Innehållsförteckning för July 2020 från Living Etc

This has hardly been the start to the summer we were all expecting, has it? Like many around the country, the Livingetc team has gone virtual, sitting at breakfast tables to put this issue together, making video calls while children and cats chatter away in the background, changing our email sign-offs to variations of ‘stay sane and safe’. And we really do appreciate how lucky we are that we get to carry on looking at incredible imagery and talking about design while front-line heroes do the heavy lifting for us all. What has struck me most during this time is the huge amount of optimism managing to stay alive in the most unlikely circumstances, like a flower peeping through a crack in the pavement. I sense it in the way…

What is Maison Bengal? We are a fair-trade company selling a range of bags, totes, baskets and mats. All our products are made by hand in Bangladesh, using indigenous raw materials such as jute or seagrass. Our raison d’être is to provide much-needed income to the thousands of marginalised young women who use their artisanal skills to expertly craft our products. Why did you launch the business? The idea of starting a fair-trade company began when I lived in Bangladesh in the early 2000s, working in family planning and reproductive health. Poverty was the underlying cause of so many of the issues affecting the women I worked with. In many cases poverty denied them basic human rights – access to education, nutrition, rights, decision-making, choices and life opportunities. At the…

“We can’t resist this space, where perfect period bones meet vintage and modern pieces. ‘The Victorian fireplace was missing but we’re happy with its Marquina marble replacement,’ says Banda founder Edo Mapelli Mozzi.” “Hard to believe that this sympathetically modernised loft space, which exudes atmospheric calm and diverse design ideas, was an NCP car park in a previous life. ‘We deliberately conceived the kitchen – and the whole apartment – to feel eclectic, while retaining a sense of the building’s character,’ says Fran.” “This fabulous foyer just oozes calm and serenity and is oh-so inspiring. Its creator Roisin Lafferty of Kingston Lafferty Design says, ‘We centred it around natural materials like charred-oak floors and various tones of marble to add depth and interest to the overall palette.” “This space looks…

“Trends move so fast, but as a subscriber you won’t be left behind. Every issue is devoted to the latest ideas in design and is packed with shopping inspiration. Call it a very smart investment in your home.” Save money on the shop price every month Money-back guarantee on any unmailed issues Find the coolest homes and an insight into modern design how to subscribe ORDER ONLINE AT magazinesdirect.com/LETCSAVE *TERMS AND CONDITIONS Offer closes 31 October. Offer open to new subscribers only. For full terms and conditions, visit 2020 www.magazinesdirect.com/terms. For enquiries, please e-mail: help@magazinesdirect.com…

‘Sage green is an optimal colour choice at the moment,’ says paint expert Annie Sloan. ‘It harnesses the calming energy inherent in green but anchors it with an earthiness and depth not always present in more vivid greens. Plus, it brings the outside in.’ ‘It’s vital to make your home feel safe and comfortable, and sage is perfect – reassuring yet uplifting and invigorating,’ says Judy Smith, Crown colour consultant. ‘It creates a space that’s full of life while still being relaxing and easy to live with.’ Green is at the centre of the colour wheel, so you can combine it with both warm and cool hues. ‘To create a calming effect, marry sage green with cool grey-whites for a soft Scandi feel,’ says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore…

A year after Meg Mathews bought her Primrose Hill home in 2010, the ground floor was devastated by an electrical fire. ‘I was going to renovate anyway but it certainly focused my attentions,’ says the former music PR turned entrepreneur. ‘I lost a lot of art, including work by Banksy. It was hard, especially for my daughter Anaïs who was only 12 at the time, but I realised we had too much stuff. We decided to reframe the experience as an opportunity to be more minimalist.’ Out of the ashes also came a new open-plan lifestyle, thanks to the removal of the wall between kitchen and living/dining room. ‘I went for the biggest glass doors and windows possible and the light is now beautiful,’ says Meg. The units were inspired…

Special effect As impressive as dynamic stone laying patterns can look, they can be pricey. Instead, try painting one on. Interior designer Beata Heuman believes it has the same striking overall impression but the fact that it’s just paint ensures that the finished look feels relaxed. The best method for achieving this involves mapping out the pattern using string and charcoal on a pre-primed floor. Three base colours are then painted one at a time and the veining is added last. Throw a curveball If you thought carpets were too trad for you, think again. Add both punch and comfort to your home by sourcing a funky pattern on a cosy wool canvas. Take note from Emily Murray from The Pink House, who used this bold honeycomb design to complement…

