Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i Homes & Gardens

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS there has been a resurgence of interest in the Arts and Crafts movement. Although its roots date back to the 1880s, via the ideas of the critic John Ruskin and designers such as William Morris and Charles Voysey, its distinctive motifs have never really left us and, this year, a number of fabric and wallpaper launches have playfully reinterpreted the originals to sit comfortably in contemporary interiors. I’m sure many of us remember the dark Arts and Crafts colour palettes of the Seventies and Eighties, but what we failed to see then were the lighter, more subtle hues in which some of these designs were originally printed. Now, I’m pleased to say, it’s these shades that are coming to the fore once again. On a…

THE JUDGES Barbara Chandler, design writer and photographer (chair of judges). Ruth Aram, director and co-owner, Aram Store. Jim Biddulph, projects and materials manager, Material Lab. Linda Clayton, specialist kitchens and bathrooms journalist. David Fisher, founder and director, Fish & Co. Chris Haslam, consumer technology expert and journalist. Matthew Hilton, RDI, furniture designer. Robin Levien, RDI, product designer. Lucio Longoni, retail buying and creative consultant. Jimmy MacDonald, founder and director, Tent London. John Mathers, chief executive, Design Council. Nick Munro, product designer. Theo Williams, designer and creative director, Theo Williams Ltd. FROM HOMES & GARDENS Deborah Barker, editor-in-chief. Giles Kime, executive editor. THE SPONSORS HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST AWARDS…

Marcus Wells has reinvented the art of framing. Using everything from buckles and buttons to items he salvages from skips, he creates pieces that are often as imaginative as the artwork they display. His skill has gained him a huge following among designers, notably Kit Kemp, the creative force behind London’s Ham Yard, Soho and Haymarket hotels. How did your business come about? After starting my career in publishing, I went on to work for an art gallery where I learned how to frame and also picked up business skills that have since served me well. I saw a gap in the market for a more creative approach to framing that was entirely bespoke. In 1995, I set up my business, Haviland Designs, and I never looked back. In…

“Our apartment is on the route of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” says Dale Goldberg of her remarkable home in the very heart of Manhattan. “The night beforehand, the road is closed so that the giant balloons can be inflated and to celebrate, we throw our own balloon-blowing party. We have around seventy to eighty guests, which is great fun. It’s that kind of place.” Dale and her husband, Saul, bought this apartment four years ago. “Our three children had grown up and moved out, so we felt it was time for a change,” she explains. The couple were drawn to the property’s spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the famous annual parade and also to its enviable location near Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History. OLD NEW YORK…

WHERE DID THE TREND COME FROM? It’s the next step in the bespoke story. Increased access to ideas online has fostered a greater appreciation for the possibilities a tailor-made kitchen can offer, in which every design decision has a personal meaning, with utterly unique results. WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL? It’s a look that you just can’t buy from a brochure. The trends for upcycling and salvage have had a big impact. In one of our recent kitchens part of a Victorian lamp post was used to support a breakfast bar (below). The owners love how the scheme reflects their eclectic style and has a sense of history. HOW CAN I GET THE LOOK? The beauty of bespoke cabinetry is that it is so accommodating. Antiques shops and reclamation yards are…

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE SPACE? This is the formal reception room on the raised ground floor of a large Victorian family home overlooking Regent’s Park in London. There are two windows, including a large bay (pictured), which fill the room with light. The owners were involved in every aspect of the design and have carefully restored the room’s original features, such as the cornicing and fireplace. WHAT WAS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE SCHEME? The combination of high ceilings, tall windows and generous floor space provided an excellent base to work from, so we decided to keep the look simple and let the architecture speak for itself. We helped the owners to pick out furniture with clean lines and added a chandelier and gilt overmantel mirror, which act as the…

WHAT DO BOOKS BRING TO A ROOM SCHEME? You can spend an immense amount of time, money and effort on creating a beautifully designed space, with stunning furniture, lighting and accessories, but it’s not until books are added that it becomes a home. Books are essential to completing a project and giving it character. HOW DO YOU APPROACH BOOK STORAGE IN YOUR PROJECTS? One of the first things I discuss with clients is space planning; we need to establish the requirements for each room. On a recent project, the clients had 5,000 books, so working out how and where we were going to accommodate them was crucial. To me, there’s nothing more indulgent and luxurious than an inviting room full of books, with comfortable seating and good lighting. WHERE DO…

