Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2017 i Homes & Gardens

you want to take printmaking lessons. Since then, I have also been to letterpress classes and what both of these courses showed me is that there is something satisfying about transferring a design onto another surface, imperfections and all. I’ve always found fabrics and wallpapers in which you can see the hand of the designer very appealing, so I was particularly drawn to our decorating feature on page 63, showing schemes that have been created with hand-block prints at their heart. What excites me is that every stage is a work of art, from the carving of the block to the final printed piece. This time of year is a period of transition; we are moving from the darker days of winter towards the first inklings of spring. To celebrate…

THE GREEN LIGHT We can’t resist the lustrous shine of this Capiz ceramic lamp base in on-trend forest green, H57xdiam21cm, £169, from India Jane, 020 8799 7166, indiajane.co.uk. Buy two for symmetrical formality or dress down with a rough hessian lampshade. It is shown here with the Ivory cotton empire shade, £36. A SENSE OF HISTORY With their beautiful colours and exquisite imagery, Allyson McDermott’s new archive wallpapers are a superb starting point for a Chinoiserie-style scheme. Former head of Sotheby’s conservation studio and an adviser to the National Trust, Allyson makes her papers to order using traditional techniques including woodblock printing, hand painting, varnishing, gilding, embossing and flocking. The collection includes (above, from left) Gingko Garden, Chinese Garden and Belvoir Castle Chinese Room, from £252m. For full details, contact…

1| Recycled rubber tyre bucket, H32x diam32cm, £24, RE. 2| Willow log basket, H62xdiam60cm, £530, Annemarie O’Sullivan at The New Craftsmen. 3| Willow log carrier, H62xW58xD43cm, £60, Cox & Cox. 4| Zinc lined willow basket, H40xdiam48cm, £82, Rowen & Wren. 5| Rattan square basket, H60xW60xD60cm, £79.95, Nkuku. 6| Log basket with rope, H52xW78xD44cm, £115, Garden Trading. 7|Log bag,H47xW30xD27cm, £45,Carrier Company. 8| Wood basket in Brown and Dark Grey,H47xdiam42,£354, Eldvarm at Amara. 9| The Broughton log holder in Black,H38xW59.7xD42cm,£450, Chesney’s. Oak mural,from £60sq m, Alexander Cozens at Surface View.Pocket axe,L24cm,£120,Rudo y Noble at The Garden Edit.Logs and kindling,Chesney’s.…

FROM TOP Kings Velvet in Verdigris, viscose mix, £89m, GP&J Baker. Atil in Evergeen, polyester, £47.50m, Villa Nova. Rooksmoor in Hellebore, cotton, £84m, Lewis & Wood. Tatiana in French Blue, viscose mix, £75m, Romo. Pavia in Delft, viscose mix, £79m, Designers Guild. Emile in Copper, cotton mix, £55m, Jane Churchill at Colefax and Fowler. Facade F6610-07, viscose mix, £54m, Osborne & Little. Omega in Ocean, polyester, £41m, Linwood. Boho Velvets in Pewter, viscose mix, £49m, Sanderson. Beaufort ottoman in Light Grey wool, H34xW127x D94cm, £700, The White Company. Panelling in Kigali, Pure Flat Emulsion, £42.50 for 2.5 litres, Paint & Paper Library.…

MY GARDEN IS A CAR PARK Kendra Wilson, £12.99, Laurence King. Modern-day gardening issues, including the one in the book’s title, are dealt with in a clear, approachable and stylish way by Gardenista writer and former graphic designer Kendra Wilson. THE BOLD DRY GARDEN Johanna Silver, photographs Marion Brenner, £25, Timber Press. Anyone guilty of dismissing cactii as dust-collecting pashes of the 1970s will have a change of heart on reading this energetic journey around dry plant super-expert Ruth Bancroft’s Californian garden, a water-saving paradise with a distinctive style. Proof that a garden can flourish anywhere. LIVES OF THE GREAT GARDENERS Stephen Anderton, £24.95, Thames & Hudson. To make a special place, “It takes a very special person”, says writer Stephen Anderton. Discover who they are, and what makes them…

