Innehållsförteckning för May 2021 från Homes & Gardens

We love this issue’s front cover. Featuring the dreamy study of one of our five inspiring houses, it perfectly captures our enthusiastic embrace of spring. While we continue to focus on striking interior ideas – including more stylish studies (page 64); clever curtain treatments (page 113); artful bathroom wall surfaces (page 156); and beautiful kitchen banquettes (page 163) – we are finally able to turn our gaze outdoors, too. And we have done so with gusto. Gorgeous gardens (from page 130); an expert guide to designing a pergola (page 146); an edit of the best garden table lights, outdoor rugs and alfresco armchairs (from page 55) are all essentials for enjoying nature in style. The icing on the cake? A spring entertaining special – the pretty table settings and easy…

SMALL GARDEN MUST-HAVE With its drop-leaf tabletop and foldable bistro chairs, Habitat’s colourful trough bistro set is designed to optimise outdoor space. Characterised by a deep trough that runs down its central partition, the table offers a unique way to grow herbs and plants or to use as versatile storage space. Colourful trough bistro set, £150, Habitat. LOCKDOWN LAUNCH Started last year. The Glass Studio’s beautiful range of glassware by Janine Limb went on to become a sell-out. The traditionally blown glass means that no two are the same. Susie All Dressed Up, £42, theglass.studio. CLEVER COLLAB: BARNEBY GATES X WILLOW CROSSLEY The quintessentially British fabric and wallpaper brand has joined forces with florist-favourite Willow on charming designs: Botanica, inspired by Mary Delaney’s collages and Maharani Block Print, a colourful…

MOST SUCCESSFUL ASPECT OF THE PROJECT That even though each room has a different colour palette, they still flow together. SECRET ADDRESS Fiona Finds (fionafinds.co.uk) is a fantastic resource for gorgeous and timeless accessories. GREATEST PROJECT INDULGENCE The joinery – but it was worth it. Also, the Samarkand curtain fabric by Rogers & Goffigon in the main bedroom. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Transforming a loo into a utility room revolutionised the way the family lives. FAVOURITE BUILDING Thomas Heatherwick’s gin distillery for Bombay Sapphire. ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE de Gournay: Hand-Painted Interiors. I can’t stop looking at it.…

DAVID MONEY With his own architecture practice, David’s approach to his house was much more about its structure and use of materials than many of our interior design guests. Ply is a big feature. ‘I realised when working on architecture projects for clients that I often prefer the house when it’s half finished,’ he said. ‘I like that the smooth ply lives with the original rough walls quite happily in here.’ But being lightweight, is it a practical material to use in a home? ‘Oh, absolutely,’ David said. ‘As long as it’s not in a too high traffic of an area, it’s actually very hard-wearing.’ DAVE BENNETT Fashion marketing consultant Dave inherited an oddly shaped extension on the back of his Victorian townhouse, but he found ways to use it…

THOMAS SANDERSON Classic and contemporary window dressings for all shapes and sizes. All made bespoke and installed by the same team following a design consultation, thomas-sanderson.co.uk HILLARYS Hillarys has been designing made-to-measure window treatments since 1971. The brand’s local experts will help you decide on a design, as well and measure and fit, hillarys.co.uk MADE BY THE FORGE Founded in 2006 by farrier and blacksmith Richard Fishenden and his wife Juliet, this firm specialises in metal curtain poles, accessories and homeware, madebytheforge.co.uk THE MILL SHOP ONLINE Shop online from a huge range of fabrics, which can be ordered as made-to-measure curtains or be used for Roman blinds, the-millshop-online.co.uk…

