Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i Homes & Gardens

Do you look back on the summers of your childhood with rose-tinted glasses? I do – blame the pandemic – and this has influenced the subtle theme of nostalgia running through the issue. We seek it out in our decorating shoot – Classics Reimagined (p42); in The Art of Interior Design (p65), our masterclass by pattern supremo Penny Morrison; and in our edits of the very best bistro-style patio tables and cocktail glasses (from p49) – all chosen with your summer entertaining in mind. Talking of which, in Take it Outside (p119) we set the scene for memorable garden parties with pretty patio furniture ideas. We also investigate kitchen gardening (p126) for those of you looking to grow your own; and show you how to make a rose potpourri (p98)…

Tell us a little about the background of your business. We’ve known each other since we were 16 and always talked about working together. It was in 2016, when we both found ourselves living in Wiltshire, that we finally took the plunge. Kate had already set up Montes & Clark in 2015 with another old friend, Lucy Montes De Oca. Montes & Clark was looking to share a retail space and as Emily was already sourcing and selling ceramics, baskets and glassware from Portugal and Italy where she has family, it was an obvious fit. Since then we have worked closely to expand the business to encompass as many of the crafts we love and continue to champion the small maker as well as co-operative communities. How do you go…

MOST SUCCESSFUL ASPECT OF THE PROJECT We achieved an integration of the landscape and the buildings to create something that feels like it’s been here forever. SECRET ADDRESS Weylandts. Its furniture is of a high quality and is responsibly sourced. The company is always innovating and seeking to inspire. GREATEST PROJECT INDULGENCE Making the external garden rooms, each with their own character, complement the interior spaces and literally bring the garden inside. GO-TO COLOUR Grey is the answer to most questions. FAVOURITE INTERIOR DESIGNERS Dewald Prinsloo and Leonard de Villiers at Ebony/ Curated. They integrate art and bespoke pieces into their simple, practical and incredibly tasteful interiors. LAST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR HOME The dining room pendant lights, replacing the original ones with something more appropriate to the scale…

‘Olive green is a colour I come back to often when putting together a scheme. I have used it in various different fabrics including weaves, velvets and linens on sofas, window treatments and lampshades. Recently I used the shade Hopper by Little Greene on a glazed screen in an en-suite room which overlooks the garden: it helps lead your eyes through to the windows and the treetops beyond.’ SARAH BROWN, founder, Sarah Brown Interiors ‘A gentle shade usually made with yellow ochre, raw and burnt umber, olive is fresh but inviting, especially when compared to greens made with blue. It’s one of the most neutral shades of green there is and, as such, it’s very versatile and can be used in almost every room of the house. It looks great…

Home invasions by animals are a common occurrence for Isabella Rossellini, from bats and raccoons to her own heritage breeds. ‘The sheep have two acres but I sometimes let them graze in the piazza and they like to stampede into the house,’ she says. The ‘piazza’ the model and actress-turned-farmer refers to is the grassy square at the centre of her three-barn dwelling in Bellport, Long Island, which she restored alongside her great friend, the architect Pietro Cicognani. Isabella’s home is among 18 of Pietro’s projects featured in his new book, Pietro Cicognani Architecture and Design. The pair met more than 25 years ago through mutual friends and when Isabella hired him to renovate her dilapidated barn, a beautiful working relationship blossomed. ‘Creatively, we get on very well and both…

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Adding a walk-in dressing area in the main bedroom. YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Calm, considered, bold. SECRET ADDRESSES In London, Pantechnicon on Motcomb Street for its fusion of Nordic and Japanese design; in Paris, Rue Jacob in the 6th arrondissement. NEXT BIG THING Sustainable design and creating more dedicated home offices. FAVOURITE MUSEUMS Musée Rodin in Paris and Dia:Beacon in New York. OBJECT YOU WILL NEVER PART WITH A Picasso print I bought in Amsterdam.…

