Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i The English Home

I don’t know about you, but January is not my favourite month. The fun and excess of Christmas have been and gone and summer holidays seem like a distant dream. BUT I won’t be disheartened – I am enjoying log fires, homemade quince vodka, slow-cooked stews, walks with the dog in the countryside and waiting for the garden to start sprouting. It’s also a great time to snuggle down with our January issue and indulge yourself. We have a lovely feature with our take on A Room of One’s Own with relaxing rooms or corners to escape to, tactile fabrics, comfortable furniture with sustainability in mind and a calming view. Talking of quince vodka, and with the party season upon us, we have dedicated several pages to ingenious and stylish…

MARVELLOUS MISTLETOE These handpainted mistletoe table linen prints are the perfect backdrop to decorate a seasonal tablescape with foraged foliage. The crisp white-and-green colourway is also ideal to inspire a fresher colour palette for a New Year’s Eve dinner party. Mistletoe linen tablecloth, £125; Mistletoe linen napkin, £18, By Hope CHRISTMAS POST The most magical post of all, a letter from Father Christmas with a handwritten calligraphy envelope, will be a keepsake forever. Adults and children can read festive secrets together – from Pippin the elf’s adventures to behind-the-scenes preparations at the North Pole. To keep hearts believing, the address and letter can also be personalised. Make sure to order by Friday 5th December for pre-Christmas delivery. Personalised letter from Father Christmas, personal message can be added as a PS,…

HAPPY NEW YEAR Ring in 2026 with a stylish party at home with close friends and family. Make hosting a celebratory soirée a breeze by setting out tables with canapés and drinks stations so guests can help themselves, whether it is champagne from an ice bath, some curated spirits to make a favourite cocktail, or bottles of homemade liquers for a delicious tipple – and some soft or mocktail alternatives, too. A subtle change from festive to glamorous decorations will make it a sparkling event. Either add more gold or go for a silver and white look, using mirrors to enhance the effect, and add more candles, more twinkling lights and more crystal for a glittering display.…

Who do you live with and where? I live in North London with my partner, Måns, who is a filmmaker, and our three-year-old daughter. Whenever we have the time, we escape to a little cabin on the west coast of Sweden, where Måns is from. I find the balance of city life and sea air helps me to maintain my sanity. What kind of English home do you have? I have a little railway worker’s cottage on a terraced street between Kilburn and Notting Hill. It has a tiny courtyard garden and a strip of soil at the front of the property, which is just enough to grow some herbs and lavender. How long have you lived there and what kind of work have you done to the house? I…

It can be easy to focus on practicality in ancillary rooms, but Cath Beckett, co-founder of design studio Yellow London, considers atmosphere just as important: ‘We believe the perfect “engine room” should feel as calm and considered as any main living space.’ She takes different approach for each type of ancillary room: ‘In a boot room, we find that durable finishes and well-planned storage create order and ease, while a utility benefits from a simple layout with appliances neatly concealed. Pantries work best when cool, organised and easy to navigate, and wine cellars come to life through soft lighting and beautiful displays. When those details come together, the space is both practical and stylish without compromising on functionality.’ 1 The perfect multi-purpose utility Make the most of a combined utility…

SPOTLIGHT ON… Skye McAlpine x Fortnum & Mason Royal grocer Fortnum & Mason has collaborated with food writer Skye McAlpine on a new limited-edition hamper containing indulgent festive delicacies and a signed copy of Skye’s new book, The Christmas Companion. ‘I’ve always loved Fortnum & Mason at Christmas,’ she says, ‘and have very happy memories of coming to the top floor to order our hamper at Christmas with my mother each year. ‘It’s a dream come true to collaborate on this hamper that celebrates what I love most about Christmas – bringing the people that you love together for a meal that feels, looks and tastes magical.’ fortnumandmason.com…

SQUEAKY-CLEAN DESIGN Looking for a new bathroom but not sure where to begin? With its all-round approach, Easy Bathrooms takes the hassle out of bathroom buying, offering everything from inspiring ideas to tailormade design support – even down to the final fit. It is this commitment to guiding customers through the entire journey that really sets the company apart: ‘We believe every home deserves a space that feels both luxurious and effortlessly functional,’ says Lee Reed, head of marketing at Easy Bathrooms. With over 150 showrooms across Britain and an extensive range of quality products and tiles, the only things to worry about are the pampering essentials – bath salts anyone? easybathrooms.com CAREFREE SLUMBER To ensure a great night’s sleep thanks to its natural temperature-regulating properties, opt for Woolroom’s natural…

