29 minute read
Homes & Interiors
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PARTY PIECES
Cheshire interior designer Jan Constantine has brought out a new range of celebratory soft furnishings to mark the Queen’s Jubilee
To mark 70 years since Her Majesty the Queen ascended the throne, British textile designer Jan Constantine has launched a commemorative collection. The 14-strong range features Union flag cushions, luxury throws and decadent bunting, all of which include hand-embroidered detailing with a nod to the historic event, including crown and lion emblems.
Cheshire-based Jan is the founder and creative director of Jan Constantine Ltd, a British international home textile company, and is known for her bold and original collection of home textiles, and her work as a designer and manufacturer of a range of home interior products. With a background in fashion, interiors and styling, Jan has gathered together her experience, her love of decoration and her Constantine drive to fulfil a lifetime’s ambition and produce her own collection.
Growing up in Lancashire, one of five children, Jan was influenced by her mother who was a tailoress and her grandmother, a dressmaker and milliner. From a young age she loved sewing and knew exactly what she wanted to do with her future. During her early career in fashion she lived in London. She now lives in rural Cheshire with her husband David. They have two daughters.
Exquisite embroidery
Inspiration for the Constantine Collection comes from “favourite things and traditional hand-embroidery”. Jan’s exquisite designs are hand worked on quality natural cottons, linens and wools. The word ‘Love’ and the heart motif are intrinsic to her collections and have been
since she founded the business in 2002. Jan said: “I want to create something that will bring joy to people and be handed down, just as the skills of my artisans have been handed down through generations.”
Creative talent
Jan’s goal is to keep alive the traditional, hands-on skills of her talented workforce and to continue finding ways of introducing her exquisite products into homes worldwide. She hopes that, over time, her speciality range will become a household “I want to create something name everywhere. An official licence for home textiles for the London that will 2012 Olympic and bring joy Paralympic Games led to people and be handed to other opportunities as her designs gained a global audience. She has written two books, down” Heirloom Embroidery and Love Stitching, and Destined to become an heirloom: cushion £90 over the past few years has worked with other brands to produce exciting collections bearing her distinctive designs. She said: “Being in business, doing what you love, can be the most rewarding, challenging and also inspiring thing to do. It has meant that I have been privileged to travel the world, meet wonderful people and see places that I might have only dreamed about.” The Jubilee Collection brings together luxury throws, cushions and bunting, exquisitely made in pure wool in regal shades of red, purple and cream. Featuring hand-appliqued and hand-embroidered detailing, each piece is destined to become an heirloom of the future. “The Platinum Jubilee is a unique event in our history,” Jan said, adding: “As a true patriot I could not let it go by without creating a commemorative collection that pays homage to Her Majesty.” The Jubilee Collection is available now from janconstantine.com
PERFECT MAKEPEACE
In her regular column for Shire Magazine, interior designer Holly Johnson, of Holly Johnson Antiques in Knutsford, Cheshire, looks at an icon of British furniture design
John Makepeace OBE is a British furniture designer and maker whose work is often regarded as ‘an adventure in wood’. When you look at his pieces in our showroom, it is not hard to see how he has inspired a generation of craftsmen. Dame Rosalind Savill once commented that “the sublime effect of exquisitely chosen materials, perfectly crafted to serve and enhance the human body and soul, makes John Makepeace’s work overwhelmingly desirable.”
In a recent interview published on his website, John explained: “I want to make objects that engage us through their form, structure and materials.” In my view, John remains true to this overarching creative ethos. John recognises timber’s infinite variety of grain, colour and warmth. He acknowledges its boundless potential as his craftmanship constantly evolves, adapts and inspires. The artist understands the need for furniture, yet furniture that is not merely a functionality but inhabits the exact space that it belongs in. Furniture that acquires a soul.
Back to nature
Natural features within the wood influence his designs. He will often hand-select trees from indigenous woodland, with the bigger designs being worked from larger timber varieties such as elm and oak, whilst woods such as yew and mulberry will lend themselves to smaller forms.
