The English Home June 2022

This issue, we’re embracing the return to colour in English decorating. With all that’s happening in the world, the mood has shifted away from calm neutrals to uplifting tones and joyful patterns – interiors with the feel-good factor. This should perhaps come as no surprise, as our homes have responded to the socio-economic and cultural climate around us throughout history. While as a nation we’ve also become bolder and more creative in using colour in recent years, it is, for some, one thing to admire strong colours and prints in the pages of a magazine and another to embrace adding them to the home. In our feature (page 74), we show you how to do the latter – from introducing a splash of invigorating tones to inspiring the confidence to opt…

SPOTLIGHT ON… De Gournay Chinoiserie Esteemed English design house de Gournay is revered worldwide for its exquisite hand-painted chinoiserie – garden scenes filled with birds and flowers based on historic wallpapers from grand European houses in the 17th and 18th centuries inspired by original Chinese wallcoverings. De Gournay created a new colourway of its Siam Chinoiserie for its recently renovated Paris showroom (above). Festooned with the lush flora and fauna of South East Asia, it has an enveloping elegance and tranquillity. All of the charming details were painted by hand onto white Williamsburg paper, which captures the look of an 18th-century, pigment-rich, dead-flat distemper ground, creating a multi-layered texture and setting a majestic mood of historical authenticity. Siam Chinoiserie wallpaper on White Williamsburg is available from degournay.com Vibrant Adornments Cressida Bell launches new tile collection Born…

Rare 18th-century tapestries that were cut up by their Victorian owner during a room ‘makeover’ have been painstakingly restored and are back on show at National Trust mansion The Vyne in Hampshire. nationaltrust.org.uk Blenheim Palace Flower Show will boast lovely floral displays, experts and growers, with food and shopping ideas for home and garden. 24–26 June. blenheimflower show.co.uk Masterpiece London is an annual treasure trove filled with works of art, furniture and jewellery from antiquity to the present day, with over 130 exhibitors. 30 June to 6 July. masterpiecefair.com…

FIRESIDE COMPANIONS Built on Scandinavian values, interiors brand Eldvarm aims to bring people together around a summertime evening fire with its sleek, handy and well-made fireside accessories. These elegant designs, finished with hand-stitched leather and solid-brass details, emit a relaxed yet stylish feel, where an empty log basket looks just as beautiful as a filled one. Emma Basket, Forêt, £495, Eldvarm SUMMER SETTING A collaboration between illustrator Bell Hutley and Caryn and Milly Hibbert, the mother and daughter duo behind lifestyle brand Bertioli, this tableware celebrates the partnership between nature and pollinator. Butterflies, dragonflies and moths sit with plant motifs, awash in an organic palette, perfect for setting a summer dining scene. The Bell Hutley & Bertioli Collection, from £12 for a coaster, Bertioli BENEATH THE CURVE Undulating contours in LSA International’s new Cloche collection of serving…

There will be jubilations and celebrations aplenty this month as the nation marks Her Majesty The Queen’s incredible 70 years of service with the Platinum Jubilee. In addition to various events, there is an abundance of special products on offer – from embroidered cushions to platinum paint and even a regal bed in smart Windsor Blue. A jubilee would not be complete without a commemorative teapot or tea towel, and for those holding street parties, we have sourced delightful bunting and cake toppers. At the end of a day of celebrating, pour a cup of Platinum Jubilee tea, fill a plate with Corgi biscuits and leaf through the official commemorative album.…

Whether used individually or together, blush pink and fresh green instantly bring a lightness to the feel of a room. A shared tonality means these shades pair beautifully together, lending sophistication to neutrals or anchoring colourful schemes with a considered theme. To keep the mood elegant and classic, choose blush-toned furnishings and fittings. For a sense of energy, include busy prints in both colours, and to ensure a timeless fit with country interiors, look to the soft, sage end of the green spectrum and a mix of patterns and prints. FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE PHOTOGRAPHS (ANNA FRENCH) © KIP DAWKINS; (CUCKOOLAND© RICHARD FAULKS; (THE TROVE) © SIMON ELDON; (THE MEWS) © ANDREW D STEEL…