Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2022 i The English Home

It’s time to shrug off winter and prepare for spring. With skies still heavy with the grey tone of a Victorian slate as we work on this issue, we’ve been exploring a kaleidoscope of ideas for using colour to refresh and update the home, as nothing quite beats the transformative power of paint. It’s certainly the case that as a nation we’ve become braver at using colour in our homes over the last few years, but perhaps now, more than ever, we are ready to learn the decorating secrets of professionals to create spaces that are soothing for rest, dynamic for work and cosy for relaxation. We’ve been so fascinated by the industry’s expertise in combining colours artfully to achieve a layered English home, that we wanted to share insights…

ALL IN THE WEAVE Plan ahead for spring-time gardening jobs with Weaver Green’s recycled plastic aprons and braided baskets, both durable for weed-pulling or plant-potting chores. Following a spring spruce, add a soft touch indoors with their sustainable throw. Marseille Duck Egg apron, £30; Marseille Duck Egg throw, £55, both Weaver Green BOLD AS BRASS Handcrafted in Florence, these bronze coasters are part of Beata Heuman’s recent additions to her homeware collection, which she runs alongside her eponymous interior design business. Look out, too, for similar forged-brass knobs, and the Dappled and Florentine Flowers trays to make a chic statement. Florentine coasters, £216 for a box of four, Beata Heuman BRING SOMETHING TO LIGHT Aptly named after world explorers, the cordless and rechargeable new collection from Pooky reaches a new…

THE ODD CHAIR COMPANY Despite what its amusing name would suggest, The Odd Chair Company offers so much more than chairs. Since it was established over 50 years ago, it provides clients with everything from beds and cabinetry to sofas and mirrors, each piece individually made by the family-run team of designers, artisans, cabinet makers and upholsters. Every design, including its latest, the Wave Ladderback Chair designed in collaboration with Sascal Studio, is handmade by its team of dedicated craftsmen at its own workshops in the North West of England. Never one to shy away from a challenge, as part of its specialist service The Odd Chair Company also offers reupholstery of existing furniture, antique replication and restoration, cushion-making and replacements as well as custom lampshades to work with an…

The starting point when decorating a room, more often than not, will be a decision on what colour to use. Frequently, a single hue is chosen, sometimes to be used in various tones or perhaps as an accent to a neutral backdrop. To obtain a richer, more evolved and considered look, opt for more than one colour, layer an assortment of similar hues, mix patterns and colour for a confident blend and add a statement piece for dramatic contrast. Colourful interiors offer a joyous expression of style and personality. Here we look at ways to combine colours confidently, in interesting and beautiful ways. Riot of colour Combining clashing colours, patterns and textures in a riotous explosion of colourful expression can be a joyous and refreshing way to decorate. Of course,…

“Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.” So said Joseph Addison. Hear, hear, say I. Many of the happiest times of my life have been spent over Sunday lunch. I sit looking down at the sea of glasses in various states of fullness and plates in various states of disarray and animated faces shining with good humour and listening to the wall of sound that comes from friends being properly fed and watered, and thinking that this is it, this is exactly where I want to be. It is such a generous, expandable meal, companionable and easy-going, cheery and cheering. Sunday lunch in repletion, happiness and content, the last stop of the weekend and preparation for the week to come. Sunday lunch gives me a chance to share…

Britain’s array of spa towns and cities is as rich as the individual heritage of each. United by the presence of naturally occurring mineral springs, many of them were founded by the Romans and saw a resurgence in the mid-seventeenth century when the health benefits of ‘taking the waters’ became fashionable amongst the aristocracy. Whether ancient or more recent, the diverse origins of these historical towns makes them fascinating to discover. Opportunities to enjoy the waters (in modern spa form) continue to entice visitors, as do the myriad places to eat, drink and shop, many showcasing the best of local talent. Though choosing where to visit can be something of an embarrassment of riches, Bath’s June 2021 inclusion as a UNESCO Great Spa Town of Europe (making it double-crowned as…

