Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i Period Living

How do you decorate your home so that it is beautiful but also kind to the planet? This is a conversation that has been happening for some time in the interiors world and there is a greater push by many companies towards innovative uses of recycled, sustainable and organic materials, and greener production processes. As homeowners, the single most significant commitment we can make is to buy less and buy well – whether that is items of furniture, bedding, or choices in flooring and fabrics. When we think about cost, it’s important to think about ‘value’ – the best-value items will be well-made from natural, locally sourced materials with a low carbon footprint, and will last for many years. They might be slightly more expensive in the immediate term but…

Despite having their hearts set on buying a Victorian property, when Jayne Preston and her husband, Matt, initially viewed a dated house with a higgledy-piggledy layout, they agreed that such a major project would be a step too far. ‘Even though we walked away, the house in Guildford had definitely left an impression on us,’ says Jayne. ‘About 18 months later, when it was still on the market, we returned again.’ This time, the couple decided that the property’s period charm, location and potential outweighed the prospect of tackling a huge renovation. Jayne and Matt were living with their sons, Austin, Charlie and Oliver, in a modern house in Guildford with a fairly small, north-facing garden. They had both previously owned Victorian homes and had started to get itchy feet.…

When Ans and Marc Ketelaars’ grown-up sons moved out of the family country home, the couple never entertained the idea of downsizing. Moving back into town was always on the cards, however. ‘We missed the hustle and bustle of city life so we decided it was time to move back into the city,’ says Ans. It took Ans and Marc a year to find their perfect home, a pretty townhouse in the city centre of Tilburg, in the Netherlands. The historic property had once been the city’s pharmacy, a barber’s and hairdresser’s before being converted for residential use. A day after completing the purchase, however, they began to realise it needed far more than a trim and restyle. ‘As we looked more closely, we saw just how much had been…

A true gem Paint & Paper Library is kicking off 2025 with the Jewels capsule collection: eight sumptuous new shades inspired by rare and semi-precious minerals. Whether you go bold with a full-room update or add an accent colour, these paints bring an unmistakable wow factor. The line-up includes Atlas, a burnt orange; understated soft pink Rose Cluster (pictured); Cobalto, a vibrant magenta, and Blue Tiger, a chic twist on turquoise. ‘There is rarely anything more beautifully designed than things created by nature,’ says Andy Greenall, head of design. ‘So, for these colours, we delved into some of the lesser-known, and most enigmatic, sources of natural colour that we could discover.’ £60 for 2.5ltr pure flat emulsion, Paint & Paper Library. IMPECCABLE STYLE Redefining window dressing, British textile designer Tori…

Authenticity is key when it comes to windows for a period home. Wherever possible, retain original designs – even if they look beyond repair, experts, such as those at Ventrolla or The Sash Window Workshop, can often restore them back to their original splendour and increase their efficiency. For issues regarding draughts, investigate secondary glazing. ‘Our system has been designed to make the secondary glazing virtually invisible – both internally and externally. Secondary glazing dramatically improves thermal efficiency and prevents draughts, turning older buildings into warmer, more comfortable properties,’ says Mitchell Reece, director at Storm Windows. Where the windows are beyond repair or have been replaced by uPVC, then it is advisable to seek out sensitive replacements that honour the heritage of your home. Matters of material WOOD IS THE…

With each passing year, British gardens are impacted more heavily by extremes of weather, whether it is strong winds felling trees and fences, hotter, drier summers bringing droughts, or warmer and wetter winters that lead to flooding. As a result, gardeners are becoming more aware that they all have a major contribution to make towards sustainability. This is not only in terms of conserving water, but also by using peat-free soil, making composts and mulches, adopting organic gardening practices, and either recycling hard landscaping materials or upcycling salvaged objects for gardenalia. At the very heart of this complex matrix lie the plants, and there is more focus now on resilient types that not only cope with the unpredictability of the seasons, but are also beneficial to wildlife and undemanding both…

