Innehållsförteckning för May 2022 från Homes & Gardens

This month, with spring in full bloom, we were moved to show how the fresh, soothing and often exuberant colours and textures of nature can create a feeling of sanctuary at home, so vital in these times. This is best showcased in our decorating story, A New Leaf (p49), a feast of delightful looks inspired by verdant foliage, pretty florals and soft greens – you can see my favourite space on the front cover. Standout Style (p163) delves into the new – and H&G approved – trend for using bold hues, eye-catching patterns and arresting materials in that most important of home havens: the bathroom. Lovers of more muted schemes will appreciate Textural Beauty (p57), an edit of pared-back rooms enriched with the tactility of wood, stone and linen. For…

In Margate it’s seagulls rather than foxes that empty bins and scatter the contents over the pavements. This is particularly distressing living next to the sea as it only takes a matter of hours before plastic can be breezed into the wash. People blame the gulls, but I jump to their defence – they are scavengers, doing what they’ve evolved to do to survive. My response is to question why there’s anything in a bin for seagulls to eat anyway? We have to take responsibility for our rubbish, and more importantly than any other category of our waste is our food waste. An astonishing one third of food produced globally is wasted, more than enough to feed the undernourished people of the world. The production of food is environmentally costly…

SIMPLE UPDATES A HOME evolves over time – some argue it never gets to a stage of full maturity – and yet I am often asked how you can quickly and cheaply inject new life. I believe there are a number of ways to instantly get an amazing look. Every object and every space should make a contribution to the home – even a single piece of art can make a big and immediate difference. Here are some of my easy wins to help make your house feel more like a home. ■ The first cheat that comes to mind is plants and bringing the outdoors in. Houseplants have never been so accessible: a quick visit to your local garden centre and you can pick up a whole jungle of greenery…

PLANNING PERMISSION Make sure to allow time and energy for managing the planning permission process. ‘[It] was challenging,’ admits architect Will Gamble, talking about his Parchment Works project. ‘It involved lots of back and forth and detailed discussion with the local planning authority due to the sensitive nature of the listed building and scheduled monument but we finally arrived at a design that everyone was happy with.’ MANAGING THE BUDGET ‘Cost control starts from the outset, says architect Andrew Mulroy: ‘Try to keep as much of the existing structure as you can. This means that all areas of the house are fully utilised rather than some rooms being dark and redundant. Get regular cost checks on your design as it evolves so you can steer it back on track before…

WE continually seek beautiful designs to grace our pages and when the opportunity arose to design a collection with Love Your Home we knew it would be the perfect partnership, having long been admirers of the superior quality of the brand’s work. The result of this collaboration is the classic and versatile Bloomsbury Collection, which comprises two armchairs and a sofa that we can proudly call our own – and we know you’ll love it, too. We set about to achieve elegance and craftsmanship in the designs and feel the pieces created for the collection combine those traits brilliantly. IN HARMONY Whatever the mood of the decor in your home, you’ll find a seat to suit. With mix-and-match fabrics in either loose or fitted covers, and a versatile colour palette,…

Can it ever be too late to change your career? Sarah Brown would say no. The former graphic designer spent more than a decade working in publishing before deciding it was time to fulfil her teenage dream of becoming an interior designer. A course at KLC School of Design led to work placements with Nicola Harding and Rita Konig, both doyennes of colourful interiors. Becoming ‘the oldest intern in town’ (sorting samples and doing the coffee run were part of the job) was an invaluable education in the realities of a trade often portrayed as glamorous. ‘Being creative is a small part of the business. The rest is about being organised, keeping on top of budgets and getting on with suppliers,’ says Sarah, who set up her practice in 2017.…

