Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2020 i The English Home

The sunshine and blue skies of spring have felt a long time coming. However, as the seasons aren’t quite as reliable as they used to be, we have already had a joyous taste of what’s to come with flowers blossoming early and birds being back in our gardens sooner than expected. There are few things more cheering than blooms in the borders and birds chattering in the hedgerows, which is perhaps why both flora and fauna are such timeless motifs in the English home. They are certainly prevalent in the latest fabric and wallpaper collections. We hope you enjoy and are inspired by our curated selection (page 78) of the new designs. In a look at what the future holds in garden design (page 134), experts advise that colour is…

Thoroughly cleaning dusty corners, furnishings, carpets and cupboards, and finding convenient storage solutions can be extremely satisfying, as well as having a calming effect on daily life. From small vessels to the textures and aesthetics of items regularly used for cleaning and tidying, it is surprising how much a beautifully made utilitarian design can encourage good everyday practices.…

Jane and Malcolm Faulkner were intrigued by their future home in Herefordshire before they had even viewed it. “Something about the particulars immediately piqued our interest,” says Jane. “Although it looks almost medieval, it was actually built in 1974, which is the year we met. I’ve always been into vintage and upcycling and here was this house that had been built from reclaimed materials, long before it was fashionable to do so. It seemed fate that the house should be ours. “There is an 11-second rule that says that you know within 11 seconds of walking in if a property is for you,” Jane continues, “and we came in here, stood at the top of the stairs and just looked at each other and nodded.” The couple were sold and…

FLOWERS OF THE WORLD Many of our design choices have taken native English flora as inspiration. However, some other collections have been inspired by equally beautiful species from around the world to create enticing new prints on wallpapers and fabrics. Palm leaves and jungle plants are a noticeable highlight. Fadini Borghi’s Maharani collection for Pierre Frey is inspired by the splendours of India, depicting luscious vegetation as well as leopards, horses and elephants captured in silks, velvets and jacquards, finished with golden threads in a rich celebration of opulence. Kate Forman’s latest offerings are inspired by the Indienne influence popular in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century France, with a striped floral and teardrop effect pattern, available in a pretty aqua and striking red. Muralist Flora Roberts has collaborated with Hamilton Weston for…

Good sleep is one of life’s essentials, which means buying a quality bed is an investment not an indulgence. Specialising in luxurious beds and with nearly 20 stores across the country, And So To Bed is a brand that has become a trusted resource. Founded more than 40 years ago by Keith Barnett to sell restored Victorian brass beds, the company soon started creating its own cast-iron, brass and nickel bedsteads – also now available in fashionable rose gold – and over the years has expanded its offering to a huge variety of designs to suit almost every taste. As well as the brand’s ever-popular, sumptuous yet practical Ottoman beds (they feature under-bed storage), there are more ornate offerings, such as a four-poster Georgian bed or a Louis XIV hand-carved…

LAPADA is the Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, its symbol a golden chandelier. Formed in 1974, LAPADA now has more than 550 members, mainly UK-based, who have met the association’s requirements as to their experience and knowledge of their subject and the quality of their stock. Members must also abide by the association’s code of practice, and it offers a free conciliation service in the event of a dispute. Every purchase from a LAPADA member comes with a written invoice stating their name, address and telephone number, date of sale, price paid and a brief description of the item(s), including its approximate date and any major restoration or alteration it has undergone. On the LAPADA website, buyers can browse stock from the association’s members, with the reassurance of integrity…

ASPARAGUS APLENTY Tender spears of asparagus are ready to be harvested this month. Enjoy simply steamed with melted butter or try this delicious asparagus, watercress and baby broad bean soup recipe by Belinda Williams, co-founder of Yorkshire Provender. Drizzle with fresh cream or crumble with fresh, salty feta cheese. Delicious Soups, Belinda Williams (photography by Steve Painter), £16.99, Ryland Peters & Small,…

“There’s an amazing new restaurant called Osip in Bruton (see page 122). The John Leach Pottery is worth a visit (Mulchelney, Langort TA10 0DW Tel 01458 250324; johnleachpottery.co.uk) – he is the eldest grandson of potter Bernard Leach, founder of Leach Pottery in Cornwall – and so too is 28 Market Place in Somerton which is a brand new restaurant. We haven’t visited but heard it’s great (28 Market Place, Somerton TA11 7LZ Tel 01458 333444; 28marketplace. co.uk). The Circus in Sherborne, although just across the border in Dorset, is a beautiful lifestyle shop (33 Cheap St, Sherborne DT9 3PU Tel 01935 816551; thecircusboutique.com), and The Old Dairy Cafe in Bower Hinton is another spot that does great food too (Bower Hinton Farm, Back Lane, Martock TA12 6LH Tel 017801…

