Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2021 i The English Home

Autumn is a season of change, not least in the interiors industry as the latest collections are unveiled. It’s a time to explore and discover exciting new designs, which colours, patterns and pieces make our hearts sing and what we’ll use to revive our homes. I’m not sure that a home can (or should ever) be completely finished – it’s an evolving, living realm that changes as the needs and desires of its inhabitants do. Whilst the last 18 months have perhaps not been the roaring ’20s we anticipated when we entered this new decade, it has inevitably seen many of us spend more time than ever making our homes work for our shifting lifestyles. Our feature on page 91 explores examples from leading interior designers who have tackled common…

STRIPE DELIGHT Joining Ceraudo’s oversized check and bold polka dot patterned fabrics is the new Sonia Stripe. A 100-percent yarn-dyed Indian cotton, it is available by the metre in Artichoke, Ginger and Citron as well as across all the brand’s existing upholstered furniture, cushions, wallpaper and plaster wall accessories. Sophia armchair in Sonia Stripe artichoke, from £1,250; Sonia Stripe cushions, from £125; Sonia Stripe fabric, from £95 a metre, all Ceraudo HERITAGE SEATING Inspired by the company’s 333 or ‘small chair’ design launched in 1953, Ercol’s new Heritage capsule collection of signature pieces reimagines classic pieces, combining signature spindle backs and splayed legs with airy, organic forms in either a natural or black-painted finish. Heritage collection, from £349 (small seat), Ercol LACQUER FINISH The playful castellations of The Rug Company…

It is usually spring that inspires us to consider floral and botanical designs for interiors, but this year – perhaps because RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been moved to September – we find ourselves drawn to leaf and bloom patterns and motifs for autumn interiors, too. From mellow-hued painterly interpretations of our native plants on fabrics, to golden finishes bringing richness and warmth in accessories, there is plenty to inspire. Embrace the natural beauty around in late summer and early autumn to create a soothing and enveloping home.…

Marking his first venture into textile design, interior designer Martin Hulbert has collaborated with Zinc Textiles to create a sumptuous collection of fabrics and cushions. Balancing neutrals with richer hues, soothing tones with textures, the ensemble forms a cosy, laid-back yet perfectly considered scheme. Sofa, Studland, Ivory, £100 a metre; curtain, Meon, Tobacco, £140 a metre; cushions in Bude, Olive, Cognac and Ochre, £115 a metre; Studland cushion, Multi, £150, all Zinc Textiles…

A hallway is like a handshake: the introduction to a home, and, as such, it requires careful planning to achieve an optimal combination of functionality and inviting good looks. The same goes for a landing, which as a connecting space may often be treated in a similar way to a hall. As with any other room, important factors include lighting, flooring, wall and window treatments, and storage, but with specific concerns. These may include the narrow width of a terraced townhouse entrance and landings; reduced natural light; and, of course, the way in which these areas are self-contained and yet also function as important links to other parts of the house. FLOORING MATTERS Hallways, stairs and landings are high-traffic areas, so the ideal flooring is not only non-slip and durable…

Who can resist a pumpkin – round, rubicund, stout and stately? The pumpkin is a picture of amiability and cheeriness, a bulwark against imminent winter. They arrive at that time when produce from the garden is winding down (well, mine is; just a few scarlet carrots and beetroot the size of small boulders and some chicories left), and they can hang around for months waiting to be put to good use. We tend only to carve pumpkins into Halloween grotesques in the American fashion, (to be fair, we actually owe pumpkins to the Americas, as we do so many of the staples of our kitchen), but, as the Italians know, pumpkins have culinary virtues that far outweigh their appeal as lanterns. I’m reminded on my Saturday visits to the Stroud…

Often regarded as the most ostentatious of garden flowers, dahlias are currently enjoying a glorious renaissance. With over 50,000 hybridised dahlias available, there is a more varied spectrum to choose from than perhaps any other garden bloom. These floral beauties can offer everything from daisy-like simplicity and exacting architectural spheres to exuberant and spiky border divas. The diversity of colour is another reason that these prolific plants are so popular with everyone from leading florists, garden designers and nurserymen to retailers and gardeners alike. Vivid shades of cerise, fuchsia, scarlet and orange primarily spring to mind, but there are many more considered, inspiring options and a favourite variety just waiting to be found. ENDURING CHARM Often associated with Edwardian cutting gardens and post-war domestic borders, dahlias have a compelling background.…

