Innehållsförteckning för February 2021 från Homes & Gardens

Our relationship with where we live has changed. Over the last year, where possible, people have found sanctuaries in their houses and gardens. I believe this shift, the new value placed on the importance of home, is a permanent one. As a result, this magazine’s subject matter is more relevant than ever. Making home a comforting and comfortable place brings joy: design does influence state of mind. So herewith lies this issue’s theme. We focused our content plan around decorating, renovating and refreshing – as we know that now’s the time to invest in making your space feel as good as it can. Worth flagging are our striking storage design ideas, the new section dedicated to kitchen and bathroom projects and our advice feature on staying within budget. I was…

Fran Derham shares her style inspiration and loves GO-TO COLOUR I choose a colour according to a house’s ‘purpose’ – if it’s a beach house, it’s shades of blue. If it’s a country house, I go with browns and greens. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Turning the powder room under the stairs into the pantry. I don’t know what I would have done with all the food! MUSEUM TO VISIT Musée d’Orsay in Paris or the Dia:Beacon in New York. Having studied art history, I love the Impressionists and the art of en plein air; by contrast, I like Dan Flavin, Richard Serra and Sol LeWitt. WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION In the water – in the ocean or in the shower – are places where ideas flow. NEXT GAME CHANGER…

NESTLED between two stations and tucked down a narrow alley in Paris’ 10th arrondissement, you’ll see what the owners describe as a bourgeois edifice – a railway station hotel once abandoned and forgotten by time. Luckily, thanks to a little imagination and the vibrant stylings of English designer Luke Edward Hall, the new hotel is welcoming guests into its colourful surroundings. Stepping in from the street, you’ll be greeted by vibrant emerald walls, black-and-white chevron marble floors, oversized mirrors and decorative exhibition posters in a style that borrows ideas from multiple eras and just occasionally flirts with bad taste. Head upstairs to one of the 40 rooms and you’ll find mismatched rugs, fringed chairs, sumptuous velvet and bold stripes alongside 1970s-inspired light fixtures and Luke’s own artistic flourishes drawn out…

■ The Woodland Trust’s interactive map shows the whereabouts of more than 100,000 veteran trees and ancient woodland. ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk ■ The Tree Register itemises notable and ancient trees in Britain and Ireland. treeregister.org ■ Elmdon Park features an ancient sweet chestnut, dating from 1518. solihull.gov.uk/parks/ elmdonnaturepark ■ Epping Forest is an ancient woodland, including a medieval forest. visiteppingforest.org ■ Find ancient yews at graveyards in Discoed in Powys, Llangernyw in Conwy and Fortingall in Perthshire. ■ Visit the Holker Great Lime at Holker Hall in Cumbria. holker.co.uk ■ Kingley Vale in West Sussex is home to 1,000-year-old yews. naturalengland.org.uk ■ Kingston Lacy in Dorset has ancient oak pollards and a 17th-century cedar walk.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy ■ See some of Europe’s oldest trees in Savernake Forest in Wiltshire. savernakeestate.co.uk ■ Sherwood Forest in…

Maximalism’s love affair with colour, pattern and whimsy owes much to the art of Adam Ellis. In his collaborations with designers such as Martin Brudnizki and Olga Polizzi, Adam creates dramatic scenes that seductively traverse walls, ceilings and doors, from the romantic trail of songbirds and wisteria enveloping the Brown’s Hotel lobby in Mayfair to the gilded scenes of flora and fauna found in many of The Ivy’s collection of brasseries. ‘There’s no space that can’t be enhanced or warmed up by the right picture,’ enthuses Adam. Here in his two-storey industrial space in west London, Adam has combined a light-drenched design studio with a gallery space for clients, both commercial and residential, to see his work in action, as well as peruse the archive of over 10,000 images Adam…