This arrangement – taking its cue from blooms gracing our gardens now – has the quality of a still life. The composition, which features roses, ranunculus, dried grasses and rosehips, highlights a mix of pink and plum shades, creating depth and warmth, and emphasises the texture of each petal and leaf. It’s by floral designer Frida Kim (@fridakim_london). ‘Inspiration for this display comes from the design of the room,’ she says. ‘It’s important to connect an arrangement with the space.’ Frida loves to combine silk and dried flowers to create a long-lasting display. ‘Silk flowers almost look real and can be kept for up to six months. I love dried flowers, too, and I think the trend for them will continue as they’re sustainable and can be used throughout the…

At over seven acres and bounded by 680 metres of wall, Gordon Castle’s walled garden is one of the largest in the UK. Located near Fochabers in the Spey Valley, a surprisingly mild corner of eastern Scotland, it was built in 1803 as a powerhouse of food and flower production stoked by 40 gardeners. Used for commercial raspberry growing after the Second World War, it had lain dormant for some years by the time Angus and Zara Gordon Lennox took over the Gordon Castle estate in 2008. Determined to bring the walled garden back to life, they enlisted the help of designer Arne Maynard. ‘We chose Arne because he’s a passionate kitchen gardener himself and understood that we didn’t want a “pretty, ornamental” garden but one that was in keeping…

“I LOVE KNOWING THIS IS A SANCTUARY NOT JUST FOR ME, FOR MY MIND AND THE WAY WE ARE AS A FAMILY, BUT AS A SANCTUARY FOR EVERYTHING AROUND US” SANDRA CHOI As creative director of global shoe brand Jimmy Choo, Sandra Choi’s daily job is all about focusing on the intricate, demanding details of creating the A-list’s favourite ‘Choos’. Yet at weekends, when she escapes with her husband Tam, an artist, and daughters Phoenix and Cyan to the family’s property in the countryside, tucked away at the top of a verdant valley with the lights of Bath twinkling at night across the horizon, her garden is an altogether more relaxed affair. Spread over 65 acres of steep, sometimes tricky, terrain, which extends all the way down to a brook…

THE OUTDOOR ROOM Creating a permanent space in the garden is the best way to encourage genuine outdoor living. When designing the zone, take into account the need for protection from sun, as well as inclement weather. This will significantly increase how often you can use it. For this London home interior designer Stephanie Dunning masterminded a pavilion structure with electronic side panels and a louvred roof that opens and closes at the touch of a button. These year-round ‘rooms’ are also perfect for incorporating homely or high-tech touches. This design includes integrated lighting, heating and speakers, while the single rendered wall has an in-built fireplace and stylish storage niches. → SHADE WITH STYLE Enhance a sun-trap spot with a parasol. Look at a palette based around hues found in…

“START OFF ANYTHING THAT GROWS ABOVE GROUND UNDER SUPERVISION. A BABY LETTUCE IS NECTAR TO SLUGS AND AN ATTACK BY CABBAGE WHITES WILL DESTROY A BRASSICA”SARAH MEAD, Yeo Valley Organic Garden HOMEGROWN food tastes so much better. It brings a sense of calm from planting and nurturing the crops, and the satisfaction of picking your own fresh produce. It’s healthier, too, as you can grow organically. ‘Growing your own embodies a lifestyle,’ says horticulturist and garden designer Jamie Innes. ‘It brings together health, sustainability and a desire to feel connected with nature – and takes you away from the general stresses of modern life.’ The trick is to grow small amounts of easy bumper crops such as salads, chilli plants, herbs and peas. ‘Over the years certain varieties have emerged…

CONSIDERED APPROACH Inspired by the early Regency period, Brookmans By Smallbone’s new K3 kitchen features pared-back cabinetry combined with elaborate mouldings. Available in six paint colours, its strength is in its details, like contemporary-shaped handles etched with an intricate diamond pattern for a luxurious look and feel. K3 kitchens start from £25,000, Brookmans By Smallbone. → SMEG’S ALL-IN-ONE HOOD AND INDUCTION HOB COMBINATION, HOBD, HAS HAD AN UPGRADE AND NOW PROVIDES BARELY AUDIBLE EXTRACTION, £2,199. LUXURY TOUCH Elevate your bathroom experience with stylish basin, bath and shower mixers from the Engineer collection by Swadling Brassware. Partly industrial, but mostly luxurious, the range reignites the pleasure of touch, thanks to the distinctive knurl detailing on its controls. Finishes include gold, living brass and aged brass. Engineer Collection Double Control Outlet in…

