The

KITCHEN &
BATHROOM
SPECIAL

Celebrating the essence of English style

June 2025 | Issue 245 | £5.99 | UK Edition

Expert advice for investing in kitchens & bathrooms

Coast, city
WELCOMING HOMES
TO INSPIRE & DESIRE

FLORAL
SYMPHONY
house & gardens
• Eye-catching hardware
• Decorative tiling
• Try bathing al fresco

The best outdoor fabrics and garden furniture

Beautiful Bespoke Cabinetry
KITCHENS PANTRIES BOOT ROOMS LIBRARIES DRESSING ROOMS
Visit Our Showroom to Experience Over 3,000 Sq Ft of Inspiration
[email protected] thewhitekitchencompany.com 01604 815761
CONTENTS
JUNE 2025

84
Notebook English Homes Style Inspiration
15 SPOTLIGHT ON... Hand-built pottery. 36 COUNTRY ROOTS A 17th-century 69 ROYAL PARADISE A new wallpaper
Cotswold farmhouse full of classic collaboration inspired by Highgrove.
16 PEOPLE & PLACES Our edit of news,
charm and stylish use of pattern
events and stories of craftsmanship. 70 LET THE SUN SHINE Outdoor fabrics
and colour.
22 DESIGN DISCOVERIES Inspiring new
combining aesthetics and performance.
46 A CURATED LIFE Beautiful furniture,
buys for summer living inside and out. 76 WOVEN WONDERS Rattan furniture.
patterns, antiques and art combine
28 PRETTY & PRACTICAL Kitchenalia in this family home by the sea in 78 GREAT OUTDOORS Garden furniture.
worthy of being on display. Aldeburgh, Suffolk. 80 THE WOW FACTOR The inspirational
30 BATHE IN TRANQUILLITY Create an 54 WHAT LIES BEYOND Print designer designs on show at WOW!house.
indulgent, spa-like bathroom with Neisha Crosland’s London home is 84 SERIES ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF AN
luxurious touches. a hidden oasis centered around a ENGLISH HOME – HARDWARE The
32 THE EDIT A digest of brand updates. verdant courtyard. importance of the finishing touches.
68 SUBSCRIBE Sign up today for 62 HOME COMFORTS Holly Howe has 93 FREESTYLE DESIGN Creating a relaxed
fantastic subscriber benefits in a created a family home that balances look with an unfitted kitchen.
better than half-price offer. a chic nature-inspired style with a
100 BATHROOM BLISS The perfect
treasure trove of cherished pieces.
ingredients of a family bathroom.
109 SURFACE MATTERS Expert advice on
choosing tiles.

6 THE ENGLISH HOME

36

70

100
Living The Season
117 BEETROOT CARPACCIO A vibrant salad
served with honey ice cream.
54 118
118 IN TUNE WITH NATURE Embrace the
delights of the season with natural
spectacles and harvests to savour.
125 FLORAL SYMPHONY An exclusive look at
the house and gardens of Glyndebourne,
with advice on growing and creating floral
arrangements from its head gardener.
133 REFRESH & REVITALISE The invigorating
joys of bathing outdoors and tips on
installing a shower or bath in the garden.
138 MY ENGLISH HOME The eclectic flair
of fashion stylist and consultant Sarah
Corbett-Winder.

THE ENGLISH HOME 7

A letter from home
K
itchens and bathrooms
are the essential, beating
hearts of the home – they
are the rooms most hard to live
without during any renovation,
and yet sometimes can be
overlooked, with practicalities
taking precedence over style. This
issue we look to shift that balance,
looking to combine beauty with function in these rooms to
make them spaces to enjoy spending time in. I’ve also been
rather taken with our feature on the joys of outdoor bathing
(p133). It is an experience I’ve had at a lovely off-grid cabin
retreat in deepest Wales – though I admit I preferred the
wood-fired hot tub to the rainwater shower on a chilly March
morning! The much more decadent hot-water showers and
enchanting baths in the garden shown in this issue look a
rather more tempting way to commune with nature. I hope it
inspires a few of you take the plunge with al fresco bathing.
We have also explored the vast array of new outdoor fabrics
for those who might prefer a leisurely lounge in the sun. I for
one intend to make the most of sunny opportunities and have
been eyeing up a number of the beautiful and high-performing
textiles on p70 to make some large cushions to decamp to our
allotment with. My daughter and I love to take a picnic and a
pile of books to wile away an hour or two.
It would be remiss not to mention WOW!house, too. It is
a day out I anticipate with excitement each year and, as I’ve
highlighted on p80, it is a unique opportunity to see the work PHOTOGRAPH FERMOIE

of top interior designers – do make it part of your plans for

June. Wishing you a relaxing, inspiring and happy summer,

Katy Mclean, Acting Editor

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8 THE ENGLISH HOME

Quintessentially British Wallpapers
Lucie Annabel hand painted designs with exceptional attention to detail,
printed to order for an exclusive quality finish.

Heritage Tartan Wee Thistle Vintage

Wallpaper Wallpaper Cream Matt
in Vintage Cream in Vintage Cream Emulsion Paint
Find out more at
lucieannabel.com
The

ENGLISH KITCHEN &

BATHROOM
SPECIAL

HOME Celebrating the essence of English style

June 2025 | Issue 245 | £5.99 | UK Edition

Expert advice for investing in kitchens & bathrooms

Coast, city
CONTACT US & country
WELCOMING HOMES

Editorial 020 7349 3700 TO INSPIRE & DESIRE

The English Home

111 Buckingham Palace Road FLORAL
SYMPHONY
London SW1W 0DT CREATIVE IDEAS
Glyndebourne
house & gardens

Email [email protected]
• Eye-catching hardware
• Decorative tiling
• Try bathing al fresco

Website theenglishhome.co.uk LIFE IN THE SUN

Advertising/Publishing 020 7349 3700
The best outdoor fabrics and garden furniture

The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd COVER PHOTOGRAPH © BRENT DARBY

Email [email protected]

EDITORIAL NEXT ISSUE

Acting Editor Katy Mclean ON SALE
Managing Editor Sarah Feeley
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18 JUNE 2025
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10 THE ENGLISH HOME

COMING NEXT
MONTH

British Designed Fabrics And Wallpapers

JULY EDITION

PHOTOGRAPH © JONATHAN BOND INTERIOR DESIGN OTTA DESIGN

● Bring homes to life with an expert guide to incorporating art
● Dreamy as well as practical ideas for children’s bedrooms
● Create the perfect outdoor kitchen and dining area
● Set the scene for a beautiful garden party
● PLUS five inspiring homes, hidden gems to explore in Cornwall,
unique places to stay, seasonal living and more...

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12 THE ENGLISH HOME

NOTEBOOK
Our edit of people to watch and places to visit, inspiring buys for summer living, plus
pretty and practical kitchenalia, spa-inspired luxury bathroom details, and more

SPOTLIGHT ON…
FEATURE SARAH FEELEY PHOTOGRAPH © DEBORAH GRACE/CREATE ACADEMY

Mindful and beautiful pottery

Learn the meditative art of hand-built pottery from London ceramic
artist Freya Bramble-Carter, who studied at Chelsea College of Arts and
has been making clay pots since childhood. Her first online step-by-step
video course with Create Academy teaches how to work with clay at
home to create objects without needing a potter’s wheel or a kiln.
‘Clay is wonderful to use as a form of self-expression, and very
forgiving,’ says Freya. ‘It facilitates making mistakes. You can rebuild,
reformulate and refine ideas without having to worry about committing
to a design, as you can simply reshape and start again without there
being any waste. A lot of the time, mistakes lead to unintentionally
creating a masterpiece. I’m so excited for new audiences to discover the
world of pottery and the creative and psychological benefits that it
brings with it.’ createacademy.com; freyabramblecarter.com

THE ENGLISH HOME 15

NEWS

PEOPLE PLACES &

Covetable new launches by talented makers and elite brands,
creative collaborations, landmark anniversaries and unmissable events
FEATURE SARAH FEELEY

Artisanal Wonders From Jaipur

Hand-block-printed homeware to elevate dining
Growing up in India and moving to the UK as an adult, Tanya
Chugh (below) became intrigued by both the cultural traditions of
India and the charming decor of traditional English cottages.
She founded her brand Ecoveeve as a way to share with others
the things that bring her comfort, with an emphasis on timeless
craftsmanship and playful elegance, encompassing homeware,
bathrobes, accessories and more. Every piece has been responsibly
hand-printed in Jaipur using traditional hand-blocking techniques
onto natural and biodegradable cloths, and ships from the UK.
ecoveeve.com

Blossoming Partnership
New Bluebells fabric from Barneby Gates
Bluebell season is all too short – so enjoy it all year round
with the new Bluebells fabric by Barneby Gates. Available
in two colourways – Blue/Raspberry and Blue/Green – it
has a charming painterly feel and hand-blocked effect, and
is perfect for upholstery, blinds, curtains and cushions.
Childhood friends Vanessa Barneby and Alice Gates,
who share a history in interiors, styling and fashion,
set up a print design studio in 2009 in London, now
based in Wiltshire, producing wallpaper and fabric with
idiosyncratically English designs, giving classic ideas a 
contemporary edge using pops of colour. barnebygates.com

16 THE ENGLISH HOME

Enjoy every moment in the garden

OUTDOOR FURNITURE | LIGHTING | ACCESSORIES

Shop our outdoor

collection by scanning
the QR code
coxandcox.co.uk
NEWS

Art-preneur: Whistlefish founder Lyn Thompson

Painter and single mum started her multi-million-pound business from home
Whistlefish founder Lyn Thompson is a Breaking into the male-dominated and
true pioneer who not only started a multi- insular card industry was tough, but Lyn
million-pound company from her kitchen traded on her own terms, represented
table, she has always used her success and herself, set her own prices, and triumphed.
platform to help others and the planet. Today, Whistlefish brings art and the
Creative since childhood, Lyn struggled joy of Cornwall into homes countrywide,
at school – later discovering she had with charming cards, gift wrap, homeware,
undiagnosed dyslexia. gifts, artworks and more. New launches
She left school at 16 and spent the next include Seagrass, Aqua Camellia, Orange
nine years in the Royal Navy, during which Poppy and Blue Poppy & Thyme, and Lyn
time she started hand-painting cards that proudly promotes other artists’ work.
she sold at local craft fairs in Cornwall. All Whistlefish cards (100 per cent
Leaving the Navy to start a family, after recycled and Forest Stewardship Council-
becoming a single mother, Lyn made more approved) and art are made in Cornwall,
of her hobby to provide for her family, and the company has restored 31,000 acres
painting late into the night and selling her of Celtic rainforest and raised £124,000 for
cards to local shops as well as at craft fairs. charity. Lyn’s grown-up children Will and
Her cards were so popular, she could not Cathrine work in the business with their
paint them fast enough. Lyn sought help mum, who is still the passion and driving

from The Prince’s Trust which gave her a force behind her brand. whistlefish.com
£3,500 loan and mentorship to fulfil her
dream of starting her own business. Today,
29 years later, Lyn is a proud
Prince’s Trust charity partner.
Lyn used that loan to have six
of her card designs printed in
bulk. A year later, she opened
her first shop in a tiny 400-year-
old fishing tackle store in St Ives,
naming it The Whistlefish Gallery
after the fish found in nearby
rockpools. Struggling to fill it with
her own art, she decided to print
and sell the work of other artists.
Her shop was an instant success
– today there are 10 Whistlefish
shops in Cornwall and Devon.

18 THE ENGLISH HOME

WITH PIZZA OVEN

This summer’s most versatile must-have;

a stunning outdoor stove complete with pizza oven

ESSE Engineering | esse.com

NEWS

The Perfect Blend

Fine bone china and etched glassware DIARY
Historic fine bone china manufacturer Duchess
Glass, ceramics
China 1888 has collaborated with decorative
glass designer Emma Britton on the charming
& art exhibition
UNTIL 20 JUNE
new retro collection Floral Twist.
The New Craftsman
Inspired by a pattern from the Duchess China
Gallery in St Ives will
1888 archives, the collection features a teapot,
host Interior & Beyond
cup and saucer, tea plate, milk jug, sugar bowl,

PHOTOGRAPHS P16 (ECOVEEVE) TRISTA WIEBE @ SAGE STUDIO; (BARNEBY GATES PORTRAIT) © BEN PHILIPS. P20 (TOP) © LUCY GLEN; (ANNIE SLOAN) © ANNIE SLOAN; (BRIDGET MCCRUM) © STEPHANIE RENNIE; DIARY GLASS BY CELIA DOWSON © GEORGE HOUSE
from 24 May to 20 June,
bud vase and crystal cocktail and water glasses. with paintings by Martha
In Stoke-On-Trent, 25 to 30 pairs of hands Holmes and a
make each piece at Duchess China 1888, and collaborative collection
the intricate design was etched on glass at by glass artist Celia
Emma’s Derbyshire studio. Dowson and ceramicist
duchess-china1888.com; emmabritton.net Chloé Rosetta Bell.
newcraftsmanstives.com

Highgrove hosts
Annie Sloan’s New Hues block-printing class
8 JUNE
Celebrating 35 years of Chalk Paint Learn the art of Indian
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of her block-printing at a
revolutionary Chalk Paint, Annie Sloan half-day workshop with
has launched five new colours: dramatic The Art of Jaipur on the
Tyrian Plum, bold Sandalwood Red, soft Highgrove estate on
and print a table runner,
Jaipur Pink (pictured on bedside table), and
six napkins or two
warm neutrals Rococo White and Canvas.
cushion covers using
Annie says: ‘These five colours work hand-carved blocks and
beautifully together because they all have a wide selection of
warm undertones.’ anniesloan.com paint colours.
highgrovegardens.com

Antiques, art
& design showcase
26 JUNE TO 1 JULY
Hand-picked treasures
from around the world
will go on display at
Deftly Hewn Legacy Treasure House Fair at
Sculptress Bridget McCrum Royal Hospital Chelsea
in London, with global
Now in her nineties, sculptress and artist expert exhibitors in fine
Bridget McCrum has stopped carving, and new art, furniture, antiquities,
jewellery, watches,
Blenheim Palace exhibition The Conference of The
classic cars and more.
Birds (which runs until 14 September) features
treasurehousefair.com
her final stone sculpture alongside her iconic
bird sculptures in stone and bronze including
Merlin (above). blenheimpalace.com Colour explored
at Royal Pavilion
UNTIL 19 OCTOBER
Colour is a new
Luxury To Last A Lifetime exhibition at Brighton’s
Royal Pavilion with
Neptune’s new furniture lifetime guarantee immersive displays,
sensory experiences
Following its kitchens’ lifetime guarantee, Neptune has and art installations to
announced a new lifetime guarantee for its furniture. celebrate how colour
Co-founder John Sims-Hilditch says: ‘It’s a reflection of the shaped the palace’s
values we’ve always held dear: craftsmanship, authenticity, extravagant design.
and enduring quality.’ neptune.com brightonmuseums.org.uk ■

20 THE ENGLISH HOME

DESIGN DISCOVERIES
Designs with an elegant modern-classic style add effortless character and offer
practical solutions for easy indoor and outdoor living as we head into summer
FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE

SCENIC FOREST
This woodland mural – taken from a 19th-century
wallpaper – can be personalised to include a
watercolour of the client’s house. The wallpaper can
be custom-made in various shades of any one colour.
Bespoke woodland mural wallpaper, approx £314 a roll,
fee for watercolour house (client to provide), £540,
Totty Lowther at The Fabric Collective

UPLIFTING STRIPES
Layering stripes in a light spring palette makes this
room scheme feel fresh. Keep to one size of ticking
when mixing colours to ensure a cohesive look.
Ticking Stripe, cushions (from left): Apricot, £39.50 a metre,
Tutti Frutti, £42 a metre, Ochre, £39.50 a metre; sofa,
Pink, £39.50 a metre; ottoman, Apple, £39.50 a metre,
all Ian Mankin

SHADES OF COLOUR
Beauvamp colour-dipped lampshades, made in
collaboration with Laik Style, are crafted by hand in
Derbyshire from sustainable organic silk which is
hand-dipped in natural botanical dyes. The pleats and
other decorative details are stitched on the bespoke
bronze frame by hand as a finishing touch.
Scallop Bell lampshade in Rose Dip, £245, Beauvamp

22 THE ENGLISH HOME

SHOPPING

SEASONAL DINING
Evoke a traditional summery mood in orangeries and
garden rooms with a metal dining table and chairs.
A durable metal design is practical for keeping the
doors wide open without worry. Oka’s iron set, seen
here, is decorated with a twisting vine motif and can
be used outdoors in courtyards and gardens too.
Viticcio garden dining table, £495; Viticcio dining chair, 
£195; Anoushka rug, £1,995; Cicero pot, £95, all Oka
SHOPPING

DESIGNED TO DAYDREAM
The very sight of a daybed can evoke a feeling of calm
and encourage taking a moment to relax. Indulgent
details, as seen on this design with its velvet upholstery
and tapered oak and birch legs, heightens the
luxurious mood. A feather-wrapped foam cushion
ensures this design is also practical to use. Co-ordinate
the look with a matching armchair. Alternatively, the
piece can be mixed with furnishings in different
textures and styles for a more eclectic room scheme.
Theodore daybed, £1,695, Soho Home

CHAMELEON LEADS
Interior designers often talk about hiding unsightly
leads to ensure they do not detract from a room
scheme, however, in some cases this is not possible –
for example, when additional lighting is added long
after a project is complete. If this is the case, a solution
may be to opt for decorative leads that are visually
stylish. Try a specialist brand with a wide array of cord
colours to match or contrast colour schemes.
Fabric extension cable in Pompadour, from £39 for 1m cable,
design available up to 50m in lead length, Lolas Leads

CUSHIONED LANDING
These vibrant bench mattresses and cushions are
hand-blocked in easy-to-mix-and-match designs ready
to sink into while reading a book in the garden or to
add extra seating for outdoor parties.
Bench mattresses, £17; cushions, from £50, both Bungalow
of Denmark at Curated Living


24 THE ENGLISH HOME

Want to find out more about the Quooker?
We’d love to show you more from the comfort of your own home.
Looking for a smarter, safer, and more efficient kitchen? A Quooker boiling
water tap helps save you time, energy, and water, all while making everyday
tasks easier and your kitchen safer for the whole family.

