Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Period Living

Arts and Crafts-inspired prints and patterns are a natural fit for a period home and have experienced a revival in popularity in recent years. At its core, the Arts and Crafts movement was about much more than mere decoration – it was also a reaction against mass manufacturing, and a concern about the loss of traditional, age-old craft skills and decorative arts. Influenced by a medieval aesthetic, its many designs and prints celebrated the beauty of the natural world, and one name synonymous with the movement is that of pioneering designer William Morris. His eponymous firm, Morris & Co, created numerous stylised motifs of flora and fauna that have become iconic in the story of British interiors and feel as relevant today as they did 160 years ago – Acanthus,…

THE STORY OWNER Gretchen Shoring co-runs an art sourcing business, Arti (arti-ones.co.uk), specialising in vintage art. She lives with her teenage daughter and her Bosnian rescue hound, Hope, in London and the Cotswolds PROPERTY This former farmworker’s cottage dates to the 17th century and is one of three cottages that form a small terrace in a south Cotswolds village. It is available as an occasional holiday let (cotswoldsescape.uk) WHAT SHE DID Gretchen has brought the character back to the cottage, transforming a once minimalist interior with decorative charm and vintage buys. She refurbished throughout, installing oak floors in a new kitchen and wallpaper in the bedroom Drifting in through the open back door are the calls of a wood pigeon and the splash of a fountain – the only sounds…

Colour is a powerful tool in interior design and can change the atmosphere of a space, making it feel cosy or airy. ‘The best way to decide on a paint colour is by looking at what aspect the room faces. In south-facing rooms, pretty much anything goes, which is thoroughly liberating. If they are east-facing, you get the natural morning light – this reacts beautifully to soft blues and greens. West-facing rooms have the lovely afternoon and evening sun, so again most colours will work here. Lastly, in northfacing rooms, either use warm-based colours with elements of red or yellow, or embrace the dark and use moody inky tones,’ says Patrick O'Donnell, Farrow & Ball brand ambassador. As well as walls, paint architectural features, floors and ceilings to emphasise unique…

TOTAL STRIPE OUT LEFT Metro tiles offer lots of versatility in laying styles. ‘They can be utilised several ways from vertical or horizontal tiling in stripes by alternating shades to more classic brick bond design,’ explains Rob Whitaker, creative director at Claybrook. ‘Our zellige-style wall tiles take inspiration from the handmade versions found in Morocco, and still have that handcrafted look and colour variation, while also being a little more cost-effective.’ Pictured are its Fellini tiles in the peachy Argilla and Crema shades, £69.60 per square metre. BUILDING UP ABOVE Farmhouses or barn conversions often feature exposed brickwork, which creates a desirable rustic, rural feel. Unfortunately, this is not always possible to achieve authentically, in which case tiling can create the same effect. When laid in a brick-bond formation, these…

Older properties can often experience the presence of wood-boring insects, which include certain beetles, or ‘woodworm’, that live off wood and, in particular conditions, may seriously weaken building timbers. In the UK, such organisms include the furniture beetle, Anobium punctatum, death watch beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum, and species of wood-boring weevil. Damage to wood is caused when the beetle larvae, or grubs, tunnel into the timber, where they pupate and later emerge as adults via flight holes or fissures. Females then lay eggs in crevices to repeat the cycle. Although the presence in buildings of wood-destroying beetles causes concern, in the UK, this can be controlled and does not automatically mean using unpleasant pesticides. Causes of infestation Wood-boring insects – as with timberdecaying fungi – only establish themselves where dampness exists.…

Wisteria in full flower is a wonderful sight as it lavishly drapes over buildings and pergolas, dripping tiny, pea-like flowers that fill the air with a sweet, musky perfume. By the time the last blooms fade, light-green leaflets take centre stage, softly shrouding the gnarled forms of noble plants that have seen one hundred years or more. Prized for many centuries in China and Japan, where, even today, there are wisteria gardens for strolling through long tunnels of flowers, it was not until 1816 that the first wisteria seeds were brought to Europe by Captain Robert Welbank. He had been captivated by the flowering tresses hanging from a pergola above his Chinese host’s dinner table. ‘Within ten years, gardeners saw the first young plants flowering around the UK,’ explains nurseryman…

1. Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/ Gas mark 6. Unroll the pastry, keeping it on the paper. Using a fork, pierce the pastry all over, leaving an edge all the way around the pastry of 2-3cm. This edge is the pastry that will be folded over to create the crust. 2. Cut the radishes into random shapes: halves, wedges, discs and so on. Toss with the oil, garlic, thyme leaves and a good seasoning of salt and pepper. 3. Crumble the ricotta over the pastry, leaving the 2-3cm edge again, and scatter over the radish pieces. Fold in the edges of the pastry. Brush the folded edge of the pastry with the melted butter and bake on a lined baking tray for 25-30 minutes or until golden. 4. Once…

BURST OF BLOSSOM With research showing a significant decline in orchards across the UK, the National Trust has committed to planting four million new blossom trees by 2030. In support of this, homeware brand Sophie Allport’s latest collaborative collection with the Trust celebrates the beauty of apple blossom in this cheerful and mood-enhancing repeat pattern. ‘There is nothing more magical in spring than the colourful blossom season. It is a delight to continue to work alongside and support the charity in its conservation work,’ says Sophie. Available on a range of kitchen and table linens, the Blossom collection is priced from £12 for a pot grab. Walk on the wild side Artist and printmaker Angie Lewin has released her second book with lifestyle and garden writer Christopher Stocks. The Book…

The practice of ‘setting the scene’ is common in interior design. We all understand that thoughtful use of colour and pattern helps build a subtle narrative; this is not a modern phenomenon – in 18th- and 19th-century Europe, a vogue for textiles printed with scenic vignettes became popular as a way to capture stories and add decorative intrigue to homes as well as clothing. The most recognised modern reproductions tend to focus on monotone prints featuring pastoral motifs, often on a plain – usually white or off-white – cloth or toile. Original designs, however, were as likely to depict political or social events, mythological fables, popular literature and even war scenes alongside representations of idealised rural life. The earliest designs were relief printed with handheld wooden blocks; by the 1750s,…

Whether you are battling piles of laundry, damp dogs, or dirty pots and pans, the day-to-day running of a household is far from glamorous. However, while the chores are decidedly unattractive, it doesn’t mean the space where you tackle them must be. A utility room’s beauty comes from a sense of order, where everything has a home and a purpose. Then dress up this backbone of organisation with colour, texture and pattern to create a space where you will be happy to spend time. So whether you have a spacious room or are trying to make the most of little more than a glorified cupboard, these tips and tricks will help you create the perfect utility or laundry room. PATTERN UNDERFOOT RIGHT Utility flooring must be durable, and porcelain is…

Take a seat 1 More relaxed than dining chairs but cosier than bar stools, backing an island with upholstered seating can make a kitchen, bringing a social element and encouraging family mealtimes. The area beneath the seats can be used for storage, too. John Lewis of Hungerford kitchens start at £35,000. Next level 2 If you plan to add island bar stools, allow at least 40cm of legroom underneath. An easy way to achieve this is with an overhang. Here, an elevated oak block creates a visually distinct seating space without the need to extend the entire island. This idea could be retro-fitted to an existing island. Awash with ideas 3 ‘Incorporating a sink – whether this is a prep or a main sink – into your island is incredibly…

Beds and borders are the bedrock of most garden designs – they bring colour and form, whether in a formal, structured look or with looser lines and more of a cottage-garden feel. There is plenty of colour throughout the gardens at Blenheim Palace; although it is not a ‘herbaceous border’ garden, there is lots of colour in the beds, the stonework and the tree collection. In addition, the Secret Garden has many herbaceous plants to enjoy in a mainly woodland setting. That said, we have been planting one of the first herbaceous beds at Blenheim Palace in a very long time – along Churchill’s Walk. You wander through some lovely ribbon planting along the snaking path, passing grasses and tall, swaying plants such as verbenas, anemones and veronicastrum; the aim…

From epic adventures to intimate reflections, books have inspired, educated and entertained for centuries. Moreover, they can add significant decorative value to homes worldwide. Whether they are ancient and rare or contemporary, it is hard to imagine a world without books. Reader provenance The age and content of books aside, the stories behind the people who owned them are inherently intriguing, too. Through ownership inscriptions, presentation inscriptions and bookplates, experience the world in which these books circulated. Peter Harrington, one of the UK’s leading rare book dealers, has dealt with thousands of fine books, from rare 17th-century Shakespeare folios to highly sought-after 20th-century classics, such as signed and inscribed first editions of The Great Gatsby. ‘We have sold books with exemplary associations, such as Newton’s personal copy of his seminal…

