Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2020 i The English Home

There is nowhere quite like the English countryside in summertime. As I work on finalising this issue from home, the air is fragrant with flowers and alive with the sound of bees and birdsong, and my views are of the Cotswold hills beyond the garden. It’s an environment I’ve been especially grateful for during lockdown. A connection to nature and the seasons, a slower pace of life and relaxed interiors that reflect their surroundings are all elements of country style I’ve enjoyed increasingly over the last few months. Of course, these are ideals that are desirable for city and town dwellers, too. The elements of English country style have broad appeal and can work in any location – classic or contemporary – and be adapted and used in many ways.…

The Royal Family is known for its love of country pursuits and enjoying rural life at Sandringham and Balmoral. Add regal style to life in the country with products from Royal Warrant holders. This prestigious accolade recognises that services or goods have been supplied to HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales. So, from the iconic headscarf to the requisite teapot, take inspiration from Royal style.…

Decorating children’s rooms can be a joy to do, with plenty of opportunity for whimsy and playful details. It does, however, require a skilful balance of both catering for the tastes and desires of a young character, the practical needs for storage, safety and for ideas to evolve and adapt, and of course a parent’s wish for the room to be as beautifully considered as the rest of the home. It is also a space that might need updating more frequently as fickle tastes change, so often there needs to be consideration of wise investments that will stand the test of time and grow with a child, as well as flourishes that will delight the child for a year or two to make their room feel like their very own…

CABINETRY & KITCHENS ARTICHOKE Tel 01934 745270 artichoke-ltd.com BARNES OF ASHBURTON Tel 01364 653613 barnesofashburton.co.uk DEVOL Tel 01509 261000 devolkitchens.co.uk LANSERRING Tel 020 3319 6969 lanserring.com MARTIN MOORE Tel 0845 180015 martinmoore.com MIDDLETON BESPOKE Tel 01403 864446 middleton-bespoke.co.uk MOWLEM & CO Tel 0191 281 3443 mowlemandco.com PLAIN ENGLISH Tel 020 7486 2674 plainenglishdesign.co.uk SMALLBONE OF DEVIZES Tel 020 7589 5998 smallbone.co.uk TOM HOWLEY Tel 0161 848 1200 tomhowley.co.uk UNFITTED Tel 01608 650065 unfitted.co.uk THE WHITE KITCHEN COMPANY Tel 01604 821003 thewhitekitchencompany.com FLOORING ARTISANS OF DEVIZES Tel 01380 735888 artisansofdevizes.com BROADLEAF Tel 01269 851910 broadleaftimber.com CA’PIETRA Tel 01380 735885 capietra.com DEVON STONE Tel 01392 879767 devonstone.com ELEMENT 7 Tel 020 7736 2366 element7.co.uk GENERATIONS Tel 01509 210321 generations.co.uk HAVWOODS Tel 01524 737000 havwoods.co.uk JUNCKERS Tel 01376 534700 junckers.co.uk LAPICIDA Tel 020…

“If I never have to eat another one again as long as I live, it’ll still be too soon,” said my friend Jane with some vehemence. I leapt back. All I’d done was ask if she was interested in taking a few of these beautiful small courgettes about the size of a big banger off my hands. Well, quite a few, if I’m being honest. They were Romanesco, an Italian variety of which I’m very fond. They are not a heavy cropper, but have a very handsome, heavily ridged exterior and an unmatchable nutty sweetness on the inside, and, best of all, don’t collapse into a mush when you cook them. Their flesh tends to be firm or firmish; they are altogether superior courgettes – or ‘zucchine’ as the Italians…

The Secrets of Country House Hotel Style Regular contributor to The English Home Suzanna Le Grove interviewed the key names behind some of the smartest country house hotels this issue. Her feature (on page 72) reveals the style secrets behind creating luxurious, comfortable interiors and how to emulate them at home, along with a little black book of interiors brands to discover. Picking up future issues of The English Home We appreciate that it is not always easy to get to the shops at the moment. With the disruption to life, and whilst you may possibly have more time to reflect and read this summer, we have created some special subscription offers to enable you to continue enjoying The English Home (see page 31 or visit theenglishhome.co.uk). Once you have…

