25 Beautiful Homes Jul-2018

What makes a house a home? This is a question I get asked a lot, and one that isn’t easy to answer, because there are many factors that contribute to making a house homely. I do know that it’s not the type or size of property, but what’s inside that really counts. Personal belongings can breathe life into a space while reflecting the individuality of the owner, but there are also sensory aspects at play. The reason we decide not to feature some properties in 25 Beautiful Homes is often because, beautiful as they may well be, they just don’t feel right. The homes that touch our hearts are those where you can imagine that someone is about to enter the kitchen from the garden to make a cold drink…

What makes a house a home? This is a question I get asked a lot, and one that isn’t easy to answer, because there are many factors that contribute to making a house homely. I do know that it’s not the type or size of property, but what’s inside that really counts. Personal belongings can breathe life into a space while reflecting the individuality of the owner, but there are also sensory aspects at play. The reason we decide not to feature some properties in 25 Beautiful Homes is often because, beautiful as they may well be, they just don’t feel right. The homes that touch our hearts are those where you can imagine that someone is about to enter the kitchen from the garden to make a cold drink…

1 CUSHIONED COMFORT Amberley occasional chair in Playful Mood, £569, Mood Collections 2 SET THE SCENE Marrakech pink cushion, £70, Bluebellgray 3 TICK TOCK Dizzy Wonders clock, £30, Art Wow 4 NEW FLAME Candle bowl, £18, White Stuff 5 SPLASH OUT Bluebellgray toaster, £125, Dualit 6 SUMMER HAZE Luskentyre framed print on canvas, £150, John Lewis 7 SOFT TOUCH Lotion dispenser, £7, Mila range, Dunelm 8 ALL MADE UP Leaf print make-up bag , £20, Natalie Lea Owen at Etsy 9 BOLD BEDDING Rossita printed duvet set, from £55 for a double, Made.com…

1 IN THE ROUND Capri teak outdoor armchair in Navy, £179, Marks & Spencer 2 ARTISTIC TWIRL Jarra blue ceramic vase, £24, Oliver Bonas 3 UNDER COVER DKNY Bouclé throw in blue, £75, Bedeck 4 WELL PRESSED Stoneware cafetiere in marine blue, £55, Le Creuset 5 PATTERN POWER Blue shells serving plate, £60, Emma Bridgewater 6 TIME FOR BED Junior velvet moon cushion in Ink, £20, Christy 7 SEA LIFE Rick Stein tapas dish set, £43, QVC 8 DISH OF THE DAY Nesting bowls, £50 for four, Denby 9 BLUE VELVET Bella love seat, £845, Lovely Sofas…

The 16th-century origins of this large country house appealed to Victoria and John Hemmings, but the historical additions had resulted in an elongated floor plan, raising questions about how they would use the space. ‘We loved the low ceilings and beams but weren’t sure about the layout,’ says Victoria. ‘The rooms ran into one another without a corridor. Our children, George, six, and Lily, three, are still young so we wanted to get the spaces right for both now and years to come.’ Hives Architects and interior designer Fiona Parke from Johnston Parke Interiors were enlisted to help with the renovation. ‘We wanted to retain the character of the house but not make it feel old-fashioned,’ says Victoria. ‘When we met Fiona, she really understood what we were trying to achieve.’…

1 CUSHIONED COMFORT Amberley occasional chair in Playful Mood, £569, Mood Collections 2 SET THE SCENE Marrakech pink cushion, £70, Bluebellgray 3 TICK TOCK Dizzy Wonders clock, £30, Art Wow 4 NEW FLAME Candle bowl, £18, White Stuff 5 SPLASH OUT Bluebellgray toaster, £125, Dualit 6 SUMMER HAZE Luskentyre framed print on canvas, £150, John Lewis 7 SOFT TOUCH Lotion dispenser, £7, Mila range, Dunelm 8 ALL MADE UP Leaf print make-up bag , £20, Natalie Lea Owen at Etsy 9 BOLD BEDDING Rossita printed duvet set, from £55 for a double, Made.com…