The English Home June 2021

There is a sense of anticipation in the air as we work on this special edition of The English Home. It’s a heady mix of excitement at socialising outdoors finally being on the agenda following months of lockdown and of the weather looking likely to permit it. So, is your garden ready? However big or small your outdoor space at home, this issue is brimming with ideas for tranforming it into an additional room outdoors that will revitalise how you live, relax and entertain. From the practicalities of choosing new garden furniture (p98), to styling ideas combining function and fun to achieve a cohesive look and set the scene for outdoor living (p70). You’ll also discover our edit of the best picnic accessories (p30) and a deliciously simple recipe from our…

SPOTLIGHT ON… Escapism At Home Finding a sense of escapism at home has never been more important. How to achieve this soothing sense of openness, freedom and possibility varies from person to person, such as adding a focal point to draw the eye down the full length of the garden, or placing mirrors opposite each other making narrow hallways and other tight spaces feel vast. A bespoke approach ensures maximum delight. Dating back to ancient Greece, the art of trompe l’oeil has long been used to extend a feeling of space beyond four walls. Ornate Renaissance ceilings that seem to soar skywards achieve an awe-inspiring sense of calming space. On a smaller scale at home, a clever window-view mural like this one (above) by artist Andrea Haase at Wallsauce enables us to look ‘through’…

The Museum of the Home (formerly The Geffrye Museum) is due to reopen in May after an £18.1 million renovation. The London venue features homes through time. museumofthehome. org.uk Glyndebourne’s opera festival returns from 20 May until 29 August with Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Verdi’s Luisa Miller, Rossini’s Il turco in Italia and Janáˇcek’s Kát’a Kabanová, plus Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde semi-staged with a full orchestra. glyndebourne.com Enjoy exceptional artworks from the comfort of home by viewing The Viking Cruises British Art Prize online virtual exhibition of shortlisted art from 14 May to 10 June. This major new national contest is open to artists of all levels. thevikingcruises britishartprize.co.uk FEATURE SARAH FEELEY PHOTOGRAPHS P15 WINDOW WITH TROPICAL BIRDS MURAL BY ANDREA HAASE AT WALLSAUCE.COM. P16 (MIDDLE LEFT) ©NEWSPHOTO/ALAMY; (MIDDLE RIGHT) ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST/©…

SECOND SERVE Handcrafted in Denby’s historic Derbyshire pottery, the Quartz Jade collection is the brand’s second with John Lewis & Partners, and features plates, bowls, mugs and jugs, as well as a candle, diffuser and vase. Denby Quartz Jade, from £10, John Lewis & Partners INDOOR OUTDOOR With a name fit for purpose, the Anywhere sisal-style carpets from Alternative Flooring can also cleverly be made into outdoor rugs from any one of the five designs in the range – perfect for a flooring solution both inside and out. Anywhere Collection, £42.20 a square metre, Alternative Flooring DAYTIME LOUNGING The floral forms, nostalgic stripes and plush buttoned detailing of Graham and Green’s latest offerings are a delightful addition to a naptime nook to uplift and inspire Khatia day bed, £575; Floral printed cushions, £35; Striped Woven seat pads, from…

Take inspiration from garden trellis with beautiful criss-cross designs on fabrics, furniture and accessories. Trellis or latticework designs most often feature a diagonal pattern of diamonds, but can include square and even circle or hexagonal motifs. On fabrics and papers, the criss-cross pattern is a smart way to incorporate a geometric into a scheme, offering a different feel to stripes and checks. Trellis designs partner leafy and floral schemes well, drawing on the affinity with the garden. In accessories, latticework can create an intricate cutwork effect, which is rather striking.…

As outdoor spaces will be essential for safe socialising, take the opportunity to make meeting friends and family fun-filled occasions. Whether gathering in the garden or elsewhere for a picnic, bright accessories will add a playful touch – outdoor cushions and fold-out chairs in jaunty fabrics, a striking outdoor rug, and solar lights to keep things going past dusk. Bring a cordless radio to provide ambience, garden games for everyone to join in and serve up a portable feast, lemonade, and perhaps a cocktail or two.…