Now, you can see it in action with a live, one-to-one virtual demonstration
from our expert team. Whether you have questions about how it works,
installation, or its benefits, we’ll tailor the session to what matters most to you.

Join us live from our Customer Experience Centre, at a time that suits you,
and experience the innovation of Quooker for yourself.

Book your personalised demo today!

Scan the QR code for more details and

your nearest stockist or visit quooker.co.uk
100°C BOILING, CHILLED AND SPARKLING WATER

Experience Centre 81 King St, Manchester, M2 4AH The tap that does it all
SHOPPING

STYLISED PATTERNS
Modern large-scale prints and a classic subject matter
combine in Osborne & Little’s vibrant new Ananda
wallpaper and fabric collection. Featuring a Greek
ornamental garden toile and artichoke and
pomegranate illustrations, the patterns come in five
colourways to offer bold and subtle colour plays.
Chair, Cynara, £95 a metre; wallpaper, Karuna, £149
a roll, both Ananda collection, Osborne & Little

TAKING LIBERTY
While melamine tableware is a practical option for
garden parties, picnics and children’s celebrations, this
need not mean compromising on style. These designs
have the nostalgic feel of a classic British tea party
featuring Liberty’s iconic florals.
Mabelle placemat, £16.50; Mabelle and Wharfedale
melamine plates, from £8.50 each, Liberty x Meri Meri

PHOTOGRAPHY (TOTTY LOWTHER, TAKEN AT THE GEORGE AND DRAGON, CLIFTON) © JOE STOCKDALE

FLORAL FLAIR
Inspired by rambling anemones blooming in an
English country garden, this Perryvale wallpaper is
one of five prints recently launched by The Design
Archives. Each of the new botanical wallpapers can
be effortlessly co-ordinated with the brand’s Spring
Garden fabrics, to layer florals and stripes together
and create an exuberant, romantic scheme.
Perryvale wallpaper, Mist, £185 a roll, The Design Archives n

26 THE ENGLISH HOME

SHOPPING
Mango wood platter,
£20, National Trust Shop

Home To Roost
batter bowl, £30,
Mason Cash

Palermo pot
with handles,
£28, The
Wisteria Tree

Eden Stoneware salt and Queen Mary Chinoiserie

pepper shakers, £20, wide-width wallpaper
Anthropologie (130cm), Porcelain,
£276 a metre,
Watts 1874

PRETTY &
PRACTICAL Sunflower food cover, £12.50,
Whether used for everyday dining or more Divertimenti

Indigo Drop colander,

occasionally, kitchenalia can be functional and
£65, Nkuku

Cast-iron
cookbook
stand, £54,
Robert Welch

Fluted Lostock sink, from £1,099,

Whitebirk Sink Company

FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE PHOTOGRAPHY (PENNY MORRISON PLATE) © MIKE GARLICK

Rattan footed bowl,
Olivewood
utensil pot
(utensils sold
separately), Brompton marble and
£59, David granite salt and pepper pots,
Mellor

Rattan baskets, trays,

placemats, from £35 for a
Lechlade ceramic artichoke, set of six coasters, and all other Artisan 4.7l mixer, Butter, £699,
£14, Cotswold Company tableware, Layered Lounge KitchenAid

28 THE ENGLISH HOME

MODERN EFFICIENCY WITH CLASSIC GOOD LOOKS

Everhot cookers, heaters and stoves offer supreme energy efficiency

and integrate beautifully with renewable power sources. Available in
a wide range of sizes and colours, there’s an Everhot for everyone.

Hand-built in England at our Carbon Neutral Facility everhot.co.uk | 01453 890018

Aventuras Palma blue porcelain Adelphi soap
SHOPPING tiles, £94.92 a square metre, dispenser, Smoke,
Zoe Glencross x Ca’ Pietra £20, Garden Trading

Vos stainless steel

Dorset Fluted
basin, £795; Kono
wall light in
tap £480; Evo Soap
antiqued
dispenser, £150, JTP
brass, £222,
Jim Lawrence

Sand Sonora
candle in
hand-blown
glass, from
£150, Baobab
Collection

Amelia scalloped bath

mat, Asparagus, £58,
Rebecca Udall

BATHE IN
TRANQUILLITY
Super-soft pure Take inspiration from the neutral palette
cotton ribbed
towels, from £24 and elegant details found in hotel spas
for a bath towel,
The White Company

Brown Sugar
circular tray, B-Cleansed
£170, Trove facial brush,
£55, Bamford

roll holder, £98,

Maison Flâneur Ispahan bath robe by
Olivier Desforges,
£109, Yves Delorme

Sculptura bath, £2,355,

BC Designs

Lilley
FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE

stool,
£100,
Honeycomb Harrow
Garden
tissue box double-ended
Trading
cover, £48, freestanding
Acqua della Regina
Anthropologie bath, £1,700,
bath gel, £35, Liberty
Roper Rhodes

30 THE ENGLISH HOME

THE EDIT
Get ready to host guests over the
summer months and beyond with
our round-up of designs to make
the home as inviting as possible

SLICE OF LIFE
Feed guests and keep them warm at the same time
with the latest addition to the range of garden
cookers from master British stove maker Esse.
The company’s new garden stove with pizza oven
not only provides a sustainable and hassle-free
al fresco cooking option thanks to its heat-retaining
steel plate that is easy to clean, but it has been
designed very much with British summers in mind.
Having been going since 1854, Esse is aware that
our weather is not quite as reliable as we would like,
so it has fitted the stove with wheels so it can be
easily moved to escape the rain, which inevitably
comes each time we put our suncream on.
esse.com

IN SAFE HANDS
Looking to give your home a makeover but don’t know how to bring your
vision to life? With 25 years’ experience, Sarah Harding Interiors draws
upon its namesake’s deep understanding of fabrics and interior design
trends to embody its clients’ dream designs.
Whether you are looking to transform one room or give your whole
home a new look and feel, the friendly team, which includes Sarah
Harding herself, will work with you from start to finish to deliver the
bespoke design you have in mind.
With a customer-centric service and a style imbued with timeless elegance,
Harding and her team of professionals are ready to work their magic.
sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk

32 THE ENGLISH HOME

NEWS

WINE AND DINE

Wine cellars are having a moment thanks to a
new generation of homeowners, according to
wine storage experts Spiral Cellars, so expect
to see them at a dinner party near you soon.
With its UnSpiral Cellars range – its biggest
launch in 40 years – the company has created
a modular system based on the aesthetic of
its iconic underground cellar that can be
adapted to store anything from a few bottles
to a serious collection anywhere in the home.
The result is a wine storage solution that
younger wine lovers can afford, meaning
‘more people can begin enjoying wine
collecting in a way that works for them
and their life stage,’ says managing director
Lucy Hargreaves.
spiralcellars.co.uk

SITTING PRETTY
For a forever sofa, look to heritage furniture maker
Delcor, which has been at the forefront of British
luxury since 1967 and is a master of its craft.
The Magnum, a modern take on a Knole-style
sofa and shown here in GP & J Baker’s classic
Magnolia, is one of the company’s bestsellers and
comes with a fully sprung base unit and can be
tailored to suit a decorative style with a wide choice
of luxury materials available.
Delcor’s sofas, chairs, beds and footstools are all
meticulously handmade using hand-selected wood
in its workshop in Northumberland.
delcor.co.uk

STAIRWAY TO SIMPLICITY
A new voice in British interiors, Saint & Poet is
hoping to inject some individuality and modern
artistry into English homes with its vibrant patterns.
Its colourful upholstery fabrics range from the
abstract to sculptural to graphic and are both
contemporary in style and very soulful – not to
mention exceedingly joyful.
With a truly modern twist, the brand is
merging traditional textile design processes with
the precision of AI technology, pushing the
boundaries of what is possible creatively and
proving that it is not afraid to do things differently.
FEATURE SALLY COFFEY

With this bold new approach, we cannot wait to

see what the future holds for this daring
British brand.
saintandpoetupholsteryfabrics.co.uk ■

THE ENGLISH HOME 33

Tulip Garden wallpaper
in Sweet Pink and
Olive on Cream

BLOOMING LOVELY
Bring beautiful floral wallpaper designs into your home with
British interiors brand Lucie Annabel

W
ith hand-painted designs that blend Tulip Garden Sketched Meadow
traditional heritage and an unwavering A cherished design A much-favoured beauty
commitment to quality, Lucie Annabel’s Tulip Garden is an elegant floral Featuring detailed florals and
wallpapers celebrate the beauty and heritage of wallpaper which is widely loved trailing stems, Sketched Meadow
Great Britain. by the Lucie Annabel community. wallpaper is an exquisitely detailed
With each wallpaper printed to order, an exclusive, Featuring charming tapestry florals and delicately sophisticated floral
quality finish, carefully crafted with exceptional in a seamless, repeating pattern, wallpaper that celebrates the
attention to detail is assured. this vintage-inspired floral British countryside. Its antique-feel,
The designs are quintessentially British, taking wallpaper makes a marvellous hand-drawn floral print is designed
inspiration from our native flowers and colourful feature piece in any home. to bring an authentic charm to
cottage gardens. Blooming with sophistication, interiors. Available in five soft
For floral wallpaper that will create a focal point it comes in five colourways, hues, such as the Dusky Pink on
in a room, look to Lucie Annabel and let your walls from gentle Sweet Pink to bold White shown here, it is sure to
become a canvas for your unique style with some of Bordeaux, and will add a touch create a country retreat mood
these beloved designs. of heritage style to any room. wherever it is hung.

34 THE ENGLISH HOME

PARTNERSHIP FEATURE

Sketched Meadow
wallpaper in Dusky
Pink on White

Tulip Garden
wallpaper in
Sweet Pink and
Olive on Cream

Lucie Annabel designs

are hand-painted and
printed to order

Sweet Pea wallpaper

in Pinks and Lilacs on
Pastel Pink
LEFT Swatches from
top: Snowdrop, Violet
and Tulip Bouquet

LUCIE ANNABEL FLOWER OF THE MONTH

In 2025 Lucie Annabel introduced its Flower of the Month Collection, with a new floral design each month.
Experience the beauty of Great Britain one flower at a time with this collection which reflects the evolving
seasons yet promises year-long beauty. So far this year there has been Snowdrop, Violet, Tulip and Sweetpea,
all elegant and romantic and reflecting the inherent beauty of British cottage-garden flowers.

Snowdrop serenity to this delicate five-petal tulip-based designs will bring

Each snowdrop – symbolising flower with its heart-shaped leaves. interiors to life with love.
hope, renewal and the promise
of spring – is hand-painted and Tulip Sweet pea
gracefully blooms within an In the language of flowers, tulips Symbolic of blissful pleasure and
ornate panel style. symbolise love and affection and a favourite in cottage gardens, Find out more
FEATURE SALLY COFFEY

the colour of each of the blooms sweet peas are known for their about beautiful,
Violet The violet is associated has meaning: red represents true lovely scent and soft, ruffled petals. hand-painted design
with loyalty, faithfulness and love, pink is the colour of good This design features many hand- floral wallpaper at
humility. This intricate design wishes and purple symbolises painted small, delicate blooms lucieannabel.com
is hand-drawn, which brings a rebirth. This range of three climbing up in a trellis effect. n

THE ENGLISH HOME 35

Country
ROOTS
Kim and Craig Montgomery enlisted the help of
Jessica Buckley Interiors to bring country charm back
to their 17th-century farmhouse in Gloucestershire
FEATURE CHARLOTTE DUNFORD PHOTOGRAPHY MIKE GARLICK

36 THE ENGLISH HOME

Bringing a sense of cosiness to the
drawing room are a Fairfax sofa
covered in George Spencer Designs’
Linen Velvet and a Stratford sofa in
Robert Kime’s Tree Peony. Both sofas
are by Kingcome. Curtains in Hazelton
House’s Aquitaine and walls in Farrow &
Ball’s French Gray tie into the nature-
inspired scheme. The ottoman, custom-
made for Jessica Buckley Interiors, is
upholstered in Claremont’s Sibton.
An Eaton sofa in Lee
Jofa’s floral Althea
and a Victorian stool
in Guy Goodfellow’s
Stanhope striped
weave, both by David
Seyfried, joyfully
clash in the seating
area of the kitchen.
The artwork above
the sofa is by Kim’s
father and sings
against the neutral
walls in a textured
blue frame.
T
here is a certain expectation that comes
with traditional English country houses,
especially those in the Cotswolds. One
anticipates innate charm and rich character
to emanate from their very bones. Yet, this is not
always the case, as Kim Montgomery and her husband,
Craig, discovered when they viewed this stone
farmhouse. ‘The previous owners had done a huge
renovation job, including building a large kitchen
extension which was very echoey and white. Some
of the beams and fireplaces were still there but the
general feel of the house was quite neutral,’ explains
Kim, ‘but it was something we could work with.’
The couple, with their daughters, now six and
four, had been searching for a place to escape to from
London at the weekends. ‘We had a shortlist of things
we were looking for: number of bedrooms, style of 
house and amount of land. We wanted a period

ABOVE The existing kitchen was updated with Green

Smoke paint on the cabinetry, and Cord on the walls, both
by Farrow & Ball. A pair of bar stools from The Dining Chair
Company have been covered in Octavia Dickinson’s Otis.
RIGHT A handsome dresser from Ron Green Antiques holds
a collection of china from Miranda Willes. The David
Seyfried Oakley armchair, upholstered in Ian Mankin’s
Ticking Stripe 2, combines with a Robert Kime Reading
Lamp and antique rug to create a cosy kitchen corner.

THE ENGLISH HOME 39

‘The use of colour and the way it flows throughout the house makes
it feel like a very inviting, comfortable space to spend time in’
ABOVE LEFT In the property that wasn’t a major project but equally that whole thing myself. So, I thought we should get
entrance hall an we would be able to put our mark on,’ explains Kim. someone in to help,’ recalls Kim. Inspired by the house
antique octagonal They hired a buying agent, as ‘a lot of the houses in itself, and their desire for a warm, relaxed and elegant
table holds a
statement Imari
that area are sold off-market’, who presented the feel, the couple decided to embrace a classic English
Vase table lamp by farmhouse to them. Upon viewing it, Kim and Craig country style, which led them to Jessica Buckley
Vaughan. Curtains were enchanted by its ample garden and picturesque Interiors. The design studio, founded in 2011,
in Robert Kime’s views over the rolling Cotswold hills – features lacking has become known for its fresh yet welcoming
Dandelion Clock in their Victorian red-brick townhouse in London. schemes filled with beautiful fabrics and vibrant
introduce pattern
while a rug in
While the original structure dates back to the colours. ‘I followed various designers on Instagram
Alternative Flooring’s 1600s, the house has seen additions over the centuries, and from what I’d seen of Jessica’s work, it looked
Bubbleweave Desert including a coach house, since converted into an as though it chimed with what we were looking
brings texture. annexe, and an 18th-century storehouse, now part of for,’ she adds.
ABOVE RIGHT The the main building. A large granary-style window on the For their first meeting, Kim came fully prepared:
fireplace and alcove
landing is a nostalgic reminder of the house’s past. ‘I had Instagram pictures and a physical scrapbook
were existing
elements of the The couple completed essential maintenance on the of images I’d collected from magazines over the years.
dining room. A chair boilers and chimneys but no further structural work I had a fairly clear view of the style, detailed notes
from Christian Davies was required and efforts were focused purely on about the different functions we were looking for from
Antiques adds a redecoration to reinstill a sense of country charm. each room and some ideas on fabrics and furniture,’
decorative touch.
‘As we were living in London and both working full she remembers. ‘Jessica took all this in and then went
time, I didn’t have the bandwidth to try and do the on to suggest other things which had a commonality

40 THE ENGLISH HOME

Knurl, a subtle, floral
geometric from Howe at 36
Bourne Street lines the walls
of the dining room. A mixture
of task and ambient lighting
is provided via candlesticks,
table lights from The Lamp
Factory and Hector Finch’s
Starback wall light. The
antique dining chairs were
sourced at Prior & Willis and
the Gustavian-style console is
from Chelsea Textiles.
but were far more interesting and that I wouldn’t have
come up with myself.’
Transforming the stark white walls was a primary
focus. ‘We chose a palette of muted tones to act as
the grounding backdrop to the layers of pattern and
further colours we chose for the soft furnishings.
This immediately made a huge difference to add some
warmth and a sense of history back into the house,’
explains Jessica. Kim agrees that ‘the use of colour and
the way it flows throughout the house makes it feel like
a very inviting, comfortable space to spend time in.’
Atop these foundations, layers of fabric invigorate
the interiors. ‘We embraced a mix of patterns and
styles but with a good dose of florals, including some
chintzes along with soft, drapey linens,’ says Jessica.
Designs from stalwarts of the English country aesthetic
such as Colefax and Fowler, Sanderson
 and Jean
Monro are peppered throughout.

ABOVE In the third floor guest bedroom, a custom

headboard is covered in Jean Monro’s Bowness which fits
perfectly with the country house feel. The Pot cupboards
and Stoneware lamps are from Max Rollitt Bespoke.
RIGHT The en-suite bathroom is papered in Honeycombe 
by Sanderson (discontinued) for a charming and subtle
backdrop. The freestanding bath was an existing piece and
the rug and towel stand were sourced from Miranda Willes.

