42cm, £313.38, Hudson Living at House of Isabella, houseof isabella.co.uk. 4| Glamorous choice Aston Fan console, H82xW118xD32cm, £895, India Jane, indiajane.co.uk. 5| Compact style Zelda console, H76x W100xD35cm, £250, Perch & Parrow, perchandparrow.com. 6| French chic Versailles mirrored console, H78x W107xD46cm, £490, Oka, oka.com.…

A Altfield, 020 7351 5893, altfield.com. Arran Street East, 00353 83 814 6672, arranstreeteast.ie. Arthur Beale, 020 7836 9034, arthurbeale.co.uk. Atkin and Thyme, 0844 409 9834, atkinandthyme.co.uk. B Balineum, 020 7431 9364, balineum.co.uk. Benchmark, 01488 608020, benchmarkfurniture.com. Bennison Fabrics, 020 7730 8076, bennisonfabrics.com. Black Edition, 01623 750005, romoblack.com. Blendworth, 023 9259 4911, blendworth.co.uk. Brian Yates, 020 7352 0123, brian-yates.co.uk. Broste Copenhagen, 0045 36 39 03 00, brostecopenhagen.com. Brunschwig & Fils, 020 7351 7760, brunschwig.com. C Calligaris, 020 8994 8110, calligaris.co.uk. Camengo, 0844 369 0104, camengo.fr. Caroline Popham, carolinepopham.com. Casadeco, 0844 369 0102, casadeco.fr. Casamance, 0844 369 0104, casamance.com. Chairworks, 020 8247 3700, chairworks.info. Chapel Street London, 020 8576 6644, chapelstreetlondon.com. Charlotte Storrs Stoneware, 01235 520395, charlottestorrs-stoneware.co.uk. Chase Erwin, 020 8875 1222, chase-erwin.com. Christopher Farr Cloth, 020 7349 0888, christopherfarrcloth.com. Clarke…

1 PULLMAN EDITIONS designs striking original limited-edition posters that capture the enduring appeal of Art Deco. Their posters feature winter sports, glamorous resorts around the world, and historic automobiles. Over 100 designs available at £395 each. 020 7730 0547 or view and buy online at www.pullmaneditions.com 2 THE LAUNDRY LADDER BY JULU ‘Love your Laundry’, indoor drying has just become elegant with this piece of British designed furniture. www.juluhome.co.uk  033022 32855 3 PIGGYGARDEN offers a large collection of quality garden furniture ranging from traditional teak to contemporary designs. Illustrated is the Oasis round lattice Rattan chair and table set, with dark grey cushions. FREE mainland UK delivery, excluding Highlands and Islands and 3 year guarantee. For the full range visit www.piggygarden.co.uk or call 0333 011 2313. 4 GILLY THOMAS…

Picture this. You’re walking into somebody’s home for the first time and you’re met with the sight of a green interior. Green is a pleasant surprise. Seeing it in pale, mid or deep shades, on walls or furnishings or both, makes us stop in our tracks. It’s just a little unexpected. It’s the colour above all others that we associate with nature; it reminds us of pastures and landscapes, leaves and lawns, fruit and vegetables. This may go some way to explaining why the colour has been neglected when it comes to interiors – perhaps because nature “does” green so well, we are wary about emulating its beauty in our own homes. We think that green is the preserve of the outside world, that we would be removing it from…

DRAWN OUT Pay homage to a beautiful garden with a layout devised to bring the outside in. Here, seating is arranged facing the full-length glass doors to focus attention on the view, while creating a strong sense of separation from the rest of the room. A neat row of pendants and skylights make the space brighter still. THE LONG VIEW Knocked-through double reception rooms call for dual treatment. This space has been successfully zoned into a more formal living area, balanced by a casual media area for relaxation. White walls and timber flooring running the length of the room provide consistency, which binds the two together perfectly. PITCH PERFECT This double-height sitting room leads off from a family kitchen. Light oak flooring creates a sense of continuity, while a partially…

TOP FORM The layout in this attic by Halo Design Interiors, halodesign interiors.com, maximises the space, resulting in a room that serves as a study, games room and occasional guest suite. Make the most of walls limited by a sloping ceiling by fitting bookshelves in the eaves, and go for a built-in day bed that will work as a sofa. NEAT NOOK A room that sits between the kitchen and a formal sitting area can be notoriously hard to make use of. This one has been turned into a cosy media space, with an L-shaped sofa slotted into the corner. A wall-mounted television ensures that the route through to the kitchen remains unimpeded. “I love colour and pattern and tend to be a little more daring when approaching a scheme…

