Country Homes & Interiors 2021.január.

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L I V E T H E L I F E . . . L O V E T H E S T Y L E
& INTERIORS
& INTERIORS
ap y ew Year!
JANUARY 2021 £4.70
CELEBRATING LIFE IN THE COUNTRY &

FEELGOOD HOMES WITH NATURAL STYLE
2021
WE’RE READY
FOR YOU…
PUB FOOD RECIPES
TO MAKE AT HOME
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SUCCESS SECRETS OF AN
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DINING SPACE
A place of
YO O N
❖ ELEGANT COUNTRY MANOR ❖ GEORGIAN FARMHOUSE
❖ RURAL NEW BUILD ❖ COTTAGE CONVERSION
THE HOME OF
modern country
January 2021
14
INTERIORS &
INSPIRATION
8 JANUARY Things that make
us happy
13 DESIGN NEWS
What’s new in interiors this month
66 • CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
SPECIAL Our top picks
80 RING IN THE NEW
Celebrate new year with a
winter wonderland look
88 THE ART OF ENTERTAINING
Our experts share their tips for
a memorable gathering
92 • DINING ROOM IDEAS
Be the perfect host
102 MAKE A HOUSE A HOME
Create a cosy haven for guests
108 CHOOSE THE BEST...
Occasional table
114 ROOM ELEMENTS
The fairest of all vanity units
119 HOME TECH
The best smart doorbells
121 KITCHEN PROJECT
Clever storage was key here >
COUNTRY HOMES
14 • YORKSHIRE
COUNTRY HOUSE
An architectural hybrid
reimagined with natural fabrics
and raw wood furniture
28 • YORKSHIRE FARMHOUSE
Period features have been lovingly
restored in this four-square
52 Georgian farmhouse
39 • NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
NEW BUILD Reclamation finds
• ON THE COVER make this grand new home look as
though it’s been around for years
52 • DERBYSHIRE CONVERSION
Plenty of teamwork and a sense of
family roots brought this 400-
28
year-old farmhouse back to life
PLUS GET-THE-LOOK
IDEAS FOR EVERY HOME
COUNTRY HOMES & INTERIORS 3

GARDENS
136 FESTIVE BLOOMS
Fill the house with scent and
colour over winter
141 GIFTS FOR GARDENERS
Thoughtful presents for
green-fingered friends
JUST FOR YOU

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HOMES & INTERIORS
126 39
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EDITOR’S LETTER
I’
m really happy to Blooms feature on page
be starting 2021 136), rustling up some
as editor of Country roasted hasselback
Homes & Interiors. I’ve potatoes (the recipe is
actually been working on page 128), or simply
on the magazine for the enjoying our wonderful
past two years, so it’s a joy countryside
WHY NOT
to step into this role and continue to (that’s my local START 2021 WITH
A SUBSCRIPTION TO
work with this brilliant team to share stomping ground COUNTRY HOMES
our celebration of modern country of the South Downs & INTERIORS?
FIND OUR SPECIAL
style, inspiring homes, recipes, in the picture below). NEW YEAR OFFER
ON PAGE 78
gardens and more. Here’s to a happy and
A new year always feels like an healthy New Year for us all.
opportunity to reset and focus on
what’s important to us, and I know
we are all hoping that the next 12
Andréa x
months will bring more good news
and positivity than the last. So many
of the rural artisans, makers and
PHOTOGRAPHS (PORTRAIT) HOLLY STONE; (THE SOUTH DOWNS) ALAMY STOCK PHOTO MAKE-UP CARA MCDANIEL
businesses we champion continue

to struggle and I want to support
them in our pages. But I also want to
make space for the small moments
and ordinary pleasures that make life
My local stomping
meaningful, whether that’s arranging ground – the
South Downs
flowers in a vase (see our Festive
I’m,,, working from home

I have this My home office I’m planning
sustainable, hand- doubles as my the next issue
poured Orange, workout space, so in this bullet
Cinnamon and I’m eyeing up this journal, designed
Clove candle biodegradable, by 13-year-old
burning on carbon neutral stationery lover
my desk, £38, yoga mat by Eva Younger from
Collingwood British brand Oxfordshire, from
of Somerset Form, from £45 £15, The Ink Pot

Things that make us happy...
JANUARY
Making a head-turning
statement over the
dining table with
bold decorations.
Extra large bauble in
Mercury Silver, £39.95,
Nordic House

C O U N T R Y D AY S
3
1 Shining the spotlight on rustic industrial chic. Large Cosying-up
concrete pendant lampshade, £185, Kagu Interiors 2 Navigating in chunky knits
every month using the stars, sun or moon… The Almanac: A and warm, earth-
Seasonal Guide to 2021 by Lia Leendertz, £10.99, Waterstones baked tones.
3 Corduroy-inspired vertical patterns on a recycled plastic Crew neck cable
rug. Ida in Spice, from £399, Hemming & Wills 4 Block-printed jumper, £40,
bundles of knotted sustainability. (Ta-ra crackers!) Furoshiki Joe Browns
table gifts, £39 for set of six, Toast
Getting creative at party

styling with a super-sized 6 7
pom-pom wreath.
Honeycomb ball decorations
in Mustard Gold and Moss
Green, £9.50 for two,
Rockett St George
5
8
5 Smart stools for social spaces at the heart of the festive

home. Mason counter stool, £175, Cox & Cox 6 Soul-feeding
notes of patchouli, clary sage and pink pepper. Peace and
Love candle, £95, Bella Freud 7 Having a ‘wreath-off’ with
the neighbours with gorgeously toned foliage. Purple russet
eucalyptus wreath, £44.99, Home Luxe Co 8 Beautiful beadwork
handcrafted by Zimbabwean refugees. (Profits go to the
artists.) Beaded angel tea light holder, £42, Raj Tent Club

10
Sumptuous, rich berry hues
on plush, button-backed
seating – squidgetastic!
Humphrey two-seater sofa in Claret
cotton matt velvet, £2,440; Georgette
footstool, from £320, both Sofa.com
11
9
12
9 Casting an elegant tabletop glow with colourful, ribbed
candles. Beeswax candles in Amethyst, £42 for six, Matilda Goad
10 Delectable fireside tipples (and getting merry on berries!)
English sloe gin, £25.50, Fortnum & Mason 11 Adorning the tree
and beyond with a flock of flying friends. Paper bird ornament
in Black and White, £14, Att Pynta 12 Hand-thrown, clay vessels
featuring deliciously toasted effects. Dip Bowl, £16, Muchelney
Pottery at The Shopkeeper Store
Ringing-in the New Year

(literally) with a fizz.
13 Champagne bell, £18;

champagne coupes;
champagne flutes, both
£40 for set of two,
The White Company
14
16
15
13 Creating a cosy cocoon with mood-enhancing, molten
FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS
metals and tarnished finishes. Antique glass lantern, £35,

French Connection Home 14 Having a pattern party on the
sofa with Bauhaus-inspired geometrics. Frame pillow cover,
£66, The Imaginary House 15 Toasting the season with shapely
glassware. Havana goblet in Amber, £48 for set of four, Soho Home
16 Long anticipated, rosy-cheeked kisses under the mistletoe.
Baobab lip balm, £12.50, Organic Savanna at Akojo Market

C O U N T R Y D AY S
A drinks-cum-display
cabinet that can adapt
as our home evolves.
Ardingly cabinet with shelf
in Lily, £1,740, Neptune
Things that make us happy...

❝ CREATING A COMFORTING
HOME AND WELCOMING
HAVEN FOR THOSE WE LOVE
❞

Your
home is in
safe hands
All our Dulux Select Decorators
are fully assessed by our team
of professionals, so you can rest
assured you are in safe hands,
whatever your project.
Visit duluxselectdecorators.co.uk
Carl Lesh – TCHL Interiors
to find a local Dulux Select Decorator to you. Dulux Select Decorator
Dulux Select Decorators manage your job professionally from initial quote to final coat.
We rigorously assess all of our Dulux Select Decorators and guarantee their work for two
years, giving you peace of mind to help you select the best professional decorator to
create beautiful living spaces that you’ll be proud of.
NEW & INTERESTING
DESIGN NEWS
Woven rainbows Butler’s sideboard,
at Roger Oates price on request,

Martin Moore
Bring cheerful warmth
into the home with the
new Quill Stripe and
Quill collection of heavily
textured herringbone
rugs from Roger Oates
Design. First produced as
a way of using up excess
yarn, they’re customer
favourites and new
colourways are launched
regularly. Buffalo Quill
Stripe, £450, Roger Oates
A NEW COAT OF PAINT

Created to conquer endless trips
to DIY stores and messy tester
pot terrors, Coat has launched
a hassle-free range of high-grade,
consciously made paints in a
curated range of 30 on-trend
colours. And the biggest draw
– the range features easy
(recyclable) peel-and-stick
swatches to make testing colours
at home a doddle. Moritz;
My Island; Pool House, all MARTIN MOORE TURNS 45!
£40 for 2.5ltr, Coat. All shades
are available in three finishes, The handmade kitchen company, founded in 1975,
with free next day delivery. defines classic but contemporary English furniture.
In honour of the brand’s 45th anniversary, design
director Richard Moore has created a limited-
Swinging retro flair edition Butler’s sideboard inspired by the new Deco
with Sofa.com & Biba collection. Featuring rich timber, fluted glass doors
Sofa.com’s first fabric collaboration, and a quartz top, the free-standing console is
with iconic label Biba, combines finished with commemorative handles and feet.
Biba’s signature bold prints and
deep hues with Sofa.com’s expert
craftsmanship. The four fabrics are Introducing
available across Sofa.com’s range of Warner House
made-to-order furniture and scatter Founded 150 years ago, Warner was a
cushions. Izzy two-seat sofa in Navy Royal Warrant holder and supplier to the
Palace of Westminster. Now under the
Filigree by Biba, £1,940, Sofa.com. ownership of Lee and Emma Clarke
(founders of textile house Clarke &
Clarke), the brand has been reborn as
Warner House – an online offering of

luxurious woven and printed fabrics,
wallpapers, paints, furniture and home
accessories. Shop the collections and
bespoke options at warner-house.com.
Sofa upholstered in Amazon, £65m.

NATURAL
REINVENTION
With its neutral tones, natural fabrics and raw
wood furniture, this elegant West Yorkshire
home reimagines the classic country house
Dining room
A large glazed cabinet is
perfect for easy-to-hand
storage. Candlesticks; dining
chairs; wall sconce, all I Gigi
YORKSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSE
Hallway
The large pot filled with
linen combs and the umbrella
stand that holds walking
sticks were hand-me-downs
from Kelly’s mother. Sisal
Malay Shanghai stair carpet,
Alternative Flooring

❝
❞
Kitchen
The island unit has a practical
oak top that adds warmth to
the scheme. Pendant light,
Urban Cottage Industries.
Duck-egg blue cast-iron heat
storage cooker, Aga. Walls
in French Gray, Farrow & Ball
K elly and Jonathan’s dining room at their home in

West Yorkshire really comes into its own at Christmas
when the couple and their children gather around
the table, which is decorated with swathes of greenery
brought in from the garden. ‘We tried going out for a meal once,’
says Kelly, ‘but it wasn’t for us. We like to stay at home.’
Home is a handsome Grade II-listed country house, with roaring
fires, squishy sofas and plenty of room to spread out. The family
previously lived in a converted barn, which they outgrew. ‘The
barn was very contemporary in style. I wanted something with
more history and character; something that felt solid,’ says Kelly.
This house offered all of that and more. An architectural hybrid
– it’s part Georgian, part Victorian – it had sufficient bedrooms
and various outbuildings. The six-acre garden provided plenty
of space to keep livestock, chickens and horses. ‘With all the
children and animals, there is a lot to look after,’ says Kelly.
After they had their fourth child, Tara, life became even
more chaotic for the couple. To make the house work, Kelly
AT HOM E WI T H
and Jonathan dismantled stud walls to create larger bedrooms
– ‘Upstairs was like a rabbit warren’ – reducing the number to
five. They removed ceilings and took up and replaced flooring Owners Kelly lives here
with her husband Jonathan, a
in every room. ‘The amount of structural work we did was limited,
businessman, her four children,
though, because the building is listed,’ says Kelly. Ryder, 11, Casper, seven, Tabitha,
When it came to interior design, Kelly was determined that three, and Tara, two; plus two
the decoration and furniture should reflect their way of life. giant schnauzers, Huxley and
‘With four children and three dogs rumbling about, the house Otto, and a miniature schnauzer,
Kaiser. They moved here in 2015.
is very much lived-in,’ she says. She heard about I Gigi, a homeware
store in Brighton (now online), owned by Zoe Ellison and Alex House A Grade II-listed
part-Georgian, part-Victorian
Ingram, who are also the authors of the interior design book five-bedroom house with a
A Life Less Ordinary. ‘The traditional farmhouse look was not six-acre landscaped garden.
for me,’ says Kelly. ‘The ideas in the book chimed with what
I was looking for and gave me a starting point.’
Clutching moodboards and magazine cuttings, Kelly travelled
to the Brighton shop and met Zoe and Alex. They hit it off
immediately, and after the pair visited the Yorkshire house
to chat things through with Kelly, a partnership was forged.
To achieve the calm look she craved, Kelly painted everything
– ceilings, walls, skirting boards – in various shades of grey.
Furniture, much of it sourced by Zoe, was customised. ‘When
we were ordering the kitchen and looking for other things, I said
I didn’t want anything that looked too polished or finished,’ says
Kelly. ‘I prefer things to look raw and natural. The numerous spills,
stains and restored breakages only add to the pieces’ stories.’
Zoe and Alex also worked with Kelly to make bespoke blinds,
curtains, seat coverings, the supremely comfortable sofas, and
even ruffled fabric sleeves for lighting cables. ‘I’m at home with
four children and as much as I would love to go out and source
everything myself, I can’t,’ says Kelly. ‘Zoe has been invaluable.’
The house definitely suits the family’s needs, and never more
so than at this time of year when it is filled with foraged foliage
from the garden, and a joyful scramble of children and dogs.

The drive
The approach to the house
passes a mature birch tree.
Kitchen
There are views of the front garden
from the window. Kitchen, Plain
English. Cookie jars, Nkuku
Dining room
The elegant space gets a lot of use
at Christmas. Solid oak parquet floor,
Eco Flooring. Fire dogs; grate,
both Feature Fireplaces Harrogate.
Chandelier, Agapanthus Interiors.
Plaster ceiling in Ammonite,
Farrow & Ball.
Hall
The chest was cut to size to fit
the space. Urn; mirrors, both I Gigi.
Untreated oak floorboards,
Eco Flooring

Kitchen
The stylish and elegant
scheme has been furnished
to withstand the rough
and tumble of family life.
York stone flags, Ribble
Reclamation. Table, Coach
House. Glass dome, Nkuku
❝
❞
Snug
The children have the run
of this cosy room. Portland
Stone fireplace, Jamb.
Kelim rug; coffee table;
Turkish pot lamps; antique
horses; wingback armchair;
foot stool, all I Gigi

Bedroom
The ornately carved, stripped-back
wooden French bed creates
a dramatic focal point.
Bed; lampshades, both I Gigi.
Basket; bag; lamp bases, all Nkuku
Guest bedroom
Neutral colours create a calming
scheme that’s easy on the eye.
French bed; pillows; dressing table;
seagrass rug, all I Gigi. Hanging
chandeliers, I Gigi. Bedside tables,
Coach House. Sisal herringbone
Hambledon carpet, Alternative
Flooring. Walls in Slipper Satin,
Farrow & Ball
Guest bedroom
The distressed dressing table fits
the room’s neutral colour scheme.
Dressing table; tea light holders,
sheepskin, all I Gigi

Bathroom
In a busy family home,
a double basin is a very
practical luxury. Taps,
Catchpole & Rye. Wall
lights, Neptune. Chandelier,
Agapanthus Interiors. Bath;
milking stool; basket, all I Gigi
ON OUR
D O OR ST EP
Visit… ‘Yorkshire Sculpture Park

(ysp.org.uk) outside Wakefield
is a 10-15-minute drive away.
There are art winter walks and
special events at Christmas and
the shop is good for gifts.’
Shop at… ‘There is a good mix
of antique and contemporary
homeware and furniture
at Agapanthus Interiors
(agapanthusinteriors.com)
in Stockport. I especially like
the lighting.’
Go for a meal at… ‘Devour
at The Dyehouse (devour.co.uk),
Holmfirth, serves small plates
of Italian food made from local
produce, and homemade
gelato. The festive tipples are
recommended for a treat.’
FEATURE CLARE GOGERTY PHOTOGRAPHS POLLY ELTES STYLING SIAN WILLIAMS
Garden
The garden is peppered
with classical follies and
statues inherited from
the previous owners

GET THE LOOK
Be inspired by
KELLY’S KITCHEN
A seamless design
lends an elegant
touch from above.
Coolicon pendant in
clear glass, £198, Serve up grainy
Urban Cottage gorgeousness with
Industries sustainable mango wood.
Ajuru large server,
£34.95, Nkuku
Never stop adding to

the ceramics family.
Dragon tureen, £365,
Astier de Villatte at Liberty Add a countertop
flourish with an
ambling arrangement
of greenery. Large
faux mixed hydrangea
bunch, £175, Oka
CH&I
This compact
cutie is the MODERN
perfect resting Country
spot for tootsies. CLASSIC
Llinos milking
stool, £220,
Welsh Otter
Welcome ample storage

and hard-wearing surface
space with versatile
cabinetry. Sussex kitchen
This relaxed shade island in Sage Green,
characterfully flits £599, The Cotswold Co
between green and
grey. Estate emulsion
in French Gray, £47.95
for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
Kelly’s style tip...

