Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i The English Home

My personal hoard of fabric samples, collected over the years, is reaching dizzying proportions (my husband is a very understanding man). I sift through it regularly, dreaming of new schemes, but more often than not it all gets re-hidden tidily from view. However, having read the feature on learning a new skill (page 126) I am determined to make time to refresh my sewing skills and put them to good use. I have made Roman blinds for past homes and a basic patchwork quilt for my daughter’s first bed. And although I’d always rather pay a professional for beautifully made curtains, it would be lovely to enjoy a sense of accomplishment in making a cushion with professional piping. Come to that, there’s an antique occasional chair in my bedroom that…

Following the sensual curve of a chair or a chaise longue adds sumptuous style and a sense of tailored craftsmanship to the look and visual flow of a room setting. From contemporary stainless steel to luxuriously decadent sofas, a sinuous element imbues interiors with harmony. Smooth natural wood, plush upholstery and symmetrical bevelled edges all add a deliciously deco undercurrent, too.…

PURSUITS Homemade apple juice Romantically synonymous with English gardens, apple trees actually originated in Asia. Making apple juice at home is a wonderful way to avoid a glut. Timing is crucial – picked too soon, full flavour may not have developed, but too late, flavour and quality may suffer. Check for ripeness and taste before picking. For sweet juice, choose Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Honeycrisp or Red Delicious. For a tart note, blend with Russet, Bramley and Cox’s. Never store bruised apples in with good quality ones, remembering the old adage. Wash and cut up apples, removing any rotten flesh, and put through a crusher. Then strain the pulp using a traditional press, and refrigerate in a covered jug for up to three days. If storing in sterilised bottles, it…

The enticement to return to patterned walls grows apace, with florals particularly offering temptation. All-over florals in a large scale are a strong look, there is no doubt. However, framed by coloured wood trim and dado-level panelling, as here, they feel deliberate and neatly calm and contained, like an exuberant flower border surrounded by neatly clipped box hedging. Delft Flower wallpaper in Linen, on a 68.5cm-wide non-woven ground for ease of hanging, available in five shades, £75 per roll, Designers’s Guild…

MEASURE WELL When making a Roman blind to sit on the outside of a window reveal, it is important get the proportions right in relation to the window, as a poorly measured Roman blind can look disproportionate. We use the window sill as a guide for the overall width. If the sill protrudes further into the room than 5cm, we finish the blind so that it sits on the sill itself. If the sill is shallower, we take that length below the sill by 5cm. CAP IT OFF Ask your curtain maker to make you a pair of end caps out of the main fabric to cover the headrail of a Roman blind. These give a beautiful finish to the ends of your blind. RETURN POLICY Make sure your curtains…

Is anything ever really new? In design it is only natural to take inspiration from the past. Gothic Revival, for example, was one of the predominant styles of the nineteenth century, Tudorbethan was popular in the early twentieth century and just about everyone – from Inigo Jones and Andrea Palladio to Robert Adam and the twentieth-century Modernists – has been influenced by the classical orders of architecture. Movements seem to come and go on an endless merry-go-round with ever-greater speed, but it is worth pausing for a moment to consider an important question: where does inspiration become imitation or revival become pastiche? The idea of ‘reproduction’ furniture and fittings is anathema to many. “The word ‘reproduction’ does have many negative connotations,” says David McKinstry, director of The Georgian Group. “A…

LEARN UPHOLSTERY Many people think of upholstering as simply re-covering a chair or sofa, but there is far more to this ancient craft than that. The craft of traditional upholstery has a long history in this country, and whilst it involves an understanding of the way in which various items of furniture are constructed, as well as the different types of materials and techniques required, it is still quite possible to learn some useful skills over the course of a few days or a weekend. It may even be possible to complete a simple project such as a small footstool or ottoman over a few days, learning how to build up the layers to create a comfortable yet durable surface that will last for many years. A short course will…

ON SALE 6 SEPTEMBER Prepare for ultimate temptation as we reveal the most delectable new fabrics and wallpaper launches and how to use them to elegant effect PLUS • Beautiful lighting to set the perfect ambience • Cossetting carpets – how to choose the right design • Expert garden designer Chris Beardshaw shares his insights on reworking an established garden theenglishhome.co.uk Follow us on: Twitter @englishhometeam Pinterest at pinterest.com/theenglishhome Facebook at facebook.com@theenglishhome Instagram at instagram.com@englishhomemag…