Best ornate tree for seasonal interest in a small space Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan’ with beautiful winter bark, blush pink spring blossom, verdant summer canopy and rich autumn foliage. Unrestricted height 7m+, spread 5m. Best for clean-cut hedging Taxus baccata (yew), an evergreen shrub. Provides dense screening and year-round structure. Height and spread vary according to training. Best compact shrub for height in beds Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Rocket’, a quick-growing columnar shrub that shoots up through underplanting. Height 1m, spread 0.6m. Best compact, wide-spreading shrub for dry shade Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae is ideal for planting beneath trees and in raised beds prone to shade and dry spells. Height 50cm, spread 1.5m. Best for ground cover Soleirolia soleirolii (mind-your-own-business) is a bright green, tiny-leaved, creeping ground-cover plant. Many consider it to…

1 . British fashion designer Phoebe Philo is my design heroine. I love her minimalist, feminine aesthetic, tonal palette and the quiet practicality that informs her work. 2 . Flowers I love to combine are orlaya, scabiosa, didiscus and cow parsley. These whites seen together are delicate yet complex. 3 . Super quality, small batch coffee beans are a little luxury I can’t live without – but I stick to just one espresso early in the morning. 4 . I don’t work with flowers to a rule book but I do look at how plants grow - for example, hellebores that bow gently work perfectly on the edge of larger arrangements. 5 . My husband and children have given me an artist’s easel, canvases and oil paints. I haven’t painted…

1. Made from steam-bent cane Rattan daisy mirror, £1,600, Soane Britain 2. Form and pattern ceramics are hot right now Black vase, £80, Talia James at Talia Designer Maker 3. Lighting that delivers colour Small Benson hanging lantern in Garden Green, £3,120, Jamb 4. Pared-back elegance for a home office Swanston desk, £4,008, Harris & Harris 5. Embroidered stitching for a fabulous finish Jasper fabric in Emerald, £114m, No 9 Thompson at Fox Linton 6. Fabric inspired by stories of rural life Antique armchair upholstered in Apple Pickers in Rust, £1,500, Beki Bright…

Tell us about yourself. I’m originally a fashion and textile designer, as well as a designer of interiors and exteriors, gardens and garden wear, and a broadcaster. I bought this Grade II-listed medieval heritage site more than five years ago, and we’re still restoring it. Describe your Instagram account. It shows some of our home’s history and renovations, our letting and unique interiors (which we rely upon to sustain this ancient place), plus the goings-on here, as well as our little flower farm, events and creative artisan products. What is your account’s USP? Our passion for beauty and design, juxtaposed with the authentic history, eccentricity and uniqueness of this place. We attempt to represent all that we do in a creative framework of colour and texture. Which accounts should we…

It’s the shade of optimism and joy, so after the global turbulence of the past year it comes as little surprise that yellow is decorating’s colour du jour. But it is so much more than a flash in the pan – the right shade can have surprising longevity and add richness to more traditional schemes. Tigers Eye by Zoffany is a case in point. A full-bodied yellow, it delivers an infusion of sunshine while remaining on the right side of sophistication. It’s now available in a chalky-textured True Matt finish, which is wipeable so suitable for high-traffic areas. Colour combinations are not as tricky as one may think. Tigers Eye’s brown undertones pair it beautifully with forest green, while creams and beiges add more serenity. Or ramp up the colour…

Peter Dunham offers us his design and lifestyle tips BIGGEST SUCCESS The house has a great atmosphere. It’s a very esoteric thing to be able to give a house soul and I think we’ve achieved it brilliantly here. SECRET ADDRESS The Old Fashioned Milk Paint company (oldfashionedmilkpaint.co.uk). The paint comes in powder form and gives walls a matt look but with a lot of depth. GO-TO COLOUR One of the pinks or blues used in the house. The pink feels like a neutral but it’s not. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Combining two rooms to create a larger sitting room. INSPIRATION COMES FROM The mentors I’ve been lucky enough to have in my life, from David Hicks to the artist Teddy Millington-Drake. WHAT’S NEXT Expanding my textile collection. I want to…