GREATEST SUCCESS The transformation of the ‘great room’ from an indoor swimming pool into a space we use all the time. BIGGEST INDULGENCE The Lutron lighting control. It was expensive but we love it. You can switch off the whole house with one button – very useful with teenagers. GO-TO COLOUR In this home, it was a beautiful blend of olive and sage greens. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Nothing we did was small! Making sure all the walls were properly insulated is a change you wouldn’t notice but made a big difference to heat efficiency. INDULGENCE YOU WOULDN’T FORGO The cinema – we spend so much time in there now, as we did during lockdown. WHAT’S ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE Photo books with all our snaps from our travels.…

PROFILE DESIGNER Peter Reader Landscapes (readerlandscapes.com). LOCATION Highgate, north London. ORIENTATION Southwest facing. SOIL TYPE Clay soil. KEY FEATURES Measuring 23x13.5m, this walled garden has views from the kitchen-diner and living room. Strong landscaped structure and a semi-formal pond are softened by naturalistic planting and fruit trees. 1 HARMONIOUS HARDSCAPE  garden loosely separate ‘rooms’ that flow into each other through the use of hardscape, including low retaining walls and cobble detailing. More formal by the house, the planting style becomes gradually more naturalistic, culminating in an orchard of five fruit trees within a small wildflower meadow. 2 TERRACE VIEW A central semi-formal pond creates a key element. The view to the pond from the living room terrace runs between two flower beds creating a sight line to an armillary sundial…

Peter’s favourite garden plants Best for damp spots Equisetum hyemale can be grown in moist soil or in water up to 10cm deep. Best for a long season of interest Cornus kousa is a small tree with large creamy bracts in early summer, followed by pink, strawberry-like fruits and red/purple leaves in autumn. Best easy-care perennial Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is a healthy, compact cultivar with deep purple upright flowers that don’t need staking. Best for shade Dryopteris affinis does best in shade but can also deal with several hours of sun each day. In mild winters it will keep its leaves. Best for ground cover Campanula poscharskyana ‘E.H. Frost’. Spreading via underground runners, this plant will quickly fill crevices and cracks with its evergreen leaves and white, star-shaped flowers. Best…

PULL UP A STOOL When it comes to bar stools, bespoke maker Jack Trench points to a trend for more intimate perching in the kitchen. ‘This may be a single or two-stool perching point, or simply a more economically sized breakfast bar,’ says director, Jack Trench. ‘The trend stems from those with kitchen-diners, who are realising they don’t always need extensive breakfast bars in addition to a table. However, they do still want seating within the hub of the kitchen. This is where the kitchen perch comes into its own; informal seating for a quick coffee or checking emails.’ THE MONO SHELF Draw the line on busy shelfies with one single elongated platform on which to curate artful displays. Sophisticated paint effects will prevent an otherwise empty wall from feeling…

BLANCO Leading German manufacturer focused on the sink hub, covering sinks, taps and bins – with about 2,000 sink options alone. blanco.co.uk FRANKE The world’s largest sink manufacturer with an extensive selection with undermount, flushmount inset and Belfast options, plus taps and accessories. franke.co.uk OFFICINE GULLO Luxury-level designs in burnished brass, brushed steel and antiqued copper, immaculately engineered and hand forged in this Italian company’s Tuscan foundry. officinegullo.com SHAWS OF DARWEN This Lancashire-based manufacturer has been producing fireclay Butler and Belfast sinks since 1897, and remains the goto for traditional options.shawsofdarwen.com…

WHY WOOD In the quest to soften the look of bathrooms, wooden flooring is becoming something of a designer favourite. ‘Floorboards in a bathroom add warmth and natural texture,’ explains interior designer Nicola Harding of Nicola Harding & Co, while James Lentaigne, creative director of Drummonds, focuses on its character. ‘Using a real wood floor is a wonderful way to bring personality into the bathroom, making it feel like a “real” room and one with a soft, rich feel,’ he says. WHAT TO SELECT Fluctuations in temperature and humidity in a bathroom may make boards prone to warping, so consult your supplier before purchase: not all companies supply product recommended for bathroom use, while others offer specific options. ‘Engineered wood is better for a bathroom setting, because of its construction…