Shareen Joel shares her style vision and loves PROJECT’S BIGGEST SUCCESS Letting in expanses of natural light with skylights and huge sliding doors. GREATEST INDULGENCE The double brick construction of the extension. GO-TO COLOUR White or grey. WHAT’S ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE All my design samples and inspiration, which I have moved out of my office and into home for the duration of Covid. I have taken over the house with all my design projects. LAST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR HOME Italian ceramics from Puglia for our beach house in Sorrento, Victoria, and a Charlotte Perriand Meribel stool. WORDS TO LIVE BY ‘Simple’ design is hard to achieve and requires incredible detail and discipline. YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORD Consistent, authentic, timeless.…

For a successful home project, often a balance between the architecture and landscape is key. Set in a meadow and immersed in the rolling Cheshire countryside, this renovated 18th-century property with adjoining architect’s studio does just that. The work of architect and designer Annabelle Tugby, the new additions to this old cottage and its interior, which combines vernacular materials with modern detailing, sit comfortably in their rural setting. The country house, which Annabelle shares with partner David and her three children, is warm and inviting. ‘I’d describe my home as rustic and sensitive,’ says Annabelle. ‘It is designed for family life and I’m happiest when it is full of people.’ Across the garden is Annabelle’s black-timber and white-brick drawing studio. She remodelled a semi-derelict workshop to create the beautiful, light-filled…

THE INTERIOR DESIGNER NICOLA HARDING WITH more than 12 years’ experience of running her own interior design practice, Nicola Harding knows all about managing residential projects, large and small. Nicola and family recently moved from London to a house in the country so she speaks from personal as well as professional experience. Resist the temptation to start with a clean decorative slate. ‘I look closely at what is already there and how it might be reimagined. Consider finishes (flooring, wall tiles), architectural elements (doors, windows, fireplaces), ironmongery, sanitaryware, curtains, furniture and light fittings. This approach not only saves money, but also the environment.’ Don’t just think about what you want, think about why you want it. ‘Often people believe they need something without thinking about it thoroughly, deferring to something…

NEVILLE JOHNSON  The brand has over 30 years’ experience in creating innovative fitted furniture. Its talented experts design and install bespoke solutions to suit both your style and storage needs – and fit seamlessly within your home, nevillejohnson.co.uk CHAMBER FURNITURE  A bespoke furniture specialist across kitchens, bedrooms and studies that are tailored to your needs – from initial advice and inspiration right through to design appointments and fitting, chamberfurniture.co.uk ERCOL  World-renowned for its quality furniture, this British brand has been around for over 100 years. Today, the factory combines time-honoured craftsmanship with modern technology to create free-standing pieces that are built to last, ercol.com NEPTUNE  With timeless aesthetic, this brand’s home design service is available to help you replicate its distinctly elegant look in your own home – whether you…

NEW IN TOWN Gessi has always prided itself as much more than a luxury bathroom brand and nothing makes this more apparent than the launch of its first UK showroom. Part stylish workspace, part installation gallery and part private members’ club, this is definitely not your average store. Based in the Grade II-listed Old Sessions House, a former courthouse in London’s Clerkenwell, the new Casa Gessi aims to take visitors on a wellness journey while showcasing individual collections in what used to be prison cells. Head to the Tailor Atelier Dressing Room where you can play around with combinations of products and finishes and afterwards treat yourself to a G&T at the bar. Yes, bar. Visits are by appointment only. € PURE VANITY Inject 1920s charm into your bathroom with…

ORGANIC QUARTZ ‘The material you choose for your kitchen surfaces is pivotal to the functionality of the space,’ says Mor Krisher, global head of design at Caesarstone. Tougher than most natural stones, man-made quartz comes in large slabs for virtually seamless installation. ‘Quartz is particularly great for splashbacks as it’s resistant to cracks, scratches and, most importantly, staining,’ adds Mor. Design-wise, recent improvements in quartz production techniques is introducing increasingly credible realism. The best designs eschew the uniformity of machine manufacture in favour of nature-inspired fluidity that brings surfaces to life. € DOUBLE THE IMPACT If you’re torn between the prettiness of tiles and the practicalities of quartz, take a dual approach and enjoy the best of both worlds. In this beautiful kitchen by Roundhouse, split surface splashbacks marry texture,…