Gardens, just like interiors, are subject to shifts in design influences, innovations and societal preoccupations which see them evolve at different stages over time. We have consulted industry experts who reveal what they believe is upcoming in garden design. Planting styles From formal and tightly structured shapes to meadow-style loose informality, planting styles have varied considerably in different eras, often reflecting a sign of the times and the popularity of key designers, such as Piet Oudolf, whose signature planting styles can have a far-reaching influence. Ann-Marie Powell, garden designer “Planting is definitely becoming more structured, slowly replacing the loose, soft style popular in recent years. We want specimens we can look around to create vistas and focal points. Favourites such as amelanchier offer great value and, even though deciduous, still…

It’s been incredibly hectic in The English Home offices preparing for our 20th Anniversary, which we start to celebrate in earnest from our next issue. Do remember to buy a copy to enter our celebratory prize draws and for our special feature highlighting some of the most influential ‘game changers’ in decorating, gardening and lifestyles during the past two decades. As I write, I’m looking forward to chairing a design masterclass – Paying Homage to Heritage: Period Design’s Bright Future – at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour on Tuesday 10 March. The panel includes acclaimed designer Edward Bulmer, Geoff Collier, managing director of Collier & Webb and Shona Stopford Sackville, founder of McKinney & Co. We hope you can attend what promises to be a fascinating talk. For more information and…

FLORAL IMPACT Sarah Hardaker’s chinoiserie design has long been a favourite of ours, so we are excited to see it reimagined on a large scale. The striking new proportions give it added impact for use as a blind or curtains on full-length windows. The boldness of the scale is offset with a delicate new colourway of dusky pink, pale aqua and soft coral which combine in a gentle yet hugely appealing and useable palette. Chinoiserie Grande Soft Coral (Oyster Linen), £69 a metre, Sarah Hardaker…

Whilst the primary function of a bedroom is to offer a quiet and calm place for a good night’s sleep, it can also offer sanctury during the day if well designed. Investing in a quality bed should be pivotal when allocating budget – skimping will always be regretted. Once this has been achieved, there are many other important decisions to take. Early risers who like to wake naturally will choose different, lighter curtaining to those who find it hard to slumber soundly without total blackout. An upholstered headboard will be important for keen readers who head to bed early with a good book or like to be supported in comfort when drinking an early morning cup of tea whilst still under the covers. Here, with some beautiful bedroom case studies,…

The most desirable pieces of furniture are not only beautiful and useful, but also possess something else – a certain magic in the form of an unexpected shape or texture, perhaps, or a fascinating back story; a charm that is somehow more than simply the sum of its parts. With this je ne sais quoi, an antique piece is not simply run of the mill, but elevated to being what might be called a ‘decorative’ antique, its value lying in its visual appeal just as much as its age, provenance or functionality. Antiques dealer Lennox Cato explains that the term ‘decorative’ once meant something very different to how it might be interpreted today. “A good dealer or advisor will always tell you whether a piece is ‘right’,” he says. “Years…

ANTIQUATED Specialist in eighteenth to twentieth-century furniture, decorative antiques and vintage rocking horses. Tel 01403 820 292; antiquated.co.uk BROWNRIGG INTERIORS & DECORATIVE ANTIQUES A go-to destination for interior designers, decorators and private clients, Brownrigg’s vision is to offer a constantly evolving mix of antiques and decorative pieces. Tel 01666 500 887; brownrigg-interiors.co.uk THE FRENCH HOUSE One of the most extensive ranges of French antiques in the UK. Skilled craftsmen are available to adapt and restore pieces to fit customers’ needs. Tel 020 73717573 (London) or 01904 400561 (York); thefrenchhouse.co.uk GALLERY FORTY ONE Kate Thurlow sources English and continental furniture, carvings, studio pottery, mirrors and objects from around the world, dating from the fifteenth to mid-twentieth century. Tel 07836 588776; katethurlow.co.uk GEOFFREY STEAD A range of interesting and unusual pieces sourced…