As we settle into our house, we’re starting to put up shelves and open boxes of books and objects that sat together in our previous home. I had such joy rediscovering one of my treasured objects; a knapped flint hand axe I made under the tuition of Will Lord, a prehistoric expert. I spent a day hitting rocks with him a few years ago and became completely awestruck by our ancestors’ hand skills. That day taught me that we are all skilled makers deep down. Years ago, one of our workshop team had an evening job with TaskRabbit, an app offering handyman services. He would hang shelves or pictures for people for £40 a pop and I remain perplexed by how small the tasks often were. I can’t imagine not…

WITH a 132-year history of creating exceptional fabrics, wallcoverings and trimmings that have inspired generations, it’s no wonder Schumacher has created a manual-of-sorts that celebrates its distinctive designs and exuberant approach to decorating. Filled with vivid imagery and legendary motifs from its back catalogue, Schumacher’s new book: S Is for Style, demonstrates its unique design directions as well as tips on how to discover and create a unique space of your own. Schumacher’s creative director and all-round tastemaker, Dara Caponigro has identified 16 different elegant looks and organised them into thematic chapters such as Trad with a Twist, Warm Modern and Casually Chic. Each section of the book opens with a questionnaire to help readers identify their style, as well as a breakdown of essential ingredients to help obtain each…

The story of this house, a century-old farmhouse in the valley of the Simonsberg mountain in the lush winelands of the Western Cape in South Africa, ‘is about a house and a farm with an old soul that was resurrected, land that was brought back to life and the joy of living one’s dream,’ says the owner. Part of that dream was for the owners simply to have a place of their own in the astoundingly beautiful winelands around Stellenbosch. They had studied together in the university town when they were younger and had always nurtured the idea that they might return. The property was so unassuming and off the beaten path that the couple almost missed it. But it was exactly what they’d hoped for: it had century-old trees…

GOLD STANDARD A pelmet, also known as a cornice board, is a box frame used to conceal the top of curtains, and is commonly found in classic interiors. Pelmets can be made by using foam core or plywood to create a structure which can either be painted a similar tone to walls, or upholstered in fabric to match the curtains. Though largely decorative, they also offer insulation around windows, which is why they are popular in older buildings such as this Kensington house. Here, interior designer Christiana Syrris, then at Studio Indigo, used a mustard hue both on the walls and the window dressing. This provides a modern twist while also adding depth and interest within a singular colour palette. THINK PINK These curtains in Osborne in Red from Blithfield…

THE keeping of bees goes hand in hand with a productive and fruitful kitchen garden, and the joy of being small-scale honey producers is to be able to make ‘just enough’ honey to enjoy at home and to give away to family and friends. One of the great pleasures of beekeeping is opening up the hive on a warm day and hearing the contented hum of bees at work. The rich aroma of the wood smoker, mixed with the scent of honey, beeswax and cedarwood frames instils a sense of calm. And the quiet, methodical work of checking through each frame in the brood box to see that the queen is laying well is totally absorbing. The queen will determine the temperament of your hive, and if she is benign,…

CHARLOTTE ROWE MIXES STRUCTURED PLANTING WITH CLEVER ZONING IN A CITY SPACE “WE EFFECTIVELY CREATED TWO LAWNS DIVIDED BY HEDGING AND THE SECOND TERRACE – I DON’T LIKE AN OVER-LARGE, PURPOSELESS LAWN”CHARLOTTE ROWE, garden designer OUR clients had built a new contemporary-style house that called for a rethink of the garden. Two lawns are separated by layers of box and hornbeam alongside pleached hornbeam trees creating garden rooms. Beyond this a stepping stone path leads into a veg plot and, further on, a shady space where existing planting is complemented with seasonal planting of Briza media ‘Golden Bee’, Astrantia major‘Gillian Richards’ andAllium‘Mount Everest’, plus dwarf white rhododendrons.  In each area there are generous borders, with Stachys byzantina, clipped box balls,Euphorbia cornigeraand Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ creating a cool, calm mood near…