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that parents of babies and young children do not undertake extensive home renovations. Interior designer Nina Möller, however, is untroubled by such conventions. When she and her husband Marcus embarked on restoring and joining together two adjacent apartments in the heart of Helsinki, their daughter, Marcella, was a toddler, and their son, Philip, was a mere babe in arms. The couple had sought a space that was “in bad shape” so they could flex their creative muscles and remodel it according to their own tastes. “I wanted a spacious living area with a connected dining room, and a bathroom with enough room for a bath and a separate shower; things that are luxuries in this city,” says Nina. Doorways were duly widened, and floor…

THIS MONTH, we take a look at a cleverly extended London property that now has a light-filled basement and loft (page 72), unexpected colour palettes and pattern in a characterful Cotswolds retreat (page 82), vintage pieces in shades of blue that bring a Scandinavian flavour to a Georgian home (page 93), and a Norfolk cottage that showcases effortless French style (page 100). Intrepid design ensures there is something for everyone in this city garden with badminton lawn and pavilion (page 106).…

Serendipity played a part in the current incarnation of this Georgian house in west London, for had Copenhagen-born Julie Simonsen not asked after properties for sale in the area during a visit to one of her favourite antiques shops, she would never have had the chance to own it. As luck would have it, the antiques dealer knew that the house was available and, not long after, Julie bought it and set about its refurbishment. As an interior designer, Julie knew how she wanted the house to look, but the building is Grade II-listed and in a conservation area, so she decided to bring in help from west London-based multi-disciplinary practice, Studio Indigo. We talked to Julie, and to Studio Indigo’s Gemma McCloskey, to find out more. What did…

QUEEN MARY 2 TRANSATLANTIC CROSSING TO NEW YORK Fourteen days from £1,799pp or 17 days from £2,999pp. Selected departures from May to October 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Seven nights on the QM2 from Southampton, with all meals and afternoon tea, return flights, taxes and transfers. Three nights in New York with sightseeing tours. Fully escorted sightseeing, including choice of excursions to Niagara Falls; or the Rocky Mountaineer train; or the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and the Original Queen Mary. ANDALUCíA AND THE SPANISH COASTAL CRUISE Eight days from £1,099 per person. Departing 27 October 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Return flights from most UK airports, taxes and transfers. Four nights’ full-board on Aegean Odyssey, plus wine with dinner, two nights in Seville and one night in Mijas, both with breakfast. Fully escorted sightseeing,…

 Can you describe the space? This is my own kitchen in the home I share with my husband and business partner, Jamie, and our three children. The house was meant to be a stopgap, while we searched for something bigger, but the coastal views are so breathtaking we decided to stay and expand. We added a conservatory-style extension that makes the most of the Norfolk sunlight and creates a smooth transition into the garden. What inspired the look? I just love the craftsmanship of Shaker furniture, its tongue-and-groove panelling suits the relaxed feel and beautiful simplicity of our home; anything with more detailed beading would have been too grand. How did you plan the layout? It’s always nice to centre the sink at a window, and the Aga had to…

Can you describe the project? This is a new-build house just south of Cape Town, overlooking Table Mountain. The living area here forms part of a large open-plan space that also incorporates the kitchen and dining area, so it was important to make it feel comfortable and cosy, even though it’s surrounded on two sides by French doors that open on to the garden. How did you devise the layout? The premise was functionality. I needed to provide adequate seating to make this a good entertaining space, so I used two sofas (one is positioned out of view) and a pair of armchairs. The long stool provides another useful perch without obstructing the view of the stove. This sits within a fireplace that was deliberately oversized to work with the…

“The marginal pond plants merge into the beds behind, creating drifts of shrubs and grasses that give year-round interest.” What was the garden like before? I was looking for a new challenge in 1999 when I bought Theobalds Farmhouse, a beautiful listed property built around 1650, which had almost two acres of land on which I could build my dream garden. I wanted to create a series of garden rooms, each with a different look and character. The land at that time consisted of a grassy field, a scrappy bit of woodland and a boggy drainage ditch filled with rubbish at the bottom of the slope, so I had a virtually blank canvas. Where did you begin? I started on the areas closest to the house, designing them in a…

