The English Home August 2022

There is something irresistible about the classic English country house aesthetic. Relaxed, comfortable and evolved over time, English country interiors are admired the world over for their laid-back flair, individuality and charm. The best examples also satisfy that very English desire for characterful imperfection and any glamour to be faded – something that the renowned decorator John Fowler called “humble elegance”. Fowler said of his own country house, The Hunting Lodge in Odiham (which he bought in the 1940s), “What I wanted was something utterly unpretentious, very comfortable, with a veneer of elegance and informality.” Perhaps it is this – along with the fact that country interiors transport us closer to nature and seemingly out of time to a slower pace of life – that makes them so appealing right now,…

Two stalwarts of the English country house, chintzes and checks, are also perfect partners. The rhythmic structure of a pretty gingham harmonises with the loose freedom of florals. Both offer a romantic, feminine feel that can be fully embraced in a palette of pastels and fresh whites and are so classic that the look is not overly dainty; it is soft, pleasing and has come to be expected in a country home. While ruffles, bows and flounces heighten the romance, modernity can be infused by playing with scale - a large check looks rather striking and contemporary, and a ditsy print quite chic.…

Inspired by animals that are at home in the countryside, these designs create a charming connection to rural life. Whether living in pastoral parts or simply drawn to this decorative theme, a subtle approach to animal prints keeps a stylish mood. Look to elegant bird and bucolic patterns, alongside timeless natural motifs – such as hexagon beehive shapes. For practical and decorative buys, simple silhouettes capture a contemporary elegance. Not to forget our beloved pets themselves – with tactile and smart creature comforts to delight. PHOTOGRAPH (HIGHGROVE SHOP) © JAKE EASTHAM;…

LET’S GO TO... Step inside the beautifully curated interiors store ND on the Green, on London’s King’s Road, and it will come as no surprise that it is the brainchild of interior designer Natascha Dartnall, hence the name. Offering antiques, paintings, soft furnishings and more from small independent makers and experts, ND On The Green is an Aladdin’s cave of beautiful, rare things. So, if seeking a refreshing antidote to the high street, visit this artisan-lover’s dream shop to find some characterful pieces to update interiors. nd-studios.co.uk WISH LIST Ever since Emily Stewart and Sarah Serocold joined forces in 2017 to create Hill & May, the company has gone from strength to strength with their eclectic range of lamp bases and shades. The pair choose their own fabrics, colours, trims and materials to…

Back in 1992, it was with some trepidation that newlyweds Anna and Adam Dixon-Smith left their flat in Notting Hill for life in the Suffolk countryside. Setting up home in a chilly, 16th-century, timber-framed manor house was quite daunting at first, but the couple set to work breathing new life into the historic building, and as their family grew – they have four sons, now all adult – the house evolved. “It felt quite bleak when we first arrived – we were rattling around in it but also excited by such an irresistible challenge,” explains Anna. “Coming from a flat, we had very little furniture, so we collected antiques from auction houses and sourced fabric on a budget, and slowly, slowly it came together. It’s been a very long project.” The couple…

‘This house had a lovely old-fashioned feel to it, which I’m keen to retain’ With her magpie eye and impeccable antennae for sourcing beautiful, unusual things, Katharine Paravicini’s cottage in Wiltshire is a trove of interior treasure. Cabinets burst with vintage ceramics and artisan glassware, walls display plates and collections of art, and antique furniture adds depth and character. In every room, Katharine has thoughtfully used colour, pattern and detail to add charm and a sense of calm for a modern take on country style. Walking around the interiors, it is hard to reconcile the way they look now with the photographs she has from when she and her husband Jack first bought the house in December 2019. The rooms remain modest in size but are otherwise utterly transformed. Gone are the…