Vision and passion arrived at an early age. Born in Solihull in 1939, John quickly acquired a sense of artistry. He talks of being surrounded by fine cabinetry on family visits and being inspired by seeing fine furniture being made while still in his pre-teens, which precipitated a visit to the great modern cabinet makers in Copenhagen several years later. His time there would further inspire him to pursue a career as one of Britain’s best furniture creators.
John Makepeace garnered early recognition from his first few works, which led to him becoming a design consultant to the All India Handicrafts Board and a founding member of the Crafts “I want to make objects that Council in the UK, as well as a Trustee for the V&A in London. From here, his career blossomed. In his early engage twenties his designs were already being sold in Heal’s, us” Liberty and Harrods, and he received commissions from both Green Templeton and Keble colleges in Oxford and the Banque Générale du Luxembourg. By now a professional furniture designer, Makepeace was keenly aware of the need for an integrated education for designers and makers going into the business. With that, he bought Parnham House in Dorset, a Grade I-listed, 16th-century mansion, intending it to serve as a college, to be set up alongside his own studios, integrating craftsmanship, design and business.
The Forum table and chairs
The Liberty table and chairs Desk and chair in elm and burr elm
Makepeace’s Millennium chair
Sharing his skills
Makepeace set up the School for Craftsmen in Wood in 1977, assembling teachers, artists, musicians, designers and craftsmen to support him in developing a multi-faceted creative curriculum that would turn out commercially savvy designers. The college attained international acclaim before moving to Hooke Park and amalgamating with the Architectural Association.
John went on to purchase Farrs, a historic house in Beaminster, with his wife Jennie. It is here that he keeps his design practice, gallery and an impressive range of indigenous trees, seasoning for future commissions.
hollyjohnsonantiques.com
Restoration and conservation
Property renovation can be fun as well as a great way to increase your investment – but there are times when it’s a necessary, and very expensive, means of survival
The John Summers building in Deeside
No one wants to discover their old and treasured property needs costly roof repairs. So it’s no wonder that conservation campaigners attempting to restore a local landmark are pulling out all the stops to raise funds after discovering the amount of essential work the building requires.
A series of storms over past weeks have accelerated the need for partial replacement and repairs to the roof of the Grade II-listed John Summers Clock Tower in Deeside. Enbarr Foundation director Vicki Roskams and fellow ‘Guardians’ have set up a crowdfunding page in a bid to reach their £350,000 target and are appealing for builders’ merchants, roofing firms and industrial suppliers to help with materials and labour, including felt, wooden beams and batons.
More than £600,000 in grants and financial support for the £5.2m site revamp has been secured over the past 18 months from bodies including the Welsh Government, Transport for Wales, the National Lottery, the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action, Comic Relief, Architectural Heritage, CADW, Parc Adfer and Flintshire County Council. But Vicki explained this capital is largely earmarked for other parts of the project.
“The grants we have received are for the basement and building itself, not the roof,” she said. “We have patched it up as much as possible but we need a permanent solution. There is significant work to be done and we need experts in to do it, so we are appealing to local businesses and suppliers to get in touch. Anyone who comes to our aid will be able to use the facilities and services for free on completion, but for now we are relying on kindness and generosity.”
Raising for the roof
With the support of new directors including former Tata Steel apprentice Scott Davis, now Ethikos Group CEO, and Charlotte Summers – descendant of Victorian steel magnate John Summers – Vicki is confident a solution will be found. The committee is currently recruiting for a project officer and a project manager, and celebrating new partnerships with Coleg Cambria, Procure Plus, Toyota and Forces Fitness. The Clock Tower building opened in 1907 and was home The roof is in very poor shape to the general office of Shotton Steelworks, now Tata Steel, before closing in 2009 and falling into serious disrepair. Plans for the site include a community hub, heritage skills and training centre, café, library, woodland garden, events venue and more. Vicki said: “This is the centre-point of this area, providing a beacon of hope for so many.”
