The English Home July 2022

The mood this month is relaxed. There is an easy elegance and an air of optimism, and it’s a feeling to savour, so this issue is all about celebrating summer and creating a holiday mood at home. English style has been inspired by global designs for hundreds of years – from the ancient Silk Route to the Grand Tour of the 18th and 19th centuries – and today, we still enjoy adding items to our homes which have roots in other cultures. Perhaps we do so to add a unique piece to a room, or have a memento of an adventure, extending that summer feeling. Whether you’re travelling abroad or in England, or indulging in some downtime at home this season, we have ideas for adding global buys to interiors (page…

SPOTLIGHT ON… New Liberty outdoor fabrics Adorned with sumptuous florals, from ditsy to decadent and English to exotic, Liberty’s first outdoor fabric collection is a triumph. The Liberty Garden features 14 designs – both brand new and reimagined archive classics – across four colour stories: Lacquer (above), Lapis, Jade and Pewter. Each reflects Liberty’s eclectic spirit and salutes different flowers and foliage. Lacquer draws inspiration from Arts and Crafts gardens and the beauty of vivid organic shades found in flowerbeds and scrambling across trellises. Pottery from the 19th century and the geometric planting of gardener Gertrude Jekyll inspired Lapis, with a refreshing palette of cobalts, azures and harmonising pinks. Chinese artworks from the 19th century influenced Jade’s richly verdant palette and vibrant accents, and Pewter’s refined neutrals whisper elegance. libertyfabric.com A World of Influences Designer Bethan…

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, from 4–9 July, the world’s largest flower show, promises epic gardens, a Floral Marquee, The River Cottage Market Garden and more. rhs.org.uk A Fabergé egg is one of 100 precious items on show at Surrey’s Polesden Lacey – bequeathed to the National Trust by Dame Margaret Greville. Until 30 October 2022. nationaltrust.org.uk Japanese treasures from the Royal Collection are on display together for the very first time. Japan: Courts and Culture runs at The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace until 26 February 2023. rct.uk PHOTOGRAPHS P16 (BETHAN GRAY) © JULIAN ABRAMS; (ELOISE HOME) PORTRAIT © CHLOE HARDWICK,OTHER © MIKE GARLICK. P18 © SEAN MYERS PHOTOGRAPHY. P20 (CHISWICK) © ANDRE PATTENDEN; (DIARY FROM TOP) © RHS/LUKEMCGREGOR; © NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/JOHN HAMMOND; ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST/© HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH…

DELICIOUS SIMPLICITY Enamelware is usually associated with hearty winter dishes, yet this handcrafted range from Toast has a leaf-green piping to set the tone for picnic dining in style. Suitable for oven to table use, the dishes are ideal for serving hot or cold summer puddings. The range includes mugs, plates and bowls. Cream/Leaf large enamel dish, £25; Cream/Leaf enamel bowl, £10.50, Toast ZEST FOR LIFE Reminiscent of classic Italian pottery from the 1980s, lemon-shaped tableware brings a Mediterranean flavour to outdoor and indoor gatherings. Team the brightly hued ceramics with colourful glassware to create a zingy scene and use neutral table linen to allow the bold yellow tone to fully stand out. Mediterranean Lemon bowl, £18, and plate, £22; glassware from £15, all Rockett St George UP IN SMOKE A neatly sized chiminea is ideal for…

Bringing home discoveries made on travels, discovering heritage techniques from around the globe, and embracing cultural designs to become a part of our own aesthetic is an established element of what makes an English home. An eclectic blend of global influences – whether authentic or ‘inspired by’ and adapted – come together to create a layered abode full of character. From ikats, kilims and chinoiseries to Spanish tiles, African weaves and European folk art, many have far-flung origins. Bring back pieces that tell a story from a holiday to remember, or simply discover the treasures available on our own shores to offer a new flavour, and a touch of escapism.…

Capture the beauty of the golden hour as the sun begins to dip below the horizon with pieces in sunset hues. From punchy reds and burnished oranges to mellow golden yellows and a few shades of pink in between, this hot palette of colours can add a touch of vibrancy for a summer uplift. The look does not have to be intense; a statement piece, adding a trim or simply a change of cushions, towels or throws can bring a welcome splash of sunshine. This colour choice is perfect for outside, too – co-ordinate with pink, red and orange bedding flowers for a joyous garden full of warm summer hues. PHOTOGRAPHS (THIBAUT) © KIPDAWKINS; (CRAVEN DUNNILL JACKFIELD) © THE IMAGEFACTORY; (DAVID HUNT) © SEBASTIAN DEVENISH…