FRANKE This company makes the traditional ceramic Belfast sinks you expect in a utility as well as designs in stainless steel and composite stone.franke.co.uk MARTIN MOORE STONE You’ll find everything from limestones to encaustics and advice on the best options for every space.martinmoorestone.com MIELE For laundry appliances that offer state-of-the-art performance, functionality and durability, look to this German manufacturer.miele.co.uk CRITTALL Partitions from this manufacturer are great for defining a room without blocking light. They can also be made to suit the architecture.crittall-windows.co.uk…

POWERFUL PATTERNS As a founding member of the Memphis Group, Nathalie Du Pasquier is known for her bold use of colour and clean graphic lines. The artist has collaborated with Mutina on a range of vibrant porcelain tiles, with the 41 different pattern combinations making it ideal for those who like to experiment. Mattonelle Margherita Collection, £159.35sqm, Nathalie Du Pasquier for Mutina at Domus Tiles. BREAK THE MOULD Having discovered a love of ceramics at the start of the pandemic, Henry Holland, former creative director of House of Holland, has created a range of handmade vessels. His work is based on nerikomi, a Japanese technique of folding clay to make organic shapes. Chalice bowl, from £125, Henry Holland Studio. HERO COLLECTION Taking inspiration from nature’s abundance of rich colours, Jane…

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW @sewsaima – a fantastic embroiderer, artist and educator inspired by Indian folk art. @bygloriagonzales – a brilliant interiors Instagram and blog, passionate about craftsmanship. SHOPS IN LONDON Warris Vianni & Co on Golborne Road is full of wonderful Indian textiles; Barnett Lawson Trimmings Ltd on Little Portland Street is a treasure trove of bits and bobs. ARTISTS WE LOVE George Young, who paints in oil on paper and does woodcut prints; Jamie Clark for stained-glass art.…

COVER STAR  This neutral space is brought to life with a fabulously vibrant twist on traditional chintz. NATURALLY CHARMING A tailored table skirt in a stylised botanical chintz will freshen up any entrance hall. A TAKE ON CHINOISERIE This is a gentle interpretation of the design classic characterised by exuberant decoration. OPPOSITES ATTRACT An elegant carver chair upholstered in a horizontal stripe is a perfect foil to the chinoiserie wallpaper. MATERIAL MATTERS Printed on seagrass, this damask design has a beautiful textural and organic quality. TOILE WITH A TWIST The zingy hues in the fabric teamed with the oversized scale and colour of the terrazzo-style flooring creates a thoroughly charismatic pairing.…

‘IN a small space it’s best for things to feel generous. This will need to be tailored to your home, but ideas include a vibrant wallpaper in a bathroom or box rooms with luxurious floor-to-ceiling curtains, or an oversized sofa in a compact living room. Do at least one thing with gusto to make the space feel less mean.’ TOM BARTLETT, interior designer, Waldo Works ‘DUAL-PURPOSE furniture is key. In compact single bedrooms we often design beds that can function as daybeds when they’re not being slept in. In a child’s bedroom we designed recently there wasn’t even space for a bedside table, so we included an alcove and bookshelves behind the headboard to ensure that favourite bedtime storybooks were close at hand.’ SARAH PEAKE, creative director, Studio Peake ‘MAKE…

MOST SUCCESSFUL PART OF THE PROJECT The relationship between the three buildings in forming a ‘village’ with a ‘piazza’– all inspired by a certain way of life and the idea of a farm. SMALL CHANGE/BIG IMPACT Creating a wood column in the main bathroom that contains all the plumbing. Visually, the four fixtures radiate from it, making it an unusual and striking space. GO-TO COLOUR Barn red. FAVOURITE BUILDING Mamma mia… there could not be just one. In each country, region, city, there are favourites – too many to list here. INDULGENCE YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Chocolate. And visiting churches, mosques, temples all over the world, all the time. WORDS TO LIVE BY Learn from others, and from your eyes… remain always curious.…