From overlooked urban gardens to cavernous country spaces, we all crave intimacy and intrigue whatever our garden size. A pergola is a simple way to create an enclosed space with fragrance if the right plants are incorporated. Providing vertical interest is important in a compact space and pergolas are ideal for scented blooms and creeping vines. Before embarking on a pergola project, garden designer Charlotte Rowe notes, ‘Only have a pergola or an arbour if you think you absolutely need one. I say this, as often people think that they will give you shelter from the rain when in fact they really don’t and are more useful for providing shade from the sun.’ PLANNING YOUR PROJECT It is important to think what a pergola will bring to the use and…

GREAT DIXTER NURSERY For climbing plants and a lovely selection of clematis. You can order a catalogue via its website.greatdixter.co.uk/nursery THE GUILD OF MASTER CRAFTSMEN Find craftspeople in your local area to construct your pergola and try to choose locally sourced materials.findacraftsman.com FLEXFORM Robust, durable and design-focused outdoor furniture. Remember that choices for pergolas must be weatherproof. flexform.it/en/outdoor CHRIS BOWERS & SONS Try your hand at growing grapes up your pergola with hand-picked varieties for a UK climate.chrisbowers.co.uk/category/grape-vines…

PETE DAVIS, PRODUCTS DIRECTOR, GEBERIT UK What are the key new trends that are coming through for bathrooms at the moment? They are centred around harnessing the home for happiness so it’s all about what makes you feel good – think biophilic design to bring the outdoors in and reconnect with nature, and bright colours to create an energetic atmosphere. How has the pandemic changed what we want from bathrooms? Now more than ever the bathroom has become a sacred sanctuary space. Regardless of budget or space available, it’s easy to achieve that sought-after spa-like space. We can do this by combining product innovations, clever design touches and the latest interior trends to create a space that is both beautiful and practical. Are there particular products that have become more…

DUCTSTORE The only destination for ducting an extractor. Stockists of quality rigid ducting in every type, size and accessory possible, plus the option of custom-made ducting for bespoke hood designs. ductstore.co.uk CORSTON ARCHITECTURAL Most extractors are powered by a 3-amp supply and need a separate, easily accessible isolator switch. Corston Architectural has design-led options, including a Clear range. corston.com METHOD Stainless steel is a popular extractor finish but it can be a magnet to fingerprints and dust. Method’s Stainless Steel Cleaner + Polish is a plant-based solution for streak-free, shiny results.methodproducts.co.uk OPTICOLOUR Grout-free and easy-to-clean, glass is a smart way to protect walls between hob and hood. Opticolour’s toughened glass splashbacks are made-to-measure in a wide choice of colours and patterns. opticolour.co.uk…

MAKE A STATEMENT ‘Increasingly, clients are opting for bold, bright colours for their banquettes, such as mustard yellow, electric blue and hot pink. This helps bring character and interest to the scheme, without overwhelming the space. Luxurious, soft fabrics such as velvet are also proving extremely popular,’ says Richard Moore, design director, Martin Moore. ‘We tend to do everything in-house and either supply the fabric or work with a client’s chosen fabric.’ For extra design definition, consider fluted and button-back designs and contrasting piping on curved arms and seat cushions. At floor level, plinths prevent dust traps, while legs can feel more elegant. FEED THE CROWDS When it comes to saving space and seating large numbers of people, banquettes beat dining chairs hands down. ‘The rule of thumb is to…

PAULA Sutton is the joyously upbeat blogger and Instagrammer who shares snapshots of her bucolic life in the Norfolk countryside, from baking to gardening and interiors along with shots of her dog Coco, all set amidst the backdrop of her home, Hill House. After leaving a career in fashion and London life, Paula and her husband, Duncan, and three children, Tobias, Phoebe and Daisy, moved to Norfolk in 2010. She started her ‘theatrical’ Instagram account three years later and the success has led to brand collaborations and, now, a book is in the pipeline. ■ We didn’t know a soul when we bought Hill House and it was a huge leap of faith – but a wonderful one. I am enchanted by the Georgian architecture as well as the vast,…