Create a glowing display with these rustic-looking candle holders. Group them together on an industrial-style wall shelf surrounded by foraged finds. YOU WILL NEED ● Mini terracotta pots ● Paintbrush ● Acrylic paint – one light shade and one darker ● Small flexible stencil ● Masking tape ● Stencil brush ● PVA glue ● Ribbon or rickrack ● Plasticine ● Heather ● Pillar candle ● Pencil ● Sand 1. Paint the plant pots in the lighter shade of paint. They may need two coats with drying time in between. You can add a small amount of sand to the paint for added texture. Leave the pots overnight to dry fully. 2. Once dry, use masking tape to attach the stencil to the pot. Apply the darker colour paint to the…

Since 1797, Johnstons of Elgin has transformed raw cashmere and merino wool fibres into yarn which it dyes, spins, weaves and finishes into a range of beautiful fabrics, woollen throws and cushions at its family-owned Scottish mills. Working with natural, renewable and biodegradable fibres, it has strived to reduce its environmental impact, and in 2023 achieved B Corp certification in recognition of its steps to achieve more sustainable manufacturing processes. The work continues: ‘We’ve been busy adding solar PV to our sewing facility, further improving measurement and control of water consumption … There is always more to do on a journey to becoming a fully sustainable company,’ says CEO Chris Gaffney.…

Collage artist based in Teignmouth, Devon, Clover Robin works with a mix of found, hand-painted and sometimes screen-printed papers to put together her designs. She uses scissors to snip and create the shapes she needs; she rarely draws anything out, preferring to play with the pieces on a background until she’s happy with the composition. ‘I think my artworks look better when they are a bit wonky and spontaneous,’ she says. ‘There’s a lovely honesty to them. Having trained in composition, colour and design at Leeds College of Art and Central Saint Martins, I naturally apply those skills coupled with something more playful but I’m always evolving and learning.’ All her designs start as an original collage; Clover then works back into the designs with crayons and pencils to create…

Old houses are synonymous with draughts, but they need not be. Blocking gaps where the cold air gets in and the warm air escapes can be relatively easy, inexpensive and will save energy. Heat is lost much faster through air leakage than through areas lacking insulation; even minor draughtproofing measures will help prevent discomfort and save having to turn up the heating. This is because feeling a draught has the effect of making us feel colder than we are. Also, a building’s breathability is not entirely affected by draughtproofing: breathability has to do with the movement of water vapour, not air. What is the best way to draughtproof wooden windows? ‘Casement windows are relatively easy to draughtproof yourself using foam-type tape which compresses when the window is closed,’ explains David…

January marks an important anniversary for Imogen Partridge: it will be a year since she gave up her 12-year career in interior design to focus full-time on her illustration work. ‘I had been building my illustration business alongside my job for an interior design and architecture practice in London for about six years, at first with no intention of it being my sole income, but in the last year or so it became very intentional,’ Imogen explains. ‘I had been worried that relying on it as an income would stop me from enjoying it and take away the peace and calm it brings me. I was wrong, the more I learned about the business side, the more I enjoyed it. Balancing that with the illustration work was wonderful. It felt…

TONE ON TONE For a New Year interior refresh, take a cue from the Bloomsbury Group and adopt an artistic approach to decorating. Mixing shades of hues that are next to each other on the colour wheel – such as blues and greens – on walls and woodwork will drench a room with colour. Try a gloss finish in a bold shade on woodwork and pick it out in your textiles for a cohesive look. ‘A gloss finish adds finesse to architectural details,’ says Helen Shaw, director of marketing at Benjamin Moore. Here, windows are painted in its Courtyard Green, contrasting with walls in Woodlawn Blue and panelling in Buxton Blue for a confident yet relaxed look. Woodwork in Aura interior semi-gloss, £38.50 for 0.94ltr; walls and panelling in Ben…

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Slide away 1 Pocket doors are the perfect choice in a compact kitchen. Disappearing into the wall, they don’t require the same amount of space as a traditional door, which makes more room for storage. The system consists of a steel pocket, which replaces the stud work, plasterboard is then fitted over the top to create a wall. Find pocket door kits at thepocketdoorcompany.co.uk Private panes 2 While we all aspire to have a perfectly organised pantry, it isn’t always the reality – especially in busy family homes. Covering door glazing with window film obscures what’s inside, so everything can stay hidden from view. Purlfrost’s decorative Vegetable pattern offers a whimsical touch, from £12.50 a panel. Touch of pattern 3 Function doesn’t have to be boring. ‘Continue the kitchen finishes…