When Caroline and Olivier Girault de Burlet first set eyes upon their 19th-century farmhouse it was in a ruinous state. Commanding a hilltop location on the border of the Ardèche region, the main building had not been lived in for around 100 years and had served only to shelter the livestock of the local people. The picture you see now tells a very different story, with La Maison Papillons, which it is now called, transformed into a comfortable abode nestled in a Mediterranean woodland garden complete with a newly installed pool. ‘It is what we call a “mas” and was originally for farming purposes,’ says Caroline. ‘When we first bought the property it was uninhabitable, with no windows and a dirt floor.’ There’s a distinct connection between the house and…

THOUGH many of us have a 1980s reference for potpourri, records of it go all the way back to the Middle Ages. The word is French for ‘rotten pot’, and the pots of dried flower petals, herbs and spices were a way to keep odours at bay. This is a modernised version of potpourri. Instead of wood chips, it relies on orris root as a natural fixative to help retain the fragrance. You should be able to find it at a herb shop or you can order it online. Different herbs and spices can be used in potpourri, but we love the visual simplicity of whole flowers and petals. In this case, the focus is on roses and peonies. YOU WILL NEED 10 stems of garden roses 3 stems of…

■ English lavender and its hybrids are hardy, look for Lavandula angustifolia and L. x intermedia. ■ Use dark and light lavenders for variation. One of the darkest is Lavandula angustifolia ‘SuperBlue’; L. angustifolia ‘Arctic White’ is a compact white; L. angustifolia ‘Miss Katherine’ is the darkest hardy pink. ■ Lavender does well on poor, well-drained soil. If yours is heavy, work in grit before planting or plant on a 20-30cm mound or ridge or in a raised bed. ■ Plant in spring about 90cm apart when the soil has warmed up, in full sun. ■ Water regularly in the first summer, but when established, lavender is drought-tolerant. ■ Cut off spent flowers to encourage more to form. However, you can leave them in place towards the end of the…

ORIENTATION The garden faces south with full sun all day. SOIL TYPE Lower down in the valley is light clay; higher up the soil is more sandy. SPECIAL FEATURES A 120-year-old arboretum, created by Canon Parker in the 1890s, when a sizeable pinetum was planted, but also features rare and unusual species of oak, conifers and magnolias (it now covers almost 30 acres), a vegetable garden, wild meadows, orchards and a brook. GARDEN DESIGNER Matt Croucher, previously involved with Yeo Valley’s organic farm near Bristol…

PLAN YOUR GARDEN FOR ENTERTAINING ‘A lot of garden designs fail because they don’t consider humans enough. We need to have a reason to go somewhere – a bench, a glimpsed view or a fire pit,’ says garden designer Matthew Wilson. ‘You can create zones using plants – this doesn’t have to be hedges, it could be swathes of ornamental grasses. Use a mix of hard landscape materials to break up paved areas and give zones their own flavour. Around areas where you sit and eat, cluster fragrant plants, such as lavender, phlox and shrub roses, along with night-scented stocks and evening primrose. And have edible plants, especially herbs, close to the barbecue for the chef to use.’ LIGHT YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE ‘There are four layers of lighting that we…

“IF I COULD GROW ONLY ONE THING IN MY CONTAINER GARDEN IT WOULD BE SALAD LEAVES”AARON BERTELSEN, author of Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots: Planting Advice & Recipes from Great Dixter BEST CROPS TO CHOOSE Leafy herbs, root veg, even fruit trees – you can create a varied, productive container garden, whatever the space or conditions. A couple of pots of cut-and-come again leaves will give you fresh salads for months. Other stars of the kitchen container garden include chard and kale, structural plants such as globe artichokes, and showstoppers like peas and gloriously varied sea kale. MAXIMISING THE SPACE An enclosed area offers great scope for gardening vertically as well as horizontally. Arches and pergolas can support climbing plants, such as beans and even pumpkins, freeing up more…

