Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2024 i Homes & Gardens

A few months ago I wrote about the frequent urge I have to escape to the countryside, but it must be said that once I’ve had my fresh air fix, the warm glow of the city always lures me back. There’s a certain vibrancy to urban living that you can’t replicate elsewhere – a melting pot of cultures, experiences and creativity. This energy transcends into city interior design projects too. London, in particular, is the epicentre of many interior ideas that later form trends, with designers using their imagination and ingenuity where space is often at a premium. This issue features six London homes by leading designers, each showcasing what modern city living looks like today – from the magnificent living room designed by Philip Vergeylen and Paolo Moschino of…

PASSION FOR PATTERN Add warmth and charm to your home with our selected fabrics and papers, perfect for creating an inviting, folky feel. (From top, left to right) Scout in Forest, £138m, Andrew Martin Cintas Blues, £115m, Zoe Glencross Quercus in Rhubarb, £169 a roll, Studio Humbug Plough in Field Blue and Dawn Grey, £145m, Beki Bright Nomad in Bazaar, £174m, Ellen Merchant Squirrel and Sunflower in Cedar Blue, £84m, Mark Hearld at St Jude’s MAKE A DATE This October, in its 90th anniversary year, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler will hold a selling exhibition of works by artist Lucinda Oakes, daughter of Colefax director George Oakes. George, who spent 30 years at the firm, was responsible for the first off-the-shelf Colefax and Fowler fabrics launched in 1973, including favourites…

I AM a natural collector; I feel the pull towards an amazing piece that I’ve put lots of research into sourcing, but also wander into an antiques shop and see a beautiful jug that I love, or even something like a sheet of battered glass I recently bought that I have leaning against a wall in my summer house. I find pieces, add them in and it changes the direction of the room. ■ The collection doesn’t have to be serious or cost a lot of money. Kettle’s Yard is always talked about because of the way Jim and Helen Ede put found objects, like pebbles or shells, and elevated them to the same status as sculptures and paintings. David Chipperfield had display cases in his home filled with plastic…

AHHH, the excitement designing a project for city living brings! The vibrancy, the electric energy… there’s a certain buzz that comes from the pace of the city. It cannot be missed; it consumes you. That same energy becomes a design layer in your work. When beginning a new project in the city, I am keenly aware there will be certain, shall I call them ‘special issues’ that will be at play. For instance, if the project is in a prime-rated cooperative building there will be a long approval process for construction, as all residents have the opportunity to review the construction drawings and issue feedback. And oh boy, do they love that! Secondly, construction may only occur during a specific number of months. Notably, during the summer when residents are…

STAND TALL Designed by Carlo Zerbaro, Roche Bobois’ Pisa floor lamp, £1,990, will make a striking impact in any outdoor space. Its curved aluminium frame is over two metres tall and covered in a smart lacquer finish, grounded by a glossy steel base. It’s available in five colours – two blues, a yellow, a coral red and a sandy neutral – and it’s fitted with polycarbonate diffuser technology for a soft ambient glow. BOX CLEVER Soho Lighting has recently launched its Garden Solar Lighting Box powered by Enkin technology, priced at £999. The box contains an innovative solar-powered battery system that can simultaneously fuel multiple outdoor lights. The battery system is programmed to last much longer than most solar lighting on the market, which has a relatively short life span.…

RUGGED BEAUTY Take the rough with the smooth by pairing ruggedly grooved surfaces – the deeper the better – with luxury brassware in golden tones. Drummonds’ latest project, in a Mediterranean villa, is worth replicating for a year-round holiday feel. The Bestwood four-hole bath and shower mixer in polished brass (shown), £3,132, shines prettily against the textural travertine backdrop that mimics bamboo grass. Artisans of Devizes’ bespoke stone team assures us they can produce similar, from £400sq m. SMALL WONDER American cookware influencer Our Place is bringing its Wonder Oven to the UK and, just like the brand’s pastel Always Pan, you can expect to see it swamping your social media soon. From air frying to steam infusing, this six-in-one mini oven, £195, will look cute on counters and, in…