Knightshayes Gardens, Devon Vast clipped hedges showcase statuary, lush herbaceous borders and topiary including castellated hedges, one of which is topped with a fox chased by hounds. Tel 01884 253264 nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes Hinton Ampner, Hampshire Revered for its crisp yew and box hedges and topiary, these formal gardens frame beautiful views of the rolling South Downs and feature mushroom-shaped topiary in the Sunken Garden. Tel 01962 771305 nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-ampner Abbey House Gardens, Wiltshire Once part of the Benedictine Monastery, founded in 666AD, this private garden covers five acres and features an impressive topiary display. Tel 01666 822212 abbeyhousegardens.co.uk Cliveden, Berkshire Characterful birds, majestic hedges and a triangular parterre adorn these stately gardens designed by Sir Charley Barry in 1849. Tel 01628 668561 clivedenhouse.co.uk Highgrove, Gloucestershire Home to His Royal Highness The Prince…

If a spot of winter sun in exotic climes or simply wishful thinking has elicited a need for brighter hues, why not bring a taste of the tropics to interiors? Though the English light needs a pared-back and softer approach to tropical tones, the eye-catching flamboyance of palms and exuberant blooms can be incorporated into a classic scheme. Keep to a restrained palette of more soothing greens rather than zesty limes, with a warming splash of coral. Chic golden touches can sit happily alongside quirkier flora and fauna-inspired accessories.…

Shrove Tuesday – which this year falls on 1 March – provides the perfect excuse to prepare a jolly family breakfast or linger over a leisurely brunch. Dress the table with crisp white linen, tactile stoneware and wooden serving boards piled high with fluffy pancakes. Add spring freshness with pretty flowers, white candles and bowls of fresh fruit. For pancakes to tempt all palates, jamieoliver.com proffers recipes for blueberry, flourless and decadent brunch pancakes. Portobello tableware from £20; oak board, £25; Camber table linen from £25, all The White Company…

London Design Week 2022, 13–18 March at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour promises new collections and luxury brands. Be sure not to miss The English Home talk with GP & J Baker on 14 March. dcch.co.uk Artist Ai Weiwei’s new exhibition The Liberty of Doubt juxtaposes historic Chinese objects with his own work for the first time. From 12 February to 19 June, Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge. kettlesyard.co.uk David Nash: Full Circle at Yorkshire Sculpture Park will feature drawings capturing the essence of trees by the artist and sculptor. From 19 February to 5 June. ysp.org.uk…

Make sorting out and tidying away a joy with chic, beautiful storage solutions. Home offices are a great place to start for a clean mind, putting papers in order, finding a spot for stationery and writing all important to-do lists in a planner. Ensuring functional pieces such as bookcases, cabinets or even a storage ottoman are attractive will mean they become a decorative feature rather a purely practical necessity. Look for luxurious finishes – faux shagreen, antiqued brass or grosgrain leather – and exemplary displays of craftsmanship for pieces of beauty.…

Blue and white is a classic combination that can take on a soft, feminine feel as well as a smart, crisp guise. Here, partnered with an unashamedly pretty pink, the result is a balanced look that is romantic and has a sweet, cottage appeal but also feels considered and smart. The pink backdrop allows the blue-and-white plates to take focus whilst the palettes are cleverly combined in an assortment of diverse patterns on the sofa to create a cohesive, harmonised yet striking scheme. All fabrics, £68 a metre, Julia Brendel (See our feature overleaf for further ideas on combining colours.)…

SPRING CLEAN A revitalising energy fills the air as spring bursts forth with promises of renewal and refreshment, providing the impetus for a thorough sprucing up of the home. Whether sorting through wardrobes and drawers to see what can be donated or sold, or finally deep cleaning the kitchen cupboards or indeed the entire house, a good place to start is the utility room, which can be used as a base for cleaning operations. This should be a well-organised, functional yet attractive space for laundry and cleaning equipment to make tasks easier to complete and more enjoyable. Add aesthetically pleasing as well as useful cleaning tools such as a traditional ostrich feather duster to make the mundane a tad more glamorous. Redecker ostrich feather duster, £29; Lined oval wicker laundry…