SPOTLIGHT ON… Little Greene x National Trust Little Greene proudly unveils its newest wallpaper collaboration with the National Trust. This eclectic collection is based on original patterns from the Trust’s historic houses, such as Knightshayes Court in Devon which inspired Burges Snail (above, in Juniper, one of seven available colourways). Dating back to 1878, this charming wallpaper adorns one the bathrooms at Knightshayes Court. It was designed by eccentric Gothic Revivalist architect and designer William Burges, who created some of the most original and extravagant Victorian interiors – sometimes whilst dressed in medieval costume. Little Greene’s National Trust Papers II comprises 42 colourways across seven designs, its inspiration spanning 400 years. A contribution from the sale of every roll of wallpaper will be made in support of the National Trust.…

This month sees The English Home celebrate its 200th issue, which has us in the mood for celebrating. The glamour of the Roaring Twenties seems a fitting way to set the scene for some revelry, and we hope readers are in a celebratory mood too, reuniting with friends and family. Add a touch of luxury with updated takes on 1920s style, with nods to art deco-style motifs, tassels on cushions and lighting, decadent beading and golden finishes. Feathers, fringes and a hint of frivolity mixed with glamour and a classic cocktail all set the perfect party mood.…

“This house really suits my lifestyle. It has a great feeling of space and light,” explains Jackie Harris of the fourteenth-century property in the historic Cinque Port town of Rye, Sussex, that she shares with partner Allan and youngest daughter Amelia when home from university. Beautiful, rare and interesting pieces are offset against a neutral palette. ‘Everything has been sourced from my love of antiques’ Nestled in a conservation area amidst the town’s labyrinth of winding cobbled streets, passageways and half-timbered medieval buildings, Jackie’s townhouse is overflowing with original features. Wonderfully wonky walls, superb centuries-old, wide-plank floorboards, exposed low beams and areas of patch-worked brickwork all point to a house that has been lived in and loved over its time and, despite its low ceilings, it really is flooded with…

The past year has seen plenty of opportunity, or at least a desire, to redecorate and update interiors, making our homes as special as they can be. The latest designs are sure to inspire those who have not yet refreshed tired interiors, and may even tempt those who have to add further designs into the mix. Many of the new collections draw inspiration from nature, with botanical designs aplenty, albeit in varying guises – from mellow, painterly depictions to bright, tropical embroideries. There are global influences too, igniting a desire to explore further afield once more and incorporate international flavours to our homes – from toiles to chinoiserie and Persian motifs. There is a wonderful use of colour across the collections. From bold brights and pretty pastel tones to sumptuous,…

Carpets, rugs and natural weaves are winning back the market share they lost, particularly to wood, but also to stone and tiles, as first choice for flooring prime areas of the home. The virtues of hard floorings are not in dispute, but they cannot compete with carpet, rugs and natural floorings for bringing texture, warmth, colour and pattern to floors through the house. The issue of controlling sound transmission, especially in a busy family house, also lands a winner in carpet’s court. Fitting any new flooring is an investment and it is important with carpet and natural floorings to take a realistic approach to the cost of quality underlay and expert fitting and factor it in. The appearance and life expectancy of the new flooring depends on it. ON THE…

• When they have finished their business with the gin, strain off the sloes and depip them – a fiddly business but no more so than many cooking processes – then lay them out on a non-stick silicone sheet. • Melt the chocolate in a bain marie – how much will depend on how many sloes you are dealing with – and pour over the fruit to the thickness you prefer. What kind of chocolate will depend on your personal preferences; I like slightly sweetened dark chocolate myself, not too challenging in the purity department. • Allow to cool. Eat.…

“The Duchy of Cornwall Nursery has everything – an award-winning cafe, a gift shop and of course a renowned nursery (Cott Road, Lostwithiel PL22 0HW Tel: 01208 872668; duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk). Nearby Lostwithiel is a charming town with so many fabulous shops, including a variety of good antiques shops and a wonderful deli, Bellamama (24 Fore Street, Lostwithiel PL22 0BL Tel: 01208 872524; bellamama.biz). I love Fitzroy in Fowey – the food is quite unusual, so fresh and light (2 Fore Street, Fowey PL23 1AQ Tel: 01726 932934; fitzroycornwall.com). In Newquay, do try the sourdough bread, pastries and coffee at the excellent Pavilion Bakery (37 Fore Street, Newquay TR7 1HD; pavilionbakery.com). Watergate Bay is an amazing surfing beach, and Porthcurnick beach is lovely, too. Here you can find The Hidden Hut (Portscatho,…

