Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i Period Living

Rich russets, fiery ambers, golden ochres, earthy browns – the broad and dense palette of autumnal colours offers endless and enduring inspiration when it comes to decorating our homes. The spectrum of shades acts as the perfect backdrop for creating warm and welcoming interiors that almost seem to wrap you in a bear hug. Add in soft, luxurious and natural textures, and you have the perfect cocooning haven. Turn to page 22 to explore different ways to introduce these hues to your home, from kitchens to bedrooms. I love the excuse to hibernate that this season brings. After enjoying bracing walks in the countryside, kicking through the carpet of fallen leaves, I’ll happily retreat indoors. Just as we like to wrap ourselves in thick woolly jumpers and socks, so too…

Enjoy classic homes and timeless style in every issue Reasons to subscribe ● Digital access to 86+ issues when you subscribe to print** ● Six Period Living monthly print issues delivered to your door for only £19.46 ● Brilliant value – save on the cover price* SUBSCRIBE NOW! PRINT + DIGITAL ACCESS: £19.46 EVERY 6 MONTHS DIGITAL ONLY ACCESS: £15.56 EVERY 6 MONTHS HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Go to magazinesdirect.com/PEL/DL89C or scan the QR code below TERMS AND CONDITIONS Offer closes 5 November 2025. Price is guaranteed for the first six months. Please allow up to six weeks for the delivery of your first subscription issue (up to eight weeks overseas). The subscription rate includes postage and packaging. *Savings are based on the cover price. Payment is non-refundable after the 14-day…

THE STORY OWNER British-born Paula Dormer lives here with her rescue dog Ella. Paula, who once ran an interior design business in England, now runs the priory and its tower as holiday lets (uniquelyfrench.com). She has two grown-up children PROPERTY A medieval tower attached to a former priory in the small village of Pressigny in Deux-Sèvres, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwest France. The property dates from the 14th century and has two bedrooms. It is set in walled gardens WHAT SHE DID Paula renovated the priory first and fixed the leaking roof, before moving onto the tower. Here, she opened up its original inglenook fireplace, decorated and furnished the interiors, and created its private garden There is something very liberating about making a fresh start – just ask Paula Dormer. When she became…

Standout seating 1 Anchored by wood flooring and moody cabinetry, painted in Paint & Paper Library’s Bronze Green, a carnival-inspired banquette and yellow cupboard interior turn this understated kitchen into something special. The space was created by Apron in collaboration with interior designer Lonika Chande. Feeling the chill 2 Unless integrated, a fridge will always stand out, so why not embrace its dominant presence by opting for a design in an eye-catching hue? Here, a 1950s-style Smeg fridge in pastel pink complements the warmth of the wooden cabinetry, and sings against the cool navy splashback. Get in line 3 Texture plays a key role in the way a colour exists in a space. In this kitchen designed by Naked Kitchens, a red and peach striped splashback is made more striking…

Colour with conscience Little Greene’s signature finish, Absolute Matt, just got a greener upgrade. It still has the same beautiful depth of colour and ultra-low sheen, however, now 40 per cent of every tin is made from fully recycled ingredients thanks to a new high-quality resin. ‘We are on a permanent mission to improve product quality, and always to do it together with improving the sustainability of our offer and reducing our carbon footprint,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director. Absolute Matt emulsion is available in every Little Greene colour. It brings a rich, velvety look to deeper shades and adds a soft, chalky finish to lighter tones. Ceiling and near walls in Olive Colour; far wall in Baluster, both £59 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. WOVEN WONDER Studio HÁM, the home…

Tiling isn’t inherently difficult, but it does require patience, preparation and some simple equipment,’ says Jamie Robb, owner of Marlborough Tiles. The secret, Jamie reveals, is to start small, with something like a splashback. This will let you hone your skills before undertaking a whole wall or room. Purchasing power Buying too few tiles is surprisingly common – skimping on this will not save you money in the long run. Multiplying the height of the area by the width will give you the square meterage – a guideline for the minimum quantity of tiles required. ‘Then, add 10 per cent to allow for wastage and cuts,’ says Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca’Pietra. ‘This will need to be 15 per cent for shaped or large-format tiles, and even higher…

Bountiful basket Transform your foraging basket into an ad-hoc ‘wreath’. Pick branches and cut them to a similar length – aim for around 20cm taller than the basket you want to arrange them in. Gather in a bunch and distribute so they fall pleasingly either side of the handles. Hang on the back of a door for instant foliage flair and trim with ribbon and a charm – here, we used vintage keys. For a similar basket, try Sand and Salt Mini place settings A simple gourd with a cute paper leaf and dried leaf pairing makes for a stylish autumnal place setting idea. Start by cutting an oak leaf shape from decorative paper. Go freehand or make a template from a real leaf. Use a gold pen to carefully…