HOW DO YOU APPROACH DESIGNING A LIBRARY FOR A HOME? This will be smaller and more intimate and personal than one I might design for a restaurant, club or hotel, so I seek inspiration from great country houses. In all my designs, I’m keen to develop a sense of place, a feeling of history and an atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxation, and a library filled with books from across the ages helps me create somewhere that feels as if it has existed for years. WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS? Alongside the books and bookshelves, every library needs furniture, especially a good desk and comfortable chair as this is where you will spend most of your time. We often use a combination of soft seating, including antiques sourced from markets…

People often make the mistake of having too many varieties of plants in their garden; less is more is my philosophy. To achieve year-round interest, particularly in a small space, choose plants that tick more than one box, such as flowering in spring and providing good winter colour or form. Consider trees and hedges first, then shrubs and climbers, followed by herbaceous perennials and, lastly, annuals and bulbs. DESIGNING A SEASONAL GARDEN When we designed this small, enclosed garden (left), which surrounds a Victorian townhouse, we chose pleached Carpinus betulus (beech) underplanted with Taxus baccata (yew) to act as a screen and provide year-round structure and colour. At ground level, we created connecting flowerbeds edged with Cor-Ten steel, to flow around the house. A striking ammonite-shaped sculpture on a zinc…

Bursting with the promise of spring, the golden blooms of forsythia and the downy catkins of pussy willow make an uplifting choice of arrangement for ushering in the new season.…

What drew you to study textile design? I had always regretted not doing an art degree when I was younger, so I went to my local college to look at courses. I spoke to the textiles department, arranged an interview and was accepted. I spent three happy years obtaining my first-class honours degree in Fashion and Textiles. Seeing patterns I had designed on lengths of fabric always gave me a buzz and I wanted to make my art useful, so decided to launch my own brand in 2015, working exclusively with fabric and wallpaper. How would you describe your style? I love the quality of the past, when things were made to last. I want to bring that into my designs but also inject some brighter colours, because I’m naturally…

BATHROOM DESIGNER Balancing practicality with aesthetics, the nominees in this category have pushed design in exciting new ways. PAUL PRIESTMAN Triarc towel rail for Iconic Radiators, priestmangoode.com. EDWARD BARBER & JAY OSGERBY Axor ONE for Axor, barberosgerby.com. MAX LAMB Marmoreal bathroom for Dzek, maxlamb.org. KITCHEN DESIGNER New materials and innovative cabinetry design was what impressed the judges. SEBASTIAN COX AND THE DEVOL DESIGN TEAM The Sebastian Cox kitchen by deVOL, devolkitchens.co.uk. BENJAMIN JAMES EDMONDS AND SOLIDWOOL Blok Knives X Solidwool 10in Woollen Edition chef knife, blok-knives.co.uk. ALEX BEAUGEARD The Albermarle Range, mccarronandco.com. SURFACE DESIGNER This shortlist demonstrates how pattern and texture can transform a 2D surface. THE DESIGN TEAM AT HELIOT & CO Louvre tile, heliotandco.com. KANGAN ARORA Radium range, kanganarora.com. DEBORAH BOWNESS Painted Wall in Moscow from the WALL…

For richness of pattern, little can surpass this sumptuous velvet sofa in an Art Nouveau foliage design, perfect for making a statement. A crisp, stylish wallpaper in contemporary black and white always makes a good pairing with white floors and simple rustic furniture. This motif, originally created in 1892 by William Morris, has been oversized to produce a striking wallpaper. Its mix of soft milk and pink tones has a light and airy appeal. With an authentic block-printed look, this patterned wallpaper cleverly resembles a tiled wall, making it a fitting choice for a kitchen or bathroom. Bench seating layered with plump cushions in plain and printed designs of a similar tone to the wallpaper creates a unified feel, while co-ordinating tableware provides the finishing touch. Here, a timeless William…

