Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Homes & Gardens

This issue is a true celebration of arts and craftsmanship. Early in its conception, I was introduced to the 16th-century concept of Wunderkammer - in the story of one of our beautiful houses (Artistic Licence, p112). It loosely translates as ‘cabinet of curiosities’ but means ‘a room alive with art and objects of wonder’. While, originally, the term described a contrived collection reflecting the interests – and social rank – of its curator, it struck a chord because the best interiors are always those layered with fascinating artworks and objets. In my home, I’ve accumulated work by a talented artist friend. The pieces all have meaning to me and, along with other treasured finds, are proudly displayed. They add a rich seam of vitality that makes my rooms, and the…

ALEX PRICE Based in a South Gloucestershire workshop established in 2018, Alex Price aims to produce pieces that become emotionally linked to their owners and turn into future heirlooms. With a signature style of creating tactile timber surfaces for his furniture, the designer also explores rare techniques, such as the Japanese art of shou sugi ban, where oak is scorched to shade it black and preserved without chemicals. A bespoke order involves chatting, sketches, models and more chatting before the go-ahead. alexprice.net ANGUS ROSS Founded in 1992, Angus Ross creates curvaceous, contemporary designs from its HQ in Scotland’s Perthshire, all made to hand and to order. A team of skilled furniture makers work with traditional cabinetry, green woodwork and innovative steam-bending techniques to produce pieces with elegance as well as…

TALKING POINT An eye-catching table display makes a conversational starter for guests in the home of the artist and designer Margit Wittig. ‘The round table was one of the first pieces of furniture I ever bought, and it has been a key piece in every home I have had,’ says Margit. ‘It now doubles up as an inspirational work table and somewhere to display my finished pieces – an ideal option for anyone wanting to arrange art anywhere other than on a wall.’ The key to making a successful arrangement is to mix height and scale, she adds. ‘I have placed two sculpted clay portraits facing each other on wooden bases and a white contemporary geometric table lamp in the middle to soften and give height.’ CREATIVE FLAIR A small…

ITALIAN CRAFTSMANSHIP C.P. Hart’s eagle-eyed design hunters have scooped another fabulous exclusive in the form of the new Ellisse furniture range, with all the pieces designed by Archea Associati for Itlas. The highlight of the Italian-made collection has to be the Copenhagen console in American walnut with Carrara marble basin. The stand also comes in oak or beech, and there are no less than 18 additional stone basin options to tempt. The taps and mirrors are also available as part of the new Ellisse range, only at C.P. Hart. We predict a sell-out. LIGHTBULB MOMENT The new lighting collection from Belgian luxury appliance brand Novy stemmed from the realisation that while downdraft extraction excels in many ways, it doesn’t offer the overhead illumination cooker hoods do. So came three light-bar…

IMPERFECTLY PERFECT The arching form of Karl Zahn’s Kingdom chandelier for Lindsey Adelman makes a sculptural statement in this bathroom in Austin, Texas. Inspired by the imperfect growth found in nature, its fluidity serves to soften the room’s hard surfaces. When positioning such a high-impact piece, consider how it will connect with the fittings below rather than going for the obvious ceiling centre-point so often used. Anchored by the planter when entering the room, and centred on the window when looking out, this standout piece has been placed to ensure it looks its best from every angle. [Note: In America, table and floor lamps are permitted in the bathroom, provided they are rated for damp locations.] THE POWER OF THREE Seeking out local artisanal lighting companies can be incredibly rewarding,…

EARTHY DELIGHTS Originality and a chic 1970s energy sit at the heart of Zinc Textile’s designs. However, the latest collection, Salvador, shows an earthier side. Salvador’s bold patterns, inspired by the surrealist artist, can be enjoyed on a variety of textiles – including velvets, decorative jacquard weaves and embroideries. Seen here are Szafran in Cognac (on the wallhanging), £220m, and Baldessari in Tobacco (on the cushion), £130m. LONDON BORN Known for elemental and striking pieces across lighting, furniture and artworks, Chris and Nicola Cox of Cox London’s designs are handmade in their studio, workshops and bronze foundry using artisan skills. The Fluvius table is forged from iron with a distressed gold-leaf finish and antiqued mirrored top, £8,640 – the legs are reminiscent of a serpent, inspired by the Romanesque style.…