1 . A textile designer I admire is Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, wife of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Her designs were in advance of their time. 2 . The design rule I advocate for decorating is to live with what feels right to you. Never be a slave to fashion or someone else’s look. 3 . At the moment my favourite fabric is Pure 7 from my Pure organic linens. The design of this weave began with the bark of a tree. 4 . A luxury I can’t live without are my Apple AirPods. I listen to stories, music and podcasts on them every day. 5 . Willer in Kensington is an interiors gallery selling the most perfectly realised selection of furniture, objects, lighting and tableware. The throws by Claudy Jongstra are…

MIX AND MATCH Patterns in different scales create the right balance in this elegant sitting room. Wall in Setting Plaster; hall in Cornforth White, both estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Cahiers d’Art prints in hall, £195 each, Lassco. Hanbury Stone rug, £1,682, Roger Oates. Virginia armchairs, £1,675 each, Love Your Home; covered in Devon Stripe in Sage, £32.50m, Ian Mankin. Cushions in Elmer in Charcoal, £35m, Romo. Aurora footstool in Cosmos Check in Pepper, £395, Ceraudo. Burke coffee table, £2,517, Arteriors. Scarab vase, £95, Oka. On wall: Washed Stripes giclee print, £190, Adam Watts at Artists & Objects. Noir French cane cabinet, £650, French Connection. Cream vase, from a selection, H&M Home. Palm Springs urn vase, £625, Jonathan Adler An ottoman with a frilled edge adds a…

During 2020’s first lockdown, I was in rural Lincolnshire, escaping our flat for my mum and stepdad’s farm. It was an idyllic setting from which to watch summer come to life. Amid the wildlife in hedges and woodland, the 10-acre field next to the house contained intensely reared ewes and their lambs. By high summer the grass was overgrazed to billiards and the only vegetation above ankle height was thistles which held snagged wool. The hedges were sheep-shape sculpted too, reaching into the field only above three foot, with more snagged wool held in the fence or branches. I reckoned I could have gleaned a barrow full of fibre with ease. My designer’s mind set about thinking what could be done with it. When shearing day came, I discovered a…

ROBERT KIME For Robert Kime, every room starts with a rug. ‘You have to start with something,’ he says, ‘and I always think a carpet is the easiest thing.’ It doesn’t need to be expensive. A rug can define a space, break up a large room or highlight a particular area – it can play a number of roles. With a background in antiques and a passion for history, it is unsurprising that Robert’s London flat is full of interesting things, from a rare screen covered in chinoiserie paper that he picked up at an auction for just a few pounds to William Wordsworth’s own leather chair, which sits behind the desk in his study. He cleverly reconfigured the layout of the property, knocking out walls, creating arches, installing fireplaces…

Q Tell us a little about your background. I am originally from Poland and I used to earn a decent wage as a manager in retail, yet over time this career left me feeling wholly unfulfilled. Knowing that I wanted to do something using my hands and create something that would last, I quit my job and enrolled on a blacksmithing course at Hereford College of Arts. Since I completed the course, I have focused my career on forging superb kitchen knives and other useful tools. Q Where do find inspiration? I look back in history to more traditional methods. I love the process of forging and how it can transform a lump of steel into a beautiful and useful object, I can lose hours doing it while I try…

Andre Mellone shares his style vision and loves PROJECT’S BIGGEST SUCCESS I was very happy with the flexibility we created in the sitting room. It was one of the most challenging aspects of the project. SECRET ADDRESS Jake Szymanski (jmszymanski.com). He does beautiful forged metalwork. GO-TO COLOUR I’m obsessed with mustard. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT The partitions in the kitchen. They were complicated to retro-fit into the structure, but they really made a difference. NEXT GAME CHANGER IN DESIGN Design is less about typologies but is fusing into the same thing. Clients want homes to look like hotels and hotels want to be like homes. Everything is about a residential experience. PRIZED POSSESSION My sketchbooks from when I was a student of architecture living in Florence.…

