Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Period Living

This issue celebrates pattern in many forms, reflecting the growing confidence among homeowners to welcome prints into their interiors. We kick off our special focus with a decorating feature highlighting the latest looks in fabrics, wallpapers and tiles (page 22). Stripes, fruit motifs, leafy designs and chequerboard prints are strong themes this season, but we could have filled the pages of the magazine many times over with inspiring new launches or reworked archive ranges from design houses that are responding to the decorative zeitgeist. Our wonderful readers’ homes are equally suffused with pattern, and showcase the owners’ unique, colourful and creative combinations – find geometrics, chevrons, florals, patchwork and linear designs sitting side by side in happy harmony. Becky Rossetto has embraced another emerging trend in her beautiful Victorian house…

‘Fruity prints, especially citrus motifs, bring a vibrant zest to interiors… spaces feel cheerful and welcoming’SAFFRON HARE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, JAMES HARE ‘Chequered prints seem to be undergoing a resurgence. We are seeing a growing appreciation for bolder checks’EMILY MOULD, DIRECTOR OF DESIGN AND EXCELLENCE, THE ROMO GROUP…

Embellishing interiors with decorative wall art has been a constant across global history. The human compulsion to tell stories, capture imaginations and personalise surroundings has resulted in many diverse artworks through the ages. While plain walls have dominated home design for decades, it is not surprising to see a resurgence in the use of murals and scenic wallpapers to inject new narratives into period homes. Ideal canvas The commissioning of notable fresco artists – whether in Ancient Roman or during the Italian Renaissance – was confined to royalty, the church and the most well-to-do nobles of the times. During the Elizabethan period, however, when limewashed walls became commonplace, decorative paintwork began to be more widely used, appearing in middle-ranking homes. A guild of professional fine and decorative artists known as…

Light the way With the warm days of summer on the horizon, outdoor spaces become natural extensions of our home, providing a welcoming retreat for relaxation and social gatherings. Thoughtfully designed outdoor lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing these spaces by illuminating pathways and seating areas and creating a cosy and inviting ambience for an outdoor kitchen, lounge spot or dining area. New from heritage British brand David Hunt is its Solent IP23 outdoor-rated wall light in black and glass. The clean and robust design features a metal alloy construction with a powder-coated finish and the clear glass shade gives it a timeless appeal. Place a pair on either side of a window or hang them beside an exterior door. £168. NATURAL CHARM Crafted from delicate, coloured glass, these…

When Lynn and Les Mann first saw Caynton Cottage, it reminded them of a scene in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty when the brambles slowly engulf the sleeping princess. ‘We literally had to cut our way through to get to the front door,’ recalls Lynn, a decade later. The couple’s daughter, Debora, had spotted the For Sale sign outside the 17th-century thatched property. ‘When we went to view it, the garden was so overgrown that, in an aerial photograph, the cottage was barely visible,’ adds Lynn. Undeterred, the couple bought the house and set to work on the overgrown garden. Its creation is very much a joint effort, even though Les fondly refers to his wife as ‘head gardener’. The first step was to clear the plot, cutting down the front hedge…

Who knew an eyebrow pencil could be an essential tool for a textile artist? Yet that tiny implement adds the finishing touch to the incredibly lifelike, embroidered bees that ‘land’ on the flower-filled wall hangings made by Dawn Cripps in the Welsh Borders. ‘It’s perfect for fluffing up the body of the insect after I attach the organza wings and tiny black beads for eyes,’ she says. The bees, and sometimes ladybirds, are accurate depictions – the colours, the banding, the pollen sac – as are the plants they appear to feed on, which is not surprising from someone who studied Environmental Sciences at university and has a passion for ecology and botany. Dawn’s had an equal passion for needlework since she was a little girl, taught by her grandmother…

The first Ralph Dutton knew about the fire was seeing a column of smoke rising in the near-distance. It was an unpleasant day: 3 April 1960, with a southeast wind working itself up to blowing a gale. Spring, understandably, seemed disinclined to show its face; Ralph could see little colour in the countryside surrounding his estate of Hinton Ampner to relieve the lowering grey shades of the sky. It was one of those Sundays where reading newspapers by a roaring fire held delightful appeal. But Ralph was no slacker. As he wrote in his diary: ‘this I felt would be self-indulgent’. Instead, he’d made for ancient woodland on the estate – rich in native bluebells and wood anemones – to indulge in a little manual labour. (There was plenty to…

