Period Living

editor’s letter

Time always seems in short supply, and while I’ve been able to devote more hours to gardening and other hobbies this year, my home-improvement activities are lagging woefully behind. I can blame lockdown for not getting round to the utility room extension I’ve been planning, but what about all those smaller jobs that have been niggling away on my to-do list since January? The shelving I’ve been meaning to fit in the living room alcove; the plasterwork that needs repairing on the upstairs landing… I simply can’t find the time. My husband and I often joke that our home-improvement projects happen in fits and starts. We can spend embarrassingly long stretches living in half-finished rooms, and pushing back our timetable on new projects. But then suddenly the desire to get…

your journal

GETTING THE PL TREATMENT Eight years ago, I made the decision to downsize into a 1960s house and have been busy transforming the bland rooms with cottage-style decor. From the wallpaper to furniture and lighting, Period Living has been a constant source of inspiration. My garden also received the PL treatment when I transformed an abandoned old wooden gate into the perfect entrance (above), after seeing something similar in the magazine. Thank you so much for inspiring my home designs. Beverley Holland INSPIRED ARTIST I recently subscribed to PL and was captivated by the house portrait competition. It inspired me to pick up the watercolours and get my brushes out, something I haven’t done for 14 years. This is my first painting of my parents’ home (above) and I have continued painting different…

journal

Oh so cosy Renowned for its slouchy sofa designs, Loaf has added three new styles to its sumptuous collection. For the ultimate in sink-in comfort, try the Bear Hug, or if you’re looking for flexibility, try the modular design, Wodge, which can be set in multiple configurations. PL’s favourite, the Squisharoo (pictured), is an elegant loose-cushioned style reminiscent of traditional Howard designs – ideal for a period home. Priced from £1,295, it comes in Loaf’s house fabrics, as well as an array of 10 new autumnal shades, including this Burnished Yellow Clever velvet. DESIGN DUO Inspired by a shared love of pattern and vibrant colour, lighting brand Pooky has teamed up with awardwinning British designer Matthew Williamson to create a new collection of decorative lampshades. Drawing on diverse aesthetic influences, the playful cotton…

eye on design

DON’T MISS… Between 27-29 November, Craft Festival – the host of regional artisan fairs in Bovey Tracey, Bath and Cheltenham – will hold its Digital Craft Festival. Providing the perfect opportunity to shop for handmade Christmas gifts, the fair will showcase 120 talented makers, plus tune in for virtual workshops, demonstrations and more. Why did you decide to focus on flowers? Florals are very nostalgic for me. These recent months have allowed time to reflect on the past; I have formative memories of winning a tiny garden in a shell for my pressed wildflower collection, at the age of eight. Studying closely the beautiful shapes of flowers and leaves has stayed with me and is expressed in my new designs. As a child I would holiday at my granny’s house in Ireland every…

sitting pretty

in the frame