• The position of a room divider should allow good access and take into account the ergonomics of the space. There is no point in installing something that will make it difficult to move around freely. • I use screens and dividers to lend a sense of privacy. For example, if your front door opens directly into your living room, a small divider will help to create a feeling of seclusion. • Heat sources and natural daylight are essential considerations – you don’t want to section off a cold, dark area that is unpleasant to use. Artificial lighting can have an important part to play in achieving the right ambience. • In terms of aesthetics, a piece of hinged hardboard with a fabulous botanical paper can look very artful, or…

METAL AND GLASS Alco Glass, alcoglass.co.uk. Architectural Bronze Casements, bronzecasements.com. D&R Design, dandrdesign.co.uk. Dorma, dorma.com. Frameless Glass Curtains, fgc.co.uk. Spaceslide, spaceslide.co.uk. WOOD AND PANELLING Barbara Genda, barbara-genda.com. Chiselwood, chiselwood.co.uk. Cotswood, cotswooddoors.co.uk. Japan Garden, japangarden.co.uk. Titchmarsh & Goodwin, titchmarsh-goodwin.co.uk. William Garvey, williamgarvey.co.uk. MODULAR PARTITIONS/SHELVING Carpenter & Carpenter, carpenterandcarpenter.co.uk. Habitat, habitat.co.uk. Poliform, poliformuk.com. Tisettanta, tisettanta.it. Wharfside, wharfside.co.uk.…

POMPEII, CAPRI AND THE BAY OF NAPLES Eight days’ half-board, from £779 per person. Selected departures from April to October 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Return flights from most UK airports, taxes and transfers. Seven nights’ half-board in a three- or four-star hotel in Sorrento in the Bay of Naples. Fully escorted sightseeing, including Sorrento, the island of Capri, Mount Vesuvius, the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and the hilltop town of Ravello. LAKE GARDA, VENICE AND VERONA Eight days’ half-board, from £629 per person. Selected departures from April to October 2017. HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Return flights from most UK airports, taxes and transfers. Seven nights’ half-board in hand-picked lake-front hotels. Fully escorted sightseeing, including beautiful Lake Garda, the dramatic snow-capped Dolomite mountains, Venice’s, spectacular canals, basilicas and palaces,…

1 PULLMAN EDITIONS designs striking original limited-edition posters that capture the enduring appeal of Art Deco. Their posters feature winter sports, glamorous resorts around the world, and historic automobiles. Over 100 designs available at £395 each. Call 020 7730 0547 or view and buy online at www.pullmaneditions.com 2 GILLY THOMAS SCULPTURE Now living in beautiful rural Ireland Gilly Thomas has created a new series of small bronze sculptures especially for the country home. Shown here are Three Salmon Swimming, in a limited edition of 9. To view all her work, please visit www.gillythomas-sculpture.com + 353 87 227 9270 3 THE DINING CHAIR COMPANY Contemporary dining chairs upholstered and made in the UK offering a bespoke service creating original designs. 020 7259 0422 www.diningchair.co.uk 4 SCUMBLE GOOSIE design and hand…

We’ve been charmed by the wonderfully intricate woven panels of Hilary Burns who grows, cuts, dries and prepares all own willow near her workshop in Devon. The panels, which are finished with brass strapping, can be hung with hooks for baskets to create versatile storage or used as a room divider to bring texture and depth to a neutral space.…

1| Simple, elegant design allows the oak grain to come to the fore. Stool Four, H45x diam30cm, £225 each, Another Country, 020 7486 3251, anothercountry.com. 2| Country craft meets contemporary style. Wick chair in ash with white metal legs, H75xW57xD50.5cm, £385 each,Design House Stockholm at Selfridges, 0800 123400, selfridges.com. 3| Beauty and practicality in a smart shape. Pair chair, H79xW58x D52cm, £274 each, Republic of Fritz Hansen, 020 7637 5534, fritzhansen.com.…

