Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i Homes & Gardens

The February issue has become our style bible for smaller spaces. I always look forward to working on this subject matter because when space is at a premium you often need to be clever and therefore that little bit more creative. Constraints are creativity’s best friend after all. Perhaps being resourceful with a nook or alcove could provide additional storage, while arranging furniture in a smart way can make a room feel deceptively large. Designer Christian Bense, whose project features on the cover and on page 76, wisely suggests playing into the vertical. He says: ‘A small space that only occupies the X axis will feel cramped, so play into the Y too.’ This year I plan to make better use of said Y axis in my own home as…

Room service CC Moulton introduces Room Service, the fabric house’s debut collection of furniture and accessories. Crafted in fine silks, the range blends Hollywood glamour with modern sophistication. It features curvilinear designs and rich details, from pouffes to art deco-inspired headboards. Furniture starts at £910 for the Pomona Poef. Founded by textile designer Gemma Moulton of East London Cloth, CC Moulton celebrates British silk weaving traditions, reimagining them for today’s interiors. EVERLASTING ELEGANCE Willow Crossley’s A Winter’s Tale collection, featuring a collaboration with crepe paper flower artist Krishanthi Armitt, includes anemones, from £56, with crisp white, pale lilac or red-tipped petals, alongside a beautiful cream ranunculus. Crafted with skill and precision, these lifelike blooms are ideal for standalone vases or mixed displays, bringing lasting beauty to any setting. PASSION FOR…

Simply smart For £150 and less, these little additions will bring style in spades Artistic charm Interesting collabs and designs brimming with creativity for £300 and under Modern classics Timeless investments for less than £500…

A ATELIER CHOUX Filling its Paris boutique with enchantingly illustrated cushions, blankets, bedding, wallpapers, wall stickers and prints, Atelier Choux’s pieces depict wondrous worlds. Its elaborate scenes created by Swedish illustrator Mattias Adolfsson are awash with whimsy and fantasy, the building facades, merry-go-rounds and hot-air balloons just asking for stories to be told about them. atelierchoux.com B BLOOMINGVILLE MINI Taking after its full-sized namesake, Bloomingville Mini merges playful colours, patterns and forms with pared-back Danish good looks. Keeping shapes simple and the palette bright, its collection of furniture, rugs, cushions, throws and accessories feels carefree, happy and chic, inspiring a sense of delight without compromising on aesthetics. bloomingville.com BLUE TICKING Mainly focusing on chairs, desks and storage, West Sussex’s Blue Ticking revitalises vintage children’s furniture it finds in antiques markets…

WHEN thinking about sustainable design in a home, you need to focus on the environment and how to impact it as little as possible. We need to take care to balance preserving materials and the character of a property with the need to design a space that works with modern living. ■ Using sustainable and reclaimed materials throughout the construction process really helps to achieve this. Reclaimed materials always need to be considered – especially those from the building already- along with eco-friendly insulation, heating with air pumps and any other energy-efficient upgrades. ■ Start by looking at the age of the building and whether it has been previously refurbished, alongside what you want from a home. If a building is completely untouched, then the preservation of the building should…

High up on the fourth floor of a property built in 1840, Gayle Warwick and her husband, George Lloyd Roberts, found their London sanctuary. ‘The first thing that made us fall in love with the apartment was the light. It runs across three buildings overlooking a garden square and the minute we walked in we felt we were in a tree house,’ Gayle recalls. But the flat had been carved up into many small rooms stunting the light and views so first on the couple’s agenda was a revised floor plan with more open space. Wasting no time getting started, Gayle and George assembled a crack team for the project consisting of Jena Quinn and Lucy Derbyshire, the founders of interior design firm Studio QD, and Gayle’s son-in-law, Toby Osborne,…

We travel on a journey with our clients to find out what they really want from a space,’ explains Angelica Squire, co-founder of Studio Squire, along with her husband Richard. ‘Then we go away and come up with all the ideas that we hope gives them a home that they love forever.’ And this exquisite two-bedroom apartment, located in a Grade-II listed Georgian building in Belgravia, was a property that a couple with adult children had owned for some time. They had never managed to put their own stamp on it, though, and required some direction. ‘It’s a beautiful property,’ says Angelica, who was commissioned to work on the project. ‘The minute you step in, you see those amazing Georgian proportions and beautiful windows. We were really aware of what…

