Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2023 i Period Living

FOLLOW US ON Instagram @period_living Twitter @PeriodLivingMag Facebook @periodlivingmagazine Pinterest @periodliving Creating a beautiful and comfortable home that you love, and which reflects your taste and style, takes time and patience. It is worth every effort, however, because it is only when you are surrounded by interiors and items which make you smile that you are able to truly relax and enjoy this most cherished place. Many of us, whether it be due to budget, location or space requirements, have to make compromises on where we call home – I’ve resigned myself to the fact it’s unlikely I’ll ever get to live in the pretty coastal cottage of my dreams – but don’t let the size or architectural style of your property limit your vision for what you can achieve…

COUNTRY CHARM Gather benches and chairs around a table under a tree to create an elegant, country-style setting, and complete the look with a tablecloth and cushions in pastel shades. ‘A tablecloth is a must, as garden tables can look tired,’ says Susie Watson. ‘I don’t go over-the-top with flowers – just a few stems in glass bottles look really pretty.’ Wrought iron garden chairs, £425 each; benches, £795; Summer Green wide stripe tablecloth, from £59; Mika large seat cushions with tassels, £78, all Susie Watson Designs. During the summer months, the garden serves as an additional outdoor room for all sorts of activities, from garden parties, to simply lounging with a good book. No matter the size of your space, there are plenty of ways to make it look…

BUSY BEE Add charm to your front door with a mosaic house number. Bristolbased artist, Rachel Balding, first got a taste for mosaics during a one-day course, and then spent the next 18 years honing her craft and founding Fat Poppy Cat, where she sells her beautiful creations. Some of her most recent pieces are these handcrafted house numbers, which are made using a slate base from her local reclamation yard paired with decorative UV- and frost-resistant glass tiles. All of the designs are made to order with holes in all four corners so you can easily attach them to the wall. Prices start at £110 for a single number to £150 for a triple-figure decorative design, all from fatpoppycat.co.uk. Soft geometrics Taking inspiration from Indian architecture, the new floor…

Hardwearing floor tiles can play an important role in creating an atmosphere that enhances the look and feel of entrance halls and other spaces in historic houses, and they have long been used as a building material. Appearing primarily in high-status homes in the 13th century, the use of floor tiles increased over the next few centuries with greater availability resulting from more efficient manufacturing. Types included plain mosaics and geometric patterned tiles, while quarry tiles – which were square and unglazed – became common from the 18th century. The Gothic Revival of the 19th century saw mass-produced reproductions of medieval encaustic tiles, created using different colours of ceramic clay inlaid into the body of the tile. Victorian geometric tiles were manufactured in a variety of intricate shapes, including squares,…

Plant for pollinators and you will have a garden packed with year-round blooms, filling your world with colour, fragrance and life. By planting nectar-rich flowers in our gardens, we can help a wide range of insects find their energy-rich food. The success of a garden is not just about form, colour and perfume, but the whole plot should pulse with life – from microbes in the soil to a wide range of crawling and flying insects. An important step lies in choosing nectar-rich plants to attract pollinators, including bees, hoverflies, butterflies, moths and beetles. This easy decision fills gardens with a wide range of colourful and fragrant blooms all year round. Helping insects in our gardens ensures balance by keeping pest numbers under control. Increasing the number of pollinators also…

Fun of the fair With Arthur Swallow Fairs’ countrywide, three-day Decorative Home & Salvage Shows embarking on its 12th year, a new event at Cirencester Park, Bathurst Estate – the ancestral home of the 9th Earl Bathurst – will launch from 9 to 11 June. With beautifully styled stands spilling out onto the grass, brocante-style, find antique, salvage and vintage items geared towards the home and garden. The event offers on-site catering, a licensed bar, space to browse and free parking. Dogs on leads welcome. Visit asfairs.com for more information. OLD MEETS NEW Forget Me Not Originals’ fabric covered novels and notebooks – a beautiful fusion of new ideas and old materials – could be just the thing to add a decorative touch to your home or to celebrate a…

BROKEN BEANS CUPBOARD HONEY SERVES 2 One grey Wednesday in June, I made these beans, a quick variation on smoky Boston beans, for a speedy lunch. They have everything you need to restore you as you break the back of the day: sweet and smoky enough for rich comfort; spicy enough to give you some pep in your step for the rest of the afternoon, and quick enough to feel doable when your mind is full of other things. 1. Soften the shallot in the oil in a pan over a low heat – I find having a lid on speeds up the softening and reduces the chance of catching. You want it to soften, not fry. Add the garlic after a few minutes and continue to cook gently for…

Summer switch An easy yet effective way to give your home a quick seasonal refresh is by rotating cushions and fabrics, bringing lighter, brighter and joyful designs out of cupboards, and storing away the cosy throws and woollen textures until autumn. The aesthetic of Scandi-designer Cathy Nordström is brimming with summery vibes, drawing inspiration from the country’s folk culture, art and traditions. ‘By mixing tones, patterns, and textiles from different eras and cultures, your home becomes inviting, timeless, charming, eclectic, and authentic – a true reflection of you,’ she says. Products in the range include cushions, lampshades and fabrics adorned with botanical and geometric motifs, checks and stripes, and wallpapers. Pictured is the Lanka wallpaper in Fresh Ginger, £98 per 10 metre roll; cushions from £123. TOP TABLE Featuring a…