How would you describe your Instagram account? My native Lake District features strongly, but the images celebrate much more than our spectacular landscape, from ancient farmhouses to veteran trees. Who would you recommend we follow? Christies’ NY ceramic and glass specialist Carleigh Queenth, @breakingisbad. Her account is a symphony of colour, with beautiful and surprising images of glass and ceramics enlivened by an abundance of wit. Follow Homes & Gardens @homesandgardensuk…

Why did you start the company? Brian and I have worked in fast-paced corporate environments and had a dream to start our own business. We have always been passionate about our home and made healthy choices for our personal well-being and the wider environment. The idea behind Lula Green was to offer the most exquisite organic fabrics that allow a home to be ethical and refined at the same time. What makes the bedding sustainable? Our collection adheres to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which ensures that strict environmental and social criteria are met throughout the entire supply chain. Organic farming practices prohibit genetic modification and harmful chemicals, support soil fertility and biodiversity, consume less energy and produce less greenhouse gas as well as saving water. Is organic cotton…

STAY Above the Wye Valley, between Monmouth and Chepstow, The Chickenshed, thechickenshed atparkhouse.com, an imaginatively converted poultry house with a modern feel, sleeps up to eight people. From £800 for three nights. Another favourite is Allty-Bela, alltybela.co.uk, from £125 a night, a Medieval farmhouse with a spectacular garden in Monmouthshire. Mad Dogs & Vintage Vans, maddogsand vintagevans.co.uk, from £150 for two nights, offers a glamping experience in well-equipped camper vans set in a meadow, with views of the Black Mountains. EAT We love The Walnut Tree Inn, thewalnuttreeinn.com, in nearby Monmouthshire, which holds a Michelin star under chef and food writer Shaun Hill. It has only 20 tables and an intimate, informal atmosphere. St John’s Place, stjohnsplacehay.tumblr.com, in Hay-on-Wye is another regular haunt. We like the innovative menu with its tasting…

STYLISH CHAIRS 1| Wardley, H93xW46xD57cm, painted, £255; in oak, £285; Neptune. 2| Wimbledon, H87.5xW47.5xD42cm, £750, I&JL Brown. 3| Classic English Hoopback, H88xW42xD48cm,£149,Angel & Boho.4| Donatella,H80xW49xD49cm,£170,Perch & Parrow.5| Rosalina, H85.5xW43xD60cm, £271, Ligne Roset. 6| Chuckler, H92xW64xD56cm, £225, Loaf. 7| Capra, H80.5xW44.5xD54cm, £259, Heal’s. 8| In Between in grey ash, H77xW58xD54cm, £329, &Tradition at Houseology. 9| Bird, H80xW44xD44cm, £210, VG&P. INVITING TABLES 1| Gilmore Grand , H76.5xW200xD95cm, £1,599 , House of Fraser . 2| Epoq , H76xW240xD110cm, £2,710 , Roche Bobois . 3| Balmoral rectangle , H75xW240xD95cm, £2,990 , Neptune . 4| Farmer , H76xW160xD80cm, £2,500 , The Conran Shop . 5| Karelian limed oak top , H74xW140-236xD100cm, £3,354 , Leporello . 6| Gosford , H80xW180xD136cm, £2,325 , Oka . 7| Darcey , H75xW180xD90cm, £899 , Marks & Spencer . 8| Dining…

White is like no other colour in the garden, offering a wonderful range of shades, from pure icy white to warm cream. There are whites for every season, from snowdrops in winter to autumn perennials, such as penstemons. A scrambling white rose, like Rosa ‘Seagull’, can be used as a subtle backdrop to vivid hues, while a white lavender, teamed with the silvery foliage of Stachys byzantina , Senecio cineraria or Artemisia absinthium ‘Lambrook Silver’, will create a border of shimmering beauty. Thread lacy umbellifers, such as Orlaya grandifloraor Ammi majus, through dark crocosmia and salvias to soften the effect. Sometimes lost among rich colours in bright sun, white flowers will…

Can you tell us about the project? This third-floor lateral apartment is in a large Victorian building in central London and was completely gutted by our clients in order to carry out a contemporary redesign. The owners were keen to create a hotel feel within their home, so we took the slick backdrop and used it as a base for a modern scheme that still feels cosseting and calm. What inspired the palette for the main bedroom? We chose a dark stain for the wooden floor, which provides a strong contrast to the pale fitted joinery and gives the space a sense of luxury. The same finish was used for the windowsill and shelf and also for the four-poster bed frame, which is made from wenge wood. These bitter-chocolate tones…

