Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2018 i 25 Beautiful Homes

When I’m poring over which houses to feature in 25 Beautiful Homes, something that catches my eye more than anything are wooden beams. Maybe that’s because I live in a period house where beams can be seen in almost every downstairs room – from supporting ones, which were boxed in during Victorian times to the roof supports in the kitchen. One of my sons recently committed the cardinal sin of questioning the point of them. He was staring hard at one of the kitchen beams – the one our cat likes to jump up on – and noticed that some of the metal plates that are fixed to them for stability (I assume) looked a lot less attached than others. I suppose I could let it worry me, but since…

When well designed, an extension can do so much more than add a few square metres to a property: it can offer the chance to reconfigure rooms, pull in more light and improve a home’s connection with the garden. Most importantly, it can give owners a home that is adapted to their way of living, avoiding the need to build from scratch or move to a larger place. Thinking outside the box A simple extension tacked on to the back of a house might appear logical, but sometimes there are more creative ways to extend that will not encroach so much on outdoor space. Basements are a good solution for freeing up the existing ground floor, by moving rooms such as utility and storage below, and gaining, say, a cinema,…

Penny Noble recalls a pivotal moment in her life 20 years ago when she was visiting friends in Devon. ‘I stood in their shared garden, taking in the fabulous views of the River Dart, and decided to leave London and move here for good,’ she says. It proved a wise decision. She met and married her husband, Kit, in Kingswear, set beside the old trade route of the River Dart, and the pair threw themselves into running a b&b that Kit had established with his parents. But much as they loved their Edwardian property, a few years ago the couple agreed that it was time to start putting plans in place for the future. The pair were keen to stay in the same friendly village. ‘It’s a very special community…

Discreet and effective, underfloor heating is an energy-efficient and popular way to warm up homes. It is, however, a complete myth that underfloor heating can only be installed under tiles or solid flooring. The Carpet Foundation, in conjunction with the Underfloor Heating Manufacturers Association, carried out research into this area. Five types of carpet and two underlays were tested over an underfloor heating system in a 4x3m test chamber. The results revealed that none of the carpet/underlay combinations interfered with the warming of the room and that the rate the heat passed through the carpet showed that the tog value (a measure of how easily heat passes) was significantly lower than once thought. Carpet can be used over underfloor heating without impairing its performance. Indeed, for this type of heating…

Victoria Hislop’s gripping novel The Island has inspired thousands of readers to visit the Greek island of Spinalonga, off the coast of Crete. It’s a magical part of the Mediterranean and how better to see it than on this exclusive cruise, departing spring 2019 with our award-winning travel partner, Voyages to Antiquity. Sail around Sicily and see the ancient temples at Segesta, as well as Taormina and the palaces of Palermo. You’ll arrive in style in Malta by pulling into the Grand Harbour of Valletta, before cruising across to Crete and meeting Victoria, who’ll explain why she set her epic family saga on Spinalonga, the deserted island that was once a leper colony. Victoria’s award-winning first novel held the number-one slot in The Sunday Times paperback charts for eight weeks…

When Megan and Joe Dicks first set foot inside their elegant Victorian house in Hawthorn, a leafy area of Melbourne, Australia, they were instantly seduced by its warmth and character. The 1890s triple-fronted weatherboard property features a bullnosed verandah and a magical back garden. It is situated off a busy high street in the heart of the city, but once inside the gates the space is quiet and private. Both Megan and Joe were born and brought up in Zululand, in rural South Africa, but met in the UK when they were in their early twenties. ‘I never really expected to meet someone from my tiny community on my first night in London,’ laughs Megan. But it was not until many years after moving from Europe and settling in Melbourne…

1 MARINE MOOD Bamboo fish trap pendant light, £90, Oggetto 2 BEACH BOUND Faux Shell bookends, £56 a pair, Oka 3 WOOD WORKS Fish serving board, £25, Debenhams 4 NET GAINS Round copper-wired bottle, £35, French Connection 5 AGATE ACCENT Cushion, £39.50, Marks & Spencer 6 WONDERFUL WEAVES Tall round basket trio, £50, Murmur 7 TONAL TREND Teal jug, £20, Homesense 8 LUXE LIVING Tate velvet large three-seater sofa, £549, Tesco Direct 9 ON THE WING Standing bird table ornament, £16, M&Co…

Having sold their barn conversion in just two weeks, Sharon and David Broadbent were all set to purchase a Grade II-listed house, until the lengthy survey results came back. ‘We were on holiday in Mexico at the time, and had to pull out of the sale,’ explains Sharon. ‘But luckily, two days before our return, the estate agent emailed, urging us to view a property they’d just valued, even though it was a little bit over our budget.’ The house was in West Yorkshire and had been built in 1820 for a mill owner. It was inherited by his son Joseph William Whitley, who embarked on a major refurbishment in 1893, hiring an Italian artist to create elaborate painted ceilings and glasswork as well as adding bay windows. Formerly a…

