Innehållsförteckning för December 2021 från Homes & Gardens

I think it’s fair to say that we all need this Christmas more than ever. Hopefully, each one of us will be able to indulge in joyful gatherings with family and friends. With this in mind, the issue centres around celebrations at home and it is bursting at the seams with seasonal inspiration. We have delighted in creating content that sings with festive charm, from a London townhouse dressed up to the nines (page 34) to our rather elegant Scandi-inspired decorating story (page 23). It’s all got me feeling rather nostalgic. Christmas, after all, is about making magical memories – a thread that runs through our Happy Holidays story (page 30), in which some of our favourite designers share the traditions they cherish. Another thread to that feature is the…

MAKE YOUR STATEMENT WITH SCALE When it comes to Christmas decorating, so often bigger is better as it feels luxurious and lavish but not fussy. Let the size do the talking – here, a huge wreath with a simple velvet ribbon is the star. Pine, twig and seed pod wreath, created by Frida Kim. Red velvet ribbon, from a selection, VV Rouleaux. Antique stone fireplace, £4,800; pair of antique silvered candlesticks; little felt goat, all Maison Artefact. Short silver candlestick, £12, Graham and Green. Clustered paper decorations, £10.50 each, Toast. 50 warm white LED micro battery outdoor fairy lights, £5.36, Lights4Fun → CREATE A COCKTAIL CORNER A green lacquer drinks trolley with a pretty scalloped edge holds all the entertaining essentials, while gifts in green and white wrapping top off…

1. CERES STUDIO Introduction to Natural Dye Print (two-day course) Time: 10:30-16:30 (two days, usually weekends) Location: Brixton, London Price: £280 ceresstudio1.com 2. HOUSE OF QUINN @ RAY STITCH Curved Patchwork & Abstract Appliqué day workshops with House of Quinn Time: 10:30-17:30 Location: Ray Stitch, Islington, London Price: £180 raystitch.co.uk 3. MARMOR PAPERIE @ COCKPIT ARTS Introduction to Paper Marbling Time: Half day (3 hours) or full day (6 hours) Location: Cockpit Arts, London Price: £65 (half day), £120 (full day with book binding) marmorpaperie.co.uk 4. CREATE ACADEMY Dan Pearson’s Guide to Naturalistic Garden Design (online workshop) Time: five hours of tuition broken down into 10-15 lessons covering different topics Price: £127 (lifetime access) createacademy.com 5. ONE GARDEN BRIGHTON Introduction to Sustainable Gardening for the Future Time: 10:00-16:00 Location: One…

MAKE YOUR OWN MARBLED CERAMIC BAUBLES THIS charming project has been created by Lucy McGrath, who started Marmor Paperie in 2015 with the mission to breathe new life into the endangered craft of marbling. She makes luxury stationery using her original marbled papers and loves experimenting with materials and techniques. YOU WILL NEED  12g carrageenan powder (available from marmorpaperie.co.uk) 2ltr water Blender or electric mixer 5ltr bucket or deep container Newspaper Your preferred acrylic paints Jars or disposable cups Paintbrushes Skewer Ceramic baubles (you can find these at Hobbycraft) Gloves to protect your hands Your preferred ribbon 1. Put the carrageenan into your blender. Add 500ml water and blend until you can’t see any bits. Gradually add the remaining water, blending periodically to make sure it is all mixed together.…

COLOUR AND PATTERN ‘Dining rooms should make a statement and have that wow-factor, being the perfect setting for a celebration for special meals,’ says Emma Deterding, founder of Kelling Designs. ‘Use a warm bold colour that cocoons you and makes you feel cosy and safe in the space, especially in winter as that’s when most of us use our dining rooms.’ Burgundy, blue and green are ideal hues and remember that lacquering paint will give a reflective quality, bouncing more light into the space. CREATING A MULTI-USE SPACE For a dining room to earn its keep, it has to work hard – and that requires careful planning. Elements such as closed storage to hide office and homework clutter are crucial, as is finding a table with the appropriate surface –…