Accents of chalky terracotta, brown and duck egg blue combine beautifully to bring depth to this scheme’s neutral base. Incorporating accessories in a variety of materials, including glass, metal, ceramic and wood, creates a modern look, which is softened here by plush upholstery fabrics, enhancing the feel of understated luxury. Distinctive textures, materials and shapes are important details in a scheme with a subtle colour palette. For full, luxurious lined curtains use at least a double width of fabric with a lightweight interlining. A pinch pleat heading is a good choice for a more contemporary look. Large art books and decorative boxes make interesting table top additions, while a simple arrangement of berries and foliage introduces a more informal note to the display. Sculptural table lamps set at either end…

1| Make a scene Maison Lacroix large screen, H190xW274x D3cm, £3,062, Roche Bobois, roche-bobois.com. 2| Tactile appeal Celeste small folding screen in Green Velvet, H120xW120xD4cm, £755, Eichholtz at Sweetpea & Willow, sweetpeaandwillow.com. 3| Delicate charm Rose Mist three-panel screen, H180x W151.5x D3cm, £650, John Lewis, johnlewis.com. 4| A cut above Kutte wooden fretwork screen, H170xW170x D2cm, £119.90, Maisons du Monde, maisons dumonde.com. 5| With a twist Gwelsen screen, H180xW180x D5cm,£1,450 , Tom Raffield, tomraffield.com.…

WHO PRODUCES WHITE ON WHITE FABRICS? I’ve always loved the simplicity of textiles with white on white or white on off-white designs. Where can I find options like this? HB, London SW18. Embroidered fabrics deliver white on white well, with the stitching making the design visible but not dominant. Try Spa Scroll in Jasper White, £140m, Mark Alexander, 01623 7566699, markalexander.com. Pure Net Ceiling Appliqué in Paper White blends embroidery and appliqué, £115m, Morris & Co, 01895 830000, william-morris.co.uk. For printed fabrics, white designs on natural linen have a pleasing simplicity, as seen in Kelso Embroidery 7780/01 (above), with oak leaves in cross-stitch, £125m, Romo, 01623 750005, romo.com, and also in Criss Cross 06, Hazelbury 08, £78m each, and Damask 05, £86m, all Blithfield at Tissus d’Hélène, 020 7352 9977,…

ROASTED HERITAGE CARROTS AND PARSNIPS WITH ORANGE AND ZA’ATAR Serves 4 as a side dish This is great alongside chicken or lamb, or make it a veggie main dish by adding chickpeas and serving with couscous. 500g medium heritage carrots, cleaned and halved lengthways 300g parsnips, cleaned and halved lengthways 1 orange, sliced 2 tsp cumin seeds 1 tbsp za’atar ¼ tsp crushed chillies 4 garlic cloves Salt 3 tbsp olive oil 1½ tbsp honey 5 tbsp Greek yoghurt 1 tbsp tahini Preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6. Put the carrots and parsnips in a roasting tin large enough to hold them in one layer. Add the orange slices, cumin seeds, za’atar, chillies and garlic and season with salt, then toss thoroughly with the olive oil and honey.…

1| Crafted from polished patinated brass. Myron lights, diam18cm, £155; diam28cm, £185; all Benchmark, 01488 608020, benchmarkfurniture.com. 2|This tall beauty adds a graceful touch. Sculpted lamp in sycamore, H85xdiam12.5cm, £450, Cassandra Ellis, 07887 896481, cassandraellis.co.uk. 3|Hand-stitched to make a unique design. Chindi patchwork cushion, 60x40cm, £143, Stitch by Stitch, 07715 169194, stitchbystitch.eu. 4|Inspired by The Canterbury Tales. Pilgrim’s chair, H89xW51xD43.5cm, £1,800, Pedro da Costa Felgueiras at The New Craftsmen, 020 7148 3190, thenewcraftsmen.com. 5|Ways to use natural materials in the home. Architecture by Hand: Inspired by Nature by Spencer Fung, £35, Hedgehog, 020 8964 9331, hedgehogshop.co.uk. 6| A versatile solid-pine piece for any room. Farmer’s cabinet in Black, H142xW85xD38cm, £299, Idyll Home, 01270 812717, idyllhome.co.uk. 7| In cashmere and wool for extra cosiness. Castlefield stripe throw in Mustard, 140x220cm, £200,…