Attending the launch party for Original House – a great resource for vintage industrial furniture and accessories based in a barn in an idyllic Cotswolds hamlet. Visits by appointment only. originalhouse.co.uk Being completely bowled over (again) by the passion of Nicola and Christopher Cox – husband and wife designer-makers at Cox London. Their new showroom just off the Pimlico Road in London, showcases lovely furniture, mirrors and lighting in situ. coxlondon.co.uk Discovering hidden treasures in Cheltenham including a fabulous dome inside a building currently being turned into a new Ivy Restaurant, by Caprice Holdings, due to open in autumn. With this, the influx of interiors brands, and a huge John Lewis under construction, 2018 is going to be an important year in our home town.…

Whether for invitations, writing thank you notes or simply for the joy of owning it, there is something special about beautiful stationery – particularly in this era of digital correspondence. The thrill of opening a drawer and finding a stash of paper goodies embossed with a sweet motif or a pithy line, or adorned with a pretty floral print, is hard to replicate on a screen, as is the satisfying feeling of writing on smooth paper with a fountain pen.…

“We knew we were looking for our ‘forever home’ and this seemed to tick all the boxes” “The farmhouse is suffused with an inviting sense of calm, light and space” Very few design projects come together without a certain amount of stress and heartache, but Polly and Nigel Sargent declare the renovation of their early eighteenth-century six-bedroom Hampshire farmhouse was relatively pain-free. When the couple decided to move, they were simply looking for a house that would provide some extra room for their family of two teenage boys and two younger girls. “We wanted to stay in this part of Hampshire as the girls were both at school in Winchester,” Polly explains, “however, we needed more space when the boys were around at weekends and often wanted friends to…

“When we throw open our bedroom doors, the view that greets us is a wonderful start to the day” Having hunted high and low to find a characterful home, when Maureen Dew stumbled across a handsome Victorian property, nestling deep in the heart of the Surrey Hills, she was instantly enchanted by its captivating, leafy location. “I adored everything about the picturesque setting, from the abundance of mature trees, to the way the property seemed to blend so very comfortably into its surroundings,” Maureen says. Whilst upon first sight, from the outside, the property looked magical, Maureen and her husband Jeremy found the interior was less so. “We quickly realised that although the house had a lovely feel, it was tired and needed work to bring it back to its…

“To see a world in a grain of sand And heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour”William Blake (1757–1827), English poet, painter and printmaker Picture Keira Knightley in the film Atonement, elegantly clad in a silk emerald-green evening gown, reclining languorously on a bench in an abundant rose garden and you have the essence for the interior mood curated here. Deep emerald hues have been growing in popularity in interiors over the past two years, but more recently they are being used alongside blush pinks for a surprising contrast which looks both fresh and sophisticated. Add black and a creamy white into the mix, alongside hints of golden metals and even touches of teal, and the end results…

DESIRABLE FABRICS & WALLPAPERS All of the wallpapers by Adelphi Paper Hangings. Great patterns done so right. They’ve inspired me to begin working on my own collection. FAVOURITE PAINT COLOURS Having a background as a specialist painter, I’m not very faithful when it comes to particular paint colours or brands. I’m drawn to whatever speaks directly to my heart, which at the moment is 90 per cent of Papers and Paints’ colour charts. RECENT PURCHASE A house. I’m putting everything I’ve been fantasising about into practice and buying up everything on my wishlist. I’m hoping to buy a four-poster bed from Marianna Kennedy soon. I love her work and try to work with her whenever I can – when she’s not off conquering the interiors world. She’s a wonderful example…

How to contain the general flotsam and jetsam of daily life? A disorganised home can make the easiest of tasks feel overwhelming, so – whilst it may be lower down the list than other priorities – it really is worthwhile investing in purpose-built storage in order to be able to think clearly and save time hunting high and low for that missing shoe or misplaced dog lead. There are limitless possibilities to choose from, including bespoke designs tailor-made for individual requirements. FITTED STORAGE Fully-fitted furniture is perfect for period properties with alcoves, awkward corners or sloping ceilings – from bathroom to boot room. It can include enclosed storage, such as cabinets and drawers, as well as open shelving, and because it is affixed to walls, fitted furniture can give a…

