Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i The English Home

OUT OF AFRICA Encompassing textured linens, natural tones and handmade pieces from local artisans, the latest accessories collection from de Le Cuona highlights Africa’s raw beauty in testament to the brand’s heritage under South African-born founder Bernie de Le Cuona. Haiku Panel Cushion with Fringe Detail in Husk/Paper, £180; Haiku Cushion with Fringe Detail in Husk, £160; Hoxton Throw with Fringe and Leather Detail in Sesame, £530; Engraved Coconut Bowls, £160 each; Buhera Baskets (in background), from £775, all de Le Cuona LEADING LIGHTS Rolled-edge detailing, an antique brass finish and a hand-sprayed exterior make up the charms of this new design from David Hunt Lighting, available in three colourways and customisable colour options. Ealing Cotswold Cream large pendant in Antique Brass, £342, David Hunt Lighting CHECK MATE Made entirely…

UNFITTED In amongst a sea of high-end kitchen brands, Unfitted has set itself apart by doing just what the name suggests – primarily creating freestanding, handmade kitchens (though it offers the fitted variety, too). The company was set up in 2010 by Mark Shurey, who saw a gap in the market for freestanding bespoke furniture, that, brilliantly, people could take with them when they moved to a new house. Whether a traditional or classic look is desired, there are plenty of styles to choose from, even down to the range of timbers Unfitted uses, which can be painted, distressed, or refined with vintage and industrial finishes. If a customer is unsure of sure where to start, Unfitted’s design team can help work out everything needed, from pantry cupboards and range…

Some make life-changing decisions in a nanosecond, whilst others weigh up the pros and cons through long, sleepless nights. Joa Studholme and her husband, Andrew, fall into the former category. “We were staying with friends in Somerset for the weekend and, over dinner on the Friday night, another couple mentioned that they were selling their weekend home nearby, a nineteenth-century schoolhouse,” Joa explains. “Intrigued, we drove over early the following morning, and by the afternoon, it was all agreed. We’d bought a house. The lofty ceilings in the kitchen and main living area are what made it particularly appealing as, although I’m not tall, my husband is 6ft 7, our son Cosmo is 6ft 5 and our daughter Nancy, is 6ft.” Approaching the schoolhouse, it quickly becomes apparent that it…

CREATE A STORY – When we look to design a hotel, we always look to create a story. This is often built around the context of the project or a character in the local area. Of course, a home should be based on your personality, but if seeking a steer, always take the architecture, location and history of the area into account. This can help when choosing architectural finishes, paint colours, fabrics, furniture, artwork – if a narrative is created, it can help create those more interesting touches. MIX IT UP – At the same time, it is important not to create a pastiche or design an interior that transports you to a specific time or place. If you live in a Victorian house, the entire house needn’t be high…

Penshurst Place, Kent From late May the 100-metre-long Peony Border is packed with hundreds of pink peonies including ‘Lady Alexander Duff’ and ‘Sarah Bernhardt’. penshurstplace.com Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent World-famous garden created by English author and garden designer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson. nationaltrust.org.uk/ sissinghurst-castlegarden Fairlight Hall, East Sussex The spectacular ha-ha border dates back to the early 1900s and includes many long-established herbaceous peonies. fairlighthall.co.uk Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London The peony border at the southern end of the Evolution Garden showcases varieties including the delicate Fernleaf peony, glorious Mlokosewitch’s peony and many tree peonies. kew.org Hidcote Manor, Gloucestershire Herbaceous and species peonies nestle amongst the towering topiary in the spectacular Pillar Garden. nationaltrust.org.uk/Hidcote Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire Peonies in the lavishly planted herbaceous borders and formal walled…

It is hard to imagine a more perfect location for a family home than that of the Victorian farmhouse in Hampshire belonging to Gemma Scott Knight and her husband Ben. Tucked away at the end of a private lane in a pleasant hamlet within easy reach of Basingstoke, the farmhouse, dating from around 1850, enjoys an outlook across fields and woodland. “It didn’t take us long to decide to buy it,” recalls Gemma. “When we started looking for a new home four years ago, it was just the sort of property we had in mind. With three teenage daughters, we wanted more space for them and us, in a peaceful but not isolated location.” ‘ I specified mainly pale and neutral wall colours so that the focus is more on…

Travel over the past year has been off the agenda for many and may well prove tricky for some time. Dreams of sun-drenched beaches, exploring ancient streets, soaking up a different culture and revelling in the luxury of a fabulous hotel can make the heart yearn for a few touches of holiday flavour at home. Here we offer inspiration from four well-designed hotels that are certainly on the wish list once we can hop on a plane. Simple touches and updates can help to bring a taste of a favourite destination, whether a French chateau or a luxury Indian Ocean resort. HOTEL CHÂTEAU DU GRAND-LUCÉ, LOIRE VALLEY Enjoying a prime location in the Loire valley, south of Paris, Château du Grand-Lucé offers a sense of a stay at Versailles. Classic…