42 THE ENGLISH HOME

A custom-made headboard,
matching valance and
curtains in Jean Monro’s Nuts
& Berries are the focal point
of the principal bedroom,
each standing out against the
relaxed, cool-toned base of
Farrow & Ball’s Blue Gray on
the walls. The rug was found
at Farnham Antiques.
‘We embraced a mix of
patterns and styles, but
with a good dose of florals,
including some chintzes,
along with soft, drapey linens’

As well as style, fabrics were chosen for their

durability, with robust, highly patterned textiles being
the perfect choice for the family-friendly home. ‘The
kitchen fabrics are all either patterned, washable, or
both, and kilim rugs on the floors in the kitchen and
snug are hard-wearing and colourful enough to
withstand the odd dirty footprint,’ says Jessica, as
Kim adds, ‘We wanted it to be a family home so we
didn’t want very formal rooms where children aren’t
welcome. The house feels very homely; it doesn’t feel
like it’s too pristine to touch anything.’
To further the liveability of the kitchen, Kim and
Jessica turned their attention to the layout. ‘I think the
previous owners pretty much lived in there and had
their television in there, but we didn’t want that to be
the only room that we spent time in,’ explains Kim.
Now, clever zoning has created a cosier, more cohesive
feel with areas for cooking, dining for smaller and
larger numbers and a comfortable sitting area. Soft
furnishings, antique furniture and a sisal carpet in
a sizeable chunky weave have been incorporated to
further soften the overall look.
The final decorative layer in this room, and indeed
many others, is the considered hanging of a treasured
collection of artworks. While many have been sourced
by Kim and Craig over the years, several are pieces by
Kim’s father. ‘We’ve always had a lot of his work, and
we can always fill walls as we have his back catalogue to
choose from,’ she says. One such example is a large still
life oil painting taking pride of place above the sofa in
the sunny sitting area of the kitchen. ‘It picks up on
some of the parts of the sofa quite nicely and just
works wonderfully in that space,’ she smiles. The
perfect finishing touch for a country house with family
at the forefront. n

ABOVE LEFT Walls papered in Berkeley Sprig by Colefax

and Fowler bring a feminine feel to the guest bedroom on
the first floor. Several patterns are layered on top, including
curtains in Vaughan’s Anatolia, a bespoke headboard in
Robert Kime’s Ashoka Stripe and a valance in Ticking 01 in
Flax by Ian Mankin. The table lamp is from Penny Morrison.
LEFT A comfortable corner in the principal bedroom, with a
David Seyfried Chelsea chair and Oakley stool upholstered
in Soane Britain’s Old Flax.

44 THE ENGLISH HOME

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ELECTRIC GAS WOOD BURNING MULTI-FUEL

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[email protected] charltonandjenrick.co.uk 01952 200 444
46 THE ENGLISH HOME
A curated
LIFE
A creative childhood by the sea drew
Alexandra Langdon back to her
home town of Aldeburgh where she
has combined her passions for
historic buildings, art and colourful
pattern to create a beautifully
curated family home
FEATURE KAY PRESTNEY PHOTOGRAPHY BRENT DARBY

LEFT ‘It was hard work lamp bases have been

designing the cabinetry to topped with custom-made
accommodate our needs shades designed by
and to fit the space Alexandra using Soane
symmetrically, but it all paid Britain wallpaper.
off,’ Alexandra says of the ABOVE Alexandra loves
kitchen she designed to to mix contemporary finds
follow the natural contours with antique pieces.Visit
of the bay windows. A pair alexandralangdon.co.uk
of colourful Miranda Berrow to see more of her work.

THE ENGLISH HOME 47

‘I wanted to create a calm,
thoughtfully curated space
filled with beautiful
furniture, fabrics and art’

I
nterior designer Alexandra Langdon’s chosen
career is deeply rooted in her upbringing: ‘My
parents are art dealers and renovated several
houses as I was growing up. I was absolutely
fascinated with the process of transforming a building
site into a beautifully finished home,’ she recalls.
Following a degree in Art History at the University
of St Andrews, Alexandra worked in events at The
Olympia Fine Art & Antiques Fairs, where she honed
her appreciation for art and the skill of curation.
‘I loved that world, but I began to seek something
with a little more creativity and a design element,’ she
explains. ‘I joined leading designer David Bentheim,
who opened my eyes to the diversities and possibilities
of interior design, giving me the foundations and
confidence to start my own eponymous company.’
Alexandra and her husband, Richard, left London
behind 10 years ago and moved back to her home
town in Suffolk. ‘I loved growing up by the sea,
surrounded by a large extended family and we wanted
the same upbringing for our two children, so we
returned to Aldeburgh,’ she explains.
A keen historian, Alexandra has always been drawn
to period houses and has a particular interest in
Georgian properties, so when she and Richard found
this home within a Grade II listed mansion that dates
back to 1775 and was later extended and converted
into five properties in the 20th century, it ticked all
their boxes. ‘I am passionate about old properties.
I believe that we never own a building and that we are
guardians doing our best by it until we hand it to the
next guardian,’ she says. The property had been on the
market for two years and was in need of considerable
work. ‘We knew we were taking on a long-term project,
but I was drawn to its beautiful proportions, its curves
and big windows. It was also, as Kirsty Allsop, a hero
of mine, would say, in “a great location”, with beautiful
sea views from the upstairs windows,’ she adds.
The property had been used as a holiday house 
for 25 years, so careful consideration was needed to

ABOVE LEFT A statement LEFT Alexandra found the

pendant light, the Star dining chairs on an online
lantern by Vaughan, hangs auction site and worked with
above the kitchen island. upholsterer TL Burtenshaw
Alexandra designed and to restore them with a dark
commissioned the custom- wood stain on the legs and
made bar stools which have cover them in the striking
been painted in Fenwick & Bujosa design from The
Tilbrook’s Major Tom. Mews Fabrics & Furnishings.

48 THE ENGLISH HOME

In the sitting room area, vintage barrel-back
armchairs have been reupholstered with
Christopher Farr fabric. The botanical artwork
over the period marble fireplace is by Angela
A’Court from Thompson’s Gallery and reflects
Alexandra’s love of the natural world. The
Countess mirrors are by Julian Chichester and
the mid-century Lucite coffee table is from
Pierre Vandel.
Alexandra used a pretty
floral-patterned fabric by
Cassandra Harper for the
headboard, with a green
Peter Dunham tonal
material used to
upholster the bedframe
and to make cushions.

ABOVE LEFT ‘This turn it into a family home. Upholding her belief in
table came from 157 the importance of attention to detail, alongside the
Antiques, Aldeburgh. use of quality materials and skilled craftsmanship,
I loved it but was told
that it had just been
Alexandra began the project with a study of the spatial
sold. Luckily, it turned design. ‘We opened up the ground floor to become
out to have been one large space encompassing the kitchen, dining and
purchased by my sitting room. I wanted to create a home that worked
father for the gallery for our family now, but which would continue to work
so we did some
negotiating!’ laughs
as we get older. I think it is so important to spend time
Alexandra. The planning the layout and to consider each family
gilt-framed artwork member, their hobbies and possessions. If everything
is by Bernard has its place, life flows and it is easy to keep your
Dunstan from her home tidy,’ she explains.
parents’ Aldeburgh
gallery, Thompson’s.
Before Alexandra could open up any fabric sample
LEFT Alexandra
books, repair works on the house needed to be
designed the addressed, including mending the slate roof and
handmade bathroom restoring the original sash windows. Passionate about
vanity units. ‘I like to reusing existing materials where possible, she visited
mix traditional and reclamation yards to source authentic pieces, including
contemporary, with a
period-style piece of
such fine details as a set of original period window
furniture painted in a fasteners. ‘As part of our restoration journey, we were
bold and colourful anxious to keep our environmental footprint as low as
hue like this marble- possible and to be creative with what was already in
topped vanity in the house,’ she says. ‘We repurposed original
Farrow & Ball’s
Verdigris Green,’
floorboards from across the property for the floors
she says. in the two bathrooms.’
As always with an older building, renovation works
were not all plain sailing and as layers were peeled
back, new problems came to light. ‘We found hidden 
cracks under render that needed to be fixed and lots

50 THE ENGLISH HOME

‘When I was 10, my favourite book was
The Little White Horse by Elizabeth
Goudge in which there was a rickety
spiral staircase leading to a room with
a four-poster bed. My parents had
bought a house with a spiral staircase
and had this bed made for me for my
birthday and Christmas present, it is
still one of my favourite possessions!’
says Alexandra.


‘We were anxious to keep our
environmental footprint low
and to be creative with what
was already in the house’
of the old beams needed to be re-enforced with new
joists,’ she says. However, the couple also unearthed
some wonderful finds, including pretty vintage
wallpapers, handwritten letters beneath floorboards,
and a concealed space behind a shower, which they
were able to expose to balance the window in the
sitting room upstairs.
Describing her style as a mix of traditional and
contemporary design with an emphasis on colour and
pattern, nature-lover Alexandra seeks inspiration from
her seaside location. ‘I like to use a neutral backdrop
and to play with soft furnishings and artworks to bring
colour to my interiors. I also enjoy finding new
designers and artists to support,’ she explains. Regular
trips to South Africa, where her parents have a home,
have also influenced Alexandra’s style.
Always keeping a keen eye out for antiques and
handmade pieces, Alexandra mixes natural materials,
second-hand finds and antiques with bespoke pieces
that she designs herself. ‘When we found the house,
I knew I wanted to create a calm, thoughtfully curated
space filled with beautiful furniture, fabrics and art.
Restrictions in budget mean I have done this slowly,
but I would rather buy once and invest in a piece that
will stand the test of time,’ she says.
Life by the sea has brought Alexandra a healthy
balance, starting the day early at her desk in her studio.
By late afternoon, she is often to be found exploring
the river on her paddleboard, constantly seeking
inspiration from her surroundings. With the house
finished, her future plans include a dream interior
design project. ‘I would absolutely love to design a
hotel,’ she says. ‘I greatly admire the work of interior
designer Anna Spiro and hope that one day I will
be able to use my skills to create a beautiful place
for guests to come to stay and appreciate the magic
of the Suffolk coast.’ n

ABOVE LEFT In Alexandra’s LEFT On the rear terrace,

studio, a sofa found on an Ava modular garden
Gumtree has been covered sofa set from Jo Alexander
in Jane Churchill’s Hooper is accessorised with brightly
fabric and is topped with coloured cushions which
cushions from Carolina Alexandra had made
Irving and Soane Britain for using project offcut fabrics
a colourful statement. The from Carolina Irving and
Gainsborough chair, also Peter Dunham. Dormer
sourced online, has been windows high in the slate
revived by local upholsterer roof offer wonderful views
Robin Barnes with a Susan over Aldeburgh and out
Deliss fabric. to sea.

52 THE ENGLISH HOME

www.lotsroad.com
[email protected] I 020 7376 6800
Unit 9 The Piper Centre, Carnwath Road, Fulham SW6 3JX
What lies BEYOND
A secret world awaits when one steps over the threshold of Neisha Crosland’s
London home centred around a cobbled courtyard
FEATURE CAROLINE DONALD PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES MCDONALD

ABOVE Neisha in a corner of the garden that was created RIGHT The level of the new-build wing is slightly lower than
from what was a commercial yard. This area is a few steps the rest of the courtyard to accommodate its four floors. A
down from the main part of the garden to create a sense wisteria is trained over the walls and the white wire chairs
of a different space. A pot with a large agave sits atop one are by Patricia Urquiola. Ivy ‘Mein Herz’ tumbles out of the
of the buttresses of the surrounding wall. planters at either side of the French windows.

54 THE ENGLISH HOME

‘There’s a real feeling of being in Provence or Tuscany. I love living
in the city with a home that feels like being on holiday’

F
ABOVE A glimpse or more than 30 years, Neisha Crosland’s post in the south-west corner and a two-storey postwar
out to the seating has dropped through the same letter box in building in the south corner, the ground floor of
area between the
southwest London. Yet, on the other side of which was the garage and the first floor serving as
original building
and the new wing, the arsenic-green front door is a secret and offices for a company supplying plants to the film
where a crimson rather magical world that transports you to somewhere and events industries. An earlier house in the north
glory vine covers distinctly Continental, expanding and contracting, corner was separate and had a tiny garden, fenced
the walls. Coir subdividing and rearranging around a cobbled off from the yard.
matting catches any
courtyard garden according to the needs of the At the time, Neisha had not yet met her French
dirt as one comes
into the house. renowned textile and surface pattern designer’s husband Stéphane, but once they had decided to live
business and family. together he bought the second house, knocked down
It is a far cry from the tatty, commercial site that the fence and the whole 600-square-metre yard was
Neisha bought in 1993. Originally a mews for the theirs. They then joined the two, retaining the original
grand houses nearby, the site had been bombed doors to the mews in an entrance hall. ‘Then my sister
during the World War II. What was left was a yard Charlotte [who is an interior designer] said, “Instead
enclosed by high London-brick walls, with a shack of just doing a passageway above, why don’t you make

56 THE ENGLISH HOME

it into a room?”, so Stéphane’s study is up there,’ ABOVE The cosy
Neisha explains. drawing room
fireplace was
The next phase involved connecting the buildings
designed by Neisha,
with a galley-like kitchen and Neisha’s study above, as were the framed
and replacing the shack with a four-storey building that Rocket embroideries
includes a cinema room, laundry and wine cellar in on the walls. The
the basement, the ground-floor drawing room and a inherited bench in
the foreground is
bedroom on each of the upper floors. The result is an
covered in Point de
L-shaped house that extends around two of the four Hongrie jacquard by
walls of the courtyard. Edmond Petit.
The Crittall-style windows largely face inwards and RIGHT The entrance
are painted in the same 1940s-green as a scrap Neisha hall links the two
took from the original garage building and had copied buildings and opens
into the garden. The
by Papers and Paints. With no views to embrace, other tablecloth fabric is by
than the backs of surrounding buildings, the eye is East London Cloth,
drawn to what is within the space. ‘Sometimes I’ll walk with bullion trim by
out in my nightie because it feels like nobody can see Turnell & Gigon. The
you; it feels very private,’ says Neisha. seagrass matting is
from Sinclair Till.
The final piece of the jigsaw came about through a 
stroke of serendipity. The corner plot next door was a
‘Just stepping out and
hearing the water
and looking at whatever
is about to bud really
clears the mind’

grotty piece of council-owned land, a legacy of the

World War II bomb. ‘It was a dead space. I never turn
left when I leave the house because everything happens
to the right, but one day I did and saw this tiny little
notice saying it was up for auction the next day. So
Stéphane dropped everything, as we had to secure it,’
Neisha explains.
They did, and, as the integrity of the road had been
lost to the bomb anyway, the couple were allowed to
erect a contemporary building on the corner, which
they then linked to the existing ‘compound’, as Neisha
refers to it. This served for many years as the design
studio and showroom for her eponymous label.
These days, however, she runs a design studio for
clients such as Chelsea Textiles, Schumacher and
George Spencer Designs and has moved her office to
the former billiards room – the couple’s adult sons,
Oscar and Samuel, having left home – and rents out
the corner building. The new office, which she shares
with her assistant, Ivan Done, looks out onto the
ABOVE The kitchen fountain. ‘I love this arrangement and the fact that the
links the old garage studio is literally in the garden. I’m much happier
to the new wing.
here,’ she admits. ‘You could say I am in the
The light fittings are
American industrial compound all the time, but, actually, just stepping out
Holophane and the and hearing the water and looking at whatever is about
tiles are from Made to bud really clears the mind.’ With the courtyard and
A Mano. plentiful greenery ‘there’s a real feeling of being in
LEFT Along the walls Provence or Tuscany. I love living in the city with a
of the dining room
are Russian poems
home that feels like being on holiday,’ she adds.
by Teddy Millington- Nature is also very much at the core of much of
Drake. The Salon Neisha’s work and the garden has often proved
chairs from Howe inspirational. For example, the idea for Hollywood
London are covered Grape, one of her most iconic early designs, came
in Linen Stucco by
Warwick Fabrics
when doing the washing up and looking out at the
while the Swivel vine and bending drainpipes on the wall opposite.
Head table lamps are The symbiosis of her work and life continues in the
by Besselink & Jones. house, where her fabrics adorn much of the furniture,
although not exclusively – after all, this is a home, not
a showroom.
There is something very comforting in living in the
same place for three decades, especially a space that
can adapt to family circumstances as they change. Yet
not everything is static: the dining room, in what was
the original garage, for instance, used to be painted
brown: ‘I felt like I was eating under a spooky forest.’ 
Today the walls are in Farrow & Ball’s Slipper Satin,

58 THE ENGLISH HOME

The gold-leaf mural in the
vestibule of the new wing
were painted by Ian
Harper. The lamps are
from Hector Finch and the
chairs are covered in
Neisha Crosland Zebra
Raspberry silk chenille.
which, together with water reed matting from Tim
Page, bring a freshness to the room and enhance
the feeling of being in a house in the south of
France. Which is where the next phase of the couple’s
life lies, as they have bought a house in the Lot, which
they are doing up and will visit several times a year.
Ivan has warned Neisha, however: ‘You can’t do
a duplicate of the mews in the French house; you
have to do something completely different.’
‘He’s dead right,’ she says. And therein lies
the challenge – chintz sofas and Royal Doulton
tableware perhaps? n

ABOVE LEFT Wall lights by designed by Neisha, Kyoto

Hector Finch frame the bed Trellis, available as a fabric
in the principal bedroom. from Schumacher. The
The stool is from George staircase rope comes
Smith and is covered in from Period Flooring.
Neisha Crosland Tudor Rose LEFT The distressed mirror
flock. The tables are from glass pannelled walls
Guinevere Antiques. leading into the principal
ABOVE RIGHT Robert Kime bathroom are inspired by
pierced-card lampshades a house Neisha spotted in
top a light bought from a Andalusia. The bathroom
friend’s house clearance. mirror was designed by
The frieze along the wall Charlotte Crosland and
was painted by Rosie made by Nick Hilliard of
Mennem and is a pattern Redhouse Forge.

60 THE ENGLISH HOME

Home
COMFORTS
A palette of confident, nature-inspired hues provides
the perfect backdrop for interior designer Holly Howe’s
trove of cherished pieces in her family abode in London
FEATURE EMILIO PIMENTEL-REID PHOTOGRAPHY EDVINAS BRUZAS

In the sitting room,

curtains made from
hand-dyed antique linen
and Burnley Overdye
Ticking from Howe at
36 Bourne Street sing
against the waxed plaster
walls. The Clam chair and
Retriever armchair are
both from Howe London’s
Made by Howe collection.

