Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i The English Home

The aesthetic of English period townhouses is one that’s captured our hearts this month, particularly those of the Georgian and Regency eras. It’s hard not to be bowled over by their considered proportions and balanced classical symmetry. Whilst they have ‘great bones’ such as large sash windows, high-ceilinged rooms and original floorboards, their interiors, of course, need decorating sympathetically and with flair to transform them into ‘homes’. Not least today, when the original layouts often need to be adapted to suit our current ways of living (and working) at home. With this in mind, we have consulted leading interior designers to discover their insights and advice for decorating townhouses practically and beautifully (p76). Within these pages you will also find tempting, indulgent new buys to update both town and country…

Masterpieces by an Gogh, Monet, Degas, Renoir and more will go on show at The Courtauld gallery in London when it reopens this month after a multi-million-pound three-year restoration project. courtauld.ac.uk V&A visitors will be able to marvel at three Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs, on show in the UK for the first time, along with over 200 other items by the iconic goldsmith in a new exhibition from 20 November to May 2022. vam.ac.uk Artist and designer Mark Hearld will showcase his nature-inspired artworks at Yorkshire Sculpture Park from 13 November to 6 February 2022. ysp.org.uk…

SAM SHERVILL, Marketing manager, Silent Gliss REMOTE CONTROL Comfort, convenience and security are the main reasons our customers choose automated and motorised window treatments. Essentially, these are blinds and curtains, each fitted with a small electrically powered motor that can be operated by means of a wall switch, remote-control handset, app or computerised system. As well as making it easy to draw heavy curtains or those at hard to reach windows, some systems can be programmed to open and close at a particular time, to shade rooms when the sun gets too hot or to synchronise with lights or central heating for instant scene setting whether you are at home or not. A manual override can be used in the event of a power-cut and if you have guests unfamiliar…

GOLDEN TREASURE Regular readers will recall our columnist Matthew Fort extolling the virtues of the trinity of late autumn and winter fruits – the apple, pear and quince – in our September issue. Golden quince is plump and ready for harvesting from October through to December and makes a welcome addition to crumbles and pies layered in slices with its apple and pear cousins. Quince offers a sweet, fragrant and complex, almost tropical, flavour profile once cooked, elevating a humble Sunday pudding into something sophisticated and unexpected.…

SPOTLIGHT ON… Burleigh x Craven Dunnill Jackfield English heritage companies Burleigh and Craven Dunnill Jackfield have collaborated to produce a striking new range of tiles. Bearing Burleigh’s 1968 Calico pattern, the tiles are available in Aquamarine, Cobalt, Laurel, Flame and Smoke. The glaze acts like a stained glass window, highlighting the exquisite detail in the floral designs. Burleigh was founded in Stoke-on-Trent in 1851 and is the last pottery in the world to practice the Victorian method of under-glaze tissue transfer printing. Craven Dunnill Jackfield began in Shropshire in 1872 and its decorative tiles can be found in the Palace Of Westminster and London Underground, plus elegant homes and hospitality establishments around the world. Both companies proudly use traditional materials in the creation of handmade English craft works of distinction.…

SUSTAINABLE LUXURY Created with a focus on sustainability, provenance and artisanship, the Vintage Cloth Collection from bespoke furniture maker Lorfords sees each of the eight colourways hand-dyed in small batches using entirely natural materials. The Belgravia Sofa in Dirty Sage hand-dyed vintage linen, £10,320, Lorfords Contemporary AUTUMN COMFORT The shifting shades of autumnal woodland walks are captured in textile forms amidst Neptune’s new seasonal collection – layered here in tactile tweed, soft velvet and warm wool, they lend a cosy touch perfect for creaing an inviting backdrop. Cushions (clockwise from bottom left): Florence, Isla Finch, £82; Grace, Harris Tweed, £112; Grace, Francesca, £90; Kersey, £102. Arthur footstool, £515. Throws (from left): Henleaze, £215; Kersey, £325, all Neptune INSPIRED BY DANCE The magic and romance of ballet shaped the new pendant…

