Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2024 i Period Living

With the changing of the season, colour starts to slowly fill our gardens as the first flowers and bulbs spring into life. If your plot still looks a little dormant and dull, then fill it with a cheery mix of dwarf bulbs, which will add beautiful splashes of jewel tones into beds and borders – see our feature for inspiration on just some of those to include in your planting plans (page 125). There is also the urge to suffuse interiors with uplifting and joyous tones as the days brighten. The real homes featured in this issue are brimming with inspiring colour combinations, from the classic tonal mixes in Emily and Mark Evans’ Cotswold country house (page 32); the soft pastel hues dotted throughout David Reade’s renovated childhood home (page…

Green is entwined with the permanence and beauty of nature and is a timeless choice for interior decorating that shows no signs of abating. Conjuring to mind the silvery green leaves of the Mediterranean plant, sage green is a soft shade which, just like the myriad tones of the natural world, can lean warm or cool. Peruse the paint cards and you will find no one sage green the same, yet all are undeniably soothing. ‘This shade has a serene and classic feeling, combining effortlessly with an array of colours, from delicate pinks to sunny yellows, to provide countless decorating options,’ says John Smigielski, marketing director at Linwood. With its connection to nature, sage is a classic choice for schemes in country homes, pairing beautifully with honeyed stone and aged…

Overlooking open fields of prime Lincolnshire growing country, Chloe Jonason’s Georgian farmhouse has proven to be the perfect setting to house a bright and beautiful array of unique textiles, and for Chloe and husband Tom to raise their young family. Chloe runs her interior design business from the property, creating bespoke homeware and furnishings from the ethically sourced textiles she finds all over the world. The couple also occasionally rent out the house as a holiday let. ‘We often go away at Christmas and the house is popular then, as it’s got a lovely festive feel,’ she says. ‘Some guests commission me to make pieces similar to those they’ve seen during their stay.’ Originally built in the early 1800s, and extended over the years, this family home does indeed make…

THE STORY OWNER Alexandra Jones, who works in the City of London. This is Alexandra’s first home PROPERTY A two-bedroom mews house in Holland Park WHAT SHE DID Alexandra installed a Kate Feather kitchen as part of a whole house renovation project  Just because a kitchen is small, there is no reason for it to lack character, as this beautiful space, created by Kate Feather Kitchen Design, proves. ‘The brief from the owner, Alexandra, was very simple: to create a cosy yet functional kitchen, incorporating clever ways to maximise storage and conceal essential appliances,’ says Kate. Located in a beautiful mews house in the heart of Notting Hill, the previous kitchen was very compact, with everything running along one wall – a design that resulted in a lot of dead…

Since Roman times, flint has been exploited for use in a wide variety of structures and buildings, ranging from humble dwellings and boundary walls to castles and cathedrals. Walls made using this hard, crystalline silica contribute significantly to the distinctive appearance of many towns and villages in eastern and southern England. When freshly extracted from the chalk in which it is formed, flint is black with a white crust, but weathered flints – from fields, riverbeds, beaches or gravel pits – may vary in colour from blue and grey to yellow, brown and orange. The characteristics of these irregular ‘nodules’ in sedimentary rocks can make for a striking display, especially where flint is mixed with a contrasting material. Use for building For many years flint has been used for thick,…

Andy Mills HEAD GARDENER BLENHEIM PALACE In August 2022, Andy was appointed head gardener at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705. The 90 acres of formal gardens, created over the centuries, reflect a journey through the horticultural styles of the ages. Andy has been carefully researching their history to help formulate plans to transform the gardens and restore myriad features that have been lost over the many decades. blenheimpalace.com Rockeries make a wonderful garden feature, and although they fell out of fashion for a while, are coming back into popularity. Over the years, I have maintained quite a few, including a fabulous one at The Weir Garden in Herefordshire, although I have never built one myself – but that is all about to change…

Miss Haddon’s Little School in Great Yarmouth was pleasant enough, as schools go. Six-year-old Charles Paget Wade would walk there each term-time morning, along the pier, beach, and via the jetty - the lifeblood of the town’s seafaring industry. The jetty was much-admired: John Constable even painted its battered timbers, complete with tilting yachts and great sailing ships tossed on the waves. Yet Charles – who loved nothing better than to lose himself in his own artistic endeavours – was a forensic spectator, too. How was that jetty built to withstand storms? How did the bustling harbour berth those majestically rigged ships with their fascinating loads, or the drifters brimming with salty herring? It was the same enquiring mind that Charles demonstrated at home, in austere Wellesley Road, where he…