62 THE ENGLISH HOME

‘I
’ve lived all around London, but I’ve never felt
as at home as I do in Dartmouth Park,’ Holly
Howe, an interior designer and co-creative
director at British brand Howe London,
founded by her father, the CEO, Christopher, says of
the leafy area bordering the south-eastern corner of
Hampstead Heath. ‘It’s a countryside bubble in the
heart of the city, green and wild with a brilliant sense
of community, full of interesting, creative residents
who all seem to have deep roots in the area.’
Holly, her husband, their two little boys – Bertie,
five, and Rex, one – and their Maltipoo dog, Bear, live
in a wonderfully wonky Victorian end-of-terrace house.
The fact that it is an end-of-terrace property grants it
an extra wedge of space, so every floor feels bigger than
expected. Before Holly and her family moved in, it had
last been renovated – although not very well – in the
1980s. ‘The fireplaces needed reinstating and the
cornicing restoring,’ she recalls, ‘but the bones and the
light were just perfect. It’s one of those special little
streets where properties don’t come up much because
it’s tucked away and there’s such a fantastic sense of
community.’
Holly grew up with very creative parents, who
became antique dealers without meaning to. From
the moment she was born, the family’s home was
constantly evolving, a veritable treasure trove of
antique furniture and objects coming and going.
‘Howe London, and the style synonymous with Howe
London and my dad, is part of my DNA, so, much of
my own taste has grown from those roots, expressed
through a disregard of trends and fashion, favouring
honesty, quality and charm as well as an unintentional
obsession with collecting!’
Holly loves waking up in her bedroom, a favourite 
space, to the optimistic ‘Pondicherry’ wallpaper from

ABOVE RIGHT Having tried RIGHT On display around

numerous green paints for the house are the children’s
the home office, Holly many treasured collections
eventually chose Edward of leaves, stones and sticks
Bulmer Natural Paint’s Evie gathered from the green
for its uplifting feel. The area of London the family
Urn lamp and the Gillows lives in. In the home office,
George IV mahogany they sit next to a vintage
breakfast table, which now Maclamp and Holly’s
functions as a desk, both great-grandfather’s wooden
came from Howe London. chalet music box.
ABOVE LEFT A marrying a lady of the
substantial chaise people. The sofa is a
longue in the home new Howe London
office is covered in design, adapted for
natural hessian and this tight space with
has been attributed to a shallower seat.
Holland & Sons c1860. ABOVE An antique
LEFT The rug on the oval table by William
wall of the sitting Tillman, extendable and
room is one of Holly’s set on a central column,
favourite things. It was chosen for its
was designed by practicality and is paired
industrial designer with a set of original
Sigvard Bernadotte, Ernest Race BA3 chairs
a Swedish royal prince to create a dining area
who lost his title after in the kitchen.
‘I didn’t have any time to plan ahead. Work was busy, Bertie, my elder
son, was two and the builders were ready to go, so I had to keep up
with their schedule. I was always a little behind’
the family’s textile business, 36 Bourne Street. ‘It’s moved here,’ Holly says, ‘so in the morning the kids
a pattern rather than a solid, that’s easy to live with,’ and the dog all pile in with us and we start the day
she explains. ‘A diagonal pattern with a subtle linear there together.’ Referring to the bed covered in
shape, used in an oddly shaped room.’ The natural cushions, she adds, ‘We have a Swedish friend
linen curtains lined with vintage mattress fabric bring who comes to London with amazing deliveries of
calm to the room and on sunny days light plays Swedish cushions. It’s hard to resist their lovely
through them, revealing the charming stripes of the informality. I love the mix
of stripes, and the extra
lining. ‘We upgraded to a super-king bed when we cushions add comfort.’

THE ENGLISH HOME 65

Holly Howe on eight
qualities that help to
make interiors unique
JUXTAPOSITION
It is helpful to have a
common thread, no matter
how tenuous. We live in
such a green area of London,
that the colour and nature
became a web that spun
through the house.
BALANCE
Symmetry is best avoided. It is
a very simplistic approach to
achieving balance, which – as
nature teaches us – is far more
complicated than it looks.
SURPRISE
With two little boys, a
650-square-metre warehouse
full of ever-changing pieces at
our disposal and an inherited
addiction to antiques markets, The playroom walls are covered
our life and home will never with Edward Bulmer Natural
Paint’s Vert de Mer on the upper
stop evolving.
half and a bespoke scrubbable
COLOUR off-white paint below. The
I did not really think in terms weathered chest of drawers was
of colour palette, my choices sourced through Howe London.
were more instinctive, but
reading them all together
now, there is an optimism
and light-heartedness that
unite the colours.
PATTERN
Things do not have to
match, but colour does unite
elements. Pattern is very good
for a lifestyle that involves
children and dogs.
TEXTURE
When you look at fabrics and
make decisions in the space,
it leads to better outcomes.
I had already lived in my
bedroom when I chose the
curtains, so I was aware of
the light. They are not
blackout curtains, and give a
mottled effect from the linen
lined with stripes.
MOOD
Happy! Achieved by choosing
things not for ‘a look’ but that
I (and we as a family) love.
LIMITATIONS & POSSIBILITIES
My choices were limited in
some ways by having two very
small children. Good-quality
gloss-painted surfaces come
into their own and well-made
furniture can withstand a few
years of little climbers, but
certainly I had to think ‘robust,
durable, won’t show stains’.

66 THE ENGLISH HOME

BELOW Pondicherry RIGHT A mixture of striped
wallpaper in Maize from furnishings and textiles
Howe at 36 Bourne Street creates a playful, yet
brings charm to the timeless feel in the nursery.
principal bedroom. In the The Swedish cushions in the
en-suite bathroom, pale cot and on the corner chair
pink tiles from Walls and are both from Howe London
Floors were chosen to while the walls and blind are
match the vintage pedestal in Ebba fabric from Howe at
basin rescued from a skip. 36 Bourne Street.

‘I like being surrounded by pieces that have had a life

before me and that will last beyond me. People and
their interiors will come and go, but these things
will still be there ... somewhere’
Although the family has lived in the house for only wall of the family room. A gift from Holly’s father (and
three years, it feels established, as if they have been their great friend Bjarne) some years before she moved FURTHER
there a long time. Holly did not use a moodboard or to this house, and once stored away because she had READING
scheme when creating her interior, and she has not nowhere to display it, it has now found a home in All Things
referenced other interiors or periods specifically: ‘I’m Dartmouth Park. Her set of original Ernest Race Considered by
Emilio Pimentel-
quite sentimental, so there are certain pieces (objects dining chairs and other treasures have comfortably
Reid (Quadrille,
and furniture) that I’m very attached to or that make settled in too, framed by the wallpapers from 36
£35), photography
me feel happy, and I think these subconsciously Bourne Street that Holly had been dying to use for by Edvinas Bruzas
became the starting point for the house.’ herself. All these elements blend to create a relaxed
Wandering around the spaces, there is a wonderful atmosphere in which everyone has a chance to feel
mid-century Swedish handwoven ‘Flossa’ carpet on the at ease and at home. n

THE ENGLISH HOME 67

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STYLE INSPIRATION
Expert advice for kitchens and bathrooms including family-friendly options, tile designs
and unfitted pieces, plus choosing stylish outdoor fabrics and beautiful hardware

ROYAL PARADISE
Having held a Royal Warrant for over 100 years, Sanderson was a natural choice for a remarkable
collaboration to create over 100 new wallpapers and fabrics inspired by Highgrove. The private residence
of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla, this country retreat in the Cotswolds
and its expansive gardens has been lovingly transformed by The King over 45 years. The collaboration
explores all the different, magical corners of the gardens in detailed papers, prints and embroideries.
Carpet Garden wallpaper, shown here, captures a walled garden with a global spirit. This garden was
inspired by a Turkish rug at Highgrove and translated from a sketch by King Charles into an award-
winning garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The immersive mural-style paper captures the beautiful
elements of the garden, often referred to as The Paradise Garden.
Carpet Garden, Sanctuary, £236 a roll, Highgrove by Sanderson
FEATURE KATY MCLEAN

THE ENGLISH HOME 69

Let the sun
SHINE
Combining the aesthetics of indoor
designs with high-level performance
qualities, these new fabrics are perfect
for life outdoors this summer

F
abrics for outdoor use have continued to
blossom over the past few years, not just in
performance factors but also in a dizzying array
of choice, allowing the same decorative flair
employed indoors to be flaunted in the garden, too.
This year alone, Pierre Frey has launched 32 fabrics
for indoor/outdoor use across three collections, in
assorted colourways. Other luxury brands have
followed suit, with launches from Nobilis, Elitis and 
Manuel Canovas in their summer collections. Fermoie

70 THE ENGLISH HOME

DECORATING

THIS PAGE Wicker outdoor fabric,

£170 a metre, Fermoie
LEFT Cushions, Ocala Stripe in
Rust, £58 a metre, and Elidi in
Rust/Positano/Indigo, £58 a metre;
Seat cushions, Cove in Indigo/Rust
£58 a metre, all Harlequin

THE ENGLISH HOME 71

SWATCHES FROM has also brought its signature style to an outdoor
LEFT Any Papaya, range. ‘For years, customers have been asking us when
£240 a metre, Serena
we’ll produce fabrics they can use outdoors. We’ve
Dugan at The Fabric
Collective; Borneo, always politely replied that we’d do so just as soon as
£200 a metre, Nobilis; we could translate the look and feel of our interior
Hana, Eden, £41 a fabrics in a safe and sustainable way without the use of
metre, Villa Nova; harmful chemicals,’ reveals co-founder Tom Helme.
Batik Mineral, £197.40
‘It’s been a long, painstaking process, but through
a metre, Walter G at
The Fabric Collective patience, innovation and careful development, we’ve
LEFT Cushions from finally achieved it. Our indoor-outdoor fabrics are
left: Tote, £119; made using 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles and
Coast, £95. Fosca are made without PFCs, PFAS and other harmful
Throw, £299. All “forever chemicals”.’
Sophie Paterson
Also making a foray into performance textiles is
x Andrew Martin
Morris & Co, with beautiful offerings bringing the
DECORATING

OPPOSITE Indoor RIGHT Seat cushions,

Outdoor Weaves Keros (base), £140 a
collection, from £122 metre; Barbade
a metre, Morris & Co (back), £148 a metre
BELOW Belvedere scatter cushions,
fabrics, from £149 a Paros, £106 a metre,
metre, Pierre Frey all Manuel Canovas

‘Outdoor spaces have been overlooked when

it comes to the level of decorative detailing
reserved for interiors. Our collection brings the
same sophistication and bespoke customisation
to the exterior’ Marisa Gutmacher, VP of design, Samuel & Sons

nature-inspired designs of William Morris to life in RIGHT Cushions from

outdoor fabrics. ‘These weaves feel a long time in the left: Friendly Folk
Outdoor, £150, Kit
making,’ says Jess Clayworth, lead designer. ‘Crafting
Kemp x Andrew
a collection specifically for outdoor settings is a natural Martin; Lost & Found,
progression for us as a design studio, honouring the £144, Kit Kemp x
original point of reference that inspired so much of Christopher Farr
William Morris’s iconic work. Take the beloved Cloth; Button Multi,
£125, Annie Selke x
Blackthorn, which has never been woven before – now,
Kit Kemp; Always
it makes its debut for this collection as a weave, which Greener rug, £850,
feels very special.’ Annie Selke x
As more fabric houses extend their collections to Kit Kemp
incorporate outdoor fabrics, the choice means style
in the garden can be truly personal, rather than just
the ubiquitous designs available on the high street.
Favourite designs, used indoors – such as Penny

THE ENGLISH HOME 73

DECORATING

SWATCHES TOP TO Morrision’s Ashok – have been translated into

BOTTOM Panerea, performance fabrics, ideal for creating a seamless flow
£174 a metre, Elitis;
from indoors to out.
Arcata indoor/
outdoor fabric, Excitingly, it is not only the range of fabrics that
£52 a metre, Clarke have seen an expansion in choice this year, Samuel &
& Clarke; Ashok Pink Sons has created high-performance trims, so cushions,
performance fabric, parasols and upholstery can be given a bespoke
£186 a metre,
decorative finish. ‘Outdoor spaces have long been
Penny Morrison
ABOVE Aurea
overlooked when it comes to the level of decorative
Cabana, £4,998, detailing typically reserved for interiors. Our outdoor
Soho Home trimmings were designed to redefine that boundary
RIGHT Trims: – bringing the same sophistication, rich colour, and
deckchair, Striped bespoke customisation to the exterior,’ explains Marisa
Border; left-hand Gutmacher, vice president of design. ‘The trims are
cushions, Twisted
Cord with Tape;
crafted for high performance, with exceptional
right-hand cushion, resistance to UV rays, mildew, mould and stains, and
Orsay Bullion, all are bleach-cleanable, making them as durable as they
the Outdoor are beautiful.’
Semi-Custom Performance qualities are essential when choosing
collection, from
FEATURE KATY MCLEAN

£65 a metre,
an outdoor fabric. The best ones will of course be
Samuel & Sons made from fibres that will be long-lasting, able to
withstand the occasional downpour, be mould and
mildew-resistant, and, most importantly, fade-resistant.
Essential for those glorious days of full sunshine. n

74 THE ENGLISH HOME

SHOPPING
3

8
9

11
12
10

Woven wonders
Perfect for indoor or outdoor use, get summer-ready with classic rattan furniture,
whether that is a bijou bistro set or a generous lounger for whiling away the balmy evenings
1 Lauren cocoon chair, Green, £649, Atkin and Thyme 2 Brayford bistro set, Natural, £910, Garden Trading 3 Curato side table, £450,
FEATURE CHARLOTTE LUXFORD

and sofa, £995, both Birdie Fortescue 4 Bakari sofa, £2,500, Sweetpea & Willow 5 Shorwell dining table, Natural/Teak, £2,595, Oka
6 Mayfair 230cm oval dining table with eight dining armchairs, £2,999, Bridgman 7 Arlia rattan lounger, £495, Nkuku 8 Palma
Signature corner sofa set with high/low table, £2,939, Kettler 9 Longmeadow garden sofa, armchairs and Kew coffee table set,
£4,380, Neptune 10 Outdoor bistro table and chairs, £525, Graham & Green 11 Martingala Barrique rattan armchair by
Marco Zanuso, £5,020, Exteta at Artemest 12 Oxford six-seater round dining set, £1,899, Maze Living ■

Visit theenglishhome.co.uk for a full buyer’s guide to the best rattan garden furniture

76 THE ENGLISH HOME

SHOPPING
2

5
4

11

10

Great outdoors
There is no need to compromise on style or comfort with this edit of the
best garden furniture, whether dining, lounging or relaxing in the sun
1 Paseo indoor/outdoor occasional chair, £695, Cox & Cox 2 Boscombe six-seater dining set with marble top, £2,660; Staysail
round parasol, £175, Neptune 3 Palm Springs daybed, from £1,395, Raj Tent Club 4 Nettleton garden lounge set, £899, Cotswold
Company 5 Antibes two-seater sofa, £1,299; 130cm coffee table, £349, Bridgman 6 Noa four-seater round dining table, £795;
dining armchair, £325; dining chair, £289, Graham and Green 7 Vilamoura rattan lounging sofa set (chair, sofa, coffee table, side
FEATURE RACHEL OGDEN

table) with cushions in Denim Garden, £2,450, Laura Ashley 8 RHS Wisley Mocha L-shape sofa, bench, chair and piston adjustable-
height table, £3,610, Bramblecrest 9 Gaspard outdoor sofa, from £5,995 for a three-seater, Soho Home 10 Sadhi acacia wood
outdoor love seat, £995, Nkuku 11 Colette garden dining table, £995; chair, £295, Oka ■

Visit theenglishhome.co.uk for a full buyers guide to the best garden furniture

78 THE ENGLISH HOME

THE WOW FACTOR
Offering a unique opportunity to explore interior designers’ work, WOW!house is a summer highlight

S
ABOVE LEFT Guy ited in the heart of Design Centre Chelsea took the opportunity to ‘take a dream-like projection
Goodfellow and Harbour, WOW!house is an immersive from my imagination into reality. I’ve dreamt large.
Steven Rodel in the
experience that allows its thousands of As adults, we’re often conditioned to be logical and
Drawing Room they
created in 2024 in international visitors a chance to see the work rational but, just for a minute, with WOW!house,
collaboration with of a host of acclaimed interior designers first hand. belief can be suspended, and ideas fully embraced.’
Tissus d’Hélène.
Building dreams
‘There is a journey of discovery that happens here
ABOVE RIGHT at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour where interior
The 2024 entrance designers and architects work day-in, day-out with This chance to allow imaginations to run wild and
to WOW!house with
artisans through to global brands, each contributing the freedom to design without a client is something
a bespoke rug by
Jennifer Manners. in their own individual way to create magic,’ explains previous WOW!house alumni have enjoyed.
OPPOSITE TOP LEFT CEO Claire German. Here we look back at some of ‘Designing the Drawing Room in 2024, sponsored by
The planned entrance the previous highlights and anticipate this year’s Tissus d’Hélène, was a wonderful opportunity to
for 2025 has an wonders with sneak previews of designs. showcase our style by collaborating with many of the
imposing facade to
Setting the scene
finest craftsmen, artists, dealers, and fabric houses in
match the grandeur
of the Entrance Hall
the industry. It was a real privilege to be asked to take
by Maison Artefact With 22 spaces, including outdoor courtyards and part in such an inspiring celebration of design,’ say
beyond it. gardens, and all rooms of the house covered – from Steven Rodel and Guy Goodfellow.
OPPOSITE TOP kitchens, bathrooms, sitting rooms and bedrooms What is also most remarkable about the whole
RIGHT CEO of through to the more unexpected – such as Fromental’s process is the build. While plans might be up to a year
Design Centre 3am Room of 2023 – WOW!house offers a rich variety in the making, designers have just four days to install
Chelsea Harbour,
Claire German.
of decorative styles. The entrance and lobby always set and bring their designs to life, something a visitor
the tone – last year’s whimsical façade was would find hard to believe such is the transformation;
complemented by a vibrant entrance carpeted in a each room feels established and as though it has been
bespoke rug by Jennifer Manners. This year a classical there forever. It is tempting to wish to be a fly on the
approach is being taken to meet the grandeur of an wall during the installation, as Lucy Hammond Giles
atrium designed by Maison Artefact in collaboration of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler attests, ‘The build was
with Cox London. Victoria Devaro of Maison Artefact hilarious and great fun; Alidad up one ladder, Guy

80 THE ENGLISH HOME

DESIGN INSIGHT

and Stephen from Guy Goodfellow up another and

Will Fisher from Jamb sanding the beautiful wooden
floors of his and Charlotte’s bedroom.’
The result of this ‘all-hands-on-deck’ build is
as perfect as a finish in a client’s home, down to
fabric-upholstered walls, freshly painted skirtings,
curated antiques, art and flowers.

