Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2017 i The English Home

Nesting instincts kick in powerfully for homeowners, as well as birds, at the first breath of spring. I find I am barely able to contain myself in my quest to clear clutter and collect paint charts, as decorating fever takes hold. There suddenly seems to be a vast acreage of walls that need repainting in my house – I can’t turn a blind eye to the scuff marks any longer – presenting a happy excuse to reinvent, as well as restore. Whilst decorating can be enormously enjoyable – the research rather than the hands-on process in my case – trying to avoid making expensive mistakes can cause indecision. Our feature on page 84 aims to keep the creative flow going by highlighting certain remarkably common decorating errors, and ways to…

PURSUITS The perfect home library To mark World Book Day on 2 March, consider a more creative way of displaying beloved tomes at home. Whether shelf space is modest or expansive, books can become a deeply personal design statement, with spines arranged in a colour spectrum or decorative personal objects showcased amongst them. Enhance bookcases by painting the inside to add depth – perhaps in a shimmering gold – or by lining with wallpaper. Indulge in clever lighting to make a feature of your literature and illuminate pre-bedtime shelf perusal. Stack books artfully to lend an air of cosy informality, perhaps grouped by genre, author or topic. Create a cosy nook to recline and let your imagination take flight. Treat yourself or a loved one to a Persephone Books subscription,…

We have fallen for the subtle hues and opulent scale of this new wallpaper from Zoffany. Designed to be hung in A and B panels, for a repeat double the width of standard wallpaper, it emulates the effect of a mural. Wallpaper, Rotherby (312661), £265 for a 6.5m roll. Each roll contains two 3m x 85cm panels to give a total image width repeat of 170cm; chair in Elswick Paisley (332804) £92 a metre, all Boleyn collection, Zoffany…

The notion of mindfulness, in essence, means being completely present in the moment so that the mind can be completely absorbed by the task at hand, or conversely focused on having a quiet moment to reflect and relax. It is also about being connected to the sensations of our environment, from tactile objects and visual elements to the sounds and scents around us. Creating an interior to help us live in the moment and to encourage a sensual connection to our homes can be achieved with thoughtful and practical additions and by rearranging elements throughout the home. Legendary designer William Morris, famously said, ‘‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”; with this key principle in mind, we explore a…

Whether practical, ornamental or purely whimsical, a garden building is often one of the most dominant features in a garden, and as such, it is important to choose one that will be the right fit – in terms of style, size and function. For instance, a more elegant structure may be designed to be viewed from different angles or from afar – to capture a mood or stir the emotions – whilst more utilitarian buildings ought to be discreetly tucked out of sight. There is such a wide range of buildings on offer, it can be hard to choose. From fantasy creations, such as follies and shepherds’ huts, contrived to awaken memories or distant dreams, to – at the opposite end of the spectrum – down-to-earth, functional structures designed for…

Enter our draw to win one of five signed copies of Signature Spaces: Well-Travelled Interiors, by Paolo Moschino & Philip Vergeylen, £40, Scriptum Publishing Following the lovely reactions to our February edition, with its cover featuring the beautiful dining room of interior designers Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen, we are delighted to offer five signed copies of the inspiring book from which it was taken. To enter the prize draw, please send an email with ‘Signature Spaces Prize Draw’ in the subject field to lea.tacey@theenglishhome.co.uk before 1st March 2017. Five names will be drawn at random and notified by email or telephone. NB: Please send your name and telephone number in the email.…

“And the spring arose on the garden fair, Like the spirit of love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.” Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822), The Sensitive Plant “Oh, spring is surely coming, Her couriers fill the air; …I scent her fragrant garments, Her foot is on the stair.” John Burroughs (1837-1921), A March Glee One cannot help but associate spring with renewal, regrowth and rejuvenation – words of promise, optimism and vitality. Little wonder, then, that we think of spring’s colour palette as a selection of uplifting hues from sky blue to zingy green, helping us to look at the world, and our homes, with fresh eyes. It is intriguing to note that two key colour…

Chintz is more often than not a cotton print, usually floral – whether it needs a glazed finish to qualify it as such is a conundrum that continues to linger over this most English of textiles. Of course, the first chintzes were not English at all. Brought to these shores by trade ships from India in the seventeenth century, their enduring popularity has had a profound effect on English decoration. Cotton cloth was almost unknown – and printing processes fairly rudimentary – in seventeenth-century England. Indian printers on the other hand, had a long tradition of decorating fine cotton cloth by hand-painting the outline of a design, then combining block-printing and resist-dyeing techniques to produce brightly coloured patterns, often a stylised tree of life with flowers and fruit. Called chints,…

