Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i Country Homes & Interiors

THE PATH AROUND MY LOCAL PARK IS COVERED IN CRUNCHY LEAVES and I can’t help but kick my way through them as I walk to the bakery in the morning. I love autumn for its brisk, golden brightness, but also for its implicit invitation to begin cocooning in readiness for winter. That’s the spirit we’re bringing to this November issue, which invites you to light a candle, pull a blanket around your shoulders and enjoy a few mellow minutes cosied up in your country home – find our seasonal style tips in Embrace the Moment (page 76). Author Ali Heath shares her ideas for homes that wrap around us like a hug in Joy & Comfort (page 82). We’re embracing entertaining, from games nights to the new ‘country house weekend’…

Morris & Co unveils The Unfinished Works – 26 designs across fabrics, wallpapers, borders, embroideries and weaves, in collaboration with The Huntington archive. Using rarely seen, incomplete sketches by William Morris and John Henry Dearle as a starting point, and drawing on its rich archive, the portfolio pays homage to the Morris & Co legacy. Expertly reimagined and repainted by hand, motifs range from scrolling foliage to delicate floral stripes and Persian-style ogees. morrisandco.com NATURAL INGREDIENTS Looking for the perfect centrepiece for your country-style kitchen? This season, Stoves has unveiled a collection of range cookers in six new nature-inspired shades, guaranteed to make your space stand out from the crowd. With a palette of colours from Midnight Blue and Deep Marine to Garnet Red, there’s a shade to suit all…

Nature and its shifting seasons has influenced much of the Lincolnshire home of Jade Jordan-James and her husband Rob. In fact, the outside world is evident in almost every aspect, from the colours on the walls to the pretty displays of flowers and foliage dotted here and there. The couple hadn’t been planning to relocate from their previous base on England’s south coast, but stumbled across an online listing for an 1820s villa in the market town of Louth during the 2020 Covid lockdown. ‘We’d always dreamed of owning a double-fronted Georgian home like this, and we couldn’t stop thinking about it,’ recalls Jade. ‘We went to view it in person as soon as restrictions were lifted, and we fell in love with it the moment we stepped inside. It’s…

Home for Linda Wilkin, husband Ed Newbrook and their son Dylan is a Victorian cottage in Surrey, bought by Ed’s grandfather in the 1960s. After inheriting the house two decades later, the couple have updated the property over the years, most recently adding an extension and converting the loft. ‘But the bathroom still felt cramped,’ says Linda. ‘The bath was wobbly and the shower above it was awkward and not very effective.’ SHOWER VS BATH While Linda, a marketing director, was keen for a walk-in shower, hypnotherapist Ed prefers a luxurious soak in the bath. ‘We just couldn’t work out how we could fit both a separate shower and a large tub into the room,’ she says. Situated on the ground floor, the bathroom also included access to a storage…

With ever-increasing heating costs, good home insulation is essential. ‘Around 25 per cent of the heat from your main heat source will be lost via the roof, about 10 per cent will exit through the floor, with 35 per cent through the walls or from gaps around windows and doors,’ say experts from Best Heating. So we benefit from only 30 per cent of the heating we pay for. LIE OF THE LAND Easy DIY tests can help you identify problem areas. Looking at the roof on a frosty or snowy day will tell you the efficiency of your loft insulation. If the frost or snow has melted before that of your neighbours, or it’s melting unevenly, it suggests that heat is escaping upwards. To test whether you have draughts…

MISSELTHWAITE MANOR The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911 ‘There’s naught as nice as th’ smell o’ good earth’ The imagery in The Secret Garden is so heady, its ending so powerful, that it is easy to forget that in order to achieve redemption, transgression must occur. Some even claim that Mary Lennox, the young heroine of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s most enduring work, is so very loathsome in the early chapters that they cannot bring themselves to read the rest of the novel. The Yorkshire location is powerful, but not obvious given Frances’s background. She was born in Manchester and, after her father died in 1853 when she was four, the family were sent into a downward spiral ultimately resulting in emigration to the USA. Here they scratched a living…

While drinks and dinner parties will always form the heart and soul of any soirée worth dressing up for, the latest mood in entertaining goes way beyond the usual wining and dining. Dinner might be prepped by the guests or even themed so there’s a killer twist (think Mrs Peacock in the dining room with a carving knife). If food and drink aren’t on the menu, there could be games nights, or what about a group sound bath with your nearest and dearest on a Friday evening? When so much of our day is spent on screen or at a physical distance from each other, the moments we do meet up mean more than ever, which is changing how we think about our homes. The dining room, once a relic…

As another growing season draws to a close, we’ll remember the heatwaves and hosepipe bans, but it’s easy to forget that it was preceded by one of the wettest winters on record in the UK. Increasingly, such weather extremes are becoming the new normal, fundamentally influencing how we plan and design our gardens. When Tom Massey and Je Ahn created the gold-medal-winning Water Aid garden for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 to highlight global water shortages, their vision seemed quite futuristic. Now, as the garden finds a permanent home at the National Trust’s Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester, its message is more relevant than ever. ‘While it’s been adapted slightly for its new home, the core structure, planting and message remain the same,’ explains Tom. ‘We’re using a range of recycled…

