The English Home November 2021

a letter from home

The aesthetic of English period townhouses is one that’s captured our hearts this month, particularly those of the Georgian and Regency eras. It’s hard not to be bowled over by their considered proportions and balanced classical symmetry. Whilst they have ‘great bones’ such as large sash windows, high-ceilinged rooms and original floorboards, their interiors, of course, need decorating sympathetically and with flair to transform them into ‘homes’. Not least today, when the original layouts often need to be adapted to suit our current ways of living (and working) at home. With this in mind, we have consulted leading interior designers to discover their insights and advice for decorating townhouses practically and beautifully (p76). Within these pages you will also find tempting, indulgent new buys to update both town and country interiors…

notebook

SPOTLIGHT ON… Burleigh x Craven Dunnill Jackfield English heritage companies Burleigh and Craven Dunnill Jackfield have collaborated to produce a striking new range of tiles. Bearing Burleigh’s 1968 Calico pattern, the tiles are available in Aquamarine, Cobalt, Laurel, Flame and Smoke. The glaze acts like a stained glass window, highlighting the exquisite detail in the floral designs. Burleigh was founded in Stoke-on-Trent in 1851 and is the last pottery in the world to practice the Victorian method of under-glaze tissue transfer printing. Craven Dunnill Jackfield began in Shropshire in 1872 and its decorative tiles can be found in the Palace Of Westminster and London Underground, plus elegant homes and hospitality establishments around the world. Both companies proudly use traditional materials in the creation of handmade English craft works of distinction. burleigh.co.uk; cdjackfield.com…

crowning creativity: london design festival

Design Pioneer Ilse Crawford CBE, Studioilse London Design Festival describes The London Design Medal as “the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual who has distinguished themselves within the industry and demonstrated consistent design excellence”. This year’s recipient, Ilse Crawford, was also awarded a CBE in Her Majesty The Queen’s 2021 New Year Honours List. A visionary designer and founder of Studioilse, she has pioneered ‘humanistic’ design to promote postive mental and environmental impacts. Studying history and history of architecture at university led to her deep understanding of the symbiotic relationship between architecture, design and human behaviour. studioilse.com Impactful & Impeccable Designer-maker-artist Mac Collins This year’s Emerging Design Medal, which “recognises an impact made on the design scene within five or so years of graduation,” according to London Design Festival, has gone to designer, maker and…

diary

Masterpieces by an Gogh, Monet, Degas, Renoir and more will go on show at The Courtauld gallery in London when it reopens this month after a multi-million-pound three-year restoration project. courtauld.ac.uk V&A visitors will be able to marvel at three Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs, on show in the UK for the first time, along with over 200 other items by the iconic goldsmith in a new exhibition from 20 November to May 2022. vam.ac.uk Artist and designer Mark Hearld will showcase his nature-inspired artworks at Yorkshire Sculpture Park from 13 November to 6 February 2022. ysp.org.uk…

design discoveries

SUSTAINABLE LUXURY Created with a focus on sustainability, provenance and artisanship, the Vintage Cloth Collection from bespoke furniture maker Lorfords sees each of the eight colourways hand-dyed in small batches using entirely natural materials. The Belgravia Sofa in Dirty Sage hand-dyed vintage linen, £10,320, Lorfords Contemporary AUTUMN COMFORT The shifting shades of autumnal woodland walks are captured in textile forms amidst Neptune’s new seasonal collection – layered here in tactile tweed, soft velvet and warm wool, they lend a cosy touch perfect for creaing an inviting backdrop. Cushions (clockwise from bottom left): Florence, Isla Finch, £82; Grace, Harris Tweed, £112; Grace, Francesca, £90; Kersey, £102. Arthur footstool, £515. Throws (from left): Henleaze, £215; Kersey, £325, all Neptune INSPIRED BY DANCE The magic and romance of ballet shaped the new pendant lights from design studio Lam Lighting. The…

dark & handsome

Set the scene for winter nights with indulgent, rich colours and textures in chic and distinguished designs. Deep tones of navy, burgundy, green and even charcoal are given an opulent feel in velvet and silk. Paint colours could be a cosseting inky, matt finish or given a glossy surface with a finishing coat of lacquer. The addition of metallics lightens the mood whilst enhancing the luxury of the scheme – look to golden threads in embroidery details or passementerie, and gold or brass highlights on dark wood furniture and accessories.…