Prior to becoming an interior decorator at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, Daniel Slowik managed the company’s antiques division, and it was in this capacity that he first met the owner of this Victorian terraced town house in south London. ‘She is a passionate collector and she would come into the Brook Street shop all the time,’ Daniel recalls. He continues, ‘Twenty years on, she got in touch with me via Instagram to say that she and her partner were downsizing to a house around the corner from their previous home and she wondered if I could help.’ As owner and designer strolled from the larger house to the smaller one, a plan began to emerge as to how a lifetime’s collection could be curated and shown in a new…

IN FULL VIEW Not everything needs to be hidden away when it comes to storage – in fact decorative solutions can make a huge difference to your look and feel. A cluster of simple floating shelves work particularly well in a kitchen, where there may be a fair amount of closed cabinetry taking up space along the walls. They add an element of interest that draws the eye, all while helping to keep countertops clear. It’s best to mount open shelving just above eye level and within easy reach if you intend for the shelves to hold day-to-day items, such as plates and mugs. For a stylised look, stack collections of your favourite crockery, line up fresh herbs and incorporate small pieces of art along a run of open shelving.…

The Society of Garden Designers (SGD) is a great place to start your search, as the registered designers have all been subject to scrutiny and the adjudication of their projects, with the letters MSGD and FSGD denoting a qualified member (visit sgd.org.uk/find_a_ designer). ‘Most designers are “civil engineers” with a love of plants, meaning that the entire project comes under their jurisdiction,’ says Louisa Bell MSGD. But it’s not just about the technical side, says Juliet Sargeant FSGD. ‘A good designer has the imagination to create a bespoke design for you, the ingenuity to solve the site problems and the practical experience to implement the plans cost-effectively.’ HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT DESIGNER? One of your key considerations will, of course, be style and aesthetic. Acting on a personal…

MAKE IT WORK Truth be told, the real beauty of the kitchen island is that it gives the homeowner a working galley kitchen – a concept rightly beloved of professional chefs due to the enhanced efficiency and safety during cooking. You prep one side; you cook the other. It’s a simple but brilliant layout choice. The best islands create a true ‘working side’ of the kitchen countered with a ‘social side’ to provide seating for the breakfast rush hour or guests catching up before dinner. SIZE IS EVERYTHING The negative space, i.e. the space between furniture, is as important as the size of the unit itself. The golden rule is to allow 1-1.2m to move around easily, but there are times when going narrower is justified – for example when…

Tucked between land, sky and ocean, Fran Derham and Michael Robertson’s retreat in rural Victoria has been built as a home for all seasons. The house and shed, linked by a timber bridge and built entirely from scratch by the couple to sleep 10, ‘is very encompassing in the winter and quintessentially Australian in the summer,’ says Fran. With sweeping views afforded by a 360-degree deck, ‘you’re really at one with the weather here.’ When it rains, ‘you inhale the sight and sound of it from the couch or bed; and when it’s sunny, you can soak it up outside, from east to west, with coffee, birdsong and kangaroos grazing nearby in the morning or a glass of wine, set against a sunset soundtrack of cicadas, in the evening,’ she…

DISCOVER: CREATE ACADEMY Be inspired and hone new skills with guided tutorials from industry experts at Create Academy. Through their online courses, you can learn the principles of interior design with Rita Konig or how to eat well with nutritional therapist Amelia Freer. We’re excited to join florist and stylist Willow Crossley from her Oxfordshire barn as she shares her know-how on arranging and sourcing flowers and plants. Learn about seasonal cutting guides and how to make arrangements for your table, as Willow shows the techniques and tools she uses. Each course costs £127 and is broken down into short video lessons to absorb at your own pace. createacademy.com STAY: KIP HIDEAWAYS Our need to explore and search out new places may have been quietly simmering over the past year,…