JOEL FRY, DESIGNER, WEST ONE BATHROOMS How have clients’ bathroom needs evolved over the past year? Top of the list are baths. A change in lifestyle with less of a commute means people have more time to use them. Also there’s a rise in spa-like living. Since we couldn’t enjoy steam rooms, jets and waterfall heads at the gym or spa, clients are bringing these into their own bathrooms. What materials and finishes are popular? Gunmetal and bronze are in very high demand. Coloured brassware by brands such as Vola are popular too, and with the complementary coloured shower enclosures, this can be playful and yet relaxing. What are the biggest considerations when designing a bathroom? Think about who will use the space. People say ‘design me a bathroom’ but…

SAVING GRACES Get your terrazzo hit for less with lookalike porcelain tiles, which are around half the price of traditional terrazzo per square metre and low-key on the maintenance front, too. ‘Traditional terrazzo often has limitations associated with cost and also the thickness of the tiles that can affect their usage,’ explains Louisa Morgan, marketing director, Mandarin Stone. ‘Terrazzo-inspired porcelain tiles are the perfect way to enjoy the visual impact of traditional terrazzo but with all the practicalities of a porcelain tile. Cleverly printed graphics on porcelain create a very durable material, available in minimal thicknesses and with no maintenance.’ FIT FOR PURPOSE Terrazzo comes in many forms, but the main types of authentic terrazzo are cement or resin based. For this bathroom in The Siren Hotel, Detroit, design development…

“NICKY HASLAM IS ONE OF OUR NEIGHBOURS – EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS HE’LL COME OVER FOR SUPPER AND REGALE US WITH A FEW OF HIS DAZZLING STORIES” THE artist and interior designer Luke Edward Hall is known for his bold sense of colour and playful, whimsical work. His unique eye for style has led to commissions and collaborations with clients including fashion brands Burberry, Lanvin and Richard Ginori, with whom he has launched a ceramics range, and projects such as designing the new Hotel Les Deux Gares in Paris. In June 2019, he and his partner, fellow designer Duncan Campbell, rented a second home close to the village of Churchill in Gloucestershire, where they live along with Merlin, their silver fawn whippet. ■ I love it in Gloucestershire. There are…

USING the space we have outside is a smart way to gain more rooms – whether that be building a new structure, refurbishing existing outbuildings with all the mod cons or even buying land adjacent to our homes to develop. With the costs of moving high, the obvious step is to make better use of what we own - adapting it to the functional and fun needs of modern life. So what is – and isn’t – possible when it comes to building in your outdoor space? The biggest hurdle lies in whether or not you’re allowed to extend out, convert or build in the garden. Permitted development is a nuanced – and constantly evolving – aspect so it’s best to check in with the local planning team at the…

Brogan, my wife and co-director of our business, shares my concerns about environmental degradation. However, I sometimes see a look of exhaustion on her face as I impact-assess a new interiors decision, often concluding wood would be best, as we work through our house. She has a latent skill in spacial composition, which keeps our home from being designed by emissions alone, something I’m grateful for. On our kitchen worktop she put her foot down to no resistance – ‘I don’t want wood, there is too much wood in this house’. Challenge accepted. Low-impact materials not made of wood. I find myself looking around like a man left behind on the moon. A commonly held view when doing up our homes is that if a thing is expensive enough its…

Searching far and wide, Paula Disberry, the owner of this South African barn house, describes how she had ‘kissed many frogs’ before finally finding the ideal spot for her project. The opportune plot was discovered not far from a village in a pear orchard with a stream running through it and beautiful mountain views. ‘It just had a presence. There’s nothing man-made for miles and the river makes it even more special,’ she says. Paula, who until recently worked in the grocery retail sector, had a clear vision for a home in which ‘architecture, interiors and landscape design were completely integrated’. She put this to the architect Martin Kruger, adding that it must be ‘a working house’ – made for entertaining, relaxing and appreciating nature. ‘The vision was driven very…