THERE is nothing I love more than cooking for lots of people, which is what I do at The Arniano Painting School – and it is also the subject of my new cookbook A House Party in Tuscany. Arniano is my childhood home near Siena, which my parents bought in 1989, where they would regularly cook for a cohort of guests when I was growing up. Nowadays we host week-long painting retreats at the house. I try to emulate the hospitality my parents were famous for, while up to 15 guests capture the beautiful surrounding landscape on canvas. Cooking two meals a day for 15 people sounds daunting but is in fact very rewarding. I love seeing the happy faces of our painters as they come in from their easels…

FRIED PUMPKIN OR COURGETTE FLOWERS SERVES 4 150g rice flour 2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder 1 tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp ground fennel 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp salt 200ml water 12 pumpkin or courgette flowers Sunflower oil, for deep-frying TO SERVE Sea salt, to sprinkle Lime wedges Chutney of your choice (optional) ■ In a large bowl, sift together the rice flour, spices and salt. Slowly add the water, whisking until you get a pancake batter consistency. Gently place the pumpkin or courgette flowers in the batter, turning them to coat. ■ Meanwhile, pour sunflower oil into a deep, heavy-based pan to a depth of 8cm. Place over a medium heat and heat to 180°C on a digital thermometer. Alternatively, you can drop in a tiny piece of…

AT EASE This spring Birdie Fortescue has looked to nature as inspiration for her Loire Collection. We love the Woven Bamboo armchair with Trellis seat cushion, £550, which combines a bamboo frame with rattan inserts. Designed in Norfolk and made by artisans in Assam, it’s available in three paint colours or natural bamboo. A COUNTRY AIR GP & J Baker’s new Ashmore collection takes design notes from spring and summer months and archive documents. Shown on these curtains, Ashmore Stripe in Aqua, £116m, sets the tone for the fabrics that perfectly encapsulate the timeless country house style the company is known for. MAKING A SPLASH Echoing the gentle ripples and reflections of water, the A’mare armchair, by Jacopo Foggini for Edra, evokes the feeling of sun-drenched days by the sea.…

‘When working with quiet neutrals, we like to focus on details. In a recent project, we used pale green-grey-blue for the dressing room. For character, we chose bolection moulding for the doors, a patinated antiqued mirror and elegant antique brass handles.’ KATIE GLAISTER AND HENRY MILLER-ROBINSON, co-founders, K&H Design ‘What we call a “smart neutral” has a pared-back aesthetic which is ideal for using alongside stronger colours, including terracotta and shades of brown.’ ROB WHITAKER, creative director, Claybrook ‘I love a versatile neutral that offers a warm, light and inviting tone which contrasts beautifully with crisp white ceilings and woodwork.’ OTTALIE STRIDE, creative director, Albion Nord ‘Using a neutral tone while avoiding a minimal or stark atmosphere is a delicate balancing act between the natural light, artificial lighting and the…

FOUNDED in 1999 by Mark Tremlett and his business partner Peter Tindall after they spotted a gap in the market for mattresses made from organic, sustainable materials, Naturalmat, which is based on the banks of the river Exe in Devon, is justifiably proud of its past – and present – innovations. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN The son of a boat designer and builder, Mark has long been a keen sailor but struggled to understand the poor quality mattresses installed on yachts – they were £30 pieces of foam on boats worth many millions. So Mark and Peter began putting together yacht mattress prototypes on Mark’s old table tennis table. The aim was to focus on breathable, natural fibres as an alternative to the synthetic materials typically used. Devon is known…

CRITTALL WINDOWS These are a popular choice for extensions, with the strong geometry of the dark metal frames forming the company’s distinctive signature look.crittall-windows.co.uk GRATE EXPECTATIONS A fireplace is at the top of many extension wish lists. This firm can advise on types of fire and their suitability for your home.grateexpectations.com ROUNDHOUSE This company can help maximise the efficiency of a kitchen extension and make sure that culinary and dining needs are met.roundhousedesign.com WESTBURY GARDEN ROOMS If you are considering an extension into the garden, this firm can guide you through the whole process. westbury gardenrooms.com…