Plaster casting, an ancient art form with roots in classical antiquity, has long served as both a practical and decorative craft. In its simplest form, it involves creating a mould from an original object – whether a fragment of architectural ornament, a sculpture, or a decorative relief – and producing a replica in plaster. Historically, these reproductions were used to preserve fragile originals, to disseminate great works of art more widely, and to serve as educational tools for artists, architects and scholars. The practice flourished during the Renaissance, when artists and collectors sought to study classical Greek and Roman masterpieces first hand, often through faithful casts taken from stone or marble originals. By the 18th and 19th centuries, plaster casts had become an essential part of European museum and art…

Tell us about your home Originally built in 1820, the cottage is one of a few workers’ cottages located on the edge of the River Ouse in Yorkshire. It is one of the only houses in the village on the river; this, together with the fact that it is a beautiful period property, meant that the cottage ticked all of our boxes. Living in the country offers a special kind of peace; being surrounded by nature creates a sense of comfort far from the rush of everyday life. How would you describe your interior style? A pared-back aesthetic using natural materials and a raw and simple colour palette. We like furniture that has a nostalgic, slightly seventies aesthetic – with warm wood, gentle curves and slim, glazed storage. Throughout the…

CREATIVE SPARK A new homeware collaboration between Cornish-based interior designer Anouska Lancaster of Noushka Design and print designer Carrie Brightley of Wear The Walls embraces bold prints and expressive colours. The Penally House Collection includes wallpaper, fabric, tableware and accessories in joyfully feminine designs. ‘We’ve created something rich, expressive and full of energy,’ says Anouska, whose 19th-century Cornish home and garden provided much of the inspiration for the range. ‘This collection blends storytelling with a love for the beautiful place we both call home,’ adds Carrie. Frilled ruffle cushions in Folklore Garden, £149 each, Noushka Design x Wear The Walls, wearthewalls.com. A story of two halves Upstairs/Downstairs is a new collection of eight wallpapers from Annika Reed Studio, inspired by the classic British two-up, two-down house. ‘We naturally crave grounding…

Inherently, fire has always been about three things – comfort, congregation and cooking. While the concept of gathering around the flames was hardly new, it wasn’t until the Early Middle Ages that the fire moved indoors to become the literal heart of the British domestic home. From medieval to Tudor Typical examples of the medieval central hearth can be found in Wealden hall houses. These timber-framed buildings, found mainly in Kent and Sussex, are characterised by an open hall with a fire in the middle, around which much of life was based – from meals to community gatherings. The best places to see examples today are at the Weald and Downland Living Museum in West Sussex (albeit a reconstruction) and the Old Hall at Tatton Park, Cheshire. However, even the…

SKIRTING AROUND 1. If your bed is in good condition but you simply seek a refresh, valances offer an affordable and effective way to update its look. Traditional valances are compatible with divan and platform beds, while bedstead valances bring the same look to beds with exposed frames. ‘Valances have seen a notable resurgence, thanks in part to the growing popularity of the English cottage aesthetic – a style that embraces charm, character and layered, lived-in comfort. They add a tailored finish, conceal worn frames or under-bed storage and create a nostalgic yet timeless look, where nothing feels too over-styled,’ says Jessica Hanley, founder of Piglet In Bed. Its new linen valance in Rhubarb Kemptown Stripe costs from £109 for a single. FOREST DREAMING 2. Solid wood bed frames have…

One of the first things to consider when taking on an old house is electrical work. This must be done carefully; faulty wiring can be lethal and is a common cause of fires, so installations should be regularly checked and maintained. Many old houses were built before the advent of electricity and were lit by candle or oil light, so they lend themselves to a warmer light that is similar in colour temperature. Maintaining electrics, installing new systems and finding the right solutions can be challenging, so call in the experts when needed. How are electrical installations checked for safety? ‘Always employ a competent electrical contractor to carry out a fixed wiring test and inspection, and produce an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR),’ advises Paul Bryant of Martin Thomas Associates.…

There is an atmosphere of intense concentration in Princetown Press’s studio. Jon Palmer – JP – is typesetting the text for a new art piece and, silently, studiously, selects tiny metal letters from compartments of a wooden tray, then slots them one by one onto a composing stick. As the text grows, with letters back to front and words in reverse, the task demands his full focus. When each line is finished, he carefully transfers it to a special metal frame, which, once complete, he loads onto a press to be inked and printed. Two hours after JP began this design, his 50-word creation is deposited with a gentle clunk from the couple’s vintage printing press. ‘It’s not quite as easy as pressing “print” on a computer,’ jokes JP, who,…