Gathering around a heat source for warmth and cooking is a practice almost as old as time. Since the 18th century, the ‘range’ has served not only as an appliance upon which to prepare food, but also as a focal point for life: drawing to it pets as well as humans seeking comfort; offering a means for drying laundry, and perhaps even heating water in the home. Today, technological advances mean a range need not be in perpetual action. Size choices are broad and the variety of tailored elements is huge – be that water heating, dual fuel, compatibility with renewable energy as well as almost any culinary innovation for the keen cook, from induction hob to teppanyaki griddle. Primitive cooking Cooking in Britain was rather rudimentary well into medieval…

There is an art to choosing the right front door for your home. Not only must you take into account its size, shape and security credentials, but also suitability to the era and look of your property. Visible to all, a front door makes an important first impression, setting expectations for the interior beyond. When seeking inspiration for the design, research doors suitable for the age and architectural style of your home – for example, a door that suits a Victorian cottage will not be the same as a style for a Victorian townhouse. Look to neighbouring properties, too, especially if the original doors are still intact, as this will help to guide you as to which designs and shapes work best. Simple charm The early part of the 20th…

Often beautiful and sometimes intricate, brickwork defines the character of many old houses. Sadly, it is frequently poorly maintained and is vulnerable to damage and abuse, not least through the application of inappropriate paints and other finishes. Just as important as the bricks is the mortar – understanding how it performs and appreciating its colour and texture is vital. How to repair One of the most common problems with brickwork is ‘spalling’. This crumbling of the brick’s face can happen for a number of reasons, including if bricks were poorly fired during manufacture. A more likely cause is the use of an inappropriate cement mortar for repairs. This can prevent the wall from ‘breathing’ in the way originally intended, leading to failure of both the bricks and pointing; it can…

FLOWER SCHOOL Floral designer Philippa Craddock shares her top tips on displaying blooms: • Thoroughly clean vases and refresh the water every few days • When combining lots of bud vases aim for balance not symmetry • Make a table display by pairing bud vases with low votives and taller tapered candles • Work with the seasons and use a mix of flowers and grasses for texture Floral view To enjoy more privacy in a summerhouse or to conceal the clutter in a garden shed, Purlfrost’s new nature-inspired window film is a great way to uplift a garden building. The benefits don’t stop there, either, as the film also reduces the sun’s glare and prevents furnishings fading, while still letting natural light flood in. Water resistant and quick to apply,…

YOU WILL NEED: ● Dried grasses and flower stems – we used mimosa, eucalyptus, bunny tails, delphinium and gypsophila ● Dried flower heads ● Grapevine wreath ● Florist wire For drying flowers ● Fresh flowers ● Single-use microwave dish ● Clear acrylic spray ● Silica gel ● Paintbrush Celebrate the colours of summer with this elegant dried floral wreath that will last for years. Showcase your creation on internal doors or walls for a touch of rustic, natural beauty. MAKING THE WREATH 1. Arrange the stems and flowers in separate groups. 2. Start laying the first group of flowers along the front of the wreath at the base, with stems facing down. 3. Secure in place with florist wire. 4. Continue with the next group of flowers, making sure the…

Looking for a weekend cottage where they could host family gatherings and indulge in a love of gardening, Linda and Robert found their Suffolk home in 2009. Leaving London at the weekends in search of a suitable countryside retreat, they only viewed a dozen properties before finding a place that felt right. Bridge House wasn’t strictly what they were looking for. ‘It was too big, too expensive, and needed far too much work doing to it – we still have the brochure with these comments scrawled across it,’ Linda explains. Despite the practical issues, though, they had fallen in love with the warm and welcoming feel of the house. Its rich history, spaciousness, and the semi-wild outdoor space proved irresistible, so they took a leap of faith and signed on…

COOL HUES Painted panelling offers the perfect balance of contemporary colour and period charm. ‘Panelling in hallways gives a delightfully fresh look and adds buckets of character. Paint walls with a satin finish as the soft sheen will provide the required durability,’ advises Annie Sloan, colour and paint expert. ‘When it comes to shades, blue is a great choice for hallways. It is a “recessive” colour, meaning that it draws the eye outwards and creates a feeling of space. Avoid pale blues, though, as they will make the hallway feel insipid and unwelcoming.’ Panelling in Annie Sloan’s Cambrian Blue, £24.95 for 750ml of Satin paint. Despite being one of the smallest spaces in your house, the hallway plays a vital role. It defines the look and feel of the home’s…

Bringing a rich sense of character and organic texture, a stone floor can harmonise with other elements in your period home and will instantly elevate a room where it’s laid. Along with its aesthetic credentials, stone flooring is also highly durable, and able to withstand high traffic, water and heat, and can even add value to your home. Whether you are seeking flooring for a kitchen or a bedroom, there is a stone option to suit. New beginnings Reclaimed stone is an affordable way to bring heritage underfoot. ‘Historically, maintaining a reclaimed floor was a challenge but modern sealants now offer up to a 15 year guarantee, making even the palest stones suitable for use in the most high-traffic areas,’ explains Jason Cherrington, director at Lapicida. Its genuine antique English…

With their kaleidoscopic colours, playful patterns and rich texture, Siobhan Martin’s beautiful woven homewares certainly have the feel-good factor, but her creations don’t just look good – they are good for the planet, too. Fuelled by a desire to make the textile industry more sustainable, Siobhan uses surplus yarns rescued from British mills for her woven fabrics, plus each product is sewn up and finished with salvaged backing fabric, zips, trims and buttons. ‘My designs have to make me feel good, and if they aren’t sustainable, they don’t make me feel good,’ she explains. ‘I always source deadstock materials that British mills and factories no longer need, such as overstocked yarns left over from previous projects – that way nothing goes to waste.’ From cushions and throws to coasters, Siobhan’s…