As an interior designer, the talented Elizabeth Hay is always looking to craft spaces full of individuality. And that certainly was the brief – and challenge – with this home built in the 1980s in Singapore. ‘It was a bland building and the biggest difficulty was introducing architectural interest,’ says Elizabeth. The clients, two busy doctors with young sons, were keen for their home to have character, be low-maintenance and have plenty of sociable areas. The year-long project involved a full renovation of the bathrooms and kitchen and replacing uPVC windows with distinctive metal-framed ones, in addition to installing doors to match. The new windows and doors, along with a light well in the dining room, have flooded the interiors with light. Replacing the windows also made the house’s facade…

Sarah Brown shares her style inspiration BIGGEST SUCCESS Creating a cloakroom and a pantry off the kitchen; good storage is the recipe for a happy home. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Adding the glazed internal doors on the ground floor has allowed light to flood into what would otherwise have been a dark hallway. GO TO DESIGNER/BRAND Matthew Cox for the most wonderful lighting and furniture. MUSEUM TO VISIT The Museum of the Home in east London. The roomsets of urban middle-class living spaces from 1600 to the present day are so evocative. AN INDULGENCE Colourful Venetian Murano glasses for the table from Laguna-B.…

NATURAL FEEL ‘A naturalistic planting scheme relies on using drifts of plants in seemingly random patterns that are repeated to simulate a natural environment. You will be looking for delicacy rather than drama in terms of form and movement – grasses and perennials that suggest a sunny meadow, or ferns, ajuga and woodruff in shade under trees,’ explains award-winning garden designer David Stevens. RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE ‘Avoid over-bred cultivars – instead choose long-lived, ideally native, best-performing plants that will adore the soil and aspect of the bed and happily self-seed, increasing the natural feel. Create a palette of plants that naturally share the same type of habitat and don’t just think about the flower, but also the plant’s transformation throughout the seasons,’ advises landscape designer Michelle Brandon. STRONG DESIGN…

LUXE LEVEL UP ‘If you want to elevate luxuriousness in the kitchen, a waterfall countertop never fails to produce a showstopping feature. Rather than a standard flat slab of stone sat on top, the countertop ‘flows’ over the sides to the floor, which creates a very dramatic look,’ says Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio. ‘This kitchen island is an excellent example, featuring a porcelain waterfall top on two sides with a brass trim that complements the stunning solid brass front panels. In contrast to the smooth porcelain top, the solid brass has been distressed by hand, then aged and patinated.’ TEXTURAL TRIUMPH Worktops with an extra special tactile dimension will provide an additional layer of interest to your scheme. In this simply curated kitchen, the Carrara marble worktops and…

STATEMENT SCREENS Forget frameless, barely-there glass, a new breed of showcase screen is stealing the spotlight in the bathroom. Designed to be seen and adored, these focal-point fittings boast bold frames that incorporate sculptural curves. For similar, try the Arezzo arched black wetroom screen, £239, Victorian Plumbing. Bathroom designed by Decus Interiors. DOUBLE OR NOTHING The main en suite has been gaining gravitas for several years now with many of us sacrificing a guest bedroom to achieve grander proportions for shared bathrooms. We’re no longer stopping at ‘his and hers’ basins – now it’s de rigueur to double up on everything. ‘Separate basins are being joined by separate showers and even a towel rail each,’ says Lucy Barlow, founder and creative director, Barlow & Barlow, who designed this space. IN…

ELEMENT 7 This engineered wood flooring specialist recommends Larch and Douglas Fir for bathroom use because they can be washed with floor soap and water. element7.co.uk HAVWOODS Impressive range of solid, engineered and reclaimed wood flooring. Advises engineered wood panels or boards with a lacquered finish for bathrooms.havwoods.com SOLID FLOOR Known for bespoke wood floors, this firm suggests any of its pre-finished engineered wood floors can be used in bathrooms provided there is adequate ventilation. solidfloor.co.uk THE NATURAL WOOD FLOOR COMPANY A leading supplier for 30 years, it recommends robust engineered wood, preferably with an oiled finish, for bathrooms.naturalwoodfloor.co.uk…