Affordable Art Fair Started in London in 1999, this is now a global event, taking place in locations from New York to Sydney, as well as a new virtual fair. The Other Art Fair This is one of the world’s leading art fairs bringing art lovers together with the best emerging artists. Shop from thousands of artwork in person, online or in its virtual fair worlds. Artfinder Founded in London in 2013, this is an online marketplace for original art from around the globe. There are over 200,000 pieces to choose from. Uprise Art This SoHo-based contemporary gallery has a specific filter for works of art worth under $800 (some are for sale for as little as $80). Art Gazette A curated platform based in London and Cape Town offering…

‘Emerald green packs a full but at the same time an understated punch. It can transport you to the cool tiled floors of Marrakech or to the traditional drawing room of a late 18th-century Georgian mansion, and it’s being used more and more in interiors today. This colour works with anything and is bang up to date.’ DAVID HARRIS, design director, Andrew Martin ‘Don’t fight a room being small and dark: often it works really well to embrace strong colours instead. A striking yet warm green on the walls will have the effect of creating an intimate and cosy space.’ KATHARINE PARAVICINI, founder, Katharine Paravicini Interior Design ‘Emerald green is a wonderful colour for a kitchen. I first saw it used by Kelly Wearstler for Cameron Diaz’s Manhattan home, which…

Sandra Nunnerley shares her style vision and loves SECRET ADDRESS Maison Gerard for my own furniture collection and Rose Tarlow for fabrics. GREATEST INDULGENCE Working with luxurious textured fabrics. For this project we used a lot of Loro Piana. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Moving the dining room into the ‘great room’ in the kitchen. Making the former dining room into a wine tasting room. GO-TO COLOUR There’s not one I don’t like. Every colour is appropriate in the right setting. DESIGN HEROES Many design heroines… Chessy Rayner and Mica Ertegun of MAC II, who understood elegant living combined with art and beautiful objects. Gabriella Crespi, artist designer of furniture and interiors. Eileen Gray, architect, interior designer and her lacquer work… beyond brilliant.…

YOU WILL NEED Try to source the below from local growers. You can find a good list of growers throughout the UK via Flowers from the Farm. 3 x long lengths of hazel branches with catkins 5 x smaller hazel branches with catkins 5 x generous handfuls cotoneaster 5 x generous handfuls mixed acacia/mimosa 25 x stems Chamelaucium Adi (Knop) 10 x stems Hellebores aarendelle ‘MaraRed’ 20 x stems Talinum ‘LongJohn’ TOOLS Buckets to hold water, to condition stems Scissors and secateurs for cutting stems Screws or eye hooks, if fixing into a wall or wood Flexible, strong household wire or floristry reel wire, to secure branches Reusable plastic test tubes, to hold water 1. The first step is to condition the stems. Before you begin to create your design,…

ORIENTATION The front of the Manor faces north-east but all areas receive sun during the summer months. SOIL TYPE Improved heavy clay. SPECIAL FEATURES Six-acre garden with formal parterre, topiary and hedging; Walled Garden with productive area; water features, orchard and wildflower area; Temple Garden; innovative new Courtyard Garden; perennial displays throughout. GARDEN DESIGN Julie Toll Landscape & Garden Design, Business Technology Centre, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2DX, 01438 310095, julietoll.co.uk.…

A MULTITASKING FEATURE Clipped evergreens are perfect for creating a punctuation point in your planting scheme, for introducing low shapes to edge paths and to add definition to containers. Choose lollipop bay trees, smart box balls and pompom conifers to add strong shapes that help to define spaces. Topiary is also low-maintenance and looks good all year round. The rules for topiary are simple: decide on the height and shape you want, then get clipping. Cube shapes are one of the easiest and are good for dividing different planting areas in the garden. Choose shrubs with small leaves and thick dense foliage such as privet. The more you clip the smaller the leaves become, making it a good choice for defining a sharp outline. Topiary suits a repeat design and…

NEW INDUSTRIAL The Diesel Get Together kitchen by Scavolini is an evolution of the hugely successful modular Diesel Social kitchen collection launched four years ago. The idea is that individual components can be put together to create a personalised, soft industrial look that feels at home in any kitchen/living space. To help further bridge the gap between these two areas, Get Together is completed by the Misfits collection: a series of painted metal storage elements including trolleys, tables and cupboards. Diesel Get Together kitchens start from £15,000, Scavolini BROAD STROKES Acclaimed furniture designer Edward Collinson’s free-standing Broad kitchen has been redesigned with a larger worksurface and an integrated sink and drawers. Handcrafted and made to order in his London studio, the thoughtfully conceived kitchen has generously sized drawers to fit…

