Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i Period Living

Many of us strive to be more ecoconscious in our daily lives by minimising wastage and avoiding single plastic use, but when it comes to our homes and interiors, the topic can be very complex. On one hand, living in a period house means preserving a piece of history and reducing the need to build a new home. Older properties were constructed using natural, breathable materials, and relied on local craftsmanship, which makes them inherently more sustainable. Yet, in terms of energy efficiency, they often fall far below the standards required for new builds – which is of particular concern with the current cost of living crisis. In forthcoming issues, we will be looking deeper at ways to improve the performance of older homes while preserving their integrity. This month,…

Bringing luxury, warmth and softness to interiors for centuries, velvet is prized for its silky, tactile texture. The luxurious material actually takes its name from the weaving technique used to create it, in which two fabrics are woven on a loom face-to-face and simultaneously, with their loops then cut through the middle to create a cloth with a soft, dense pile. Boasting a luminous sheen and an ability to carry colour like no other fabric, velvet is wonderful for giving interiors life and opulence. It can be used in all sorts of ways, from curtains to cushions, but its durable tight weave and softness makes it particularly suited to upholstery. ‘I use velvet to create a feeling of warmth, which is particularly needed in our country; it is cosy and…

Victorian homes are renowned for their original features, from elegant cast-iron fireplaces through to intricate stained glass windows. However, one of the most striking are the iconic hallway tiles. ‘Geometric and encaustic tiled floors first appeared in public buildings, churches and grand villas in the Victorian era. Their rise in fashion was assured by their use in prestigious sites like the Victoria and Albert Museum, and by the 1890s they had become an essential feature of ordinary terraced houses,’ explains Andy Triplow from The Vintage Floor Tile Company. With their eye-catching geometric patterns and colourful combinations, this style of hallway flooring continues to be a favourite with homeowners today. Pastel dreams Rich terracotta, delicate creams, deep burgundies and even vibrant blues are the hallmark of the traditional Victorian hallway tile.…

Dampness is customary in properties of all ages in this country, yet despite being commonplace, the problems are frequently misdiagnosed and inappropriate remedial treatments are undertaken that prove both ineffective and harmful to old buildings. It is not inevitable that dampness will be an issue, however, if the right approach is adopted. In order to treat the associated problems successfully, it is important to understand their nature and causes, how to accurately diagnose them and the range of methods suitable for their control in older buildings. Which type of dampness? There are different types of dampness classified by their source. Three common types are: CONDENSATION, where water is released internally from air in contact with colder building components, so it is cooled and able to carry less moisture vapour, as…

Gardens ‘Just Joey’ is one of the largest flowers of the Hybrid Tea roses and has the most beautiful fluted, coppery orange blooms that are intensely fragrant and great for cutting oses are an icon of the English garden; they offer such beauty of colour, shape and fragrance, whether entwining with clematis around an arbour, mixed in a herbaceous border, or sprawling over a fence. You can create vignettes as one-off showy scenes for a summer highlight, or use repeat-flowering blooms or colourful hips to extend the seasonal combinations. Roses are versatile for both formal and informal styles, making them a gorgeous addition to any garden. It’s easy to be beguiled by the vast array on offer, but by doing your research and selecting good quality, disease-resistant varieties that will…

There is an air of infectious energy that surrounds business partners Jane McCall and Jane Howard, the talented team behind design business Bloomsbury Revisited. McCall, an artist with a degree in art history and visual studies, is the creative talent behind this eccentric range of handpainted lampshades and bases, which are inspired by the interior decoration at Charleston in East Sussex, the former country retreat of the Bloomsbury Set of artists, writers and intellectuals, including the painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. Howard, who ran a successful PR agency before selling up 20 years ago to begin a new life farming cattle, sheep and pigs on an East Sussex farm, is the business brains behind the brand. ‘Our children went to school together and when Jane moved back to East…

YOU WILL NEED: ● Clean glass jars ● Dried leaves ● Découpage glue ● Ribbon or raffia ● Water ● Floating tealights When lit from behind, autumn leaves have a translucent quality, revealing their structure and delicacy. This candle jar craft makes the most of their beauty and is perfect for adding to coffee tables or mantelpieces for a seasonal display. 1. Choose your glass jars – those used for artisan jams tend to work well. Ensure jars are clean and dry before use. 2. Select freshly fallen autumn leaves of different sizes, colours and shapes. Ensure they are not too fresh, as they will rot, or too dry, as they will be brittle and crumble. 3. Coat your jar with a layer of découpage glue – Mod Podge glue…