EVA Sonaike’s vibrant brand was born from a desire ‘to bring homes to life with colour’. She describes her signature look as ‘African, specifically West African’, and speaks of how being born and raised in Germany and finding joy in her Nigerian heritage inspired her to fuse those cultural influences in her uplifting designs. Launched in 2009, Eva’s products are sold through boutique stores globally. Today, as well as designing soft furnishings, Eva and her team create wallpaper and fabric ranges. She has just started collaborating on a collection with Soho House and has worked with other interiors specialists, including C.P. Hart, to bring her beautiful aesthetic to a wider audience. Having begun her career as a fashion journalist, Eva shifted to interiors while refurbishing her own apartment. ‘My husband…

FLOWER POWER Calling all children of the 60s: Mindthegap’s latest collection, Woodstock, is a pattern punch just for you. Tie-dye shirts, psychedelic motifs and the iconic music festival provide influences for this bohemian scene. Flamboyant prints feature on wallpaper and fabrics; Susie Q is shown on wallpaper, £195 for three rolls, and on the Anatolia chaise lounge, £2,450. Cushions and lampshades, wall lights and rugs complete the look. ONE OF A KIND ‘When you can’t find one you like, make your own’ was interior designer Susie Atkinson’s sentiment when searching for a dressing table stool. She created The Sassy stool, £675, with a smart square shape and slim fixed cushion in a choice of eye-catching fabrics. Each piece is a one-off and handmade in England. 3 OF THE BEST Ripple…

LAYERS OF LOVELINESS This room is abundant with textures, from the mixed tones of the herringbone tiled floor and the different woods in the furniture, through to the chalky finish of the wallcovering and the blocky design of the upholstery. Wall in Washi in Parchment; chair in Boardwalk in Grey Mist; sofa in Flanders in White Sand; cushions in Blocks in Gunmetal and Lexington in Ochre, all Mark Alexander SCULPTURALLY STUNNING Textured furniture is further enhanced when combined with standout shapes. Pinch creates exquisitely crafted objects that celebrate form and material, as here with the Leamas table. The lines of the Avery chairs contrast with the gentle curves of the table’s form. The Beata cluster chandelier is another case in point, combining three shades in natural white woven straw. Leamas…

DIMINUTIVE DIRECTION Architectural practice Studio Hallett Ike’s ER Residence started as a small but well-proportioned one-bedroom flat in a Victorian terraced house. But thanks to clever design, the space was opened up into a two-bedroom apartment. ‘The new dining area, above, provides an immediate visual link to the garden,’ says co-founder Madeleine Ike. ‘We kept the material palette simple, using raw and natural materials. Stained Douglas Fir joinery forms a bespoke dining bench that extends from the kitchen. We also designed the dining table, which is made from blackened steel.’ Keeping the overarching palette warm, muted and minimal throughout helps to make the whole flat feel cohesive. HISTORY LESSON “THIS EXTENSION WAS BUILT FROM UPCYCLED MATERIALS, PREDOMINANTLY FOUND ON SITE. THIS ALLOWED THE PROPOSAL TO BLEND INTO ITS SURROUNDINGS AND…

INSTALLING BESPOKE WALLPAPERS The point with a bespoke wallpaper, unlike a repeat pattern, is that there is the opportunity to deliberately place the various elements within the wallpaper to best complement the space. Each panel is therefore designed and hung for a specific wall or area. This can be particularly useful when dealing with large-scale subject matter, such as trees, or if a room is complicated in its design. ‘And in our case, working in listed properties, it often is,’ explains Adam Ellis, who runs a fine art and design practice that specialises in bespoke wallpaper for private clients. ‘Our wallpapers are different because they are tailor-made for the room, and once a client references a design it can be adapted to the space in terms of colour, composition and…