To offer support or find out more, visit savetheclocktower.co.uk
Rooms with a view
Could purchasing a property with sea views provide the post-pandemic health and happiness boost we all need?
You can almost taste the salt breeze…
The past couple of years haven’t been easy. People have suffered both physically and mentally as a result of the pandemic. But it seems a sea view could be just what the doctor ordered. According to Ben Wheeler, senior research fellow at Exeter University’s European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH), it takes just minutes to experience the positive effects of spending time near the ocean. Luckily this isn’t hard in the Shire patch with open outlooks across the Welsh and Wirral shores. Sea air is full of negative ions, which can improve a person’s ability to absorb oxygen, making them feel more alert. They may also decrease irritation from airborne particles that cause people to sneeze and cough, according to Professor Pierce J Howard from the US Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences.
first see Spending time by the sea can reduce stress levels the waves sparkling and increase feelings of calm by restoring focus, combatting the drain on attention daily life creates. Interviewed by the ECEHH, children reported is special” that parents play with them more at the seaside too. Marc Pritchard, of leading home builder Taylor Wimpey, said: “We see the positive effect that beautiful sea views have when we show buyers around our homes.
That moment when they first see the waves sparkling is always special.
Time by the sea delivers benefits as people tend to spend more time outdoors. That means they get more daylight and more exercise too.”
Bicton Hall
Unique and authentic spaces
Camilla Monk, director of Architecture Ventures, wants to help people re-imagine their homes to create individual, fl exible living spaces, without breaking ground – or the bank
Award-winning architect Camilla Monk’s solo practice celebrates 10 years in September and its reputation for innovative design continues to grow. She said: “I work with my clients to help them see “Think outside what they have, think about how they want to live the and create authentic and unique spaces that support norm” their lifestyle. I focus on finding space within the existing footprint and encourage them to think outside the norm. Why build if it’s not necessary?”
Camilla has worked with regional firms Lovelock Mitchell and Camilla has worked with regional firms Lovelock Mitchell and Donald Insall, and has Donald Insall, and has built an impressive built an impressive portfolio of domestic portfolio of domestic and commercial work. and commercial work. needed on this house Camilla overhauled
Fresh Winds
A rescue mission was needed on this house transformation project. Camilla overhauled the brief and edited the drawings to better suit the client’s lifestyle.
Fresh Winds
The Buttercross
Camilla created a Frenchinspired experience over several floors, from a bright ground-floor café to a luxurious private dining room at the top.
Bicton Hall
The owners of this beautiful The bar area at the Buttercross Georgian house were considering a rear extension. After discussion, Camilla suggested the best way forward was to convert an underused drawing room into a show-stopping family kitchen, with views to the Shropshire countryside. She said: “Your home should be somewhere you feel at ease, not overwhelmed by layouts that don’t work for you.” Visit architectureventures.com to arrange a free consultation.
Get a helping hand at Gri ths Hire
Griffiths Hire Shops is a family-run tool, plant and access hire business. It has been trading for over 40 years and is the largest of its type in the Shropshire and North Wales area, with branches in Oswestry, Wrexham and Whitchurch. Now is one of their busiest times, with customers keen to spruce up their property or get on with the latest garden project.
Griffiths has a extensive range of tools, from cleaning equipment, patio cleaners, pressure washers and sweepers to lawn-care items such as scarifiers, rollers and aerators, as well as all the building gear you may need to build that patio. Breakers, concrete mixers and compactors are still the most requested items. Although the core of the business is hire they have a extensive range of sales products in stock and are main Rather not work o a ladder? Gri ths has a dealers for tools and large fl eet of powered access equipment equipment brands “All the Time to tackle that patio project… gear you such as Makita, Stihl, Paslode, Trend, Numatic, need…” Snickers, Helly Hanson, Belle and Festool. With workshop repair facilities at all shops to back up any products sold, including warranty repairs, they will even offer free loan of a tool while yours is being repaired.