THE official definition of an ancient woodland is any area that has been continuously wooded since 1600 or before. Made up of trees of different ages, it now accounts for just two per cent of Britain’s landmass. Ancient trees have survived in areas that have not been farmed or developed, such as mountainsides, private estates and in graveyards, where yews were planted as guardians of hallowed ground. The Fortingall yew, growing in a graveyard in Fortingall village in Perthshire, is estimated to be 5,000 years old and is one of Britain’s most ancient trees. Legend says that Pontius Pilate, who oversaw the crucifixion of Christ, was born beneath the Fortingall yew. Some veteran trees are safeguarded by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) but many stand unprotected, often from neglect or a…

CHARLOTTE REY is the co-founder of the award-winning design partnership and creative consultancy Campbell-Rey. We need a more holistic approach to decorating. People are spending more time at home than ever so it is important to evaluate what they want from their spaces in a more thoughtful way, rather than seeing decorating as another job to get done. That starts with celebrating the beauty at the heart of everything. If we buy or make something beautiful and share it with others, then it becomes part of a nurturing ecosystem. I believe that we are all creative, and the home is a blank canvas. But we should all be more confident in pushing the envelope and celebrating diversity of taste and expression, rather than relying on what other people think is…

COCONUT, GINGER AND KAFFIR LIME MUSSELS SERVES 4 2 tbsp groundnut oil 4 shallots, finely chopped 2 kaffir lime leaves, very finely sliced Thumb-sized piece ginger, peeled and sliced into fine matchsticks 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 4 red chillies, deseeded and finely sliced 400ml tin coconut milk 2 tbsp fish sauce 1 lime, juiced 2kg mussels, cleaned Thai basil or coriander, to serve Heat the oil in a large wok or a large, wide pan with a lid. Fry the shallots, over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Add the lime leaves, ginger, garlic, chilli and cook for a further minute or so. Pour in the coconut milk, fish sauce and lime juice and bring to a simmer. Add the mussels, put on the lid and steam…

Over the last decade, Shareen Joel has amassed dozens of vintage French doors and window frames, locking them away safely in storage. ‘I was patiently waiting for the right place to put them,’ says the Melbourne-based architectural, industrial and interior designer of her collection. ‘I just knew this house was it. I built the renovation around these doors.’ Coupled with classic Italian furniture, clean lines, Australian artwork and a cool, neutral palette, the effect is a modern European look that’s equal parts charm and sophistication. When Shareen and her husband Dean purchased the Victorian-Italianate villa on a leafy street in Melbourne, the gloomy interiors were dated and dim with an excess of ‘grandma carpets’. The compact house was disproportionate to the rambling garden and while Dean was hesitant, Shareen’s designer’s…

Daniel Slowik shares his style vision MOST SUCCESSFUL PART OF THIS PROJECT The perfect synergy between decorator and client, and a lifelong friendship. THE BIGGEST INDULGENCE The four-poster in the master bedroom – not what you’d expect in London but perfect! TIP FOR COMBINING PATTERNS Be bold and follow your intuition. Sometimes the strangest combinations work perfectly together. SECRET ADDRESS I love Jamb, our neighbours in Pimlico Road. FAVOURITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT My partner’s @a.prin.art – the best guide to living with art. LUXURY YOU WOULD NEVER FORGO A painted waste paper bin we make, designed by John Fowler.…

The search for the ideal neutral is not as easy as it would initially appear. Pure whites can be too stark, while trying to warm it up means possibly straying into magnolia territory. Bauwerk’s Witch Hazel is a beautiful middle ground. Part grey, part beige and with notes of pink, this lime paint is made with clay, minerals and natural pigments so it has a richness that means it works in both cool and warm schemes. The colour wheel is your oyster when it comes to choosing accompanying shades. For a soothing feel, sage or olive are perfect partners, soft browns and whites add elegance, while a punchy orange or coral will bring vibrancy.…

