Homes & Gardens

This issue is a true celebration of arts and craftsmanship. Early in its conception, I was introduced to the 16th-century concept of Wunderkammer - in the story of one of our beautiful houses (Artistic Licence, p112). It loosely translates as ‘cabinet of curiosities’ but means ‘a room alive with art and objects of wonder’. While, originally, the term described a contrived collection reflecting the interests – and social rank – of its curator, it struck a chord because the best interiors are always those layered with fascinating artworks and objets. In my home, I’ve accumulated work by a talented artist friend. The pieces all have meaning to me and, along with other treasured finds, are proudly displayed. They add a rich seam of vitality that makes my rooms, and the…

EARTHY DELIGHTS Originality and a chic 1970s energy sit at the heart of Zinc Textile’s designs. However, the latest collection, Salvador, shows an earthier side. Salvador’s bold patterns, inspired by the surrealist artist, can be enjoyed on a variety of textiles – including velvets, decorative jacquard weaves and embroideries. Seen here are Szafran in Cognac (on the wallhanging), £220m, and Baldessari in Tobacco (on the cushion), £130m. LONDON BORN Known for elemental and striking pieces across lighting, furniture and artworks, Chris and Nicola Cox of Cox London’s designs are handmade in their studio, workshops and bronze foundry using artisan skills. The Fluvius table is forged from iron with a distressed gold-leaf finish and antiqued mirrored top, £8,640 – the legs are reminiscent of a serpent, inspired by the Romanesque style. MEDITATIVE CRAFT Contemporary textile artist…

MEET THE MAKER Rowan MacGregor@rowan_macgregor Can you tell us about your background? I grew up in Hampshire, Germany and Wales before studying archaeology at Bristol University. After that I worked for 10 years in libraries, archives and in university administration before having my eureka moment and starting to make delicate botanical wreaths out of copper. I made and sold my work for five years while still working full-time at a university, before becoming fully self-employed a year ago. I also sell hand-painted eggs every spring, create illustrated maps and dabble in ceramics. Where do you look for inspiration? Nature. I love walking and a lot of my ideas come to me while I’m on a hike. I don’t think there’s anything as beautiful as a hedgerow and I take lots of pictures and collect leaves…

BLOCK PRINTED We hear the first time British printmaker and textile designer Molly Mahon saw a bed full of dahlias, her heart skipped a beat so it’s fitting she’s now immortalised the bloom in fabric – Dahlia, seen here in Crimson and Indigo, £196m, is one of five new designs from the Bloom collection, all block printed in vibrant colours inspired by her travels through India. WARP AND WEFT When creating her small batch textiles, handweaver Sabine Van der Sande of Loom Supply likes to sit at her 19th-century loom and contemplate the generation of weavers who went before her repeating the same methodical motions. She creates works like Kinship, 680x1160mm, £380, woven in a mix of hand-dyed cotton and British flax yarn with a weft of red cotton cord. CONTEMPORARY CRAFT Collect, the leading…

NEW DECO is the latest design by Martin Moore and is inspired by the architects and craftspeople of the 1930s. Featuring details such as sleek cabinets in book-matched, marble-effect porcelain edged in elegant brass strips, it’s the latest collection by the Manchester-based, family-run firm. It marks something of a design departure for the company, which made its name creating furniture that complemented architectural details found in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes, but reimagined for the modern kitchen. Back in the 1970s, while other companies aiming at the country-house kitchen market might have introduced a reclaimed pine dresser into their schemes, Martin Moore took a different approach. They designed what they describe as ‘furnished’ rather than ‘fitted’ kitchens – incorporating, for example, chimney breasts and mantelpieces as focal points within designs. How it…