1. Splashbacks sorted Festive ribbon tiles in Sunshine, £8.94 each, Claybrook 2. Set a stylish dinner table Pashmina table runner, £17.50, The Braided Rug Company at The Hambledon 3. Made from paper mache for an artistic look Dahlia lampshade, £35; Dahlia tall lampshade, £45, both Made 4. Floral art sculpted from metal Handmade variegated tulips, £418 for set of four, Sophie Conran 5. Villa Nova’s debut trimmings collection Trellis border in Arctic, £40m, Villa Nova 6. Crafted using recycled yarns Handwoven gradient cotton throws, £99 each, Original Home at Heal’s 7. Seating full of character Abacus linen dining chair, £298, Graham and Green…

Bold, blue and braided: Baguette basket, £37, &Klevering at Not Another Bill. Classic style made using 18th-century techniques: Bourg-Joly basket, £64.62, Bourg-Joly Malicorne. Woven earthenware from southern Europe: Sicily big basket, £55.49, Octaevo at Chandal, Trouva. Artfully uneven and new for the season: Ceramic centrepiece, £69, Ferm Living. Made for washing, storing and serving: Joan berry basket, £18, Anthropologie.…

Q Tell us about your background and how you got in to the world of ceramics. I grew up in a small town outside of Boston, Massachusetts, in the States. Meeting my husband while he was on holiday in New York changed my life; we then moved to London to start a family. One day my daughter Izy (a recipe developer, food photographer and stylist) asked me if I might be able to make some plates for her to use in her styling and photography. I signed up for a class at the Putney School of Art and Design and it was during this time I started selling my wares at London craft fairs. Q Where do you look to for inspiration? I’m inspired by horticulture. The colours in a…

WHEN gathering loved ones together for a meal – something we’ve missed so much – the desire is always to spend time with our guests and not stuck in the kitchen. So our aim is to keep it all as easy and straightforward as possible with our celebration menu for eight. Let the ingredients, which are plentiful at this time of year, do the talking, while you do your talking with your guests, preferably with a large G&T in hand. PICKLED VEGETABLES WITH RICOTTA You can use many different seasonal vegetables for this dish – just make sure they are hard so they maintain their crunch. FOR THE PICKLING LIQUOR Apple or cider vinegar 100g caster sugar 1 tsp salt 2 star anise 1 tsp each cumin, fennel, mustard seeds…

OVER the past year, those of us lucky enough to have a dedicated room in which to shut ourselves away have gratefully recognised the peaceful retreat they provide. However, now working from home is likely to be the norm for many of us, we are thinking about the aesthetics of these spaces. But how to add beauty to what is, after all, a functional space? It can be done. Here, we investigate the vital elements. A FABULOUS FOUNDATION PIECE IS YOUR STARTING POINT When contemplating a home office scheme, function – such as storage – must be central to your design, but does not have to be visually dominant. Choosing a focus, such as a statement office chair or an antique desk, even a work of art, will distract from…

EVERY decorating scheme worth its salt captures a whisper of the past when setting out its brave new credentials. Interior stylist and creative consultant Hannah Franklin turned to the Heritage range from Dulux to lend a classically proportioned room a breath of fresh air. ‘My concept was to build shape with paint,’ she says. ‘Instead of painting walls in one shade, I paired two colours and used organic shapes for a twist.’ Evocative mood We all have an instinctive response to colour. ‘It can evoke memory in the same way as a scent,’ says Hannah. From a palette of 112 shades, Hannah chose Stone Green, a sophisticated and versatile neutral, teaming it with the grey/green Waxed Khaki. ‘These are “low-vibrational” greens – earthy, soothing and timeless,’ she says. Above the…