Perfectly curated
It is testament to the allure and prestige of
WOW!house that so many esteemed designers take the
chance to create a room. This year sees Sims Hilditch,
Kelly Hoppen, Staffan Tollgård and Ben Pentreath
among an illustrious list of names collaborating with
prominent showrooms at the Design Centre.
Fromental’s beautiful wallcoverings will once again
been on display – this year in The Drawing Room by
Chad Dorsey Design – while Samuel Heath’s brassware
will be showcased in a bathroom by Laura Hammett.
Each year also sees new additions. Claire German
notes an exciting element for 2025 is The Curator’s
Room. A collaboration with Stark (providing a
bespoke rug) and Spinocchia Freund, this will be a ABOVE Staffan Tollgård
space ‘dedicated not only to curating and celebrating is designing a Study for
the collector’s environment, but also to championing 2025 with Phillip Jeffries.
new and emerging artistic voices,’ German says, adding RIGHT Henry Prideaux’s
striking pink Martin
the room will, ‘Exclusively feature pieces by women to Moore Kitchen in 2023.
inject visibility, voice, and value into
 the work of
up-and-coming female creatives.’

‘It was a real privilege to be asked to take part in

such an inspiring celebration of design’
Steven Rodel & Guy Goodfellow
DESIGN INSIGHT

WOW!HOUSE 2025
3 June to 3 July
Design Centre Chelsea Harbour
Visit dcch.co.uk/wowhouse/tickets
Individual tickets are £25 each,
however, there is a range of offers
available for group bookings.
Tickets include a souvenir WOW!
Wonderbook and a portion of the
price is donated to United in Design.

Wow moments
The most enduring memories from a visit to this
fantastical show house are those rooms that truly
surprise and inspire. Henry Prideaux’s pink Martin
Moore kitchen of 2023 has long lingered in the mind,
as has Alidad’s Legend room last year, with spectacular
use of textiles and antiques. So we keenly anticipate
those rooms that will wow us again this year. It is the
FEATURE KATY MCLEAN PORTRAITS © MILO BROWN; (HENRY
PRIDEAUX/MARTIN MOORE KITCHEN) © JAMES MCDONALD

ambition of all designers to produce rooms to

remember, as Victoria Devaro concludes, ‘I hope for
visitors to feel they are momentarily in another world,
capturing timelessness, an intake of breath.’ n

ABOVE LEFT Lucy Hall, complete with

Hammond Giles in her impressive lighting
Colefax and Fowler from Cox London.
Morning Room in 2024. LEFT American designer
ABOVE RIGHT Victoria Chad Dorsey’s Drawing
Devaro’s vision for the Room for 2025 features
Maison Artefact Entrance Fromental wallcoverings.

82 THE ENGLISH HOME

PRESENTS

WO W ! h o u s e
THE ULTIMATE DESIGNER SHOWHOUSE
TUESDAY 3 JUNE – THURSDAY 3 JULY 2025

BOOK NOW: www.dcch.co.uk

DESIGN CENTRE, CHELSEA HARBOUR, LONDON, SW10 0XE
Illustration by Philip Hooper. WOW!house 2024 -
Colefax and Fowler Morning Room by Lucy Hammond Giles SUPPORTING
of Sybil Colefax and John Fowler
THIS PAGE In this eaves
bedroom and bathroom by
TH2 Designs, River Pebble
Knobs by Chloe Alberry add
a tactile nature to otherwise
sleek joinery.
OPPOSITE A bespoke
console with antique brass
finishes, complemented by a
picture light by Chapman &
Myers, lend this study area
by Elicyon a timeless yet
contemporary feel.

E SSENTIAL EL EM ENT S O F
AN EN GLISH HO M E

HARDWARE
In an ongoing series spotlighting the idea that a finely-tuned symphony
of form and function provides a truly meaningful place to live, we
explore the importance of the small but impactful details
FEATURE EMMA J PAGE

84 THE ENGLISH HOME

DESIGN INSIGHT
W
hether undertaking a full renovation that give functionality to a home. From architectural ABOVE In her
or a simple refresh, it can be easy hardware like hinges and handles, to the finishing kitchen, interior
designer Laura
to overlook small considerations in details that make a bathroom or kitchen function,
Stephens has used
favour of the overarching picture, but such as drawer pulls and towel rails, these are elements Armac Martin’s shell
fixed finishing touches – otherwise known as hardware that we interact with daily. If they are aesthetically cup handles in an
– have the ability to complement architecture, add pleasing and effortless to use, they provide overall aged brass finish on
subtle texture and elevate a space. Encompassing cohesion to a scheme. the main run of
cabinetry for a
everything from hinges and hooks to drawer pulls Opting for the best hardware possible will pay
relaxed feel,
and door knobs, these elements can act as elegant dividends, as these are pieces which will be used daily complemented by
additions, in much the same way that a considered and touched thousands of times, whether wardrobe 1940s-style pendants.
piece of jewellery finishes an outfit. ‘Hardware can handles or window pulls. Well-made fittings also have
counteract the negative characteristics of a house, door the advantage of immediately elevating the piece of
or piece of furniture,’ noted Sir Terence Conran in furniture they relate to. ‘It’s important that they impart
his influential The Essential House Book. ‘It is a fast and a feeling of quality,’ says interior designer Lucinda
affordable way to bring change to even the humblest Martin. ‘Bear in mind too that joinery is a costly
surface.’ Three decades on, as this series explores, his element of an interior to install, so opting instead
counsel still proves wise. for updates to the existing, such as the addition of a
beading detail to a kitchen or bathroom cupboard,
changing its colour or updating hardware can be
SWITCHED ON totally transformative.’
Carefully selected hardware – pieces that complement When choosing hardware finish, colour and
the style, colour palette, or architectural details of material, beauty is of course in the eye of the beholder,
a building – creates a sense of cohesion and visual but there are certain rules of thumb that make sifting
harmony. These intentional touches enhance a space, through endless choices a little easier. ‘Think about
transforming it from merely functional to truly well- the overall style of your home and make sure you get
designed. In a broad sense, the term encapsulates all a sample of any hardware you’re considering,’ advises
the architectural or practical details (often in metal) Pringle & Pringle’s Sophie Pringle. ‘Hold it and feel its

86 THE ENGLISH HOME

DESIGN INSIGHT

ABOVE LEFT DeVol’s

size and weight before you commit, as you can’t always Boho handles in
Aged Verdigris Brass
glean the full quality until it’s in your hand. I like to
feature a living finish,
use a turning knob on doors where possible rather designed to naturally
than a lever handle, as there’s something very pleasing patinate over time,
about a well-made turning mechanism.’ perfectly suited to
Once the bones of a scheme have been decided, rich green cabinetry.
select pieces that complement its overall colour tones. ABOVE RIGHT
A glamorous bar
‘I tend to favour antique brass and bronze finishes as by Pia Design pairs
they age well, are warm and go with pretty much any tactile two-tone
colour,’ says interior designer Carina Raymond. ‘Those wood veneer and
finishes also look more elegant and timeless. Having rattan finishes with
said that, in bathrooms, I like to use nickel as it’s much brass shelf rods and
antique brass knurled
softer on the eye than chrome.’ cabinet handles for
In older homes where walls are not perfectly an elevated look.
straight, well-placed decorative backplates on handles LEFT Armac Martin’s
can disguise inconsistencies while adding a refined solid brass hardware
touch. Likewise, upgrading taps to a classic bridge is proudly made in
mixer or elegant swan-neck design can transform a Birmingham and all
pieces are finished by
dated vanity or kitchen sink. ‘In country houses, I hand for a beautifully
often lean towards antique-style forged iron or ceramic crafted addition to
knobs for relaxed, traditional English charm,’ says the kitchen.
interior designer Laura Stephens. ‘Unlacquered brass,
for its warmth and the way it develops a natural patina
over time, is a firm favourite but I am also enjoying
using painted lacquered or leather wrapped hardware.’
As for the question of whether hardware should
match, consider context first. Matching handles across

THE ENGLISH HOME 87

In this bedroom scheme by
Lucy Van der Gucht Interior
Design, antiqued brass
hardware complements duck
egg blue decorative detail, as
well as providing cohesion
across all of the joinery.

LEFT In this bathroom BELOW LEFT Soho BELOW RIGHT Adding a

design by Pia Design, Lighting’s Aged Brass Classic modern classic note to
the shape of the hooks, toggle switch, part of The cabintery, Matilda Goad &
by Ferm Living, echoes the Palaces Collection, adds Co’s wave handles come in
decorative detail of Maison understated glamour to an polished brass, and nickel
C’s Coven wallpaper. otherwise simple scheme. and blackened bronze.

88 THE ENGLISH HOME

DESIGN INSIGHT

doors and cabinetry can introduce symmetry into an

irregular space, creating a sense of order. And within
one piece of interior architecture, such as a door or
window, sticking to the same finish across hinges
and handles creates cohesion. On the other hand, a
considered blending of finishes can produce a relaxed
feel. ‘I have mixed metal finishes in my kitchen,
creating a layered, lived-in look,’ says designer Lucy
Van der Gucht. ‘An aged copper extractor hood brings
gravitas, antique brass drawer pulls warm up the
joinery’s mushroom tones and bronze wall lights
add depth to the neutral colour scheme.’

ALL IN THE DETAIL

Ideally, hardware should be both practical and
decorative – but first bear in mind its primary use.
‘Consider the proportions of doors and drawers and
the scale of your hardware on a vanity or kitchen,’
advises Balineum’s Sarah Watson. ‘As a basic rule, a
handle slightly smaller than a third of the width of
a drawer or door will work well. If it’s an extra-wide
drawer, use two smaller handles, each roughly one-fifth
of the width of the drawer. If the room is small, choose
something more delicate, and if it is large, make sure
your pieces are more substantial. For appliances like
concealed fridges and dishwashers, hardware should be
robust. A small pull can be difficult to grasp and might
not be strong enough for the weight of the door.’
A key factor in choosing the right hardware is to
carefully consider the style of the fittings they are
planned for. ‘A rustic Shaker kitchen pairs beautifully
with smooth leathers or antiqued metals, while
contemporary spaces often suit polished chrome or
matt black finishes,’ says Turnstyle Designs’ Oscar ABOVE ‘Updating
Roberts. ‘To achieve a cohesive look, take into account hardware is one of
the simplest ways to
other metal accents in the space – such as sinks, taps refresh without a full
and lighting – and ensure they work harmoniously.’ renovation,’ says
When it comes to joinery, bear in mind colour too. Laura Stephens, who
‘For a dark tone like navy, try a bolder hardware choice introduced aged
like bronze or satin brass,’ advises Neptune’s design brass elements here
for a smart look.
director Fred Horlock. ‘Meanwhile, black hardware
LEFT Brass taps and
works particularly well with lighter colour schemes like heated towel rails
sage, adding contrast and interest to the space.’ complement a classic
While the architectural period of a home plays its copper bathtub from
part, there are times when the specific destination of The Cast Iron Bath
the hardware is more important. ‘A minimalist kitchen Company in this
traditional scheme
scheme, even in a period house with traditional sash by Studio Duggan.
window catches and door knobs, looks best with
contemporary hardware,’ advises Victoria Wormsley
of French-Brooks Interiors. ‘An Edwardian-inspired
bathroom with a traditional cast-iron bath likewise
suits traditional taps. It is possible to contrast the
styles of the fittings – such as a contemporary marble
bath with traditional tapware – but do co-ordinate
another aspect, like a bronze tap finish to pick out
brownish veins in marble, for example. That helps to
bridge the style gap.’

THE ENGLISH HOME 89

DESIGN INSIGHT

Durability is important from an environmental Hunting for salvaged ironmongery is also a creative ABOVE LEFT For a
perspective, plus ease of fitting. ‘In my experience, move. ‘I’m always on the lookout for beautiful old relaxed feel, interior

GUCHT) © CHRIS SNOOK; (PIA DESIGN) © CHRIS SNOOK, MARY WADSWORTH; (CAST IRON BATH COMPANY) © KENSINGTON LEVERNE
designer Lucy Van
plumbers enjoy working with high-quality tapware; it coat hooks,’ says Libs Nicholls, founder of Domestic
der Gucht added

PHOTOGRAPHS (TH2 DESIGNS, DEVOL) © PAUL MASSEY; (ELICYON) © PATRICK WILLIAMSON; (LAURA STEPHENS, LUCY VAN DER
fits together like an expensive car engine and can be Science. ‘There’s something really lovely about having leather handles to
mended easily if needed,’ says interior designer Olivia them on the backs of bedroom doors. I also have a bespoke painted
Outred. ‘I have found that economic options can soft spot for vintage surface-mounted cupboard catches storage in this
have a short shelf-life and so use budget taps only in and latches. If I can find them, I’ll always use them entrance hall.
Their tactility
bathrooms that are rarely used.’ because they make such a difference to the look and
complements the
feel of a cupboard.’ upholstered bench.
Recently, brands like deVol have been designing
TREASURE TROVE their own hardware in response to a decline in British
ABOVE RIGHT
Polished nickel
Once light switches, hinges, locks, grilles, latches craftsmanship. ‘Because we love traditional, classic drawer pulls in both
and window furniture have been taken care of, there interiors, we wanted to incorporate finishing touches the main kitchen and
the pantry beyond
is plenty of opportunity to up the decorative stakes. that feel authentic, humble and made to last,’ says lend a subtle note
‘I prefer the level of detail in hardware to reflect the creative director Helen Parker. ‘We have recently made of continuity in this
utilitarian or decorative nature of its purpose,’ says a solid brass door knocker, just because it reminds scheme by Emma
interior designer Lucinda Martin. ‘The fittings that us of the Georgian houses in Spitalfields.’ Likewise, Burns at Sibyl Colefax
perform daily tasks should be discreet and really good heritage brands like The Beardmore Collection can & John Fowler.
quality, and then an elaborate backplate to the handle salvage and refurbish original pieces from listed
of an antique piece of furniture can really shine.’ buildings as well as manufacturing new hardware
It is a formula followed by several design specialists, to existing patterns, improving or replacing so that
including Pia Pelkonen, who says she treats these nothing is thrown away.
pieces as small sculptures within a room, often using Ultimately, despite their often-diminutive size, the
artisanal hardware, like handmade knobs sourced fixed finishing elements in a home directly contribute
from Etsy, to add visual interest. Likewise, Studio to a sense of well-being, being crucial items that are
Alexandra’s Ali Childs recently reworked some simple handled daily. Chosen well, many will improve with
wardrobes from Ikea by adding large bow handles by age, elevate their surroundings and prove pleasingly
Beata Heuman. tactile. A perfect combination of utility and form. n

90 THE ENGLISH HOME

For a free brochure or to find your nearest showroom
call 0161 848 1200 or visit tomhowley.co.uk
KITCHENS BOOTROOMS WALK-IN PANTRIES MEDIA WALLS BAR AREAS DRESSING ROOMS
STEEL WINDOWS l DOORS l SCREENS l ROOFLIGHTS

clementwindows.co.uk
01428 643393

The
DoorKnocker
Company

Period Hardware &

Traditional Ironmongery
Shop and Online Store
Based in Church Stretton, Shropshire.
4, High Street, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6BU
Tel: 01694 720189
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.thedoorknockercompany.co.uk

92 THE ENGLISH HOME

BUYER’S GUIDE

An Aga, a
farmhouse table
and a large antique
dresser (its base
carefully scribed
into the skirting)
add extra character
in this kitchen
designed by
VSP Interiors.

Freestyle
DESIGN
From fitted kitchens that feature a single
standalone piece to kitchens composed entirely
of mix-and-match furniture, we examine the
advantages of the timeless freestanding look
FEATURE KATHERINE SORRELL

THE ENGLISH HOME 93

F
reestanding kitchens are seeing
something of a renaissance, with
many leading kitchen companies
moving towards a less fitted look,
while also introducing a wide choice
of standalone pieces, from butcher’s
blocks and work tables to pantries and
dressers. As Fred Horlock, design director
at Neptune, says: ‘Freestanding kitchen
furniture is becoming increasingly popular
as people want kitchens that feel more
like living spaces to be enjoyed rather than
purely functional areas for cooking.’
With expert help, a freestanding kitchen,
or a fitted kitchen with freestanding
elements, can beautifully complement
individual style, offering character,
flexibility and a personalised solution
to different ways of living.

The fully
freestanding kitchen
In its purest form, a freestanding kitchen
is composed entirely of individual items
that stand alone (even when placed
ABOVE Heritage chairs by Ercol add a mid- BELOW For a 17th-century Oxfordshire close together) and could, therefore, be
century twist to this kitchen which combines farmhouse, Max Rollitt designed a kitchen
a combination of styles and types of storage, that includes a work table, an Aga and a
repositioned with relative ease, once any
including open shelves and sink skirts. huge freestanding pantry. plumbing and electrical connections are
removed. Typically, these kitchens comprise
a sink cabinet with cupboards either side,
a range cooker, also with cupboards on
both sides, a tall pantry, a work table and
perhaps a butcher’s block, complemented
by wall cupboards, open shelving, racks,
and rails with hooks.
A fully freestanding kitchen can be
adapted for changing needs or even
brought along in a house move. In theory
it can work well in an open-plan living
space, co-ordinating more comfortably
with sofas, chairs and dining furniture
than unified runs of wall-to-wall cupboards,
and for any size of kitchen. Helen Parker
of deVol explains that in a small cottage
the instinct might be to fill a whole wall
with cupboards, but in fact a freestanding
sink cabinet would be very authentic:
‘Sometimes, if you create a bit of space
between your cabinets, it can actually
 make a room feel bigger.’ Although more
popular for country kitchens and period

BUYER’S GUIDE

A central table, corner cupboard,

shelving and a dresser create a
relaxed, traditional style in the
kitchen of this Victorian house,
which was reconfigured and
designed by design studio
The Vawdrey House.