KITCHENAID The professional grade Chef Touch system, £11,450, has a vacuum machine for preserving and sous-vide cooking, a steam oven and shock freezer. kitchenaid.co.uk MIELE With innovative M Chef technology, the Dialog oven, from £8,199, can automatically bake, roast, warm or thaw dishes simultaneously.miele.co.uk PROCOOK Made from X50 hand-sharpened stainless steel and beech, the Nihon X50 range of knives, from £52, makes light work of dicing, mincing and julienning. procook.co.uk VORWERK The Thermomix countertop appliance, from £1,149, makes soups, sauces and ice cream and has functions for steaming and sous-vide cooking. vorwerk.co.uk…

AN ELEGANT seaside inn once host to Ava Gardner and Cary Grant as they vacationed on the Portuguese Riviera in the 1940s, The Albatroz Hotel in Cascais has been given a joyous revamp by designer Gracinha Viterbo. Located on a cliff with steps from its pool down to a private beach, the glittering Italianate building is vintage glamour personified. The hotel has 40 rooms and six suites dressed in maximalist patterns and studded with contemporary pottery and lighting. Throughout the hotel, original details have been thoughtfully preserved, allowing hand-carved banisters and traditional azulejo tiles to be paired with bold tropical friezes and macramé tapestries by young Portuguese artists. The restaurant, a hot spot from the hotel’s heyday for elite locals, has been clad in a palette of azure blues featuring…

AN enduring memory of my family home is my bedroom, as Mum and Dad gave me licence to go crazy with it. The result was certainly original: my dad is a talented cabinetmaker and furniture designer, and he would make things for me if I sketched them out. They included a bed with drawers underneath that he made after I decided I needed more storage space. Looking back, the signs of what I would do for a career were all there! ONE of my favourite pieces in my current home is a 36-drawer apothecary cabinet. My dad’s friend was getting rid of it just as I was buying my first place and as soon as he saw it, Dad knew I’d love it. It’s huge, which wasn’t an issue in…

CHRISTMAS WRAPPED UP With the big day just around the corner, we couldn’t help but notice these beautiful handmade Nepalese Lokta wrapping papers from Rowen & Wren. The marbled patterns in beautiful jewel tones would make the perfect finishing touch to any gift. Handmade Folk wrapping paper in Marbled Gold, Blush Snowdrop, Golden Fleck, Mulberry Weave and Night Sky, £3 a sheet, Rowen & Wren. LIGHT TO LOVE As ever, this season’s collection from Julian Chichester has some breathtakingly beautiful new pieces to add to his ever-growing emporium. The Dove chandelier, £2,160, with its articulating arms and perfect plaster finish is a true standout design, but it is the brushed brass finish that coats each light shade that steals the show. DEBUT COLLECTION Campbell-Rey, founded by Duncan Campbell and Charlotte…

OLIVIA MORRIS, SHOE DESIGNER Christmas is about making it magical for our kids, Percy and Daphne, and as relaxing as possible for me. It’s never a huge gathering. In mid-December, we choose our tree at Harborough Nurseries and decorate it together with ornaments collected on our travels as well as new ones I buy for the kids every year to open when we get the tree. Just before Christmas Eve, we forage for flowers, holly, berries and grasses at a nearby country park to decorate the table, hallway and a wild wreath that I add to every year (I first made it on a course at Great Dixter 10 years ago). I don’t go mad spending – I cut last year’s Christmas cards into gift tags and wrap presents with…

