PERIODLIVING 30 BEAUTIFUL OLD HOMES
DECOR ATING & SHOPPING
GARDEN ANTIQUES INSPIRATION & VINTAGE
RENOVATION & MAINTENANCE
BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING PERIOD HOMES MAGAZINE
Style inspiration for summer dining and relaxing alfresco
AR Y
th
RS
NN
A
Outdoor living
AUGUST 2020
IVE
Passion for
pattern Wallpaper designs through the centuries
FAMILY GARDENING Green-fingered projects for all generations to enjoy
BEST BUYS PATIO CHAIRS WALL & FLOOR TILES CLASSIC BASINS
Dream homes From a Cotswold Georgian gem to a converted coastal mill
TIMELESS OAK-FRAME EXTENSIONS & GARDEN ROOMS
13 19 20 22 87
Decorating & shopping Journal A round up of the latest interiors offerings and news
28
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
54
Garden styling
Let these beautiful outdoor living areas inspire you to make the most of those long, balmy days ON THE COVER
40
Patio chairs
Sit back and soak up the summer sun in a pick from this stylish selection of outdoor seating
Basin shopping
Give your bathroom a refresh with the latest designs
ON THE COVER Saying it with flowers
Joolz and Jonathan Abbs-Woodd’s Georgian Cotswold stone house is filled with inspiration
Summer brights Create happy, quirky spaces all year round by mixing pieces in vibrant colours
Homes
58
Making new memories Tanya Bird has updated her converted mill holiday home in Devon, and opened its doors for other families to enjoy
Bright and beautiful Lola Swift’s kitchen renovation has created a light, open-plan space filled with bold colours
Natural additions
Features
10
House portraits
73
Antiques journal
76 117
We reveal the winning entries of Period Living’s lockdown art challenge
Discover the latest trends in the world of antiques and read collectors’ stories ON THE COVER
Decorative details
Antiques Roadshow’s Marc Allum looks at the history of wallpaper
Recipes Add a citrus twist to summer dishes with these delicious ideas from Ursula Ferrigno
Ingenuity and careful planning helped Guy and Sarah Bowden transform an abandoned cottage into their dream oak-frame home
50
Cover Photograph Colin Poole
6 Period Living
83 94
40 50
Advice & inspiration Understanding conversions If you’re looking for a unique home, then converting could be the way forwards
66 83 89 95
ON THE COVER
102
Oak frame
Learn about this timeless material and discover how to use it for extensions and garden buildings
House journal New products and expert advice for improving a period home ON THE COVER
99
111
Gardens Garden journal The latest products for your garden, and horticultural advice
Set in stone Bee Eastman combined her stone-carving skills with artistic planting in her idyllic garden ON THE COVER Family gardening projects
Discover how to get budding horticulturalists involved in planting and growing
9 38 129
Regulars Your journal We share readers’ letters and photographs
Subscription offer Get Period Living delivered straight to your door every month with the latest offer
Stockists Where to find all the suppliers featured in this issue
10
Tile trends
From Victorian encaustic to statement splashbacks, find the perfect match for your home
76
Health check Expert Roger Hunt advises on repairing roofing
73 20 Period Living 7
Art in isolation We reveal the winning entries of Period Living’s lockdown House Portrait Challenge, from cathartic watercolour cottages to homes hand-stitched with heart
W
ith the majority of us confined to the house, the recent lockdown period has seen a rise in those turning to art as a creative outlet, whether it be to freely express thoughts and feelings, provide solace, or a simple distraction. Inspired by the surge in creativity and a desire to connect with the Period Living community, we launched our very own House Portrait Challenge in which we invited our social media followers to share their architectural masterpieces (#PLhouseportrait), with the chance of having their artwork published in the magazine. Across the UK and beyond, Period Living followers have been dusting off their paint sets, sharpening their pencils, and even digging out their sewing kits to capture a building special to them. Thank you for an overwhelming response; we thoroughly enjoyed looking through the huge number of beautiful entries and hearing the stories behind them. With so much talent out there it begged the question: why just publish one? Consequently we have shortlisted not one but several to share with you. We hope they inspire you to channel your inner artist.
House portrait by Hilda Nicholas @hildanicholas ‘I chose to paint the front of my house with plants that I have in my garden – although not all are in flower yet! I enjoy painting and challenged myself to do something more detailed while stuck at home during lockdown.’ 10 Period Living
Cottage with roses by Steven Maslen @countryblueinteriors ‘My painting is a watercolour with a little pencil over the top, and it was inspired by a photograph from the David Austin rose catalogue. I love old Georgian stone buildings and couldn’t resist trying to paint this one.’