Husband and wife design duo Stéphane and Ludivine Degas have made a fine art of their renovation projects. In a bid to satisfy their creative impulses, they move home every three years, but this time period also coincides perfectly with the evolving needs of their five children. They bought their most recent property, a dilapidated stone house in a smart residential district of Bordeaux, in 2013 and spent the next year transforming it beyond recognition with a skilful combination of steel and glass. The result is a chic family home that masterfully demonstrates their penchant for simple yet striking style. Ludivine tells us more. What were your first impressions of the property? The original plot consisted of a small 200-year-old white stone house, typical of the region, with a separate…

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PROPERTY? It is a detached new-build five-bedroom, Dutch-style manor house in the New Forest, which belongs to an Anglo-Dutch couple. When I first met the clients at the showroom, the kitchen and utility area had already been planned, but no building work had started. This enabled us to make slight changes to the layout in order for the space to work better. WHAT WERE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT? To create a contemporary, industrial look that suited the style of the house. The clients wanted to have a large, double-aspect room with a practical working kitchen at its heart and plenty of space for socialising and entertaining. The appearance of the room was as important as its functionality, so they chose integrated appliances…

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THIS ROOM? This conservatory is situated a few steps down from the drawing room of a Victorian villa. Originally there was more glazing above the windows behind the sofa, but this made the room look like a glass lean-to that had been tacked on. I boarded up the top windows and a door opening to a treacherous spiral staircase down to the garden, which gave us the bones of a proper room. WHAT WAS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE SCHEME? The window frames were already painted in an olive green shade, which I found rather pleasing as it has an affinity with the garden below. I picked out this colour with one of my wallpapers that resembles worn panelling and paired it with another version that features…

The elegant lines of a contemporary desk complement the light setting of a bay window. Neatly labelled folders keep documents close to hand. Office storage that co-ordinates with your scheme is a pretty and practical decorative touch. A small but perfectly formed desk with an angled wall light above fits snugly in an unused corner. Personalising a desk with pretty notebooks and a favourite fountain pen makes work a pleasure. A smart wall organiser has visual impact and provides a unique storage solution for stationery. Accessories in brass and natural blond wood bring textural interest and contrast to a desk top. A stylish framed desk defines a work area in a multi-use space.…

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR STORING BOOKS? It depends on how many books you have, your style and the architecture of your home. From fitted shelves to freestanding bookcases, there’s lots of variety, but the advantage of bespoke joinery is that, although it may be more expensive, you get exactly what you want and a perfect fit. WHAT DO BOOKS ADD TO A ROOM SCHEME? Recently, I designed a bookcase for clients who didn’t even have any books, but they were going to buy some because they felt that their drawing room wouldn’t feel right without a bookcase – and I totally agree. It adds a whole different element to a room, making it feel grander but in a cosy way. I often find that in houses with a double…

WHICH TYPE OF CARPET WILL WEAR WELL? We’d like to fit a plain loop-pile carpet on our stairs, but are concerned that it won’t be as durable as a twist-pile carpet. Can you advise? EB, London N3. Loop-pile carpet can be slightly more slippery on stairs, but will wear as well as an equivalent-quality twist pile, as long as the loops are tight and the composition is entirely wool or synthetic yarn, not, for instance, 80 per cent wool, 20 per cent synthetic. In velvet and twist-pile carpets, the presence of 20 per cent synthetic yarn increases the durability considerably. However, in loop-pile carpets with a wool/synthetic mix, some of the longer synthetic fibres can get teased to the surface of the loop, entangle with the wool fibres that abrade…

In association with Looking to renovate your home? My Design School at KLC offers a fun and innovative way to learn all the skills you need! Focusing on your own home project, course tutors and guest experts will guide you through the creative process, giving you the know-how, confidence and inspiration to expand your ideas and develop your own design style. Presented entirely online, you can participate any time of the day or night, at home or on the move! Plus, the interactive online community allows you to chat with like-minded people, share sources and discuss trends. TO BOOK Visit klc.co.uk/mds  and quote HGI0216 for Design Your Own Home KLC is world renowned for the quality of its design training, offering a range of qualifications and flexible study…