Bring Easter celebrations to life by arranging colourful and engaging decorations in key focal points around the home. From hanging motifs to seasonal bunting, symbolic accessories nod towards the awakening of spring. Themed tableware in pretty tones creates a fresh and uplifting sight to behold. It is also lovely to collect a few seasonal characters, to be brought out every year as an expression of Easter time.…

CATCHPOLE & RYE Bathroom company Catchpole & Rye was founded by Tony O’Donnell in 1990, following the discovery of a dilapidated yet beautiful bath under a worktop in the kitchen of a house he and his wife Elaine had bought in Kent. Deciding to have the bath restored, the couple searched high and low for someone with the skills to do it. Unsuccessful in their search, O’Donnell decided to set about the task himself and along the way discovered a selection of reclaimed and antique sanitaryware in various salvage yards. This led to a passion to preserve and maintain the beauty of these antiques, and the birth of Catchpole & Rye. The brand has a foundry and workshop in Kent where it casts and hand-finishes designs using heritage skills that…

This season sees an abundance of botanical designs, be they flowers, trees or fresh takes on chinoiserie. Many charmingly feature English flora and fauna, from dreamy roses and wisteria to detailed depictions of woodland birds – a twist on traditional exotic chinoiserie – whilst others retain an eastern flavour with bamboo motifs offering a gentle oriental note. There is certainly a noticeable display of artistry in many collections, with painterly qualities capturing the colours and allure of the natural world. The palette of pinks, plums, blues and greens that pervades many of the collections supplies an appealing and versatile choice of hues that can be soft and gentle or, for the bolder, a little more dramatic and impactful. Over the next six pages is a selection of designs we hope…

1 April: Lincolnshire International Antiques & Homes Show One of Europe’s biggest antiques and home shows, with stalls both inside and out. Lincolnshire Showground, Lincolnshire LN2 2NA asfairs.com/antiques-home-show/about 2–3 April: Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair A renowned treasure-hunting ground, the largest event of its kind in Europe, held over two days every other month. The Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground, Lincoln Road, Newark NG24 2NY iacf.co.uk/newark 2–5 April: Art & Antiques for Everyone The largest and most-established art, interiors and antiques fair outside London, with all items vetted for authenticity. The NEC Birmingham, Hall 12, Birmingham B40 1NT antiquesforeveryone.co.uk 10–11 April: Peterborough Festival of Antiques A huge event with something for everyone, from furniture and ceramics to silver and architectural salvage. The East of England Showground, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 6XE…

“I love La Belle Brocante, a lovely vintage store in Wells with hand-painted furniture, mirrors, chandeliers, crockery, glassware, beautiful fabric ranges and lots more (1 Priest Row, Wells BA5 2PY Tel: 01749 672164). In Frome try Lark Vintage, a beautiful eclectic shop full of antiques and clothes (Standerwick Court, Standerwick, Frome BA11 6TN Tel: 07988 615686; larkvintage.co.uk), or French General Trading (see page 126), a wonderful little place full of paintings, French furniture and gifts. I have my pop-up shop upstairs, which makes it hard as I’m always buying there myself! (26 Catherine Hill, Frome BA11 1BY Tel: 07713 884820; frenchgeneraltrading.co.uk) For food and drink in Frome, we love Bistro Lotte, a French cafe with the most delicious food and the perfect setting for a romantic supper (23 Catherine Street,…

NICHOLAS HAWKSMOOR (1661–1736) A leading figure of the English Baroque style and former clerk to Sir Christopher Wren. Linked with Westminster Abbey and various Oxford University buildings. SIR JOHN VANBURGH (1664–1726) English Baroque architect and dramatist who designed Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire and Castle Howard, Yorkshire. JAMES WYATT (1746–1813) A contemporary of Robert Adam working in the neoclassical and neo-Gothic styles, designs include Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire and Ashridge House, Hertfordshire. SIR JOHN SOANE (1753–1837) Specialised in the neoclassical style, producing the Bank of England and Dulwich Picture Gallery. His former London home and office now houses Sir John Soane’s Museum.…

MAY EDITION – 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL • Celebrating two decades of talent and influencial voices • Fresh ideas for decorating with classic blue and white • The architectural secrets to making every centimetre of a room count • Four beautiful English homes dressed for spring ON SALE 1ST APRIL theenglishhome.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @englishhometeam Pinterest at pinterest.com/theenglishhome Facebook at facebook.com@theenglishhome Instagram at instagram.com@englishhomemag…