Feature Pippa Blenkinsop
Cottage by Ann-Marie Price @annmariep680204 ‘I have had a love of old houses from an early age; my father was a chartered surveyor so I would visit many with him as a child. I also loved art at school and found painting this very therapeutic.’
nk ins op
le Fe ature
pa Pip
B
The latest offerings for a summer refresh, from new fabrics and paints to beautiful accessories
Re la
x
into sum
er m
As many of us will be holidaying at home this year, now’s the time to turn our gardens into beautiful spaces to unwind with family and friends. With elegant scrolled arms, these teak loungers, £965 from Susie Watson Designs, are perfectly suited to an English country garden, while the vintage-style wooden crates, £59 each, teamed with plenty of pretty cushions, from £32, make for the perfect picnic scene.
Period Living 13
Step outside What better way to savour summer than with a dinner alfresco? Whether you’re hosting a garden party or a relaxing family meal, let these beautiful outdoor living areas inspire you to make the most of those long balmy days...
A CHANGE OF SCENE With many of us spending summer at home, making our gardens feel like relaxed sanctuaries with a holiday atmosphere has never been so important. To create a magical setting with an exotic touch, try moving the dining table into a calm corner and teaming it with Eastern-inspired seating. Covered in an eye-catching geometric fabric with an embroidered top, these pretty Tantallon floor cushions, £295 each at Oka, are easy to move between inside and out, offering a comfortable perch with a casual feel. To finish the look, and set the mood after dark, hang a mix of Oka’s Batur and Benoa lanterns, from £65, which are both available with or without LED candles. 22 Period Living
Feature Pippa Blenkinsop
Decorating
Period Living 23
It took courage to choose a darker shade for the living room, but Joolz is pleased with the results. The sophisticated mid-French blue is Btwn Dog & Wolf, by Paint & Paper Library. The blue chair was originally from Laura Ashley and was reupholstered. The chandelier and orange cushions are from Martha’s Attic, the lampshade is by Vanessa Arbuthnott, the landscape painting is by Kieran Stiles, and the coffee table is from The Old Flight House. Joolz made the wreath 34 Period Living
Extended Georgian Home
Period Living 35
Ellesmera Mill is set in a tranquil valley in the South Hams area of Devon. Parts of the mill date back 400 years, to a time when there were three other mills on the same stream. Originally two separate buildings, now joined in the middle by the kitchen, the property has been through many changes over the years. Tanya, its current custodian, added the smart decked area for outdoor dining 40 Period Living
Converted Watermill
MAKING NEW MEMORIES A converted mill in Devon had been the perfect holiday home for Tanya Bird and her family, but with the children grown up it was time to update its look and open its doors for other families to enjoy Words Karen Darlow | Photographs Š Unique Home Stays (uniquehomestays.com) Period Living 41
BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL By knocking through and extending, Lola Swift has created a light, open-plan kitchen that she’s filled with bold colours Words Laura Crombie | Photographs Colin Poole
54 Period Living
Kitchens
Lola wanted a Shaker-style kitchen that would fit the space perfectly, so called on the services of bespoke kitchen designer Tim Doe. The units were then handpainted with a distressed effect by Tim’s wife Sarah, bringing a splash of colour into the room and stopping them from looking too new. The vintage glass pendants were bought in Amsterdam; for similar, try Curiosa & Curiosa. For similar bar stools, try Elm Home & Garden. The tap is from Blanco, and the worktops are a mix of Corian and pale oak. A pair of midcentury-inspired loveseats from Sofa Workshop offer outside views
Period Living 55
A P P E L L
Antiques Roadshow specialist Marc Allum looks at the creative designs and ever-changing history of wallpaper
D
ecorative wall features are nothing new. From the murals and frescoes of the ancient world, through the Renaissance, man has decorated walls with all manner of paint effects, tapestry, silk and leather. The use of ‘leather wallpaper’ or ‘gold leather’ became popular in the mid-17th century, and embossed, gilded and painted leather can often be seen in country houses, either used as panelling or on seating and screens. A centre for this luxurious and expensive product was Córdoba, in Spain, and the wonderfully exotic designs often reflect fabric patterns of the period. However, by the middle of the 18th century, Cuir de Cordoue had largely fallen out of fashion, mainly due to
76 Period Living
the arrival of wallpaper – a cheaper, more versatile and universally appealing alternative.