What prompted you to create The Green Barn? We opened our gardens five years ago and, with our love of organic produce, good food and interiors, we felt we needed to do something that embraced cuisine, art, sculpture, furniture and interior accessories on a much larger scale. We wanted to create something with a Scandinavian feel, but based on an agricultural green barn. Tell us more about the antiques. We source pieces from all over the world and also work with Josephine Ryan, a French antiques dealer based in London. We are her first outlet in Ireland. What else is on offer for interiors lovers? We sell small and large pieces of furniture, as well as fabrics, cushions, cutlery and kitchen goods. You’ll also find homemade goodies from our kitchens…

Why does this site suit the museum so well? Our new home triples our exhibition space to almost 10,000 square metres and allows us to accommodate permanent displays as well as temporary exhibitions. The museum’s public areas have been furnished by Vitra, while architect John Pawson’s remodel has created an airy, striking space. What was the most challenging aspect of the renovation? The project involved the excavation of a double-height basement to house galleries and an auditorium, and working with an extraordinary saddle roof. Getting it just right meant that our opening was delayed by two years. But museums are special places and their architecture matters a lot; this 1960s listed building had to be treated sensitively. How will the space change people’s perception of contemporary design? We wanted to…

Forsaking the legal profession for a career in design, Ottoline de Vries launched her own wallpaper collection in 2011. Using digital technology to reinterpret her love of bold colour and graphic pattern, she quickly expanded to incorporate fabrics, lampshades and cushions. Ottoline has supplied wallpaper to Museum Willet-Holthuysen in Amsterdam and London’s Firmdale Hotels, and is an H&G Fabric Awards winner. “ I grew up surrounded by design influences but I was unaware of my own creativity. Instead, I studied law and, although I didn’t love the profession, I did enjoy it. When my children were born, we began to renovate our family home near Amsterdam, and I started playing with colour and fabrics and upcycling furniture. During lunchtimes at work, I would scour the internet looking for antiques and,…

Known for her exquisite natural wallpaper motifs, Marthe Armitage is the grande dame of hand-produced prints. Here, heavy milky white linen upholstery and an artisan wool rug keep the look textural and fresh. FURNITURE Pair of French armchairs, H83xW85xD80cm, £2,600, Puckhaber. Gustavian console table GUS093, H75xW120x D33cm, £675, Chelsea Textiles. FABRICS Cushions in (opposite page) Domino 176293, linen, £163m, Schumacher at Turnell & Gigon. (This page, from top) Cliff End in Olive Green, linen, £87m, Lindsay Alker. Osborne in Gold, linen, £94m, Blithfield. Peacock in Natural, linen, £90m, Barron and Larcher at Christopher Farr Cloth. Spot and Star in Cornflower, linen mix, £142m, Molly Mahon at Tissus d’Hélène. WALLS Wild Pear hand block printed wallpaper in Sage, 58cm wide, £276 a roll, Marthe Armitage at Hamilton Weston. ACCESSORIES Treasure Tree…

Let houseplants bring your tabletops, bookshelves and windowsills to life. Rest assured, your home is not too dark, too bright, too hot, too cold, too damp or too dry for you to successfully harbour an indoor garden, or at least one or two potted beauties. There is more than one plant for every one of those situations, and caring for them is relatively simple. In fact, the hardest thing to get right when it comes to houseplants can be selecting the right container, but as the new collections from the likes of Dobbies (right), Anthropologie and The Conran Shop show, the choice is extensive. Here are ten of our favourite houseplants to inspire you to fill your home with greenery. ENTER THE DRAGON Dracaena marginata The secret to…