Grind and create

DISPLAY VINTAGE COLLECTABLES ON everything from
curry pastes to
OPEN SHELVING AND DRESS WITH flavoured salts.
TWINKLING LIGHTS AND FOLIAGE Ceramic pestle
and mortar,
SPRIGS FOR A MAGICAL TOUCH. £20, Sous Chef

Y O R K S H I R E FA R M H O U S E
C IS S ST
Wendy and Dean Simpson have renovated a
300-year-old Georgian farmhouse to create a home
fit for another century of stylish living
Living room
Leather furniture, velvet
fabrics and sheepskins
combine to create a
cosy, texture-filled space.
Fireplace, from Creeton
limestone by J Rotherham.
Stove, Esse. Walls painted
in Pavilion Gray, Farrow &
Ball. Leather Chesterfield,
velvet chair and footstool,
Rose & Grey
Exterior
Wendy was ready to sign
the paperwork the moment
she laid eyes on this house.
Trumpet door paint, Little
Greene, is a match
Hallway
The three flights of
stairs in this house are
dressed in a modern
chevron stripe runner
from Crucial Trading
W endy and Dean Simpson are great

hosts so Christmas is usually a
string of celebrations in their home
– apart from Christmas 2014, when
the family of five was squashed into a tiny two-
bedroom cottage as they waited to move into their
current home, a gorgeous and spacious four-square
Georgian farmhouse in a village outside Hull.
‘We hadn’t set out to move,’ explains Wendy. ‘We
lived in a perfectly lovely new-build in a pleasant
village. Dean was just idly looking at “dream homes”
on the internet and there was this stunning Georgian
farmhouse nearby that neither of us had ever seen,
AT HOME WITH despite having lived in the area for years.’
The couple drove off to see if they could find it and
Owners Wendy Simpson and her failed. When they called the estate agents, they were
husband Dean run a fish processing shocked to hear it had been on the market for two years.
business. They have three daughters, ‘It had been part of a large farm being sold as a
Molly, 22, Grace, 16, and Kitty, 10, two going concern so it was out of the budget and
dogs, two cats, a tortoise, hamster and
chickens. They bought the house in
capability of most buyers,’ explains Wendy. ‘We spotted
late 2014 and moved in in early 2015. it just as the estate had been divided into separate
House Grade II-listed, six-bedroom, lots and we couldn’t believe it was in our price bracket.
detached four-square Georgian When we eventually pulled up on the drive for the
farmhouse with outbuildings. first time, I was ready to sign there and then.’
The sale of the house initially fell through, with it
going to another buyer early on in the process. ‘We >

Dining room
The main rooms are
spacious and well-
proportioned, with big
bay windows allowing
for a Christmas tree in
each of them. White
paper stars, Cox & Cox
Dining room
The dining room was
one of the last rooms to
be decorated. Fireplace
painted in Hague Blue,
Farrow & Ball. Wallpaper,
Family Tree by Ferm Living.
Ceiling light, Holloways of
Ludlow. Chairs, West Elm
consoled ourselves by saying we had probably bitten

off more than we could chew but, when the estate
agent got in touch to say it was back on the market,
we didn’t hesitate,’ says Wendy. ‘We put our furniture
into storage and moved into a rented two-bed cottage
until we could move in. The girls all crammed into a tiny
bedroom – it was like The Waltons!’
The farmhouse had been a much-loved family home
and was structurally sound, and although it had been
decorated with immaculate taste towards the end of
the 1970s, it now needed updating.
‘We had to rewire and put in new central heating,’
explains Wendy. ‘But the fact so little had been touched
meant we had lovely period features, including the
sash windows, cornicing and the original floorboards.’
Decorating started at the top of the house and the
family worked their way down, switching floors to
accommodate each phase. ‘I think we’ve slept in every
room of this house,’ says Wendy. With the girls settled
into their rooms, the biggest priority became the
kitchen extension and bathrooms.
Wendy and Dean considered a number of different
reconfigurations, looking to make the space work
for modern family life but, ultimately, were restrained in
their changes. One of the six bedrooms has become a
dressing room and en suite while, downstairs, the >

❝ THE HOUSE HAS BEEN

HERE FOR 300 YEARS AND I
HOPE WE’VE GIVEN IT
ANOTHER 100 THROUGH
OUR CARE AND THE
REPAIRS WE’VE MADE ❞
Kitchen
The couple opted for an
orangery-style roof lantern
for the extension, which
allows the space to be
filled with light. Kitchen
cabinetry, Peter Thompson
of York. Lights, Industville.
Flooring, London White
from Lapicida. Dining
table, Vitra. Chairs, Jysk.
Main bedroom
A pale palette creates a
serene scheme, while a
velvet throw and fleece
add sumptuous texture.
Panelling painted in
Skimming Stone and
Strong White, both Farrow
& Ball. Bed and bedside
table, Loaf
new kitchen extension is smaller than the Victorian

one that had stood there previously.
‘We’ve always had a strong sense of doing the
right thing by the house,’ explains Wendy. ‘We want
to live in it, look after it and enjoy it but we didn’t
want to damage it or alter the bones of it. The previous
owners were understandably very attached to the
house and wanted it to go to someone who would
love it as much as they did.’
Now that the dust and rubble of the renovations
are over, the family can enjoy what is mostly definitely
a sociable house. Wendy trained on a Jane Means gift-
wrapping course and, last Christmas, ran workshops at
home teaching gift wrapping techniques, wrapping at
the kitchen island and serving afternoon tea in the
dining room. ‘It was such a lovely couple of days, with
mulled wine and Christmas songs – I loved it.’
The big day is all about family. ‘I always host Christmas
dinner,’ says Wendy. ‘There are games and silliness,
then we all enjoy a big Boxing Day breakfast together.’
Wendy and Dean take their role as custodians of the
house seriously. ‘It is such a special place,’ Wendy says.
‘It has been here for 300 years and I hope we’ve given
it another 100 through our care. Thinking of how this
house will still be standing here long after we’ve
passed it on is quite an emotive thing.’

❝
❞
Dressing room
A local joiner created
the bespoke cabinetry.
Cabinetry painted in Pigeon,
Farrow & Ball. Marble
countertop, Calacatta
Marble. Curtains by Bright
Ideas in Market Weighton
Bedroom
The annexe had been used
as a farm manager’s office
until the couple bought the
property and renovated it
for guests to stay in.
Headboard made by
Wendy from an old door
and painted with Annie
Sloan chalk paint
ON OUR DOORSTEP...
Visit… ‘Castle Howard

(castlehoward.co.uk) is magical at
Christmas with a tree in every room.
It is a great place for Christmas
decorating ideas and has a
well-stocked gift shop, too.’
Shop at… ‘I shop for decorations
PHOTOGRAPHS DAN DUCHARS/THE CONTENTED NEST
at local garden centres including

Hornsea Garden Centre in Hornsea
and Gilberdyke Garden Centre
FEATURE SARA BIRD/THE CONTENTED NEST
in Gilberdyke (both at
britishgardencentres.com), as well as
Langlands (langlandsgardencentre.
co.uk) in Shiptonthorpe.’
Go for a meal at… ‘The
Hotham Arms (thehothamarms.co.uk)
in Hotham, a family-run pub with
roaring fires and bags of character.
Every time I go there I spot something
interesting I’ve never noticed before.’

GET THE LOOK
Be inspired by
WENDY’S DINING ROOM
Adorn feature lighting

with a festive crown.
Stem chandelier, price on
request, Holloways of Ludlow
Entwine with micro lights
for a magical glow…
Frosted berry and pine cone
Christmas wreath and
garland, £57.99, Lights4fun
Tangled vines grow
in shades ranging from
china blue to navy.
Oak tree wallpaper in
First Light, £68 a roll,
Abigail Edwards
Sketchy lines are a fresh

take on the traditional.
Masali Berber-style
wool rug in Off White,
£199, Made
CH&I
MODERN
Country
CLASSIC
Wine and dine

delightfully with
unique, reactive
A mid-century glaze stoneware.
inspired frame Maddox speckled
sits proudly on pasta bowls, £40
tapered legs. for four, Habitat
Classic cafe
upholstered dining
chair, £159, West Elm
Decorate with
luxe decorations
featuring rich
WendyÕs style tip... Layer-up natural velvet finishes
embossed with
textures for an effortless

CREATE A ‘LIVING’ TABLE RUNNER yet sophisticated
dining look.
geo patterns.
Large geometric
WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF TRAILING, Linen tablecloth glass baubles in
VERDANT FOLIAGE SPRINKLED WITH in Navy, £83, Piglet Midnight Blue,
£50 for 12,
CELESTIAL DECORATIONS Cox & Cox

A Staircase Renovation
From Neville Johnson Can
Really Make an Entrance
We can transform your existing staircase into
something you can’t wait to come home to, in as
little as 48 hours, with no mess, no fuss and no
building work.
for our latest brochure

nevillejohnson.co.uk | 0161 873 8333
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE NEW BUILD
Kitchen
The ‘stone’ mantel in the
kitchen was actually made
of wood by Josephine’s
builder, skimmed with
plaster and distressed
using Annie Sloan wax.
Pendant and wall lights,
all Dowsing & Reynolds
GRAND
LUS ON
Clever design and a wealth of architectural
finds make Josephine and Will Maydon’s
house look as if it has stood here for centuries
Kitchen
The round window to
the boot room brings
borrowed light into
the kitchen and allows
Josephine to see visitors
at the back door. Plain
English cabinetry,
eBay. High-back bar
stools, Neptune
J osephine Maydon is a magpie for old things

and her favourite pastime is scouring
reclamation yards, so it should come as no
surprise to find her living in a Georgian house
with Regency and Victorian extensions. Except,
gorgeous as her characterful home is, it isn’t period
at all. Josephine lives in a cleverly designed new build
that looks as though it’s evolved over time, yet it was
built over a 12-month time span in 2014.
‘We moved from North Yorkshire in 2009 to be
closer to family,’ she explains. ‘My sister was in nearby
Moreton Pinkney and we had always walked around
this area, setting off across the fields from her house.
AT HOME WITH... There was this beautiful spot, a real hidden gem, just
outside the village; my brother-in-law suggested
Owners Josephine Maydon, a we post a letter to the owner asking if they would
location house manager, Airbnb host consider selling. We didn’t know that the owner was
and 3D garden designer, and husband in a nursing home and, when they decided to sell,
Will, who works in financial marketing. they gave us first refusal.’
The couple have three daughters,
Bea, 16, Poppy, 14, and Zara, 13, plus
Originally a farm worker’s cottage, the house that
Lettie, the cavapoo, and cat, Rosie. stood on the site had been extended over the
House Five-bedroom new build, generations with a mishmash of additions. Most had
plus separate three-bedroom no foundations and there was little, if any, insulation.
cottage and pavilion with pool, ‘We spent a year living in it trying to work out what
all set in 16 acres. to do,’ explains Josephine. ‘We had always planned
to renovate it somehow but friends pointed out >

Dining room
Facing directly south, every
room is filled with light and
has views. Walls painted
Dining room in Old Pink, Konig Colours.
A window pane mirror Flowers on mantel, Melissa
adds interest above the Davies @the_little_bazaar.
console table. Similar French limestone fireplace,
mirror, Graham and Green. Renaissance London.
Lampshades, Pooky Wall lights, Oka
❝ BUY VINTAGE OR SALVAGED PIECES WHERE YOU

CAN – YOU CAN’T BEAT THEM FOR CHARACTER ❞
Dining room
This room is spacious, with
Georgian proportions,
creating plenty of room for
the wider family. Dining
table, Petersham Nurseries.
Chairs, Cane-Line. Rug,
Crucial Trading. Cushions
and throw, Birdie Fortescue
❝
❞
Living room
Salvaged features including
cornicing, the fireplace and
grand glazed doors bring
character to the orangery-
style space with its arched
windows. Walls painted in
Falcon Grey, Konig Colours.
Fireplace, Norfolk Antique
& Reclamation Centre

Study
The painting is of
Josephine’s mother
when she was young.
Rug and rattan
armchair, Perch &
Parrow. Shutters, The
Old Flight House
how crazy that was, so eventually we decided to start

again.’ Work began by knocking down the old shed on
the site and building a three-bedroom cottage on its
footprint, providing somewhere to live while they
demolished the old house and built the new. They were
careful to salvage as much as possible: floorboards
were sandblasted and re-used, masonry from the
house was crushed for hardcore for the drive and the
bathroom fittings were carefully dismantled and
cleaned. Anything not wanted they sold on eBay, so
they created very little waste.
With a blank canvas, the couple decided they would
like their home to have a classic front with five windows
above the front door and two either side. ‘We didn’t
really give much thought to the back,’ admits
Josephine. ‘A local architect did some drawings and
we booked a two-hour consultation with George
Saumarez Smith of ADAM Architecture, who specialises
in classical design, just to make sure we were on the
right track. He was very polite,’ she laughs. ‘He gently
pushed our piece of paper to one side and drew the
most incredible picture in front of us. And that was
that – we couldn’t go back.’
Rather than one massive stone building, George’s
vision was a house that looked as though it had
evolved over time. It included a rendered part >

Living room
Traditional style furniture
and accessories add to
the room’s period feel.
Curtains, Clarke & Clarke
fabric with bobble trim
from Harlequin, made
by Interior Fashion.
Round table, Station Mill
Antiques. Rug, Oka
>
Bedroom
Architectural features
create the look of an
authentic period house.
Rug, Wardington
Antiques. Bed linen,
The White Company.
Seaweed prints, Oka
in Regency style and a brick section that looked

ON OUR DOORSTEP Victorian. Using recycled building materials has helped
establish a sense of age – the bricks for the Victorian-
style section are all reclaimed Victorian bricks and the
Visit… ‘Blenheim Palace
roofing is also reclaimed. Josephine has continued that
(blenheimpalace.com) in Woodstock,
home to the Duke of Marlborough, ethos indoors, too. ‘It’s the details in a room that make
and Stowe House and Garden (stowe. it feel lived in. All our internal doors are from reclamation
co.uk/house) are wonderful houses to yards. I bought wide Georgian doors for the Georgian
visit and also have special markets part, Regency ones for that bit and Victorian ones for
and events for Christmas.’
the brick-built-section,’ she explains. ‘At one point we
Shop at… ‘David Mumford & Sons had 50-60 doors all marked up in the shed with the
(01295760212, facebook.com/
davidmumfordandsons) is a mobile builder having to build individual openings to fit.’
butcher serving the Banbury area that Josephine recalls that sourcing for the house was a
visits Ashbrook on a Saturday full-time job. Her best buy was the Plain English kitchen
PHOTOGRAPHS DAN DUCHARS/THE CONTENTED NEST
morning. As well as top-quality meat, that she bought on eBay. ‘Bidding on that was hairy as
it sells fresh fruit and vegetables,
there was enough cabinetry for both the kitchen and
delicious pies, cheese and cakes
FEATURE SARA BIRD/THE CONTENTED NEST
delivered straight to the door.’ the boot room,’ she says. It was hers for £1,200, and
Go for a meal at… ‘The Crown
she even managed to squeeze a Villeroy & Boch roll
Inn (thecrownweston.co.uk) at top bath in the van on the way home when collecting it.
Weston serves up delicious food For the family at Christmas, it‘s all about time spent
including great Sunday roasts.’ together. ‘We go to church in the morning, and do
presents after that,’ says Josephine. ‘Then it‘s a long
walk in the afternoon and a Christmas movie in the
evening. It’s all very low key, but lovely.’
The house and cottage are available to rent at
gonetoashbrook.com

