Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2022 i The English Home

SHADES OF NATURE Hand-dyed using flower and plant extracts to create a range of striking hues, the Botanical Textiles collection of homeware from faux and dried bloom-specialist Fox Flowers includes these delightful tea towels (left). Tea towels, £24 each, Fox Flowers RURAL INSPIRATION Drawing inspiration from countryside folklore, the Harvest collection encompassing furniture, fabrics, wallpaper and home objects is designer Beki Bright’s first standalone outing following her recent Pentreath & Hall collaboration. Backdrop, Harvest Fabric, Field Blue, £85 a metre; armchair in Apple Pickers, Rust, £1,500, both Beki Bright ANNIVERSARY DESIGNS Featuring nine playful animals from British wildlife individually painted by hand in traditional Delft blue in the Majolica style, the launch of the Wilding collection from artisan company Marlborough Tiles recalls the joys of nature in celebration of the…

Completely hidden from view by tall trees, with an unassuming entrance, Georgie and Sam Pearman’s country house near Stroud in Gloucestershire is easy to miss. Once through the front door, however, it feels like stepping straight into an enchanting children’s fairy tale. ‘I was charmed by its wealth of period features, the ornate fireplaces, decorative stained glass and stunning views’ The softly lit entrance hall, with its 1920s chequerboard tiled floor and rich, moss green walls, is in the original seventeenth-century part of the house, at the core of the property. Providing a focal point here is an Arts and Crafts carved stone fire surround bearing the inscription ‘East, West, Home is Best’ –a poignant reminder that wherever we travel in the world, there is no place like home. This…

Having spent decades as a major figure in the field of interior design, Alidad is not only globally acclaimed for his work, but also well-known to be one of the nicest people in the business. His timeless interiors are a unique mix of sumptuous fabrics, luxurious materials and superb craftsmanship, supported by a broad and deep architectural and art-historical knowledge as well as a painstaking attention to detail. He has an impressive command of all design aesthetics, from baroque to neo-classicism, chinoiserie to art deco, and is able to effortlessly combine colour, pattern, texture and scale, using antique, vintage and modern fabrics and furnishings, creating architecturally harmonious, richly textured rooms which appear to have come together over many years. Perhaps surprisingly, Alidad is a self-taught designer. Born in Persia, where…

CHARLES YORKE KITCHENS Set in the heart of Nottinghamshire, where Sherwood Forest has long been the subject of folklore and woodland tales, what better place to find luxury bespoke kitchen brand Charles Yorke Kitchens, which relies on sustainable British wood for its business. Since the company began more than 20 years ago, it has prided itself on creating kitchens, bedrooms and cabinetry that is as individual as the people buying it. Once Charles Yorke has a full brief and the room has been designed, its craftsmen combine traditional cabinetmaking with state-of-the-art technology to create a kitchen that is built to last. These days the company even provides everything from personalised doors and handles to dining chairs, wooden flooring and tiles. Sustainability is at the heart of what Charles Yorke does,…

Old buildings have such an appealing solidity, that sense that they have always been there and always will be. Such a timeless quality can be a real blessing over the festive period, as well as when two contrasting decorating styles come together in one home, which is certainly the case with Roberta Ashley and Zefa Mongan. Brocante lover and owner of online vintage treasure trove Hunt The Pearl, Roberta likes nothing more than scouring antiques fairs for the whimsical, historical and kitsch. Interior architect Zefa, meanwhile, favours mid-century furniture and a more pared-back approach. This combination really comes together at Christmas, as natural elements are added and quirky decor sits alongside decorations. Starting a family made Roberta and Zefa consider where they lived and how. “We were working and living…

Historically, an artist or maker’s works have been more celebrated after their death than during their lifetime, but the Italian decorator, designer and maker Carlo Bugatti (1856–1940) was one of the lucky exceptions. In fact, his intricate, Art Nouveau furniture was much admired during his illustrious career. A particular highlight of Bugatti’s professional years was exhibiting at the First International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Arts in Turin in 1902. It was here that the Queen of Italy commented that his pieces had a ‘Moorish style’ to them, to which Bugatti rather cheekily replied, “You are mistaken Your Majesty, this style is my own.” His confidence was clear not only in his manner, but also in his designs, which continue to impress to this day. Strikingly original, Bugatti’s furniture combines the…

The festive season just would not be the same without taking time to raise a glass and celebrate with family and friends, and there are plenty of excuses to do so. Pre-Christmas drinks parties provide the perfect incentive to decorate the house, polish glasses, replenish the cocktail trolley and help everyone get into the spirit of the season. Family gatherings can be made all the more special with appropriately festive drinks or each individual’s favourite tipple, as well as a selection of delicious morsels to keep everyone happy. Keeping a pan of mulled wine on the go during this period will be a welcome surprise to any well-wishers and present-bearers who happen to be passing. The delicious aroma will pervade the house and make everyone fill everyone with seasonal spirit.…

Christmas has a special significance for London-based, South African-born interior designer Justin van Breda. As a child, he would spend the festive period on the family farm in South Africa, with everyone sitting down for a traditional Christmas lunch, then heading to the beach for a swim afterwards. With his birthday falling on the 23 December and his father’s on the 24 December, there would always be a big celebration. “The highlight for me was choosing a tree on the farm, then bringing it into the house and decorating it on my birthday,” he recalls. ‘I wanted to create a tranquil sanctuary, where friends can walk through the door and feel like they’re stepping back in time’ Nowadays, Justin lives in a nineteenth-century townhouse in Kensington with his husband Alastair…

Trevor Pickett, the eminence grise behind Pickett – one of London’s tiniest and most stylish accessory brands – fully deserves a relaxing Christmas break. “Both our shops stay open until the afternoon on Christmas Eve, when we’re usually busy until closing time with those lovely customers who leave things to the last minute or realise they’ve forgotten to find a gift for their Christmas hostess,” he says. ‘Once I’m on the road, I breathe a huge sigh of relief. There’s nowhere I’d rather be at Christmas than in Suffolk’ As soon as the ‘Closed’ sign is on the door, however, Trevor makes tracks for his weekend country cottage in Suffolk. “Once I’m on the road, I breathe a huge sigh of relief. There’s nowhere I’d rather be at Christmas than…

Spring refresh INVESTMENTS “Installing a new kitchen is often motivated by living with an old kitchen over Christmas,” says Jasper Middleton, design director of Middleton Bespoke. Starting the process in spring ensures the new kitchen is functioning for summer gatherings. Bespoke kitchens take around eight weeks to create and the company allows two weeks for installation. The hand-painted counter tops take about two weeks and the kitchen installation up to a month. If part of a new extension, construction may take around three months and Middleton advises considering architectural details whilst plans are flexible. “It’s also good to have given thought to the location of the sink and cooker, as these are key areas. That said, with Aga cookers now available in room-vented options, their location is more flexible. The…