Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i The English Home

DESIGN FOCUS Textiles company Titley and Marr has been producing beautiful fabrics and furnishings for commercial and residential interiors for more than 35 years. It was founded in 1984 by Kate Marr and her husband Ken Titley whose initial inspiration came from European textiles created in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the company’s collections are inspired by its archive of historical documents and include everything from paisley and herringbone to ticking stripes, traditional florals, tribal textiles, African embroidery and even leopard print. All its designs are ethically produced and made in UK mills where possible. For the new season, Titley and Marr will be releasing two new prints – Amberley, a floral botanical design, and Steyning, a take on a traditional ticking stripe, both of which were inspired by…

As the celebrated artist JMW Turner once said, “My job is to paint what I see, not what I know,” and how fortunate British artists have always been to find so much to inspire as subject matter across the United Kingdom. As Daniel Callaghan of the prestigious gallery Callaghans of Shrewsbury says, “These days, taking in works from the likes of Lowry, Braaq, Hankey and McIntyre is like taking the viewer on a whistle-stop tour of the British Isles. From McIntyre’s rugged, sweeping Scottish landscapes, across to the Northern scenes rendered by Braaq and Lowry to the bustling Cornish coastal scenes favoured by Hankey.” The life and landscapes are indeed placed at the centre of each work to celebrate and capture all that is great about our magnificent country. Daniel…

Where do you live and why? I have always been in love with the five valleys surrounding Stroud. Cath Kidston first brought me here and I’ve been coming for 25 years since. I love the creative community here, the open studios, the history of the cloth and wool trade. Who do you live with? My boyfriend of 18 years lives in the nearby town and visits me at the weekends. My grown up children visit too. It’s perfect! Tell us about your home? I’ve just bought the west wing of a pretty house, a long property divided into three parts. It’s Grade II listed and has an 18th-century front with an enormous L-shaped wing on the back which was a school in Victorian times and will eventually be the drawing…

Having long admired the graceful Georgian crescent on a hill overlooking Bath, it was an exciting moment for Lydia Fay when she finally got keys to her house in this historic enclave. The location is idyllic, with sheep grazing in a field across the street and breathtaking views of the Somerset countryside, yet the house is just a short stroll from the bustling streets of Bath. “I’ve always been captivated by this crescent,” she says. “Being slightly out of town with this beautiful pastoral view, everything about it is just lovely.” Lydia has restored many period properties over the years and so was undeterred by the dilapidated state of the house. “I like a challenge and had a clear vision of what I wanted to do, so I couldn’t wait…

DESIGN INSIGHT The rhythm and repetition of a townhouse’s original features – whether Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian – brings a delightful sense of both structure and character. Not all homes, however, are fortunate enough to have retained their floors, fireplaces, panelling and plasterwork. Take the time to ensure that repairs and replacements are authentic in quality and looks, and also appropriate for modern life. Walls & Ceilings Ornate plasterwork and decorative panelling are often what distinguishes period walls and ceilings from their much plainer modern equivalents and, whether it is a case of renovating an entire plaster ceiling or adding a historically accurate skirting or dado rail, the overall improvement will be immense. “When choosing mouldings, be guided by the dimensions and styles already present in your house,” says Emma…

There is no doubt that the modern bathroom is seen as a sanctuary, a precious respite from the stresses of everyday life – especially when life is in a bustling town or hectic city. Creating the ultimate urban bathroom must take into account factors such as views (or lack of them), restricted space, awkward areas and storage. A design that incorporates all the necessities while achieving a sense of welcome relaxation will also depend on the individual: it may be a streamlined, understated space or perhaps one with dynamic colours and drama. Either way, it will involve both minute detail and a well-planned overview, with special attention not only to colours, patterns and the shapes and sizes of fittings, but also to every material and texture, from floor coverings to…

NATURAL RUNNER For high-traffic areas, such as stairways, flooring needs to be suitable for constant usage. Sisal is a hardwearing natural material that requires little maintenance, other than vacuuming. If seeking a more elegant rustic aesthetic, opt for a runner with a smart trim – as seen here. Runner in Aztec Alabaster sisal, £145 a square metre, Crucial Trading COMPLETELY HOOKED These multipurpose hooks are made from sustainably sourced FSC ash wood. To add to the functionality, each one includes a loop of robust tan, brown or black leather secured by a wooden peg tipped in brushed brass, meaning items can be hung, draped or threaded. Laris wall hook, £25, Tom Raffield CABINET POSITION A skilful sideboard design can combine storage with a stylish sense of purpose. Made from mango…

‘Because all the rooms have such a lovely flow, even when we are in different spaces, we all feel that we are together’ Situated on a smart street in leafy west London, the exterior of Martina Romieri’s Victorian townhouse reveals nothing of the colour, pattern and subtle glamour awaiting inside. Behind the glossy black door, the interiors are far removed from the regulation chic of latte and greige that reigns in many a city home. Instead, they echo the union of the English and Italian aesthetics of the owners, as well as offering an inviting welcome to a lively family household. Born in Milan and raised in Venice, Martina worked in fashion before her children – now six and eight – were born. Her love of layering colours and her…

There is something about the change in the light as the seasons transform that gives deep, rich shades a comforting allure. We explore this need for warmth and cocooning colour in our decorating feature on page 72. Browns are making quite the comeback, offering seasonal soothing comfort in tones of chocolate and mushroom. This particular shade, Vintage Wine, adds a smoky plum hue to the tawny brown depths, and is thus enlivened by red tones as a contrast – whether pumpkin orange or berry red. Wall in Vintage Wine; stool in Ravishing Red, both from £27 for 0.94l, Benjamin Moore…

DESIGN INSIGHT Encompassing a wide variety of architectural styles, new builds range from post-war homes, which were among the first to eschew decorative detailing, through to 1970s townhouses featuring traditional hanging tiles and weatherboarding, symmetrical 1990s properties, and the minimalist structures of the early 21st century. The best examples of each of these types of property tend to use honest materials that stand the test of time while avoiding pastiche or clinging to familiar building styles. “There is sometimes a tendency to shirk modern architecture because classic homes including Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian are often considered more popular,” reflects interior designer Henry Prideaux. “However, bear in mind that those buildings were also new at one stage. Any build that respects correct proportion and is inspired by fine architecture of the…

This is a timely month for a stroll amongst the trees. “With a variety of scarlet, orange and gold colour in the landscape, combined with a bounty of fruits, hips and berries, we see a natural display like no other in autumn and November,” describes Rosie Anderson, dendrologist at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum. Exactly when leaves turn varies each year, says Anderson, but, “Generally, we do find that beech, Norway maple and larch are still showing leaf colour in November.” Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, open daily, forestryengland.uk/westonbirt…

Practical spaces are key to any beautiful house. A pantry in the kitchen or a cupboard in the hall allows the spaces they serve to be unburdened of things that might be used only occasionally. Or it could be a fully functioning boot room, flower room, or laundry room that plays a supporting role to other parts of the house. However practical these spaces might be, I am a firm believer that they can be calm, attractive areas where everything has a place and activities such as sorting, washing, ironing, or caring for pets become a pleasure rather than a chore. Depending on the layout of a house—or the needs of a client—we tend to distribute all these types of functions across different spaces. Some might choose to have a…