AS WE expand the collection, the snowdrops are planted according to colour and group,’ says Jack Ogg, head gardener at York Gate Garden in the West Yorkshire village of Adel, on the outskirts of Leeds. Snowdrops play a big role in attracting visitors to this historically important Grade II-listed garden, and its February snowdrop days are a great opportunity to see them. Established in the mid 1950s by Sybil and Frederick Spencer, York Gate was laid out in the arts and crafts style. The bones of the garden are most visible in winter, with topiary, conifers and drystone walls defining each area within the one-acre garden. York Gate was originally a small working farm, but along with their son Robin, the Spencers gradually shaped it into the garden we see…

GREEN TO THE CORE Naturally restorative and serene, green has a transformative power that’s moving from cabinetry to worktops. We’ve seen plenty of natural green stone worktops in the past year so it’s no surprise to see an emerald iteration emerge in man-made quartz form. Leading the charge is this Jardin Emerald design, £300sq m, from Cosentino’s new low-silica Le Chic Bohème by Silestone®XM collection. Threaded with golden veins, metallic accents and black and cream colour notes, Jardin Emerald is full-body moulded, which means the pattern runs through its core so any cut-outs and edges will look convincingly natural. EASY CLEANING Enjoy a sparkling oven without getting your hands dirty with Miele’s Automatic HydroClean function. It uses water and detergent to take care of burnt-on food residue, leaving the cavity…

1. INSIDE OUT An outdoor shower recalls the freedom of washing in the open air – even when viewed from the comfort of your warm tub! ‘This home was partially inspired by my honeymoon trip to Bali, where I was struck by how seamlessly indoor and outdoor spaces were woven together,’ explains architect Elizabeth Baird Brown. Since the entire house was focused on bringing the outdoors in, incorporating a courtyard moment into the primary bath space made perfect sense. Elizabeth seized the opportunity to bring in natural light, greenery and also an outdoor shower, which is open to the sky. Avalon 62 bath in Ash, £6,900, Native Trails. For similar terracotta tiles, try Marlborough terracotta, £43.99m2, Artisans of Devizes. Project by Elizabeth Baird Architecture & Design and Liz Macphail Interiors…

OLTENIAN ASH BREAD (PÂINE LA TEST) MAKES A 23CM LOAF 350g strong bread flour7g (1 sachet) fast-action dried yeast8g fine salt225ml lukewarm waterSunflower or olive oil, for greasing 1 tomato (optional) ■ Stir the flour, yeast, salt and water together in a bowl; cover and leave for 15 minutes. ■ On a lightly oiled work surface, knead the dough a few times until smooth, then roll it into a ball and place back in the bowl. Cover and leave for 1 hour. ■ Grease the base and sides of a 23cm non-stick, ovenproof pan with a lid (I use a heavy sauté pan) with oil. Place the dough in the middle and flatten it, pushing gently to cover the base of the pan. Cover with the lid and leave for…

All the latest interiors news, including a textile artist and furniture studio inspired by the natural world, plus smart buys to update every corner of your home No strings Following the success of its wireless table and wall lights, Pooky introduces a versatile rechargeable pendant light, ideal for brightening spaces where traditional wiring is impractical. Delivering 15 hours of light, the pendant features mix-and-match options, including four ceiling rose styles, 10 cord colours and a range of shades – such as this Pumpkin design in clear glass, £78. Colour craft Celebrating 25 years in design, Deirdre Dyson unveils Light Play, a collection of 13 bespoke rugs exploring the interplay of colour and light. From soft lilacs and mauves to bold blue and reds, each design is crafted from pure Tibetan…

Stylish surface We’re rather taken with bespoke furniture specialist Neville Johnson’s latest release, the Lungo, a Scandinavian-inspired wooden slatted design pictured here in its Chatsworth Oak finish. As well as looking lovely, slats serve a practical purpose too; allowing a little air and light to pass through, they are great for keeping your stored belongings dry and aired, ideal for media systems that give off heat, as well as things like shoes and clothing. The vertical emphasis will enhance the feeling of height in your space, particularly when installed floor to ceiling, so it’s a great choice for small rooms. The new design is available in drawers, doors and panelling, and as well as natural oak, it can be finished in a choice of 72 paint colours. Here it’s paired…