1. FOUR QUARTERS @fourquartershome Brad sources a mixture of furniture and homeware, with a focus on Art Deco and mid-century pieces. 2. EESOME @eesomeshop Hana’s shop is aimed at the modern home and conscious consumer. It specialises in vintage European ceramics combining organic form and function. 3. ONE OFF PIECE @oneoffpiecelondon Sophie curates beautiful objects for your home: be it a hand-painted bowl, showstopper vase or the perfect pair of candlesticks. 4. PETIT PANIER @petitpanier_home Marie offers unique pre-loved wicker finds, antiques and objects d’art. In addition, she’s just launched her own vintage-inspired collection. 5. OLD OLD NOT NEW @oldoldnotnew.store Friends Rachel Callender and Tamara Hough founded Old Old Not New to share their love of mid-century glassware and ceramics. 6. KEPT @keptlondon From antique wall sconces to vintage art,…

AS furniture makers, we’re often the last ones into our clients’ projects. And working on our own house over the last year, I’ve developed an acute understanding of the process it takes to get a project ready for the furniture. Often our work is pushed back due to delays. It’s safe to say I can sympathise with the time things take – whether it’s bricklaying or plastering, I’ve had a go at it all. Our house is far from complete and I’ve come to appreciate that while our commercial clients can’t work to open-ended projects, the rest of us should try to accept that a project is as much about the journey as the destination. Before we moved to Margate, we lived in a flat in London. We had the…

SEBASTIAN COX  This award-winning London-based bespoke fine furniture designer creates beautiful pieces using English wood from sustainable sources.sebastiancox.co.uk POOKY  A company that supplies design-led decorative lighting and lampshades, known for its affordable prices and wide, ever-expanding choice of styles. pooky.com SOHO HOME  The interiors collection that includes furniture, lighting, tableware and accessories, created for and inspired by the various Soho Houses.sohohome.com SUMMERILL & BISHOP  Creator of unusual and original table settings, from glassware and serveware to decorative accessories, cutlery, napkins and tablecloths.summerillandbishop.com…

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF. I am a Sussex girl – I grew up with the Bloomsbury group’s Charleston and the arts and crafts house Standen on my doorstep, and spent holidays discovering the nooks and crannies of National Trust properties with my family. I trained in fashion design but moved into the more relaxed world of homeware with my first job at Habitat. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE NEW CRAFTSMEN CAME ABOUT? Having had 15 years creating in the Far East, I needed to find meaning in ‘things’ again and set out on a road trip around the British Isles in search of authentic objects and making traditions rooted in a place – along with the people who made them. I was brought together with the people who…

SUCCESSFUL LIGHT SCHEMES THE first thing I do when planning lighting is to find places in a space for table lamps, sconces, picture lights, pendants, floor lamps and desk lights – decorative elements come first. ■ When lighting, imagine what you’ll be doing in that space. If you’ll be reading in an armchair, you need a floor lamp. Dimmers are essential so you can set the mood and use several lights, but all on low. ■ I use as few spotlights as possible. They have their place, but if you rely on them for the bulk of light you’re just blanket lighting, rather than working with thought or care. Once decorative positions are decided, fill any gaps with more architectural lighting like spotlights. ■ Rather than blanket lighting, instead make…

Christmas is a time to relax for interior designer Laura Butler-Madden, husband Patrick and their three-year-old daughter Lily. ‘It can be hugely stressful if you put too much pressure on the day, so we allow ourselves to take it slowly with early morning stockings, followed by a leisurely breakfast then a sociable stroll with both families – Patrick’s visit from Madrid each year. Lunch comes late, around 4pm or 5pm, with an Anglo-Spanish meal combining traditional British turkey with Iberian delicacies like aged hams and piquant olives. The couple had completed work on their Georgian townhouse in Bath just before last Christmas, so this year they’re more settled and able to fully enjoy it. ‘We fell for the house because of its architectural history and saw the scope to breathe…

What inspired you to become a landscape designer? In my 20s I worked in my parents’ bar and restaurant business but then decided I wanted to do something different. I applied for a job in a local garden centre and after ending up in the potting shed, I started to read up about plants – and that’s where my passion really started. I went on to study landscape construction, which gave me the qualifications I needed to set up my own garden design company. “EACH PROJECT BECOMES A CHAPTER IN A STORY, A UNIQUE COMPOSITION THAT REFLECTS EVERYTHING I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT PLANTS” When it comes to gardening, were there any formative experiences when you were a child? I was brought up in Bloemendaal, a town in the countryside near…