‘I LOVE at-home cocktails to feel as indulgent as they would in a bar and glassware plays a big part in that. With the increasing popularity of open shelving and glass display cupboards in kitchens, I look for design details that elevate pieces beyond the standard; this could be anything from engraved patterns to gilded details and rippled glass.’ LYNDSEY GOODGER, co-founder, Rose & Grey ‘WHEN entertaining during the summer, look for heavy glasses as evening breezes can play havoc with open-air gatherings. I also like to encourage mixing with total freedom: new and vintage, tall and short, transparent and coloured, minimal and maximalist – mix and match always wins!’ DARIO BURATTO, Stories of Italy ‘COLOURFUL glassware has been a popular category with our customers. Bright tones are an easy…

PATTERN & COLOUR I’M a big believer in walking into a room and letting it tell me what it needs in terms of both colour and pattern. When I’m decorating a room I usually bring in a bundle of bits of fabric and then look at them to consider where they could work within the space. ■ It’s important that you balance what colour and pattern hits your eye when you enter a room. Pattern works wonderfully on one or two windows, but if you’ve got a room that’s got a row of three big windows then covering them with pattern will overpower one side of the space. In that case I would rather use the pattern somewhere else, like a sofa, chair or on the bed. ■ You might…

Stepping into the sitting room of this home in London’s Little Venice is rather like entering the hallowed sanctuary of a high-end art gallery. Mesmerising portraits by Canadian fashion photographer Raphael Mazzucco gaze from the walls; tailored, angular pieces of furniture are finely balanced with more organic forms; and two contemporary pendant lights hang like sculptures from the ceiling of the sitting room and the glazed atrium beyond. ‘The owners love art and they wanted that sense of being in a gallery when you walk into the house,’ explains Margot Tsim, who masterminded the interior design of the property. She adds, ‘Every choice we made was important, as each piece of furniture or lighting had to hold its own in the room.’ When Margot was contacted by her clients, who…

BEST GIFT Being lucky enough to live the life we’ve always dreamed of and in such beautiful surroundings. WORDS TO LIVE BY Mother Nature provides for our needs, but not for our greed. Be kind to nature. BIGGEST INDULGENCE The sofa we bought for our sitting room, which is from Caravane. SECRET ADDRESS Restaurant Coubasse. PLACE TO VISIT The Barjac antiques fair. OUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Natural, refined, comfortable.…

HAVING never set out to be shopkeepers, Petersham Nurseries was established by coincidence after the Boglione family moved to Richmond. The plant nursery that was situated behind their house came up for sale, so the family decided to purchase the land to save it from property developers. With no real gardening experience, the nursery evolved organically over time, eventually adding a tearoom, shop and restaurant as well as its newer venture in Covent Garden. This book illustrates the influences that have helped to shape the family as business owners, from Francesco’s travels in Afghanistan and India to Gael’s journey from Australia to Paris and her career as a model. Each chapter is a celebration of a season, from the new beginnings of spring, to the abundant smell of roses in…

Best for drama Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’, a bewitching deep crimson shade. Best for pollinators Borago officinalis ‘Alba’. Bees will flock to this. Best for seedpods Papaver somniferum (Laciniatum Group) ‘Black Swan’ is an easy-to-grow double-headed variety. Best for flower-arranging Echinacea ‘Green Wizard’, a weird and wonderful variety. Best for drying Acroclinium ‘Double Flowered’ – harvest in July and August. Best for height Helianthus ‘Red Sun’ – plant at the back of a border. Best for silvery buds Catananche caerulea (cupid’s dart) – cut back after flowering to encourage more growth. Best for eye-popping colour Coreopsis ‘Sterntaler’ with its sunshine yellow petals.…

Let’s open by delving into your story. Where do you live at the moment and what is your background? I grew up on a farm in New Zealand before travelling and settling in the UK, where I live in Dorset with my husband Ben Pentreath (the architectural and interior designer). Our garden is about an acre in size and features layered dahlia beds, vegetables and a wildflower meadow. We also have a small bothy on the west coast of Scotland where I’ve recently started to plant a garden. What first sparked your interest in gardening? I’ve had no formal training; instead I just picked things up as I went along. Growing up I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, who are plant and garden crazy. It’s almost the best…