HIGHLY TEMPTING Use fabrics to set the scene for cosy winter nights. The dramatic use of fabric hung on a curtain pole as a headboard makes the inviting bed the focal point, and impossible to resist diving under the covers. The full height not only creates impact but makes the room, and bed, look bigger too. The pretty use of florals and paisleys in a mellow, comforting palette of plums, pinks, sages and stone brings a feel of the country, whether in a rural or town house. All fabrics, Vintage collection, Clarke & Clarke…

The simple pleasure of sitting in a cosy, plump armchair by the fire with a good book is easy to take for granted. There are many components and decisions that will ultimately determine just how comfortable that seat is, and different people will have different preferences that will affect the result too. Comfort in seating began with a cushion on a stool and for centuries upholstered seating as we understand it was not on the horizon. Yet many sofas and chairs being made now copy the graceful outlines of seating from centuries past, from Queen Anne through Chippendale to the Regency era, but by adopting a variety of upholstery techniques learned since, delivers the comfort we expect. Changes in lifestyle have also brought new ways of sitting where generous cushioning…

When selecting a new fire for any interior, considering the best or available fuel required – be it for a wood-burning stove, electric or gas fire, or for a more traditional open fireplace – is as important as choice of styling. Whether seeking to create a classic country, period townhouse or contemporary look, we look at practicalities as well as how to incorporate the right design into the home for a complementary style that offers both warmth and comfort. WOOD AND MULTI-FUEL STOVES A freestanding stove, whether wood-burning or multi-fuel (where wood, coal or smokeless fuel can be used), is the perfect way to bring traditional charm and character into the home. It provides an instant focal point within sitting rooms and can be installed within dining areas and kitchens…

Did you know that the Scots used to call their kitchen gardens the kailyard, so great was their love of this inestimable vegetable? I’m with the Scots on this. Kale is a swashbuckling vegetable. It thrives when lesser vegetables wither and wilt. It is pleasingly easy to grow, tolerant of casual treatment and cold. As the great Dr D G Hessayon put it in his still invaluable work The Vegetable & Herb Expert, “The hardiness of kale is unexcelled by any other vegetable – there is none of the heartache in seeing all one’s handwork destroyed by sharp and prolonged frost.” Heartache, indeed. In addition, kale is a most handsome addition to the vegetable patch. Or perhaps that should be kales, because there are many kinds – Red Russian, Curly,…

“North Norfolk is a mecca for great food and antiques alike. The lovely little Langham Blue Bell pub (22 Holt Rd, Langham, NR25 7BX, Tel: 01328 830 630; langhambluebell.co.uk) offers delicious local food, whilst Cookie’s Crab Shop in Salthouse is the go-to for the best seafood in the area (Salthouse, NR25 7AJ, Tel: 01263 740352; salthouse.org.uk). Art Cafe in Glandford is great for coffee and to bag a bargain from its selection of small glassware, jewellery and vintage clothes at great prices, so you’ll be sure to walk away with some gorgeous finds (Manor Farm Barns, Glandford, NR25 7JP, Tel: 01263 741711; art-cafe.org). Try Holt Antiques & Interiors Centre for antiques and interior pieces (Thornage Rd, Holt, NR25 6SU, Tel: 01263 478110; holtantiquesandinteriors.co.uk), or Bayfield Hall Antiques & Interiors Centre…

“My parents were quite contemporary-minded, and I have always been the same – perhaps now more than ever. When I was growing up our home had a modern mix of furniture and textures, including an Eames lounge chair and ottoman. I always loved its sense of comfort and striking style. The husband-and-wife team of Charles and Ray Eames is iconic. They began working together at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan, in the late 1930s, producing pieces that broke the mould then and yet still feel fresh today. There is such an ease and confidence to their designs. Their classic pieces transcend style, whilst being utterly unique, and true to themselves. One of the remarkable things about the Eameses is that they practised in so many different disciplines. They are renowned…

