PERIODLIVING 30 DECOR ATING & SHOPPING
GARDEN ANTIQUES INSPIRATION & VINTAGE
RENOVATION & MAINTENANCE
Decorate with lush botanicals Create a relaxing retreat outdoors Fill your garden with fragrant roses
HOMES WITH HEART
From a rustic Welsh cottage to a characterful Victorian farmhouse
BEAUTIFUL IDEAS FOR SHUTTERS AND BLINDS
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Here comes the sun
JUNE 2020
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BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING PERIOD HOMES MAGAZINE
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Mindfulness l Painting l Baking
DELICIOUS ONE-PAN RECIPES FOR SUMMER
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Cover Photograph Brent Darby Styling Pippa Blenkinsop
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Decorating & shopping
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Journal We round up the latest interiors offerings and news Flutterly fabulous If you’re enjoying the spectacle of butterflies in your garden, find more in these colourful finds ON THE COVER
Summer in paradise Recreate the elegance and romance of a Georgian glasshouse Hothouse hues Add some Mediterranean style to your home with these botanical and sunny shades Statement kitchen taps The latest designs, perfectly suited to period homes
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Homes
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ON THE COVER Happy returns Returning to her childhood home, Melissa Jolly involved her whole family in a renovation project
Enter our awards Your home or garden renovation could win you a prize worth £1,000 ON THE COVER A colourful past Discover the fascinating history of Christine and Neville Brown’s idyllic Welsh cottage
The best of both worlds A tumbledown outbuilding has been transformed into a coastal, country hideaway
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Features
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30 years of Period Living Celebrating our anniversary year Antiques journal Discover the latest trends in antiques and hear collectors’ stories
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Decorative details Marc Allum looks at the history of metalworking and blacksmithing The restorers We visit the blacksmiths at Holkham Forge in Norfolk to see how they revive heritage metalwork Food journal Eateries, edibles and kitchen essentials for keen home cooks ON THE COVER
Recipes Prepare delicious and nutritious suppers, all in one roasting pan
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Advice & inspiration
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ON THE COVER
Shutters and blinds We bring you the best window treatments for a period home
Gardens Garden journal The latest products for your garden, and horticultural advice ON THE COVER Garden buildings Inspiration and tips for designing your ultimate outdoor room
Where the wind blows Be inspired by Chris and Robin Hutt’s garden, exposed to the elements but brimming with life ON THE COVER Roses advice In celebration of National Rose Month, we help you get the most out of these beautiful blooms
Regulars
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House journal New products and expert advice for improving a period home
Your journal We share our readers’ letters and photographs ON THE COVER
£50 book giveaway Find out how to redeem your five free digital books today Subscribe Get a free Sophie Allport apron and baking book when you subscribe Stockists Where to find all the suppliers featured in this issue
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ournal J Ideas for summer living, from a colourful shepherd’s hut to new nature-inspired collections Feature Pippa Blenkinsop
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eshly squ Fr ee ze Immerse yourself in
the vibrant culture of Spain’s Andalusian capital with Cole & Son’s stunning new Seville wallpapers. Featuring fragrant flora to flamenco fans and citrus trees to Moorish ceramics, the collection captures the beauty and rich heritage of the city. Celebrating the fruit synonymous with Seville, this Orange Blossom design is a delicate repeat with a subtle textured feel that pays homage to the regal tapestries found hanging in the Royal Alcázar’s Salón de los Tapices. Pictured in Orange and Spring Green on Parchment, one of three vintage-inspired palettes, it’s guaranteed to bring zest to interiors, £115 per roll.
Period Living 13
Summer in
paradise Glistening like a precious jewel, this heavenly Grade I-listed Georgian conservatory conjures the luxury and romance of a bygone age Words and styling Pippa Blenkinsop Location and assistant styling Karen Darlow Photographs Brent Darby
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opularised in the early 19th century, during a period of great horticultural discovery, conservatories were used to cultivate and display exotic plants, but also as social spaces. During the 1700s orangeries and glasshouses tended to be separate buildings with solid roofs, but advances in the manufacture of glass and wrought iron, and developments in heating systems, meant glazed structures began to be attached to properties in the 1800s. Fusing the domestic with the magic of distant lands, they offered places for the social elite to escape to and enjoy their gardens year round. The conservatory at Penpont, added in 1828 and restored in 1996, is an exquisite survival. Akin to a delicate jewellery box or reliquary, as fine as the botanical treasures within, it boasts a timber and glazed structure of five by three bays divided by classical pilasters, and is crowned with a spectacular curved fishscale or beaver tail glazed roof. If you’re looking to bring the outdoors in, or simply a dose of visual delight, let this heavenly space sow seeds of interior inspiration and lift the soul into a botanical daydream‌