MODERN DAY LIVING ‘As we spend more time at home, we become more aware than ever of the need for space,’ says Simon Tcherniak, senior furniture designer at Neville Johnson. ‘Rooms that were once forgotten are being rejuvenated as tranquil spaces or multifunctional living zones. The home office is where the demand is greatest at the moment. Homeowners are looking for a dynamic space that allows them the time to focus on their daily tasks but also one they can close off in the evening to really benefit from the additional family time we have all been afforded in recent months.’ WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE ‘There are a number of tricks that will help you maximise every space in your kitchen. From drawers in drawers for everything from cutlery to…

THE LOVELY GARDEN  Louisa Bell likes working on all sizes of gardens where the clients want to create something exquisite. She works mainly in Sussex, Surrey and London.thelovelygarden.co.uk ANDREW DUFF GARDEN DESIGN  Andrew enjoys designing a wide spectrum of gardens, be it a small city space or a large sprawling country estate. He works internationally, as well in the UK.andrewduffgardendesign.com FARLAM & CHANDLER  A small, creative garden design studio based in east London and Kent. Their aim is to create timeless gardens that feel like they have always been there and belong to their surroundings.farlamandchandler.com JULIET SARGEANT GARDENS & LANDSCAPES  One theme that runs through all of their work is a wish to enhance clients’ sense of wellbeing by creating gardens that ‘connect with calm’.julietsargeant.com…

It’s not just how hardware looks, but how it feels – it must be comfortable and easy to use. Joseph Giles offers hardware in unusual finishes like dark bronzed waxed, leather and marble, alongside the usual nickel and brass. josephgiles.com TIMOTHY OULTON  Innovative design, exceptional quality and attention to detail are the hallmarks of Timothy Oulton. We’re always bowled over by the hand-finished upholstered pieces, especially the modern-vintage elegance of the Angeles stools. timothyoulton.com JIM LAWRENCE  An outstanding British manufacturer creating iconic, traditional lighting designs that focus on quality materials, craftsmanship and customer service. The heritage finishes on offer are always a good fit.jim-lawrence.co.uk CRL STONE  Quartz worktops combine beauty and durability, and we love to specify quartz by CRL Stone for its unparalleled design. Tip: for the most natural…

1 STEP UP Level-entry showers may be popular but there are advantages to traditional stepped entry, as seen in this elegant space by Banner Day Interiors. For one, it allows you to raise the shower tray enough to solve the common issue of insufficient space between floor joists for drainage. Stepped entry also makes it far easier to contain water and keep the rest of the bathroom dry. Design by Banner Day Interiors. For similar tiles try (wall) Hoxton Bottle Green Gloss Porcelain, £46.67sq m; (floor) Carrara Honed Hexagon Marble Mosaic, £199.17sq m, all Mandarin Stone 2 WONDER WALLPAPER Looking for an alternative to mildew-prone grout lines? ‘Wall&decò’s waterproof wallpaper can be installed directly inside the shower, providing a seamless surface that’s low maintenance, easy to clean and perfect for…

“WALL LAMPS MOUNTED ON CABINETRY CAST A SOFT GENTLE LIGHT THAT DRAWS THE EYE TO THE BOOKCASE, CREATING A CALMING ATMOSPHERE” LIGHTING IN CABINETRY DO... ■ Try fixed wall lights mounted on cabinetry or bookcases. Pretty decorative lampshades are a great way to create subtle yet pleasant atmosphere. ■ Consider installing little LED lights within a built-in shower niche to add another element of soft lighting. ■ Make sure your lighting is decorative rather than task for the cabinetry in the bedrooms and sitting rooms, where you might want to avoid harsh light. ■ Use a low glare, LED under cupboard light in a cocktail cabinet to cast a soft, ambient light that highlights your collection of glasses and beverages. DON’T... ■ Use uplighting beneath a bathroom mirror or cabinet…