Griffiths is proud to be main sponsor of this year’s Oswestry Show on 6th August at Oswestry Showground. For more information on products and services see griffithshireshops.co.uk
Mobek
Meet a family-run business based in Colwyn Bay. Mobek specialises in the manufacture and supply of quality outdoor furniture including traditional wooden styles – and now a range made from 100 per cent recycled plastic.
Just how does a Welsh business come to be supplying Canadian
Adirondack chairs? Nadia Becker, who runs Mobek with husband Ralph, explained: “A few years ago we came across a recycled plastic Adirondack chair from a Canadian company. We were instantly taken by its quality and the sustainability aspect, so we decided to see if we could add this line to our existing products. The furniture has the same warmth and grain as wood but with vastly superior qualities and is suitable for both commercial and residential use. It is also maintenance free.”
Created using recycled plastic that would otherwise have been destined for our waterways and landfills, each Adirondack chair is made from the equivalent of 579 milk containers. The Canadian manufacturers CR Plastic Products said: “We have proudly manufactured recycled outdoor furniture for 25 years and divert millions of pounds of bottle caps and recycled plastics from
“Each chair our landfills and oceans is made from the equivalent of 579 milk each year. What started out as a compassionate goal for saving the environment has evolved into the passionate pursuit for innovation and design in outdoor furniture. “We use high-density polyethylene (HDPE), grind it up and containers” then blend it together with pigment. HDPE plastic is common in bottle caps and in milk and orange juice containers. We also use custom in-house moulds that reduce hardware and make our furniture structurally superior. All of our frames are constructed with HDPE lumber components, seven-eighths of an inch thick material with solid colour throughout and a woodgrain finish. Our furniture is heavy, durable and can withstand all weather conditions – it’s guaranteed never to rot, crack or splinter.” Nadia said: “As of 2019, we secured the exclusive rights to represent the CRP brand (Canadian Recycled Plastic Outdoor Furniture) for the UK and Ireland. We see this as a fantastic opportunity to develop and expand our business and refocus our efforts and resources. “We had an incredible 2021 and now we would like to grow our company to become the area’s leading sustainable outdoor products retailer. Amongst our lines we offer Adirondack chairs, table sets, loungers, benches and more.” See the full product range at mobek.co.uk
The contemporary Tofi no collection
New Homes
TAKE A BREAK FROM THE BLAND
Many of us aspire to the classy, neutral styling of homes we see online and in magazines, but with décor it’s sometimes better to think outside the box
Home is where we spend most of our time, so it makes sense that the interiors schemes we choose are calming and neutral enough to work for all seasons, all activities, and even our changing mood from one day to the next. Hence the enduring love of simple, pale palettes, albeit broken up with a statement piece or feature wall.
But if you are fortunate enough to own a second home, then this is where you can let your imagination run wild. After all, whether it’s
for your own use or as a holiday rental, the people staying are going to be holidaymakers, hopefully relaxed and looking for some fun.
One man who knows all about styling a property for rental is Ben Aardewerk, who has renovated and styled a collection of stunning holiday homes in Anglesey. And when we say styled, we mean seriously, fabulously styled! Ben said: “We decided to really go for it – we wanted people to arrive and think ‘wow’. After all, who doesn’t want to have a bit of fun when they’re on holiday? It’s also about feeling spoilt, so we’ve tried to make sure everything about staying here feels like the ultimate treat.”
He has brought influences from all over the world into the décor, with Chinese-inspired wallpapers and fabrics in one room, William Morris patterns in another. Radiators are new, efficient and heavy duty – and painted in pink, green or blue. Practical, modern kitchen features sit alongside bespoke artwork and statement vases and lamps. The effect is of a home that feels like a gallery, where every room waits to be explored and another creative style is presented at every turn.
“We wanted people to arrive and think ‘wow’”
Ben focused on a fun but luxurious feel throughout
A magical place
The project has taken nearly five years to complete. Ben said: “Glas
Construction, our North Wales builders, have been amazing. In a way we are sad to come to the end of the journey, but we are very excited to share our lovely properties with holidaymakers who, hopefully, enjoy this magical corner of the world as much as we do.”