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Decorating EXOTIC ESCAPE Bathed in light and the sweet aromas of citrus and jasmine, this glasshouse would have been a blissful space to take afternoon tea. Today the mature climbing roses creeping in through the window, and the recent addition of Newton Paisley’s whimsical Madidi Clouds Midnight wallpaper, only serve to enhance the magical mood. Wrought-iron garden furniture and classic Lloyd Loom Henley chairs – complete with sun-bleached and time-worn patina – make for a relaxed feel amid potted palms and citrus trees. Citrus Calamondin (on table), £25, in 14cm Terracotta Lace pot, £9; citrus tree (right), £45, in 25cm Large Rosa Copenhagen pot, £20, all Burford Garden Company
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HAPPY RETURNS Idyllic childhood memories of days spent outdoors in the countryside brought Melissa Jolly back home to tackle a renovation project that would involve the whole family Words Karen Darlow | Styling Pippa Blenkinsop | Photographs Kasia Fiszer
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Farmhouse Renovation
Clockwise from top left: Open shelves create a relaxed, homely look in the kitchen. On the top shelf are Melissa’s pasta cutters, and a blue enamel pan found at The Old Grain Antiques; there’s plenty of space round the dining table from Home Barn, with Melissa’s grandmother’s oak carver chairs, and a bench from The Old Cinema Club topped with a Norwegian reindeer hide; garden designer Melissa keeps the house well supplied with cut flowers; glazed cupboards and dresser-style base units give a contemporary twist to the new farmhouse kitchen Opposite: Melissa designed the kitchen, with help from mum Jeanne. Builder John-William Henderson fitted the oak worktops and British Standard cabinets and Melissa painted them in Hicks Blue by Little Greene. The island is an old workbench from Home Barn, the oven is a Rangemaster, and the lamp is from Decorexi. Blinds are made in Washington Still Blue fabric from Blinds2Go Period Living 31
Top left: The stunning natural backdrop to the Browns’ home and garden; the couple say they never tire of looking at the view of the valley Top right: Christine has transformed the large plot into a series of outdoor ‘rooms’, with something to catch the eye in every season, including this sizeable pond and fountain. For a similar wooden Lutyens-style bench, try Sloane & Sons Bottom left: Christine and Neville enjoy the sunny sitting area at the front of the house Bottom right: The couple have reason to believe the front door originated in a castle, one of the many unique features in this historic home
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Welsh Longhouse
A COLOURFUL PAST Christine and Neville Brown’s cottage in Wales has a long and fascinating history that has shaped the character of their unusual period home Words Heather Dixon | Photographs Brent Darby
The pretty Welsh longhouse is tucked away down a quiet lane in the Vale of Ffestiniog and has changed very little since it was built in the 17th century. Neville and Christine whitewashed the outside walls and painted the sash windows in Farrow & Ball’s Vert De Terre
Period Living 45
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Jane and Ant Hosking transformed a tumbledown outbuilding into a charming country hideaway within reach of the stunning Cornish coastline Words Heather Dixon | Photographs Š Unique Homestays (uniquehomestays.com) 58 Period Living
Converted Barn
Jane describes the converted barn as ‘Snow White meets surf dude’, a fusion of traditional stonework and painted weatherboarding. All the doors and woodwork are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Oval Room Blue. Local woodsman David Hearle used wood grown on the estate to make the chestnut fence and gate
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Antiques Roadshow specialist Marc Allum looks at the history of metalworking and blacksmithing, and the collectors’ market for antique architectural wrought iron
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orking with metal fascinates me. I grew up with my father’s well-resourced workshop and unlimited access to an industrial lathe, which very fortuitously gave me an early grounding in the practical side of machine-shop practices and construction. As a result, I advanced through my teens undaunted by the idea of welding, turning, patinating and general metalwork repairs. I have always been captivated by the craft of a blacksmith and have – on a few occasions – had the joy of spending time in a smithy; it’s quite humbling to witness a skilled blacksmith at work. Historically, humans have worked metal for millennia. More malleable metals were first utilised as long ago as eight thousand years, with copper, gold and silver easily hammered into other forms. More advanced methods of metalworking evolved in the Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age, when 72 Period Living
smelting, casting, riveting and forging subsequently developed with the appearance of alloys, such as bronze (tin and copper). Of course, ‘blacksmiths’ predominantly work with iron, and the Iron Age, which superseded the Bronze Age, was technically a very important advance in metallurgical terms, spanning slightly different periods in history – depending on culturally where iron working was evolving. For instance, meteorite iron was highly prized by the ancient Egyptians and Tutankhamun’s dagger, made of this extra-terrestrial metal, was actually made in the Bronze Age. However, the skill of its construction obviously shows that Egyptian ‘smiths’ were well versed in working iron. The end of the Iron Age, though, is generally taken to come at the beginning of the historiographical record, at around 500BC. Iron, and later steel – iron with carbon added – are therefore essentially one of the most significant developments in human
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In recent years, provenance has become increasingly important to homeowners. From clothing to cabinetry, the desire to buy British goods has seen artisan companies go from strength to strength. Based in the Cotswolds, new kitchen manufacturer Hush Kitchens unites the craftsmanship of handmade with state-of-the-art processes, to transform ethically sourced FSC timber into beautiful bespoke kitchens. Hush also sources materials locally where possible to lower environmental impact.