We have much to thank the honey bee for, not least an incredible range of honeys infused with a host of floral fragrances. Whether spread generously on hot buttered toast or used to sweeten a savoury dish, it is an ingredient highly prized for its distinctive, natural flavour. As with wine and olive oil, the nuances of a honey depend on environment, in this case the dominant flora in the area of the hive, say heather or lavender. Where relevant, I’ve suggested particular honeys to use in these recipes but, as a guide, the lighter varieties, such as acacia, clover or orange blossom, combine well with similarly delicate and aromatic flavours, such as vanilla, mild dairy and hints of citrus. Robustly flavoured honeys – heather, chestnut or buckwheat, for example…

1 PULLMAN EDITIONS designs striking original limited-edition posters that capture the enduring appeal of Art Deco. Their newly-commissioned posters feature glamorous winter sports and summer resorts around the world, as well as the world’s greatest historic automobiles. There are over 100 designs available to view and buy online at www.pullmaneditions.com. Priced at £395 each 2 ABODE A beautifully selected range of interior accessories including tableware, soft furnishings, lighting and decorative accessories. Abode offers great inspiration and is a wonderful place to help you add personality and style to your home. www.abodeliving.co.uk 01273 621116 3 JENNY BELL Spring has sprung with Daffodils, Birds & Animals with their young on this beautiful Bone China mug. Choose from a selection of wording or personalise (add £1) for an extra special gift. Mugs (Spring Life)…

FINAL FLOURISH These delightful tassels are the result of a collaboration between Bluebellgray and Jessica Light, one of the UK’s few remaining trimmings weavers. The cotton dip-dye designs, shown here in Jade and Cerise, L12cm, £9 each, would make a pretty addition to door handles, while the tieback versions, L20cm, £40 each, are perfect for updating curtains. Contact 0141 221 0724, bluebellgray.com. GO GREEN Jo Malone London’s The Herb Garden range of fragrances is full of zesty, crisp and sweet notes. Available in five unexpected yet delicious pairings, including Sorrel & Lemon Thyme, Nasturtium & Clover and Carrot Blossom & Fennel, they cost £44 for 30ml. Contact 0800 054 2411, jomalone.co.uk. HOME COMFORTS Add a hint of opulence to your home with the new-season soft furnishings from Liberty Fabrics, 020…

Offering everything from luxurious duvets, cloud-like pillows and beautiful bedlinen to thick and indulgent towels and chic silk nightwear, Soak&Sleep is the perfect one-stop shop if you’re looking to refresh your bathroom or bedroom for the new season. Its recently launched furniture range has four collections, so whether its contemporary, mid-century, rustic or modern Shaker style you’re after, there is something to suit every taste. To complete your chosen look, why not browse the brand-new lighting and home accessories ranges, designed to complement each key collection? To enjoy this online discount, simply visit soakandsleep.com  and enter code HOMES25 at the checkout. Soak & Sleep TERMS AND CONDITIONS This Soak&Sleep 25 per cent discount is valid from 4 February to 16 March 2016. Valid on orders over £50 and…

STAY I love the Praktik Bakery hotel, hotelpraktikbakery.com. It’s affordable and a few steps away from Gaudi’s masterpieces La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. Rustic-style rooms, from £45 per night, feature painted wood, warm tones and metro tiles. Hotel Brummell, hotelbrummell.com, from £99 per night, is an intimate oasis off the beaten track. I recommend this hidden gem to friends who want to experience relaxed Catalonian living. For an unbeatable view of the skyline, the Meliá Barcelona Sky, melia.com, is located in one of the city’s tallest buildings, designed by Dominique Perrault, and reflects the contemporary, urban side of Barcelona. Rooms, from £90 per night. EAT There are so many fine restaurants here, fusing diverse cultures. Top of my list is Mosquito, mosquito tapas.com, which serves great Asian food in the heart…

THIS MONTH, a rebuilt cottage in Belfast is now a home for three generations of one family (page 72) and a period property in Bordeaux has been given a striking modern extension (page 82). Design ideas from around the world unite in a colourful London terrace (page 90), while a converted artist’s studio in Manhattan boasts chic Art-Deco style (page 98). In our Australian garden, clever landscaping and planting complements the beautiful views (page 106).…