It’s Friday: wash night in the back-to-backs. The old zinc bath is lifted from a nail on the communal yard wall and placed in front of the parlour fire. Pans of cold water are boiled on the black-leaded grate; then Dad (still in his underpants: there’s no privacy in these squashed-together houses) takes the first dip. By the time the last of the children is washed, the water is lukewarm and decidedly grey. Emptying the bath is worse than filling it! Everybody is enlisted to scoop out dirty water to pour down the drain. ‘Being by the fire, you burned your bottom on the side of the bath, then the insurance man came, walked in the house for his money,’ revealed Fred Vears, who lived in the Anderton Street back-to-backs…

TURNING LEAVES For a long time, greens and blues were go-to shades for country kitchens, but in recent years, there’s been a shift towards richer, warmer cabinet colours. Fiery reds, terracotta, brown, peachy tones and earthy yellows are all finding favour as we seek more comforting spaces. In this guest cottage kitchen by Caisley Interiors, founder Lauren Caisley used Shaker-style cabinets in an intense paprika shade, proving that bold, warm tones can work beautifully even in small spaces. ‘We chose a deep red for the cabinetry – which added warmth and richness to the small kitchen space – and softened it with delicate embroidered cafe curtains from Chelsea Textiles.’ Handmade tiles from Marlborough Tiles and aged-brass door fittings enhance the rustic feel, while elsewhere in the room, a walnut apothecary…

THE STORY OWNERS Rachel and Chris Clasper live here. Rachel is a lawyer and Chris works in finance. PROPERTY A five-bedroom Victorian terraced townhouse in south London, with a small enclosed courtyard garden at the rear. Rachel and Chris scoured a wide search area in London, finally making the move from north to south London when they found this property. Built in 1895 and previously owned by an antiques dealer, it still had many of its original features. WHAT THEY DID Replaced rotten windows with heritage wooden, double-glazed sash windows. Turned a bedroom into a bathroom, replaced the kitchen cabinetry, rebuilt a leaking conservatory roof and repainted the whole house inside and out. Upsizing from a small flat to a five-bed townhouse, Rachel and Chris Clasper were excited about starting…

THE STORY OWNERS Sarah and John Yates live here PROPERTY A Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse in Islington, north London. It is set over three floors with a subterranean kitchen-diner WHAT THEY DID The couple had the kitchen tanked to solve damp issues and hired interior designer Emilie Fournet to help create a colourful, welcoming kitchen-diner that honours the heritage of their home A period home should feel warm, welcoming and full of personality. Too often, however, insensitive modernisations – even when done to a good standard – eradicate the sense of heritage that makes these properties special. This was the challenge facing Sarah and John Yates when they purchased their Georgian townhouse. ‘Everything was painted in what Sarah described as “Banker’s Grey”. The whole house just felt very sterile. There…

PICK POCKETS If you don’t have a ready-made snug, building a stud wall – complete with pocket doors – can help you carve out a peaceful corner in your busy home. Pocket doors are a staple of broken-plan design, letting you enjoy the benefits of open-plan living, while retaining the option of creating a private, cosseting nook. Choose between solid doors, for a more cocooning and intimate feel, or glazed designs, ideal where the room lacks natural light or where cosy borders on claustrophobic. ‘Here, glazed doors ensured that the snug felt visually connected to the adjoining open-plan room, even when the doors were shut. The glass panels have the added benefit of reflecting sound waves – reducing noise transmission between rooms – while allowing natural light to transfer into…

BEDSIDE MANNER While softer lighting schemes are often preferred in the bedroom, task lighting is essential for reading. Flexible reading lights, such as the Limber in Antique Brass, £115, Pooky, (shown here) have a minimalist presence but offer focused light that reduces eye-strain without disturbing a sleeping partner or the room’s ambience. Opting for this design not only allows the light to be closer to the bed but also frees up valuable real estate on the bedside table. This leaves space for a decorative table lamp to add even more restful illumination, as seen in this space designed by Johnston Parke Interiors. PRACTICAL CHOICE Despite appearances, pendants are still an option for rooms with limited head height, such as this country pantry. ‘The key is scale and position,’ explains Scarlett…

CHICKEN SCHNITZEL WITH CELERIAC SLAW AND FRIED EGGS SERVES 4 ‘Giant chicken nuggets!’ says Rebecca’s children whenever she makes schnitzels. We like to think they’re a little more sophisticated than that. YOU WILL NEED ● 2 large chicken breasts ● 6 eggs ● Plain flour, for dusting ● 85g panko breadcrumbs ● Vegetable oil ● Salt and freshly ground black pepper ● Lemon wedges and flaky sea salt, to serve FOR THE SLAW ● 250g celeriac, peeled and grated ● 1 small shallot, finely chopped ● 2tbsp capers, drained and roughly chopped● 3tbsp mayonnaise ● 2tsp Dijon mustard ● 1tsp wholegrain mustard ● 1tsp lemon juice ● 1tbsp dill, finely chopped ● 2tbsp flat leaf parsley, finely chopped, plus extra to serve ● Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1.…