1 SCENE STEALER For a wet room bursting with colour and soul, look to mural-style waterproof wallpaper. ‘Waterproof wallpaper is just made for wet rooms, which often lack the opportunity to be creative,’ says Louise Ashdown, head of design, West One Bathrooms. ‘It comes in so many incredible designs that can be scaled for a perfect fit, making it easy to add colour, texture and pattern without having to worry about moisture damage or maintenance.’ Bohème wallpaper, £270sq m inc adhesive and sealant, Eva Germani for Wall&decò, West One Bathrooms. 2 SITTING PRETTY Take the weight off while shaving and exfoliating, or simply relax under the water after a long day, by including a seat in your wet room shower. ‘A shower seat is also a great opportunity to introduce…

PART of my childhood was spent living in Rome, an experience that ignited a life-long love of the city, with its unique blend of history and charm. Being surrounded by so much beauty at an early age no doubt shaped my creative eye, too. I make sure to visit at least twice a year; each time I discover something new. ■ Hotel Locarno is a young and lively place (pictured left and middle), brilliantly located just off Piazza del Popolo, within walking distance of the main sights. It is an early 20th-century building and has an appealing art nouveau style. The rooftop bar is fantastic for breakfast or an aperitivo, overlooking the historic centre of the city. I also like the The Westin Excelsior on Via Veneto (right). It has…

CLOUD CHASE Launching this September with its Autumn Collection, Oka’s Nimbus pendant lamps, available in Seaweed Green or Blue and White, £195, are designed to showcase their eye-catching marble-like glass. These spherical pendants offer a 360-degree view of beautiful tonal colour, perfect for hanging in multiples over a dining table or kitchen island or as a statement piece beside your bed. ARTISTIC FLOURISH For something a little different, Clearwater Interiors has employed the talents of London-based multidisciplinary designer Emily Forgot to launch a limited-edition, hand-painted bath priced at £10,000. The freestanding bath features a geometric, abstract depiction of the four seasons. The colours of deep reds, earthy greens and sky blues envelope the bath, tying in seamlessly with the earthy rawness of the engineered stone. SUSTAINABLE CHOICE Jules Haines of…

‘Flora’s Tale is a deep, dusky pink balanced with earthy tones that give it a timeless quality and a look and feel that could be lifted straight from the pages of a fairy tale. It is an easy way to add cosiness to a room and evokes feelings of comfort and nostalgia. Its floral roots create an inviting atmosphere ideal for hosting and dining in, so the kitchen might be the perfect place to start with this new shade.’ CATHRYN SANDERS, head of creative, Earthborn…

OIL paintings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics. Just the words alone conjure an immediate, familiar picture in the mind’s eye. But mixed media? That’s a less clear question and one that can leave us scratching our heads. The answer is actually quite simple though: mixed media artworks are simply pieces that combine two or more materials or mediums, and so could be almost anything. From a multisensory installation that blends video with sculpture, to a simple work on paper featuring both pencils and watercolour paints – mixed media is the blankest of canvases and the artist’s most unrestrained exercise in expression. Often these works are an example of method following form. Georgia Spray, founder and curator of the Partnership Editions art platform, which features many mixed media artists, comments: ‘It’s common for…

CREATIVE HUB Bland is rarely a source of inspiration for anyone. So believes Sarah Peake, founder of her own interior design studio, who recently redesigned this former Victorian bakery in west London into a new home for her team. Part gallery, part office and part showroom, she worked with a number of craftspeople to commission pieces that now form part of her line of furniture, including the eye-catching chandelier, which was made in collaboration with Pierre-Yves Morel and the table, which was designed together with Porter Studio. ‘I wanted to build a home for us that inspires creativity and better design; and the end result is a celebration of craft and creativity,’ says Sarah. LIGHT AND CALM Perching a study within a sitting room requires careful attention to the layout.…

THE INNER activist within me came to light in a moment of darkness. The Grenfell Tower fire was a cataclysmic moment in history – an avoidable loss of 72 lives, which left a gaping hole at the heart of North Kensington, London. The rippling effect of grief and suffering is a weight that still burdens families, friends and community. Moments following the fire would see me turn to unfamiliar grounds – and here saw the first seeds of change planted as a garden started to grow from the ashes that overshadowed Ladbroke Grove. The Grenfell Garden of Peace would become a guerrilla garden which saw a unity I had rarely seen before. People came together and the garden became a place of safety; a place to learn; a place to…