‘Christmas here isn’t about perfection. It’s about filling the house with colour, music and laughter. That’s when it feels most alive’ When fashion designer Louise Markey and her husband, former BBC Radio 6 Music DJ, Tom Ravenscroft, first set foot in their eight-bedroom house in the Cotswolds, they were met with moth-eaten carpets, a leaking roof, dated 1970s fittings, and even a carpeted kitchen. ‘We walked in and thought, oh my God, what have we done?’ Louise recalls. But, behind the chaos lay original Georgian sash windows, Victorian wings, and plenty of period details, including a set of servants’ bells. ‘It was daunting, but the proportions were so beautiful we knew we could make it work.’ The property is a patchwork of history: a Georgian core, Victorian additions, a later…

TIED WITH A BOW Add a playful accent to staircase or mantelpiece garlands with some extra-large bows in traditional festive colours to produce some extra magic and wonder. Large Red & White Striped Bow, £8, Dunelm HUNG WITH CARE Heighten the excitement and expectation when preparing for St Nicholas’s arrival by hanging luxurious Christmas stockings from the mantelpiece. Remember to leave a mince pie and a glass of sherry for the man in red, and a carrot for Rudolf. Luxury Christmas stocking with tassels, £72, Susie Watson Designs COLOUR CRAFT Create a perfectly co-ordinated look by painting accessories. Annie Sloan is a master of the art of transforming pieces with Chalk Paint. Her website provides inspiration for projects from candlesticks to baubles for a seamless, matched finish. Tyrian Plum, £26.95…

From a window seat overlooking the garden to a cosy hobby room, a personal retreat creates an inviting and relaxing place to take time for oneself. ‘We’ve seen a growing desire for creative sanctuaries, spaces that feel deeply personal and restorative,’ explains Melissa Hutley, interior designer and co-founder of Hutley & Humm. A sensory experience is often key, explains Becca Dent, partner and studio lead at Sims Hilditch. ‘The use of tactile, natural textures encourages a grounding connection to one’s surroundings – something that is fundamental to creating truly restorative spaces.’ Decorating with natural materials can also go hand-in-hand with taking a mindful approach to sustainability. ‘Natural materials last, they feel wonderful, and they age gracefully, which makes them as good for the planet as they are for your peace…

We often think of decorating primarily in terms of visuals, setting the perfect aesthetic through colour and pattern. However, it is important for there to be a sensory experience, and finishing a room with a perfect scent helps cement a cosy, welcoming and exquisitely considered atmosphere. This was evident at 2025’s WOW!house, Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, where each interior designer completed their room with a personalised fragrance from Jo Malone, which enhanced and completed its overall feel and made it memorable. The evocative nature of scent for both unlocking memories and helping to create them is even more evident over the festive period. Oranges and cloves can evoke thoughts of winter nights warmed by mulled wine, while the fresh smell of pine may bring to mind decorating Christmas trees as…

A dream home is the result of thoughtful design choices, meaningful details, and a garden that can be enjoyed throughout the year. With this in mind, we at The English Home have collaborated with our sister publication The English Garden to create a special joint supplement that explores these themes, offering expert advice on shaping your ideal home and garden. In my own home, I’ve learnt that design decisions should begin with how you want a room or outdoor space to make you feel, balanced with an eye for practicality and materials that will stand the test of time. Within this supplement, our “perfect room” guides share inspiring atmospheres and smart, functional features for key spaces. Outdoors, our specialist tips cover everything from greenhouses to garden sculpture. When planning new…

