Country Homes & Interiors December 2021

This is the year I plan to take my festive decorations up a notch. Inspired by the magical looks on our pages, I’ll be branching out from my usual tree and bannister trimmings and adding an extra dose of fabulous! Because if you can’t be OTT at Christmas, when can you be? It starts with the old bicycle tyres hanging on the back of my study door (really!). I’ve been saving these large hoops ever since my son replaced the wheels on his bike back in the summer. They’ll look wonderful wrapped in greenery and berries from my garden, with some LED solar lights for added sparkle. I’m so proud of the Country Homes & Interiors team, who have pulled out all the stops to create this issue for you. From fabulous…

Things that make us happy… “WAKING UP TO LOVE AND LAUGHTER, READY TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH THE ONES WE CHERISH”…

GRAHAM & BROWN’S COLOUR AND WALLPAPER OF THE YEAR Narrating a reconnection with the natural world through reflection and optimism, Graham & Brown has unveiled wallpaper of the year, Restore. With exotic botanicals on a chalky backdrop, the elegant design evokes a wild, yet calming jungle, in Midnight (above), fresh Sky and misty Emerald. To complement it, paint colour of the year Breathe is a soothing mid blue. Restore wallpaper, £65 a roll; Breathe matt emulsion, £42 for 2.5ltr, both at grahambrown.com. Dine in a galaxy of hand-painted patterns Inspired by space, the cosmos, galaxies and nebulae, the Ophelia range of plates and bowls depicts a universe of wonders to adorn the dining table, and beyond. The creations come from Istanbul-born cement and clay artist Sine Icli. Each unique piece is hand-shaped and…

“THE ANNUAL VILLAGE FETE USED TO BE HELD ON THE LAWN. WE’VE HAD MANY PEOPLE TELL US THEY’VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS” Renovating a period home is rarely a quick process. But Amanda and her husband James, with their shared vision of a blissful country home, were prepared to take the long view. Ten years after acquiring the Old Rectory, a Georgian house in an Oxfordshire village, their home is a delight to behold. Completed in a series of steady phases, it’s proof that patience really does pay off. ‘It was the garden that first attracted us and it’s really the best feature,’ says Amanda. A bouncy and inviting lawn fringed with deep borders of topiary, lavender and alliums, the garden is both romantic and restful. ‘We wanted the children (now…

Amanda’s style tip… VELVETY, RICH DARK WOOD FEATURES AND SLEEK FINISHES GIVE A COUNTRY KITCHEN A SOPHISTICATED AND REFINED EDGE…

Driving past the 1950s bungalow that was to become her home, Danielle’s first thought was that it was ‘fairly ugly’. But the building was on a good plot and looked robust, so she and her husband, Bobby, couldn’t rule out a viewing. The family was rapidly outgrowing the stone cottage they were living in at the time, despite a series of extensions and refurbs. ‘With two boys, we knew we would need more space when they were older, and kids seem to return home after university into their twenties these days,’ says Danielle. Walking around the bungalow, her initial reluctance began to fade away. ‘I felt comfortable that we could create an upstairs and started sketching plans which, two years on, were pretty much what we ended up with,’ Danielle says. To…