Why did you decide to develop your own paint? I spend so much time investigating how light affects country homes that it was a natural step. How did you come up with the colour palette? Jim and I have always looked to the Suffolk countryside for inspiration. When we started to formulate the hues palette, I was keen to evoke the soft, elemental colours of the land all around us. From the overcast seascapes of the Heritage Coast to the fields surrounding our farm, this collection is absolutely about celebrating the tones and accent colours of rural Suffolk. Can you tell us about the formula and finish? We’ve worked hard to ensure the paints have a proper, old-fashioned, chalky (almost distemper) finish, to work perfectly with historic…

• A bedside table with a pull-out leaf is a good way to gain extra surface space when needed, but it can be put away if the room isn’t large enough to accommodate it all the time. • The best type of storage doesn’t involve heavy lifting, but rather a clever use of space. We like to conceal storage in unexpected places, such as inside bunk-bed staircases. • People often like to watch television in bed, but may not want it constantly on view. Hiding the television behind a wall of false books that opens via a piston mechanism is a solution I recently came up with for one of our clients. • Dimmable lighting is key for a multipurpose room, so you have the benefit of brighter illumination for…

• Don’t feel the need to reinvent a bedroom to reflect every milestone of your child’s life. Instead, think about creating a scheme that can be seen as a work in progress; a space that develops with a child’s personality. Try to avoid gender stereotypes or going all out for a character theme as, in my experience, these are often phases. Instead, seek out furniture and decorations that have longevity. If you can afford to buy good-quality sustainable products, all the better, as they can be handed on once you have finished with them. • Choose quality over quantity and, in the early years, keep a nursery as spacious as possible to help create a sense of calm. As your child grows, devote some wall space to displaying items that…

1| Hand-crafted using centuries-old techniques. Lying in State tassels, L33cm each, £285 a pair, Jessica Light at The New Craftsmen, 020 7148 3190, thenewcraftsmen.com. 2| Traditional shape with a distressed finish. Zion lidded urn, H19xdiam13cm and H32xdiam23cm, £48 set of two, Oka, 0844 815 7380, oka.com. 3| Elegant option for living areas and bedrooms. Bamboo wallpaper in Aqua, Steel and Silver, £60 a roll, Osborne & Little, 020 8812 3000, osborneandlittle.com. 4| The ultimate statement piece. Honoka bed, H225xW205xD216cm, £3,500, Tracey Boyd at Anthropologie, 00800 0026 8476, anthropologie.com. 5| Crackle-glazed for a subtle aged look. Hartford ceramic lamp in White, H49xdiam23cm, £324; 17in Warwick drum shade in Lily linen, £98; both Vaughan, 020 7349 4600, vaughandesigns.com. 6| In soft inky greys inspired by Majolica ware. Cellini cushion in Graphite, 60x45cm,…

For anyone with a love of design, it’s always fascinating to glean an insight into the creative processes and working practices of turning an idea into a beautiful product. Do designers always start with a clear concept of what they are trying to achieve or is the process much more organic? How do they move from initial inspiration to producing the final product? These questions and more will be addressed in this fascinating panel discussion, From Thinking to Making, which will be hosted by Deborah Barker Homes & Gardens editor-in-chief as part of the Conversations in Design programme at London Design Week 2017. On the day, you will hear from designers with a heritage for creating inspirational products for the home, including Peter Gomez of Zoffany, who leads the design…

Siblings Ally Nutting and Jesse Lister grew up in London and Wiltshire. Both studied at The Open University, while working full time in retail, event planning and fundraising. In 2015, they combined their life-long love of flowers and illustration and set up their own business producing bespoke flower arrangements and one-of-a-kind prints. Their striking designs, partly inspired by florist and author Constance Spry, have featured at weddings, events at Charleston house, private parties and photoshoots. Ally tells us more. Looking back, we’ve been styling from an early age. As children, we were outdoorsy, climbing trees and making dens all day. Our mother would ring a bell that could be heard fields away to call us in at mealtimes. Our cottage had a tiered garden running down to the River Avon…

