Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2022 i Homes & Gardens

We have always prided ourselves on championing – and often setting the tone of – British interiors, and this issue is a celebration of their beauty. For our British Style Today story (p47), editorial director Sarah Spiteri interviewed some of the most influential names in the design industry – their responses are fascinating. As expected, they used words such as ‘classic’, ‘craftsmanship’ and ‘comfort’, but I was delighted that ‘flamboyance’, ‘fun’ and ‘gutsy’ made the mix. For me, it’s this eclecticism that makes British design continue to stand out –something perfectly represented in the five extraordinary houses we feature, from a traditional 18th-century Oxfordshire rectory (seen on the front cover) to a lavish and modern London apartment. The 2022 Report (p23) looks at the design trends and names to watch…

Without talking down my town, builders are notoriously unreliable here. As I waited for ‘Pop’ to turn up to slate my utility roof on the third occasion, I found myself typing ‘how to slate a roof’ into Google. Minutes later, I was on eBay searching for slates, and Pop, two days and three hours late, was cancelled. I’d found some slates two miles away and soaked up tutorial slating videos online. It’s amazing how quickly things move in the 21st century, isn’t it? With Brogan’s approval, I decided I’d do the roof myself. I arranged to look at the slates, advertised at 85p each, and drove over to see them that afternoon. A man called Brendan welcomed me and showed me to the area where the slates had been left…

IF THE OLD MAXIM ‘buy once, buy well’ is to be embraced, how do you apply it to investing in original and iconic design? ‘Buying is best done with the heart, but you also need to be happy to take a risk,’ advises Ebba Thott, co-founder of Sigmar. ‘Always buy from someone you trust, as you’ll have the advantage of the knowledge of the person selling the piece.’ DESIGNS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME What will constitute a classic design is a question that’s easy to answer retrospectively but not so easy to predict, says Priya Khanchandani, head of curatorial at The Design Museum. ‘Design that has stood the test of time is usually functional, instantly recognisable, easy to use and in a style that doesn’t pander to trends,…

NINA CAMPBELL, INTERIOR DESIGNER In a way British style is quite definable, but it’s also not definable at all. There is the classic notion of chintz-covered sofas, comfortable rooms, plenty of books and probably a dog on the sofa, but it goes much deeper than that. I think the British have historically mixed furniture and styles together. It probably started with the grand tours of the 17th and 18th centuries, when owners or sons of owners of large houses went abroad and bought all sorts of pieces. They shopped in Italy, France… all over Europe, but also places like Egypt, then mixed everything and weren’t defined by any one collection. I think this is really what’s fascinating. Then the 19th century was when it became comfortable – so it’s really…

TEXTURAL TRIUMPH Natural materials are at the heart of this restful bathroom. It has been wrapped in a water-repellent tadelakt finish on the walls and Dinesen oak cladding around the bathtub and on the floor. The muted, weathered tones ensure a soothing scheme. → QUIET CORNER Light-filled rooms can elevate our mood and help us feel calmer and more focused. Reducing visual noise and keeping living spaces uncluttered will also foster a tranquil feel. In this scheme, a window seat makes the most of the natural light. Tactile washed linens and chunky ceramics add interest and texture to the white space without distracting from the sense of simplicity and airy calm in the room. WORK OF ART Never has working from home felt so important as in the last year…

AS HALLWAYS TEND TO BE LACKING in natural light, considering your artificial lighting is key. ‘Rather than using strong overhead lights which have a pool effect, we suggest opting for wall and table lamp combinations to layer light levels,’ advises Rohan Blacker, founder of Pooky. Materials used in your lighting choices require consideration, too. ‘Narrow hallways can feel cramped so it is a good idea to use glass shades to make the most of any natural light and create a sense of space,’ suggests Sheena Lawrence, co-director of Jim Lawrence. ‘The reflective quality of hand-blown glass is second to none, adding delicate and inviting layers of light whether switched on or off. Clear glass shades bypass the visual imposition that can happen with weightier lighting, allowing light to pass through.’…

SECRET ADDRESS 36 Bourne Street for vintage fabric finds. GO-TO COLOUR Sage green for its calming properties. It reminds me of growing up in the countryside. FAVOURITE BUILDING The Natural History Museum – the architecture is so beautifully detailed. IMPORTANT DESIGN DETAIL Don’t forget about the ceiling, whether that be panelling, wallpaper, stickers or a paint colour. LAST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR OWN HOME Seaweed wallpaper by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Eclectic, understated, playful.…