Shaker-style kitchen in Westonbirt, from £12,000
HOUSE journal
Discover the latest products to improve your period home and pick up top tips from industry experts METALLIC HIGHLIGHTS With its characterful patina, copper exudes warmth and charm, making it perfect for period homes. In celebration of the iconic material, Jim Lawrence’s latest Heritage Copper range sees copper fixings, which have been treated with an antiquing solution to create a subtly aged appearance, suspended in a translucent hand-blown shade, designed to highlight the very best of the metal’s details. The Ava pendant (left) costs £158.
DOUBLING UP Following Drummonds’ launch of its single Buttermere vanity unit last year, the elegant console now has twice as much impact. Adding an opulent touch to any style of bathroom, the twin, fine-china bow-front basins have a generous width of 132cm, and are paired with dainty cast-brass tapered legs, which are available in nine different finishes. The Buttermere double vanity starts at £3,540.
ALL THE FRILLS While you may dream about decorating your kitchen or bathroom with authentic antique tiles, the reality is that sourcing them is often time-consuming and costly. However, Devol’s new Lace Market range offers a solution. Made using its antique press, the clay forms are imprinted using vintage lace remnants and garments to unveil gorgeous reliefs of repeating patterns and trims. Available in three colours – Vintage Teal, Rose and Sepia – the tiles have been finished to replicate the delicately worn look of antique designs. Available in a range of patterned prints with co-ordinating plain tiles, prices start at £5 each for plain and £10 for patterned. Period Living 81
Shutters and Blinds
DRESS TO IMPRESS Streamlined yet chic, shutters and blinds are practical and versatile window treatments, available in a wide range of beautiful options
Feature Sarah Warwick
SPACE SAVER When you need to position furniture beneath a window, opting for a Roman blind rather than floor-length curtains can make room without sacrificing the decorative appeal of pleats of fabric. Designed by Clarissa Hulse, this made-to-measure Ombre Fuchsia Roman blind, from ÂŁ31.15 for H40xW41cm at Blinds2go, adds further decorative interest with beautiful colour that shades from light at the top to richer at the bottom.
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Garden Buildings
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COUNTING SHEEP While the humble shepherd’s hut was traditionally used as mobile shelter for shepherds during the lambing season, today very few owners have any intention of following a flock. Instead, a hut offers an inspiring retreat, where you can indulge in your hobbies or start writing that best-seller. A self-build kit, as featured, starts from £5,170 at Tuin.
Photograph Brent Darby
Whether you dream of a practical space or somewhere to unleash your creativity, here’s all the inspiration you need to design your ultimate garden building
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Feature Holly Reaney
he idea of having a private, relaxing space away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, is one that starts in childhood. Being able to climb up a ladder and disappear into a house in the trees, where you can spend time undisturbed, still sounds appealing today. Of course, the reality of a treehouse perhaps isn’t feasible for everyone, although there are some very beautiful designs for adults as well
as children. Instead, a garden building can easily give you that restorative idyll, as well as providing much-needed extra space, without the hassle of extending your property. Whether you desire a peaceful summerhouse, a practical potting shed, a creative room for painting, a home office for working, or a sheltered space for entertaining and alfresco dining, your garden room can be whatever you imagine it to be; the possibilities are endless. Period Living 99
The ‘front’ of the house is actually at the back, and has spectacular countryside views out towards the sea. To counteract the steep slope in the garden from the house, a curvy Corten steel wall was installed to create a more usable change of level. Nearer the house, an ancient cherry tree is underplanted with wildflowers that contrast well with the neatly clipped lawn 106 Period Living
Gardens
WHERE THE WIND BLOWS On this sloping plot in the Sussex Weald, open to the elements, Chris and Robin Hutt have created a gently flowing, sinuous garden that expertly melds into the countryside beyond Words Sarah Giles | Photographs Abigail Rex
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Recipes
w n o a n p d e e rs n O Prepare delicious, nutritious suppers with minimal fuss, with these roasting recipe ideas from Rosie Sykes Photographs Dan Jones
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In the Picture
Fairy tales
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orn 125 years ago this month, in Croydon, Surrey, Cicely Mary Barker found fame with her Flower Fairies books, for which she penned the words and the illustrations. She was already a successful artist and sold her first painting, aged 16, to a greetings card firm, but Flower Fairies of the Spring was her first book, published in 1923. Her pictures and poems captured the 1920s’ fairyhunting zeitgeist and seven more collections followed. As talented a natural historian as she was an illustrator, Barker’s exquisite pen and wash creations capture the fine details of each plant. Her ‘fairies’ were in fact portraits of children at her sister’s nursery school, in costumes made by Barker to match the blooms, adding extra magic without compromising botanical accuracy. She wrote in 1948: ‘I have drawn all the plants and flowers very carefully, from real ones; and everything that I have said about them is as true as I could make it. But I have never seen a fairy; the fairies and all about them are just “pretend”.’
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Words Karen Darlow Image The Harebell Fairy from Flower Fairies of the Summer illustration by Cicely Mary Barker, 1925 © WorldPhotos / Alamy Stock Photo
Cicely Mary Barker was best known for her magical flower illustrations, which continue to charm children and adults alike