‘A bathroom should feel like a sanctuary, so begin by understanding its purpose: is it a private retreat, a family hub or a welcoming guest space?’ advises Lizzi Catchpole, head of design at Catchpole & Rye. ‘Once function is clear, let beauty take the lead – choose materials that age gracefully, finishes that delight the senses, and details that elevate the everyday.’ To achieve this, she suggests the following: ‘Heated towel rails, elegant fittings and thoughtful storage transform routine into ritual. Above all, create with longevity in mind, so the space feels timeless and deeply personal for years to come.’ 1 The perfect tiles Ceramic and porcelain tiles are ideal for easy cleaning in bathroom areas likely to get wet regularly. Fundamental choices in terms of style include choosing between…

Not just practical necessities, windows, doors, stairs and hardware fixtures can make all the difference to a home’s style, character and comfort. They can be used to create a coherent look to a property, enhancing the beauty of its architecture, whether it is a period townhouse or a country cottage. 1 Decorative Plasterwork Cornicing, coving and ceiling roses are the finishing touches in a period home, whether it is Georgian, Victorian, Regency or Art Deco. Mark Dolan, managing director of Victorian Cornice Company explains, ‘A room isn’t properly dressed without the correct cornice and a matching ceiling rose. These details give a home its character and restore the balance the room was designed to have. We still make all our plasterwork by hand using traditional workmanship, and the result is…

On the list of requisites for a garden, sculpture is often fairly far down the page. Plants, hard landscaping, lighting and furniture are all likely to take precedence over a piece of garden art, but sculpture can complete a space. Garden designers will sometimes suggest that the starting point for a garden is how one would like to feel in a space, and a sculpture will go a long way towards influencing that. ‘When we create gardens we create sensory experiences, and sculptures should help to build the mood and reinforce it,’ explains award-winning designer Chris Beardshaw, who rarely designs a garden without adding a sculptural element. So, where to begin? Choosing sculpture is much the same as choosing art for inside the home, and the overriding rule for both…

Anew greenhouse will likely be the biggest – and most exciting – purchase a gardener ever makes. For many of us, the prospect of having our own greenhouse is the zenith, the Holy Grail, the thing that makes our gardens complete. While most specialist greenhouse suppliers can build bespoke models, making a greenhouse unique need not mean a one-off design. It could simply be a case of customising an ‘off-the-peg’ greenhouse and fitting it with the perfect combination of accessories to suit. ‘I always tell people that taking your time over your decision is so important,’ says Nelly Hall, creative director at Alitex (alitex.co.uk). ‘Don’t rush it. Gather plenty of colour samples and mark the greenhouse out using sticks, canes or rope to help you establish a sense of the…

Maximally Merry Eleanor Bowmer’s new tableware Showcasing her signature quirky, colourful and delightfully kitsch style, the new Eleanor Bowmer Christmas collection from Pure Table Top is sure to raise a smile this festive season. From hand-painted dessert bowls and co-ordinating napkins and table runners to plates, bowls, placemats, platters and more, her range will bring some merry maximalist magic to any Yuletide gathering. All of Eleanor’s homeware is based on her illustrations. ‘My designs have always been about bringing joy and colour into everyday life, and Christmas is the perfect time to turn that up a notch,’ she says. ‘I want each piece to spark happiness, nostalgia and that feel-good magic we all crave at this time of year.’ puretabletop.com; eleanorbowmer.co.uk Feasting & Merriment At Bicester Fortnum & Mason’s first…

TEAM HONOURSEditor, Alison Davidson Irresistibly drawn to colour and pattern, it is embellishment that makes me swoon, but stripes too make my heart sing, whether on fabrics, wallpapers, tiles or flooring. I also love anything with a handmade feel. KELLING HOME I have long been an admirer of this company for its innovative use of colour and pattern. Its range extends from fabrics and wallpapers to furniture and accessories in bold prints and statement shapes that resonate with me. So this new handmade, wooden, Samantha lamp fits right in, with its on-trend bobble base and pleated shade, and at a price that won’t break the bank. ALTERNATIVE FLOORING Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love a stripe, so I couldn’t help but pick out this dynamic flooring. Apparently…