INDOOR GARDEN As the days brighten and warm up, breathe new life into your home with fresh prints. Elston Garden from Laura Ashley’s SS25 collection is inspired by the aesthetic of wildflower meadows and features delicate watercolour depictions of harebells and cornflowers. Accent with sage greens and ochre yellows – these warm, earthy tones create a balanced palette that feels both grounded and uplifting. Elston Garden wallpaper, £48 a roll; Hedgerow Green matte emulsion, from £44; Honey Garrat tall storage bench with coat rack, £995; Candy Stripe Newport Blue fabric, from £36m; Kinsham Stripe Ochre Yellow Cambridge chair, from £775, Laura Ashley. ON THE LOOSE Neptune’s popular Eliza sofa, known for its minimalist aesthetic, has been given a relaxed update this season with a loose cover option which drapes gracefully…

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THE STORY OWNERS Becky Rossetto and her husband Steven live here with their three sons: Jake, 16, Luca, 14, and Flynn, nine. Becky is an interior decorator (@whatsthisifound) and Steven is in the building industry PROPERTY A five-bedroom double-fronted red-brick house dating from the 1890s, with two bathrooms and a downstairs cloakroom WHAT THEY DID Becky and Steven renovated throughout, replacing the roof and extending at the back to create an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space. Becky transformed the house with bright colours, patterned textiles and wallcoverings Patience and caution are key when you are tackling a big renovation, says Becky Rossetto. ‘Take your time, do it well and do it once. If you wait longer you will get a better result.’ After 12 months of living in the…

Two related and easily confused plants fall under the name ‘elephant ears’ – alocasia and colocasia. The easiest way to tell the two apart is by looking at the leaves – alocasia leaves face upwards, while colocasia leaves droop down. Colocasia can be grown as a houseplant but is typically grown as an outdoor annual, while alocasia is a popular perennial houseplant. ‘There are lots of different varieties of alocasia, each with their own look and characteristics,’ says Emily Lawlor, owner of Happy Houseplants. ‘Some of our favourites include alocasia ‘Black Velvet’, which has dark green leaves with a velvety texture; alocasia ‘Dragon Scale’, with its large, glossy dark green leaves with yellow veins; and Alocasia sarawakensis, which has foot-long deep ruby and crimson leaves that arch from towering stems.’…

How I got into antiques Ronnie Archer-Morgan, BBC Antiques Roadshow specialist, researcher and consultant, explains how his interest in antiques was piqued by a chance find as a child WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN ANTIQUES? An old Breton clog. In the early 1950s, while living with a foster family, I visited Southport Beach and spotted a lump sticking out of the sand. I dug and found the clog, which I thought was from Holland, but later learned it was from Brittany. The clog stayed with my foster family, whom I visited occasionally, and I always admired it. Over 60 years later, during a book tour, a woman approached me, revealing that it was her grandfather who had fostered me. She gave me the clog, saying she wanted me to have…

COOK’S TIP If I ever have any leftover wine in a bottle, I weigh it and freeze it labelling the container with the amount. It can come in very handy for recipes like this COD, BLACK-EYED BEANS &SWEETCORN SERVES 4 This is inspired by the American side dish of succotash, which is an ode to summer vegetables and usually includes sweetcorn, fresh broad beans and red peppers. Here, I’ve swapped the broad beans for black-eyed beans, although you could always use a mix of the two in early summer when the young broad beans are in season. YOU WILL NEED ● 4 x 120g skinless cod fillets (or another firm white fish like hake or pollock)● 1tbsp olive oil● 100g smoked bacon lardons (or diced pancetta)● 1 onion, finely diced●…