To book a visit to experience these individual interiors first hand, go to benandhollys hideaways.com Styling is deliberately bold
BUYER BEWARE
With property prices soaring, many people are desperately trying to buy a home before the dream is out of reach. But don’t be tempted to rush in and make costly mistakes…
Buying a home is a big step in anyone’s life, but especially if it’s your first place. The lure of somewhere new can be overwhelming – the lights, the furniture, the pristine kitchen. Very easily we find ourselves thinking about colour schemes and ignoring the essentials.
While you’re swept up in the romance of floor-to-ceiling windows and gleaming hardwood floors, failing to check on maintenance can leave you with some costly repairs down the line. Here, Karl Tulloch from Rightio reveals some of the most important areas to examine so you can purchase with confidence.
Roof repairs
“It’s easy Looking at a house, we’re generally to forget preoccupied with the floorplan. The wrong layout can be a dealbreaker, and making sure there’s enough space for you and your possessions is important. what’s above our heads – What’s easily forgotten is what’s right the roof” above our heads – the roof. Check its condition and that it has been well maintained. Replacing a roof could cost between £5,000 and £7,000.
Heating
We all want to be comfortable and cosy in our home, so make sure that your new property will accommodate for that. The right insulation is key here. You should make sure that the roof space and walls have been correctly insulated before making the big purchase. Ask to see certificates for any recent work.
Your home’s heating needs a stable foundation, though, and insulation won’t help much if there is a problem at the heart of the system – the boiler. You’ll want to know that your boiler is working, and to see the boiler service certificate that shows the system is safe and – just as importantly – is working at maximum efficiency.
And the winner is…
MOOand BOOM, a sustainable lifestyle and wellbeing store in Whitchurch, is delighted to have won the regional final of Start-up Business 2022. Owner Maddie feels the store’s eclectic mix of interior pieces and upholstered furniture brings something different to the “An high street. eclectic
Showcase mix of lines include vegetable-dyed Afghan rugs, pieces” Owner Maddie Ashbrook antique pine furniture and sustainable clothing as well as beauty products – all naturally made, with no artificial additives. The judges were clearly impressed with the selection and now Maddie is heading to Glasgow for the nationals.
Whitchurch has a good assortment of shops popping up, she told Shire, and MOOand BOOM complements other sustainable businesses in the town. Maddie also has a studio at the rear of the store, which runs workshops in aromatherapy, journalling, art, yoga, pilates, tai chi and more – there’s lots to choose from and all bookings can be made online. The small café kiosk does an excellent line in vegan and gluten-free cakes, and food is served Thursday to Saturday. Find out more at mooandboom.com
It’s fun to have grand designs – but is the plaster sound?
Damp
Once a house becomes damp, it can be a really difficult problem to alleviate. If you’re looking to buy, therefore, it’s vital to know what signs to look out for when viewing properties.
The most obvious indicator of damp is discoloured patches of mould on the walls and ceiling. Be vigilant, though, since these might be hidden in hard-to-spot places behind mirrors or furniture. Pay particular attention to windows, too – wooden frames covered with peeling paint reveal the presence of damp, and most likely rot.
UK’s largest outdoor living showroom opens in Oswestry
Roché Awnings has opened a new showroom in Oswestry, the largest of its kind in the UK. Aimed at showing what we can achieve with our gardens given the right inspiration, the showroom will present an array of al fresco solutions, moving beyond awnings and glass rooms to luxury pods with bar, outdoor kitchen and hot tub. In featuring high-end brands such as Barry Mahon Markilux, Weinor and Renson, as well as more accessible products, Roché hopes to help guests experience the best that outdoor living has to offer, and how to make the most of space on a range of budgets.
Director Barry Mahon said: “The demand for external shading and glass solutions remains high. Roché has grown, adding staff and moving to larger premises. This gave us the opportunity to design a purpose-built showroom, offering a unique outdoor living experience.”
