Country Homes & Interiors April 2021

This month we’re celebrating 35 years of Country Homes & Interiors. Looking at the first issues, it’s fascinating to see how much our homes have changed. Interior styles seem simpler now and the traditional farmhouse kitchen has morphed into an open-plan space where all of life happens. What remains the same is a deep love of country style, with its connection to nature, uplifting colours, patterns and prints, and lovingly crafted furnishings. And you don’t have to live in a rural home to enjoy it. I was thrilled to receive this email from a reader recently… ‘I live in a tiny London studio and try to make it look as much like the places in your magazine as possible! Your pictures are beautiful and when there is a house or room I…

Things that make us happy...❝ PUTTING ALL OF OUR (EASTER) EGGS IN ONE BASKET FOR A CHANGE! ❞…

Sweet dreams from The Needo Offering hotel-quality bedding at an affordable price, The Needo aims to deliver maximum comfort through a handpicked collection of breathable bedlinen designed to last a lifetime. The effortlessly soft and sustainably produced designs are made using 100% cotton, in either crisp percale or silky sateen, in a chic palette of neutrals. Available from double to super-king sizes, from £22-£151, theneedo.com/en. NEW SPLATTERWARE FOR SPRING Bring home sunny Portuguese flair with the gorgeous splattered Chroma collection by Casa Cubista at Lusophile. Wheel-thrown and hand-painted for maximalist effect, the playful additions include jugs, bowls and plates in a variety of sizes, plus a graphic, dipped espresso cup and saucer and a candle holder. Discover the Chroma splatter collection, from £18, at lusophile.co.uk. Marble-effect table linen Adored designers Summerill & Bishop and iconic…

❝I LOVE HOW THIS HOUSE IS FILLED TO THE RAFTERS WITH ALL MY FINDS. EVERYWHERE I LOOK REMINDS ME OF SOMEWHERE I’VE TRAVELLED OR AN ANTIQUES FAIR I’VE VISITED ❞ You can see right over to France from the top floor,’ exclaims Sophie Rowell about the pretty pastel-coloured terraced building she calls home. It is one in a row of elegant townhouses in the quaint Old Town area of Folkestone. ‘They were originally built to house the captains coming up from the ships in the harbour below,’ she adds. It seems only fitting, therefore, that interior designer Sophie has chosen to furnish it with antique and vintage finds from near and far. Throughout are signs of Sophie’s travels across the Channel, visiting brocantes and flea markets to source items not just…

Visit… ‘The Harbour Arm (folkestoneharbourarm.co.uk) is a promenade extending out to sea with live music and plenty of great places to eat and drink, including a champagne bar in a lighthouse.’ Shop at… ‘The Potting Shed (thepottingshed.shop) for a wonderful selection of antiques and quirky vintage finds for the home and garden. It also has a secret cocktail bar in the back, inspired by the Prohibition speakeasies of the 1920s.’ Go for a meal at… ‘The Folkestone Wine Company (folkestonewine.com). This is the best restaurant I’ve ever eaten at. It serves French-inspired dishes with fresh seasonal ingredients.’…

Sophie’s style tip... EMBRACE A MELTING POT OF TEXTURAL WARMTH WITH AGED PATINAS, EXPOSED SURFACES AND LIVED-IN FURNISHINGS…