When it came to choosing an interior designer for their London home, Julia and Peter Larsson were determined that their own taste, rather than any signature studio style, ought to be the biggest influence. Discovering Rebecca Hughes on Instagram, Julia quickly realised Rebecca’s love of collaboration could prove to be her greatest asset. ‘While I wanted the lead to come from the designer, I also had a very clear idea of our taste as a couple and wanted to be able to contribute to the creative process,’ explains Julia. Shortly after commissioning Rebecca, Julia found herself at the studio rummaging through samples. ‘It was a really enjoyable process,’ says Rebecca. ‘Julia would pull out what she liked and we’d have a play around together.’ Though the London house, bought in…

GREATEST SUCCESS The amazing light and views created by the huge Crittall glazing and doors in the original barn openings. BIGGEST INDULGENCE Sam’s last-minute, inspired suggestion to use straw-coloured grasscloth on the bedroom walls. Very expensive, but it transformed these two rooms. GO-TO COLOUR Farrow & Ball’s Skylight looks gorgeous in my bedroom. SECRET ADDRESS Guinevere on the King’s Road. Always worth popping in for special pieces. PIECE YOU WOULD NEVER PART WITH A walnut bureau given to my mother on her 21st birthday by my grandfather. DESIGN MANTRA Go for comfort and colour, and mix old with new.…

MEASURING UP ‘Follow measuring instructions carefully for the specific blinds or curtains you wish to order and the situation you want to fit it into, such as a bay window or patio door or standard rectangular window,’ says Leah Brandwood, head of design, Blinds 2go. ‘These are provided on most retailers’ websites. Use a metal measuring tape as fabric tapes can stretch or give inaccurate measurements. Also decide which side you want the controls on for convenience of use.’ FINDING THE BEST FIT How do you decide whether to fit inside or outside the recess? Leah Brandwood explains this will depend on whether your window has a recess or not and what obstructions there are to fitting the blind inside the recess, such as handles, window fittings and the direction…

This wildflower is just perfect for an informal display. Floral stylist Juliet Glaves (julietglaves.com) created the simple look here. ‘Our flower farm is a celebration of British seasonal flowers, providing a rich and diverse palette for cutting and arranging throughout the year.’ Flowering throughout summer, meadow buttercups grow knee-high and are the ideal choice for a wildflower patch to attract bees and butterflies. ‘Buttercups are very happy in a vase,’ adds Juliet. ‘Cut them in flower with a few buds left to open. Vary the height of the stems, adding airy foliage to finish the look.’…

Every inch of this reimagined Victorian terraced family house in Twickenham has been carefully considered to maximise space and style. The extraordinary enclosed garden space defies the logic of its 8x5 metre dimensions. Designer Matt Keightley has ‘amplified’ its apparent size, seamlessly extending beyond glass casements from inside to out, explaining that, ‘the proximity to the large glazed extension to the rear required us to make this space feel as large as possible whilst truly feeling like an extension of the family’s living area.’ Superior garden design maximises the potential of the space, uniting it with the indoors, creating an additional outdoor living room. The outlook, a secluded lush green tapestry, which flexes with the seasons, is every bit as plush and inviting as within. The original confined garden was…

SELECTING YOUR PLANTS A plant’s habit, size and requirements, together with the biodiversity it brings, should inform your choice. Take Clematis armandii, which is scented, evergreen, good for screening and is a great nectar source for pollinators. It grows large quickly but has a messy habit, so is a good plant to allow to scramble over a pergola. INTEREST ALL YEAR ROUND Once you have the main structural plants, you can add layers of planting to ensure flowers throughout the year. If roses are your main plants, choose varieties that flower in succession, then grow one or more clematis through them to add colour. A winter-flowering clematis like Clematis cirrhosa ‘Wisley Cream’ will start the season early and can be followed by roses. CREATING DIFFERENT STYLES WITH PLANTS Which plants…