NEW DECO is the latest design by Martin Moore and is inspired by the architects and craftspeople of the 1930s. Featuring details such as sleek cabinets in book-matched, marble-effect porcelain edged in elegant brass strips, it’s the latest collection by the Manchester-based, family-run firm. It marks something of a design departure for the company, which made its name creating furniture that complemented architectural details found in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes, but reimagined for the modern kitchen. Back in the 1970s, while other companies aiming at the country-house kitchen market might have introduced a reclaimed pine dresser into their schemes, Martin Moore took a different approach. They designed what they describe as ‘furnished’ rather than ‘fitted’ kitchens – incorporating, for example, chimney breasts and mantelpieces as focal points within designs.…

‘There is a richness, a warmth and an earthy quality to this colour, Sand Dune, creating a distinct mood in the room. The shade captures light beautifully, with an immediately energising effect.’ ROSE UNIACKE, interior designer 1. ‘For transitional spaces like this stair hall, I like to push up the intensity a bit and use stronger, bolder colours. Earthy tones, like ochre, work well with a variety of colours, including deeper greens and brighter blues.’ BRANDON SCHUBERT, director, Brandon Schubert Studio 2. ‘In this case, the buttery yellow works so well with the rich tones of brass and dark oak. Ochre yellow adds colour and depth to the space, bringing a relaxed sophistication without feeling forced or impractical.’ SAMANTHA TODHUNTER, creative director, Samantha Todhunter Design 3. ‘In this powder room…

ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY WHAT you’re doing when you design or decorate a room is creating a backdrop for living. But to do that well, you have to consider the architectural integrity of a room at the start of a project. It means going back to the property’s bones in terms of its interior architecture and thinking about the original style and features that would have been there. When you get them all precisely right, the room feels grounded and harmonious – even if you do not really notice why. ■ In The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director, Thomas Chippendale writes about the four classical orders: the Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Tuscan. What he shows is that if you take a column from the classical orders, from there you can draw the moulding,…

When British poet James Fenton and American writer Darryl Pinckney found their 1890 house in New York’s Harlem, their challenge was not only to breathe new life into its dilapidated interiors but to work out how to best accommodate their books. ‘I’m told we’ve amassed more than 10,000, but I can’t say I’ve ever counted,’ says James. The couple moved out of their Washington Heights apartment nearby when it became clear that their ever-growing collection showed little sign of slowing pace. ‘When books feature in a scheme for decorative purposes they do add a certain warmth,’ says James. ‘However, our collection is also a working reference library, so we needed a different approach. They are organised alphabetically, by subject and language, across several rooms, so we had to accept that…

1 ELEVATE WITH COLOUR A bold paint colour is an easy way to inject some fun into a pantry, so says Tom Edmonds, design director of Lewis Alderson & Co. ‘Here, we included a statement lampshade in an unexpected style for a little extra joy,’ he adds. ‘The Carrara marble shelves on antique brass brackets keep stored foods a bit cooler and lend a sense of luxury in the small space.’ 2 CLIMB THE LADDER Library-style ladders certainly make reaching the unreachable a breeze, but they can also bring a decorative advantage to pantries with soaring ceilings. A beautifully made ladder with solid proportions that clips onto a brass rail (for safety and extra style points), will draw attention upwards to appreciate your pantry’s full glory. In this…

SIZE MATTERS If space permits, today’s showering areas are larger than ever before, designed to create a sense of spa-like luxury and indulgence. At the same time, the move towards fitting more bathrooms in our homes means that clever solutions are often required to fit showers into unusual spaces – and for both these reasons, custom-made shower enclosures are becoming increasingly popular. ‘Regardless of the shape or size of your bathroom, a bespoke shower enclosure or screen will always fit the space, whether it’s in a loft conversion with a sloping ceiling or a huge walk-in,’ says Simon Boocock, managing director of CRL Bespoke Shower Screens. DEVELOPING THE DESIGN In larger spaces, the choices are almost endless, although Nicholas Cunild, managing director of Matki, explains the key limitation. ‘Above a…

LIME & CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP SERVES 4 FOR THE CHICKEN AND MARINADE 2 skinless chicken breasts, butterflied Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime1 tsp each of chipotle chilli powder, garlic powder and dried oregano½ tsp smoked salt1 tbsp olive oil FOR THE SOUP 2 tbsp olive oil1 red onion, finely diced2 red peppers, finely diced2 celery sticks, finely diced500g very ripe tomatoes1 head of garlic, broken into cloves1 chipotle chilli, whole but deseeded3 tbsp finely chopped coriander stems (save leaves for garnish) A large sprig of thyme1 litre chicken stock200g cooked black beans (optional) FOR THE GARNISHES 1 avocado Juice of 1 lime2-3 tbsp olive oil2-3 corn tortillas, cut into triangles100ml soured cream A few coriander leaves Grated hard cheese, such as Manchego, Gruyère or Cheddar ■ Put…