The thorny issue of schools was what prompted Justine Hodgson-Barker and her husband James to move from their west London cottage to Kent. ‘As soon as our first daughter, Grace, now nine, was born, our previous house began to feel too small,’ says Justine, an interior designer. ‘So, in 2010, when Grace was two, we began to look for somewhere suitable in terms of being commutable, because our clients were in London, close to good schools and with more space.’ Justine and James turned their attention to the spa town of Tunbridge Wells, less than an hour from the capital by train. They researched the streets they needed to look at in order to secure the right school for Grace – and it was there that they found a semi-detached…

The story goes that we went down the road for a pint of milk and came back with an apartment,’ quips Jason Potter of the new two-bedroom flat in Melbourne’s Central Business District, which he bought off-plan with his girlfriend, Penny Bolgia, seven years ago. The Perth couple moved to Melbourne for work in 2004 and had been renting nearby. ‘When we saw that this sixth-floor apartment was for sale, it was too good an opportunity to miss,’ says Jason. Despite snapping up the flat so speedily, the pair had to wait four years for it to be built. When they finally moved into the empty white space, they enlisted the expertise of local interior designer Petrina Turner. ‘This is the first apartment that we’ve bought together,’ says Jason. ‘It’s…

When Londoners Angela and Richard Brown decided to upsize from their Victorian terraced home, they restricted their property search to a West London neighbourhood that they already knew and loved. ‘I’m from the area, our children Maisie, seven, and Aubrey, five, attend a local primary school and all our friends live here, so we were keen to stay,’ says Angela. ‘We’d outgrown our old home and its small courtyard, so top of our wish list was a large outdoor space for the children.’ It was Richard who initially viewed this period property and, as it had been used as a rental for more than 20 years, he was less than enthusiastic about the place when he reported his findings to Angela. ‘He described it as horribly rundown, but seemed excited…

Design ideas HEADBOARD WALL Decorating a child’s room is great fun, as you can be as adventurous as you like. The more colourful and stimulating the scheme, the more it will appeal to your child, but it also needs to be practical, safe, and comfortable. In Charlotte Campbell’s home, a large upholstered headboard in a zigzag fabric extends around two sides of the bed, creating a cosy environment for their son Seb. Textiles are a key element for providing colour and pattern in a child’s room, but don’t choose anything too smart or expensive. Make any covers in washable, hard-wearing fabrics that can be removed for cleaning. Patterned textiles are a good choice for younger children as they help to disguise finger marks. STATEMENT DOORS Highly individual in concept, the…

Moving to her current house was a dream come true for designer Celia James, especially considering her previous property. ‘My last home was a squashed one-bedroom flat with no natural light and a tiny outside space,’ she recalls. ‘I lived there for two years and didn’t enjoy it. It was so dark I found myself craving sun. Then one day I put budding flowers in a vase on the dining table and they simply didn’t open. Throwing the closed stems away I thought, “These flowers feel the same way I do”, and that’s when I decided to move.’ The property Celia was considering was a double-fronted Victorian end of terrace with a turret topped by an iron ornament. ‘From the outside, it looked lovely,’ says Celia, who expected that it…

A  & Tradition andtradition.com Abode Living abodeliving.co.uk Aga agaliving.com Alexander Pearl alexanderandpearl.co.uk AliExpress aliexpress.com Alternative Flooring alternativeflooring.com Amara amara.com AmbienteDirect ambientedirect.com Amtico amtico.com Andrew Martin andrewmartin.co.uk And So To Bed andsotobed.co.uk Annie Sloan anniesloan.com Ara Architects araarchitects.co.uk Argos argos.co.uk Art Republic artrepublic.com Artemest artemest.com Artisans of Devizes artisansofdevizes.com Aston Matthews astonmatthews.co.uk Atlantic Shopping atlanticshopping.co.uk Ayers Graces ayersandgraces.com B  B&Q diy.com Barker & Stonehouse barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Bathstore bathstore.com Bathwise bathwise.uk.com Baxters Gallery baxtersgallery.co.uk Beaumont Fletcher beaumontandfletcher.com Bedeck bedeckhome.com Ben Whistler benwhistler.com Berry Design berrydesign.co.uk Bert May bertandmay.com Besselink Jones besselink.com Black by Design black-by-design.co.uk Bloom bloom.uk.com Bronte by Moon…