ARTS & CR AFTS DREAM We recently completed an extension to our 19th-century home and are now getting stuck into the challenge of designing our new rooms. While the bathroom and guest bedroom were easy, I was stuck on the perfect colour scheme for our mast er bedroom. That was until I spotted the beautiful Severne damask in the October issue of the magazine. I instantly fell in love with the pretty pattern and the relaxing colour palette. We’re putting it up this weekend and I can’t wait to see it in situ. Sue Dyer STAR ✯ LETTER FEELING BLUE When we moved into our Victorian cottage last year, we wanted to recreate a period bathroom that we had seen online. To do this, we sourced an antique cabinet that…

There were times during the renovation of this handsome Victorian home when Catrin Fenton started to wonder whether she had been over-ambitious: there was a moment while she was waiting months and months for planning permission, and another once the build was underway, when she saw the empty shell of the house, stripped back to its brickwork and exposed from the basement up to the first floor. However, these are just distant memories now the renovation is complete and the family have settled back in. The Fentons had been living in a more compact home just around the corner from this five-storey beauty. ‘Although we hadn’t been actively looking for a new home, with our second child on the way, it made sense to have more space. And I knew…

The majesty of ancient forests has long inspired interior design. Whether the grandeur of an oak tree or enchanting shape of an acanthus leaf, rich, velvety greens offer homes a nurturing connection to nature. ‘Green reassures us on a very primitive level. We know we can find food and water, which means green equals life. Using dark greens in our home, brings in these feelings of reassurance and rest,’ says Karen Haller, colour and design psychology specialist and author of The Little Book of Colour. ‘Surrounding ourselves with too much green or the wrong shade, however, can lead to feelings of stagnation and lethargy.’ There are many varieties of deep green. ‘It can have a warm, yellow undertone or a cool, blue hue,’ explains Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown…

When it comes to designing a sustainable kitchen there are two approaches. Some homeowners favour a kitchen to have an eco-friendly aesthetic, opting for a design orientated around the rustic charm of reclaimed and natural materials. Others prefer the engine room of their home to have a more traditional look but still want to be able to rest safe in the knowledge that their on-trend design is not harming the planet. Whichever approach speaks to you, being mindful of the composition, provenance and efficiency of each element of your project will ensure that your new kitchen is as green as possible. New life, old charm Of all the rooms, the kitchen is the one that typically undergoes the greatest change during a renovation. As such, it presents a great opportunity…

MAGICAL MUSHROOMS Get to know your Common Puffball from a Scarlet Waxcap with this mushroom identifying fine art print, a reproduction of an original painting by Welsh artist Lizzie Spikes. One half of Driftwood Designs, Lizzie produces a range of prints, homeware and stationery, all hand-finished in Aberystwyth. Prices start at £32 for an A5 framed print. BOOKWORM The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 (£12.99, Gaia) is a month-by-month guide to the world, helping you to connect with the seasons in an entirely new way. The sixth instalment from the best-selling author Lia Leendertz, this seasonal guide includes tide tables, moon phases, garden tasks, seasonal recipes and more. It is a wonderful book to take you through the year, and will open your eyes to the unique nature of…

FUN OF THE FAIR On 11 November the Dorset Brocante is returning to the beautiful Larmer Tree Gardens near Salisbury, for a two-day festive event. Taking place inside halls and a marquee, the brocante will host 40 hand-selected exhibitors selling seasonally curated antique, vintage and artisan homeware and gifts. A wide programme of topical talks will also offer inspiration and insight to create a more sustainable home. Of course, no visit is complete without a trip around the gardens, too. Created by General Pitt Rivers in 1880, the pleasure gardens are an extraordinary example of Victorian extravagance and vision. Tickets cost £7.50 at thedorsetbrocante.co.uk. TALKING SHOP Family-run Fern Avenue Antiques & Interiors Centre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne hosts a community of local dealers who scour the UK and beyond for new and…