“Run out of streaming shows and looking to use your creativity? Then turn to Kelly Wearstler, who’s teamed up with MasterClass to create an online course teaching the practicalities of interior design. By the end of it you might just be able to rustle up a room like this (masterclass.com)”…

RYE HARBOUR NATURE RESERVE I discovered the reserve on a motorbike. I was ‘Islington girl’ at the time. Just 75 miles from the capital, it’s another-worldly coastal landscape of shingle ridges and salt marsh – home to rare wild flowers, birds and insects. I fell in love – as many DFLs do – with this magical spot where you can swim with seals, catch mackerel from kayaks and be delighted by stars on a pin-sharp night. So much so that I built a house here so that my sons could run free… and grow with the rhythm of nature in their blood.…

1 FROLICSOME FASHION We currently only have the capacity for endorphin-focused dressing, and in this light may we please point you towards Toino Abel, maker of the most charming Portuguese reed bags (shown) just in at The Conran Shop. See, too, Loewe’s latest tie-dyed Paula’s Ibiza collection. Also perfection. 2 PAPER BLOOMS Real might be best, but tissue alternatives hold a special artistic appeal. Lust over pretty roses from Livia Cetti’s The Green Vase (shown) and Zoe Bradley’s knockout installations. Or why not get creative and make a DIY crayon bouquet with Parisian florist Racine (@racineparis)? 3 HOLIDAY PLANNING If creating a fantasy getaway list has kept you busy at home, have no shame. But what to include? We are mentally checking in with The Thinking Traveller – curator of…

It was a gamble buying this house. Not only were the family leaving behind an enviable life in Los Angeles, they’d never actually visited the property – built on a wooded hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1980 – before moving in. ‘We joke that we bought a house off the internet,’ laughs Sarah. ‘But we’d decided that while our children were young, we’d try living somewhere with more nature, space and freedom, and it’s just 45 minutes from my family too. We arrived two years ago, after an 11-day road trip, with a three-year-old toddler, a six-month-old baby and two dogs, and that was our first real sighting of it.’ Some people might have been anxious, but not Sarah. ‘It’s a house of contradictions and the playful design veers…

going for the easy route when there is a challenge to be had? Definitely not something interior designer Rebecca Wakefield and her quantity surveyor partner Josh would do. Taking on a wreck that hadn’t been touched for 50 years was actually part of the game plan. ‘The fact that it was crying out for a total renovation appealed,’ says Rebecca. ‘The idea of ripping apart a house that was in reasonable condition just to turn it into my idea of a stylish home would go against the grain.’ The fact that Rebecca was pregnant with their first child, Jude, now two, and suffering terrible morning sickness didn’t dim her excitement or vision either. ‘I always design projects with the intention to make spaces feel calm, bright and timeless – and…

Curves and texture are big news – mix with rich sunset hues for interiors with a seductive edge Channel the escapist mood of the moment with swaying palms and sandy tones Blooms straight out of the hothouse are flourishing this season – so go big and bold…

Natalie Osborne ‘Growing up with so many sisters, all so close in age, gave me a feeling of belonging that really shaped my identity,’ explains Oklahoma-born artist Natalie Osborne. ‘We styled ourselves after our mother, an engineer in the aerodynamic field. She’s our muse. I see my sisters and my mother in my paintings, and I see that “girl gang” dynamic in the work.’ It’s this strength of self identity that shines through in Natalie’s mixed-media portraits and has brought her success as a rising online art star. 2020 has already been a busy year for Natalie, who is currently creating artwork and prints to sell both via her online Etsy store Natalie Odecor, and for Chairish, an online showcase for vintage and contemporary furniture and art. ‘Instagram gave me…

New view If visiting your local retailer or ordering postal samples is off the menu, vinyl specialist Karndean Designflooring is here to bring a twist to home renovation with its ‘view in room’ digital tool. Just upload a photograph of your space to visualise different styles in situ and experiment with patterns from herringbone to basketweave and ship’s deck. Hours of fun. (karndean.com/floorstyle) CALIFORNIA DREAMING Save yourself the plane fare (and the average $11 million house cost) and bring a slice of Beverly Hills’ Trousdale neighbourhood – famous for its ‘starchitect’-designed mid-century homes – inside with Claybrook’s new Terrazzo collection. Choose from colourways named after its celebrity residents including Nixon, Aniston and Presley. Trousdale porcelain tiles, £56.95sqm (claybrookstudio.co.uk) Aware that you might be bored silly by the sight of a…