Design Pioneer Ilse Crawford CBE, Studioilse London Design Festival describes The London Design Medal as “the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual who has distinguished themselves within the industry and demonstrated consistent design excellence”. This year’s recipient, Ilse Crawford, was also awarded a CBE in Her Majesty The Queen’s 2021 New Year Honours List. A visionary designer and founder of Studioilse, she has pioneered ‘humanistic’ design to promote postive mental and environmental impacts. Studying history and history of architecture at university led to her deep understanding of the symbiotic relationship between architecture, design and human behaviour. studioilse.com Impactful & Impeccable Designer-maker-artist Mac Collins This year’s Emerging Design Medal, which “recognises an impact made on the design scene within five or so years of graduation,” according to London Design Festival, has…

Set the scene for winter nights with indulgent, rich colours and textures in chic and distinguished designs. Deep tones of navy, burgundy, green and even charcoal are given an opulent feel in velvet and silk. Paint colours could be a cosseting inky, matt finish or given a glossy surface with a finishing coat of lacquer. The addition of metallics lightens the mood whilst enhancing the luxury of the scheme – look to golden threads in embroidery details or passementerie, and gold or brass highlights on dark wood furniture and accessories.…

Windows are the focus of attention in any room, letting the daylight in and framing the view. Now that double glazing and efficient draughtproofing are more widespread, the insulating properties of curtains, blinds and shutters are not as important as they once were, but the desire to cover windows after dark, protect privacy and create a feeling of cosiness in winter and airiness in summer is still strong. How to go about it is the question. We highlight the main considerations with ideas for windows of all kinds, large and small, decorative and practical and show how a well-dressed window can be the keystone of any interior scheme. PRACTICAL CHOICES The most hard-working rooms in any home –kitchens and bathrooms – require window treatments that will resist the potential heat…

• New energy efficiency regulations come into effect in January 2022 – these form part of the Government’s Clean Air Strategy for the UK to become carbon neutral by 2050. Choosing an EcoDesign Ready model will ensure that the stove is compliant with the new structure. • Opting for a clearSkies level 5 rating also ensures the stove meets the minimum energy efficiency rating whilst keeping emissions within a permissible maximum level. • House coal and wet wood are now banned from being burned in stoves. Instead, look for dry or seasoned wood with a moisture content of 20 per cent or less, as this produces less smoke and pollution. • Defra-approved models are smoke exempt, allowing users to burn wood in smoke-controlled zones. • For further information visit stoveindustryalliance.com…

Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 1 ready-cooked ham hock 250g yellow split peas Water 2 onions, sliced 2 sticks of celery 300g cavolo nero or other kale, leaves stripped from the stalks and roughly chopped Vegetable oil 1 tbsp French mustard Salt and black pepper METHOD • Soak the ham hock overnight to reduce the saltiness. • Put into a pan with the split peas. Cover with water. Cook until the split peas are soft, about 35 minutes or so. • Drain off some of the liquid if necessary. • Take out the ham hock and cut off the meat into small bits and pieces before adding them back into the split peas. • Chop the onion and celery finely and the kale leaves less finely. • In a second pan heat…

“Norfolk is particularly densely populated with large houses and stately homes – ancient Oxburgh Hall (Oxborough, King’s Lynn, PE33 9PS, Tel: 01366 328258; nationaltrust.org. uk/oxburgh-hall) and Blickling Estate (Ayslham, NR11 6NF, Tel: 01263 738030; nationaltrust.org. uk/blickling-estate) are on our doorstep and both are breathtaking. For a bit of retail therapy I also love exploring Bayfield Hall Antiques & Interiors (Holt, NR25 7JN, Tel: 01263 715538; bayfieldhallantiques.com), housed in the old stable block at Bayfield Hall. There are a number of dealers here and I find that there is always a great variety of decorative objects, furniture and smaller pieces. The pretty market town of Holt is just a few minutes away from Bayfield Hall and is home to The Black Apollo Coffee House (24 High St, Holt, NR25 6BH, Tel:…