Country Homes & Interiors

the mood of the moment: hitting peak cosy

‘You know you’ve hit peak cosy when…’ How would you complete this sentence? ‘The log basket is empty’, ‘I’ve worn loungewear all weekend’ and ‘I’m Googling new soup recipes’ all spring to mind. Our November issue is always a celebration of all things cosy, a collection of simple winter pleasures waiting to be found. Just when you think you’re already crushing cosiness, here we are with some new ideas – from sherry-soaked mushrooms and comfy boot socks to bonfire cooking pots and welcoming hallways. Add to the mix a handful of beautiful country houses to savour, and you’ve got an hour or three of serious me-time right here. But, if getting outside makes you happier than hunkering indoors, don’t miss our winter gardening feature – it’ll keep you pottering and…

things that make us happy... november

Things that make us happy...“A SMARTER SNUGGLE-UP TIME IN A BED MADE UP WITH PLUMP PILLOWS AND QUILTED STRIPES”…

design news

Cath Kidston blinds Demonstrating vintage patterns with a modern twist, iconic British designer Cath Kidston has teamed up with Blinds 2go to launch a delightful range of made-to-measure window dressings. Much-loved designs, including timeless florals, pretty polka dots and even jumping dinosaurs, feature across a palette ranging from peaceful pastels to punchy primary colours. Each design is available as Roman blinds, from £31.95; roller blinds, from £25.70; and curtains, from £34.35. View the full collection at blinds-2go.co.uk. KENT X CROSSLEY RUGS Bespoke rug designer Amy Kent has collaborated with sustainable florist and stylist Willow Crossley to create a distinctive collection of rugs based on British flowers of the four seasons. The colourful designs are crafted in Kathmandu, Nepal, hand-knotted using a traditional weave technique. The design shown here is Winter, £820sq m, amykent.co.uk. Jo…

golden days

After living in the US for a few years, the van der Berg family moved back to their house in the Netherlands, which had been rented out during their absence. ‘With four children, it felt like we’d completely outgrown the space,’ says Antoinette. ‘But I had my eye on this house, which was just across the road and much bigger. It had extensive grounds, including a swimming pool, hockey pitch and an orchard. I loved the idea of cooking with home-grown fruit and nuts!’ When the property came up for sale, Antoinette put in a call to the estate agent. ‘The airiness of the house is what attracted us – high ceilings, tall windows, lots of light!’ Another plus was that the grounds are adjacent to a forest and a…

cotswolds calling

Burford is a quintessential Cotswold town – a medieval masterpiece whose period provenance was preserved when the railway bypassed its golden stone streets in the 19th century. It’s that history which attracted Katrin and Adrian Davey, when they decided to buy a farmer’s cottage – one of two converted from the kitchen wing of a 16th-century manor house, back in the 1700s – and transform it into their 21st-century bolthole. ‘We loved this area already and I’d always dreamed of living in the kind of chocolate box English country cottage I’d read about growing up in Germany,’ says Katrin. ‘The first time we tried to buy the cottage the sale fell through, but two years later it came on the market again and we sealed the deal, although an ancient codicil…

on our doorstep

Visit... ‘Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens (cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk). We visit regularly as, no matter what the season, there’s always something new to see. It’s a great day out – and if it rains just bring a brolly! Also, Blenheim Palace (blenheimpalace.com) is a must if you love history or just enjoy a walk through beautiful manicured grounds.’ Shop at... ‘Burford Garden Company (burford.co.uk) for its chic home interiors and gift shop.’ Go for a meal at... ‘Try Huffkins on Burford High Street (huffkins.com) for afternoon tea.’…