THE ENGLISH HOME 95

SEVEN OF THE BEST KITCHEN LARDERS properties, the styles and materials of
freestanding cabinetry can dictate any look,
Store food, small appliances and other kitchen kit tidily away yet
including sleek and contemporary or urban
readily to hand in a capacious and good-looking pantry. We round
and industrial.
up our favourite useful and beautiful examples.
Care must be taken when planning a
freestanding kitchen. ‘Some work surface
and storage space may be sacrificed because
of the different sections,’ points out
Kim Whinnett of Barnes of Ashburton,
‘so a busy family kitchen may not benefit
from freestanding pieces.’ It may also be
hard to co-ordinate different cabinetry,
not only stylistically but also, crucially,
in terms of height and depth. This will
1 2 3 not, however, be a concern with modern
freestanding cupboards all supplied by the
same company.
‘A freestanding kitchen can elevate a
room to feel slightly less conformist,’ says
Parker. ‘I think if you step away from this
idea that all cupboards have to be fitted,
that you’ve got to make the most of every
little bit of space, and that you’ve got
to hide everything, then you’re freer to
experiment and be unique.’

Achieving the
5
6
freestanding look
More common than the completely
4 freestanding kitchen is one that appears
freestanding but which has fitted elements,
carefully designed by bespoke kitchen
specialists who make each piece to order,
and is often combined with several fully
freestanding pieces (whether old or new).
1 Three shelves sit above a deep, worktop- There are likely to be runs of worktop that
level shelf that is ideal for small appliances,
complemented by soft-close drawers, cubby
span several cupboards, and wall tiles that
holes and spice racks on the doors. meet the worktops. Crucially, says Tom
Hanne larder pantry, £2,395, Cox & Cox Edmonds of Lewis Alderson, cupboards
2 Built using traditional mortise-and-tenon should be attached to the walls and floor
joinery, this larder combines a painted outer for safety, and scribed to the shapes of
frame with an exposed-oak interior and 7 bricks or flagstones.
fluted-glass doors.
Farlow freestanding double kitchen larder,
‘It’s about creating an illusion,’ says
painted, £3,745, Neptune section, and can also be customised Whinnett. ‘How do we hide appliances
3 Above drawers and space for daily to individual requirements. and plumbing? How do we eke out as
essentials, bi-fold doors open to reveal Millbrook kitchen larder, £1,735, much work surface as possible? There’s
organised compartments, with the option to The Painted Furniture Company all sorts of trickery, like putting furniture
add a built-in microwave or coffee machine. 6 Bespoke and made to order, this on legs, setting the plinth as far back as
Verona Slim Shaker freestanding breakfast pantry features an integrated fridge
pantry in Dove Grey and Marine, £5,038, and coffee machine, and upper cabinets
possible to hide adjustable legs but still
Crown Imperial lined with aged brass and walnut. achieve a shadow line, and adding skirting
4 Inspired by authentic Shaker carpentry, Chelsea pantry, from around £6,000, to a cabinet to give it that freestanding
this painted pantry includes a slate cold Naked Kitchens feel.’ Edmonds agrees, adding that
shelf and two brass or chrome rail spice 7 In addition to shelves, drawers, cubby including a prep table instantly makes a
racks, with drawers below. holes and door racks, this triple larder kitchen feel freestanding, as does varying
The Real Shaker pantry cupboard, from boasts lower crates to store potatoes
£3,740, deVol and other root vegetables.
the alignments of cabinetry. ‘You can
5 Full of country charm, this cupboard Chester triple larder in Forest Green, mix the worktops, textures and colours,’
features four baskets and a large storage £1,999, The Cotswold Company he says. ‘And don’t build everything in.

96 THE ENGLISH HOME

BUYER’S GUIDE

If there’s a recess next to a chimney, for ABOVE Built to lend

example, put a cabinet there that doesn’t the appearance of a
freestanding kitchen,
entirely fill the gap.’
this elegant example
Paula Carter, of The White Kitchen by Lewis Alderson is
Company, explains that any shape and size an understated
of fitted furniture can be created to look complement to the
freestanding, offering excellent storage adjacent living space.
The interior design is
capacity and including elements such as
by Overbury Interiors.
built-in cutlery trays or pull-out drawers.
RIGHT In this kitchen
With many home owners opting for a by Hetherington
secondary kitchen dedicated to cooking Newman, a bespoke
and cleaning, the main kitchen has become traditional dresser
more of a social space, Carter adds, with provides crockery
storage behind
partially freestanding kitchens – more
glazed doors. The
flexible than long runs of fitted units – large table was made
a good choice for this way of living. ‘In by Lutyens Furniture
a long room, one end can be dedicated and Lighting.
to dining – using dressers, tables, and
comfortable chairs to create a distinct
and inviting space. In L-shaped rooms,
freestanding elements can help balance
the layout.’ She advises carefully curating
each area for cohesion, opting for larger,
statement pieces rather than multiple
smaller items that could appear cluttered
or disorganised.

THE ENGLISH HOME 97

BUYER’S GUIDE

Central to this pretty kitchen by

The White Kitchen Company is
a freestanding island that
contains plenty of storage and
space for a breakfast bar.
BELOW LEFT Banquette seating
is combined with a table.
Bespoke kitchens from £40,000,
Simon Taylor Furniture.

Utilising individual pieces

Combining fitted cabinetry with one have collected, inherited, bought. Perhaps
or two freestanding pieces is becoming there is a sideboard or dresser that you love
increasingly popular for all styles and from your previous kitchen and, if this is
sizes of kitchen, offering the advantages your starting point for a new kitchen, its
of building-in appliances and maximising function will dictate what goes into the

PHOTOGRAPHS (VSP) © PAUL MASSEY; (MAX ROLLIT) © TOM MANNION; (LEWIS ALDERSON) © TORY MCTERNAN; (WHITE KITCHEN CO) © JULIA CURRIE
storage while adding an individual touch. rest of your room.’ Carter advises careful
It could be an antique pine dresser or curation. ‘Rather than mixing lots of
industrial trolley, a Victorian pantry or a different old and new elements randomly,
repurposed work bench: as Leila Touwen focus on a clear theme.’
of Pluck says, freestanding furniture in Old or new, a freestanding piece can
combination with fitted cabinetry gives often be adapted, by altering the legs,
the impression of a room that has evolved cutting a hole in the back panel for a wall
over time. She adds: ‘The piece or pieces socket, or simply repainting for cohesion
that are suitable will depend on what you with other parts of the room. Adding
modern worktops and co-ordinating
hardware, if necessary, will also transform
them. There are practical advantages to
this type of kitchen design, as Horlock
points out. ‘A freestanding larder provides
versatile storage without the constraints
of built-in cabinetry. An island creates a
central gathering space while maintaining
an airy, open feel. Even smaller pieces
add flexibility and additional workspace.
All these pieces work well both on their
own and together, allowing you to create a
modern and functional kitchen that still
feels personally curated.’ ■

LEFT Understated cabinetry flanks an Everhot

cooker, with a glazed cabinet and open
shelving adding to the freestanding
appearance of this charming kitchen.

98 THE ENGLISH HOME

ARNES
We are more than just kitchens. Our interior design service extends to any room
in the house. From bedrooms to lounges, boot rooms to home office projects.
Of Ashburton Ltd
24A West Street, Ashburton, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 7DU
Tel: 01364 653613 • www.barnesofashburton.co.uk
Eight essential ingredients to create the perfect family bathroom
FEATURE JANET MCMEEKIN
DESIGN INSIGHT

F
amily bathrooms need to work hard. They
are chameleon spaces, changing with growing
families and switching from being practical
rooms coping with the morning rush, to
becoming tranquil sanctuaries to relax in after
a busy day. With careful planning, they can be both
stylish, functional and able to accommodate the needs
of several generations as well as double up as a pleasant
space for overnight guests to use. In this feature we
explore eight key elements and share advice from
leading experts to help create a beautiful and versatile
family bathroom.

1The
BATH
perfect
A thoughtfully selected bath is often the centrepiece of
a family bathroom, particularly for those with young
children. While freestanding baths exude a sense of
luxury, built-in baths are experiencing a renaissance
due to their space-saving attributes. ‘In most UK
homes, space is at a premium and built-in baths,
typically sized 1700mm x 700mm, are a practical
option,’ says Alfie Guard, senior designer at Ripples.
‘Fitted baths can look extremely stylish, especially
when tiled to link seamlessly with the floor or walls.
Tongue-and-groove or Shaker-style bath panels,
decorated in splash-proof paint to match the walls
or furniture, can also be aesthetically pleasing.’
When it comes to what type of material to choose
for a fitted bath, Guard recommends either titanium-
glazed steel or lightweight acrylic, known for its heat-
ABOVE The layout of
retentive properties. If considering a cast-iron bath, this Ripples bathroom
check with a structural engineer if the floor will need provides plenty of floor
to be reinforced. space to incorporate a
generously sized
walk-in shower and
freestanding bath.
Marble-effect wall tiles,

2The
£63.20 a square metre,
perfect Ca’ Pietra
SHOWER RIGHT Two of
‘Due to the ever-increasing pace of family life and Catchpole & Rye’s
La Cage designs have
people being more mindful of water usage, we’ve been been fused to create
finding that many customers, particularly with older a heart-shaped double
children, have been removing their bath and opting shower enclosure.
for a walk-in shower or wet room,’ says Guard. When La Cage d’Amour,
selecting a shower, versatility is key. Combining a £24,000, Catchpole
& Rye
rainfall showerhead with a handheld option on a riser
OPPOSITE Metro tiles
bar offers choice for all ages. Thermostatic controls laid vertically inject a
ensure consistent water temperature and enhance touch of drama in this
safety. Guard adds, ‘The minimum space required bathroom designed by
to install a walk-in shower is 1400mm x 800mm, and Studio Duggan.
I wouldn’t recommend choosing a shower enclosure Fellini Pianta Matt tiles,
£69.60 a square metre,
smaller than 800mm x 800mm. Claybrook Studio; Pine
wall lights, £455 each,
Original BTC

THE ENGLISH HOME 101

3The perfect
WALL DECOR
If considering bolder design choices, bathrooms are
the ideal opportunity to unleash creativity using
colourful paint, tiles and wallpaper. Melanie Adams,
global head of Wallpaper Direct, says, ‘As long as the
bathroom is well-ventilated and wallpaper isn’t exposed
to direct contact with water, you can wallpaper without
worrying about peeling, warping, or mildew.’ She also
advises lining walls and using a high-quality adhesive.
To be extra cautious, wallpaper a wall that is less
exposed to moisture and use paint or tiles in areas
most prone to direct water contact.
Tiles are an extremely practical choice for
bathrooms, and textured tiles add an extra dimension,
injecting depth and character. Have fun with tiles to
create impact. Vertically striped tiles in two colours
draw the eye upwards, making the space feel more
open and airy.
See our feature on page 109 for a more detailed guide to
using tiles.

4The perfect
LIGHTING
Lighting can make or break a family bathroom.
Claire Pendarves, independent lighting consultant
for Soho Lighting, says, ‘In a large family bathroom
I’d recommend three circuits so you can adapt the
mood, including well-placed downlights or a ceiling
light, then wall lights flanking a mirror, all dimmable.
The third circuit for uplights or floor wash lights, can
give a spa-like feel and double up as soft lighting for
night visits.’ It is best to select a minimum IP44 rating,
but IP65 is vital when closer to water. To widen the
selection, investigate exterior lights that can work
well in bathrooms.

ABOVE LEFT An intricate wall lights for a bathroom

pressed-flower wallpaper in a period home.
design brings this bathroom Swan wall lights, £195
to life, adding a gentle each, Original BTC
feminine touch to a space OPPOSITE Wood-effect
full of hard surfaces. tiles are practical and add
Kienze, £98 a roll, Harlequin warmth and character.
LEFT Opt for timeless Jakob Ash porcelain tiles,
designs with an elegant £53.88 a square metre,
silhouette when choosing Mandarin Stone
DESIGN INSIGHT

5The perfect
VANITY UNIT
If aiming to ensure the family bathroom is clutter-
free, a vanity unit is a great investment that provides
out-of-sight storage for toiletries and other items.
Options to consider are built-in units and floating
vanities (ideally with large drawers), which create
an illusion of space and are easy to clean under. ‘A
well-designed vanity unit can make the space much
more visually appealing and efficient,’ says interior
designer Polly Ashman, founder of Polly Ashman
Interiors. ‘If budget allows, opt for a bespoke vanity
so that every centimetre of space inside the unit has a
function. I prefer to use undermount basins in family
bathrooms and often mount taps on walls to free up
the countertop. Lever taps are also worth considering
as they’re easier for children to use.’

THE ENGLISH HOME 103

6 The perfect
FLOORING
Flooring also has a significant impact on the look
and feel of a family bathroom. Whether opting for
limestone, terracotta or porcelain, the right tiles can
transform a space. Louisa Morgan of Mandarin Stone
says: ‘All natural stone and terracotta tiles are porous
and require sealing during the installation process.
Thereafter, they need only simple cleaning routines.’
Solid wood flooring is best avoided in bathrooms.
Instead, opt for high-quality engineered wood flooring,
designed to be tolerant to high-humidity levels. Ian
Tomlinson of Chaunceys Timber Flooring gives the
example of an oak top layer being combined with a
birch ply base to ‘create sustainable flooring that’s
exceptionally stable’.

104 THE ENGLISH HOME

DESIGN INSIGHT

7The perfect
STORAGE
Ample storage is essential to keep the bathroom
organised. It is worth considering a mix of hidden
and open storage solutions, such as adjustable shelves,
soft-close drawers, and built-in dividers. Recessed
niches integrated into walls can save space, while
toe-kick drawers beneath cabinetry are handy for
seldom-used items. For those who prefer to soften the
aesthetic with some practical accessories on show,
Fred Horlock, design director at Neptune, suggests
that an open-style washstand with shelves underneath
will ‘maintain an airy feel’ and is practical ‘for fresh
towels or storage baskets filled with toiletries, keeping
everything within easy reach yet neatly arranged’.

8 The perfect
RADIATOR
These days, radiators are as much a design feature
as a source of warmth. Traditional column radiators
inject timeless elegance, making them perfect for
period homes, while heated towel rails are also a
popular choice.
The latest designs incorporate energy-efficient
technology, using up to 90 per cent less water than
older radiators, meaning less energy is needed to
heat them.
Nick Duggan, managing director of The Radiator
Centre, says, ‘Many models come with dual-fuel
options allowing operation in warmer months
when the central heating may be off, and smart
controls that can be operated from mobile phones,
enabling temperature management when you are
away from home.’ ■

Visit theenglishhome.co.uk for a range of bathroom buyer’s

guides, from tiles to towels.

ABOVE RIGHT This tall, in the bathroom.

slim unit takes up a small Oval stainless steel towel
footprint while providing rail, £479.81, from The
generous storage. Radiator Centre
Shepton glazed cabinet, OPPOSITE Choosing the
from £2,090.50, Neptune same tiles for the bathroom
RIGHT For attention to floor and walls adds impact.
detail, match radiator and Udaipur tiles, £86.70 a
heated towel rails finishes square metre, Nina
to the hardware elsewhere Campbell x Fired Earth
The new mattress range from The Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company promises
a truly good night’s sleep while also supporting the British wool industry

T
he Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company, BELOW Every Solutions to sourcing
a Royal Warrant-holding family business mattress in the Though there are other traceable wool mattresses
known for championing traditional range is made using available on the market, The Wrought Iron and
hand-teased British
craftsmanship and sustainable values, wool, sourced
Brass Bed Company has taken a more ambitious
has announced the launch of its most meaningful directly from farmers approach than most with its Traceable Wool
collection to date: the Traceable Wool Mattress the brand knows Mattress Collection.
Collection. and trusts. While other brands have chosen to focus on
More than just a mattress range, it is a chance to OPPOSITE ABOVE transparency and stick to one large-scale supplier
Experience the luxury
bring comfort, conscience and connection into the to simplify logistics, The Wrought Iron and Brass
of falling into a deep,
bedroom – all while directly supporting a network of peaceful sleep, Bed Company has built a cooperative-style supply
British sheep farmers. In recent years, British Wool enveloped in the model that sources fleece from a wide spectrum
prices have dropped so low that many farmers receive natural softness of of British farms.
less than £1 per fleece – barely enough to cover the pure British wool. ‘We wanted to support the breadth of British sheep
cost of the shears, let alone their time or care. The OPPOSITE BELOW farming – from the tiny flocks to the larger hill farms,’
Gordon, one of the
consequences for many sheep farmers have been explains Amanda Oldfield, the company’s managing
farmers the company
devastating, with some even forced to burn wool as sources its wool from. director and founder, and a shepherd herself.
it costs more for them to sell it than dispose of it.
Supporting British farmers
As well as giving work to a wide range of farms,
The Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company ensures
its farmers receive above market value for their
wool and are paid promptly. There are no volume
requirements and no middlemen, just fair pay for
real wool from real people.
One of the farms benefiting from this model sits
on the chalky downs of Wiltshire, where the same
family has raised sheep for over 150 years. ‘We’re not
a big operation,’ says Gordon, the current farmer and
fifth generation to work the land. ‘We’ve got over 60
breeding ewes. For us, wool was always part of the
story, not the main thing, but something that mattered.’
Until recently, that is. ‘A few years back, we were
paid 78p per fleece. After costs, we lost money on
every sheep we sheared. And we can’t eat the wool.
So, what do we do? Burn it? Compost it? It’s soul-
destroying,’ he adds.
Through the Traceable Wool Mattress Collection,
Gordon’s farm receives more than double the average
commercial rate and is paid within three months, a
quarter of the time compared to the 12 months via
British Wool. ‘It’s more than the money,’ he says.
‘It’s the feeling that the wool matters again. That
someone’s sleeping on our story, not just stuffing
it in a factory.’