■ Taking the front door as the centre point, at either side of the path draw up a mirror image design with rectangles or circles that fit the designated space. ■ Mark up and plant the outline with evergreens, such as box, yew and Ilex crenata. ■ Plant with a central spiral, pyramid or cone of box or a winter-themed planter. ■ Infill with seasonal planting: spring bulbs, summer roses, winter hellebores, skimmia, heathers. ■ Place twin planters beside the door using materials and plants to complement the parterre.…

“RIBBONS OF CLOUD-PRUNED BOX HEDGING CAN CREATE A FRAME AND COUNTERPOINT TO A FLOWING BORDER OF PRAIRIE PLANTING” JEFF STEPHENSON, Bowles & Wyer APPROACH COMES BEFORE TECHNIQUE Create a clear picture in your mind about the form you’re going to create then sculpt it into shape. Adopt the practice ‘measure twice, cut once’ when it comes to topiary: look, cut once, then look again. Timing is crucial, too. Allow new seasonal growth to expand, harden up and darken as the cuticles on leaves thicken. It’s healthier for the plant, rather than nipping off every shoot as it emerges. FIND YOUR BEST FIT The more you invest in tools, the better quality you’ll get. But also consider ergonomics. If a tool feels comfortable, then this will show in the quality of…

Is there a change in what clients are looking for since the pandemic? Many clients are working on new schemes in tones of blush pink and plum browns alongside hints of sand and ochre – a fresher look than the strong greys of recent years. What are the most popular tiles at the moment? Marble tiles for walls and floors are enduringly popular. Glazed mosaics with a linear Japanese feel, like our Zeze and Kasama ranges, are also popular, as are larger-format porcelain tiles for floors. Which new tile designs should be on our radar? Mosaics for walls will grow in popularity through 2022, particularly for bathrooms. Reclaimed, eco-conscious tiles are also gaining in popularity. What are the key differences between ceramic, porcelain and cement tiles? Ceramic tiles can be…

WITH THE GRAIN In contemporary settings, fluted patterns can be used to provide 3D interest – just enough to add character, while retaining the simplicity required to work in modern designs. ‘Fluted surfaces catch the light, creating deep shadows and texture within a room, and are particularly effective when set against a simple white space,’ agrees Stuart Piercy, founding director, Piercy&Company. ‘In natural solid materials, like the American black walnut and Calacatta Crema marble splashbacks used in this kitchen for the BBC Television Centre residential redevelopment in west London, fluting reveals the beautiful grain pattern and vein running through the core. It is an intriguing detail with wonderful depth.’ POINT OF FOCUS Tactile, traditional and with a certain decorative quality, the fluted sink is making a big comeback. ‘In these…

EMMA Dodi is the banker turned baker, renowned for her hand-painted macarons and cake artistry. Born and raised in Rome, she came to the UK to train in law, worked at Goldman Sachs and after baby number four decided to ‘make cakes’. She took masterclasses with LiMa Cakes, Winifred Kriste and Tortik Annushka before launching her own cake studio. Emma’s bespoke creations from cupcakes and occasion cakes to macarons are the talk of the town with clients including de Gournay and Ridley London. She splits her time between Clapham and her holiday home on the Kent/Sussex border. ■ Camber Sands is my escape. It was the beach that brought us here to our contemporary new-build eco house down a little track opposite the famous dunes. It is where I feel…

Tell us about yourself. I’m an artist and ceramicist based in the Fens. I work from my kitchen table in a 16th-century manor house where I live with my three young children. I work in terracotta and white slip, using traditional sgraffito techniques. How would you describe your Instagram account? It is a working sketchbook and diary. I use it to document ideas, demonstrate work in progress and record special things. It is a mood board from one swipe up to the next. And if I’m entirely honest, I hope it’s a good endorsement to a slower, more thoughtful way of being, one which rejects the pace of contemporary life. Which accounts would you recommend that we follow? @tat.london is my favourite and the best interiors feed on Instagram –…