Exterior
The landscaping is an
ongoing project as this was
recently farmland. Josephine
had The Land Gardeners
help with the bare bones
of the garden and create a
vegetable plot
Bathroom Bedroom
Everything in this space A wood and cane bed adds
was reclaimed as Josephine a period touch while a
couldn’t see the point of palm tree print quilt evokes
buying the taps or bath an eclectic air. Bedside
brand new when there is so table and lamps, Coach
much for sale on eBay. Bath House. Lampshade, Pooky.
and taps, both eBay. Bath Quilt and basket, So Souk.
mat and basket, So Souk Cushions, Birdie Fortescue
GET THE LOOK
Be inspired by
JOSEPHINE’S BOOT ROOM
Nautical
inspired design Lay a classic design in
marries with a a trio of modern
ridged glass monochromatic tones.
shade. Designers’ Choice
Cobalt wall Gingham flooring,
light in Black, £70sq m, Amtico
£50, Garden
Trading
Set an ambient
scene for
Ready for splish- evening arrivals.
splosh action! White metal
Iris jersey lined ladies lantern with
wellingtons in Rose, three TruGlow
£99.95, Le Chameau candles, £59.99,
at Rideaway Lights4Fun
CH&I
MODERN
Country
CLASSIC
Inhale a festive
scent with potted
petites!
Potted Nordmann
fir, from £14.99,
Dobbies
Fill with wrapped
pressies ready for
holiday visitors.
Thornsberry Etagere
plant stand,
£145.99, Classic
Living at Wayfair
Feathery fronds
provide a botanist’s
welcome.
Fernery wallpaper,
£69 a roll, Sanderson
JosephineÕs style tip...

at Style Library
Perk up a bench seat with

this woven cloth stunner.
CLADDING ON THE CEILING LENDS Silk Mel Khadi cushion in
Peach, £65, Birdie Fortescue
A SMART NEW ENGLAND-STYLE FINISH
FOR A STYLISH WELCOME.
LO G ROAD
O O
After travelling the world, Holly and Al Hartley
returned to their Derbyshire roots and converted a
farmhouse and outbuildings into their family home
Outdoors
The quiet country lane
leading to the property
DERBYSHIRE CONVERSION
Exterior
Holly and Al on the
doorstep of their
400-year-old home

Barn kitchen/diner
Painting cabinets a similar
colour to the walls helps to
reduce their impact. Walls
in Blue Gray, Farrow & Ball.
Wakefield kitchen, Kitchen
Stori; fitted by Kinder Kitchens
W hen something is worth doing, it’s

worth doing properly,‘ says award-
winning education consultant Holly
Hartley. ‘I’ve worked in some of the
most deprived schools in the UK and abroad and I
know the only way to turn a difficult situation around is
to create a team of passionate people and inspire them
to overcome any challenges they might face.’ Similarly,
four years ago, Holly knew she’d need a talented team
of renovation experts when she and husband Al took
on this 400-year-old farmhouse – the décor was a little
tired and the way the outbuildings were being used
needed a huge rethink. Working with an expert team
was an education in design and project planning.
AT HOME WITH Despite being a tad more remote than they’d
originally planned, the couple were certain it was the
Owners Holly Hartley, an education property for them. Sitting on the edge of the Peak
consultant, coach and entrepreneur District National Park, with views over the rolling hills
(rediscoveryofme.com), and her husband and valleys, and surrounded by 14 acres of land, it
Al, a plumber who runs their holiday would be the ideal place for the pair and their two
cottage business (overleafarm.com).
They have two daughters, Isabella, 11,
daughters, Isabella and Margot, to create a future-
and Margot, nine. proofed home with lots of flexibility. ‘This village is in
House A four/six-bedroom my bones,’ says Holly, whose ancestors have lived in
farmhouse built in the 1600s. The the community for more than 600 years.
adjoining outbuildings have been ‘Al and I have travelled around a fair bit individually,
converted into holiday cottages. as a couple, and as a family (we were renting in
Staffordshire previously), but when we found out that >

Barn
kitchen/diner
A circular table makes
the most of a small space.
Bespoke table and stick
back chairs, The Good
Shelf Company. Camaro
Cambridge parquet,
Polyflor. Walls in Blue
Gray, Farrow & Ball
Barn living room

The Hartleys installed
a stove in the corner of
the room as the focal
point. Senza stove by
Jydepejsen, The Fire Place
in New Mills. Grosvenor
sofa, SofaSofa

❝I
❞
Barn bathroom
The elegant space features
a roll-top tub and plenty
of greenery. BC Designs
Elmstead freestanding
bath, Fountain Bathrooms
& Kitchens. Bollin mirror,
William Wood Mirrors
Barn bathroom
This luxurious space has a
stylish shower that makes
use of every inch. Metro
Windley Carrara ceramic
tiles, Tile Town. Burlington
basin and stand, Fountain
Bathrooms & Kitchens.
Parquet, Polyflor
this farmhouse was for sale, we knew it was the perfect

opportunity to put down some roots. Our idea was to
create a home that provides a sense of peace and
tranquillity, but with additional living space to have
friends and family stay over in comfort, to rent out to
holidaymakers to bring in extra income, and for the
girls to live in when they are older.’
With former Royal Navy engineer Al taking the lead
as head plumber and project manager, the couple put
together a fantastic team of local craftspeople to realise
their vision – architects and designers; carpenters,
joiners and electricians; carpet fitters and landscapers
– all used previously or found through reliable
recommendations. ‘Good teamwork was vital,’ says Al,
who grew up in a neighbouring village just five miles
from the farm, ‘with the driving forces here being our
interior architect Vanessa Rudd (fourwalls-id.co.uk) and
interior designer Joanne Ibbotson (joibbotson.co.uk).
They both worked with me incredibly closely from the
very beginning to ensure every detail was thought of,
and everything ran to schedule – making sure everyone
stuck to their deadline so that we could get the next
trade in on time was the hardest part.’
‘The fact I know Jo from school helped enormously,
though,’ adds Holly, who was reunited with her friend
when they moved back to the area around the same
time. ‘She was able to translate my idea of creating >

Barn bedroom
Rich colours and
sumptuous textures
abound in this cosy space.
Walls in Oval Room Blue,
Farrow & Ball. Curtains
in Chimney Swallows Sky
Blue by Designers Guild,
Harmony Decor
❝COUNTRYSIDE
I WANTED TO CREATE SPACES THAT REFLECT THE
YET HAVE TOUCHES OF LUXURY ❞
Barn Barn bedroom
entrance hall The colours in the curtain
This space has been are echoed in the velvet
designed for storing chair and the collection of
muddy boots and pots on the table. Curtains
waterproofs, as the in Wilderness Topaz
cottage is situated in linen by Voyage Maison,
perfect walking country. Harmony Decor. Quid side
Panelling in Pigeon, table; Slam Dunk lamp,
Farrow & Ball both Loaf
Cowshed bedroom
Crisp cotton, soft wool
and sumptuous velvet are
an alluring combination.
Velvet throw, John Lewis
& Partners. Cushions in
Wilderness Topaz linen
by Voyage Maison,
Harmony Decor
Cowshed
living room
This panelled bench seat
provides handy hidden
storage. Hill and Water
print by Lesley Birch, King
& McGaw. Owl cushion
in Owlswick fabric by
Sanderson, Harmony Decor
spaces that reflect the countryside yet have touches of

ON OUR DOORSTEP luxury. I still have to travel a fair bit for work, so the idea
of coming home to a place that feels a million miles
from anything yet is comfortable and elegant was so
Visit… ‘Chatsworth (chatsworth.
appealing – especially when we had the idea of installing
org), near Bakewell, is lovely at this
time of year as they decorate the hot tubs to fully unwind while taking in the fabulous views!’
house beautifully for the festivities Choosing the colours, fabrics and standout pieces for
and have a lovely market where you this nature-inspired scheme may have been a dream
can buy unusual gifts. Walking on job for Jo, but the renovation work was more of a
Kinder Scout (visitpeakdistrict.com) is
challenge, particularly for Vanessa, who had sloping
breathtaking on a winter’s morning.’
floors and ceilings and four-foot walls to contend with.
Shop at… ‘Bamford Auctioneers
(bamfords-auctions.co.uk) in ‘The fact that the outbuildings had already been
Bakewell is where I’ve bought most converted by the previous owners didn’t really help, as
of the paintings for the house.’ the space had to be completely reconfigured to create
Go for a meal at… ‘Sett Valley a more flexible arrangement that could work with the
FEATURE NAOMI JONES PHOTOGRAPHS BRENT DARBY
Café (settvalleycafe.com) in Birch Vale main house, or as one or two independent cottages,‘
in the High Peak is dog, child and Al recalls. ‘I think the only things that were kept were
horse-friendly and serves breakfast all
day. It also has a ‘silly drinks’ menu
the main structure and the original beams and lintels.’
that is pretty indulgent but after a ‘What everyone has achieved here is absolutely
long walk you’ll have earned it, along astonishing,’ agrees Holly. ‘We’ve still got a fair bit of
with a slice of really excellent work left to do in the main part of the house, but after
homemade cake.' tackling a few private rooms as well as this section of
the farm we feel far more confident, especially now we
have established such a fantastic team. It’s so lovely to
be able to utilise local skills and it has really helped us
to settle back into the community we both know so well.’
To book a stay at Overlea Farm, visit overleafarm.com

GET THE LOOK
Be inspired by
HOLLY’S BEDROOM
This petite
charmer adds a
lovely, romantic
touch bedside.
Cherub pendant
light, £165.30,
Jim Lawrence
Add oodles of
hibernating
softness with
faux fur. Malton
throw, £118,
Abigail Ahern
Classic styling meets

an industrial palette.
Grantham bedside table,
£199, Swoon
Snuggle-up with a
spicy, stitched design.
Knud rectangular cushion
in Paprika, £52, Rose & Grey
CH&I
Decadent Regency style invites MODERN
you to recline in comfort… Country
Foxtail double bed frame in Admiral CLASSIC
soft wool, £795, Button & Sprung
This stirring teal

will add impactful Dress windows with a

atmosphere. tranquil scene of swooping
Whale Tail resistance swallows. Chimney swallows
ultra matt emulsion, fabric in Sky Blue, £70m, John
£44 for 2.5ltr, Derian at Designers Guild
Graham & Brown
Holly’s style tip... Relax with door-

delivered seasonal
scents. Botanical
CREATE A HUNKER-DOWN RETREAT candle, from £95
WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF RICH JEWEL for a three-month
subscription,
SHADES AND LUXURIOUSLY TACTILE Rebecca Tracey
WEAVES, WOOLS AND VELVETS.
& INTERIORS
Gorgeous houses, we want youÉ
If you’d like your home to be considered for a feature in Country Homes & Interiors,
send some photos and tell us all about it at countryhomes@futurenet.com
We’d love to come on over!

❋
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RURAL HOTSPOT
Stone buildings
bring such charm
and cosiness to
the high street
It’s a mystical
place to explore
LET’S MOVE TO in the winter
Woodstock
THIS SMALL GEORGIAN GEM
IS FAR FROM STUCK IN THE PAST
W
oodstock in Oxfordshire BUTCHERS, BAKERS & COFFEE will still be lighting up the night
first flourished in the MAKERS The high street has though and you can thaw out
Georgian period when entered a ‘purple patch’ over afterwards at boutique pubs The
nearby Blenheim Palace was the past couple of years, with the Crown and The Woodstock Arms.
constructed close to the river opening of art galleries Dantzig, SCHOOLS Given its size, Woodstock
Glyme. Today, the town bathes in the Darl-e and the Bear, and Zuleika, is well-catered for with ‘outstanding’
reflected splendour of its aristocratic whose snazzy studios selling Woodstock Church of England
neighbour, but has evolved a strong contemporary works have brought primary, and ‘good’ Marlborough
identity of its own with surprisingly more than a splash of colour. Church of England secondary.
chic shops and boutiques for Meanwhile, artisan bakery Natural GET AROUND In fifteen minutes you
somewhere with such a marked Bread is the place for your daily can reach Oxford by car, via the A44.
historical heritage. ‘We’re not exactly loaf, and Hampers delicatessen By public transport, it’s a 40-minute
Shoreditch,’ says one resident, ‘but offers sit-down brunches, as well schlep by bus. From Oxford, trains
it’s not just fusty antiques either, as wholesome takeaways. take 50 minutes to Paddington. To
we’re cooler than you might imagine.’ COUNTRY LIFE & CULTURE drive, London is an hour and 20
The town stays vibrant throughout Literary luminaries are often minutes and Oxford International
the year and, on a sweet note, a seen around town for Woodstock Airport is just a few miles away.
quirky musical carillon clock regales BookShop’s November Poetry IN THE AREA Wander out to
the town four times daily with a Festival (sadly on-hold until the water meadows and pretty
different tune each day of the week. next year). Blenheim Palace’s surrounding villages of Bladon
IN THE ESTATE AGENT’S WINDOW phenomenal festive illuminations and Wootton.
FEATURE SOPHIE GALE PHOTOGRAPHS BRECKON & BRECKON ESTATE AGENTS,
A detached four-bed period

property in a central location costs
£650,000. But modern architecture
puts in a good showing – as with the
Dream homes in Woodstock
angular lines favoured by small-scale
developer Lewis Property. Blenheim
ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, JAY ALICE PHOTOGRAPHIC
Estate’s own new development, Park

View, has buildings made with local
natural stone and is surrounded
by hedgehog highways. The new
construction has been adding
variety to an otherwise more senior TREASURE CHEST PRACTICALLY PERFECT A LOVELY MANOR
demographic. But you’ll need to be The Georgian façade of this For £575,000, this three- This grade-II listed cottage
three double-bedroom storey family home near the with courtyard garden and
an early bird, as Breckon & Breckon’s
townhouse in the middle of town centre comes with a two bedrooms sits on a
Martyn Brittain points out: ‘The last Woodstock, belies a sleekly garden and parking. There private side road with easy
new development, Marlborough remodelled interior. Not are three double bedrooms access to the town centre.
Place, all sold quickly off plan.’ a snip at £1,250,000. and a woodburner. On the market for £435k.

C H R I S T M A S D E C O R AT I O N S S P E C I A L
A kind of
MAGIC
Transform your home into
a festive wonderland with
SOULFUL our round-up of this year’s
NATURE Christmas decorating trends
Effortlessly beautiful,
this pared-back story
takes a sensory stroll
through rustic textures,
natural materials and
peaceful neutrals.
Love this look?

Then try...
• Cox & Cox for the Scandi
Lakehouse edit of hand-blown
baubles, imprinted ceramics
and eternity flora.
• Rowen & Wren for striking, Inge porcelain
frozen-in-time glass decorations leaves, £1
with crafted appeal. for tw
• Nordic House for handcrafted, Nordic Ho
nature-inspired details.
Nude thistle
wreath, from £12,
Rose & Grey
Natural
paper bird
Ice and snow wooden
ornament,
ornament; wooden
£14, Att
Christmas tree, £7 each,
Pynta
both Janet Bell
Paper petal
Natural botanical garland
tree decs, £15 in Bronze/
for five, Notonthe Copper, £16,
highstreet.com Toast
Metal star
garland in
antique brass,
£45, Rose & Grey
Baubles,
Celestial garland,
from a
£12, East End
selection
Press at The Red
at M&S
Door Gallery
Aries
ornament,
£29.95, Liberty
Orion star in
Gold, £11, French
Connection Home NIGHT SKY
Sparkle and shine! Turn your festive
home into a sophisticated starry
night, with decadent midnight hues, Silver moon
twinkling details and celestial motifs. ornament, £12.95,
The Hambledon
This trend delivers contemporary
elegance, playing out a contrast
of light and dark, day and night.
Offset rich navy tones with glistening
silvers, pearlescent finishes and
warm, flickering candlelight to
rocket your space into the
style stratosphere.
Celestial
Christmas wreath, Love this look? Then try...
£29.99, Rachel • The White Company for sparkling
Emma Studio decorations and accessories.
• M&S for a tonal selection of
decorations in frosted blues. Pink metal star
decoration, £8,
• Oliver Bonas for charming celestial
Oliver Bonas
designs with a fresh-thinking twist.

Waxed paper Nine point paper
bauble, £6.30, stars, from £9 each,
Raj Tent Club Rose & Grey
Paper chain
garland kit,
£18, The
Origami star Shop Floor
decorations in Project
Ochre Storm Blue,
£16 for set of
six, Toast Striped fan in
Monochrome,
£12.50, Paper
Dreams
PAPER MASH
Rock, paper, scissors! Go for a
fabulously fun riot of honeycomb balls,
Diamond
playful pinwheels, paper chain garlands honeycomb decs,
£12 for set of six,
and snowflake fans to deliver maximalist Paper Dreams
magic with a planet-friendly conscience.