ARCH APPEAL A well-proportioned arch is the most transformative shape in kitchens right now and has the power to smooth away the hard edges of cabinetry and worktops. Denise Morrison, founder and principal designer, Morrison Interiors, is a firm advocate. ‘The arched cabinet and fluted surfaces in this kitchen evoke a sense of timeless elegance, reminiscent of classical architectural motifs. Inspired by historical craftsmanship, these design elements infuse the space with sophistication and depth,’ she says. ‘To achieve a harmonious balance, it’s essential to embrace simplicity in the surrounding decor, allowing these features to stand out as focal points without overwhelming the overall aesthetic.’ Bespoke kitchen in white oak and marble by Morrison Interiors. John Lewis of Hungerford’s Rise Collection by 2LG Studio, from £35,000, is similar DRAMATIC TWIST If…

PURE INDULGENCE Natalia Miyar gets a luxe scheme by decorating bathrooms like other spaces ‘My preference is to design a space that happens to be a bathroom, with the same layered approach that I would take in any other room in the house,’ says architect and designer Natalia Miyar, renowned for her skill in blending colour and glamour with a tactile mix of materials. ‘Limit cold surfaces, such as stone, and bring in wood flooring, a rug, wallpaper and art to introduce warmth,’ she adds. ‘I’d also welcome a whirlpool bath for relaxing in front of a beautiful view, an indulgent steam shower with aromatherapy, speakers for music or meditation tapes and good lighting that can be adjusted according to mood.’…

1. I never skip breakfast and I love the small everyday ritual of getting out my Feldspar Geranium Red cereal bowl and my Sabre red spoon. 2. I am always a jeans and T-shirt kind of person and my favourite brand of denim is the brand Still Here, which is based in New York. 3. I’m eternally inspired by the Greek islands; we got married on Andros a few years ago and are slowly making it our subconscious mission to go to all of them. 4. I’ve really got into buying art in the last few years, especially from smaller emerging artists; my most recent purchase was a small Joe Gamble painting from Wondering People. I also recently discovered the Sussex-based artist Hugo Winder-Lind. 5. I grew up on a…

CRAFT WORK From The Rug Company comes Collage, a new in-house collection of four designs inspired by abstract artists’ motifs and colours. Hélène, priced at £1,300sq m, features a playful kaleidoscopic border. Each rug is hand-knotted from Tibetan wool and silk by its master craftspeople in Kathmandu, Nepal. The brand must be applauded for its Positive Luxury accreditation, a certification given to brands that meet high sustainability standards, ethical practices and social responsibility. PRETTY PETALS Paper artist Susan Beech, founder of A Petal Unfolds, creates delicate crepe paper flowers. Her latest creation, Standing Tall, Framed Paper Poppies, £2,250, showcases her fascination with nature’s ability to overwhelm and consume. In this piece, she exaggerates the poppy buds, capturing their shape and the sense of them being restrained by the top of…

SUNSET SHADES Embrace quiet luxury with raw plaster walls and exposed beams. Pair with simple furniture shapes upholstered in bold stripes softened by decorative edges, adding linen scatter cushions in complementing shades to complete the look. Daybed in Odina in Russet, £59.50m; curtain in Samora in Tuscan Pink, £69m; cushions in (from left) Linara in Spice, Powder and Serandite, £48m, all Romo INTO THE WOODS Choose an upholstery fabric with vertical stripes to echo the shape of the trees in a woodland patterned wallpaper. Deepening the colour palette in the upholstery adds definition and gives the whimsical scheme a contemporary edge. Tall Trees wallpaper mural in Delft Blue, £450; chairs in Bunty in Indigo, £159m, GP & J Baker x Kit Kemp FLOWER POWER A built-in banquette under a bay…