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE SPACE? In pursuit of our own private sanctuary, my husband, Haj, and I sacrificed a 4x3m bedroom on the top floor of our four-storey townhouse in Edinburgh to create a spacious en-suite bathroom. We restored the room’s original features, including a cast-iron fireplace and sash windows. The only significant alterations we made were adding a door to our bedroom and closing up the hallway access, which in turn created space for a large walk-in shower. WHAT WAS YOUR MAIN GOAL? We wanted luxury, which meant doubling up on key pieces, such as the shower and basins. We were also keen to maintain the room’s sense of space and introduce a flexible lighting scheme, along with an integrated sound system to encourage lingering. Luckily, the room had…

A STEP UP This beautiful double-height library at the heart of the house was created by linking the original rear reception room and a first-floor bedroom with a feature staircase wrapped in oak bookshelves Designed by Platform 5 Architects, 020 7377 8885, platform5architects.com. PAST GLORY A wall of shelves exhibiting a fine collection of antique and vellum-bound books makes a characterful backdrop to a traditional upholstered headboard. Heirloom artworks add further interest among the neat rows. STACKS OF STYLE Colour-coded groups of books stacked on minimalist struts have a casual, floating appearance. This is a simple way of creating both a clever storage system and a unique, contemporary wall feature. STRAIGHT UP Interior designer Sean Cochrane has accentuated the height of this space with a pair of slim, soaring bookshelves…

1| Retro style. Pagoda shelving unit in American walnut and metal in bronze rust, H200x W110x D57cm, from £13,440, Nina Campbell, 020 7225 1011, ninacampbell.com. 2| On the case. 1904 bookcase in solid oak, shown with wallpaper option, H222xW235xD47cm, from £4,840, Grange, 020 7935 7000, grange-london.com. 3| New classic. La Bibliothèque Fil shelving unit in Black lacquer, reissue of a 1972 Pierre Paulin design, H170x W70xD33cm, £744, Ligne Roset, 020 7426 9670, ligne-roset.co.uk.…

FIVE-STAR EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES Eight days from £1,099 per person, 14 days from £1,699 per person. Selected departures from April to November 2016. Choose from ten stunning full-board European cruises, including the Rhine, Rhône, Danube, Main, Moselle and Seine, all with exceptional cuisine and awe-inspiring scenery. The five-star cabins have private bathrooms and river views and all cruises include a tour manager. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Return rail travel on selected dates and cruises from over 50 regional stations.* Return Eurostar travel from London, St Pancras or flights from a choice of regional airports, taxes and transfers. Fully inclusive touring programmes and escorted sightseeing. NEW ZEALAND Twenty-two days, from £3,999 per person. Selected departures from March to November 2016 and January to February 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Return flights from Manchester and London…

A Aesme, 01865 250282, aesme.co.uk. Alternative Flooring, 01264 335111, alternativeflooring.com. Alton-Brooke, 020 7376 7008, alton-brooke.co.uk. Amara, 0800 587 7645, amara.com. And So To Bed, 0808 144 4343, andsotobed.co.uk. Anglepoise, 02392 224450, anglepoise.co.uk. Another Country, 020 7486 3251, anothercountry.com. Anthropologie, 020 7870 4821, anthropologie.eu. Appley Hoare Antiques, 020 7351 5206, appleyhoare.com. Aram, 020 7557 7557, aram.co.uk. B Baker London, 020 7823 3612, bakerfurniture.com. Balineum, 020 7431 9364, balineum.co.uk. Bert & May, 020 3673 4264, bertandmay.com. Best & Lloyd, 020 7610 9191, bestandlloyd.co.uk. Birgit Israel, 020 7376 7255, birgitisrael.com. Brian Yates, 020 7352 0123, brian-yates.co.uk. Brume, 01364 73951, brume.co.uk. C C&C Milano, 020 7751 4554, cec-milano.com. Calvin Klein Home, 0800 7463 6499, calvinklein.com. Cambridge Imprint, 07974 404977, cambridgeimprint.co.uk. Cameron Fuller, 01404 47568, cameronfuller.co.uk. Caravane, 020 7486 5233, caravane.fr. Casamance, 0844 369 0104,…