COLOUR OF THE MONTH SKY BLUE CHILD’S PLAY ‘Our aim was to create a calm yet colourful children’s bedroom and this blue – Water’s Edge by Benjamin Moore on the bunk beds – strikes the balance perfectly; it brings joy without being overpowering or childish. To add depth, we used a similar tone on the walls.’ Meg McSherry, founder, Meg McSherry Interiors WARM WELCOME ‘For this en suite we chose Farrow & Ball’s Oval Room Blue because it feeds beautifully off the bedroom wallpaper and works well with the yellow tiles. It’s a warm and versatile blue. We recently used it in a sitting room and it was striking without being overpowering.’ Taline Findlater, co-founder, Olivine Design BRIGHT AND BALANCED ‘This blue, Blue Verditer by Papers and Paints, is like…

As design director for Kit Kemp Design Studio and art ambassador for Firmdale Hotels, and having studied architecture at Cambridge and sculpture in Germany, Willow is well versed in finding the perfect pieces. “It’s rare that a piece of art will find you. More often than not you have to go searching for a piece you love. Increasingly our lives are chock-a-block and I for one value the convenience of an art fair. They are a golden opportunity to discover art, with galleries showcasing their most important works by their best artists, all under one roof. Just like an athlete earmarking their major competitions and championships for the year ahead, I like to do the same with art fairs. Planning visits to some small and tasty ones to warm up…

Joy is a US-based designer but her work takes her all over the world. Now running her own studio – Joy Moyler Interiors – she has over 25 years of experience and a degree in architecture. She is celebrated for her use of colour and pattern. “What is the first thing that comes to mind when you walk in a room? What catches your eyes first? How does it smell? Are your senses jarred or are you relaxed? These are the things that define a room, its first impressions and what you walk away feeling. These visceral feelings yield an imprint on your wellness. I knew someone recovering from a traumatic experience who preferred to sit in darkness, for long periods of time, with little light. That would not have…

When you’re in this apartment, it feels like you’re in a cosy cottage - it has such a lovely feeling,’ exclaims interior designer Elizabeth Hay of her most recent project, a duplex in a modern apartment block in Singapore. Elizabeth has worked her magic to transform what was once a soulless new build into a homely haven that showcases her signature style of layers, patterns and colour. Having worked with the clients previously on an apartment in the same block, Elizabeth was naturally the go-to when they bought a larger property. ‘The female client is a big supporter of my work and has always loved the style that I bring. She wanted the apartment to be very cosy with lots of layers and colour, but practical too as they have a…

COME INTO BLOOM Grow your own garnishes for salads and savoury dishes with edible flower seeds from Forest London. Beginners will love Nasturtium ‘Tom Thumb’, with its peppery blooms and daisy-like marigolds (Calendula officinalis), both of which can be sown in pots on a windowsill and then planted outside in late spring. The seeds come in a beautiful embossed box, together with sowing instructions, and cost £4.50 per packet. French chic Based on an original antique French design, this range of elegant, handmade zinc-topped tables with rusted iron bases will suit any garden style. Available from Baileys Home Store in four sizes, choose from a small 120x60cm bistro table (pictured) for £560, up to a 195x80cm dining table for £1,300. Matching chairs are also available from the Herefordshire store. Five…

1. Window dressing Garden designer Isabel Bannerman is renowned for romantic, abundant use of scrambling, rambling, trailing and framing roses designed to adorn freestanding walls, pergolas, obelisks and gateways – and she deploys them in the smallest of humus-rich footprints. Lilac-hued, single-flowering, almost thornless rambler Rosa ‘Veilchenblau’ has grown quickly to bedeck this sash window with a profusion of citrus-scented blooms in June/July. Other choice rambling or climbing roses include: white ‘Rambling Rector’ and ‘Wedding Day’, soft yellow ‘Malvern Hills’ and ‘Teasing Georgia’, and pale pink ‘Mary Delany’ and ‘May Queen’. 2. Dramatic curves Naomi Ferrett-Cohen’s award-winning RHS Chelsea design deploys a raft of techniques to increase the size perception – ‘when designing small spaces I often use curves to soften garden boundaries, drawing the eye away from the space’s…