ANTHROPOLOGIE A Known for its vast selection of knobs, hooks, handles and curtain holdbacks in its signature boho style, 1992-established Anthropologie’s hardware encompasses trend-driven pieces as well as the timeless in a wide mix of materials. There’s metal shaped like flora, fauna, the geometric and the abstract, hand painted or experimentally glazed ceramics, jewel-like glass, shapely timber and much more – along with the minimal. anthropologie.com BEATA HEUMAN London-based interior designer Beata Heuman’s handle collection is composed of cut, bent and lightly antiqued solid brass in jaunty classic-with-a-twist shapes. From spiralling rope and curvaceous bow pull handles to delicate knot, coin and stud shaped knobs, each piece is created for the simple yet unconventional homeware line-up on the company’s 2020-launched Shoppa online retail platform. beataheuman.com BUSTER + PUNCH Buster +…

VEERE Grenney was a teenager poring over the pages of a David Hicks book in his childhood home on South Island, New Zealand, when he first set eyes on one of his future homes – an Italian-inspired, 18th-century Suffolk villa – he made a copy of the page and pinned it to his bedroom wall. Years later, as a backpacker discovering the heady beauty of Morocco for the first time, Veere met a man named Mickey Raymond on the beach – decorator for Colefax and Fowler. Mickey invited him to a party that evening. A night spent mingling with established collectors, curators and designers kindled Veere’s imagination. Back in London, Veere leased a shop to sell furniture from, alongside his job waiting tables. Years later, he had risen through the…

Modernising the classic townhouse has always presented a dilemma. How do you introduce the space, light and flow we now crave without compromising the original details – the panelling and plasterwork, the snug, fire-lit parlours or twisty staircases – that make older homes so appealing to us in the first place? This Victorian terrace in south London is a case in point. Its designer Laura Stephens was commissioned to rejig the floor plan. But instead of blitzing through walls she has retained the 19th-century architecture, adroitly reconfiguring the layout to suit its owners, a couple and their toddler. Fresh colours, textures of jute and seagrass and Downton-esque architectural details add to the effect: bright, comfortable – and ageless. In its last incarnation, the sitting room was at the front leading…

1 POOLED RESOURCES Garden design by James Lee ‘On the site of a former city fire station and set outside the residents’ apartments, this communal courtyard is contoured with Corten steel seating, planters and water features, which sit over and help to disguise the vents of the basement below,’ says James. ‘The design incorporates pockets of space for individuals to sit quietly and for gatherings of larger groups. Sinuous beds planted with birch trees, tree ferns, woodland perennials and grasses, together with mossy strips among the paving stones, elevate the space from concrete to lush jungle. As the garden is surrounded by tall buildings that reduce light levels, the plants selected are suited to shade, and mostly evergreen, to create a calm oasis away from city life.’ 2 TWO-STOREY TALE…

PLAYFUL WARMTH Brandon Schubert blends materials and colours to create cook spaces with wonderful character Expert in blending joyful colour and texture with clean, uncluttered design, Brandon approaches kitchens by first considering the floor plan. ‘Once you have established how the layout will work, then turn to the materials,’ he advises. ‘Practical surfaces are essential in a kitchen.’ He suggests considering each material as a colour, creating a contrast of three, such as walls, floor and cabinetry. ‘White marble worktops on white cabinets won’t feel as energetic as a bold contrast, so bring in dark versus light and introduce some playful elements, such as an interesting colour inside glazed cabinets.’…

GUAJILLO GARLIC PRAWNS SERVES 4 AS A STARTER 200g shelled and deveined raw king prawns2-3 tsp guajillo chilli powder, to taste1 tbsp minced garlic or garlic pastePinch of salt100g good-quality pancetta, diced40g salted butter1 tbsp olive oil2 tbsp chopped parsleySplash of white wine½ tbsp smoked honey ■ Toss the prawns in the chilli powder, garlic and salt, then cover and refrigerate until ready to cook. ■ Add the pancetta to a frying pan and turn up to a low-moderate heat. Fry off quite slowly until the fat has rendered and the pancetta has crisped. Fish out the pancetta and set aside. ■ Turn up the heat under the pan and add the butter and oil, swirling to combine with the pancetta fat until foaming, then add the prawns. After an…