Design is about working with space,’ says Lucy Hammond Giles. ‘Creating rooms that look beautiful but also that feel right and make people comfortable being in them – combining timeless form with essential function, mixing both the prosaic and the poetic.’ Lucy speaks from years of experience as one of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler’s prestigious team of decorators. ‘It’s about understanding what is existing: the house and the people who will live in it, and how to make it joyous and interesting while functional and relaxed.’ When it came to her own home, Lucy faced every decorator’s challenge of being aware of the myriad possibilities, while dealing with the parameters of real life. ‘I love light, space and pattern but there were limits, narrowed by our circumstances: the house…

“ BRING THE OUTSIDE in by foraging in the garden or woods. Fresh foliage and flowers form the base of all our decorations, whether a garland on the mantelpiece, an arrangement of branches in the hallway or a more structured table display. I love adding fresh foliage to the tree with clear glass ornaments for some sparkle. The perfect Christmas scent allows me to reminisce about evenings by a cosy fire. My favourite incense is Astier de Villatte’s Oulan Bator, with its notes of leather, tobacco and wood smoke.” HENRY MILLER-ROBINSON, co-founder, K&H Design “ TRADITIONALLY, we think of wreaths for front doors but this year you could use it on the Christmas dining table as a centrepiece or on the wall as a festive focal point. For use on…

LAYERED NEUTRALS A restrained colour palette can have a calming and elegant effect. For a room that works through the seasons opt for natural simplicity, leaving bold patterns and brighter hues in favour of muted tones, clear glass and natural materials. Here, the wall panelling has been painted in a soft, stone-like neutral that is comfortingly familiar. A traditional wooden dining table (this one is an antique from Maison Artefact) and rush-seat chairs continue the rustic feel, while candlelight provides an atmospheric glow. Decoration has been kept to a minimum, with woven placemats, linen napkins and foraged greenery, large paper . cosy . ON DISPLAY When not in use, dining tables make for the most wonderful display surfaces. With a little effort they can be transformed into a mini exhibition space…

FOR many years, the easiest way to access art was to buy prints or limited editions. Thanks to social media – and, in particular Instagram, which connects artists and clients without a gallery middleman – the market has exploded with opportunities. Works can start from as little as $100. And it’s not always about finding the next Rothko or Hockney, it’s about discovering a piece of art that you love. HOW TO START When building a collection, one tip is to start small – literally. Smaller works typically have a more modest price tag, offering the opportunity to add more pieces. ‘A beautifully chosen grouping of bijou works is chic, chic, chic!’ says Jennifer Conner of the Affordable Art Fair UK, who also runs her own gallery After Nyne Contemporary.…

Three newcomers to know @maccollins__ – dynamic, intelligent and contemporary furniture designer-maker. @nelfaulknerpots – ceramicist with a great sense of fun. @thebackwardvendor – sculptural, innovative approach to working with leather (launching for Christmas). Most treasured piece A slipware bowl I bought from renowned potter Clive Bowen while on my craft trip. I eat out of it every morning and its earthiness seems to have a grounding effect on me before a busy day. Favourite name from the craft world Bernard Leach (1887-1979), who drew on both Japanese and British traditions. He recognised the beauty in everyday, functional pottery by unknown craftsmen, as well as the more individual expressions created by potters. His principles form the basis of studio pottery traditions in this country and beyond. The pieces that inspires you…

There are few Aspen chalets more rooted in their magnificent surroundings than one of architect “I INFUSE MY PROJECTS WITH BEAUTY AND ELEGANCE BUT NEVER AT THE EXPENSE OF COMFORT AND LIVEABILITY” Alan Wanzenberg’s latest creations built into the side of a mountain. A change of heart from the original clients meant the nearly completed project was a blank canvas for the new owners, an Olympic yachtsman and American horse breeder, as well as their three adult children and grandchildren. They turned to New Zealand-born, New York-based interior designer Sandra Nunnerley. ‘I’d worked previously on their horse farm in Maryland, so I was familiar with their style and the way they live,’ she explains. ‘The project was only partially finished so it was like completing a jigsaw.’ Sport has always…