BUILT-IN BENEFITS To keep kitchen items contained, Hutley & Humm recommends banquette-style storage. When assessing this area for its storage potential, co-founder Melissa Hutley aimed for elegant and not too cluttered. ‘A built-in banquette allowed the table to be positioned closer to the wall, providing better flow in the kitchen,’ she says. ‘We designed drawers under the bench. The glass-fronted unit houses plates and platters, plus inner drawers for cutlery.’ Melissa advises ensuring built-in seating is longer than the table to leave space to slide in. ‘Choose a table light enough to move out for easy access to the banquette’s storage,’ she adds. Built-in banquette by Hutley & Humm, in Folly Green estate eggshell, £78 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Seat in Lost and Found in Green by Kit Kemp,…

LAYERED WARMTH While bathrooms need to be eminently practical, Sarah Peake, founder and creative director of Studio Peake, resists the notion that they must be austere and sterile. ‘I favour warm and characterful design for bathrooms, layering lots of materials, approaching them in the same way as the rest of the house,’ she says. ‘While bathrooms are inevitably full of hard finishes, it is important to find space for fabrics – perhaps on a Roman blind or a lampshade – to soften the atmosphere.’ Sarah enjoys introducing an unexpected dab of colour or detail, such as some hand embroidery on a sheer linen blind, and accentuating interesting architectural features of a bathroom, such as an original fireplace. ‘Lighting also plays a huge part in making a bathroom feel warm,’ she…

PATTERN POWER Known for vibrant prints and vintage-inspired designs, fashion brand Rixo has unveiled its debut homeware collection. Featuring hand-painted patterns inspired by Henri Matisse, the range includes cushions, £75, napkins and tablecloths in two palettes: vibrant primary tones and softer terracotta and cream hues. Designed to mix and match, the collection has a crafted feel, with visible brushstrokes adding uniqueness to each piece. Historic revival Ruth Ribeaucourt, a curator and collector of antique textiles, collaborates with French studio Antoinette Poisson to revive 18th-century interiors. The collection features 10 historic patterns, showcased on these papier mâché lampshades, £134, as well as wallpapers and fabrics. Inspired by antique prints and celebrating the arts of the era, the range is available at craft and design platform The Garnered. Enduring appeal Dana &…

A SIMPLE table made from reclaimed scaffolding boards was Mythology’s accidental debut. Originally intended as a piece for founders Anna Kidel and Sam Pearson’s own home, they ended up selling it on Etsy, and a slew of orders followed. ‘From there, things just grew naturally, and we realised this is what we were meant to do,’ explains Anna. The pair started the brand in 2019 as a side project alongside other work, which Anna credits as a beneficial thing for their fledgling business, allowing them to ‘prioritise our creative development without the financial pressure of Mythology being our sole income’. With the pandemic hitting so soon after the brand was formed, lockdown gave further pause for reflection; ‘By the time our workshop reopened, our approach to design was noticeably more…

RICH IN HISTORY (Opposite page) With wide bands of joyful colour and beautiful pattern, Lewis & Wood’s new Asha Stripe fabric is guaranteed to spark joy. Created from elements of the antique Srinagar textile map in the V&A archives, the fabric is available in three additional colourways and makes a perfect foil to the richly detailed The Map Maxi design. Seat in Asha Stripe in Jaipur Spice, £142.50m; cushion in Ravi Ribbon in Garland, £142.50m; curtain in The Map Maxi, £998.50 a panel, all Lewis & Wood GLOBAL APPEAL Taking inspiration from handcrafted textiles from around the world, this decorative stripe combines block-printed geometric patterns, embroidery and hand-finished fringing – it is the ideal choice for adding uplifting colour, pattern and texture. Seating and cushions in Shimla in Red/Multi, £114m;…

SHAPELY SHELVES Every house is packed with straight edges and right angles, so why not break the mould and create something a little different? This curvy alcove in a child’s bedroom was conceived by interior designer Rachel Chudley, who brings a magical and imaginative eye to her projects. ‘We wanted to create fun and decorative family storage and covered the walls and bookshelves in contrasting colourways of La Menagerie fabric by Schumacher,’ she explains of this bedroom. ‘I love experimenting with interesting combinations, playing with contrasts and bringing in unexpected, original touches.’ BOOK STORE When searching for storage space in small apartments, it’s worth looking at every option. Bookshelves don’t need to be deep; paperbacks require 6.5 inches, while larger books need 14 inches. Here, Chloe Willis, a decorator at…