ON A ROLL The earliest use of paper ‘wallpapers’ dates from around the 16th century, when the limited size of paper production meant that smaller monochrome printed sections were largely used to decorate the interior of boxes, chests of drawers and cabinets. By the 17th century, it was possible to join paper into larger sections and so the wallpaper roll was born. Many decorative papers were produced using outline stencils, which were painted-in by hand, and this method remained popular during the 18th century. Although stencils were cheaper to produce, improved printing methods using
Images (Swakeley’s Chinoiserie) Hamilton Weston, (Hydrangea Bird) GP&J Baker
RS
WA
ive detai t a r ls eco D
Antiques
Opposite: This original fragment of a wallpaper from 1750 served as inspiration for the Swakeley’s Chinoiserie design by Hamilton Weston. The company’s eclectic collections have been meticulously recreated from original documents and fragments dating from 1690, and their reproduction Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian papers decorate historic homes Left and above: The original design for ‘Hydrangea Bird’, painted in 1917 by textile designer William Turner, was inspired by a fragment of Chinese wallpaper dating from the late 18th century, and originally hand-block-printed with 72 blocks; it remains a popular design for GP&J Baker today
blocks – a process that had been used in textile printing for thousands of years – lent itself well to producing large repeats with multiple blocks utilised to introduce superimposed layers of colour and detail. This method became a standard tenet of artisan wallpaper production and by the middle of the 18th century it was a major industry in Britain. With society decorators, such as Thomas Chippendale and Thomas Sheraton, offering complete interior packages for wealthy clients, wallpaper featured in many of their decorating schemes, a fashion which spawned highly complicated designs and faux representations of landscapes and ‘print room’ papers – popularised by the Georgian style of pasting prints within borders onto walls. Flocks were also popular and these papers, which used powdered wool or silk applied to stencilled glue designs, imitated damasks and
were indeed known as such. But the ultimate wallpapers were those imported from China and these Chinoiserie designs were, and still are, regarded as the highest form of wallpaper art. Usually constructed in sections of around three or four feet wide and around 12 foot in length, early patterns mainly featured birds amid flowers and foliage, but these evolved into non-repeating dioramas of exquisite composition and often included landscapes, hunting, farming, porcelain production and other facets of oriental life. Some superlative examples can be seen at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk and Dalemain House in Cumbria. In competition to this genre, the French companies of Dufour et Cie and Zuber et Cie, both founded in 1797, became the pre-eminent European makers of panoramic and scenic wallpapers. Zuber is still in business and has a woodblock archive of some 100,000 pieces. Period Living 77
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT If you’d love to add a cast-iron roll-top tub to your bathroom but don’t want the hassle of installing belowfloor plumbing, then Drummonds’ latest bath offers the ideal solution. The Meon, £3,510, has been designed to allow pipework to be connected above the floor but to be hidden under the traditional, wide cast-iron skirt, keeping it out of sight to maintain an elegant aesthetic. The double-ended bath is also available in four bespoke finish options, including painted, shown here.
Quick co l We all know there’s
r ou
MADE BY HAND Bursting with vibrant colours, Maitland & Poate’s latest collection of handmade glazed tiles, from £8 each, let you bring a touch of the Mediterranean into your home. Inspired by antique Italian designs from the 17th century, the tiles are coloured with natural pigments to accurately replicate the authentic palettes of the originals. Crafted by artisans using traditional techniques, each tile is hand-moulded, before being baked to provide a solid base for the meticulous handpainted patterns and detailing. They are then baked twice more and glazed to create a strong, low-maintenance surface that doesn’t need sealing.
Discover the latest products to improve your period home and pick up top tips from industry experts
nothing more boring than watching paint dry, especially when you’re halfway through a renovation project. However, Andrew Martin’s new brand Paint priorities efficiency. Virtually odour free, the water-based formula is dry to the touch within 20 minutes, meaning a second coat can be applied in less than an hour. Plus, its strong consistency means you’ll use a third less paint. Suitable for both inside and out across four finishes (matt, low sheen, satin and gloss) it is incredibly durable, so touch-ups are few and far between. Prices start at £51 for 2.5ltrs of matt emulsion.