MOST SUCCESSFUL PART OF THE PROJECT The main bathroom – I am obsessed with the marble shower! BIGGEST INDULGENCE The marble in the house – we found some beautiful natural stones to use in this project and they make a statement. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Re-opening the original Georgian doorway between the sitting room and the kitchen. GO-TO BRAND La Maison Pierre Frey for stunning fabrics and fun/bold wallpapers. My schemes are quite calm and pared back and these elements make such a difference to the overall feel. DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Elegant, calm and fresh. DESIGN HEROES Architect Joseph Dirand and designer Kelly Wearstler.…

Given their inclination to write poetry inspired by the natural world, Lydia Macpherson and Nick MacKinnon’s move to the moors an transition. When Nick retired from his job as a teacher at Winchester College, the couple, who are both poets, found themselves free to return to the landscape that Lydia’s family had inhabited for generations. The property Lydia and Nick bought sits at the end of a track that climbs the hill towards Top Withens, the abandoned farm whose remote location before the stark and glorious moors beckon is said to have inspired Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. ‘It was pretty much an impulse buy,’ Lydia admits. ‘We were staying with my family and walking to Top Withens one day when we noticed the house was for sale. We bought it…

Best for fragrance Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ Best for berries Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana – great for winter bedding, pots and planters Best for bark White, multi-stemmed Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii Best for colour Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’, a traffic light of red, amber and green spiky foliage Best for frost-rimmed texture Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’ Best winter vegetable Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera (sprouts) Best for evergreen topiary Taxus baccata (yew) Best for deciduous topiary Fagus sylvatica (beech)…

CROWN TOPIARY Family-run firm supplying topiary from its nursery. Good choice of varieties to create ‘instant gardens’, with the use of pre-prepared topiary hedging, arches and parasol trees, as well as more traditional topiary forms. crowntopiary.co.uk EARLSTONE BOX & TOPIARY Supplier of native English field-grown box offering one of the finest collections of quality large box topiary and contemporary cloud hedging in the UK.earlstoneboxandtopiary.com THE TOPIARY & HEDGING CO Based in East Sussex, this firm grows, sources and supplies multiple types of hedging and topiary plants as well as pleached, architectural specimens and rare species. topiaryandhedging.co.uk…

EFFICIENT LAYOUTS Complex cooking requires a layout focused on the economy of movement, with the ‘chef’ at the centre of the action. Double galley layouts – or a single galley with a long island running parallel – are efficient, requiring only a few steps between prep, sink and cooking. ‘To make the cooking process seamless, every item should have a purpose and a place – you should be able to reach whatever you need almost without thinking about it so that you can focus on guests as well as cooking,’ advises chef Galton Blackiston, brand ambassador for Tom Howley. ‘My perfect home layout includes banked appliances, at eye-level, an island for entertaining and a well-stocked pantry.’ FUSS-FREE SURFACES ‘When choosing worktops, avoid materials that can scratch or stain easily,’ says…

1 CALM SYMMETRY Positioning a double-ended bath centrally on the wall harnesses the power of symmetry to make a more impactful statement. In this main bathroom of an imposing 18th-century country home, the balanced proportions of a panelled double-ended bath are boosted by the precisely positioned artwork and wall lights above. ‘The bath works with the wall lights to complete a harmonious ensemble with a spa-like sense of calm,’ says designer Lisa Persse. Portman painted bath in Portland Stone Pale by Little Greene, with marble top, from £5,214; Kew wall lights, from £366 each, Porter Bathroom. 2 SMART LAYERING Traditional roll-top baths are a prime target for painting, which makes colour coordination a breeze. Best of all, the colour can be switched up whenever it’s time for a change. ‘In…

PEAR AND ROSEMARY BUNDT CAKE WITH LEMON ICING SERVES 12 200g salted butter, plus extra for greasing 4 pears, peeled and cubed 2 tsp finely chopped rosemary leaves, plus extra sprigs to decorate 375g golden caster sugar 420g plain flour 1 tbsp baking powder 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda A pinch of fine salt 4 eggs Finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus juice to taste 2 tsp vanilla extract 240ml natural yogurt 200g icing sugar, sifted 25g salted butter, melted ■ Melt 30g butter in a pan and sauté the pears and rosemary until the pears turn golden. Add 25g sugar and cook until the pears are browned on all sides and liquid has evaporated. Tip into a shallow bowl to cool. ■ Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4.…