Lavender is one of the heroes of the garden, filling the space with its billowing purple blooms. Distil the beauty of this delicate flower with this simple craft, which will bring a decorative floral touch to your kitchen. If you don’t have lavender to hand, you can use any foliage or flowers from your garden to create unique impressions in your clay board. YOU WILL NEED ● Fresh lavender ● Air-dry clay ● Rolling pin ● Ruler  ● Craft knife  ● Cutting mat ● Small round cookie cutter  ● Warm water ● Greaseproof paper  ● A large, heavy book ● Fine paintbrush  ● Watercolours ● Das Vernidas Professional varnish 1. Take a large piece of air-dry clay and place it on a cutting mat. Roll out the clay into a…

STATEMENT SEATING Characterised by their stylised flower and leaf forms, the patterns of artist and designer William Morris (1834-1896) have remained popular for over 150 years and continue to be refreshed and reimagined as tastes evolve. This season, Sofa.com has teamed up with Morris At Home – formed in partnership with the William Morris Gallery – to offer a curated selection of the iconic patterns over some of its upholstery ranges. ‘The velvet finish prints are ideal for upholstery, with the collection presenting a variety of scales to suit all designs,’ says Patricia Gibbons, head of buying at Sofa.com. ‘Small-scale designs, such as Marigold, are ideal for two-seater sofas, preventing a disproportionate appearance. For larger items like a three-seater sofa, the Indigo Pimpernel would make a real statement, but adhere…

There are many options and recipes available for sustainable, homemade cleaning products, and use pretty and practical baskets to keep your supplies in order in a laundry room or utility. Cleaning cloths Always have a cloth on hand to clean any spills before they stain. Wet wipes can take over 100 years to decompose, but this DIY recipe offers the perfect, sustainable alternative with zero waste. YOU WILL NEED ● 500ml jar ● Fabric ● Distilled water ● Castile soap (such as Dr Bronner’s) ● Essential oils 1. Source your fabric. Look for 100 per cent cotton fabric – this could be clean hankies or washcloths or fabric from old t-shirts or dresses. If not already in cloth-sized squares, cut it to size with pinking sheers to stop fraying. 2.…

Old wooden windows display the craftsmanship of their makers and are valuable for the aesthetics of a house. Vibrancy is added by the ripples, bubbles and other imperfections within the original glass that cause it to sparkle in sunlight, bringing the windows alive. Equally important is the timber. Unlike modern fast-grown softwood, the slow-grown softwood of the past is exceptionally durable and acts almost like a hardwood in its resistance to rot – this is why so many old windows have lasted for hundreds of years. What are the main problems with wooden windows in old buildings? ‘Lack of regular maintenance: when paint layers or putty break down, the timber gets exposed to the weather and can rot and decay,’ says Alison de Roeck of Kierson, a company specialising in…

Sometimes, a space calls for a towering houseplant – in these instances, the humble rubber plant offers the perfect solution. Low-maintenance and fast-growing, it can gain 60cm in height annually, surpassing 2 metres in just a few years. However, its not just its height that makes this plant a favourite. Bringing colour and tropical flair, its thick, waxy leaves come in a range of hues, from deep forest green to lighter variegations and vibrant pink hues. ‘Ficus elastica has stood the test of time, remaining popular over decades and never losing its appeal,’ says Emily Lawlor, owner of Happy Houseplants. While you may think its name is a reference to its thick, glossy leaves, the rubber plant’s moniker actually stems from the milky white sap, which, in the 1990s, was…

Inspired by nature but with a whimsical, poetic twist – this is how Bex Partridge explains her craft of weaving the stems of her homegrown and dried flowers into magical installations and creations, including wreaths, everlasting bouquets and ‘garlands of joy’. The half-acre garden of her rural home in Devon, where she lives with her husband Ed and sons Henry, 11, and Arlo, eight, is where she grows many of the flowers for her creations, with more nurtured for use in her everlasting displays in her allotment a couple of miles away. ‘Between the two spaces, I grow a huge portion of what I need to work with. I’ve always loved gardening, even when I was a child and I helped my mum in the garden. It’s been a constant…

Just to the north of Moseley Old Hall runs a motorway, with its incessant rumble of vehicles, while on all other sides, Wolverhampton encroaches – a bustling, 21st-century urban oasis of technology and industry. Approaching this Elizabethan farmhouse, however, is the closest you may ever get to time travel. To reach the property, you take a narrow, twisting lane with high hedges that preclude the view. Then, all of a sudden, as the greenery closes in, the distant past becomes as if yesterday. ‘It still has that sense of a little enclave,’ says Sarah Kay, National Trust cultural heritage curator. ‘Just imagine being in that house, in the middle of the 17th century, in the dark, hearing the sound of horses’ hooves clattering down the lane, not knowing who is…