Where has the wall-hung trend come from? We see it as a natural evolution in the shift towards open-plan living. The typical base cabinet with a plinth is too “kitcheny” in multifunctional rooms that are no longer solely used for cooking. Wall-hung cabinets are just as practical, but they look equally beautiful in any room. What are the style benefits? Lifting cabinets off the floor increases the sense of space and improves the flow between the kitchen and living areas. It also provides the opportunity to use innovative lighting, especially as softly cast illumination creates a floating effect. How are the cabinets suspended? The furniture is mounted on a steel frame structure concealed behind the wall. We use next125’s specially designed system, which can suspend appliances as well as cabinetry.…

How would you describe the space? The building is a converted Swiss winery, which previously housed a single wine vat standing three storeys tall. It overlooks a beautiful lake in the grounds of our client Sarah Kaiser’s estate. She sees the property as a club house, which was designed as a fun party space – somewhere for family and friends to gather and her grown-up children to stay. This is the guest bathroom on the top floor, which opens onto a bedroom and living room. Were there any obstacles to overcome? Planning laws are strict in Switzerland, so it took seven years to get the necessary consent to turn the building into a residence but, even then, it was only permissible on the condition that the original structural beams remained…

“If you’re considering a glazed wall, take a look at heated glass. It has a special coating which, when an electric current is passed through it, will generate warmth.”STEVE BROCK , director, Clear Structures, clearstructures.co.uk. “Most modular dividing systems can be fixed to the floor, which is a particularly sensible option if you have young children.”NICK CLAYTON , director, Clayton Cabinets, claytoncabinets.co.uk.…

• Deciding whether to have a solid wall or room divider is often a question of how dark the space is. We like to use glazed panels along hallways to let in more light. This approach also creates a sense of separation but not enclosure in such a narrow space. • The same consideration applies to the main living area. In a very large, open-plan space, there can be substantial distances between sources of natural light. Glazed partitions allow light to travel further through the house and also frame views from inside to out. • Modular dividing systems can double as storage, but they have to be fairly deep to support their own weight, which eats into floor space. Freestanding shelves need to be at least 30cm deep, whereas glazing…

The House Clinic service is free to all Homes & Gardens subscribers. There is a £12 fee per query for non-subscribers, who must send their query and payment by post. EMAIL Subscribers, send your query, subscriber number and address to hgcontactus@timeinc.com. POST Send your query, subscriber number or payment and an sae to Homes & Gardens, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9YT. Please make cheques/postal orders payable to Time Inc (UK). We are unable to answer more than one question per reader each month. Celia Rufey can also help you create an individual design for any room in your home, with ideas for colours, fabrics, paint, wallcoverings and flooring. For full details, visit our Facebook page at bit.ly/2e5tpsu.…

A mara, 0800 587 7645, amara.com. Angel & Boho, 0845 200 0723, angelandboho.com. Another Country, 020 7486 3251, anothercountry.com. Antoinette Poisson, antoinettepoisson.com. B Beardmore Collection, 020 7351 5444, beardmore.co.uk. Benchmark, 01488 608020, benchmarkfurniture.com. Birdie Fortescue, 01328 738634, birdiefortescue.co.uk. Blithfield & Co, 020 7460 6454, blithfield.co.uk. Bo.lee Gallery, 07970 492858, bo-lee.co.uk. C Cambridge Imprint, 07974 404977, cambridgeimprint.co.uk. Carrier Company, 01328 820699, carriercompany.co.uk. Chaplins, 020 8421 1779, chaplins.co.uk. Chelsea Textiles, 020 7584 5544, chelseatextiles.com. Chesney’s, 020 7627 1410, chesneys.co.uk. Choosing Keeping, 020 7613 3842, choosingkeeping.com. Christopher Farr Cloth, 020 7349 0888, christopherfarrcloth.com. Clock House Furniture, 01620 842870, clockhouse-furniture.co.uk. Cole & Son, 020 7376 4628, cole-and-son.com. Colefax and Fowler, 020 7244 7427, colefax.com. The Conran Shop, 0844 848 4000, conranshop.co.uk. Crucial Trading, 01562 743747, crucial-trading.com. Cubbit Antiques, 07967 954625, cubbitantiques.co.uk. D David…