NATURE CALLS Sarsen Stone Group has launched an exciting new collaboration with The National Trust, creating a collection of tiles inspired by its historical houses and gardens. From a porcelain offering with formal patterns influenced by the 17th-century Knot Garden in Moseley Old Hall in Staffordshire to a decorative range sparked by William Morris’ Red House, it is a celebration of heritage design. Here, the timeless tiles are based on the oak leaf carving that can still be found in one of the beams at Alfriston Clergy House in Sussex. Alfriston Clergy ceramic tiles in Shallow Water, £78sq m, Sarsen Stone Group PRETTY PATTERN Ensure your cloakroom is the cheeriest space in your home with the striking Marnie basin, inspired by India’s kaleidoscope of vibrant colours. The Marnie porcelain basin,…

THE BENEFITS Unless you have high ceilings and openable skylights, extraction is vital, presuming you intend to cook! Extractors are designed to keep the air clear of steam and odours, of course, but also prevent grease building up on surfaces and textiles. FIND YOUR TYPE Start by deciding where the hob/cooker will be. For best results and ease of extraction, a hood against an external wall with the shortest duct route is preferable. Cooking on an island or peninsula comes with several extraction options. Serious cooks who create a lot of heat, fumes and odours very quickly should go for a ceiling extractor – either an island hood or in-ceiling model. Downdraft extraction, be it next to the hob or built into the hob itself, is fine for everyday low-intensity…

1 3D TEXTURE Use 3D pattern to bring a textural dimension that softens a bathroom’s hard surfaces – try CTD Architectural Tiles’ Genesis range. For this luxe space, architects Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet collaborated with Atelier Tollis to create a striking backdrop. ‘Based on our vision and drawings inspired by greenery, Atelier Tollis pressed a feather print into gold-leaf aluminium panels, lending an air of romance and movement,’ explains Emil. Bespoke metallic panels by Atelier Tollis. Design by Humbert & Poyet. 2 COLOUR DEPTH Carrying floor tiles up the walls gives the illusion of greater depth and is a popular space-boosting technique in small bathrooms. Here, the modern grid-style installation of Barber & Osgerby’s Lane tiles lends graphic warmth to industrial cement surfaces. Be sure to check tiles are…

ON heading to Scotland’s Black Isle you’ll find it’s neither black nor an island but a Highlands peninsula with well-earned appeal. Stay in the newly restored Newhall Mains, a former 18th-century farm building that’s been saved from dereliction and lovingly restored into a series of handsome cottages and guest suites by its family owners. Arriving at the impressive handcrafted gates bedecked with ram horn motif – the work of Dumfries-based artist, Adam Booth – will be the first tell that the sensitive restorations have incorporated a host of Scottish-based craftspeople; the charming and homely interiors are thanks to London-based Kelling Designs. Its five cottages and four double bedrooms are set around a classic quadrangle. They can be booked individually or the estate can be rented out as a whole, sleeping…

Long before freedom of movement and residency was introduced by the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 British buyers have stalked Europe in search of the perfect holiday home. The process was just more bureaucratic. Now that we are no longer part of the Union, buyers are back to facing similar challenges – which are largely surmountable. Benevolent factors remain in place regardless of Brexit, chief among them the historically low costs of borrowing. THE IMPACT OF BREXIT Really, it’s about red tape – there’s a bit more of it – and adjustments in tax status for British owners. In France, British owners face an increase in social taxes to those levied on non-EU citizens, for example. The same is true in Spain, where the wealth tax for British owners has gone…

FRANCE Despite the fact that there is no visa scheme, it remains the perennial favourite for UK buyers because ‘it has everything to offer’, says Hugo Thistlethwayte. At the start of 2021, Leggett had a sales pipeline that was 51% bigger than it was at the beginning of 2020. From the countryside in Provence to the hills overlooking the Riviera and the rural Dordogne, there’s huge variety. ON THE MARKET Antibes, Riviera, from €590,000. Parc du Cap is a collection of apartments and penthouses overlooking the Mediterranean. Sphere Estates, sphereestates.com. PORTUGAL Opinion divides over the best locations: those who want to be near the action will buy in Lisbon or Cascais, says Hugo Thistlethwayte. For year-round sport and sun, the Algarve is unbeatable. Local agent QP Savills saw enquiries of…