Reusable, design-led paper decs are
super lightweight and easy to assemble.
Cluster them en masse in impact areas,
Indian recycled
large paper
such as hallways and entertaining spaces,
bauble in
Navy, £8.50,
to create a floating cloud installation. Or,
Artisans & use small assortments as space-fillers,
Adventurers
scattered around the Christmas tree.
Paper
Love this look? Then try... Christmas

tree, from
• RE-Found for a party of paper designs £10.50,
– the more the merrier, we say! Graham and
Green
• Paper Dreams for mindful and stylish
picks that inspire and delight.
• The Shop Floor Project for gorgeous DIY paper
chain garland kits and pop-out table crowns.
C H R I S T M A S D E C O R AT I O N S S P E C I A L
Trixie sequin
bauble garland,
£18, Habitat
Large jewelled
snowflake, £7,
Raj Tent Club
Ura baubles
in Antique
Rust, £12.95
for set of
three, Nkuku
Enchanted Forest
decorations, from Eira baubles,
Jewelled tree
£1,99 each, Dobbies £12 for set of
in Red, £8.70,
three, Habitat
Raj Tent Club
RICH JEWELS
If it’s an exotic dose of warmth,
character and energy your festive
nest nook craves, then this is the way
to go. Style an eclectic carnival of
emerald greens, peacock blues and
peppery pinks and reds in modern,
traditional and vintage designs
for a display that bursts with
sophisticated vibrancy.
Top tip: these jewel-like designs
pair perfectly with lengths of Scarab beetle
decoration, £12.95,
luxurious velvet ribbon. Liberty
Floral-
embellished
glass Christmas
bauble, £25,
Selfridges
Love this look? Then try...
• Fox Flowers for exquisite faux and
dried flowers and arrangements in
berry-beautiful shades.
• Nkuku for stunning antique, ribbed
designs in divine colourways.
• Habitat for bright pattern punches.

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❝Our Three Seasons
gin is perfect for
the festivities❞
LUCY AND WILLIAM LOWE,
FOUNDERS, CAMBRIDGE DISTILLERY
G rantchester Meadows in
Cambridge has a lot to answer
for. This pastoral landscape has
influenced a wealth of creative
luminaries, from the Bloomsbury Group to
poet Rupert Brooke, and even Pink Floyd.
‘We think we were the first gin producers
has proved a perfect foil to her husband’s
distilling skills. ‘Basically, William does
everything inside the bottle and I handle
everything on the outside,’ she says.
Their ambition was to create a gin that
turned traditional production methods
on their head. ‘Most commercial gins are
to be inspired by all it has to offer though,’ made in huge copper stills and all the dried
says Lucy Lowe who founded Cambridge ingredients are thrown in together, like a
Gin Distillery with her husband William nine big stew,’ says Lucy. ‘Our method is different.
years ago. ‘We were walking our labrador Only freshly harvested botanicals are used,
Darcy in the meadows near our home, and each is distilled individually to capture
talking over business ideas, and quite literally its essence before being carefully blended
had a eureka moment when we realised that by William to achieve a perfect balance.’
we were surrounded by the most beautiful, Despite the couple’s big ideas, they started
fresh botanicals, which could be used small – literally. ‘We used all our savings
to create something very special.’ to set up Cambridge Distillery in our front
That something special turned out to room,’ she says. ‘In fact, we held the title
be gin – an obvious choice given William’s as the country’s smallest distillery when
formidable knowledge of wine and spirits we launched in 2012. We knew we couldn’t
(at that time he was working as a leading begin to compete with the bigger producers,
educator in wine; indeed he is now the so we went the other way, making one
world’s first distiller to recently become perfect bottle at a time. We wanted to create
a master of wine). ‘Not only that, we knew a spirit that was perfectly in tune with an
making gin would take up much less time individual’s specific tastes and preferences
and space than other spirits,’ says Lucy, – which is how our Tailored Gin was born.
whose background as a business manager Clients are taken through a flight of blind >

MY COUNTRY BUSINESS
In the upstairs study

at the Cambridge Gin
Laboratory, William
concocts the perfect
Festive Negroni
MY COUNTRY BUSINESS
What we love most...

❝ CREATING A TAILORED GIN THAT HAS A REALLY
PERSONAL MEANING FOR A CUSTOMER – IT’S A WAY
OF CELEBRATING SOMETHING SPECIAL❞
tastings by William so that their palate operation. On the day the couple’s daughter
preferences can be determined, then an Emilia was born in 2016, they got the keys
individual gin recipe is made to suit them.’ to a former village garage in Grantchester,
It wasn’t long before word spread, and which was to become their new distillery.
Selfridges in London invited them to create Today, the building has a small shopfront,
an exclusive biannual Seasonal Gin. ‘The with a busy production operation at the
store even recreated our tiny front room back, while the actual distillery is next
distillery in one of their windows,’ says door, alongside a showroom.
Lucy. ‘It was amazing when we stood ‘The look and feel of the business is
outside and viewed it!’ something we carefully considered,’ says
By 2014 the couple had given up their Lucy. ‘We wanted to encapsulate where we
full-time jobs to concentrate fully on making are in Cambridge – a place of learning and
groundbreaking gins, and soon the business heritage – but nothing too forced. Many
had outgrown its simple front-room of our family heirlooms have found their
way here, along with authentic items we’ve
picked up or been given over the years.’
The laboratory is sited Nevertheless in 2018, when the couple
behind glass at the
also took on the lease of a higgledy-piggledy
Distillery so that visitors
can witness the gin old shop in the labyrinth of medieval city
being made streets, they decided to enlist the expertise
of interior designer Afroditi Krassa. ‘The
building was perfect – all wooden panelling,
huge fireplaces and creaking staircases –
with rooms for masterclasses and events,
and Afroditi has really brought our vision
to dramatic life,’ says Lucy.
As for so many businesses, 2020 has
been challenging. ‘Of course, COVID-19
has had an impact, but we aim to be as agile
as possible,’ says Lucy. ‘We increased our
online presence and everyone who could
work safely after the first lockdown eased
did so.’ Lucy has no doubt that, despite
everything, the festive season will be as busy
as it always is. ‘We usually start planning our
campaign as early as spring,’ she says. ‘This
year we’re launching our Three Seasons Gin in
Selfridges for Christmas, which features rose
petals, blackcurrant leaf and lemon verbena,
with our biannual Seasonal Gin to follow later.’
Despite now having a team of more than
40 people, an international presence and a
wealth of awards, it wasn’t always that way. ‘It
all started with just the two of us in this special
place,’ says Lucy. ‘We never forget that.’
cambridgedistillery.co.uk

Tastings can be
enjoyed at the
Cambridge Distillery Anyone for
Showroom
cocktails?
For a sophisticated seasonal
All their bottles sipper, follow William Lowe’s
are produced in recipe for the perfect
Grantchester Festive Negroni
Ingredients
• 30ml Cambridge Dry Gin
• 20ml Campari
• 25ml Port
• 5ml Crème de Cassis
Pour the ingredients into

a glass tumbler, add ice
and stir for 10 seconds.
Garnish with orange zest and
fresh rosemary – and enjoy!

The couple first
devised the idea
for the Cambridge ON OUR
Distillery while DOORSTEP…
walking in the
Grantchester Visit… ‘We love Grantchester
Meadows Meadows – they are not only
naturally beautiful, but also have
so much cultural and historic
significance. The Orchard Tea
Garden has links to famous
poets, writers, musicians,
artists, inventors and more.’
Shop at…’The Gog Farm Shop
and Delicatessen (thegog.com) in
Stapleford is brimming with fresh
local produce, artisan goodies, a
terrific butchery, and a cheese
counter to die for!’
Go for a meal at…
’Restaurant 22 (restaurant22.co.
uk) in Cambridge is superb – it
definitely deserves at least one
Michelin star. We tried the tasting
menu recently and it was some of
the best food we’ve ever had.’
MY COUNTRY BUSINESS
HOW TO INNOVATE FOR

SUSTAINED SUCCESS
THINKING DIFFERENTLY CAN SET YOU APART FROM COMPETITORS
Master distiller William Lowe shares such as Japanese Gin, made entirely have tutored tastings and masterclasses,
the philosophy and method that has from Japanese botanicals; Anty Gin interactive cocktail evenings, and
seen the Cambridge Distillery grow which uses insects to bring a distinctive offer our customers the opportunity
from being the UK’s smallest distillery citrus flavour, and not least, our Truffle to blend their own gin,’ says Will. ‘We
to the international award-winning Gin – the world’s first digestif gin. also collaborate with leading chefs and
business it is today… I had a clear vision of what it should restaurateurs to offer really exciting
be like, but balancing the properties dining experiences.’
THINK DIFFERENTLY ‘When of truffle with the robust flavour
we established the company, we of juniper took more than a year of KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER Gin has
deliberately took a very different experimenting to get it right,’ he says. seen a surge in popularity in recent
direction, not only in the method ‘You just have to keep at it – and it’s years, but William is hesitant to adopt
we use to create our gin, but in our not always easy, especially since popular trends in flavours and style.
business approach, too,’ says William. something truly different doesn’t ‘We are known as the most innovative
‘People often assume that tried and even exist to start with!’ distillery in the world, so it’s important
trusted is the only way forward in we influence not follow,’ he says. ‘We
terms of production, feasibility and ALWAYS EVOLVE While a brilliant might forecast a trend that is going
economics, but we looked at what idea may initially come in a light-bulb to emerge soon – but then we look at
perfection meant for us first, then how moment, building a successful business how that can be improved so that our
we would achieve it. I’d advise anyone model is a steady, ongoing process. variation is truly new and different. We
to start with a blank piece of paper: ‘The concept for the Cambridge will not, for example, be jumping on the
if you simply copy what someone else Distillery was always clear, but it’s pink gin bandwagon! We’re constantly
has already done, you’ll only adopt their taken a long time to get it to its current aware of what our portfolio looks like
mistakes as well as their successes.’ shape, and it’s continuously evolving,’ – every product we release has strong
FEATURE SHARON PARSONS PHOTOGRAPHS RICHARD GADSBY
says William. ‘It’s a bit like creating a reasoning behind it, and has been
BE BOLD William firmly believes it’s garden – it’s never finished. If it is, your meticulously considered. Not least,
the leaps of innovation that make a business is finished, too!’ What the we know what our customers want:
difference. ‘That’s how we came to Cambridge Distillery can offer goes they’re led by curiosity, and our aim
create ground-breaking world firsts, beyond producing the actual gin. ‘We is to satisfy that every time.’
The one lesson we’ve learnt...

❝FOR
WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE, STAY POSITIVE AND LOOK
A SOLUTION. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ONE ❞

❝The perfect
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country lover
(or yourself!),
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this Christmas and enjoy
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RING IN
THE NEW
Celebrate the New Year with magical winter
wonderland looks, soulful seasonal touches
and mood-boosting greenery
STYLE A
WELCOMING TABLE
Gather in an invitingly
chic dining setting. Lay the table
with considered crockery and
glassware, interspersed with
draped and potted festive
foliage, buds and sprigs.
SEASONAL DECOR
Delight in the details

TRIGGER FESTIVE
SPIRITS WITH SCENTED
OFFERINGS. EASILY
HOME-CRAFTED,
HERB AND SPICE
FIRELIGHTERS FILL THE
AIR WITH SEASONAL
FRAGRANCE
BRING THE
OUTSIDE IN
Connect with nature

with gathered greenery
made into beautiful
arrangements at
thresholds, hallways
and entrances.
A scheme of black
furniture against white
wood is a smart
foil for the foliage.
SEASONAL DECOR
TAKE A PAUSE
A decorative nook
with a neat peg shelf
creates a reason to
stop and linger.
Watering hanging
plants and noting
special days can
bring a mindful
moment to a
busy corridor.

FIND PEACE
& COMFORT
A luxe look in a living

room calms the soul,
especially when there’s
a touch of timber to
bring it back to the
country vibe. A black
wall, graceful furniture
and refined details
create a dark and
handsome backdrop for
select gatherings.
SEASONAL DECOR
Rest, refresh & renew

TAKE A SEAT AND TALK
A WHILE, OR MAKE
PRESENT WRAPPING
AN OCCASION… THE
FESTIVE SEASON IS A
TIME TO RESTORE THE
SPIRIT AND FIND THE
JOY IN SMALL THINGS
SEASONAL DECOR
ALL THE DETAILS,

PRODUCTS & PRICES
STYLE A for six, Folk Interiors. Natural rapeseed

WELCOMING TABLE candle, £16.95, Yellow Gorse
Pale Grey linen tablecloth, £79, Nordic
House. Speckled mineral bowls, £70 for DELIGHT IN THE DETAILS
six; dinner plates, £85 for six, both Cox To make these pretty firelighters,
and Cox. Antonia napkins in Olive, £44 for you will need: soy candle wax,
six; Handsworth cutlery in Olive, £80 for a steel non-stick cupcake baking
a 24-piece set; Lulworth side plates in tin, dried natural finds – such as dried
Grey, £54 for six; Tussock sheepskin rug, flowers, leaves, twigs, berries, hay
£129, all Neptune. Oak plates, £40 for or straw and shredded wood
four, Ash and Plumb. Olive glass tealight Method: First preheat the oven to
holders, £6 each, Daylesford. Canopy 170C/Gas 3. Fill each section of the
PAGES 80-81 recycled glass tumblers, £30 for four; baking tin with wax and put in the oven
Caro balloon glass goblets in Leaf, £38 for for 5 mins, or until the wax has melted.
four; Gems amber tumblers (shown as Remove the cake tin from the oven
tealight holders), £35 for four, all LSA and carefully place your natural
International. Luxury Christmas crackers, ingredients into the hot wax, you can
£36 for six; presents in Holly Christmas, also add a wick so they will be easier
and Oak Leaves and Acorns wrapping to light. Leave at room temperature
paper, both £9.95 for five sheets, all to set, then remove from the tin and
Nancy and Betty. Green glass bauble, store with your kindling ready for
£8, Raj Tent Club. Bamboo plate, £19 lighting your stove or open fire.
BRING THE OUTSIDE IN Watering can, £16; woven hanging

Handmade wreath, from £65, Bird Studio. planter with leather straps, £25; Boston
Utility glass vase with leather handle, £60; fern plant, £12; cream pot, £14, all Plant
Please vase, £55, both LSA International. Envy. White snowberry plant, £2.99;
Amber Noir multi-wick candle, £15, Shearer green bauble, £3, both Long Acres.
Candles. Cream pot, £14, Leaf Envy. Inka Growing Through the Seasons lino prints
Kana grey pot, £28.90; green glass vase, calendar, £14, Isla Middleton. Reclaimed
£15, both Folk Interiors. Charred oak mini black milking stool, £89, Nordic House.
bud vase set, £40, Ash and Plumb Present wrapped in lining paper, £7
a roll, B&Q. Moss green paper raffia
TAKE A PAUSE ribbon, £6.50 for 90m, Nancy and Betty
Wood clad walls in School House White
PAGES 82-83 estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow
& Ball. Naulakko 80 shelf, £110, Bruun. FEATURE AND ART DIRECTION SARA BIRD PHOTOGRAPHS DAN DUCHARS
STYLING SELINA LAKE STYLE ASSISTANTS SARAH PRALL, BELLA DUNNE
FIND PEACE & COMFORT as before. Hand-turned ash wood

Walls in Down Pipe estate eggshell, £64 trees, £40 for Nordisk set, Bruun. Grace
for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Costello two and scatter cushion in Olive Chevron, £82;
a half seater sofa in Olive velvet, £1,840; Cullingworth rug in Oatmeal, £380,
Taylor coffee table, £590, both Sofa.com. both Neptune. Natural linen cushion,
Handmade ash wood rocking chair, £35, Nordic House. Frayed edge linen
£2,300, Nafisi Studio. Marble-top side tablecloth (shown as throw), £78,
table, £240, Rockett St George. Brass Rowen and Wren
and marble lamp, £150; young pine
Christmas tree, £275; tree lights, £50;
cream hand-blown baubles, £7.50 for set
of six; mini cream baubles, £5.50 for set
PAGES 84-85 of 16, all Cox and Cox. Wrapping paper,

P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E
Walls in Mellow Sage

Walls in Blue Gravel
easyclean® matt, £25 easyclean® matt, £25
for 2.5ltr, Crown for 2.5ltr, Crown
The secret to clean

PAINTED WALLS
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FESTIVE SPECIAL
The art of
ENTERTAINING
IT’S THE SPECIAL TOUCHES THAT MAKE A GATHERING
MEMORABLE, SO WE ASKED OUR FAVOURITE HOSTS FOR
THEIR TIPS ON FESTIVE DECORATIONS, FOOD AND FUN
BEAUTIFY THE TABLE