When a 19-year-old Nina Campbell started working as an assistant for Imogen Taylor, the principal designer at Colefax and Fowler, she could never have imagined it would prove the start of a career that would span the next five decades. Judging by her current workload, she shows no sign of slowing down. “I wasn’t even there to fold fabric,” recalls Nina. “I was actually taken on to make the tea. But I’d never made tea in my life. I recall making a disgusting cup of tea for John Fowler and he begged me never to make it again!” It was the start of a three-year stint at the company that taught Nina a tremendous amount. “John was just the most wonderful person to work for,” she says, “because once he…

PAEONIA ‘CORAL SUNSET’ Beautiful herbaceous variety, semi-double blooms change from coral to soft yellow as they age. £10.99 for a 3l pot, Kelways PAEONIA ITOH ‘CANARY BRILLIANT’ A striking itoh peony, it features yellow-cream flowers with apricot shades towards the centre of the flower head. £22 for one bare root, Hayloft PAEONIA X ‘ALL THAT JAZZ’ A new itoh introduction that has frilly, yet sophisticated, apricot flowers streaked with raspberry. £39.95 for one bare root, Sarah Raven PAEONIA LACTIFLORA ‘HONEY GOLD’ Fragrant creamy white flowers with strong straight stems that are perfect for arranging. £25 for a 5.5l pot, Primrose Hall Peonies PAEONIA LACTIFLORA ‘SARAH BERNHARDT’ Popular since Edwardian times, this much-loved variety has enormous, double rose-pink blooms with a delicious scent. £8.99 for one bare root, Crocus PAEONIA ‘CLAIRE…

The wedding dress of Diana, Princess of Wales, will go on show at Kensington Palace as part of new exhibition Royal Style In The Making (3 June to January 2022), featuring glittering gowns from three generations of royal women. hrp.org.uk Mary Berry will be one of the stars at Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, the world’s largest flower show (6–11 July), as will our sister magazine The English Garden, which will have a stand at the show. rhs.org.uk Highgrove’s gardens feature in guided tours run by Sisley of notable gardens in the Cotswolds, Dorset, North Yorkshire, the Wye Valley, the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall. sisley.co.uk…

Coastal style has enduring appeal, whether pared-back with whitewashed walls and driftwood, jaunty and nautical, or, as we celebrate here, full of seaside nostalgia. Whether living in one of our glorious seaside towns or seeking to emulate the charm of holiday memories of fish and chips, sandy toes and donkey rides, this look is full of pretty ice cream colours and sweet details. Combine the colours of the sea and sand with strawberry pinks, pistachio greens and creamy vanilla, in classic ticking stripes, fringing, beads and some witty nods to seaside attractions.…

It is said that life, at times, has a way of coming full circle. For Alice Owen, together with her husband Tim, this meant exchanging a busy London lifestyle for the rolling Kent countryside of her childhood and a more relaxed, bucolic way of living. “Despite already having a weekend home in Sussex, our long-term goal did not include turning our backs on the city,” she explains. “The plan had been to sell our London home and buy another with a larger garden nearby.” However, as Alice and Tim found themselves dividing more and more of their time equally between town and country, it was actually Tim, a London-based lawyer, who suggested a permanent move to Kent. Having established roots in the area proved particularly fortuitous for the couple when…

Luxury hotels and high-end holiday cottages are designed with guests’ every possible need in mind and careful consideration of how spaces will be used. Comfort, escape from everyday life and an opportunity to experience indulgences are all top priorities, but a holiday or short break can also inspire redecoration at home – perhaps trying a bolder look seen in a hotel or reimagining a layout to make better use of space. Here the designers behind inspirational hotels and holiday rentals reveal the clever ideas they incorporate, practical things they consider and the decorative choices to note. CLEVER USE OF SPACE Holiday houses in particular have to function as the perfect home as soon as guests arrive. Lisa Sansom of Squirrels Interiors has designed holiday cottages in Dartmoor, managed by Boutique…

Encapsulating both the charm and romance of an English country garden, the first glimpse of the unfurling petals of a peony is a moment to be treasured. Emerging as tight, globe-like buds perched on tall stems, they open into a plethora of delicate petals, forming a dense pompom of ruffles or simple floral cups enclosing a mass of stamens. Heralding the arrival of summer, this is a much-loved bloom with many different guises. From classic pale pink to crisp milk white, buttery lemon and soft apricot to the deepest magenta and crimson, there is a peony variety to suit every preference and colour palette. Alec White of Primrose Hall Peonies says: “Every garden deserves at least one peony. Peonies evoke obsessive dedication from gardeners because of the sheer variety of…