NICKY RAMPLEY-CLARKE wrote You Are Invited… (page 134). ‘When it comes to entertaining,’ he says, ‘there’s nothing better than gathering friends and family in a beautifully designed dining room with a considered tablescape, plus delicious food that looks as good as it tastes.’ LUCILLE CLERC is renowned for her richly detailed, evocative illustrations. We feature three of them in Garden Stories (page 122) – her handpainted images bringing the books beautifully to life. SANDRA LAWRENCE is the writer of our Garden Stories (page 122), including favourites Tom’s Midnight Garden, Manderley from Rebecca, and of course, The Secret Garden.…

Their move to the countryside crept up on Irene Molodtsov and her husband, Mike. It started with frequent departures from London’s vibrant Notting Hill to enjoy a couple of days’ respite in the Cotswolds. When two days gradually turned into four, and the weeks became shorter than the weekends, they realised it was time to consider a permanent move. ‘It became clear our hearts were in the countryside and this is where we wanted to bring up our children,’ says Irene, ‘so we swapped our life around, basing ourselves in the Cotswolds.’ For the Instagram followers familiar with Irene’s account of her Cotswold country life (@irenemylife) and to those who receive her monthly memos on home, garden, style and travel via her website (irenemylife.com), it would be easy to assume…

‘Cosy rooms don’t need to be dark to feel embracing. Shades of dusty stone and rust capture the light and are warmed by the flicker of fire and candle flame’ ‘Put the focus on fabrics, natural materials and subtle texture to create inviting room schemes that feel tenderly crafted with love and the human hand’ ‘Ripple-edged furniture, playful cushion ruffles and the contrast of marble with a reeded table base – all delightful details that bring joy to a living space’…

DOUBLE LOVE A double vanity unit can bring symmetry while offering maximum counter space and storage, which could be drawers, cupboards, shelves, or a combination of all three. ‘Double basins are ideal for easing morning and evening congestion, allowing two people to use the space comfortably at the same time without compromising functionality or aesthetics,’ says interior designer Sophie Pringle, creative director and founder, Pringle & Pringle. They are best suited to larger bathrooms. ‘As a rule, we aim for a minimum depth of 450-500mm for our vanity units and ideally at least 600mm in width per person,’ she says. ‘More is always preferable to create a balanced setup.’ ON THE WALL ‘Floating vanity units free up floor area and can boost the sense of space in a bathroom,’ says…

Q Which shower is right for me? A Do you prefer a soothing shower or something more invigorating? Shower heads are available in a variety of shapes, styles and finishes, with sprays to suit your preference. Larger shower heads typically offer wider body coverage, while smaller, sports-style heads deliver a directional, faster spray. Some designs offer a choice of spray modes – such as rain, mist, waterfall and massage – within one head, so that you can click between them. Also look out for shower heads designed to deliver a luxurious experience while conserving water, and new options with built-in filtration to reduce chlorine and limescale. Hand showers are useful if you want to shower without getting your hair wet. To enjoy the best performance, select a head that is…

Starlight lanterns Use air-drying clay to handcraft these atmospheric pieces YOU WILL NEED White air-drying clay, £4.50 for 1kg, HobbycraftTea towel2 x wooden dowels, L40cm x Dia5mmWooden rolling pinCardboard toilet roll tubeTape measureMetal rulerKitchen knifeWhisk circle plunge cutters, £4 for a pack of four, HobbycraftDrinking strawWooden cocktail stickBaking trayParchment paperFine-grit sandpaperPaintbrushPebeo acrylic gloss varnish, £3.30 for 59ml, HobbycraftTea light 1 Begin by kneading half a block of 1 clay with your hands until it feels malleable, then form it into a ball. Place a tea towel on your work surface to prevent sticking. Put the ball of clay on the tea towel and position the wooden dowels either side of it. Start rolling out the clay using a wooden rolling pin, turning it as you work to spread it evenly.…

Warm winter cheese board SERVES 4-6 Cooking over wood adds a depth of smokiness to the fruit and cheese that makes this dish transcendent. 1-2 bunches black grapes4 figs, sliced in half2 Baron Bigod roundels (or any other British artisan Brie-style cheese)50g walnutsFew sprigs of rosemaryFew sprigs of thyme4-6tbsp runny honeyCrackers and sourdough bread, to serve 1 Light the campfire and wait until the wood has turned to embers and started to form a grey coating. 2 Take a large cast-iron pan and nestle in the grapes and figs. Place the pan directly over a low-medium heat away from any roaring flames and cook for around 5-6 minutes until the fruit has just started to give. 3 Remove the pan from the heat and squeeze the cheese in and around…