1 Quiet KEEP THE NOISE DOWN Relaxing at home is hard to do when we’re distracted by unwanted noise - which is often transferred through the floor. Choosing the right flooring, however, can help create that sense of calm we crave. Rigid core luxury vinyl reduces sound transfer to rooms below by 21dB, which makes a big difference in multistorey homes. It needs very little preparation as it can be fitted over most existing subfloors, floorboards and ceramics. ‘Plus, installation is quicker as rigid core planks and tiles require no adhesive and can fit together with a click and lock,’ says Gavin Smith, marketing director at Karndean Designflooring. ‘You’ll also be able to match room-to-room even if you’ve got uneven subfloors or you’d like to preserve an existing floor covering,’…

One minute with SYRETT Share your creative vision for Runway Gallery. There’s been a big discussion as to whether fashion belongs in the arts, which is ridiculous, as it absolutely does. So creating a fashion-focused gallery was the natural thing to do. How do you choose artists? Instagram has been instrumental. Some of the artists don’t use fashion in their work, but have come from that industry. Any proving favourites? We’ve had success with Bruce Atherton, formerly a portrait painter at the Vatican, and Sue Dray. I also have a set of exclusive limited-edition prints by The Connor Brothers, created in collaboration with Livingetc’s parent company, which have been selling very well. Who’s set to join? Evi Antonio, who won the It’s Art Call competition, and Bay Backner, a British…

1 3 OF THE BEST… TRAVEL PODCASTS THE TRAVEL DIARIES We’re big fans of Holly Rubenstein’s Desert Island Discs-style podcast and series two has a host of new, exciting interviewees. Follow figures such as Jo Malone, Rick Stein and Poppy Delevingne on their travels from Japan to Georgia. Available on Spotify, Acast and Apple. WANDER WOMAN Adventurer, broadcaster, author and travel writer Phoebe Smith launched her podcast last year to document her global explorations. Whether she’s recounting tales of trekking across Tasmania’s countryside or diving for fossils in Florida, Smith provides travel hacks and secrets from a true insider. Available on Spotify and Apple. ARMCHAIR EXPLORER Travel writer Aaron Millar interviews globetrotters on their fearsome adventures, from journeys to Antarctica to cage diving with great white sharks and cliff camping…

THE POWER COUPLE daring duo Cinematic cruise along the Amalfi coast not looking likely this summer? Not to worry, as print power house La DoubleJ and Acqua di Parma have teamed up to bring the best of Italy back home via beach towels, cushions, swimsuits and leather-handled tote bags. THE COOL CRAFTSPERSON throwing shapes It’s no secret that handcrafts are back in vogue, and so the New Makers programme from Toast – an initiative celebrating five emerging talents now in its second year – couldn’t be more welcome. We’ve fallen for the works of Chicago-based, Central Saint Martins-trained ceramist Polly Yates, maker of deliciously textured clay vessels. THE CORE PIECE outdoor pursuits The beauty of Flexform’s garden furniture lies in the fact that there is nothing really too ‘outdoorsy’ about…

buying and selling a home is definitely a landmark moment in life, the largest transaction we’ll ever make. And as we move into a new decade, this process is arguably more challenging than ever thanks to the fast-evolving property market. Technology is now a key factor, something no aspiring seller can afford to ignore with as many as 98% of property searches now starting online. The move to digital isn’t just about swapping your local high-street agent’s window for your laptop screen, though; it’s signalled a huge change in our expectations. Twenty years on from the launch of digital property portal Rightmove, the market for online house sales is ever more specialised with sites such as The Modern House and WowHaus both dedicated to modernist architecture, and no-frills options including…

home profile THE DESIGNER Miriam Alía of Miriam Alía Studio, who created this home for Blanca and Daniel Yusty and their three children. THE PROPERTY A 350sqm apartment in a development in Talamanca, Ibiza. It has an entrance hall, an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, plus a cloakroom, outdoor seating and dining terrace and a small private pool. There are four bedrooms, with three en-suite bathrooms. A whole lot laid back, a little bit louche, with a hint of 1970s Studio 54 glam and a splash of Palm Springs styling, this Ibizan holiday retreat is the dream escape from the nine to five. Given its location on the famous ‘white island’, its light and bright look seems rather fitting. Created by interior designer Miriam Alía for her Madrid-based friends,…

my partner Paul was a complete novice to house renovations,’ laughs Paula Barnes as she describes in detail the thrills and spills of her most recent project – a former Victorian mews originally serving a large house on the street behind. ‘It was our first home together post both our divorces, so it was a new life and new start, which I loved.’ And the area’s community spirit appealed to Paula’s sociable side. ‘It’s a mix of residential and businesses, so there’s lots of daily bustle.’ Paula had purchased two neighbouring mews, using this one for storage while she renovated the one next door to sell. With the deal on the first done, but the sale still on-going, she set out to transform this mews into a home on a…

