Country Homes & Interiors October 2021

Autumn is my favourite season. I love the crispness of the air, the scent of woodsmoke, the soft light and, most of all, the glorious colour of the turning leaves. The drift from green to gold, through to rich red and russet brown, is just a joy. This issue aims to capture that beauty, with a glorious garden filled with fiery foliage (page 118), a stunning decorating story inspired by autumn’s tones and textures (page 72) and gorgeous buys in our Things That Make Us Happy edit – I’ve fallen for the Emma Bridgewater plates (page 13). This issue also sees the launch of our Country House furniture collection, in partnership with upholsterers John Sankey. The company has been hand-crafting exceptional furniture in its Derbyshire workshop for more than 60 years…

“ INVITING GOOD FRIENDS OVER FOR KITCHEN SUPPERS, THEN LATE NIGHT CHATS SAT BESIDE DANCING FLAMES ”…

“ A PALETTE OF NEUTRAL TONES AND PALE BLUE CONNECTS THE NEW AND OLDER PARTS OF THE HOUSE ” I really couldn’t have created such a lovely interior without them,’ proclaims Liz Vallance of her charming Oxfordshire home, which has been cleverly enhanced by the skills of her interior designer mother, Jean George, and furniture- maker brother, Robert George. Keeping it in the family clearly made sense when it came to the design transformation of what was once a very modest 16th-century farmhouse into the sumptuous space it is today. ‘My mother runs her own design business (jeangeorgeinteriors.co.uk), and she was my sounding board when it came to layouts, then later on when choosing colours, fabrics and furniture,’ says Liz. ‘Mum sorted the position of the woodburning stove and the bespoke blue…

Visit… ‘Wallingford, a medieval town full of character with the Lamb Arcade market for antique and vintage pieces. I’ve bought many treasures from here.’ Shop at… ‘Mr and Mrs Parks Butchers (mrandmrsparks.co.uk) in nearby Cholsey, for good British meat as well as condiments, pies and cakes. And Keri The Florist (wallingford flowers.co.uk) is my go-to for fresh flowers.’ Go for a meal at… ‘The tapas wine bar Le Clos (leclos.uk) and Shellfish Cow (shellfishcow. co.uk), a restaurant serving shellfish and steaks. Also, The Beetle and Wedge (beetleandwedge.co.uk), a wonderful riverside pub.’…

Liz’s style tip... SOFTEN A MODERN SPACE AND GIVE IT AN AIR OF RUSTIC GRACE WITH A FEW CAREFULLY CHOSEN ANTIQUE FINDS…

After renovating and living in six period properties, Molly Mills and her husband James decided they needed a less disruptive way of life. So when a friend’s new build house came on the market, they leapt at it. ‘During previous renovations there were times when the whole family had to sleep in one room while work was being carried out,’ says Molly. ‘As the children were growing up, an easy-to-maintain, modern home became much more appealing. For me, the challenge was to fill a modern space with character and interest.’ The family moved here from a 19th-century coach house and had to leave behind the shepherd’s hut James was using as an office. So, one of the first things Molly did was source a new structure for him to work in.…