Reinventing a Victorian terrace to become a house with a defining architectural style statement is always a challenge in a city where there is no shortage of period properties. Yet with the help of Flower Michelin Architects and interior design practice Salvesen Graham, Nina and Lorne Balfe have found themselves the owners of a highly original and deeply considered family home. ‘We’d rented in the same area for a few years and when this house came on the market we fell in love with the footprint. Properties on this road don’t come up very often, so I came to view it while Lorne was working in LA,’ Nina explains. ‘The lady who owned it had lived here for 20 years and while it was very stylish, there was a certain…

MOST SUCCESSFUL PART OF THE PROJECT The communication with Pippa – it made everything seamless and easy. GREATEST INDULGENCE We’ve turned a drawing room into a gym as we love working out. GO-TO COLOUR I love grey. I find it very calming and prefer a quiet and minimal aesthetic. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Relaying the flagstones in the main corridor of the old section of the house. They give an authentic feel. SECRET ADDRESS The Cutter Brooks shop for unique dinnerware. ONE LUXURY YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Personalised Hermès blankets.…

A MEDITERRANEAN FLAVOUR Kristina Clode believes that all gardens, present and future, need to be designed to cope with increasingly wet winters and hot, dry summers. ‘We need to think of climate change and whether your tree will still thrive in 50 years’ time,’ she says. Her idea is to look to other climates for her plant choices. ‘I am interested in using hardier trees from the Mediterranean region that are close relatives of our native trees.’ She also expects to use more Mediterranean shrubs together with succulents, grasses and perennials. Kristina won a double award in the Design for the Environment and the Judges’ Award categories for her entry, Sedlescombe School Sensory Garden. THE DEMISE OF THE LAWN Looking to the future, Sara Jane Rothwell MSGD feels that lawns…

WHY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT? Every tree planted is a credit to the environment, absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and releasing the oxygen we need to breathe. Living trees store carbon in their trunks, branches and leaves, preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere. However, some are better than others and large trees that live for a long time offer the biggest benefits to the planet, so consider these points when choosing one. WHICH ONES ARE BEST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT? Here at Barcham, we have an eco-impact rating for each of our trees, which tells customers how much pollution filtration, carbon sequestration and carbon storage they will achieve over their lifespan, while also taking into account the environmental costs of production. So you can see clearly how your favourites…

A freestanding vanity not only brings classic elegance to a bathroom, it also allows sight of the floor, which makes the space look bigger. Drummonds’ Ladybower offers a choice of finishes but the Verde Guatemala marble adds a particularly luxurious note. Choose Devon & Devon’s mahogany piece, inspired by 1940s American liqueur cabinets, for a vintage spin, and C. P. Hart’s Hoxton is a delightful blend of old and new.…

CA’ PIETRA British design duo Elle + James’ concrete basins for Ca’ Pietra are chic forms in dusky tones. Choose the pretty fan-shaped Siena for a small space. capietra.com HOUSE OF ROHL Head to Chelsea Harbour for designs from Victoria + Albert, Perrin & Rowe, Shaws and Riobel, all displayed together in an inspiring new showroom.houseofrohl.com LONDON BASIN CO. Mother and daughter Anna and Nathalie Callis’ beautiful handmade and decorative countertop basins are miniature works of art. london basincompany.com RUTLAND LONDON Rutland offers traditional washstand-style vanities in a range of finishes and exotic stone tops – also available in bespoke sizes and materials.rutlandlondon.co.uk…

THE POWER PATTERN Cole & Son has launched Ardmore Jabula, a second collection that takes its inspiration from the South African ceramic atelier Ardmore. The artisanal work captures the diverse animals and landscape of KwaZulu-Natal, a coastal province of South Africa. Ardmore’s joyful pieces have been translated into a fantastical collection of wallpapers that is an ode to the ceramicist’s wheel and free-flowing paintbrushes, as well as the spirit of the South African land. The Safari Totem design shown here features a climbing composition of hand-rendered leopards, giraffes and elephants. Safari Totem wallpaper, £150 a roll, Cole & Son. 50 YEARS IN DESIGN 2021 marked 50 years in industry for Nina Campbell. She is a powerhouse within the design world, from the opening of her shop on Walton Street, London,…