106 THE ENGLISH HOME

PARTNERSHIP FEATURE

Conscience-clear sleep
Every mattress in the collection is made using 100
per cent British, hand-teased wool, sourced directly
from farms with named provenance. When customers
choose the Traceable Mattress Wool Collection, they
are not just buying comfort – they are buying a system
that works. One that pays fairly, reduces emissions and
keeps heritage farms alive. ‘Every mattress is a vote,’
Amanda says. ‘A vote for the kind of countryside you
want, the kind of company you want to support, and
the kind of future you believe in.’
This level of traceability is not just a novelty. It is
a reminder that sustainability is about relationships
with land, livestock and labour. ‘Knowing your
mattress has a name, a field, a story – that’s a rare
thing in today’s market,’ Amanda continues. ‘It turns
a simple act of sleep into something deeply grounded
and beautifully human.’ ■
FEATURE SALLY COFFEY

Shop the new Traceable Wool Mattress Collection online at wroughtironandbrassbed.co.uk or visit the brand’s Norfolk
showroom. SPECIAL OFFER 15% off all Traceable Wool Mattresses with code: EnglishHome. Offer valid until 14 June 2025.

THE ENGLISH HOME 107

Thoughtfully designed. Beautifully made.
Bespoke fitted furniture | Handmade kitchens | Smart storage
www.shapedinteriors.com • [email protected]

108 THE ENGLISH HOME

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE

Surface MATTERS
Expert advice for selecting tiles for walls and
floors, and inspiring ways to use them
FEATURE AMELIA THORPE

Wall, Zellige Gloss,

Tropical Green and
Petrol, £55.20 a square
metre, Mandarin Stone

THE ENGLISH HOME 109

L
ong known for their hardwearing qualities,
tiles also offer myriad design opportunities.
There are plenty of options to suit every
project and style ambition, offering scope for
individuality and interest. ‘Of course, tiles are selected
for their practicality and longevity, but they don’t
have to be dull,’ says interior designer Nina Campbell.
‘With some careful thought, there is a wonderful
opportunity to add colour, pattern and a sense of joy.’
Begin by considering the suitability of the tile
material for its use, particularly if the tiles will be
installed in wet areas, with underfloor heating, or on
outdoor terraces. Factors such as permeability, ease of
maintenance and anti-slip qualities may be important,
depending on the setting. Most suppliers recommend
ordering 10 per cent extra to allow for breakages and
wastage due to cutting requirements.

Natural and reclaimed stone

Admired for their hardwearing qualities and natural
beauty – with no two stones ever identical – stone tiles
have been a popular choice for centuries, from ancient
flagstones to elegant marble. But natural stone is more
porous than manmade materials, such as porcelain, so
ABOVE Yuri Sand Beige BELOW Louella gloss OPPOSITE Antique,
does require ongoing maintenance, although modern
90 per cent Recycled metro tiles, Claret Red reclaimed, 18th-century sealants can make this less onerous than in the past.
stone-effect porcelain and Blanched White, English sandstone Reclaimed floors are ideal for bringing in character.
tiles, £39.95 a square £58 a square metre, flags, from £354 a ‘They bring a powerful sense of history,’ says Jason
metre, Walls & Floors Quorn Stone square metre, Lapicida Cherrington, director, Lapicida. ‘Each has its own
unique story and a patina which, acquired over
hundreds of years, will make them immediately at
home in country houses, yet sit equally well in more
minimal interiors, adding contrast to clean lines.’

Porcelain
‘A porcelain tile is a manmade product that combines
kaolin (white) clay, finely ground sand and feldspar,
fired to an extremely high temperature (upwards of
1200°C) resulting in a very dense and hardwearing
tile,’ explains Isabel Fernandez, director, Quorn Stone.
Porcelain’s strength and almost zero porosity means
that the material is typically low maintenance and
usually suitable for use outside as well as in, on floors
as well as walls, and in wet areas, such as shower walls
and kitchen splashbacks. Advances in digital printing
also mean that porcelain tiles are now available in a
huge variety of styles, including ultra-realistic stone
and wood effects, which goes a long way to explain
why there has been such an explosion of choice in
porcelain tile offerings.

Ceramic
‘Ceramic tiles are also manmade, from natural red
or brown clay,’ continues Fernandez. ‘The mixture is
also fired at a high temperature, but lower than that
of porcelain, which makes them a little less dense.’
They are also usually a little more porous and 
INSIDER KNOWLEDGE

‘Reclaimed floors bring a powerful sense of

history, each has its own unique story and a
patina acquired over hundreds of years’
Jason Cherrington, director, Lapicida

THE ENGLISH HOME 111

typically available in smaller formats than porcelain.
‘Ceramic tiles are only suitable for indoor use and are
particularly popular as wall tiles or for areas with less
footfall,’ she says. Look out for options with attractive
gloss and crackle glazes.

Zellige, bejmat and encaustic cement

‘All made from natural materials, traditionally
handcrafted and rich in character, each has its own
origin, material composition and application,’ explains
Damla Turgut, founder and creative director, Otto
Tiles & Design. Zellige are traditional Moroccan tiles,
made from natural clay typically found in the Fez
region, each tile shaped, glazed and cut by hand, then
fired in a kiln. ‘Their irregularities – slight variations
in tone, texture and surface – are exactly what gives
these tiles life and charm,’ she adds. Typically glazed
with a high-gloss enamel, zellige are usually water-
resistant and suitable for interior settings, including
bathrooms and splashbacks.
Bejmat tiles are a cousin of zellige, also handmade
from natural Moroccan clay. ‘But they are thicker,
rectangular and usually unglazed, giving them a more
rustic, earthy appearance,’ says Turgut. Sealing these
tiles is essential.

LEFT Zellige Circle hand £34.66 for a 13cm x 13cm

crafted kiln fired clay tiles, tile or £59 a square metre,
£384 a square metre, Marlborough Tiles
Otto Tiles & Design BELOW Barnfield porcelain
BELOW LEFT Classic Delft tiles, £65.28 a square
hand-painted ceramic tiles, metre, Claybrook
INSIDER KNOWLEDGE

‘Their irregularities – slight variations in tone, texture and surface – are exactly
what gives zellige tiles life and charm’ Damla Turgut, founder and creative director, Otto Tiles & Design

‘Encaustic cement tiles are made using a mixture colour or texture, or as a feature wall. ‘Pattern is TOP LEFT Palm
of cement, marble powder and natural pigments,’ she important too,’ he says. ‘Think about varying the House glazed
ceramic tiles, from
continues. The pattern is not printed on the surface, direction of pencil or kit kat mosaic, adding a
£648 for a panel
but set into the tile itself using a detailed mould, so horizontal strip to disrupt and draw the eye, or using of eight tiles,
the design will not wear away over time. ‘They are herringbone or chevron patterns to create movement.’ Murals collection,
perfect for floors and walls, both indoors and out, Original Style
and lend themselves beautifully to patterned layouts,’ Inside-outside ABOVE LEFT
she adds. Porous by nature, they require sealing and Creating an almost seamless look between interior and Marrakesh Terracotta
Brick Light matt
ongoing maintenance. exterior spaces is a great way to boost the spacious feel porcelain tiles, £71.98
of a home, especially effective on warm summer days a square metre, The
Mosaic when the doors are open and there is an easy sense of Baked Tile Company
Available a variety of materials, including marble, flow to the garden. ABOVE RIGHT
porcelain and glass – typically supplied on mesh Porcelain tiles are especially popular for their tough Stars tile, Midnight
backing – mosaic tiles can be light reflective and a great and frostproof credentials, with some suppliers Blue, from £94 a
square metre,
way to introduce a sense of luxury and detail, although offering the same tile design in two thickness options Molly Mahon x
their intricacy can make them a pricier choice. to suit the different areas. ‘We offer a wide range of Mosaic Factory
‘Mosaics can form a fantastic focal point in a room,’ porcelain tiles, many in stone or concrete effect, that
says Rob Whitaker, creative director, Claybrook are available in a 10mm internal thickness and a
Studio, who recommends using them as an accent 20mm external thickness,’ explains Louisa Morgan, 

THE ENGLISH HOME 113

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE

‘With some careful thought, there is a wonderful opportunity to add colour,

pattern and sense of joy’ Nina Campbell, interior designer
marketing director, Mandarin Stone. ‘The external
options also tend to have a slightly more textured
surface to offer better slip resistance.’

Layouts & combinations

All kinds of layouts can be used to enhance the
individuality of a tile design. Square tiles in a
chequerboard black-and-white design make an ever-
classic look or try an unusual combination of colours
for something different. Brick-shaped (or ‘metro’) tiles
in a vertical formation can be used to create a striking
striped look in contrast to classic horizontal style.
‘They can also be mixed into different patterns for
visual effect, such as a basketweave layout, which works
particularly well for walls, whether using one bold
colour or a combination of hues,’ says Emma Hughes,
studio manager, Original Style. ‘Murals and floral
designs in general have become popular, particularly
paired with a plain tile on half of the wall or with
mouldings for a more textured 3D embossed effect.’
Hughes recommends matching the grout shade
to the background colour of a patterned wall tile to
create a more seamless ‘wallpapered’ look. Or choose
a contrasting grout colour to accentuate the layout
design, such as herringbone.
Another way to elevate a tile wall or floor is to
create a border, usually a band of tiles in a contrasting
colour, size, shape or material, often around a floor,
splashback or shower wall. ‘Borders look best when
they are symmetrical or at least balanced,’ advises
Grazzie Wilson, head of creative, Ca’ Pietra. ‘Consider
TOP LEFT Tetuan Cotto TOP RIGHT Cobblers ABOVE Floor and bath
creating a framed rug effect in a hallway or bathroom
White gloss and matt Cove collection panel, Cochin Green
porcelain tiles, £39 a porcelain tiles, all porcelain tiles, £86.70 with patterned tiles bordered by plains or a different
square metre, Direct £144 a square metre, a square metre, Nina pattern. You can use this to frame key focal points,
Tile Warehouse Bert & May Campbell x Fired Earth such as a freestanding bath.’ n

114 THE ENGLISH HOME

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THE ENGLISH HOME 115
Handcrafted Fine Upholstery

Contact Us 01738551600
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Clearing Space, Calming the Mind

Decluttering is more than organizing shelves or sorting
drawers—it’s a sacred act of alignment. When we
begin to gently clear the inner spaces of our minds
and hearts, something remarkable happens: the outer
space begins to shift too.

My decluttering service is rooted in this belief—that

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weighing you down. With every cleared corner, there’s
an invitation to breathe more freely, to feel more
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116 THE ENGLISH HOME

LIVING THE SEASON
FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE RECIPE STOCKFOOD PHOTOGRAPH © STOCKFOOD / GREAT STOCK!

BEETROOT CARPACCIO WITH HONEY ICE CREAM

This impressive-but-easy appetiser or starter is topped with honey ice
cream to add a cooling twist to a colourful, seasonal beetroot salad
INGREDIENTS METHOD
For the salad: 6 radishes, thinly sliced • Pour the beetroot juice • Arrange the beetroots,
50ml beetroot juice 4 tbsp white wine vinegar over the onions and soak radishes and onions on
1 red onion, thinly sliced 4 tbsp olive oil for 20 minutes. plates with the salad leaves.
600g mixed coloured beetroots, 2 tbsp grapeseed oil • Mix the beetroots with salt Top with a scoop of
thinly sliced 1 handful baby salad leaves and sugar and stand for 30 homemade or ready-made
salt For the ice cream; ready-made or minutes. Add the radishes, honey ice cream and
1 pinch sugar homemade honey ice cream vinegar and oils. Mix well. serve immediately.

THE ENGLISH HOME 117

In tune with
Embrace seasonal living and enjoy the harvests and sights of June

NATURAL SPECTACLE
Sea Thrift is a native perennial of England and is at its peak during June,
where it can be seen covering coastlines in a hazy pink wash of colour.
Also known as Cliff Clover, it can be seen from spring to autumn, but
makes for quite the sight during summer walks on cliff tops, with waves
crashing below. Take time away from the beach to enjoy a bracing hike
along one of England’s myriad coastal paths and take in the natural beauty
of this charming little flower, which in its masses provides a colourful
contrast with blue skies and seas. This plant also thrives in the garden – it
is a popular choice for adding to a rockery to give a cloud of pink blooms. 
SEASONAL LIVING

THE ENGLISH HOME 119

PRESERVE
THE SEASON
Elderflower is so evocative of summer
that just a taste of it instantly brings to
mind warm, sunny days. It is best used to
flavour syrups or cordials, and making a
large batch of either with freshly picked
elderflowers will ensure the light, floral
taste can be savoured for months to
come. June is the perfect time to harvest
elderflowers, when creamy frothy blooms
cover trees and give off a heady fragrance
on warm days. Only forage from public
spaces, in parklands and fields, far from
traffic fumes which will pollute the taste.
Snip beneath the base of the flower head
to avoid too much green stem, and
only take what you need – the
berries that grow later in the
year are much needed by
birds. Use flowerheads to infuse
in a favourite recipe for syrup or
cordial – lemons provide
some sharp balance
to the sweet,
delicate
flavours.

WAYS TO USE
ELDERFLOWER
SYRUP OR CORDIAL
• Drizzle over strawberries for a
summer marriage made in heaven
• Swirl into a gooseberry fool
for an added level of flavour
• Add to sparkling wine or gin and
tonic for a refreshing sundowner
• Serve over ice with a dash of soda
for a taste of summer year-round

120 THE ENGLISH HOME

SEASONAL LIVING

PEONY VARIETIES
Primrose Hall, an RHS Chelsea Flower
Show Gold Medal-award-winning
nursery and leading grower of
peonies in the UK, recommends:
BIGGEST BLOOMS: Festiva Maxima,
Command Performance, Dinner Plate
PERFECT PINK: Jacorma, Bowl of
Beauty, Angel Cheeks
BEST SCENT: Boule de Neige, Shirley
Temple, Duchesse de Nemours
LONGEST LASTING: Singing in
the Rain, Bartzella, Hillary

PICK PEONIES
The unfurling of small balls of petals into
enormous fluffy puffs of beautiful colour is
eagerly anticipated as the spectacular peony
season reaches its peak in June. A symbol
of love and prosperity, peonies make
popular choices for bridal bouquets, but
are also a wonderful treat to indulge in
during their fleeting time in bloom.
Popular in pink, peonies come in a palette
of colours including creams and whites,
corals and even reds and purples, as well
as all manner of shades of pink.
Visit flower farms across the country to
pick a bunch of these audacious blooms to
enjoy at home, or consider growing them
in the garden for a fresh supply to pick as
each stem comes into flower. Cut the stems
at a 45-degree angle and remove any leaves
below the waterline, using flower food and
fresh water every two to three days.
Keeping the vase away from direct sunlight
will also help with longevity. Enjoy as the
tight globes open up to reveal a firework of
 petals that should last for a week. 
SEASONAL LIVING

NATURE TO WATCH
Butterflies are often thought of as an emblem of hazy
summer days, with colourful wings fluttering about
gardens and meadows. While June is often noted as
being a ‘gap’ when fewer varieties are seen due to their
different life cycles and migrations, it can also be the
best time to spot a number of these delightful visitors.
Swallowtail butterflies, with their distinctive wings
reminiscent of a swallow in flight, are particularly
active in this period and can be spotted enjoying the

FEATURE KATY MCLEAN PHOTOGRAPHS (SEA THRIFT) © WESTEND61 / GETTY IMAGES; (ELDERFLOWER) © ANDRA BARARU / 500PX / GETTY IMAGES;
marshlands and reedbeds of the Norfolk Broads.

(PEONY) © JASENKA ARBANAS / GETTY IMAGES; (BUTTERFLY) KIUN INK / 500PX / GETTY IMAGES; (GOOSEBERRIES) ELISA KOOR / GETTY IMAGES
Marsh fritillaries and Glanville fritillaries with orange
and brown markings may be spotted, too, and also
keep an eye out for the enigmatic Large Blue, which
makes a dazzling sight with its spectacular cornflower
blue wings fluttering across warm grasslands.

HARVEST GOOSEBERRIES
Plump, juicy gooseberries are guarded by prickly thorns but are
well worth the effort to pick and enjoy in pies, tarts or stirred
with whipped cream or custard in a tangy fool. Of course, a local
farmers’ market or grocer may have punnets on offer as these fruits
ripen in June sunshine. If growing them in the garden, cover them
with netting to avoid birds making the most of an opportune
snack. They can be harvested when the fruit feels plump, though
leaving them to ripen further will result in sweeter berries that
can be eaten as they come; earlier harvests may be tarter and
taste better cooked with a little sugar. Classically gooseberries are
known for their light green colour but, much like grapes, deep red
varieties, with a sweeter taste, are available too. For a way to enjoy
the summer flavour in winter try infusing gin with gooseberries
and sugar for a couple of months before straining and bottling as a
sweet liqueur to add to cocktails or simply sip over ice. n

122 THE ENGLISH HOME

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GARDENS

FLORAL SYMPHONY
An exclusive look behind the scenes at Glyndebourne, renowned for its summer
operas and glorious gardens, with expert advice on growing and arranging
ovation-worthy flowers from head gardener Kevin Martin
WORDS LUKE BATCHELOR PHOTOGRAPHY GRAHAM CARLOW

Oversized antique bowls filled

with dahlias and agapanthus
adorn occasional tables in the
Great Hall of Glyndebourne’s
private family house.