With instant access to bright lighting, it’s difficult for today’s homeowners to imagine how dim interiors of the past would have become after dusk. Until the mid to late 19th century, firelight, candlelight and oil lamps remained the primary light sources for domestic homes and even these depended, of course, on wealth. Maximising any meagre glow was a pivotal consideration in the development of lighting designs, not only in terms of shapes but in choice of materials. Meanwhile, trends were dictated by advances in technology, travel and cultural influences and, of course, the disturbance and economic impacts of war across the centuries. Fireside flames ‘In early modern homes, the hearth served as a natural gathering place, with candles often used alongside it. Its glow defined seating arrangements, domestic activities and…

Officially known as Pilea peperomioides, this simple yet characterful houseplant has many names including Chinese money plant, Coin plant, UFO plant and Pancake plant – all inspired by its perfectly round leaves. ‘The plant’s round coin-shaped leaves are seen as a symbol of prosperity and are often gifted over the Lunar New Year,’ explains Julian Palphramand, head of plants for British Garden Centres. They are also fairly straightforward to look after. ‘More than anything else, pilea are prone to death by over-watering and insufficient light. Get these two key factors right and they are quick growing, easy-care houseplants,’ says Patch’s plant doctor, Kelly Dyer. Perfect placement Native to southern China, Pilea peperomioides are part of the same plant family as nettles. ‘Pilea thrive when positioned in bright, indirect light; this means…

Meet the collector LIBBY TRAFELET 19TH-CENTURY PRESENTATION MUGS WHAT I COLLECT I’m drawn to 19th-century presentation mugs, known for their various shapes and sizes and beautifully hand-painted gilt inscriptions. Many are adorned with floral designs, bucolic vistas or cheerful phrases. Mostly crafted in the Staffordshire potteries, these mugs were made in abundance yet retain a personal charm. Often unmarked and unsigned, they feature intricate calligraphy and playful details, such as a tiny clay frog hidden inside. They were given as tokens of affection to commemorate important events or relationships, and were gifted as common yet meaningful tokens of affection. WHY I COLLECT Whenever I see an antique presentation mug with stunning gilt calligraphy, I feel an irresistible urge to ‘rescue’ it. As a left-handed person who struggles with handwriting, I…

Marion Sambourne was particular about where she shopped. If she fancied a trip out, she’d sometimes take the newly opened Metropolitan Railway to go into town to Shoolbreds the furniture shop on the Tottenham Court Road, or to The Bazaar, on Baker Street – an intriguingly eclectic emporium selling everything from ironmongery to ‘ladies’ requirements’. She might, on sunnier days, stretch her legs with a short stroll to Kensington High Street. ‘To Barkers,’ reads a diary entry, ‘ordered four pairs of stockings for Roy [her young son] at 2/6d a pair, pair of trousers 4/6d’. Harrods, Marion says, was largely to be avoided: ‘dirty place though cheap’. Then – after an exhausting morning purchasing feathers, gloves and lace – how pleasant it was for Marion to flop at Gunter’s Tea…

DOUBLE-BAKED CHEESE SOUFFLÉ SERVES 4 Soft, pillowy soufflés smothered in a golden, bubbling cheesy sauce, served with a crisp salad? Yes, please! YOU WILL NEED ● 40g butter, plus extra for greasing● 40g plain flour, plus extra for dusting● 250ml full-fat milk● 200g Cheddar, grated● 1tbsp Dijon mustard● 1tsp chopped rosemary● 1 egg● 3 egg whites● 400ml double cream● 1 small bunch of watercress● 1 red or white chicory (endive), chopped● 2 Little Gem lettuces, chopped● Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper FOR THE DRESSING ● 1 egg yolk● 25ml white wine vinegar● 100ml vegetable oil 1. Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Grease four soufflé moulds with butter and dust all over with flour. 2. Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat, then whisk in…