BISCUIT CHRISTMAS TREE WITH ORANGE-FLAVOUR FILLING This delicious festive indulgence can be adapted for children with a filling of orange juice in place of orange liqueur Serves 10–12 INGREDIENTS For the dough 200g plain flour, plus extra for dusting2–3 tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp ground allspice70g ground almonds50g icing sugar325g butter, softened1 egg For the filling 125g butter; softened250g icing sugar125g mascarpone1 tsp vanilla extract20ml orange liqueur or orange juice For the icing 1 egg white250g icing sugar1 tbsp orangeblossom water sugar pearls, to decorate METHOD • For the dough, put all ingredients except the egg into a bowl and mix until crumbly. Add the egg and knead to a smooth dough. Wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hour. • Preheat the oven to 160°C fan/180°C/gas 4. Line 2…

Planning and designing a kitchen that functions beautifully for all daily routines, as well as being a joy to spend time in, is a matter of considering how the room will be used by the whole family. ‘Start by thinking about how you live day to day – map your routines, the natural light, and how you move through the space,’ explains Natalie Hough, lead designer at The White Kitchen Company. ‘Plan your layout so that cooking, preparation, clean-up, and storage flow effortlessly, with walkways wide enough for everyone to move comfortably, even when the kitchen is busy.’ To ensure the kitchen has a desirable atmosphere, style and practicality are equally as important. ‘Consider how storage can work hardest for you with a place for everything (and a little extra),…

Deciding what type of flooring to opt for in different rooms can be tricky. ‘I think that the perfect flooring should feel as though it belongs to the architecture of the house, so that you feel it is grounding the space both practically and aesthetically,’ explains Hattie Hansard, interior designer at design studio Joanna Wood. ‘But it’s also about balancing beauty, proportion and texture with how a room is lived in.’ When considering types of flooring, Hansard looks at certain characteristics. ‘In a busy family kitchen, for example, a wide-plank oak floor with a matt finish brings warmth and texture while standing up to daily wear. We often like to mix up the arrangement of wood – parquet in a reception room and planks in a kitchen – but keep…

‘Don’t move, improve!’ is a line that will often lead to a conservatory extension, and it is true that conservatories can add valuable space to reception areas that may have come to feel a little cramped. Before committing to a conservatory though, give some thought to what it will be used for. Without a specific function, it can quickly turn into a messy no-man’s land of school satchels, outdoor shoes and dog beds. In addition to their conventional use as kitchen-dining or living room extensions, conservatories for gardeners could include benches for keeping tender plants that might scent the room, a geranium collection, or potted citrus trees. Conservatories are ideal for this purpose, since most need some heating to be used comfortably all year round, whether that is from underfloor…

‘Any opportunity to use water should be taken.’ So wrote Dame Sylvia Crowe in her seminal book, Garden Design, found on every garden designer’s bookshelf. It is a maxim that many of us follow, although most designers will also heed the caveat Crowe added: ‘provided it can be suited to the particular circumstances.’ As with so many aspects of design, making sure a new water feature suits the scale of the site and the location planned for it really is the key. Whether opting for quiet reflection or playful splashing jets, the moods water can create in the garden are as diverse as the forms it can take. ‘It adds a lovely extra dimension; both the sound and the sight of it creates a very romantic atmosphere, I think,’ says…

The dream for most garden owners is not to have a boundary at all – given a choice we would probably all prefer an unbroken ‘borrowed’ view, preferably of idyllic countryside or suitably breathtaking scenery. The reality for many of us is that some sort of boundary at the border of our gardens, or between us and our neighbours, is essential. So, given that most of us are not gazing at our estate over a hidden ha-ha, how best can we treat our boundaries for maximum aesthetic appeal? ‘A garden that has strong linear elements like a fence or a wall can give you that feeling of being slightly hemmed in,’ explains Helen Elks-Smith, of Elks-Smith Landscape & Garden Design (elks-smith.co.uk). ‘Try breaking it up a bit. So you might…

There is never a better time to press the refresh button than the start of a new year. Make it a resolution for 2026 to learn a skill by enrolling on a course or workshop that could be the catalyst for transforming an area of the home or garden, or even be the springboard to a new career. From online studying and one-day courses to residential retreats and year-long programmes, there is something to suit everyone, whether learning to make lampshades or growing vegetables. Why not sign up now and start sowing the seeds of a new creative endeavour, so you can reap the rewards this year and beyond. HOME COURSES Infuse interiors with unique character by learning how to design and make creative as well as practical schemes and…