ARMCHAIR TRAVEL After true global travel disappeared, we turned to our homes for more inward adventures. For 2022, our walls will transport us to faraway lands filled with leafy palms and safari animals. ‘Patterns of far-flung places provide a sense of escapism and make us feel relaxed as we are reminded of holidays,’ says Johanna Bright, head of design at Osborne & Little. ‘Distant landscapes and flora and fauna add a sense of drama to the wall and offer an alternative from the outside world, which we are all craving,’ says Designers Guild’s Tricia Guild. CANDY CANE STRIPES The past is often a soothing balm after challenging times, so winding back the clock will be a key theme for 2022. Eliciting memories of helter skelters, sticks of rock and barber…

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. I grew up in Suffolk, mostly horse-riding and fishing, then studied philosophy, politics and economics at the University of York before short careers in media, PR and sales. I have two children and was a dad-at-home single parent. I’m engaged to my girlfriend, Kate. I live for art, food and wine. I hate Brexit and long to escape to Mediterranean cultures. A restless seeker of new challenges and a Pilates junkie. HOW DID LORFORDS BEGIN? As a dad-at-home I worked the occasional weekend with an old friend. He was an antiques transporter so my time off was spent carrying pieces into Olympia and Battersea antiques fairs. I had never really got along with bosses, and I loved interiors, so this life of buying and selling beautiful…

‘We’re currently using orange as an accent, pairing it with aquamarine or with teal, yellow and pink. We prefer it as an accent rather than a full wall colour – but never say never to a gloss orange downstairs loo!’ LIV WALLERS AND CATH BECKETT, co-founders, Yellow London ‘For me, the home should be filled with bright colours and bold patterns as they add personality to a space. Orange shades are a great choice – they bring an uplifting feel during the day and can help create a cosy, relaxed atmosphere in the evening, showing how versatile this colour is in different light.’ EMMA DETERDING, founder, Kelling Designs ‘A vibrant orange entrance hall is a wonderful way to welcome people to a home. While I’d never use a bold colour…

DESIGNING A COMPACT KITCHEN I TAKE great satisfaction in enhancing small spaces, which is ironic because I’ve spent most of my career designing very large ones! Somehow I get more pleasure out of the ingenuity needed for the little spaces. In small kitchens, you want to make the most of every possible little corner. Then, if you can, disguise most of the kitchen elements, as the space will seem much bigger. Build storage upwards to draw the eye towards the ceiling, and use mirrored cabinetry to help light bounce around the room. Practical necessities like washing machines, ironing boards, fridges and fridge-freezers can be hidden away in decorative cupboards. ■ Another clever idea is to use white ovens and hobs in a neutral scheme. Sticking to the lighter colours helps…

ROGER OATES DESIGN This Herefordshire-founded brand makes flatweave rugs and runners which perfectly blend tradition and contemporary style.rogeroates.com MANDARIN STONE A family-run business offering an extensive range of natural stones, porcelain and decorative tiles in a selection of styles to suit your space.mandarinstone.com AMTICO Among the selection of innovative tiles offered by this LVT brand are the wood and stone ranges, which are designed to emulate natural materials. amtico.com BRINTONS Founded in 1783, this woven carpet specialist offers classic patterns as well as a collection with forward-thinking design studio Timorous Beasties. brintons.co.uk…

When an entrepreneurial couple swapped their large, open-plan home in Dulwich, south London, for an 18th-century former rectory in Oxfordshire, it quickly became apparent that their sleek Italian furniture wasn’t going to make the cut. ‘We could see that this place was crying out for a country house aesthetic but I also knew that I was incapable of putting that look together,’ says the owner. It was a striking image of a decorative bathroom created by Henriette von Stockhausen that first alerted the client to the interior designer. ‘I contacted Henriette and asked her if she felt she could create a similar bathroom in this house and we went from there,’ she says, adding, ‘During our first year here, we had converted one of the outbuildings so that we could…

GO-TO COLOUR Green, because we’re so used to it in nature it’s comforting to be around. BIGGEST PROJECT INDULGENCE All the very considered details – from the cornicing to the panelling and the embroidered fabrics. GREATEST SUCCESS The club room. It was gratifying to create a space with such a unique character. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Adding marble architrave to the windows in the main bathroom. It didn’t take much marble to do it, but it made a big difference to the space. BEST TECHNICAL DETAIL Working with the company Equippd to create a smart home with fantastic sound quality.…

