Period Living May 2022

Arts and Crafts is an enduring design movement that feels as relevant today as when it was conceived in the late 19th century. Reacting against the Industrial Revolution and declining standards in decorative arts and craftsmanship, leading luminaries such as William Morris and Philip Webb sought to recapture lost traditional skills. But more than this, they wanted to create a positive, healthy environment for the suffering workforce, believing people could take pride in making things by hand. While the movement’s principles and aesthetics for home design are widely recognised and aspired to today, there is less of an understanding of how the style translated to gardens. In this issue, National Trust head gardener Rosie Fyles reveals how the movement still has a surprising influence on the way we garden today…

NEW PROJECT I discovered Period Living at exactly the right time as I am starting to convert an old Victorian stable building into living accommodation. I have now joined SPAB and am starting to understand the damage that can be done to old buildings when inappropriate new materials are used. It’s a journey of discovery: who knew that the old timber window frames are actually much better quality than our average newer versions, or that old buildings need to breathe? I have a whole lot to learn in a short space of time, but I already know that Period Living is going to be a great help along the way. Tania Zaslawska CHAR ACTERFUL KITCHENS How marvellous to see kitchens without wall cupboards in the January issue. It showed just how open and…

RESTORE AND RETREAT Evoking feelings of a spring morning in the British countryside, Laura Ashley’s new bedroom collection has a relaxed, traditional look, in a calming palette conducive to a good night’s sleep. The conversational Aviary wallpaper, featuring birds and butterflies parading across branches and dappled leaves, oozes classic country charm and pairs beautifully with the Eau De Nil Eleanor cabinetry. The stately Montpellier bed frame with shaped legs and framed rattan headboard creates a romantic feel, while the Harvest print bedlinen adds texture and pattern to this refreshing and restorative space. WOVEN WONDERS Featuring a small-frame loom, sustainable tools, and a selection of coloured yarn rescued from British mills, this introductory weaving kit is ideal for anyone looking to try out the craft with a small-scale project. Create a couple of coasters,…

Spring is in full force, but summer will soon be here – the season where boundaries between inside and out really start to merge. It is a time to fling doors wide open, welcome in the warm breezes and connect to nature. I purchased my beach house last February and started decorating it in the spring. I do wonder whether the time of year influenced the way I furnished it. I certainly went for a lighter colour scheme in the house – painting the floors in Linen Wash by Little Greene and the walls in Pointing by Farrow & Ball. In the garden we have a guest cabin, which we painted in Lick’s White, and added colour with pastel kantha throws from The Running Stitches and summery blankets by The Natural…