Elizabeth Hay shares her style inspiration BIGGEST INDULGENCE Lighting and fabric. GREATEST SUCCESS The lightness and calm of the house, yet it feels layered and cosy at the same time. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT The arch between the sitting and dining room added architectural interest and draws your eye through the space. GO-TO COLOUR Eau de Nil hues, such as Grey Leaf from Dulux. SECRET ADDRESS Birdie Fortescue for wonderful accessories, art and all things interiors. DESIGN HEROES Robert Kime, Constance Spry and Jaime Parladé. OBJECT YOU WILL NEVER PART WITH My Kate Malone ceramics. LAST PIECE OF ART YOU BOUGHT A vintage watercolour of a Chinese junk boat.…

BIGGEST INDULGENCE Really great wood and the stone bathtub. GREATEST SUCCESS The hammock corner. The clients were drawn to it right away and it has become the cosiest space. GO-TO COLOUR Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke. YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Joyful, classical proportions. SOURCE OF INSPIRATION Books and travel. I avoid looking online as it feels like everyone is looking at the same things. FAVOURITE BUILDING New York’s Rockefeller Center – it has such a rich history. WORDS TO LIVE BY Let it go! MOST TREASURED POSSESSION My Alma Allen bed in combination with my Hästens mattress.…

Sloping gardens can be difficult to work with, but they are also often far more interesting and appear larger than a flatter site. Here are Peter’s tips on how to use a slope to your best advantage: ■ Proportions are important. When terracing an area, lots of smaller walls tend to be better than fewer large ones. ■ Get the most out of your walls by building them at sitting or tabletop height – that way they can double up as seating or dining areas. ■ Larger stones have more impact and look less fussy than smaller stones, but remember that, as with plants, for best effect you need a wide range of sizes, from very large to small. ■ When placing stones, remember to leave space for plants –…

MAXIMISE WILDLIFE IN GARDENS by keeping things as ’natural’ as possible. Using naturalistic planting is a perfect way to increase habitats and food for insects, bees, birds and small mammals. These habitats can be rich in diversity, beautiful and easy to look after. WILD FLOWER MEADOWS, even in quite small gardens, are an instantaneous way to deliver a rich and diverse habitat and a scheme of wild flowers, bulbs and grasses is easy to look after. I like to include herbaceous perennials, grasses and useful shrubs, densely planted to reduce weed growth and using larger groups of the same plant for good impact and easy care. These schemes can often look good well into the winter months and possibly out the other side depending on your aesthetic preferences. COMBINED WITH…

LAYOUT AND STYLE The wet zone of your kitchen calls for hygiene and ease of use, ideally with dishwasher and waste bin close by and in easy reach of the food storage, prep and cooking areas. ‘The best place for a sink is under a kitchen window, the perfect spot for watching the world go by as you do your chores, or in an island as a sociable spot that gives you the opportunity to see around the room,’ says Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL. SINK CHOICE There are plenty of different styles, from traditional farmhouse options to clean-lined, undermounted designs that fit neatly under the worktop for a more unobtrusive look. ‘Ceramic sinks look classic but can be hard to clean and the unyielding surface can break glass…

1 COLOUR DRENCH ‘We always recommend being adventurous when it comes to colour in bathrooms – as secondary spaces, they’re great places to experiment,’ says Lucy Barlow, creative director, Barlow & Barlow. ‘Colour drenching is a brilliantly bold technique that can really enhance a smaller room. We went for mustard and pink in this family bathroom because it’s appropriate for a child’s space without being too sickly for any adults who use it as well.’ Carnival Oro wall tiles, £79.20sq m, Fired Earth. Pink Pradena floor tiles, £62.25sq m, Bert & May. Blind in Improvisation 1 linen, £162m, Ottoline. Design by Barlow & Barlow 2 LIGHT DRAMA Oversized lighting with a strong silhouette can make an eye-catching statement without competing with other features, like the Primavera marble in this breathtaking…