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION Italian brand Scavolini is now available at Elements Kitchen Design’s Reading showroom where you can browse MIA by Carlo Cracco, LiberaMente and Carattere. Plus, our favourite, Diesel Open Workshop (shown) with its open shelving, metal details and fluted-glass doors. Diesel Open Workshop, from £15,000 (scavolini.com) Hot and steamy If you’re wavering on whether to succumb to a hot water tap, Quooker has made deciding easy with new finishes for its Flex and Fusion ranges. Already available in polished chrome, stainless steel and nickel, the Fusion now comes in beautiful antique-style patinated brass(right). TheFlex collection, on the other hand, has a smart new black finish. You’ll never want to watch a kettle boil again. Quooker Fusion in patina brass, £1,590 (quooker.com) Leading light We’ve all had the memo that…

When you choose a floor, you’re making a long-term commitment. After all, it’s easy to change some elements of a room, but an upheaval – not to mention expensive – to alter the floor. That’s why it’s important to consider flooring at the start of a project. Sometimes it pays not to be too fashionable. The floor you choose could be in your home for 20 years – perhaps more. So it can be sensible to opt for a material with longevity rather than something that’s on trend. When you’re thinking through your flooring options, consider how much maintenance you’re able (and likely) to do. This is always a huge part of my decision-making process. Also think about how you live and who you live with. For example, if you…

1 When considering flooring, your first step should be to think about what’s underneath it. The subfloor – a layer of wood or concrete below your floor material – needs to be suitable for the covering you’ve chosen, as well as in good condition. ‘Certain materials are more suited to certain subfloors,’ says Daniel Grocott, managing director at Grocott & Murfit. ‘For instance, a timber subfloor is more suited to wood or carpet. A concrete subfloor can pretty much take anything.’ 2 ‘Laminate, carpet, tiles, stone and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) all have benefits, so look at the pros and cons,’ says Amanda Stone, product manager at Kraus Flooring UK. ‘Ask yourself: how hard-wearing is it? Is it easy to clean and does it need regular maintenance? How easy is…

serves 6 1kg ripe tomatoesA large pinch of flaky smoked sea saltA few lavender flowers2tsp good-quality honey1tbsp red wine vinegar3tbsp extra virgin olive oil Look out for tomatoes in different shapes, colours and sizes in farmers’ markets, greengrocers and supermarkets 1 Slice the tomatoes and place them on a large platter. Season with smoked sea salt and chill for 15 minutes. Scatter with the lavender flowers, breaking the flowers slightly between your fingers as you go. 2 To make the dressing, mix the honey and vinegar in a bowl or small jug until well combined and stir through the olive oil. Season with black pepper and spoon over the tomatoes, to serve.…

1 BOOK BOOK CLUB THE GIRL WHO STOLE AN ELEPHANT Sri Lankan-raised author Nizrana Farook’s debut novel follows the story of Chaya, a young jewel thief and elephant whisperer. Think of this as somewhere between The Jungle Book and Robin Hood, but with a feisty, female hero and a colourful world (£6.99, Nosy Crow). THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES Suzanne Collins’ trilogy of young adult novels The Hunger Games became an international phenomenon. Collins’ new novel returns to the world of Panem for a prequel, explaining how the chilling games came to be and following the earlier years of one of the characters (£18.99, Scholastic). FANTASTICALLY GREAT WOMEN WHO SAVED THE PLANET From Kate Pankhurst, a descendent of the illustrious Emmeline, comes this new picture book which looks at the…

restaurateur Karan Gokani is the brains behind Hoppers, a group of South Asian eateries in King’s Cross, Marylebone and Soho. We caught up on all things Sri Lankan, particularly its capital Colombo, Karan’s chief source of inspiration. Where should we stay? For a transportive, old-school experience, Mount Lavinia Hotel or Galle Face Hotel. Alternatively, Maniumpathy, an old colonial residence turned into a boutique hotel in Colombo’s Cinnamon Gardens, is my top choice (maniumpathy.com). Where to go for a cocktail or two? Baillie Street Merchants; a place that would give any top New York or London bar a run for its money, with the addition of some incredible Sri Lankan hospitality. The buzzy table to book in advance? Thuna Paha at Water’s Edge. Its speciality Sri Lankan dishes are great (watersedge.lk).…