‘Over the festive season, we like to use a mixture
of bud vases with dried flowers, including
helichrysum, in warm jewel-like tones. Put larger
headed flowers, like the helichrysum at the
Use dried flowers neck of the vase and airy grasses dancing on top to create
and grasses at movement without interrupting conversation across the table.’
different heights Kitten Grayson, plantswoman, Kitten Grayson Flowers
for a pretty display
Willow’s table laid
Seared duck breast for Christmas Day
with beetroot and
cherry ponzu
Make the
main course
memorable
‘I’ll be serving the seared
duck breast with beetroot
and cherry ponzu from
my new book Australian
Food (£20, Murdoch Books). Fill the house with fragrance
It’s surprisingly easy, but
‘I’m planting white hyacinth and paperwhite bulbs
is still a special dish
in jam jars and dotting them down the centre of the
that makes it worthy
table. They give off a heavenly scent.’
of Christmas lunch.’
Willow Crossley, florist and stylist, willowcrossley.com
Bill Granger, chef
SET THE MOOD

WITH LIGHTING
‘I love low glows that extend the
day into night. It’s surprisingly
wonderful how illuminating lamps CREATE A
TABLESCAPE
in the evening and lighting
candlesticks on the coffee table
can become a satisfying, even ‘I am going to decorate the table
festive, part of your routine; how using my MM Moon runner as the
creating a cosy atmosphere is main feature, over a crisp classic white
a gratifying feature of the day.’ tablecloth. I’m then going to add lots
Bingley brass candlesticks, from of tea lights, pomegranates and red
£16 each, Rowen & Wren roses in pretty brass lassi cups to create
Matthew Williamson, a rich, sumptuous atmosphere.’
interior designer Moon runner, £58, Molly Mahon
Molly Mahon, textile designer

FESTIVE SPECIAL
OFFER A
FESTIVE TIPPLE
‘I always collect my own sloes when
I am out walking the dogs, to make
homemade sloe gin for the following
year. This is the tipple I like to serve
at festive drinks (in a champagne
cocktail), alongside pigs-in-blankets
– you can’t beat this combination
for a welcoming winter warmer.’ Serve a crowd-pleaser
Susie Watson, designer and founder,
Susie Watson Designs
‘Guests always request my sweet potato, bacon and pecan
stuffing from Clodagh’s Weeknight Kitchen (£20, Kyle Books).
I have experimented with lots of different types of stuffing, but
I just keep on coming back to this recipe.’ You can cook along
Nina Campbell decorates
her table with a selection with Clodagh on IGTV @Clodagh_McKenna or browse her
of glittery and furry shop at ClodaghMcKenna.com Clodagh McKenna, chef
animal figurines
CRAFT SPECIAL
CRACKERS
‘We always make our own crackers.
Last year I used wrapping paper from
SAMUEL GOLDSMITH, SARAH WILSON PHOTOGRAPHS KITTEN GRAYSON FLOWERS,

Pentreath & Hall. I have a friend who FEATURE ARABELLA YOUENS, ELISA ROCHE, RHODA PARRY, RORY ROBERTSON,
makes her crackers look like vegetables,
something I want to try this year.’
Charlie McCormick,
gardener and writer
PAUL RAESIDE, ALUN CALLENDER, HUGH STEWARD, MIKKEL VANG
GATHER AROUND
THE MANTEL
‘I create a focal point in my unused BREAK OUT A
BOARD GAME
fireplace and on my mantelpiece
by decorating them with fat,
gilded pine cones, forest animals ‘Any game to gather around is great,
and mushrooms in soft red and but for entertainment it’s got to be
white felt. I set candles in votives Articulate. My sons love the game
in among the faux logs to make and we always play it at Christmas!’
it twinkle at night.’ Jill Stein OBE, restaurateur
Nina Campbell, interior designer and interior designer

COUNTRY
CELEBRATE THE ART OF RURAL LIVING
ON BEAUTIFUL NEW WEBSITE
HOMESANDGARDENS.COM/COUNTRY
nHOM E S & I N T E R IOR S

n OU T DOOR S n L I F E ST Y L E
n PROPE RT Y
IN THE ROUND
Set the scene this festive season
by suspending a wreath above
the table Scandinavian-style.
Suffolk six-seater Fresh green not only complements
table, £865; chairs
the tree itself, but is on trend
in Shell, £235 each;
stocking, £60, for a modern Christmas palette.
all Neptune ‘Green and white – without any
red – strikes the balance between
traditional and contemporary,’ says
Eat at home
Kyra Cosgrove, home designer at
Neptune. ‘The key to making it feel
stylish, yet magical, is to contrast
IN STYLE
natural materials with subtle
metallics and luxurious velvets.’
DEDICATED DINING AREAS ARE BACK ON OUR RADAR AS WE ENJOY MORE

MEALS AT HOME. WE CONSIDER THE DECORATIVE COUNTRY OPTIONSÉ
DINING ROOM IDEAS
Walls in Cinnamon, £49.50

for 2.5ltr, Edward Bulmer
Natural Paint. Maiden
iron table legs, £599
for two, Nor11
AGED BEAUTY
Walls in a warming spiced hue,
exposed oak beams and painted
floorboards combine to create
a dining room packed with
interest and light. Demonstrating
how to handle historic interiors
without resorting to high
formality, decorator Henry
Miller-Robinson, co-founder of
K&H Design, uses colour and
over-scaled flower arrangements
to create warmth and character.
‘The decorative overdoors add
a little grandeur, but not too
much,’ says Henry who enjoys
searching for wildflowers and
foliage to use in his relaxed,
maximalist flower arrangements.
Antique French Tian bowl, BENEATH THE SKY
£190; tableware, from £10,
If the dining room is adjacent
both Birdie Fortescue
to the kitchen, use tablescaping
effectively as a way of increasing
the sense of occasion when
entertaining. Tablecloths –
patterned ones in particular are
back in vogue – and pretty table-
and glassware make all the
difference. In Birdie Fortescue’s
Norfolk home, she’s placed her
table underneath the generous
roof lantern in a space that was
made by connecting two farm
buildings. ‘The glazed pitched
roof creates a sense of being
outdoors during the day and a
reflective backdrop for candlelit
dinners at night,’ says Birdie.
DINING ROOM IDEAS
Hoxton carpet in
Spice, £42.99sq
m, Carpetright.
Hebden dining
table, from £615,
Neptune
CENTRE STAGE
While they make an impressive entrance to
a home – and are an ideal place for an over-
sized Christmas tree – large staircase hallways
can sometimes feel as though they lack
a purpose. Instead of just filling one with a
traditional console table, think about giving
it another role as a dining room. As the need
to encourage eating together becomes even
greater, this approach puts dining squarely
at the centre of the home, making it more
challenging for teenagers to escape to their
bedrooms feigning no knowledge of the time.
FESTIVE FOLIAGE
Blue and green can always be seen together
– particularly at this time of year. Liberally use
textiles, such as rugs, cushions, a tablecloth
and napkins, to create a warm and welcoming
scene. Not only does it look considered and
comfortable, but the fabrics importantly
help to absorb the volume of voices. Keep
the mood light by suspending a disco ball Disco ball, £44.99, Mirror
Balls. Blue Maxime
from the ceiling to bring in a frivolous edge,
rug, from £52; Maxime
which can be ramped up with complementary tablecloth, from £65;
details – such as mirrored coasters or metallic Jaipur acorn cushion,
cushions. Take things a step further by hanging £45, all Weaver Green
an extra large garland on the overmantel.

AGE OF ELEGANCE
White is the ideal colour to
brighten smaller spaces and
refresh architectural details,
but one challenge is how to add
warmth. The easiest way to do
it is to focus on furniture choices
and materiality: here, the table in
natural wood instantly raises the
temperature, while the generous
pendant adds drama. Having
a cocktail bar in the dining area
brings in more interest. ‘The
mirror-back ensures the drinks
cabinetry feels more refined, and
the wine storage provides easy
access to perfectly chilled wine,’
says Louisa Eggleston, creative
director at Humphrey Munson.
Glazed Nickleby cabinetry,

from £40,000 for a kitchen,
Humphrey Munson Kitchens.
Clarkson chandelier,
£3,945, LuxDeco
DINING ROOM IDEAS
Dakota dining table,

price on request, Julian
Chichester. Walls in Squid
Ink and woodwork in
Cotton 1, both from £50 for
2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library
SOPHISTICATED
STYLE
Let any architectural details
make the main statement –
just don’t be afraid to adjust
them to your liking (bearing
in mind any constraints for
listed properties). Consider
an oval dining table to
improve the flow of a dining
room. Here, it pairs perfectly
with the dark turquoise walls.
The characterful marquetry
flooring was reconditioned
and polished. ‘We kept the
rest of the design simple
and let the floor do the
talking,’ says Emma Pocock
of Turner Pocock.

DINING ROOM IDEAS
Similar antique dressers,

Anton & K Salon. Chairs,
MIX MATERIALS
price on request, Howe. For an updated country house
Bespoke Colm faux bronze look, introduce a range of
wall lights, price on request, surface finishes and a pop
Hannah Woodhouse
of colour in the dining room,
but maintain the formality by
balancing the symmetry of the
room. In this scheme, take note
of the grounding effect of the
twin dressers in the arches,
while the trio of metal pendants
make the room feel confident
and modern. Interior designer
Charlotte Crosland chose red
leather to ‘add a bit of oomph’.
‘Don’t discount leather as a fabric
in a dining room,’ she says. ‘It’s
easy to clean and ages well.’

NORDIC NEUTRALS
When the dining table stands
so close to full-length windows,
create a tableau with the fabric
and furniture that makes the
most of the setting. The overall
effect will help to dissolve the
boundaries between the inside
and outside, even in the depths
of winter. To make the most of
this look, use a neutral palette of
grey, white and flax and sharpen
it with black touches. This
reimagined Morris & Co fabric
with its delicate pattern has tiny
touches of colour, which help lift
the overall look and ensure that
cool and sophisticated never
slides into cold and uninviting.
Curtains in Pure
Bachelors Button,
£83m; tablecloth in
Pure Willow Bough
£72m; border in
Pure Belsi weave,
£104m, all
Style Library
SHINE ON
When dining areas are
positioned in passing spaces,
it’s a good idea to look for
a table and chairs that are
relatively unobtrusive. That
doesn’t mean they have to
be run of the mill, however,
as demonstrated by interior
designer Anna Hewitson’s
choice for this dining room.
‘I wanted to keep the
furniture quite light, so
I opted for a reflective
tabletop and combined
natural materials to add
texture,’ says Anna.
Custom-made table,
Lorfords. Bespoke
dresser, Blakes London.
Box pendant light,
£975, Original BTC
DINING ROOM IDEAS
Curtain and blind in

SITTING Balmoral Olive, £65m;
COMFORTABLY cushions in Ambrogio
Channel classic farmhouse Pebble, £75m, both
kitchen style with a solid Warner House
oak dining table, benches
in lieu of chairs and stone
flooring. ‘Bench seating is
a space-saving solution as
well as feeling more social
and homely,’ says Lee Clarke,
director of Warner House.
Consider the outlook of the
room when deciding on a
colour scheme: in this dual-
aspect room that overlooks
the garden, green on the
window treatments and
tableware adds brightness.
FEATURE ARABELLA YOUENS PHOTOGRAPHS MALCOLM MENZIES/82MM.COM; SIMON BROWN/COUNTRY LIFE
PICTURE LIBRARY; RADU PALICICA; ALEXANDER JAMES; PAUL CRAIG

MAKE A HOUSE A HOME
THE FIVE-STAR
EXPERIENCE
Bring some boutique
hotel flair to the basics.
Place folded towels at
the end of the bed, stack
the pillows against the
headboard, adding
a decorative boudoir
cushion, and layer on
a beautiful quilt or
blanket. Create a giftable
welcome pack – it could
include beauty goodies,
slippers, a sleep spray
and an eye mask. Finally,
treat the senses with
a gorgeous scented
candle or diffuser.
EXT RA
SP E CIA L
Veiros bathrobe,
£69, Urbanara.
Single British
sheepskin taupe,
£62.99, Wool Room.
Sandalwood & Oud
refillable diffuser,
£35, Brownstone
Treasured London
GUESTS
Create a comfortable and cosy
haven for visiting friends and
family with these thoughtful
finishing touches
ADD LUXURY
IN LAYERS
White sheets not only give a
fresh, welcoming finish, they’re
a great base for layering on
colourful or patterned throws
and cushions, too. A 300-thread
count is the ideal match to
hotel-style quality. Give a
couple of pillow options, firm
and soft, and top a medium-tog
duvet with a throw for the option
of added warmth. For ultimate
comfort, add a mattress topper
from the Wool Room.
Extra-long green and berry

garland, £125; large glass
pine cone, £8; Ambrose
bed linen, from £60; luxury
wool cashmere check throw,
£170; Audley conical light,
£195; Breakfast in bed tray,
£65; carafe and tumbler set,
£35, all The White Company
MAKE A HOUSE A HOME
Rattan hanging
rack, £29.99,
H&M Home
WORK IN WALL STORAGE

Hooks provide the perfect spot
for a robe or a couple of hangers
and may be all you need for clothes
storage if visitors tend to stay only
for the weekend. Tap into the trend
for naturals with rattan or bamboo,
or create a feature by positioning
a row of Shaker pegs along one
wall, painted in the same colour
for a seamless blend.
Bergen oak dressing

table, £450; sheepskin
dressing table stool,
£300; Bergen oak
dressing table mirror,
£175, all Cox & Cox
TRANSFORM
A WORKSPACE
PA M P ER PARTY
This Works Deep Sleep
Spare rooms often double up as pillow spray, £19.50, M&S.
Mulberry silk blackout
masks, £10 each, Soak &
home offices, so rather than a typical Sleep. Estuary stacking
basket, £14, Argos. Printed
desk, choose a versatile piece that velvet double bedspread,
£135, Oliver Bonas
will also work as a dressing table.
A slender-framed shape in natural oak
will blend seamlessly into a bedroom,
while a free-standing mirror that can
be moved out of the way makes it
a practical choice for working, too.
CRE ATE A
C LUT TE R - F R E E SPAC E
This multi-use mirror
incorporates clever hidden
storage – a striking space-saver
for rooms that are too small for
a wardrobe. If your spare room
also functions as overflow
storage, find beautiful, easy-
access solutions to keep clutter
out of sight when visitors stay.
Blanket boxes or ottomans can
sit at the end of the bed or
under a window, baskets can Solna floor-standing mirror,
hold towels or throws and £295; large sisal and leather
under-the-bed drawers are basket, £105; reversible
ideal for out-of-season clothes. sheepskin and leather rug,
£225, all Nordic House
MAKE A HOUSE A HOME
For a similar garland,
try honeycomb
garland, £3.49, Pretty
TH OUGHTFUL Little Party Shop
TOUCHE S
Sir/Madam seeded
carafe, £65, Amara.
Verona organic
cotton slippers,
£17, The Fine
Cotton Company.
Cushion cover,
£30, La Redoute
ADD CREATURE
COMFORTS
A few winter warmers

will help ensure your
guests have the perfect
night’s sleep. Tuck a hot
water bottle into their
bed before they head
off to sleep, and, for
Christmas, you can
add a label to make D RESS FO R CHRI STMA S
For a real statement, hang a decorated wreath or garland above the
it a takeaway gift, too. bed. If you want an easy update, tabletop decorations, such as domes
and small trees, will add some instant festive magic. Flowers are a
beautiful accent all year round – create a lasting display with faux or
preserved flowers, adding seasonal sprigs for Christmas. Metallic
FEATURE MICHELA COLLING PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM
highlights and string lights over a mirror will add some sparkle, too.
3 O F TH E BE ST B E DSIDE L AM PS
1. Elegant brass
2
table lamp, £195,
Ella James
2. Hector medium
pleat wall light
with plug, £149,
Original BTC
3. Lillee table
1 3 lamp, £63; Serchio
marbled shade,
Mini hot bottle bottle,
£48, both Pooky
£20, The White Company

Madison smoke
glass pendant, £75;
OUR EXPERT SAYS…
Evesham soft velvet
❝
double bed, £649;
Camille side table, THE KEY TO COMFORT IS
£199; Milan throw,
£95; cushions, from LAYERING – ADD A SHEET, DUVET
£30 each, all The
Cotswold Company AND BLANKET SO GUESTS CAN FIND
THEIR IDEAL TEMPERATURE ZONE
MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR
❞
G E T LI G H T IN G R IG H T
Bedside lamps are key for
creating a relaxing atmosphere,
as well as being a practical
addition. If you have a small
or no bedside table, a wall light
could be the answer; plug-in
designs have come a long way
and won’t require an electrician.
Alternatively, dropping a low
hanging pendant will add
character and drama – just
ensure the switch is within
easy reach of the bed.