A SPRING IN YOUR STEP Whether you are hosting a brunch or a dinner party, plan the perfect Easter gathering with a pretty tablescape. Add natural, seasonal touches to celebrate the start of spring, and team subtle sage greens with posy pinks, offset with gingham and stripe patterns. Dress the table with spring flowers and finish each place setting with a tabletop ‘favour’, such as an egg or after-dinner treat – see our Easter craft ideas on page 135 for decorative ideas. Pictured are the Oaksey checked napkins, £35 for a set of 4; Oaksey checked tablecloth, from £80; Chilford solid wood bench, £650; Nether placemats in Natural, £35 for a set of 4; Ithaca egg cups, £10 for a pair; Eshott cushion covers, from £20, all Garden Trading. HERITAGE…

Historically, flooring options were limited – typically, bricks or stone flags would have been laid on the ground floor, with solid wooden planks on higher storeys. While some houses still follow this pattern, there is now a much wider array of flooring options available. Whether you are considering stone, wood or tiles, first think about the intended purpose of the room and the durability required. Flooring used in hallways or other high traffic areas needs to be able to tolerate heavy use, while that used in a kitchen or bathroom must be suitable for high moisture levels. Of course, aesthetics also play a key role, but remember to think beyond the flooring’s colour and pattern, and factor in how it feels underfoot, too. OLD CHARM Wooden flooring brings an intrinsic…

DUAL SEATING When space is limited, including fitted furniture, such as a window seat, can prove invaluable. ‘Utilising each nook and cranny can free up space you never knew you had,’ explains Rachal Hutcheson, national retail manager at Sharps. ‘Not only does fitted furniture help you to keep a room tidy, but it often adds value to your home if you decide to move on.’ Prices start at £2,000. LARDER LOVE Open shelves offer a lighter alternative to fitted cabinetry, but keeping them tidy is vital. ‘To avoid an overly cluttered look, display everyday essentials. Regularly used crockery and glassware, and glass jars containing your most-used dry ingredients, will keep the space organised while also making it easier to clean,’ says Amy McSorley, product development director at Nkuku. Jars and…

1 2 Balanced beauty 1 Plaster pinks provide a warm neutral backdrop against which contrasting details – such as Devol’s Emerald Green London tiles, £27 each – can shine. ‘Tiling from floor to ceiling and even behind glazed cupboards, will create more impact than just a splashback,’ adds Helen Parker, creative director at Devol. Its Classic English kitchen costs from £30,000. Peachy keen 2 While not eye-catching in their own right, white walls give you total freedom in the colour of the cabinetry. In this space by British Standard, peach cupboards sings against the whites, evoking a sense of summer all year round. Prices from £2,290. Effortless inspiration 3 When used as a feature wall, wallpaper can serve as a base for the kitchen’s palette. Go bold by using some…

We are looking for characterful, beautiful period homes, both large and small, to feature in Period Living magazine – from townhouses to country cottages; conversions to sweet terraces. If you are passionate about your home, have completed a renovation or interior decoration project, and want to share the results with other readers of the magazine, we’d love to see it. Please email photographs and brief details about what work you have done to your home to karen.darlow@futurenet.com Would you like to see your proper ty featured in the pages of Period Living magazine?…

Living up to its Latin name, Monstera deliciosa translates as ‘delicious monster’; delicious due to its fruit, although fruiting is very uncommon when it is grown as a houseplant, and monster for its unusual split leaves and impressive stature. Able to grow up to four metres tall, with leaves that can span 45cm across, a fully-grown monstera is a stunning plant. Its fenestrated leaves – which earned it the nickname ‘Swiss cheese plant’ – have become a beloved motif in their own right, found across everything from décor to clothing. However, nothing beats the real thing. Give it the right climate and care, and you will be rewarded with quick growth and stunning leaves – the jewel in the crown of your houseplant collection. Perfect placement Native to the hot…

EASTER BASKET Transform a plain basket for holding eggs with this simple craft idea combining dried flowers and ribbon 1. Thread a length of florist wire around the front edge of the basket, then tie off the ends. Push the flowers under the wire, hiding the stems. 2. Finish off with a length of ribbon tied under the flowers in a bow. Flowers from a selection at Dowsing & Reynolds; ribbon from The Danes SPRING WREATH Dress a door, wall or window with a grapevine wreath, dried flowers and dainty quail eggs 1. First, prepare the quail eggs by blowing out the contents. To do this, take a needle and make a small hole at the top of the egg, and a slightly larger one at the base. Cover the…

Often used for transporting plants or vegetables, jute or hessian bags have heaps of potential. If you have come into possession of one, then why not transform it into a beautiful cachepot that will add a homespun, country touch to unattractive plastic pots? If you don’t have one on hand, then they are available to purchase online. You can use these pot covers for your houseplants or take them outside, to dress up a patio or terrace. YOU WILL NEED ● Jute or hessian bags ● Thread ● Bodkin (large-eyed needle) ● Narrow ribbon ● Plastic plant pot 1. Place your pot inside a sack and roll over a cuff to the desired depth for the height of your pot. We rolled the folded edge over again to give a…