VINCENT SHEPPARD A market leader in Lloyd Loom woven furniture, this brand crafts each piece alongside artisans of Indonesia, who weave and bend rattan, vincentsheppard.com BRIDGMAN Established in 1977, this was the first UK firm to supply rattan garden furniture in 2001, and the first to offer waterproof cushions in 2011, bridgman.co.uk BARLOW TYRIE Founded in east London a century ago, this firm is a specialist in teak furniture. The range also includes weave, stainless steel and aluminium pieces, teak.com LEISURE PLAN This Essex company can provide bespoke pieces using its extensive fabric range or the customer’s own materials, as well as offering a cushion refurb service, leisureplan.co.uk…

FRANCHI SEEDS You’ll find an extensive choice of heritage vegetable seeds and edible flowers here. There’s a handy ‘easy to grow’ section on the website with every variety of salad leaf you could possibly want. seedsofitaly.com PENNARD PLANTS This nursery sells one of the largest selections of edible heritage and heirloom plants and seeds, including quinoa. All stock is grown in the UK, much of it in its Victorian walled garden in Somerset. pennardplants.com DT BROWN Vegetable plants are the perfect option if you don’t have the time or space to grow lots of different seeds. They will be delivered at the right time for planting out in your plot and come with handy tips. dtbrownseeds.co.uk…

CORE BENEFITS Our ever-busier lives and the rise in popularity of open-plan living mean it is more important than ever to maintain a sense of calm and order in the home. Separate, well-designed utility rooms are perfect for creating an organised environment; offering a space where laundry can be stored, ironed and aired out of sight and, essentially, kept out of the main kitchen/living areas. SUPPORT SINK Alongside plumbing for laundry appliances, a large Belfast-style sink is invaluable for all the tasks one would prefer not to carry out in the main kitchen. Go as big as you can accommodate to cater for pre-soaking clothes and flower arranging, as well as hiding dirty pots and pans when entertaining! DESIGN FLOW Utility rooms are really receptive to bold decorating styles. Strong…

1 ALL IN THE MIX  ‘A dresser or farmhouse table with scrubbed timber top can be all it takes to prevent kitchens feeling too “fitted”,’ says Merlin Wright, design director, Plain English. ‘The addition of any freestanding piece is an opportunity to add texture and variety as a counterpoint to a kitchen’s fitted cupboards – be they vintage, antique or very crisp and modern; all bring interest and personality.’ Kitchen in Rusty Nail from the Colour Collection No. 1; bespoke kitchens start at £50,000, Plain English. 2 RAISE IT UP Just because an island unit can’t be moved, doesn’t mean it can’t appear freestanding. Elevating the unit on legs allows light to flow underneath, creating an air of portability. Run power supplies for appliances inside or behind the legs to…

GREEK OLIVE & HERB SHAKSHUKA SERVES 4 Olive oil 1 red onion, finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and thinly sliced 1 tsp coriander seeds, bashed 1 tsp paprika 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes 100g Kalamata olives, pitted and halved 1 tbsp dried oregano 1 tsp red wine or cider vinegar 6 organic eggs 75g feta A small bunch of chopped dill, mint or parsley, or a mixture of all three TO SERVE Flatbreads (optional) ■ Heat a little olive oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and cook for 10 minutes, until soft, then add the garlic and cook for another couple of minutes. Add the coriander seeds and toast for a minute. ■ Add the paprika and cook for a few seconds before adding…

HOME to me is a place where my collection of books and music is kept, so in that sense it’s really restful and peaceful. I’m not very materialistic. I don’t buy stuff because it’s in fashion; what I have I’ve collected over the years. MY first memory of home is playing in a weeping willow tree with other children from the same street in Cardiff. Opposite the row of terraced houses there was a patch of green grass and a few trees. That feeling of neighbourhood is what I remember about my early years. And funnily enough, I’ve unconsciously ended up recreating that where we live in London. We share an area of grass and trees with another row of terraced houses. When I realised what I’d done, it tickled…