Design studio Elicyon is known for its harmonious layering of materials but when redesigning this apartment, the textures and finishes were combined with the specific aim of creating a totally relaxing ambience. As founder and director Charu Gandhi explains, ‘We always start a project by asking our clients about their favourite places, but this is not so that we can replicate those interiors. It’s more about recreating how a special space makes a person feel.’ In this case, the clients, a couple with young children, fondly recalled the sense of relaxation that came with their visits to Hotel George V in Paris. For their apartment, which is set within a 19th-century building overlooking Hyde Park, Charu and Elicyon design associate Holly Beazley paid homage to the hotel’s luxurious Parisian finishes.…

What inspired you to become a landscape designer? I’ve been gardening since I was five. My parents bought a semi-derelict house with a tree growing out of the chimney and creepers under the skirting boards. While clearing an acre of land we found the remains of a magical secret garden that had been planted in the early 1900s and together we restored it. I started to understand that there is a balance, and not to fight nature but to work with it. This inspired my love of wild gardens and barely tamed places. How did your interest develop? As a teenager, I became interested in gardeners such as Christopher Lloyd and Beth Chatto. I realised that I could put plants together and form a connection with a place. I trained…

BARCHAM TREES Offers a huge choice of home-grown trees for every site, as well as consultations and online advice to help you choose the right one for your plot. barcham.co.uk ORGANIC BULBS Home-grown, certified organic bulbs selected by leading garden designers both for their beauty and benefits to wildlife.organicbulbs.com VITAL SEEDS Seeds harvested from organically grown flowers and productive plants here in the UK, and sent to you in compostable packaging.vitalseeds.co.uk DALEFOOT COMPOSTS 100% peat-free composts, sustainably made from renewable, natural ingredients in the Lake District.dalefootcomposts.co.uk…

What are the big kitchen stories for 2022? Pantries are continuing to be a huge trend as people are spending more time entertaining and therefore need a space to store bowls, platters and more. In particular, we are designing pantries that are visible from the kitchen instead of being hidden. This keeps provisions close to hand while also making a statement. Bespoke finishes are popular, with handles created for individual projects – burnished bronze is sought after. And what are the most popular requests in whole kitchen design? There is a stronger focus on decorative elements such as ribbed glass, as well as a mix of custom materials such as inset panels in veneers, ceramics and marble. Strong colours continue to dominate, particularly deep blues and rich greens. What about…

SHAKE UP THE SHINE Mix up sheen levels to create layers of interest without diluting the purity of a crisp white palette. In this kitchen, glazed zellige-style tiles on the splashback catch and refract the light, providing a dynamic contrast against low-sheen painted cabinetry. ‘A glossy tiled splashback also has the additional practicality of being easy to keep clean and looks fresh and hygienic,’ adds Stephanie Nix, kitchen designer at Neptune Wimbledon. ‘For work surfaces, you could opt for a cool polished marble for a sophisticated, contemporary feel.’ Additional shininess can be introduced via chrome or nickel taps, glass light pendants and polished steel appliances. MODERN MOVES Using similar tones for the worktops and cabinetry provides a modern, modular look that’s particularly effective with a handleless design like Roundhouse’s Urbo…

AFTER going back to art school in her thirties, designer Jo Bibby joined forces with her friend Harriet Maxwell Macdonald to found Ochre in 1996, designing furniture, lighting and interiors accessories grounded in craftsmanship and sustainability; the pair were joined by a third partner, Solenne de la Fouchardière, four years later. Their latest collection includes handmade vegetable-dyed rugs and a handcrafted pendant made by cricket bat makers. Jo lives in Tisbury, Wiltshire with her dog, Sable. ■ I lived in London for 25 years, but I’m a country girl at heart. I always came out to visit friends at weekends, but I decided to shift the balance: to live in the country and go to London – which I love, too – for work. It took me two years to…

WHEN asked about an interior designer’s relationship with their client, Adam Bray smiles: ‘It’s amazing when a client says “I love this scheme, but I would never have thought of doing this myself” because that’s really what it’s about. Often people want to be just slightly taken out of their comfort zone. It’s just pushing a little more, like a personal trainer getting someone to do another 20 lunges.’ The Homes & Gardens Interior Designer of the Year 2021, Adam has been ‘training’ his clients for over 25 years, beginning his career in antiques at age 16 and eventually opening an antiques store in Notting Hill. ‘A lot of the time our work is about helping people do things. It can range from a gentle handhold, leading someone to make…