Choose the best…
OCCASIONAL
TABLE
A GLAMOROUS ASSISTANT OR USEFUL SIDEKICK
– A SMALL TABLE CAN BE BOTH FUNCTIONAL
AND BEAUTIFUL. HAVE FUN WITH THIS PETITE,
BUT MIGHTY, ROOM ADDITION…
NATURAL TEXTURE
Add a touch of tactility
and rustic appeal with this
handmade, woven wonder. Use
the shelf to display plants and
books, and double it up as a bar
cart ready for hot toddy o’clock.
Rattan side table with shelf,
£175, Ella James

FURNITURE BUYER’S GUIDE
METALLIC
WALTZ
Scallop details marry
with a tasteful glass
top and sophisticated
antique finish on this
Art Deco-style marvel.
Deco champagne
iron side table, £149,
Libra Interiors
❝ PUNCTUATE EVEN
THE MOST AWKWARD OF
NOOKS AND CRANNIES PEACOCK PROUD
– THERE’S A SHAPE, FIT
This plucky charmer is ready to carry
candles, refreshments and magazines
AND STYLE TO SUIT ALL! ❞

on his crowning glass tabletop.
Pavo side table in Gold, £398,
Anthropologie
LOG STACK
Stump up the style
stakes with this
timber-topped design.
Salvaged from
Indonesian swamp land,
the natural characteristics
of the original trees are
beautifully preserved.
Teak root side table
with White metal frame,
ENDURING SIMPLICITY £244, Raft
Featuring graceful proportions and a
refined silhouette, this French, 1950s
inspiration is a timeless choice. Winning
the versatility stakes, it would work
well as either a coffee or side table.
Ingram brass coffee table, £278,
Rowen & Wren
FURNITURE BUYER’S GUIDE
CRISP BRILLIANCE
Position this Snow Queen cutie at the end
of a sofa, use as a lamp table in gloomy
corners, or add as a correspondence point
in the hallway – its chic design with handy
drawer will work anywhere.
Snowshill telephone table in Pure White,
£149, The Cotswold Co
CHARRED DESIRE
Make a statement with carbon-
blackened wood that showcases
organic beauty. This striking
individual is the ideal piece
to add earthy depth in a room
of different natural textures.
❝ NOT JUST A RESTING

Kikori wood side table, £180,
French Connection Home
PLACE FOR LAMPS AND

COASTERS, SIDE TABLES MAKE
GREAT DECORATIVE FOCAL
POINTS WHEN STYLED ❞
ECLECTIC MUSE
Take the luxe route with this
materials mix-up, which features
handcrafted iron with a beautiful NORDIC
brass finish, completed with
ETERNITY
FRESH DESIGN a solid, white marble tabletop
and three tapered legs.
Bright grains and enduring
Crafted with a natural light oak finish, curves nod to simple,
Malique marble side table, £189,

its satin brass accents add a dimple pared-back living. Place this
Graham and Green
of luxury. Let’s all admire how the contemporary pedestal within
interlocking cross base has been arm’s reach and use the tray-
precisely engineered to give this style top to serve nibbles.
beauty a unique aesthetic. Luana side table in natural oak,
Charlie side table, £575, Andrew Martin £219, Bloomingville

NEXT MONTH IN
& INTERIORS
DON’T
MISS OUR
NEXT
ISSUE!
LIFE IN HARMONY
■ BEAUTIFUL HOMES BUILT WITH WOOD, STONE, STYLE AND LOVE
■ A FROSTY GARDEN FILLED WITH FIERY ORANGE AND RED PLANTS
■ WHOLESOME SUPPERS MADE FROM HOME-GROWN PRODUCE
■ BATHS, BOOKCASES AND CREATING COMFORTING INTERIORS
PLUS… PROJECT PLANNING INSPIRATION: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR
NEW KITCHEN LAYOUT, AND ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
ADDING AN EXTENSION TO YOUR COUNTRY HOME
O N S A L E 7 J A N U A R Y 2 0 21
LOCAL HERO
Natasha will
be raising money
for Refuge as she
treks through India
❝This year, I’m

asking for support ❝
instead of presents
Domestic violence activist Natasha
Saunders is walking the Shropshire Hills to
prep for a fundraising trek to the Himalayas
Six years ago, I fled to a domestic finishing in Dharamsala, climbing while living in Nottingham after
violence refuge with my two eldest up to 2985m altitude. We will stop leaving the refuge. She spoke
kids. In my hands were two carrier in villages and visit women’s charities; about my case in parliament, and
bags that contained all I owned in it’s about getting to know people, even encouraged me to go into
the world. It was just after Christmas, not simply travelling through. politics. I began to take my first steps
and I remember wondering whether I am now out training with in that direction with my work for
I would live to see another. Thankfully, walks every day. As the new Refuge’s campaign called The
so much in my life has changed. year approaches, I intend to make Naked Threat, lobbying for changes
At the worst times, I always said a big push. We will be hiking for in legislation to protect women from
to myself, if I come through this, six to eight hours a day in India. threats to share intimate images.
one day I will become an activist. Temperatures won’t be too hot in I now dream of building a
That’s why I now volunteer as the day time, as it will be moving parliamentary career, and thanks
a public speaker for the charity into winter, but at night it may drop to the help of 50:50 Parliament,
Refuge. I’ve also joined local below freezing and snow can fall. an organisation that seeks to bring
organisations who can help. But I am so excited about this gender equality to government,
FEATURE SOPHIE GALE PHOTOGRAPHS NATASHA SAUNDERS;
The day I picked up the phone symbolic journey – I have climbed it may one day become a reality.
and called the Refuge helpline figurative mountains, now I will climb There has been significant spikes
set change in motion for me real ones. I want to show others that in calls to Refuge’s helpline during
– effectively, the lady I spoke there is life after domestic violence. lockdown. We are now in a situation
KANVAL CHAUDHARY/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
to saved my life. For this reason, The race is now on to build where two women every week are
I was recently inspired to take on sponsorship – I’ve asked family being killed by a current or former
a challenge unlike anything I have and friends to sponsor me in place partner in England and Wales. With
ever done before – a sponsored trek of giving Christmas presents. every step I take in India, no matter
in the foothills of the Himalayas No matter how small, I know the how much it challenges my physical
celebrating 50 years since Refuge difference it can make. You are limits, I will keep going, because
first opened its doors. Alongside giving women the gift of freedom. I know the importance of my cause.
23 fellow fundraisers, I will undertake Another fantastic source of Learn more about Natasha’s trek
a 10-day India tour in October support has been Ruth Edwards, at justgiving.com/fundraising/
2021, starting in McLeod Ganj and MP for Rushcliffe, whom I met NatashaforRefuge

The fairest of all
VANITY UNITS
GIVE PROPS TO YOUR BASIN WITH A VANITY UNIT
OR WASHSTAND – SMART STORAGE THAT WILL
SET THE STYLE FOR YOUR COUNTRY BATHROOM
La Parisienne
limed oak vanity
with Arabascato
marble top,
£4,500, Catchpole
& Rye
❝ VANITY UNITS
HIDE ANY UGLY
PLUMBING AND
BRING WITH
THEM A
FANTASTIC
FRENCH BEAUTY STORAGE
‘Choosing a vanity unit comes down to storage preferences. Go for
a large cupboard style for towels and cleaning products or one with
smaller drawers for make-up,’ says Ellis Dean Odey, creative designer
OPPORTUNITY
CAROLINE ROUCH,
❞
at Catchpole & Rye. With its distinctive bow front and shaped marble FURNITURE MANAGER,
MAISONS DU MONDE
splashback, this beautiful handcrafted piece has a stylish French look.
Use it as a starting point for your decorating scheme and build your
look around it with traditional sanitaryware.

ROOM ELEMENTS
Westminster
Linea vanity unit
in natural oak,
£1,195, Imperial
Bathrooms
Edinburgh
washstand,
£1,265,
Neptune
NEAT WASHSTAND
This compact washstand is an elegant choice
and ideal for a smaller bathroom. The open
shelves mean you can store towels beneath
and the oak stand adds warmth. ‘A vanity unit
is an opportunity to introduce natural materials
into your bathroom, which will add softness and
bring at touch of luxury,’ says Kyra Cotgrave,
home designer at Neptune Farnham.
Chichester in
Bone White with
a Carrara Bianco
worktop, £2,409.60,
Fired Earth
ELEGANT LINES TIMELESS SHAKER STYLE

‘Try not to think about the vanity unit in Clean lines and simple styling make this unit
isolation, but, instead, how it will occupy the a great choice for any bathroom, and if you
space and enhance your preferred layout,’ says want to add colour to your bathroom at a later
James Stevenson, creative director at Imperial date, simply paint it. ‘A cupboard unit means
Bathrooms. This compact unit is traditionally everything can be stored away, enhancing the
crafted in oak for a country-house feel, but sense of space – an important selling point
updated with frosted glass doors for a lighter for potential future buyers,’ says Colin Roby-
touch. It would fit neatly into a corner or alcove. Welford, creative director at Fired Earth.

MARBLE BEAUTY
‘Marble-topped, single-vanity basins are the perfect way of introducing
the wow factor into the bathroom. Elegant and refined, the styling
of our Art Deco-inspired Thames vanity speaks to both classical and
contemporary interiors. It is hand-finished using the finest materials,‘
says James Lentaigne, creative director at Drummonds. If you can’t bear
to part with this washstand when you move, you can take it with you.
Single Thames vanity

with Arabescato
marble in antique
nickel washstand, from
£4,740, Drummonds
3 O F THE B E ST BASIN TAPS

Traditional taps will enhance your vanity unit for the perfect finishing touch
FEATURE ALISON DAVIDSON
1200mm four-door
floor-standing vanity
unit in Dust Grey,
£1,545; undercounter
basin, £90, both
1. VAC14 3-hole basin set, £774, Samuel Heath 2. Traditional 3-hole basin mixer, £517.56, Holborn Bathrooms
Perrin & Rowe 3. Original 3-piece Western spout basin mixer, £882.02, CP Hart

ROOM ELEMENTS
CLASSIC CURVES
With its rounded sides, not only
does this curved vanity unit have lots
of space inside, there are no sharp Need to know...
Vanity units
edges to catch yourself on – and it
echoes the roll-top bath perfectly.
Hayley Bowman, brand manager
at Holborn Bathrooms advises: ■ THERE IS SUCH A THING AS TOO BIG Make
‘Choose the largest unit that will sure you choose a vanity unit that will not
fit in the space. Just as we outgrow overcrowd your bathroom. Ensure you can
our homes, we outgrow our storage, open and close cupboard doors and have
too, so always choose the maximum free passage around the room.
size you can to begin with.’
■ A DOUBLE SINK DESIGN MAY BE PREFERABLE
Personalise the area around your half with
favourite toiletries and beauty supplies.
■ NATURAL MATERIALS ARE OFTEN BEST
Wood, preferably from a sustainable source,
is a great option as it’s hard-wearing, will
cope with changes in room temperature
and humidity, and if you want a different
look down the line, it could be painted.
■ IT’S WORTH SPLASHING OUT ON THE TOP
For their practical but opulent feel, marble
and stone tops are both lovely choices,
although they are expensive.
■ THEY ARE GREAT AT HIDING CLUTTER
Vanity units are an ideal choice for bigger
households as everyone can store their
bathroom products inside without cluttering
up every spare inch of surface in the room.
Hermione pine and

stone vanity cabinet,
£899, Tikamoon
SUPER STORAGE
❝ A BEAUTIFUL VANITY UNIT

IS A LUXURIOUS ADDITION TO
With its deep drawers, this design has plenty
of storage, making it the perfect choice for a
family. It could even be used to store nightwear
ANY BATHROOM
COLIN ROBY-WELFORD,
❞ or underwear, freeing up space in the
bedroom. ‘The Hermione vanity cabinet is ideal
for creating a romantic and elegant atmosphere
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, FIRED EARTH
in the bathroom. The real stone basin top gives
it a rustic appearance and is easy to clean,’
says the creation team at Tikamoon.

HOME TECH
Buy the best...

SMART DOORBELL
FOR VIDEO SECURITY
SEE WHO’S AT THE DOOR – AND SPEAK TO THEM EVEN IF YOU’RE
NOT HOME – WITH A FRONT DOOR EYE-SPY BELL AND CAMERA
BEST FOR…
BATTERY-POWERED
FEATURES
Video doorbell 3 Plus, £199, Ring
(Ring Protect, from £2.50 per month)
Ring now offers six excellent video doorbells
from just £89, but the latest model gets our
vote thanks to the Full HD (1080P) colour
footage, night vision and great audio. Plus,
it now starts recording four seconds before
a motion event is triggered, so you can get a
more complete look of what is happening.
BEST FOR…
SUBSCRIPTION-FREE
SECURITY
Smart video doorbell, £269.99, Netatmo
This stylish design from Netatmo has a built-in
microSD card and no additional subscription
costs. Clear Full HD videos are stored for free,
and it features excellent night vision. Even
Compact, easy-to- better, it has the ability to differentiate between
install SkyBell video a person and the nosy neighbourhood foxes,
doorbell 2.0 with keeping false alarms to a minimum.
night vision, cloud
storage and a choice
of covers, £149.99,
Amazon.co.uk
BEST FOR…
DISCREET DESIGN
Nest Hello, £179, Google
(Nest Aware, from £5 per month)
n HOW DO THEY WORK? Most smart doorbells
The slimmest design we’ve found, and the
connect to your home’s Wi-Fi and then communicate one that looks least like a video camera,
with your smartphone via a dedicated app. Some can the Hello is a supremely smart device that
also connect via ethernet cable if your Wi-Fi isn’t totally records constantly – instead of relying on
reliable. Depending on the doorbell you have already, motion detection – so you’re guaranteed
never to miss anything, and you can quickly
you can choose a wired or battery-powered design.
look back on the past three hours from the
n DO I REALLY NEED ONE? For most people the real Nest Aware app to see what has happened.
benefit of a video doorbell is being able to safely talk
to a visitor – welcome or otherwise – from wherever BEST FOR…
you are in the world. Most brands also sell compatible IMAGE QUALITY
cameras, sensors and alarms to create a complete home Video doorbell 2K, £189, Eufy
security system based around a single smartphone app. With 2K resolution, improved contrast –
especially in changeable light – and 4:3
n DO THEY REQUIRE A SUBSCRIPTION? Not all aspect ratio, this low-profile design records
FEATURE CHRIS HASLAM
video doorbells require a subscription, many come impressively clear images from head-to-toe,
with onboard microSD card slots for recording footage, while also offering a 180-day battery life (it can
also be wired). It can differentiate between
but these will be recorded over once the card is full. people and pets, it’s Alexa compatible and
Subscription services cost around £5 per month, but for can be set up to ignore certain areas and
this you get unlimited storage and enhanced features. doesn’t require a subscription.

ENTER YOUR BRAND NOW AT
idealhomekitchenawards.co.uk
ENTRY DEADLINE 7 JANUARY 2021
K I TC H E N P R OJ E CT
The couple chose

drawers that graduate
in depth and cupboards
racked out to fit Aga
trays, to maximise all
available storage
PROJECT
PROFILE
Owners Jemima and

Dan Matheson live here with
their daughters, Penny, nine,
and Kara, seven, and their
Made to golden labrador Orson.

House A four-bedroom barn
conversion in West Sussex.
MEASURE
Project A new kitchen
in a former stable block.
Kitchen size 7.5x5m.
Designer Jasper
Middleton, founder and
AN EMPTY BARN GAVE JEMIMA AND DAN design director of Middleton.

Cabinetry The Heritage
MATHESON THE OPPORTUNITY TO CUSTOMISE kitchen by Middleton, in Chalky
Black, Middleton Yellow, and
EVERY INCH OF THEIR GLORIOUS NEW KITCHEN Mylands’ Huguenot.