RURAL CHARM This calm, sophisticated bathroom in dove grey would look equally at home in town or country, but is lent a little rustic character by the delightfully pretty homemade shower curtain, complete with layers of ruffle, and natural floorboards given an update with a quirky, clever, hand-painted chequerboard effect in place of tiles. (See page 114 for further ideas on home decorating projects.) Walls, Paris Grey, £41.95 for 2.5l Wall Paint; bath and floor, Old Violet, from £5.95 for 120ml Chalk Paint; shower curtain, Linen Union, Antoinette & Old White, £39.95 a metre, all Annie Sloan…

Bridget Elworthy & Henrietta Courtauld The entrance to Wardington Manor, just a few hours northwest of London in Oxfordshire, does its best to stay humble. Visitors are cautioned by a faded sign to go ‘very slow’ for dogs and horses, and the Jacobean house reveals itself shyly, set back behind rust-hued gateposts and accessed by a short driveway off the village lane. Its unremarkable side entrance defers to the gravel courtyard with its array of wheelbarrows, tractors, and even the odd pony. But just a few steps into this sixteenth-century structure fashioned from Horton stone, which was later combined with Arts and Crafts-style reconfigurations in the 1920s, one realises that this is no ordinary country house. There is an explosion of flowers throughout the property: many magnificent cutting gardens are…

Make the most of long, lazy summer days by dining outside in style. Whether marking a celebration for two, the family or simply elevating the everyday, a relaxed but beautifully set table such as the one shown here by interior designer Katharine Pooley will transform it into a delightful occasion. Take design cues from the great English countryside with a soft palette of colours and textures such as wood and wicker and combine with spriggy floral prints on crisp cotton table linen. Display an array of wildflowers in an antique planter and use pretty crockery, perhaps mismatched vintage china, alongside sturdy glass cloches and jugs for practicality. Have large lanterns and candles (and, of course, something to light them with) at hand should lively conversations last into the night.…

The popular modern country look is pared back with rustic touches. A new wave sees bursts of vibrant colour and print to contrast against white and natural finishes. Artisan buys and quality craftsmanship are key to this fun yet sophisticated take on country style. Keep colourful additions to one or two pieces and patterns minimal. A statement chair, rug or some colourful tiles and a bold accessory or two will work well against white painted furniture, chic linens and a careful blend of contemporary pieces and natural materials.…

TITCHMARSH & GOODWIN Titchmarsh & Goodwin has been making quality English furniture, in oak, mahogany and walnut, for over 100 years using time-honoured methods. Its history is something director Jamie Cooper is proud of, and having started as a designer in the company, which he now owns with his wife, he is keen to preserve the techniques and skills of the craftsmen. However, Titchmarsh & Goodwin is not just about traditional furniture and is moving into the 21st century, taking the skills of the past and applying them to new ventures with private commissions. Its team of woodturners, carvers, polishers and machinists can turn their hands to anything – creating a modern take on Gustavian style, tweaking existing designs to a client’s needs or working on completely bespoke ideas –…

Whilst ancillary rooms are more often than not afterthoughts when it comes to designing an interior, there is no reason for them to not be beautiful as well as practical. Be it a boot room, pantry, utility or flower room, these functional spaces must, of course, be fit for purpose, yet they also provide the perfect opportunity to blend form with function and reflect a homeowner’s individual style and character. Structure, too, plays a part, particularly in a period property, which will have certain foibles that influence layout and flow. How best, then, to bring together these elements? Here, we showcase a range of functional rooms and zones carefully considered and creatively conceived by experienced designers. Each case study demonstrates it is eminently possible to express the homeowner’s personality as…

LET THERE BE CAKE Nothing delights at tea time quite like a home-made cake. Whilst it is reassuring to bake tried-and-tested recipes, summer brings an opportutnity to use produce growing in abundance and for new combinations. Try Prue Leith’s Best Carrot Cake, from her Vegetarian Bible or the National Trust’s Lemon Courgette Cake (nationaltrust.org.uk/recipes). For those wishing to add an exotic twist to homegrown flavours, try adding pureed mango or passion fruit to a classic cream cheese icing for a carrot cake (as pictured).…