Visit the showroom at Artillery Business Park. rocheawnings.com
GreenLiving
LEADING THE WAY
Soaking up the sun on the Rhug Estate
Rhug Estate was an early adopter of green technologies and is now celebrating 10 years of producing renewable energy from its extensive solar installation
With energy prices soaring in the UK, Rhug Estate is proud – and no doubt a little relieved – to be celebrating 10 years of producing its own renewable energy. What started with one solar panel scheme on the roof of the farm shop in 2012 has developed over the years and now incorporates 11 solar schemes, two wind turbines, a variety of hydro schemes, heat pumps in properties, a biomass boiler and two electric vehicle chargers. The capacity of the renewable energy schemes on the estate range from 4kW to 1.2MW and generated electricity is either used on site or exported to the Grid.
Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate, said: “The sustainable use of assets and natural resources has always been at the heart of everything we do at Rhug Estate. We currently generate about 3,000MW of electricity per year. We also generate about 500MW per year of heat. This is enough to supply approximately 875 homes for the year.” Ninety-seven per cent of the electric produced on Rhug’s
“We estate is sold to energy companies via the Grid through power purchase agreements or the Government’s guaranteed export want to payments. The remaining three per cent is used on site. continue Lord Newborough said: “We want to continue to be at the to be at the cutting edge” cutting edge of renewable energy production. We’d like to incorporate new technologies as they emerge in everything we do at Rhug. We think it’s also important to develop our understanding of the environmental footprint our supply chains leave and take responsibility for improving the impact of the whole chain by making well-informed decisions.”
Rising prices spark solar stampede
As the price of traditional energy soars along with the cost of living, more people than ever are seeking alternatives
North Wales and Merseyside have the highest electricity bills in the UK and news that energy prices are set to keep rising has encouraged consumers to look for cheaper and more efficient ways to heat their homes. Renewable energy company Hafod Renewables has seen enquiries soar across North and Mid Wales and the Border Counties. Managing director David Jones said: “The increased charges are going to hit everyone, even though there is a cap on domestic charges.” Solar power and battery systems are attracting most interest currently, as the battery system means power can be stored David Jones
until it is needed which is usually in the evenings – although with the move to home working that is “You can changing too. use the power when you The batteries, which weigh just over 200lb, can be fitted to an exterior wall and linked to roof-mounted Hafod has been inundated with enquiries need it” solar panels. David said: “The electricity generated by solar power during the daytime can now be stored and used in the evening. Previously it would have been sold to the National Grid, a less attractive option since the Government cut feed-in tariffs. Being able to use the electricity when you need it can mean huge savings.”
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Tutti Frutti
Keep it fresh with this fun and fruity homeware
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1. Marseillette Fruit 100% washed cotton duvet set from £36,
La Redoute; laredoute.co.uk 2. Strawberry outdoor drinkware £18, Next; next.co.uk 3. Pineapple Jungle lampshade from £40, Marmalade Shrewsbury; marmaladeatdogpole.co.uk 4. Typhoon World Foods Tomato bowl £3.49, Charlies Garden and
Outdoors; charlies.co.uk 5. Vegetable Garden Apples cake tins £45 for set of 3, Emma
Bridgewater; emmabridgewater.co.uk 6. Sustainable pear print cushion £28, Moo and Boom, Whitchurch; mooandboom.com 7. Pineapple metallic gold ceramic table lamp £49, Make Your House
A Home, Whitchurch; makeyourhouseahomewhitchurch.com 8. Lemon platter by Emily Bond £54, The Silver Pear, Ludlow; silverpear.co.uk 9. Kath Kidston Strawberry Garden butter dish with lid £18,
Anna Davies, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy; annadavies.co.uk 10. Lemon jug £14, Make Your House A Home, as above 11. Heaven Sends ceramic silver apple £9.95, Bodenhams of Ludlow; bodenhams.co.uk 12. Ceramic strawberry mug £6.99, Listers Interiors, Chester; listersinteriors.com 13. Framed anatomical fruit prints £425 for set of 12, OKA,
Knutsford; oka.com
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