National Dahlia Collection, West Cornwall With over 1,600 varieties, this is the go-to place to inspire any dahlia wishlist. Tel: 01736 339 276; nationaldahliacollection.co.uk Hinton Ampner, Hampshire Beautiful formal displays around the grounds, particularly in the kitchen and sunken garden. Tel: 01962 771305; nationaltrust.org.uk Great Dixter, East Sussex Home of the late, great Christopher Lloyd, each garden room is a jewel-box of rich, vibrant colour, many including dahlias. Tel: 01797 252878; greatdixter.co.uk Nymans, West Sussex Nestled in the Sussex Weald, this glorious and romantic garden features numerous types of dahlias in the lavish herbaceous borders. Tel: 0344 249 1895; nationaltrust.org.uk Perch Hill, East Sussex Rural home and garden of Sarah Raven, a plant-filled haven that includes carefully trialled and selected dahlias. Tel: 0345 092 0283; sarahraven.com Rousham Gardens, Oxfordshire Early…

We often decorate to please the eye, but textures that delight the sense of touch are essential for creating a comfortable, sensual and interesting scheme. Look for unexpected details and tactile elements in furnishings both hard and soft, particularly in more neutral rooms that demand layers of textures for visual interest too. Heritage fabrics such as boucle with its distinctive bobbled finish are making a comeback and look splendid in classic cream. Traditional buttoning on upholstery is a chic textural finish for a statement piece. For hard objects, seek beaded, bobbly, carved, twisted and etched finishes for textures that beg to be touched.…

Emily Todhunter’s eyes light up when she describes life at the Wiltshire country house she shares with husband Manoli Olympitis and a menagerie of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, chickens and doves. The house is rarely quiet as the couple’s friends and three grown-up children visit regularly, and whilst Emily loves this, she is at her happiest pottering in the garden or tending to her horses in the stables. “The house is situated in a beautiful spot on the edges of the Marlborough Downs, so I can ride my horse or walk the dogs along The Ridgeway, through unspoilt countryside, without catching sight of a single road for miles. It’s absolute bliss,” she says. The couple already had a daughter, Olympia, but it was the arrival of their twin boys,…

LORNA HAIGH, creative director, Alternative Flooring QUALITIES OF NATURAL PLANT FIBRES FOR CARPETS, RUGS AND RUNNERS “Coir, jute, seagrass and sisal are the four main natural weaves used as carpets, rugs and runners. Coir, spun from the coarse fibres on coconut husks, is hardwearing and can be laid in most areas including on stairs. Jute, woven from the fibres of the Corchorus plant, feels good underfoot and is best for low traffic areas. Seagrass, harvested in coastal areas of Vietnam and China, is softer than coir and makes characterful weaves. Though hardwearing, it isn’t suitable for stairs. Sisal comes from white fibres in the leaves of the spiky Agave sisalana plant grown mostly in Africa. Being white it dyes well, and can have flecks of colour added to its range…

Savour every opportunity to embrace the great outdoors with early autumn picnics whenever the sun shines. Find a spot to enjoy the changing colours of the leaves and the mellow fruitfulness of the season. Gather a harvest of late ripened fruits, hunks of freshly baked bread and cordials made during summer. We love this rather beautiful picnic rug for the occasion too. The hand-drawn wildflower design is on a durable cotton canvas with waterproof backing and a UPF50+ coating to keep it from fadng in the sun. Wandering Folk Native Wildflower Picnic Rug, £139, Antipodream…

“My favourite place is the St Kew Inn (St Kew, Bodmin PL30 3HB Tel: 01208 841259; stkewinn. co.uk), the perfect, quintessentially English pub. It’s a beautiful fifteenth-century building and serves excellent food. Tate St Ives (Porthmeor Beach TR26 1TG Tel: 01736 796226; tate.org.uk) is an award-winning modern art venue – and it’s right on the beach. St Senara’s Church (Zennor TR26 3BY; zennorchurch.com) with its famous carved mermaid, is lovely to visit, and I adore the nearby Tinner’s Arms (Zennor TR26 3BY Tel: 01736 796927; tinnersarms.com), which was built in 1271 and has a welcoming, timeless atmosphere. Jo & Co at Hawksfield (see above) is a great shop for gifts, and I’ve been going to Victoria Antiques (21 Molesworth Street, Wadebridge PL27 7DD Tel: 07970 829974; vicantiques.co.uk) for 40 years…

Seize every last ray of late-summer early-autumn sunshine – however fleeting – whilst preparing for changeable weather, with a portable drinks station like this one by Layered Lounge. Set the mood with elegant barware in cut glass, brass and copper, with comfy cushions and cosy throws ensuring the view from that local beauty spot can still be enjoyed if the temperature dips. Mix up a mocktail for the driver – and if the heavens open, pack up in a flash and escape back home. Suzy Humphreys launched Layered Lounge in 2017 with quality, stylish and affordable homewares inspired by nature and travel, focussing on textures, a soothing colour palette and a relaxed vibe. Barware, from £17; glassware, from £9.50; cushions and throws from £66, all Layered Lounge…