1 DYNAMIC DESIGN Paco cushion, £65, Habitat 2 FACETED FRIEND Geometric elephant ornament, £12, George Home 3 THE RIGHT ANGLE Triangle mirror, £7.50, Hema 4 TV DINNER Lap tray in grey, £39, Out & Out Original 5 BEYOND RETRO Smeg ECF01BLUK espresso coffee machine in black, £280, Ao.com 6 SPOT ON Tina coffee cup in black, £37 a pair, Camilla Engdahl at Nordic Kind 7 URBAN SLEEK Esme tall chest in white and ash, £399, Made.com 8 WHITER THAN WHITE Savoy towels, from £15 each, The White Company 9 HIGH & MIGHTY Henriksdal bar stool with padded seat and backrest, £60, Ikea…

Like many couples with children, Emily Pickering and Matthew Lee’s wish to move to a new location was fuelled by the desire for more space within a welcoming community surrounded by young families. ‘We always wanted to live by the sea and heard that Brighton was a buzzy and creative place to live,’ says Emily. ‘After our daughter Scarlet, now nine, was born, we visited the Brighton area and decided Hove was the place for us. Shortly after the move, our son Jacob, now eight, was born.’ DECORATING ADVICE ‘Be bold when using colour and try darker tones on walls – you can brighten up spaces with clever lighting and vibrant accessories’ After eight years of living in their seaside property, Emily, who is an interior designer,…

Colour and pattern are perfect for adding instant character and piquing curiosity by encouraging the eye to roam the space. They can also distract from the fact that a room lacks natural light or perfect proportions and, in the case of Jason and Penny’s home, add interest and depth to a new build with very few architectural details. Choosing a palette As a starting point, use the colours from a favourite rug, painting, fabric or wallpaper, picking up the hues in upholstery, lampshades, cushions and accessories. If you are nervous about introducing a bold pattern or paint colour, try it in small doses – note how Jason and Penny painted a wall cupboard in eau de nil, and lined an alcove with a tropical print. Mixing patterns Introducing more than…

Country style’s new incarnation is far edgier than its chintzy forebears. Cool boutique country hotels have pioneered a rustic luxe style that’s been hugely influential. Achieve the look by mixing refined materials with textural pieces, for a relaxed aesthetic that is of the moment and easy to live with. Worn and weathered Contrast aged beams and exposed stone walls with more luxurious elements, such as polished stone worktops or seating upholstered in cotton velvet. Also consider introducing character with painted panelling or bespoke joinery, such as a wall of library shelves. Worn pieces that are a little rough around the edges are perfect for adding personality; think reclaimed boards or antique tiles, or introduce statement furniture, such as a scrubbed refectory table or vintage dresser – note the reclaimed timber…

Hanging plant holders Celia James’s kitchen window is decorated with a pretty display of hanging plants. For an eye-catching plant holder, try the Manduri hanging planter, from £29.95, Nkuku. Velvet cushions Vibrantly coloured velvet scatter cushions add a note of glamour to the Egelnicks’ bold room scheme. This Cranberry and Mocha Brown velvet piped cushion, £30, Persora, is a good alternative. Classical console table A console with elegantly turned legs takes pride of place in the Prestons’ hall. For an equally characterful design, try the Woodstock Balustrade Colonial grey console table, £2,200, One World. Comfortable seating The welcoming sitting room in Stephanie Dunning’s home has two large sofas opposite each other. For similar, consider the Petersham sofa, from £2,200, The White Company. Arabesque bath mat A Moorish-inspired bath mat introduces…

Before their first daughter, Alice, was born, Bridget and Michael Rendall decided to move from London’s West Hampstead to Kent to be nearer to Bridget’s twin sister and her family. ‘Tunbridge Wells had always appealed to us,’ says Bridget. ‘It’s kept its own distinctive character and as we work in London, it’s an easy commute.’ When their second daughter, Olivia, was born, they grew out of their Victorian semi overlooking the common outside Tunbridge Wells and looked for a larger house in a village closer to the girls’ schools. ‘We both love history and wanted a period property,’ says Bridget. ‘Finding a former oast house was a dream come true. Fortunately, the building was not listed, and had interesting features such as the round rooms and the cowl, which turns…

Their growing family is exactly what motivated Charlotte and Kevin Campbell to move away from London and into the leafy Surrey Hills. ‘We’d been living in south London until we had children, then we moved to a Victorian property on a busy road in Hampton,’ explains Charlotte. ‘The house was quite small and although we loved its period charm and character, there were practical issues, such as the rickety, draughty old sash windows, and the layout wasn’t very family friendly.’ When they started their search, they had a wish list in mind. ‘We wanted a new build,’ says Charlotte. ‘Both my husband and I work, and with a London commute and a young family, including Seb, four, and Felix, one, we needed a home we could move into and immediately…