Designed for pastry
making, food prep
and laying out buffets
when entertaining,
the free-standing oak
baker’s table plays
a pivotal role in
kitchen life
M eticulous organisation led the design

of Jemima and Dan Matheson’s
kitchen, which they commissioned when
converting a home from long-disused
(and kitchen-less) stable blocks, bought in late 2018.
‘The promise of being able to plan the size, use and
position of every cupboard and drawer was a huge part
manor house. ‘I had a long baker’s table and pantry
cupboard in my head, and I wanted a relaxed, almost
utilitarian, feel,’ she says. ‘Jasper helped pull my ideas
together, adding in some smart ones of his own.’ One
idea was to create an outsized housekeeper’s cupboard
holding a glass dresser, wine racks and two built-in
fridges. Jasper suggested building a false wall out
of the property’s appeal,’ says Jemima. ‘We love to cook around the cabinet so that it didn’t dominate the space.
and entertain, but the experience is so much more ‘It removed any clunky junctions between the cabinetry
enjoyable when everything is exactly where you need it.’ and walls and bedded it within the room,’ says Jemima.
Realising bespoke was their best option for tailored The deep red of the housekeeper’s cupboard was
storage, the couple turned to Jasper Middleton. ‘We chosen for its heritage feel, while the complementary
could tell he would provide the quality we were after, colour scheme for the rest of the units provided
but we also loved that Jasper shared our obsession with the modern twist Jemima wanted.
well-honed storage,’ says Jemima. Working together, There’s nothing like festive entertaining to put
they established the purpose of every unit – from a kitchen to the test. ‘There were 18 of us for dinner last
base-lined drawers for precious items to vegetable New Year’s Eve and all the planning and organising
drawers, knife blocks, wine storage and Aga tray racks. really paid off,’ says Jemima. ‘It might be more subdued
Jemima was seeking a modern twist on the free- this year, but it’s great to know that, regardless of guest
standing ‘downstairs’ kitchen you might find in a grand numbers, cooking is such a breeze in this space.’

❝ WITH A PLACE FOR

EVERYTHING, FESTIVE
ENTERTAINING IS NOW
HOUSEKEEPER’S CUPBOARD
A TOTAL PLEASURE ❞
BAKER’S
TABLE
AGA
THE LAYOUT
Accessed via double doors, the baker’s table,
framed by the rich red housekeeper’s cupboard,
makes a glorious focal point upon entering.
All things cooking-related are at one end, and
cleaning-related items are at the other end,
with an armchair by the window for tea breaks.
Catering for any

number is no problem
with a five-oven Aga
at your disposal. ‘We Each drawer
love how it creates compartment is lined
a warm and homely to minimise damage
feel,’ says Jemima and clattering noise
A modern oak
rack keeps wine
in order
Interiors painted in
Middleton Yellow
add a playful touch
to the housekeeper’s
cupboard

The housekeeper’s
cupboard is inspired
by a traditional
cook’s larder
1 HOUSEKEEPER’S
CUPBOARD
Inspired by a traditional cook’s
larder, the housekeeper’s
cupboard is an impressive
width, with refrigeration for food
at one end, then a dresser-style
middle section with wine storage
MADE TO MEASURE below, and finally a dried food
store at the end nearest the Aga.
3 CLEVER DESIGN
Here, the oak interior includes a
marble ‘cold shelf’ that’s perfect
for cheese platters and butter.
SOLUTIONS
Herbs and spices are stored
neatly on racks behind both
doors, and the space also
includes an electric socket for a
coffee machine or toaster.

2 SHAPELY UPSTANDS
‘We love the detail on the upstands that surround
the sink units. This was inspired by old washstand ends.
We were looking to add more detail – a vintage touch
– to this elevation and Jasper suggested the curved end,
bullnose front edge and capping on the main length
of upstand. It was pure genius and never fails to make
me smile,’ says Jemima. ‘It’s also really practical when
wiping up water around the sink, especially when the
girls have been “helping” with the dishes!’
3 POT FILLER
While the Mathesons were keen to utilise every inch
of their spacious kitchen, at 7.5m long, the journey from
Aga to sink was quite a trek. A pot filler was the solution.
‘We didn’t need a second sink, not least because The Bianco Eclipse
digging out for the extra drainage would have been quartzite worktops
and upstands share
disruptive and costly, but the pot filler allows water to the luxury look of
be topped up when cooking vegetables or pasta, so marble, but are
I’m not lugging heavy pans around,’ says Jemima. ‘It’s more hard-wearing
also a beautiful detail, friends often stop to admire it!’
THE DETAILS
CABINETRY
The Heritage kitchen, from £25,000,
Middleton; in Chalky Black eggshell,
£69 for 2.5ltr, Middleton; and Huguenot
eggshell, £69 for 2.5ltr, Mylands
SURFACES
Bianco Eclipse quartzite worktops,
£1,000sq m; fossilised limestone
floor tiles, £54sq m, both Middleton.
Walls in Threadneedle marble matt
emulsion, £51 for 2.5ltr, Mylands
APPLIANCES
Aga five-oven Total Control in Pewter,
from £13,825, Middleton. KI87VVS30G
Integrated 70/30 fridge-freezers,
£673 each; IQ500 fully integrated
dishwasher, £829, both Siemens
SINKS & TAPS

Callisto four-hole mixer tap with pull-
out spout, £952; pot filler tap with
crosshead handles, £767, both in Aged
Brass, Perrin & Rowe. Iron/Tones smart
divide sink in White, £1,202, Kohler
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHS JULIA TOMS
ACCESSORIES
Sleek Flat pendants in brass, £89
each, Industville. Fabulous wall lights
in Black, £89 each, Rockett St George.
Tuck bar stools in Mylands’ Huguenot,
£80 each, Habitat
The pot filler is paired

with an aged brass
utensil rail above, both
left unlacquered to
naturally patinate
with time and use

New Year
COMFORTS
CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH A GASTRO-PUB LUNCH AT
HOME. THESE INDULGENT DISHES ARE PERFECT ENJOYED
AFTER A WINTER WALK, IN FRONT OF THE FIRE
QUAIL KIEVS >

G O O D F O O D, G O O D T I M E S
ROASTED HASSELBACK
POTATOES WITH CRÈME
FRAÎCHE, TROUT ROE
AND DILL >

QUAIL KIEVS egg mix using the slotted spoon, and
A perfect party snack, these are fun to make and lift out again into the larger breadcrumb
kids love them. Try swapping quail for partridge flakes to coat. Repeat with all the breasts.
breast fillets when the bird is in season, or large, Put the coated breasts back in the fridge.
boneless chicken thighs. 7 Heat rapeseed oil in a deep-fat fryer or
heavy-based, deep pan until it reaches 165C.
SERVES 4 AS A SNACK If you don’t have a thermometer, drop
a cube of bread in the oil – it should brown in
6 whole quail ground black pepper 30 secs. Line a baking tray with kitchen paper.
80g panko FOR THE GARLIC When the oil is hot, carefully use a slotted
breadcrumbs BUTTER spoon to place all 12 breasts in the oil. Fry
50g plain flour 2 small garlic cloves for 6-7 mins, turning occasionally, until they
1 egg, beaten 10g flat-leaf parsley are a deep golden brown. Lift out with a
Light rapeseed oil, leaves, very finely slotted spoon or the frying basket and drain,
for deep-frying chopped then transfer to the lined tray, season and
Sea salt and freshly 80g butter, softened leave to stand for 2 mins before serving.
1 To make the garlic butter, finely chop the

garlic with a pinch of salt on a wooden board. ROASTED HASSELBACK
Add the chopped parsley, a little salt and POTATOES WITH CRÈME
pepper, and the softened butter and work FRAÎCHE, TROUT ROE
the mixture together. AND DILL
2 Prepare the quail by removing the breasts These make a perfect snack on their own
with the wing bone still attached. Cut this or a stunning starter.
bone at the knuckle so that only one length is
attached to the breast, then use a sharp knife SERVES 4 AS A SIDE DISH OR STARTER
to clean up any meat or fat attached to the
bone. You can ask your butcher to do this. 20 small-medium Small bunch fresh
3 Tear two long sheets of clingfilm and potatoes dill, fronds picked
place one on top of the other, then cut 2tbsp olive oil 1 lemon, halved,
them down the middle, giving you two Horseradish cream for squeezing
doubled-up sheets. Pound the quail breast Handful fresh flat-leaf Extra virgin olive oil,
meat to double the original size. parsley, leaves for drizzling
4 Spoon a quarter of the butter mix onto thinly sliced Salt and freshly
each breast, fold over the breast meat, 50g pot of trout ground black pepper
carefully shape this in your hand to form or salmon roe
a plump breast shape with garlic butter
in the centre. Put the breasts in the fridge 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4.
for about 15 mins. 2 Using a sharp knife, carefully slice three-
5 Blitz half of the breadcrumbs in a food quarters of the way through each potato,
processor until very finely ground. Put the making multiple cuts 2-3mm apart. Lay
flour, egg and finely ground breadcrumbs them out on a roasting tray, cut side up,
in three separate large, shallow bowls and drizzle with the olive oil and season with
season the flour. Place the remaining salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for
breadcrumbs in a fourth bowl. 35-40 mins, or until roasted and golden.
6 Remove the quail breasts from the fridge. 3 Once they are cooked, arrange them
Lightly coat the breasts in the seasoned flour, on a serving dish. Dress each potato with
then, using a slotted spoon, one by one, place a spoonful of horseradish cream, a scattering
a breast in the beaten egg and lift it out, let of sliced parsley and some trout roe.
the excess egg drip off, then transfer to the 4 Crack some black pepper over each potato,
fine breadcrumbs and coat completely – use garnish with dill fronds, add a squeeze of
your hands to help. Put a breast back in the lemon juice and drizzle with olive oil.

CHAMOMILE TEA-SMOKED
1 Line a large baking tin with foil. Spread the rice, sugar and
MACKEREL PATÉ chamomile tea leaves across the bottom. Place the tin over
A simple fishboard classic. Tea-smoking is a light
a low heat, moving it around occasionally, letting the sugar
and delicate way to impart smokiness to fish.
caramelise. Meanwhile, place the fish skin-side down on an
oiled cooling rack. Once the rice mixture starts to smoke, put
SERVES 6 the cooling rack on top of it – ensuring the fish doesn’t touch
the rice – turn the heat up slightly and cover tightly with foil.
150g long-grain rice Good pinch each 2 Once the smoke has built up, turn the heat down and leave
150g demerara sugar chopped fresh flat-leaf for 6-8 mins, moving the tin over the flame occasionally to
Handful dry parsley, chervil and ensure even cooking. Once the fish has started to brown,
chamomile flowers (or tarragon turn the heat off. The flesh should flake easily and be
6 chamomile tea bags) Sea salt and freshly opaque in the centre. Leave for 10 mins.
Light rapeseed oil, for ground black pepper 3 Flake the fish into a bowl, discarding the skin and any brown
greasing TO SERVE parts. Add 2tbsp crème fraîche, the mirin, 1tbsp lemon juice
6 large fresh mackerel Pickled cucumbers, and the herbs. Season and mix together. Taste, adding a little
fillets sliced more crème fraîche, mirin and lemon juice as needed. Cover
2-3tbsp crème fraîche Slices of toast and chill until required. It will last in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Splash of mirin Steamed greens 4 Serve the paté with sliced pickled cucumbers, toast,
1-2tbsp lemon juice Pickles steamed greens and pickles on the side.

CHOCOLATE AND
HAZELNUT TART WITH
BOOZY PRUNES AND
CRÈME FRAÎCHE
CHOCOLATE AND
if necessary. Prick the base lightly with
HAZELNUT TART WITH a fork and place it in the fridge to rest
BOOZY PRUNES AND for at least 30 mins.
CRÈME FRAÎCHE 5 Remove the pastry case from the fridge
A classic chocolate tart, ramped up with the best and line it with greaseproof paper. Fill it with
crème fraîche you can get hold of – the quality baking beans and place in the centre of the
of the cream really makes a difference here oven to blind bake for 20 mins. Remove from
– and boozy prunes (just because you can). the oven and carefully remove the paper and
beans. Return the pastry to the oven for a
SERVES 6-8 further 5-10 mins until nicely golden, then
remove from the oven and brush the beaten
You will need: a 25cm Plain flour, for dusting egg yolk evenly all over the pastry. Pop the
loose-bottomed tart tin 1 egg yolk, beaten with pastry back in the oven for 2 mins so the egg
FOR THE ARMAGNAC- a splash of milk yolk creates a sealed layer on the pastry.
SOAKED PRUNES FOR THE TART FILLING 6 While the pastry case is baking, prepare the
1 vanilla pod, split 100g blanched filling. Bring the cream and milk to a boil in
lengthways and seeds hazelnuts a heavy-based pan over a medium heat. Put
scraped out 280ml double cream the chunks of chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
500g pitted Agen 140ml whole milk As soon the hot milk/cream mixture reaches
prunes 450g dark chocolate boiling point, pour it over the chocolate and
3tbsp caster sugar (70% cocoa solids), whisk until smooth, then whisk in the eggs.
250ml Armagnac cut into chunks 7 When the pastry case is cooked, remove
FOR THE CHOCOLATE 3 eggs it from the oven and turn the oven
TART CASE 4 tbsp full-fat crème temperature down to 150C/Gas 2.
500g sweet shortcrust fraîche, to serve 8 Run a knife around the rim of the pastry case
pastry to remove excess pastry and give it a neat
edge. Spread the prune purée in a 5mm layer
1 First, prepare the prunes. Put the vanilla over the base of the pastry case, then add the
seeds in a small pan, along with the prunes, chocolate filling until it settles just under the
sugar and Armagnac. If the liquid doesn’t rim. Sprinkle the hazelnuts evenly over the
cover the prunes, top up with a little water. top and bake in the centre of the oven for
Bring to a simmer and stir to dissolve the 15 mins. The surface should be just set.
sugar. Then, as soon as the sugar has 9 Remove from the oven and leave the tart
dissolved, remove from the heat and transfer to cool for at least 2 hrs before removing
half of the prunes to a blender, along with it from the tin. It’s best eaten at room
a splash of the cooking liquor. Blitz to a temperature on the day you make it, and
smooth, thick purée and set aside. Leave is delicious served simply with some crème
the remaining prunes in the liquid to cool fraîche and the macerated boozy prunes.
down and macerate (you can do this up
to a day ahead of when you want it).
2 Preheat the oven to 170C/Gas 3.
3 Toast the blanched hazelnuts on a tray
in the oven for 3-5 mins, then remove.
Leave to cool and roughly chop.
4 Now, prepare the pastry case. Roll out the
chilled pastry on a lightly floured worktop to
a thickness of 5mm. Use a rolling pin to gently
lift it up and place it over the tart tin. Carefully
press the pastry into the tin, all the way
The Bull & Last
FEATURE SAMUEL GOLDSMITH
around the edges, taking care not to tear it.

There will be some pastry overhang, which by Ollie Pudney
& Joe Swiers (£30,
you will trim off after the pastry has cooked thebullandlast.co.uk)
(the pastry will shrink in the oven). Use small Photographs:
pieces of excess pastry to patch up any cracks, Joe Howard

IN A COUNTRY KITCHEN
COOKS’ NOTES
AndÉ bake
Baking has become a national hobby this year,
so it’s apt that this bread bag, designed by The
Forager’s Cottage, was created as a lockdown
project. The cotton design regulates the amount
of air reaching the loaf, keeping it fresher for
longer and free from mould. Not only does it
look lovely, it also helps reduce plastic waste!
£15, theforagerscottage.com
BACK-TO-NATURE
COOKING
In his new book, The Artisan Kitchen (£20, Dorling
Kindersley), James Strawbridge encourages us
to take a handcrafted approach to cooking by curing,
fermenting, brewing, baking and smoking our own
ingredients. It’s a book full of life – beautiful images
and easy to follow recipes – which will definitely
encourage you to get in the kitchen.
PHOTOGRAPHS (THE ARTISAN KITCHEN) JOHN HERSEY
CUTTING THE CORD From a

Just in time for Christmas, you can treat
yourself or a loved one to an item from
Welsh kitchen
KitchenAid’s new cordless range. Not Hathren brownies are handmade in
only will they brighten up your kitchen, a farmhouse in Cwmann, West Wales,
they will cheer up your cooking, too – no and are named after the stream that
more tangled wires or searching for a flows through the village. The cookery
free plug socket. Still with the power gene has been passed down through
you’d expect, the range includes the the generations in this family firm,
cordless 5-cup chopper, 7-speed as have the recipes for the brownies
hand mixer and hand blender in and other small-batch bakes, including
Empire Red or Matte Black, Welsh Cakes. Prices start at £15; order
from £129, KitchenAid online at hathren.co.uk

SUPER GOOD.
THE CLUE'S IN THE NAME.
Want to be good to yourself? Well here’s some super advice:

try Baxters’ Super Good soups. They’re packed with healthy
fresh ingredients, crafted into irresistible combinations –
like Pea, Broccoli & Basil Pesto. All you have to do is heat them
up and enjoy. Because why should living healthier be a chore?
We make super
IN A CHRISTMAS KITCHEN
Gourmet gifts for

FOODIES
Festive fizz
Award-winning English wine producer
Gusbourne sells a selection of wines
made from the grapes grown on
Gusbourne Estate. The range includes
both still and sparkling – our favourite
is Blanc de Blancs 2015 (£59, gusbourne.
com), which has aromas of green apple,
citrus, stone fruit and hazelnut. Tours
of the estate are also available (starting
at £70, including a wine tasting).
GIVE A SPLENDID CHRISTMAS