INTO THE LIGHT 1| Lacrimae,H80xW100xD45cm,£1,125,Oka. 2| Grand Teardrop,H90xW150xD50cm,£725,Loaf. 3| Saga, H77xW210xD55cm,£5,020, Christophe Delcourt for Roche Bobois. 4| Ascot,H90xW154xD50cm,£6,200, Justin Van Breda at LuxDeco. 5| Chevron,H78xW141xD39cm,£699,Atkin and Thyme. 6| Drio,H75xW180xD45cm, £695,Habitat. 7| Firefly,H70xW140xD48cm,£4,875,Terence Conran for Benchmark. ON THE DARK SIDE 1| Delphine ,H71xW160xD46cm, £1,299 , West Elm. 2| Cleo ,H78xW133xD40cm, £825 , Living by Christiane Lemieux at House of Fraser. 3| Hayward ,H65xW159xD45cm, £699 , Marks & Spencer. 4| Kaleng ,H76xW160xD46cm, £1,095 , Lombok .5| Secret with drawers, H82xW185xD48cm, £2,081 , Calligaris. 6| McQueen bedside ,H54.5xW110xD39cm, £2,658 , Matthew Hilton at De La Espada. 7| Dowry Cabinet II ,H85xW187.5xD52.5cm, £2,982 , Stellar Works at Staffan Tollgård.…

Our menu this month celebrates the flavours of spring with recipes inspired by Spain. So that you spend more time enjoying the company of your guests, we’ve come up with easy dishes that can be put together while sipping a cocktail. Moreish spiced nuts and padrón peppers are perfect with a refreshing Sherry Cosmopolitan or glass of chilled fino. The grilled asparagus can be served as a starter or alongside the other sides to accompany the hake and clams. And because the Spanish love custard desserts as much as we do, we’ve finished with a baked lavender and vanilla custard with rhubarb. To do this delicious menu justice, we’ve created an easily emulated stylish setting, drawing on the spring in bloom theme with naturalistic floral and foliage displays against a…

The ambition to build a fully tailored house, designed and constructed to suit personal needs and preferences, requires a particular kind of understanding between architect and client. So when Rachel and Matthew Castle decided to create a new home for themselves and their four children in the Suffolk countryside, it made sense to turn to an architect who knew them very well. Cassion Castle, whose practice is based in London, happens to be Matthew’s brother. “It made such a difference to work with Cass,” says Rachel, who, like her husband, is a doctor. “There was a real understanding, which helped in the design process, but it also allowed us to feel much freer to speak up if we felt that something might not be quite right. In the end, there…

Why are kitchen dressers special? There’s something nostalgic about them – they evoke fond childhood memories, with a sense of solidity and reassurance. Plus they are incredibly useful, for both display and storage. How can I get a timeless style that’s also fresh and modern? Go for a hand-painted finish that can be updated as your tastes or colour trends change. Handles can also be easily switched. Natural timbers, such as walnut and oak, are always timeless. What tech can bring it up to date? Concealed lighting, particularly LED strips, are great for highlighting display items and the features of the dresser itself. Integrated USB sockets will let you charge devices behind closed doors and sound can be built in too, thanks to the latest acoustic technology. Why is it…

What was the space like originally? This bathroom is in a large, detached Gothic-style property in Kent, which was rumoured to have been the summer residence of the Queen of Spain in Victorian times. It was two en-suite bathrooms, which we have turned into a single en suite with a walk-in dressing room. The décor was very dated, dark and unimaginative, in various shades of yellow. A run of built-in cupboards dominated the space and the main focal point from the bedroom was the lavatory. Can you talk us through your brief? The clients, Julia and Peter Irvine, wanted the bathroom to live up to the grandeur of their home, with fittings that worked in proportion and a few glamorous features. Julia particularly liked the marble-effect tiles, which she had…

“Don’t be afraid of mixing mirrors. I like to place a freestanding mirror on top of a mirrored Art Deco-style chest of drawers – they pick up each other’s reflections to striking effect.”NATALIA BARBOUR , interior designer, nataliabarbour.co.uk . “Mirrors needn’t be restricted to walls. Mirrored furniture has been popular since the Twenties – not only does it add an element of glamour to your home, but it is also a great way of introducing light to dark corners.”LUCINDA WATERHOUSE, founder, Oka, oka.com.…

• Heavily antiqued mirror is currently on trend. It will utterly transform a room and bring real drama to any space. • There are many mirror finishes you can experiment with, including antiqued, mottled, sand-blasted, etched, gilded, hand-decorated and églomisé. Bevelled, hand-blown and cut glass are also available. • When designing a mirrored wall for an interior, we template the room, draw it up and then present a number of proposals to the client that make the most of the space, and also suit the light levels and other features. • We install backboards to provide a flat surface on which to fix the mirror tiles, and incorporate any wall lights, sockets and other fittings. • The backboards are screwed to the wall, then the mirror panels are glued to…