THE ENGLISH HOME 125

T
reading the manicured lawns at Glyndebourne, the distant echo of rehearsing voices ABOVE LEFT In the Organ
carried on the breeze, it is easy to understand why author and gardener Vita Sackville-West Room, a towering vase of
was so captivated. Upon visiting, she remarked: ‘The graciousness of civilisation here surely agapanthus, Japanese
anemones, and grasses
touches a peak where the arts of music, architecture and gardening combine.’ stands above bud vases filled
It is a sentiment that still rings true. Glyndebourne is a place where art, music and horticulture with fiery dahlias and delicate
entwine in perfect harmony. Since John Christie and his wife, soprano Audrey Mildmay, opened sweet peas.
the first Festival in 1934, Glyndebourne has stood as a bastion of artistic excellence. Over 90 years ABOVE RIGHT Head
later, its world-class opera house remains nestled within a landscape that feels more storybook than gardener and flower arranger
Kevin Martin stands in the
stage set – Sussex countryside sculpted into sweeping vistas and elegant gardens that extend a warm
doorway of the gardeners’
welcome before the curtain rises. potting shed, where the
Christie’s guiding ethos – ‘not just the best we can do, but the best that can be done anywhere’ – walls are covered with a
endures across the estate. Nowhere is this more evident than in its 12 acres of gardens, overseen by red climbing rose, similar
head gardener Kevin Martin and his team of five. From formal borders and wildflower meadows to to David Austin’s Paul’s
Scarlet Climber.
a sunken tropical garden, each space is meticulously cared for, designed not simply to impress, but
OPPOSITE The cut flower
to inspire. ‘There are six operas each year,’ Kevin says, ‘and I always say the garden is the seventh.’
garden is a kaleidoscope of
His relationship with the land began in childhood, picking fruit on his grandmother’s farm and dahlias, roses, sweet peas
dreaming of following his father into farming. A job at a local plant nursery led to a six-month and Ammi majus.
contract at Glyndebourne. Over three decades later, he remains rooted to the estate, not only
managing the gardens but also crafting floral displays that grace both the opera’s public spaces
and the private Christie family home.
The house, a Grade II listed manor with more than 20 bedrooms, dates back in parts to the
16th century. The present Victorian facade was added in the 1800s, with a 24-metre-long Organ
Room completed in 1919. It is a space that remains central to the Glyndebourne experience, and
legend has it that the now-decommissioned
 organ was once so powerful it blew a section of the
ornate plaster ceiling clean off.

126 THE ENGLISH HOME

GARDENS
ABOVE LEFT The Terrace The Art of Growing for Gathering
Border lining the manor Kevin’s eye for floristry was first shaped by the late Lady Christie, whom he helped with arrangements
house is the first garden to
for the house. ‘There would be antique silver bowls overflowing with dahlias in autumn,’ he recalls,
greet audience members
arriving by coach. The beds ‘or swags of holly and fir wrapped around the Great Hall’s paintings at Christmas.’
are filled with cottage garden It is this deep-rooted passion for arranging that informs what is grown in the estate’s cut flower
favourites such as geraniums, garden, a charming area tucked beside the lake, near the vegetable patch and dye garden – where
delphiniums and nicotiana. plants are grown to create dyes for the on-site costume department – all of which are open to
ABOVE RIGHT An antique audience members during the Festival season. ‘Planning is key,’ Kevin advises. ‘Think about how
glass celery vase filled with
ammi majus and antirrhinums
much time you can commit, how much space you have, and whether you want flowers that bloom in
sits atop an antique French succession.’ For beginners, he suggests a simple yet rewarding quartet: narcissus in spring, sweet peas
commode in the Southease and roses in summer, and dahlias to take you through to autumn. ‘In winter, it’s all about evergreen
bedroom, which is often foliage,’ he adds, ‘perfect for wreaths and festive centrepieces.’ For arrangements that last beautifully,
used by opera directors Kevin suggests growing long-lasting favourites such as lilies, zinnias, anthuriums, freesias and gladioli
and performers during the
Festival season.
– all known for their impressive vase life, with some lasting up to three weeks with the right care.
By midsummer, the cut flower garden at Glyndebourne is in full voice – a romantic medley of
dahlias, cosmos, dianthus, sweet peas and roses, arranged in a painterly spectrum of colour. Kevin,
who has no formal training in floristry, believes that freedom from convention has shaped his
distinctive style. ‘Some might say the arrangements lack finesse,’ he says, ‘but I hope they show the
beauty that happens when you don’t always follow the rules.’
Among the beds, it is clear that dahlias are his leading ladies. ‘They’re one of the finest plants for
cutting,’ Kevin says. ‘Not only do they last beautifully in a vase, but they flower continuously from
midsummer to the first frosts. They like fertile, moist yet free-draining soil. Too dry and they’ll suffer;
too wet and they’ll rot. Feed them well, pick them regularly, and they’ll keep giving. Varieties such as
Dahlia ‘Vassio Meggos’ and Dahlia merckii can bloom from June right through to October.’

128 THE ENGLISH HOME

GARDENS

‘I hope the arrangements show the beauty that happens when not following the rules.
The key is to echo the feeling of the garden – a little unruly and always romantic’

Kevin recommends cutting flowers early in the morning when they are at their most hydrated. Use ABOVE The White Garden,
clean, sharp secateurs and take care with delicate stems such as ranunculus or poppies. Always cut at a typically the first to flower
and the last to set seed, is
45-degree angle to maximise water uptake, and place stems straight into a bucket of cool water to rest.
filled with white cosmos,
For larger arrangements, conditioning flowers overnight – immersed in water up to the blooms – can gaura, Ammi majus and
make a noticeable difference in longevity. Orlaya grandiflora.

A Concerto of Cut Flowers

Tradition dictates that white lilies mark opening night of Glyndebourne Festival in May, their heady
fragrance filling the oak-panelled Great Hall, where dappled sunlight falls through GP & J Baker’s
‘California’ print curtains on to chintz-covered chairs – the perfect setting to toast the start of a
summer of opera.
Each arrangement takes its cue from the operas themselves. ‘Last year we opened with Carmen,’
Kevin recalls, ‘so I used fiery-toned flowers including Tithonia rotundifolia and Cosmos bipinnatus
‘Rubenza’ – wild, passionate colours that matched the production’s mood.’ Later in the season,
The Merry Widow called for a softer palette. ‘We used Rosa ‘Olivia Austin’, Antirrhinum majus
‘Appleblossom’ and sweet pea ‘Balmoral’ which felt romantic and frothy,’ he says.
Behind the scenes, Kevin refreshes arrangements in the bedrooms of the private Christie
family home, often occupied by performers and directors during the season. His favourite? ‘The 
Southease Bedroom,’ he says. ‘It overlooks the ha-ha lawn, and has a different feel to the rest of

THE ENGLISH HOME 129

GARDENS

‘Last year we opened with ‘Carmen’, so I used fiery-toned flowers including Cosmos
bipinnatus ‘Rubenza’ – wild, passionate colours that matched the production’s mood’

the house – clotted cream panelling, antique French furniture, a four-poster bed. It doesn’t need ABOVE LEFT A cluster of
much – just a posy of Scabiosa caucasica ‘Perfecta Alba’ and Ammi majus will do.’ pots filled with Hydrangea
paniculata and red and pink
pelargoniums surrounds the
Ovation-worthy arrangements Organ Room.
When it comes to arranging, Kevin suggests starting with a generous focal flower like a dahlia or ABOVE RIGHT Silver bowls
peony, then layering in taller stems such as delphiniums or stocks to add height and a sense of filled with fiery dahlias
movement. To create a pretty, slightly wild feel, he often includes wispy elements like ornamental inspired by Bizet’s Carmen
grasses, Ammi majus or Gypsophila paniculata. ‘The key,’ he says, ‘is to echo the feeling of the garden – for the opening of 2024’s
Glyndebourne Festival.
a little unruly and always romantic.’ This technique can be applied whether working with a tall, slim
vase or low antique bowl.
Flower frogs are a good tool for building arrangements with structure, Kevin advises, but rust-
resistant chicken wire, gently moulded to fit inside a bowl, can work just as well. The wire can be
reused time and again, making it a sustainable option too.
To keep arrangements looking fresh, change the water every couple of days, remove any leaves
below the waterline, and re-cut stems regularly. Keep displays out of direct sunlight or heat to help
blooms last beautifully. Vases should always be thoroughly cleaned before and after use to avoid
bacteria damaging the flowers. n

Glyndebourne Festival 2025 runs from 16 May to 24 August; glyndebourne.com

130 THE ENGLISH HOME

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LIFESTYLE

Refresh &
REVITALISE
Embrace the benefits of washing outside with expert
advice on installing garden showers and baths
FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE

Consider using tiles to create

a practical and smart outdoor
shower area. These tiles can
be used outdoors on areas
such as exterior walls,
outdoor showers and

decorative tabletops.
Figgins Lane square tiles,
£2.54 each, Malborough Tiles

THE ENGLISH HOME 133

S
howering or bathing in a serene garden
setting, surrounded by dappled sunlight
and birds singing from the treetops, is not
just a romantic notion. Outdoor bathing
is said to have health benefits, as well as practical
advantages, and provides an immersive experience.
‘It is extremely liberating and quite novel being
able to bathe in nature,’ says interior designer
Catherine Earp from The Aller Studio.
It is also an activity that can be enjoyed beyond
the summer months, as interior designer Bee
Osborne, from Osborne Interiors, discovered
when she installed an outdoor bath. ‘I have been
so surprised to find that it is as wonderful to use
in the winter as in the summer, if not better! It is
magical in the frost and snow. In summer it can
also be used as an ice bath.’ (See next month’s
issue for an exclusive look at Osborne’s home
and garden, which features her outdoor bath.)
Using outdoor baths for cold water immersion
is popular, with experts sighting its mental and
physical benefits. Moreover, installing a garden
bath or shower offers the flexibility to use hot
and cold water, and provides a practical place
to wash muddy pets and get clean after exercise.
There is minimal ongoing maintenance, and
both options can be designed for eco-friendly
water usage. Osborne explains; ‘I have arranged
for the drainage from our tub to go onto the
flowerbeds, acting as a water system too, so
nothing goes to waste.’

Positioning an outdoor
shower next to a pool means
chlorine can be cleaned off
straight away. A hook for a
bath towel is eminently
practical and decorative
stools to place things on
help to dress the area.
Rander ceramic stools,
£225, Oka
LIFESTYLE

PRACTICAL LOCATIONS
When selecting a setting for an outdoor bath or
shower an appealing view is desirable, but, in terms
of practicality, there are important factors to consider
such as year-round use. Joss Thomas, Indigenous
founder and designer, advises, ‘Outdoor baths don’t
need overhead coverage, but this will make them more
usable in all weathers. They can easily be sited in an
opened-front shed or cabin structure.’ He adds, ‘Siting
near a wall, using a terrace or tall potted shrubs can
also work really well to create a degree of privacy and
a framework for dressing the area.’
Similarly, outdoor showers can be located entirely
outdoors or undercover. Yousef Mansuri, director of
design at CP Hart, says, ‘Location, drainage, and access
to plumbing are critical. The ground must be stable
and well-drained, with professional installation to
ensure durability, especially in varying climates.’
When it comes to installing an outdoor bath,
Thomas explains, ‘To set up, you’ll need to link to a
water supply, for example, via a hose from taps with
hot water. To empty, you could either direct the water
straight to a drain or let it soak into the garden as you
would a paddling pool, provided there’s sufficient
surface area for the water to soak away.’
With annual cold weather likely, pipes bursting is
a consideration. Therefore, Osborne points out the
advantage of locating outdoor baths and showers near
the house so plumbing does not have to stretch too
far: ‘Avoid an excess of pipes that could burst in the

‘It is extremely liberating and quite novel

being able to bathe in nature’
Catherine Earp, The Aller Studio

cold weather.’ Any exposed pipes can also be insulated, ABOVE For a
and Earp takes extra precautions with outdoor baths: dramatic outdoor
feature, a polished-
‘We have special covers for the taps to try and prevent
brass freestanding
freezing, and some taps in the pipe work so the pipes bath in a classic
can be drained down if it’s particularly cold in winter.’ bateau shape
catches attention
SUITABLE MATERIALS as it gleams in
the sunlight.
To withstand the elements, outdoor baths need to
Brass Bulle £4,925,
be made from durable materials. Thomas advocates: Hurlingham Baths
‘Traditional tin bathtubs are a good, practical choice RIGHT Elevate the
outdoors. Most are made of copper, tin or nickel – all experience of an
these materials retain heat really well and can generally outdoor shower
be left outside, though it’s best to cover them up when with elegant marble.
Alicante marble,
not in use. They’re also surprisingly light, so easy to
from £435 a square
move around if you change your mind about location.’ metre, Cullifords
When selecting an outdoor shower, Mansuri says,
‘Choose materials that offer both aesthetic appeal and
long-term durability. A marine-grade stainless steel
shower column pairs seamlessly with a marble base,
which can also serve as a seat or integrated shelf.’ 

THE ENGLISH HOME 135

LIFESTYLE

In terms of controls, he says, ‘Prioritise streamlined ABOVE ‘Traditional

controls and weather-resistant materials. A progressive bateau-style bath
designs, with their
cartridge allows smooth, single-motion adjustment of
symmetrical shape
both flow and temperature – ideal for outdoor use. and gentle sloping

PHOTOGRAPHY (INDIGENOUS TIN BATH AS SEEN AT THEWORKERSCOTTAGE.CO.UK) © MARK ANTHONY FOX

Consider features like foot pedal operation for hands- ends, create a
free convenience.’ beautiful feature
If opting for stone with either option, Oli Webb, and can also
accommodate two
director of Cullifords, says any texture is fine if the
people comfortably,’
stone is suitable for use outdoors. ‘We would suggest says Joss Thomas
hard limestone, granite or marble for this application, from Indigenous.
as these are the most durable.’ Tin bath, from
£2,997, Indigenous
ELEVATING TOUCHES RIGHT Amplify the
holiday feeling of
Once the shower or bath is ready for use, thoughtful
bathing outdoors
additions can enhance the indulgent feel. Joss Thomas with bath and
says, ‘A little careful bathscaping will create the perfect shower products
outdoor spa. Well-appointed, versatile surfaces for in evocative scents
drinks, snacks and books are essential. Another such as sea salt and
orange blossom.
important accessory is a stand, rail or hook. It
Santorini luxury
will keep towels, robes and sunhats nice and dry – hydrating hand
especially important if you’re creating a family-friendly and body wash, £30,
space.’ To add sensual finishing touches, Thomas The White Company
recommends incorporating candles, lights and fragrant
potted plants. ‘Choosing a spot under the shelter of
a tree can create a lovely setting and enable solar fairy
lights to be strung above.’ n

136 THE ENGLISH HOME

from our trusted partner Tripsmiths

Torquay

Exclusive to The Telegraph

Four days from £1,329pp*

Discover Agatha What’s included

Lunch at Burgh Island Hotel with a talk

Christie’s Torquay and Q&A from Dr Lucy Worsley

Three nights’ accommodation

with Dr Lucy Worsley at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay

Lunch at the Moorland Hotel
Murder on the Riviera
murder-mystery dinner
Departs October 6, 2025
Visits to several locations with links
to Agatha Christie
Torquay is a destination that brings to mind images of seaside promenades,
palm trees, beautiful beaches and grand Italianate villas on the hills
overlooking Tor Bay.
About the expert
The hometown of Agatha Christie, it provided inspiration for some Dr Lucy Worsley until recently was joint
of her best-loved mysteries. This tour will immerse you in the life chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces and
and times of the Queen of Crime. is the author of several books. She has
presented TV shows for various channels.
You’ll be joined by historian and writer Dr Lucy Worsley – author of Agatha
Christie: A Very Elusive Woman – at Burgh Island Hotel, which inspired the
settings for And Then There Were None and the Poirot mystery Evil Under
In partnership with
the Sun. Here you’ll have lunch, plus Lucy will give a talk and Q&A.

telegraph.co.uk/tt-agatha-christie +44 (0)204 586 7119 Quote TORQUAYWORSLEY

Terms and conditions: *From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £275. Deposit 20%.
In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Not suitable for those with
mobility issues. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by
and subject to the booking conditions of TS Tours (ATOL-bonded). Calls are made at local rates. All tours featured are operated by the partner specified, a company independent of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd.
My English Home
The fashion stylist and consultant Sarah Corbett-Winder
on her eclectic style, love of stripes and how she sees
her home like an ever-evolving canvas.

Who do you live with and where? Beech and Farrow & Ball’s Dead Salmon empowered women, celebrating British
I live in Willesden Green, north west throughout the hallways of the house, and heritage with a wink.
London, with my husband, Ned, and our we have Paint & Paper Library’s Caddie in
son, Lyon, seven, and daughters Nancy, six, the sitting room, which feels very grown Do you collect anything specific?
and Celeste, three, and our miniature up, especially with the panelling, which I must confess that I am a clothes and
dachshund, Margaret, who thinks she’s adds a sense of grandeur. Much of our accessories addict! But I also collect china
a Great Dane! furniture is from reclamation yards or we fruit and ceramic Staffordshire dogs. It’s
have pieces made, like my favourite high- amazing the different places that you can
What kind of English home do back pink chair, designed by my husband. pick them up – I love that each piece has a
you have? different story behind it.
We live in a Mock Tudor semi-detached Can you tell us about your recent
house dating from the 1930s. It took me collaboration with Birdie Fortescue? What is your favourite room in the
over a year to find it, following hours spent It was wonderful working with Birdie and house or a favourite piece?
searching the internet. having the opportunity to dip my toe It has to be our wardrobe (I share with Ned
deeper into the world of interiors. My – ratio 75% moi and 25% Ned). I go there
FEATURE KATE FREUD PHOTOGRAPHS OF INTERIORS © BOZ GAGOVSKI

Why do you love living there? favourite thing was creating the striped to be creative. Our daughters often come
It is our first proper family home, which we armchair, (above right, with Margaret in and try on my clothes, shoes and
are always adding to – our children’s enjoying a nap) which is fun, bold and jewellery, so it’s a very happy place where
artwork gets framed, we collect memories seriously comfortable. Next up I have every day begins and ends. I keep a tight
and bring them home from our travels, something in the pipeline with Nicola ship - she’s very organised. Our wardrobe
constantly moving things around. Our Harding’s interiors range Nix Furniture reminds me every day how lucky I am to be
home feels like a big family canvas that is a Studio. doing my job - my cup always feels very full.
work in progress.
And you have launched your own What should no English home be
How have you made the house suit brand, Kipper? without?
your own? It was always my dream to start a suit brand Stripes, ceramic Staffordshire dogs and a
I wanted it to feel playful. The colours are and when I saw the suit coming back into real dog. n
very earthy and we have lots of stripes! We fashion, I knew it was Kipper’s moment.
have used Paint & Paper Library’s Copper I wanted to create an affordable brand that www.kipper.club

138 THE ENGLISH HOME

What makes a design last generations? Is it exceptional craftsmanship?
Is it honest materials? Is it timeless design? For us, it’s all of these.
That’s what makes a Neptune home.

Over 30 stores across the UK and Europe neptune.com

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