‘A clay day is a good day’ says Jeanett Stevenson, the creative force behind the selftaught pottery brand, Pippi & Me. Born and raised in Denmark, Jeanett moved to the UK and initially worked as a Neuro Intensive Care nurse while she juggled bringing up her three boys. She fell in love with ceramics after attending a drop-in evening course in her local town of Totnes. ‘I was desperate to do something for me,’ she admits. Introduced to slip casting – where you pour liquid clay into plaster moulds – she loved the simple process so much she was hooked immediately. Determined to create her own dinner set, Jeanett invested in a kiln and began designing moulds and mixing clays and pigments at her kitchen table, refining shapes and shades.…

The oldest and arguably most sustainable fabric, linen is beloved by many for its incredible versatility, and its potential in regenerative agriculture sees a new dawn of reverence Linen is our longest-serving woven textile. Created from the fibres of flax plants – grown from seed and harvested around 100 days later when their blue flowers are in bloom – it has been used for every purpose, modest to majestic; from grain sacks to monogrammed trousseau. The oldest known flax fibres were excavated from a cave in the Caucasus region in 2009 and date back to 34,000 years ago. Today, linen continues to be prized for its drape, handle and robust yet relaxed use in interiors, in the form of curtains, upholstery, bedlinen, kitchen linens and bathroom towels. For the love…

Wet rooms can be the ideal solution for older homes, working with awkward spaces, unusually shaped rooms and unconventional floor plans. ‘The advantage of installing a wet room is the power to choose the shape and size of your shower area, meaning that it doesn’t necessarily have to be tucked into the corner of the room,’ explains Ruth Foster, interior designer for Victoria Plum. ‘Also, with no doors, unsightly shower door seals or shower trays to climb into, access is easy for young and old alike,’ she adds. ‘A wet room can be installed anywhere in the home – it is suitable for installation on both the ground and upper floors, providing that the supporting floor is of concrete or timber construction and is in good condition.’ Even though the…

Acting as a barrier against the elements, a good roof will shed rainwater quickly and efficiently. If it fails, though, moisture will find its way into the fabric of the building below. Left unchecked, this will cause untold damage, which is why maintenance is vital and warning signs – such as water staining to internal surfaces and tile or slate debris on the ground – should never be overlooked. Along with a roof’s practical role, its texture, colour and shape are important in defining the look of a house, so think carefully before making changes. Avoid quick fixes, such as applying spray foam to the underside, as this can trap moisture, is impossible to remove and will leave slates or tiles unfit for reuse. Roofing is a skilled job and…

NATURE’S CONFETTI With the arrival of spring, trees and hedgerows burst into blossom. Capture the delights of these frothy and fleeting blooms, from flowering fruit trees to budding hawthorns, at National Trust proper ties around the country. The orchards of Cotehele in Cornwall’s mild climate are often among the first in the country to bloom; at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire, the famous rosé pink petals of ornamental cherries produce a spectacular display; while Acorn Bank in Cumbria boasts over 175 apple tree varieties – to name but a few. For the Trust’s Festival of Blossom, special themed events throughout spring will celebrate this natural wonder. For more details visit nationaltrust.org.uk…

Chris Williams attributes his ‘inquisitiveness for craft and making things’ down to his ancestor Thomas Jenkins. ‘Born in 1813, he was a locally famous entrepreneur, builder and engineer,’ says Chris. ‘He was an extraordinary man of his time; he built boats, a bridge, violins, erected lighting and brought gas and water to his community in coastal West Wales, and that’s to name just a few of the things he achieved throughout his life,’ he adds. As a child, Chris admits that he didn’t particularly like school, but loved woodwork, metalwork and technical drawing. ‘More often than not, you’d find me in the school’s wood shop. It was filled with huge, solid wooden benches, tools and timber – a complete contrast to the clinical feel of workshops in schools of today,’…

In the ever-evolving world of home and garden décor, galvanised steel items stand out as timeless and versatile pieces, reminiscent of a bygone era. Originally designed for the rustic landscapes of farms, such containers found their purpose in feeding and watering animals, and also notably as baths for families. When it comes to galvanised steel, however, not all containers were created equal. Among the notable producing countries, France, Poland and Hungary led the charge, with the latter emerging as a preferred choice for connoisseurs, boasting steel of superior quality and durability that seems destined to withstand the test of time. All the rage The allure of galvanised steel transcends its agricultural roots, attracting an eclectic array of buyers – from avid gardeners and imaginative garden designers to interior designers and…