Period Living

With the arrival of spring, our gardens slowly come back to life with green buds emerging and flora unfurling. This sense of renewal often acts as inspiration to breathe new life into our interiors, too, and this issue is packed with ideas for filling your homes with the refreshing joy of a new season. The botanically inspired shades of green used in room décor act as a link between outdoors and inside, and sage, in particular, is becoming increasingly popular for use as a base colour, in place of neutrals, to anchor a scheme. In our decorating feature (page 73) we show how this timeless and tranquil tone can work equally as well with earthy colours to more vibrant shades to create soothing spaces. Painting furniture is also a highly…

HOT DESKING An uplifting working environment can make all the difference to your productivity and creativity, so adding some well chosen furniture, pattern and prints can transform a home office from functional to fabulous. Investing in just a few decorative accents, such as framed prints, playful ceramics and considered lighting, will add flair and elevate an existing scheme. Look to John Lewis & Partners’ new ‘Classic’ trend for SS23, which pairs folklore inspired prints with curvaceous silhouettes. Pictured are its Clemence compact desk, £699; woven cane chair in sage green, £159; Garden Botanicals framed prints, £165 for a set of 6; and Reactive urchin table lamp £150. WOVEN MAGIC Basilica is the debut woven fabric from designer Kate Medlicott, who was inspired by the patterns found in Giotto’s frescoes at…

When the weather is fine, you’ll spot many a rambler or dog walker pausing on the public footpath that passes by this aesthetically pleasing farmhouse, to admire the ancient Boston ivy creeping its way across the grand exterior. You may even come across some with historical knowledge of the area, peeping over the garden wall to view the site of the original mill that burned down in the 1950s, or the last remaining mill stone, now sited under a contemporary pond. This farmhouse and its surrounding gardens are bursting with history, intrigue, and evidence of rural life from the past. Jacqueline Jennings was once one such admirer, as she passed by the farmhouse many years ago and declared to her husband, Lloyd, that this was her dream home. Little did…

Serving as pieces of functional art, painted furniture offers a wonderful way to make our homes stand out from the crowd. Whether you choose a single colour, a folksy freehand design or a simple border, getting creative with paint is an easy way to transform a bland piece or surface into a showstopping focal point, and is also a great way to decorate sustainably. With more and more of us looking to minimise our impact on the environment, paint is a quick and easy way to refresh a dated or unwanted item, helping to extend its use and save it from landfill. When it comes to painting furniture there are no rules; throw caution to the wind and feel free to express yourself. Wardrobes and cabinets are perfect blank canvases…

Colour is at the heart of Lucy Renshaw’s home; not just the gentle muted shades of the English countryside, but the hot blues of Cuba, vibrant reds of Mexico, and burned oranges of Barcelona. It is a riot of vibrant tones and busy patterns that meld together to create a family home brimming with optimism and energy. ‘Even when I was a little girl I loved mismatching colours and not following convention,’ says Lucy. ‘Colour impacts everything, and I have developed my business around colour, energy and creativity through workshops, coaching and retreats.’ The house is not only imbued with colour, but is filled with stories, too. Lucy and her husband, Ant, have chosen their furniture and artefacts not just based on aesthetics but the memories or feeling that each…

Cottages are prized for their wealth of period features, but they often have small rooms with little light and unusual angles, which can make designing a bathroom tricky. However, with some clever thinking, there is no reason why you can’t have a beautiful sanctuary that combines historic character with modern comforts. From a well-thought-out layout, clever storage solutions and compact baths, to achieving the perfect lighting scheme, there are plenty of ways that you can make a small space work for you. ‘The secret to making a petite bathroom elegant is to work to the proportions. There are now so many bathroom products for sale that have been designed with the smaller bathroom in mind,’ explains Barrie Cutchie, design director at BC Designs. ‘Cottage style is all about embracing a…