Cosy large sofa in Titan Wool, £1,499; Oxalisa wallpaper in Celery, £30; Swoon Miller coffee table in Brown, £299; Bobbin pedestal side table in Green, £79; William Morris ‘Cotton Prints’ exhibition poster framed print, £250; Country Rib table lamp, £150; William Morris & John Lewis Strawberry Thief velvet cushion in Teal, £60; Roman blind in Loch Blue, £20 per m COSY COUNTRY With winter just around the corner, it’s time to hunker down, light the fire and create a warm, relaxed, and homely space to retreat to. Modern Country from John Lewis & Partners celebrates simple pleasures, craft and rituals, with colours inspired by the natural world. Accessorise rooms with woollen upholstery, country-style florals and checks, jute rugs, chunky log baskets and coloured glass to enhance the welcoming feel. Accent…

From the moment you step into the stained-glass porch at Brownber Hall you feel at home, with a magical sense that you’ve visited before. That is unlikely, however, because in its heyday, the hall was the centrepiece of a one thousand acre estate that was broken up in the early 1950s. Since then, it has been a care home and later a guesthouse, before Amanda and her husband, Peter Jaques-Walker, took it over in 2016, running it as a luxury holiday house. There are eight bedrooms for guests, with an additional two in the attic. Amanda and Peter live in one of the estate’s farmworker cottages across the field, in the hall’s two acres of grounds. ‘Hospitality was a new area for us. Peter had studied at the Royal College…

Designing a cosy living room is all about creating a place which is comfortable, functional and welcoming. If you’re embarking on a new design, there are lots of ways to create a cosy foundation, from wall colours inspired by nature to sumptuous seating. You don’t have to commit to a complete redesign – just a few well-chosen accessories are enough to transform your room into the perfect spot to hibernate, says Sue Jones, co-founder and creative director of Oka. ‘To achieve a warm, light-filled room, swap linens for heavier fabrics in rich jewel tones. Also don’t hold back when it comes to layering prints and patterns; it will help create a feeling of depth that only adds to that cosiness.’ When creating the ultimate sanctuary it’s important to consider, not…

SINGING THE BLUES Sophie Caulfeild, founder of Feild, creates handmade ceramic tiles using artisan techniques. Her new collection, Cobalt, inspired by the tiled cloisters of Porto Cathedral, has four designs – see Leopard, above, and Wandering Nasturtium, below – each with a playful feel. The patterns stretch beyond the tile so they can be put together to create your own layout. From £18 per tile. (feild.works) CUPBOARD LOVE In a busy family home, the constant cooking and planning calls for cabinetry that makes life easier. This is where the humble larder steps in – with a place for everything, these workhorse units are an enviable addition to any kitchen. Catering to this need, kitchen brand Symphony has added larder cupboards into all of its fitted kitchens. Store crockery, cookware and…

Providing protection from the elements and helping define the look of a house, roofs are covered with a diversity of materials, including clay, stone, slate and metal. When they are properly maintained, roof coverings and the timber structures supporting them will last for generations. Roofing is a skilled job and, while there are many highly competent roofers, it is important to employ a contractor who understands old buildings and the materials involved. How to repair ‘Maintenance is the key with any roof,’ says Dave Rowlands of Heritage Roofing Contractors. ‘Wind and snow tend to dislodge tiles and slates, while failure of the nails and fixings will cause them to drop off,’ he adds. In addition, sometimes, the battens holding the slates or tiles will fail and the straight lines of…

When you think of heritage windows, what do you see? A bright white sash set against cream stonework? Dark painted frames on historic terraces? Or natural shades standing out from whitewashed cottage walls? This vintage-focused design might sound like a dream, but it’s exactly the aesthetic that can be found in The Residence Collection’s Colour Collection. Spanning across their R9, R7 and R 2window designs, the collection categorises its 26 shades into six unique colour themes, helping you choose the right shade for your home. With the Colour Collection continuing to expand, there is more choice than ever. Here, experts at The Residence Collection share the three most popular shades. Sophisticated sage The most popular shade -Sage - matches the Farrow and Ball aesthetic that dominates countryside kitchens, urban renovations…

Surviving some harsh industrial environments, numerous wars and communist regime, industrial lighting has fought its way into the limelight and earned a good reputation as both a reliable light giver and cool interior accessory. With strong links to Brutalist design, pieces produced in the UK and Eastern Europe from the 1900s to the 1940s have gained great popularity, from factory ceiling lights through to machinists’ lamps. Lighting produced in England during these times was exceptional, with the 1930s-founded Dugdills – one of the first manufacturers of industrial lighting – playing a key role. The company produced standalone table and wall lighting; its iconic brass bodies with daisy-like tensioners and dazzling shell brass shades have been copied time and time again. Serving a hive of British industry from the 1920s to…