I’VE never lived outside of a city, yet I am drawn to the shapes you find in shells and leaves. If you blow them up large and look at the small details, you see spherical markings, textures and colours that come together, creating an overall effect that is both harmonious and calm. There is an art to them that makes them more than worthy of display. And because of that, I bring all sorts of things back from walks all the time – we’ve got hundreds of shells, about 4,000 conkers, acorns, a collection of stones. There are wonderful tones within pebbles. We co-ordinate them by colour, sorting through them and putting them in boxes. It’s a weekend afternoon activity I’ll do with my child. Our hallway has shelves loaded…

MEET THE MAKER Rowan MacGregor@rowan_macgregor Can you tell us about your background? I grew up in Hampshire, Germany and Wales before studying archaeology at Bristol University. After that I worked for 10 years in libraries, archives and in university administration before having my eureka moment and starting to make delicate botanical wreaths out of copper. I made and sold my work for five years while still working full-time at a university, before becoming fully self-employed a year ago. I also sell hand-painted eggs every spring, create illustrated maps and dabble in ceramics. Where do you look for inspiration? Nature. I love walking and a lot of my ideas come to me while I’m on a hike. I don’t think there’s anything as beautiful as a hedgerow and I take lots…

ART HOUSE Treat a fabric as an alternative to an artwork. This lively example featuring free-form paint smudges has instantly transformed the subtle decoration of the room. Hanging a colourful fabric in a doorway also creates privacy and division between spaces. To prevent draughts, you could choose to line the curtain with a thermal fabric to keep the heat in; try Romo’s Linara which comes in a wealth of colours. To unite the scheme, select occasional furniture and vessels that mimic the shapes found in the fabric. BRUSH STROKES Material featuring loose strokes adds interest while keeping the mood light and playful. Choose from oversized upbeat brush strokes or tiny dashes, as if the artist were testing out paint colours on a blank canvas. Treat your room like a gallery,…

Pasti’s richly layered schemes have been built over the years with museum-worthy pieces. Here he highlights the stories of a few of these antiques and treasures. 1 TEXTILES Many fabrics have been sourced from nearby Moroccan cities. The embroidery on the bed (far right) is from Chaouen and the bed curtain, behind the bed, was sourced from Tétouan. 2 FLOORING Carpets are often used as wall hangings to add decorative details, such as the carpet fragment (top right), which is Mamluk Egyptian from the 16th century. 3 FURNITURE Throughout northern Morocco, the ancient local tradition of painting on wood flourished in the early 20th century. The painted taifur (side table, right) that was sourced from Tétouan takes centre stage – the house hosts more than 50 of them. 4 EXTERIOR…

EPHEMERAL AND MEMORABLE, our native bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, growing en masse, never fails to entrance. ‘We all find a haze of bluebells beneath beeches more magical than anything we can create,’ wrote Beth Chatto. To Elizabethan Britons, bluebells were enchanted, and heaven forbid you hear their bell-shaped heads ring, for death would likely follow. Links with folklore were still prevalent more than three centuries later, as borne out by Cicely Mary Barker’s depictions of Flower Fairies (the first book in the series was published in 1923) and her assertion that the bluebell be ‘the peerless Woodland King’. Deep blue H. non-scripta, a perennial bulb, flourishes in the humus-rich soils of Northamptonshire and the Chilterns, and on limestone ridges. Young shoots push their way up through leaf litter to allow their…

DECISION FACTORS The material used for the cabinet doors in your kitchen is a key design consideration, given that the door and drawer fronts usually make up the largest element of the room. You may wish to consider a bespoke finish for creating something that is special, whether you choose it for all the door fronts or to highlight a key feature, such as an island. But where to begin? ‘When commissioning a bespoke finish, think about its use and what the material might be subjected to,’ advises Rupert Bevan, known for his bespoke furniture and specialist finishes. Brass, for example, is an organic material which reacts to its environment. ‘Left unlacquered, brass will slowly age and patinate with fingerprints and water marks becoming part of its character and mellowing…