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…

Have you recently moved house, or inherited a garden that makes your toes curl? Or perhaps you are just tired of staring at the existing plot and it is time for a revamp. There are probably plenty of things worth hanging on to, but simple changes – like dramatically reshaping a lawn or editing and adding to the planting – can have a big impact. Take a step back and look at what you have to work with. So where best to start? Well, you can’t beat a ‘tear sheet’ or ‘moodboard’. Plunder magazines for ideas, tearing out and collecting pictures you like the look of. It really helps to have a ‘big idea’. Decide between modern and traditional, formal or informal, and try to pick a theme or style.…

Barneby Gates Tel 01672 560240 barnebygates.com Bathroom TV Tel 01777 322003 bathroomtv.co.uk Besselink & Jones Tel 020 7351 4669 besselink.com Beswick Stone Tel 01285 885795 beswickstone.co.uk Bone Interiors Tel 01798 343283 boneinteriors.com Britannia Cookers Tel 0344 463 9705 britannialiving.co.uk Burlington Tel 01322 473222 burlingtonbathrooms.com Camilla Costello Tel 07956 402833 camillacostello.co.uk Colefax & Fowler Tel 020 7244 7427 colefax.com Crucial Trading Tel 01562 743747 crucial-trading.com Emma Foale Tel 07775 662935 emmafoale.com Eurotiles & Bathrooms Tel 020 8744 0088 eurotilesandbathrooms.com Farrow & Ball Tel 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com Fritz Fryer Tel 01989 567416 fritzfryer.co.uk Jane Churchill Tel 020 7244 7427 janechurchill.com Kate Forman Tel 01962 732244 kateforman.co.uk La Residence Interiors Tel 01403 752245 laresidenceinteriors.co.uk Lewis & Wood Tel 01453 878517 lewisandwood.co.uk Louise Townsend Print email: louisetownsendprint@gmail.com louisetownsendprint.com Maisons du Monde Tel 0808 234 2172…

ROSE PRINCE , the well-known food expert, has been writing about food for 20 years. She is the author of four cookery books, including The New English Kitchen and Kitchenella and four food guides. She writes occasionally for The Spectator, is a columnist for the Telegraph Magazine and Tablet, and contributes to BBC Radio 4’s Food Programme, Woman’s Hour and Today. Inside this issue, she invites readers into her house and kitchen with a self-penned feature on her own home (see page 46). Rose is currently working on a new book, Dinner & Party, about the perils of entertaining, due to be published in September. You can also sign up to take lessons in cookery with Rose at her own home in the hills of north Dorset. Visit roseprince.co.uk for…

There are a wealth of options for dressing windows, from luxuriously lined drapes to sleek Roman blinds. Professional, considered treatments ensure the window is a feature in its own right, drawing the eye to not only take in the view beyond, but to admire the curtaining, too. Here are some of our favourite ideas for eye-catching window treatments to elevate curtains and blinds into something rather special. SHAPELY PELMETS A box pelmet neatly disguises tracks or poles, offering a smart tailored finish. A contrasting or patterned fabric would enliven plain drapes, or the pelmet can be used to show off the curtain motif to full effect. A shapely pelmet design adds further allure and works particulary well for feminine schemes. Here, prettiness abounds with the addition of a crystal trim…

Farmhouse is one of those words that conjures an array of appealing associations: fresh eggs and baby lambs, chunky beams and flagged floors, cream teas and harvest suppers, a place of welcome and plenty enfolded by green fields. England is freckled with farmhouses, dating from a time when individual farmers tended tens of acres as opposed to the thousands of today. Some are still run as farms, but many of these comfortable, capacious old houses have taken on new lives as family homes. Here, bestselling author Ros Byam Shaw explores some of the key ingredients of contemporary farmhouse style in an adaptation from her book Perfect English Farmhouse newly reissued by publisher Ryland Peters & Small. Floral prints Both traditional and fresher, lighter styles of farmhouse decorating are pretty, relaxed…

Dahlias are easy to grow and make wonderful cut flowers. Whilst often thought of as a parade of brightly-hued pompom petals, it is worth noting that there are plenty of softly coloured varieties, too. For neutral and gentle blushes, try ‘Blanc y Verde’, ‘Classic Swanlake’, ‘Gerrie Hoek’ and ‘Labyrinth’. To ensure the plants flower from summertime until first frost, choose fertile, well-drained soil and plant in full sun after the frost. Once winter arrives, cut plants back and cover with compost or bark chips. If it is a harsh winter, lift the plants and store them for replanting next spring.…