When we think of cocooning ourselves through the colder months, it’s usually about retreating from the outside world. We instinctively go in search of cosiness. But our gardens can also be a sanctuary for our winter selves, offering a different kind of seclusion even as the leaves fall away and the bones of nature are exposed. Designer Mike McMahon created the multiple award-winning Subaru Cocoon show garden with Jewlsy Mathews at RHS Hampton Court this summer. Mike explains that you can apply the same design principles to gardens in winter. ‘Cocoons are immersive, protective and sensorially rich spaces. A winter garden invites you into it through mood, stillness and subtle contrast. Think of it as a space of resonance rather than richness, rewarding those who step outside in quieter seasons.’…

Despite his talent and growing reputation, Benjamin Hall – otherwise known as Mr Ben – has had no formal training in pottery. After graduating with a degree in illustration from the University of Brighton, he returned home to the foothills of Westmoreland, Sheffield, and bought an old cast-iron potter’s wheel. He learnt by doing, turning to YouTube videos of French potter Jean-Nicolas Gérard for guidance. Self-dubbed an ‘old rural romantic’, Ben draws upon rustic surroundings and nostalgic folklore to create illustrative vases and tableware. When he’s not carving clay, he indulges his passion for music – writing and releasing songs and touring with his bands. Have you always been creative? Yes – ever since I could steal my mum’s stapler, aged seven, to make my own illustrated books about an…

For autumn, Rowen & Wren is celebrating the beauty of wood, adding an array of new oak items to its furniture and accessories collection. Crafted from hand-hewn oak using age-old techniques, the timeless pieces range from dining chairs and shelving to mirrors and lamps – perfect for classic country style. Moray twisted oak rectangular mirror (above), £398; Amelie oak dining chair (left), £298, both rowenandwren.co.uk DATES FOR THE DIARY… 8-11 NOVEMBER The historic Harewood House in Yorkshire will welcome more than 160 makers, crafters and producers to its annual Winter Artisan Market in partnership with Little Bird. Tickets from £3, harewood.org 10-13 NOVEMBER The Christmas Cotswold Fair is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, in collaboration with charity WellChild. Browse over 220 stalls, plus workshops and demonstrations. From £21, cotswoldfair.com…

For me, the word ‘cocoon’ is both a feeling and a state of being. It represents the deep emotional comfort and connection we seek in our home – a place that nurtures, restores and protects us from the demands of the outside world. After writing my books Curate and Create, I felt compelled to explore the quieter, more intuitive side of interiors, and the idea of home as a sanctuary, in my new book, Cocoon. Cocooning isn’t about perfection or trends; it’s simply about how spaces make us feel, and how we can shape our surroundings to support the way we want to live. When we listen to our hearts and connect more meaningfully with our spaces and with the people and things we love, it heightens the possibility of…

It was quite a journey,’ says Arleana Pugh of the project to renovate the 1960s house in Shropshire that she shares with husband Nick and their baby, Gladys. ‘It was in an unlivable state when we bought it, but we were excited by the potential to create a wonderful family home.’ ROOM PLANNING Tackling much of the work themselves, Arleana, a nurse, and Nick, an entrepreneur, set about restoring the house and adding an extension, doubling the size of the property. ‘The family bathroom needed gutting to bring it up to date,’ says Arleana. Out came the peach bathroom suite and green carpet, both long past their best, as they began to plan a new bathroom suited to their taste. They also removed the hot water tank, housed in a…

As we ready ourselves to hibernate, hedgerows present their final harvest. Berries proffer a dazzling display of colours to entice the eye and appetite of our native creatures. Glowing haws, fiery hips and damson purples charm the birds against a backdrop of woody branches. The setting conjures a handsome palette, inviting warmth and heart into our country homes. While the hues are daring and brave, they can be toned down in modest details, with humbler natural shades prevailing. In this homely setting, a glorious wallpaper alludes to the late autumn shrubbery spectacle, yet printed on a lightly blanched background, the effect is calm and composed. The rest of the room scheme echoes this delicate balance, with small splashes of bold cheer alongside a wider use of hushed natural hues such…

It’s a sunny spring morning at Trevone Quarry in Penryn, Cornwall, and blacksmith Lisa Wisdom is searching for materials for her next piece of artwork. She pulls fencing wire out of hedgerows, sheets of corrugated iron from under great thickets of thorny brambles and scans the ground for rusty washers, hooks, nails and rivets embedded in the soil. As she collects her raw materials amid the abandoned industrial waste of this disused granite quarry, the proverb ‘one man’s waste is another man’s treasure’ has never felt so apt. Back at the quarry’s 19th-century granite forge, where Lisa lives with her husband, David, and their elderly rescue cat, Mr Sticks, Lisa hammers out the iron sheets to form a flat surface, then contemplates their colours, edges, shapes and textures until inspiration…

The last five weeks have been a blur. They have moved so quickly that I feel the urge to reach out with my bare hands to try to stop the world from turning. If only I had such superpowers. Looking up from the Roman blind I’m currently hemming, I catch sight of the black and white cat I’ve fondly named ‘hiking cat’, so called because he, or perhaps she, makes a daily trek into the garden, across the potager and fire pit, towards the boundary, before hopping over and traversing the steep hill towards the ridge line. I’m going to miss this routine. That cat, along with a hundred other daily views and moments I’ve come to cherish over the past eight years will stay with me. But I suppose…