Tell us about yourself. Water Lane is a walled garden with a vinery and Grade II-listed Victorian glasshouses near Hawkhurst on the Kent and East Sussex borders. We (Nick Selby and Ian James) are restoring the site back into a productive kitchen garden to supply vegetables, fruit and herbs for our restaurant and a cutting garden growing flowers for florists. We have a small lifestyle shop, plants for sale and host workshops and courses throughout the year. How would you best describe your Instagram account? Water Lane dates back to the 1800s and includes a melon house, cucumber house and the peach case, which at 42 metres long is thought to be the longest in the country. We are so excited about this long-term project and sharing the history and…

TOWN HOUSE – ANTIQUES SHOP & GALLERY IN A HISTORIC HOME With an offering that is too varied to sum up, Fiona Atkins’ store was named after its setting instead of its contents. The renovated Georgian townhouse is one of several on Fournier Street, originally home to the Huguenot silk weavers who settled in the area in the 18th century. When antiques dealer Fiona bought the place, the roof was propped up, interior panelling boarded over and its 20th-century wooden frontage was disintegrating. She commissioned a new ground-floor facade for the 300-year-old building, based on a drawing by William Pain, whose shopfront designs she had found published in a 1799 book. ■ 5 Fournier Street, London E1 6QE ALEX EAGLE STUDIO – ONCE A JEWELLERY WORKSHOP Its smart, flat-fronted facade,…

What are you coveting right now? A stunning set of dining chairs in bentwood and leather… never seen anything quite like them. Or, anything by Joost. Whose work do you admire? Kiki van Eijk and Joost van Bleiswijk are both so inspiring. In British craft, who would you say is a mover and shaker? I consider Lulu Lytle to be the ‘godmother’. Soane Britain has done a huge amount to champion British craft and bring it to a marketplace that can ensure its development and survival. What are your favourite galleries? Thaddaeus Ropac in London, White Cube on Bermondsey Street, Hauser & Wirth in Bruton, to name a few. Where do you feel inspired? Most recently, at Château La Coste in France. Or at Giffords Circus – a UK touring…

BEST HOME Marnie Hopkins With contemporary architecture designed by John Pardey Architects and a stylish interior created by owner Marnie Hopkins, this conversion truly has the wow factor. Key is the feeling of open space – large rooms can be opened up using smart pocket sliding doors. A neutral palette enhances the airy feel, with Marnie introducing occasional dark colours to ground the interiors. She also included beautiful texture in every scheme with reclaimed wood, bronze and brick. Interiors aside, the judges were very impressed by the home’s green credentials, with a ground source heat pump providing heating and hot water, rainwater harvesting for garden irrigation and a natural pond and glorious meadow to attract wildlife. Truly smart and stylish. BEST GARDEN Jo Carter The garden, owned and loved by…

ORIGINAL STYLE ‘One-off unique pieces create interest in awkward or small spaces,’ notes interior designer Natalia Miyar, who designed this scheme. ‘I have a few favourite locations for sourcing objects but I also design bespoke pieces that make a statement using interesting colours and textures. A strong piece of art is also a great way to draw focus to a space – often you need little else to bring life to the walls and it can create a talking point in a spot like a hallway where you pause to greet someone.’ If the space is large enough, do make sure to include a surface for the practicalities of everyday life, such as a pretty catch-all for your car keys or a decorative coaster if you always have a coffee…

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Wallpaper has incredible impact – it makes a room feel finished. BIGGEST INDULGENCE It should be the kitchen – and in this case it was – as this is the room that gets the most use. A timeless classic is imperative. GREATEST SUCCESS The collaboration with my clients. I am creating their dream home, so it has to involve teamwork and here it really was a case of teamwork makes the dream work! GO-TO COLOURS Greens (my favourite colour), paler pinks with a peachy hue and mustards. YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Considered, timeless, understated. WORDS TO LIVE BY Enjoy the little things as one day you will realise they were the big things.…

Despite its ancient walls heaving with history, it was the newest section of this Cotswolds manor house that first grabbed beauty entrepreneur Maria Hatzistefanis’ attention. ‘We’d been looking for a couple of years for the right home in the country but when we were shown this one there was absolutely no hesitation. Unlike other period houses in the area, which tend to have small windows, in the kitchen there was a huge sliding window looking out on a beautiful view. If that had been the only part of the house, we would still have bought it,’ Maria, the founder of skincare and make-up brand Rodial, enthuses. The modern extension has been so expertly combined that from the front of the house it’s difficult to know where the old house ends…