Panzer’s has been providing beautiful products for
over 75 years. Its Splendid Christmas Hamper
(£275, panzers.co.uk) includes a festive feast, from
Ikroff salmon roe to Pierre Mignon champagne
and marron glacés. A great gift for family if you
can’t celebrate Christmas together this year.
Gluttonous gifts
Any green-fingered foodie will adore a gift from
The Gluttonous Gardener. Our favourites are the
quince and medlar trees, which both come with
preserves (£35 each, glut.co.uk). Alternatively,
go for the Ancient Fruit crate (£40) which comes
with one of each, though no jelly. The plants have
beautiful flowers and the fruits are increasing in
popularity, especially for those who like to make
their own deliciously tangy preserves.
SWEET ENOUGH
HONEY, HONEY, HONEY Here’s something different for chocolate
Black Bee Honey’s Food Lovers Box (£45, fans – a luxury box of candied fruit
blackbeehoney.com) is ideal for the bee lover in dipped in indulgent Belgian chocolate.
your life. Containing spring, summer and autumn Made by family-owned gourmet
honey, two beeswax candles, a honey dipper confectionery brand Farhi, this selection
and beeswax wrap, this set really does celebrate of goodies includes dark chocolate-
everything the bee has to offer. Black Bees are covered Amarena cherries and figs,
the original British honey bee, nearly on the verge milk chocolate candied orange sticks,
of extinction, and the brand aims to support raspberry paté de fruit, crystallised ginger
beekeepers to keep this British native alive. and more. £49.95, farhi.co.uk

Festive
BLOOMSThese stunning winter
flowers will fill the house with
scent and colour
HEAVENLY SCENTED
Pretty little pots of bulbs wrapped in decorated
paper and tied with twine are a great gift idea.
Plant bulbs close together in pots filled with bulb
fibre, try Narcissus papyraceus ‘Ziva’, £8.99 for
10 bulbs, crocus.co.uk. Make sure the growing
tips are protruding just above the top of the
compost. Then put them in a cool, dark place
for eight weeks before bringing them out.
FESTIVE GARDEN SPECIAL
BIG & BOLD

The beautiful showy blooms of
hippeastrum (also known as amaryllis)
look wonderfully festive in a simple,
modern arrangement. Their rich
colours and structured look make a
strong statement for the Christmas
table. Alternatively, mix some branches
of silver birch or pussy willow in
among the flower stems for a more
relaxed feel. Put in an early order from
the florist if you want cut stems. Or
grow the bulbs in pots of compost
indoors from October to January.
Position in a well-lit spot and water
sparingly until the new leaves develop,
then more regularly. The bigger the
flowers the more the plant will need
staking. Try a decorative Amaryllis
support, £8.50, Sarah Raven.

MODERN
CLASSIC
This twist on the
COOL & traditional red poinsettia
CONTEMPORARY brings it bang up to date,
If you like a minimal look, fitting perfectly with the
group together pots of crisp flower trend for soft neutrals
white hippeastrum to create that’s been so big this year.
a stunning seasonal table Poinsettia like a light spot,
display. Try ‘Snow Queen’, but not bright sunshine, and
£9.99 a bulb, Waitrose the soil should always be
Garden, which produces slightly damp. If the leaves
several huge blooms with turn yellow and drop off,
a slash of lime at the heart. move to a cooler spot and
‘Alfresco’ has double white it should soon perk up again.
flowers on shorter stems, Grown in the UK, they tick
£10.95 a bulb, Sarah Raven, the box for sustainability,
making it ideal for a project too. Available from
like this. Arrange the pots plants4presents.co.uk
in a box and dress the tops
with a layer of moss.
CHRISTMAS STAR
The delicate blooms of
hellebore make a stunning
winter houseplant as well as
being a star in the seasonal
garden. There are varieties
such as ‘Winter Beauty’, £30,
plants4presents.co.uk, that have
been bred to thrive indoors and
will look beautiful styled up with
some cones and pine foliage.
Keep them as cool as you can
and make sure they get plenty
of natural light. Adding a layer
of moss to the pot will help keep
the compost damp. Remove
faded flowers and old foliage.

FESTIVE GARDEN SPECIAL
WORDS SARAH WILSON PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
ELEGANT CENTREPIECE
Pink hyacinths get a sophisticated
makeover when layered with a mix of
succulents and mini cyclamen in this
elegant indoor arrangement. Add
textured bark, pine cones and wire stars to
introduce a festive feel. Choose prepared
hyacinths, such as these ‘Pink Pearl’, £4.99
for three bulbs, crocus.co.uk, if you want
to have flowers for Christmas. Prepared
hyacinths will fill the room with their
intoxicating scent for weeks.
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IN A COUNTRY GARDEN
SCRUB-A-DUB AFTER
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FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPH TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM
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Live Life Well
HEALTH, HAPPINESS, FASHION, TRAVEL, PETS, PASTIMES
AND OTHER THINGS TO MAKE LIFE LOVELY
WHAT TO SEE,
PLANT & DO
Sort out… your kitchen
cupboards and start the
new year afresh.
Plant... a tree. Visit New
Wood Trees in South Devon
and choose from a wide variety
of field-grown trees. Delivery
available nationwide
(newwoodtrees.co.uk).
Spot... the first signs of spring
on a snowdrop walk at the
gardens of Stourhead, Wiltshire
(nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead).
FEATURE ALICE HUMPHRYS
Make... marmalade. Small,

Glass display cabinet, sharp Seville oranges are at
£995; Portobello collection their best mid-January.
crockery, from £10, all
The White Company

LIVE LIFE WELL
CELEBRATE Planet-friendly
THE SEASONS bedding
Free from chemical nasties,
Textile designer and artist Isla Middleton has hypoallergenic, and made from
created a gorgeous 2021 calendar with her ethically sourced feathers and
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sister Bryony Middleton, head gardener at the bedding is worth investing in.
historic Sharpham estate in south Devon. Each Egyptian cotton bedlinen, from
£35 for a pair of pillowcases;
month includes an original full-page lino print goosedown duvets,
of seasonal fruit or veg, as well as practical from £110 for a single;
growing tips and advice. 2021 Growing Through standard pillow,
£75, all Scooms
The Seasons calendar, £14, Isla Middleton
LOOK UP & LEARN

Track the constellations and discover
the wonders of the night sky with a
beautiful new book for astronomers
and stargazers. Written and illustrated
by experts Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion,
its monthly calendars and maps will
help ensure you never miss a night sky
event again, wherever you may be.
Night Sky Almanac: A Stargazer’s Guide
to 2021 (£9.99, Collins Publishing)
3 steps to... clear

out your closet WAX WORKS
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TAKE EVERYTHING OUT Don’t neglect
anything lurking at the back, you need using British materials,
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SELECT OR REJECT Pick up and look at without being heavy to wear.
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potter, barista or artist, this
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LIVE LIFE WELL
3 of the best…
bath soaks
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FEATURE ALICE HUMPHRYS
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LIVE LIFE WELL
Lockdown was
the perfect time
for capturing an
aeroplane-free
night’s sky
MY COUNTRY PASSION
Star trail photography
Lockdown gave international interiors photographer Mark Nicholson the
opportunity to see the night sky and planetary constellations through a new lens
Home for me is the Oxfordshire my village, benefitting from the but, as it involves shooting late into
Cotswolds near Chipping Norton. stunningly clear night skies. The the night, I may not be able to do
I love the countryside around our lack of aircraft in the sky, and much of it during busy periods of
house, as well as the distinctive little-to-no light pollution, made the work. On a clear night though it is
architecture and Cotswold stone. process of creating a star trail image tempting! It’s a bit of fun and good
Bereft of work and missing the much easier. It was the perfect time to have a personal project going
creativity of my job during lockdown, to point a camera lens at the sky. between photography commissions.
I wanted to learn a new skill. I had The fields behind our house I hope to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
always admired stunning pictures were a good place to start, although in Tanzania next year, and capturing a
of the night sky and decided to cityscapes also make for an star trail above it could be spectacular.
FEATURE JACKY PARKER PHOTOGRAPH MARK NICHOLSON
teach myself the art of star trail interesting foreground. For anyone Closer to home, I’d love to do a shoot
photography. I worked out precisely keen to try it, all you need is a digital on the north coast of Cornwall during
where the North Star lay (given that SLR camera and a sturdy tripod. a full moon with the movement of the
the earth effectively rotates on I loved the feeling of escapism and sea in the foreground.
its axis), and then allowed around the connection with nature and I’m keen to slowly build on what
two hours exposure to capture wildlife in the dead of night. I’ve also I’ve learned, with the view of perhaps
the earth’s rotation, which results learned a lot about the planets and holding an exhibition one day.
in the stars creating a trail that the constellations, as well as the earth’s
camera tracks and records.
After a few failed attempts,
movement. During lockdown it
certainly put things into perspective
Discover more...
To see Mark’s interiors photography,
I managed to shoot a star trail and was a welcome distraction. visit marknicholson.com or head
in my garden one night. I then I’d like to carry on capturing to his Instagram account
experimented in and around dramatic images of the night sky, @marknicholson.photographer

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LIVE LIFE WELL
LEFT Harlyn Bay house

dates from the 15th
century. BELOW The
Morning Room is a
cosy meeting spot
PLAN AN ESCAPE TO...

The Pig, Harlyn Bay
HEAD TO THE LATEST PIGGY RETREAT NEAR PADSTOW IN CORNWALL
A
nyone who has stayed at a relaxed home-from-home radius (hence the 25 Mile Menu). For
Pig Hotel knows to expect environment that feels opulent but dinner, the ‘zero-mile’ beetroot,
a unique experience. The is not fussy or overly formal. Judy venison haunch and Padstow lobster
Grade-II listed Harlyn Bay house has managed to stay true to the will bring joy to winter months.
dates back to the 15th century and history of Harlyn Bay house; its Unique to Harlyn Bay is The Lobster
is full to the brim with Jacobean and rooms are homely but lavish. The Shed where a wood-fired oven and
Georgian features. A stone’s throw Morning Room is a great example: charcoal-fired grill is used to roast
from the village of Harlyn, it has cosy furniture but so well executed local lobster, char home-grown veg
panoramic sea views, which means that you feel spoilt. Each communal and grill Cornish meat. As this is
that there are beaches nearby area is a new experience. The Dining outside, it is weather dependent; a
(Constantine Bay is a highlight). Room feels grand but not formal, blanket or two helps with the chill.
HOME FROM HOME and eating in The Scullery is like LOCAL LIFE
All rooms have been meticulously being in a foodie cafe. There are Nestled close to the village of Harlyn
designed and brought to life by more than 20 bedrooms: 11 in the and near Padstow, the hotel offers
Judy Hutson who co-founded The Main House and a further 15 in the some of the most beautiful scenery
Pig Hotels. Her aim is to create a Stonehouse (a traditional Cornish found in this corner of England.
build with a Delabole slate roof). Padstow is known for its food culture
BE A BIT PIGGY (mostly thanks to Rick Stein) and is a
As with any home, The Pig has the great place to while away the hours
kitchen at its heart. The menu is staring out to sea and eating your
FEATURE SAMUEL GOLDSMITH PHOTOGRAPHS JAKE EASTHAM
guided by the garden and all own weight in seafood.

produce is found within a 25-mile thepighotel.com
While you’re there...

TARQUIN’S GIN THE CAMEL TRAIL THE NATIONAL
Take a 90-minute weekend What was once Padstow’s LOBSTER HATCHERY
tour of the distillery and direct train line to London Based on Padstow’s
learn about the history of has been repurposed as South Quay, this marine
Tarquin’s and the botanicals an 18-mile country trail. conservation charity’s work
in gin. Make sure you give Cycling is best if you want is vital for Cornwall’s
Relaxed dining in yourself time for the shop, to explore it all; keep an fishing communities. Get
The Scullery where you can buy a bottle eye out for remnants of hands-on and even adopt
of the blood orange gin. the old train line. your own lobster.
• For more inspirational travel ideas visit thecaribou.com

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Walk & Discover: Conwy Coast & Snowdon-ia 5 days £699pp
Walk & Discover: Lake District 5 days £699pp
Reassuringly Riviera: Because you mean the world to us • Change your booking for free up to 45 days before travel
We understand that recent changes to the way we travel mean you need that • COVID cancellation protection as standard
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TERMS & CONDITIONS: Additional entrance costs may apply. Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to finite availability. Images
used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430,
a company wholly independent of Country Homes & Interiors, published by TI Media Limited. Prices correct at time of going to print. Free amend up to 45 days before
departure is only valid for entirely new bookings made between 1st September and 18th December 2020 and can only be used once. See our website for full details.
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M Y FA V O U R I T E V I E W
Throughout the
seasons, Londoners
are drawn to the
lake’s beauty
MY FAVOURITE VIEW...
The Serpentine,
Hyde Park
Most of the time life is pretty fast-paced for singer/songwriter Katie Melua, but
whenever she’s in need of some calm, there is one place she’s always drawn toÉ
On crisp winter days the Serpentine the café – lovely in spring, with with the Faber Academy to hone
Lake in Hyde Park is a beautiful sight. cyclamen and snowdrops peeking my lyrics, and drew on jazz, on folk
I have lived in west London for the out. Another of my favourite sights song, on Bob Dylan. But the overall
past 15 years and regularly jog to the is the swans. The collective noun tone owes much to the tranquil
FEATURE SOPHIE GALE PHOTOGRAPHS ROBERT HARDING/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO,
park. At the lido café I usually stop for for the birds is a ‘ballet’, though notes of Hyde Park, with some
a coffee – or hot chocolate in winter. when they take to the air they put songs directly referencing the
It is a moment of quiet contemplation me more in mind of a jumbo jet! healing effects of nature, such
amid the rough and tumble of city I once spent hours watching them, as Remind Me to Forget.
life. Across the water most years you mesmerised by their preening. Life in my industry is frenetic.
(PORTRAIT) CHRISTIAN CHARISIUS/DPA/ALAMY LIVE NEWS
can see the park’s Winter Wonderland There seemed to be a meditative You feel the pressure of wanting
fairground – a distant note of colour, quality to all of their work. to produce something worthy
sadly cancelled this year. Beyond that That serenity was actually the of all the promotion. But the
the rooftops of London townhouses starting point for my latest album. satisfaction can be enormous, too.
stretch out. All that rich tapestry of life I am lucky to have what I consider One day I’ll hear a song I wrote
is playing out, yet here at the water’s the best job in the world. My career drifting over the airways, and it’s
edge it is peaceful. kicked off in 2003 when I was 19, joyous. Music is so potent; it can
Not that the Serpentine is devoid and I had a pretty fast ascent to travel with you, even if just in your
of activity. In all seasons there are fame. Watching the swans inspired head, providing a soundtrack as
brilliant, crazy swimmers who dive a return to songwriting in 2019, you enjoy the places you love.
into the lido – a part of the lake. It’s culminating in Album No 8. Varied
great to people watch, surrounded influences helped build the For tour dates and downloads,
by the cheerful flower boxes of collection – I took a writing course head to katiemelua.com

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CELEBRATING LIFE IN THE COUNTRY &

DESIGN YOUR PERFECT

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JUST FOR YOU

ticks all the boxes

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Book an appointment to chat to one of our friendly designers – on us.

COUNTRY LIFE TELEPHONE 020 3148 5000 EMAIL countryhomes@futurenet.com

WITH US EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

businesses we champion continue

I’m,,, working from home

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Getting creative at party

5 Smart stools for social spaces at the heart of the festive

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Ringing-in the New Year

13 Champagne bell, £18;

metals and tarnished ﬁnishes. Antique glass lantern, £35,

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Things that make us happy...

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at Roger Oates price on request,

A NEW COAT OF PAINT

Warner House – an online offering of

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K elly and Jonathan’s dining room at their home in

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Visit… ‘Yorkshire Sculpture Park

FEATURE CLARE GOGERTY PHOTOGRAPHS POLLY ELTES STYLING SIAN WILLIAMS

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Never stop adding to

Welcome ample storage

Kelly’s style tip...

Grind and create

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W endy and Dean Simpson are great

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consoled ourselves by saying we had probably bitten

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❝ THE HOUSE HAS BEEN

new kitchen extension is smaller than the Victorian

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Visit… ‘Castle Howard

at local garden centres including

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Adorn feature lighting

Sketchy lines are a fresh

Wine and dine

textures for an effortless

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for our latest brochure

J osephine Maydon is a magpie for old things

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❝ BUY VINTAGE OR SALVAGED PIECES WHERE YOU

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how crazy that was, so eventually we decided to start

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Country Homes & Interiors 2021.január.

Country Homes & Interiors 2021.január.