Painter and print designer Sophie Harpley works from her home studio in London. ‘It’s a peaceful loft space which overlooks a cemetery; my view is full of trees, grass and squirrels so I like to imagine I’m in the countryside,’ says Sophie. In her early career, she took a role at the V&A museum, where she felt so inspired by pattern design she chose to do an MA in Graphic Arts, specialising in print. After working for a decade as a freelance illustrator for interiors brands, she now works solely on her own work, painting all her patterns by hand using gouache and watercolour paper to create original wallpapers and linen. ‘My work is quite relaxed, freehand and feminine. A little bit nostalgic and playful, too,’ says Sophie. ‘I see…

THE STORY OWNER Kevin Oliver, who works in financial services PROPERTY A ground-floor flat in a 19th-century brick cottage in Walworth, south London. The property was built as part of a pioneering housing estate by social reformer Octavia Hill WHAT THEY DID Kevin enlisted the help of interior designer Carlos Garcia (carlosgarciainteriors.com) who has decorated the flat throughout with a profusion of colour and pattern. He opened up space under the stairs to incorporate storage, added panelling in the back hallway, and fitted a new bathroom and kitchen Half an hour’s walk south from the National Theatre, the district of Walworth is home to a pioneering housing estate for working-class Londoners built at the end of the 19th century by social reformer and joint founder of the National Trust, Octavia…

THE STORY OWNERS Laura and Marcus Moore live here with their two children and dog, Moneypenny PROPERTY A three-bedroom Victorian terrace in Fulham, London. It was built around 1898 WHAT THEY DID With the help of Marcus’ interior design and project management company BOMA Projects, they removed a wall between the dining room and kitchen and built an extension into the side return. With a new space at their disposal, they designed a symmetrical layout using John Lewis of Hungerford cabinetry and bookmatched marble splashback Luxurious kitchens don’t have to break the bank or demand expansive extensions. Instead take a lesson from Laura and Marcus Moore’s kitchen and let a few, carefully selected high-end materials take centre stage, incorporate some hidden luxuries and channel symmetry throughout the design. Despite its…

SAVE UP TO £30 ‘CALIFORNIAN LILAC’ STANDARD – LOLLIPOP TREE Enjoy the classic look of evergreen-trimmed standard lollipop trees combined with a burst of springtime flowers. Californian lilacs (Ceanothus repens) have been skilfully grown to form a tall standard tree for instant impact. In spring, they produce clusters of lovely fluffy sky-blue flowers for weeks on end. After flowering, their deep-green evergreen foliage provides year-round interest and is easily clipped to shape once a year. Californian lilacs are hardy in all but the severest of winters and look stunning as a pair planted in large pots framing a doorway or garden gate. ● 2 x 3ltr pots, £49.98 (RRP £79.98) SAVE £30 Code: 510200 ● 1 x 3ltr pot, £29.99 (RRP £39.99) SAVE £10 Code: 510199 ‘CALIFORNIAN LILAC’ SHRUB This…

Filled with sociable perennials and self-seeders that pop up at will, a cottage garden’s charm lies in its glorious mix of flower and foliage frequented by birds, butterflies and bees. ‘There’s no such thing as a standard cottage garden “look” because it’s much more to do with how it feels than a formulaic approach,’ says Carol Klein, TV presenter and author of Life in a Cottage Garden and the recent Hortobiography (£10.99, Ebury Press). ‘My garden is a place that makes me feel happy and is where I honour plants, letting them do their own thing – but there is no place for bullies,’ she adds. The decorative cottage garden style pays homage to the past, harking back to the 19th century when homes were small and their gardens even smaller,…

Unapologetically old-fashioned yet surprisingly still relevant, chintz is a cotton fabric known for its glazed finish and floral or geometric patterns. Originating in India, chintz has undergone a fascinating evolution, transitioning from an elite luxury textile to a widely used material in fashion and interior design. Whether used in stately homes or humble country cottages, it has remained a popular choice for interior designers and homemakers. British decorating firm Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, renowned for its classic English country-house style, has been championing chintz since the 1930s. Meanwhile, the modern cottage-core movement has embraced chintz as a key element of its nostalgic aesthetic. Indian innovation Chintz was developed in the 16th and 17th centuries when artisans in India used intricate block-printing and dyeing techniques to create patterns on cotton.…