There’s nothing more important than a sense of relaxed elegance when it comes to Easter entertaining, so why not ensure effortless style with Sophie Conran’s range of oven-to-tableware designed to fit naturally into any home? Delicate to the touch but highly durable, the collection is defined by its versatility. Each piece moves easily between freezer, oven, hob, microwave and table, elevating dining with friends from the ordinary to the special. “I always opt for hearty, crowd-pleasing dishes that can be made in advance, then on the day I concentrate on dressing the table with pretty glassware, foliage and pops of colour,” says Sophie. “I like my entertaining to be informal and, above all, easy.” To see Sophie’s ideas for easy entertaining, visit bit.ly/2jmokx8 . Available at John…

Just a hop from Barneys and The Museum of Modern Art, The Whitby Hotel on West 56th Street offers an unbeatable base from which to explore upper midtown Manhattan. Yet step inside and English elegance awaits; the hotel is the second New York offering from designer Kit Kemp of Firmdale Hotels. Rooms are individually styled, with textiles from Kit’s collaborations with Chelsea Textiles and luxurious bathrooms. And given the library, state-of-the-art cinema and fabulous bar-restaurant, you’d be forgiven for never venturing outside. NEED TO KNOW There are 86 bedrooms and suites, starting at $795 a night. The Whitby Bar is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and afternoon tea. The hotel includes a drawing room, orangery, courtyard, library and 130-seat cinema. It is a six-minute walk from 5th Avenue Station…

What was the inspiration for The Eastern Collection? In Turkey, we saw some rugs with random stripes in colours that were quite unusual: one had strong reds and browns, the other had clashing shades of pink and yellow. They were discordant yet, at the same time, they had an interesting harmony. We worked with this idea to develop our collection, including the Kyoto and Kobe Lantern design, with bright, sharp colours, and Kyoto Jade, which features silver and pewter grey stripes mixed with green in a quirky combination that gives life to the design. How do you decide on the pattern of stripes? Stripes are our signature. We enjoy all kinds – large, narrow and mixed – developing a rhythm with them in our designs. The rugs in…

• Consider the amount of natural light and the direction a room faces, as this will have a significant impact on the appearance of a colour. The same hue can look quite different from room to room over the course of a day and even at different times of year. • If your room is north facing, then the colours in it will tend to appear cooler and harsher, making it more difficult to create a warm, spacious atmosphere. Don’t fight this – instead opt for a dramatic interior by using strong cool colours, such as bold blues and greens. Despite their fresh nature, these shades will come together and have a cocooning effect. • Try a red-based neutral, such as Farrow & Ball’s Joa’s White, in a south-facing room,…

• No matter what your budget is, the seating in a living room will always be a big investment, but get it right and it will pay dividends for years to come. Unlike accessories, which can be changed with the seasons, sofas and armchairs are the cornerstones of any living room scheme, so take your time when choosing them. • The function of the space should always be taken into account when deciding on the style of seating. For occasional spaces, such as drawing rooms or libraries, fixed or formal backs will add a beautifully tailored touch. For frequently used family rooms, pillow backs are comfortable and create a more casual look. • Consider the level of sociability you want to encourage in a room, bearing in mind that positioning…

These days, bedrooms are often much more than places to sleep. Whether a sumptuous suite with soft seating and a dressing room, a bedroom-cum-study or a guest room that doubles as a den, these modern multipurpose spaces bring their own design challenges. Here we show you inspiring ideas for devising schemes that perfectly meet your needs. Alongside this, key interior designers reveal how they see the bedroom changing in the future. You’ll also find plenty of expert advice on the finer details of putting a room together and shopping suggestions for everything you need to create your dream scheme.…

“Not only do big beds look more luxurious, they also offer a far better quality of sleep. The rule of thumb is to choose the largest size the room will allow, ideally leaving space for a bedside table on each side. The bed should have a minimum mattress width of 90cm per sleeper and be 15cm longer than the tallest occupant. This allows for restful sleep undisturbed by a partner’s movements or body temperature.” BRENT COOPER, managing director, Simon Horn, simonhorn.com. TIME TO RELAX Daybeds are a great choice for occasional guest rooms. In this versatile scheme by Turner Pocock, turnerpocock.co.uk, an upholstered chaise works beautifully as a lounging area by day, becoming a comfortable bed when needed by night. Splashes of colour provided by select pieces of furniture and…