Country Homes & Interiors

HAPPY and organised were my watchwords when planning this issue. While I’m not averse to a bit of clutter (there are books and favourite objects all around my home), there comes a tipping point when I feel I can’t breathe for too much stuff. Fortunately, a sweep of surfaces and a trip to the recycling centre is usually all it takes to regain a sense of order. It seems I’m not alone. I loved reading columnist Paula Sutton on achieving the fine balance between cosy clutter and out-and-out chaos in her home; see page 19. We’ve also looked at the art of installing stylish bookshelves (page 82) and the kits that are great to have in a basket in a kitchen cupboard or the utility room (page 96), ready whenever you…

Originally from the south coast of Devon, Lauren worked at several leading interior design studios before starting her own in the pretty little village of Elkstone near Cheltenham, nine years ago. Developing a homeware store in line with her signature ‘Cotswold chic’ aesthetic has always been a goal. Her range of furniture, homeware and lighting – many crafted locally – features colourful textiles, earthy textures and natural elements, as well as unique vintage pieces, to complement her laid-back style. What inspired you to set up shop? The design studio has slowly grown over the years – we now have a team of 10 and there’s a wonderful synergy across the studio that I’m so grateful for. Developing a homeware store in line with our brand aesthetic felt like a natural progression. Being…

How does the saying go, a tidy house is a tidy mind? Well, even amateur psychologists might deduce from my home that my mind isn’t tidy at all! However, one person’s trash is another one’s treasure – and the good news is that ‘tidy’ doesn’t necessarily mean minimalist or bare. A beautifully styled shelf is a joy to behold, whether it’s hidden away in the utility room or it’s on display as a colour-coordinated bookshelf. My definition of being organised means having a place for everything and for everything to have its place – even if that ‘place’ lies atop a pile of several other items, or is weighted down by paraphernalia which may appear essential only to myself. In truth, organisation doesn’t necessarily mean decluttering (although it is true that…

When a professional property developer falls in love with a project and decides to make it her home, you know it’s a special place. Michelle Sames has renovated numerous period properties throughout the South West of England, and when the chance came to develop a near-derelict country pub and outbuildings on a rural, two-acre plot, she couldn’t resist. ‘It was my most ambitious project to date,’ she says. ‘The building was in poor condition, but there were original features inside. And there was masses of outdoor space, with open views over fields and woods. The pub dates from the 1600s and had a little wing, added in Georgian times. When I saw it, I knew this part of the property would make a unique home for my husband Barry and me.’ The…

The imposing Welsh mountains on the far horizon provide a formidable yet familiar backdrop to the home that Richard Glover shares with his partner and their labrador, Inca. After living in Scotland for several years, Richard was lured back to home turf and the undulating green hills and farmland of this quiet corner of Shropshire. ‘We’re a young couple who were looking to create our forever home. We lead busy working and social lives, so we wanted a welcoming base to return to,’ explains Richard. ‘This house was the first one we viewed. We had planned on taking time to see a number of properties, but this one was absolutely perfect, so the search stopped and we started to focus on creating something personal to us.’ It is not difficult to…