GO WITH THE FLOW Marking the company’s first major kitchen launch for four years, Perrin & Rowe’s Armstrong bridge mixer tap, from £585, takes its name from locomotive engineers Joseph and George Armstrong. For over 50 years, from 1858, the brothers designed over 800 locomotives for the Great Western Railway, all from a Wolverhampton foundry only a short distance from Perrin & Rowe’s own site. Inspired by the Armstrongs’ skill and creativity, the tap features a cleverly hidden pull-out rinse that seamlessly retracts into its body. The timeless design comes in eight finishes, from polished chrome to 24-carat gold plate. Period Living 83
Tile Updates
Surface style
Feature Holly Reaney
Make an impact in every room with the latest tiles for walls and floors – from elaborate Victorian encaustic designs to statement splashbacks that enhance the charm of a period home
ARTISAN APPEAL Handmade tiles have a unique character that cannot be imitated by machinery. From its workshop in Marlborough, Devol crafts its range of tiles completely by hand. The white glaze of these Crackle metro tiles, £12.50 each, has been allowed to finely crack as it cools to create an artfully aged look that is perfect for a vintage scheme. Pair with white grout for a lighter, country-style aesthetic, or use a darker shade to highlight each tile’s silhouette and create a more modern finish. Period Living 89
Renovation
HOME MAINTENANCE
Roofs
Ignoring problems with the ‘hat’ of your home can be disastrous, so make it a top priority to identify and fix any faults Feature Roger Hunt, author of Old House Handbook
G
ood roof maintenance is vital to avoid water damage to a building’s fabric. Slipped slates or tiles, failing leadwork and roof valleys blocked by debris will all wreak havoc if neglected. When roof timbers become damp, rot, beetle infestation and ultimately structural problems result; plasterwork to ceilings and walls may also fail or become stained. Roofs should be checked regularly, especially after storms. Binoculars are a useful aid when doing external checks, and further examination may be possible from rooflights or dormer windows. If loft access is available, inspect the underside of the roof for any holes and damp spots.
Maintenance checklist
l Note condensation on roof timbers or the underside of roofing felt. l Probe timbers showing signs of rot, beetle infestation or any other damage.
Repair guide Roofs should be repaired promptly by an experienced roofer who is used to working with old buildings. Never use quick fixes, such as spray foams or liquid waterproofing; they may trap moisture, hinder repairs and are likely to prevent the future reuse of materials. Be aware that work to a roof might need consent if bats or birds are present within the structure, or if changes are planned to the roof covering.
l Look for broken, slipped or missing slates or tiles.
Replacement dos and don’ts
l Check for roof debris on the ground and inside
l Do treat old roofs with respect.
the loft space. l Identify problems to ridges and junctions. l Ensure roof valleys and parapet gutters are clear. l Inspect the loft space for any signs of rain penetration and chinks of light.
l Don’t use quick fixes.
Above: It is not uncommon for old roofs to develop faults and issues over time, but if these are dealt with quickly and with the correct measures, they can be rectified without further damage to the structure of your home
l Do employ an experienced roofer. l Don’t ignore rules and regulations relating to listed buildings or wildlife. l Do undertake repairs quickly.
Period Living 95
SET IN STONE Combining her skills of stone carving with a naturally artistic planting style, Bee Eastman has created colourful, fragrance-filled rooms within the garden of her pretty Cotswold home Words Annette Warren | Photographs Clive Nichols
The gravel courtyard to the side of Adam’s Pool is a veritable sun-trap, and is dotted with box balls, Lavandula angustifolia, artistically sculpted topiary and beautiful old stone urns planted with a colourful mix of perennials, including pretty pink geraniums. Roses and clematis scramble up the honey-coloured stone walls of the cottage and a wooden bench provides the perfect spot to sit and admire the scene
102 Period Living
Gardens
Period Living 103
EX
ro m
tw
g
ist to hs su mm Cl ar er d e Wi ishe n fi s with eld /R
yla nd
Pet er s
& Sm all
i ng i a dash of citrus, find
ns
n tio a r pi BEA
t in
N
he
E ,L
N MO
EN SE S:
ec
D AN
KE
r se
CA
o ot Ph
ty
O TA TO
z
es
ip e
nd ta igh
id ea sf
br ra p
TP AG E
Ur su
FOR
la F e
RECI
PE
rrign o
s ur
Re fr
g f n l i a h vo s e
da Ad
9000
Recipes
H
ER
B
P
Period Living 117