GO-TO COLOUR At the moment we’re putting together schemes with a base of warm, rich neutrals in autumnal tones, then layering in cooler pops. BIGGEST INDULGENCE The onyx bathroom – each slab was specially hand-selected in Italy then, on site, they were meticulously positioned to maximise the stone’s beautiful natural patterns. SECRET ADDRESS We love discovering new craftspeople and one of our current favourites is verre églomisé glasswork specialist Studio Peascod. YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Tailored, refined, individual. INSPIRING PLACE/ARTWORK L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, as envisaged by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. And Musée de Cluny. DESIGN HERO Carlo Scarpa.…

GARDENS should be spaces that not only improve our own wellbeing but also provide a haven for wildlife and help to mitigate climate change. The power of plants to heal the planet is indisputable and research by the Royal Horticultural Society shows that if every one of the UK’s 30 million gardeners planted a medium-sized tree and nurtured it to maturity, they would store the carbon equivalent of driving 11 million times around the planet. Plants can also provide food and shelter for bees, birds and many other garden creatures. It is easy to turn an ordinary garden into an extraordinary eco-garden buzzing with life – anyone can do it, whatever the size of their plot. KEEP YOUR SOIL HEALTHY Soil also plays a key part in creating an eco-friendly…

DECORATIVE ART Invest in a striking, artistic finish with New Ravenna’s Chinoiserie, an intricately-made glass mosaic that uses a traditional hand-cut method to shape individual pieces. With influences drawn from both Asia and Europe, it comes in a variety of pretty colours with equally pleasing names like Tourmaline, Labradorite, Tiger’s Eye and Champagne. It is custom-made to fit the required space, so will ensure a truly unique flourish. Chinoiserie is part of the Sea Glass collection by New Ravenna, from £6000sq m, West One Bathrooms BRIGHT START Lighting brand Lights & Lamps has launched its first bathroom collection with three designs. The range works seamlessly together or as separate pieces so it can be a striking addition to even the smallest of spaces. The Coro, which features a brushed brass…

MEASURE UP At its most basic, a cloakroom should have a toilet and basin with space to move between them without bashing limbs. A footprint of 80x140cm is deemed the minimum by design experts. This might sound tight but you’re only in the room fleetingly. If there isn’t an opening window, you’ll need to install an extractor fan to comply with building regulations. Switching an inward opening door to outwards or installing a pocket or sliding barn-style door can dramatically improve spaciousness. CHOOSE A LOO As the biggest fitting, the WC can make or break this compact area. Wall-hung units are smaller and easy-to-clean and leave more floor area visible, but be sure to factor in space to box in the cistern and the support frame behind. A small back-to-wall…

1 NEW DIMENSION Graphic 3D tiles are the height of contemporary design. Their unexpected use in a classic setting creates a welcome element of surprise, as Cuschieri Architects demonstrates here. ‘We used marble tiles to tone in with the more traditional fittings, but the floor still makes a powerful statement,’ says architect Paul Cuschieri. The Humber bath, £3,570, Drummonds. Marvel Esagono Lappato multicolour cold porcelain floor tiles, £310sq m, Minoli, look similar. 2 FIND YOUR MATCH ‘When it comes to dynamic floor tiles, pick a pattern you truly love as it will be with you for a long time,’ says Emma Deterding, founder and creative director, Kelling Designs. ‘The key is to let the tiles be the main attraction, so pick something that will introduce a pop of colour and…

RICOTTA PANCAKES WITH MAPLE SYRUP SERVES 4-8 3 free-range eggs, separated 225g ricotta 150ml milk 185g plain flour ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tbsp sugar A little butter, for frying TO SERVE Maple syrup or runny honey Chopped pecans, sliced banana, berries, poached fruit, crème fraîche or whipped double cream ■ To make the batter, whisk the egg yolks together with the ricotta and milk until smooth. Sift the flour with the other dry ingredients and a pinch of salt into a bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour the liquid in and gently start to stir with a whisk, incorporating the flour little by little. Give it a brisk whisk to remove any lumps, set aside. ■ Just before cooking, whisk the egg whites until stiff…