Whatever size and shape a kitchen, efficient storage is key. Having everything in its place enables the cook to have copious amounts of work surface to prepare and cook meals. It also means that everything can be accessed more easily, from crockery and cutlery to dried and fresh ingredients. Carefully planned storage will also maintain the intended look and feel of a kitchen design, without clutter. A good kitchen designer will discuss the householder’s needs and run through the requirements of typical day in order to maximise the room’s potential. Bespoke joinery specialists Artichoke, for instance, will take a full survey of a client’s existing kitchen, and its contents to determine what needs to be stored. “We will often place items into the design to check it provides enough space,”…

Now, as a reader of The English Home, you can benefit from special rates on home and contents cover placed through leading insurance advisers Smith Greenfield. This carefully researched insurance opportunity has been specially created for high net worth individuals and is available to homeowners whose properties are valued at over £250,000 or whose home contents is worth more than £75,000. It comes with many benefits that standard high-street policies do not offer, and readers of The English Home will receive preferential rates and access to products only available through expert independent advisers. Equally importantly, claims will be settled promptly and without fuss. Special benefits can include: • Warranty-free policies – your property is still covered even if you fail to set your alarm • The cost of alternative accommodation…

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Since starting out as a child actor in 1952, Jane Asher has worked extensively in film, television and theatre, whilst also writing three bestselling novels, several cookery and lifestyle books, and running her eponymous cake-making business – which she closed in 2015 after 25 years to return to her first love, acting. She and her husband, the award-winning illustrator Gerald Scarfe, have lived for 45 years in the family home in Chelsea where they brought up their three children, Katie, Alexander and Rory. Where do you live and why? I’ve always been a Londoner and although I’ve flirted with the idea of a country life, I don’t think it was ever very realistic. As a young girl I fantasised for a time about being a farmer’s wife and living in…

Fresh beginnings. A blank canvas. A thrilling chance to express your personality – or perhaps, a daunting challenge? Designing a new room scheme – whether starting from scratch in a new-build, conversion or extension, or simply making over an existing room – will doubtless feel like all of the above unless you are enlisting the help of a professional interior designer. However, rest assured that some careful thought, detailed planning and insider knowhow can offer invaluable help in creating a space that is not only functional and comfortable, but that also reflects your tastes and is tailored to suit. The logical place to start is by closely analysing how the room is – or will be – used. “Really examine this, even if you are simply redecorating and not actually…

SINGULAR SPLENDOUR Rather like a flamboyant friend who instantly attracts attention, the parrot tulip has a distinctive character, with its large open-cupped flowers and multicoloured feathery petals. Make the most of the flowers’ striking beauty by displaying them individually in a row of tall glass vases. For a contemporary arrangement choose flowers in ombre colours to create a tonal display along the centre of a table. Find pretty parrot varieties to plant for next year on peternyssen.com or if looking to send an impressive posy of parrot tulips, try local florists or wildatheart.com…

Traditionally, new year is the time to plan the coming 12 months, but it is often the promise of spring that truly turns the mind to new beginnings. For some, it will conjure dreams of a new home. However, making those dreams a reality means the notoriously tricky business of selling one’s present house in a timely and effective manner. To help, we have consulted a range of experts who can offer sage advice. FOR SALE METHODS Far and away the most popular option is to sell through an estate agent. It makes sense to use a local firm or the local branch of a national company, unless the property has a notable characteristic, for example, if it is a barn conversion, or it equestrian facilities, in which case a…

Anna Craven Interiors Tel 01636 636465 annacraven.com Aria Tel 020 7704 6222 ariashop.co.uk Camel Glass & Joinery Tel 01208 814581 Coach House Tel 01282 882666 coachhouse.com Conservatory Blinds Tel 0800 071 8888 conservatoryblinds.co.uk Forbes & Lomax Tel 020 7738 0202 forbesandlomax.com James Morford Architectural Designer Tel 01726 862855 Jersey Pottery Tel 01534 850850 jerseypottery.com Kernow Fires Tel 01208 812527 kernowfires.co.uk London Land Interiors Tel 020 7590 288 londonlandinteriors.co.uk Louise Bradley Tel 020 7589 1442 louisebradley.co.uk Offbeat Interiors Tel 07866 505850 offbeatinteriors.com Picture House Antiques Tel 01706 813807 picturehouseantiques.com Robert Langford Tel 0845 009 0203 robertlangford.co.uk Safavieh rug wayfair.co.uk Uptec Tel 01242 621414 uptec.co.uk CORRECTION: The English Home has been informed that the image featured on our February 2017 cover – taken from Signature Spaces, (£40, Scriptum Publishing) – is by…