The idea of ‘going big or going home’ might seem counter-intuitive in space-compromised schemes, but interior designer Christian Bense knows better than most when it comes to creating a sense of generosity and scale within conservative proportions. When reworking this compact city maisonette, he had plenty of tricks in his tool kit, not least because his own London flat is also on the diminutive side. ‘I love apartment living, but I find there are a few rules when it comes to doing it well,’ he says. ‘One is to avoid limiting the use of a room to a single purpose just because it is smaller. The key is to layer up the function instead, otherwise you’ll feel the space is lacking in some way and it won’t seem like a…

Anglesey Abbey This National Trust garden in Cambridgeshire is a joy to visit at any time of the year, but it has a special charm in February, when visitors are treated to over 500 varieties of snowdrop, together with the atmospheric winter garden, famous for its brightly coloured dogwoods and ghostly silver birches. To discover the rarest and most unusual snowdrops, sign up for a guided tour with one of the garden team, who will lead you through the flowers growing in the estate’s private collection. nationaltrust.org.uk Benington Lordship This historic seven-acre garden in Hertfordshire is not to be missed in February when the grounds around the 12th-century Norman keep and moat are carpeted with snowdrops, including many rare varieties. A treasure trove for galanthophiles and others in search of…

“ Cotehele is a medieval estate centred around a largely untouched Tudor property with original tapestries and no electricity. Twenty-eight acres of garden surround the house, as well as our orchard, working farms, including a flour mill, cottages that you can stay in and woodland. We’re on the border of Devon and Cornwall in the Tamar Valley -the river runs adjacent and we still have a traditional sailing barge. There’s a history of commercial horticulture, particularly for cut flowers that were shipped to Covent Garden. I’ve been here for 20 years, but I’ve worked at the National Trust for longer. I thought it would just be for a few years, but Cotehele got under my skin. Four years ago, Antony, where I first trained as an apprentice, came under my…

CONSIDERED CREATIVITY Tom Morris balances practicality with style in a structured approach to kitchen design. As a starting point, he recommends asking yourself lots of questions: ‘Do you sit down to breakfast or just grab a coffee? If so, where does the morning light come in? A table for eight is lovely but is it totally necessary? Why not a small reading chair in the window instead? How much cooking do you really do?’ Plan the essential appliances and look at how the kitchen sits in the house. ‘If it leads off the sitting room, let’s avoid seeing a massive fridge first,’ he says. ‘From the hall, make sure you can see straight out to the garden without all the equipment or an island obstructing the view.’ Only then does…

FIVE years ago, in the middle of winter, I found myself in the Algarve’s ‘Golden Triangle’, because a jazz musician friend had purchased a wreck of a building there and had asked me to help with its renovation. I fell for the nearby town of Loulé, beguiled by its Arabian-style covered market, tree-lined streets and historic medieval centre. ■ My visits always begin with lunch at Pirá Cevicheria, where the ceviche is unforgettable. And in town, a friend of mine owns Bica Velha, a wonderful restaurant where local wine flows freely while his mother cooks traditional dishes in the kitchen. It’s authentic, warm and full of character. ■ I often stay at Vila Monte (top left), near Moncarapacho, which sets the mood for enjoying the area’s laid-back, unspoiled charm. Known…

1. I am an avid fan of the National Trust; I love discovering new properties to visit wherever we travel as a family. Last weekend in the Cotswolds we discovered Chastleton, a 17th-century home frozen in time. 2. Cath Kidston’s new brand C.Atherley is heaven – she makes hand creams and soaps from geraniums grown at her home in Wiltshire. She’s also a wonderfully kind human who has given me great business advice. 3. I love to head to Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton Park Racecourse, at the crack of dawn. Scouring for antique pieces, small or large, is such fun, finished with a bacon sarnie on site! Last trip I bought a few old silver frames and an upholstered stool. 4. When the weeks are busy and the weather…