25 Beautiful Homes 08-2015

1 LIGHT THE WAY Nickel bird lamp with grey shade, £100, Melody Maison 2 PRETTY PAGODA Haven arbour, £549, Next 3 BASKET CASE Lantern, from £30, House of Fraser 4 BOWLED OVER Emma Bridgewater Water Lily French bowl, £19, John Lewis 5 REFLECTED GLORY Laura Oakes panelled boudoir mirror, £50, Debenhams 6 DIVIDE & RULE Flores screen, £850, John Lewis 7 SACRED STYLE Buddha ornament, £10, Dunelm 8 COMFORT AND JOY Designers Guild Plum Blossom cushion in fuchsia, £100, Amara 9 TASTE FOR TRADITION Darcy teapot, £55, Alison Appleton 1 0 SURFACE APPEAL Beijing coffee table, £495, 4Living…

1 MIRAGE VISION Copper hummingbird mirror, £185, Puji 2 CAMPFIRE TALES Fallen Fruit low-fire bowl, £68, WorldStores 3 GUIDING LIGHT Shipyard pendant in copper, £485, Davey Lighting 4 WILD WEST Pablo lamp, £580, Jonathan Adler 5 ARTISAN FINISHES Taratala horn salt and pepper shaker set, £19, Lizard Orchid 6 RUSTIC RANCH Wagon seat, £1,365, Ralph Lauren Home 7 DESERT LIFE Abigail Ahern great sandy faux cactus, £168, Rockett St George 8 SHADES OF SAHARA Tufted arrow cushion, £15, George Home 9 WIRE WORKS Yena shallow wire bowl, £15, Habitat 1 0 GO WITH THE GRAIN Saddle stool in oak and ash, £150, English Abode…

CREATING PRIVACY We are trying to decide on the best way to dress our dining room window, which is overlooked from the street. We don’t want a very fussy treatment – what would you suggest? GABBY JOHNSON, LONDON You could invest in café-style shutters – the slats can be tilted for privacy, while allowing light in through the upper window. Shutterly Fabulous (0800 012 6615, shutterlyfabulous.com) will make shutters to fit any window, prices start at £290sq m, while designs in custom colours such as this Elephant Grey hue start at £320sq m. A quick, affordable solution is window film. The Window Film Company (01494 854204, windowfilm.co.uk) has a number of solutions, including plain Frostbite film, W150cm, £24m. You might also like a blind – opt for a bottom-up version that fixes…

Blue, pink, red or yellow – do you know what your favourite colour is? And are the colours you use in the home the same as those you choose for your clothes? After having a wardrobe cull at the weekend, I noticed there’s a lot of blue in there, but I also wear greys and white, and sometimes red or pink, but never yellow or purple. I then realised our house is a bit the same. Some areas are blue, others are grey or stony shades, and there’s also deep red and hints of pink – a bit of a mix all round. But I’m definitely not someone who likes wearing black and white, with an interior to match. I know it’s easy, but I love colour and pattern too…

NEW-BUILD HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached property, built in 2007 LOCATION Near Biarritz, southwest France ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen, playroom, TV room, six bedrooms (four en suite), bathroom, outdoor dining area, terrace PURCHASED 2007 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We also have an apartment in Paris, says Amélie. LESSONS LEARNT ‘It’s a good idea to work with local tradesmen who are familiar with regional materials and techniques’ Having spent many happy holidays in the French Basque region, Amélie and Numa Vernet had long nursed a dream of finding their own holiday retreat on the scenic Bay of Biscay. The couple have been together for 25 years and share an apartment in Paris. But despite their urban lifestyle, their love affair with this area of untamed beauty – where mountains meet ocean, the coastline is dotted with beaches and rocky coves, and…

Purchasing an overseas property, whether it’s just for holidays or as a permanent home, can provide an exciting change of lifestyle, but there are several factors to consider. Be prepared to undertake thorough research and ensure that you buy the property through a reputable, licensed estate agent. Arranging your finances, and taking into account fees, taxes and mortgages is a priority, as well as appointing an experienced lawyer who can expertly handle overseas transactions. The right spot Finding the perfect house in the right location can be a daunting task. So it helps if you are familiar with the country and region in which you want to buy. Do consider the primary purpose of your purchase – if you are buying partially as a holiday rental, easily accessible amenities are particularly important. Several…