September 2014
Welcome Home from the Editors
September is always a special month for us here at Heart Home. It was the month we launched our first issue, and we can hardly believe that was three years ago! To celebrate we will be joining West Elm at their Tottenham Court Road store on Tuesday 16th September from 6 – 10pm for a bit of a celebration and it would be so nice if our lovely, loyal readers could join us. You are all invited! This issue is a bit of a celebration too. We have an extra special house tour that we have been dying to share. It’s the fabulous home of one of the founders of Home Barn, a destination vintage interiors store in Marlow, Buckinghamshire and we know you’ll love it as much as us. See page 9.
We have two very inspirational and very different workspaces to share too. One is the Barcelona based studio of Gudy Herder, the ceramist and interiors stylist. Its white sparseness has us panting to get out the whitewash on page 26, and the second is the pretty pastel craft room of Torie Jayne, blogger and book author on page 37. And as if that wasn’t enough we have an interview with the inimitable Kirsty Allsopp, a feature on Toronto by none other than the Home Editor of Chatelaine, Canada’s most widely read magazine, three luxurious hotels to sample and a blueberry muffin recipe to try at home. We’ll see you all on the 16th! Enjoy.
Carole and Arianna
COVER PHOTOGRAPH by MICHAEL NORMAN • EDITORS’ PHOTOGRAPH by ANDREW BOYD
how alternative are you? Introducing Quirky B, our new patterned carpet range www.alternativeflooring.com
T: 01264 335111 Follow us on:
The Heart Home Family JOINT EDITORS IN CHIEF CAROLE KING ARIANNA TRAPANI
ART EDITOR MELLISA HARRISON
PHOTOGRAPHERS MICHAEL NORMAN GIEDRE AUGUSTINAVICIUTE KRISTIN SJAARDA ANDREW BOYD
WRITERS ELLIE WALKER-ARNOTT RUTH GARNER VICTORIA DOCKRELL KELLY LAVENDER SALVESON GRAHAM EMMA REDDINGTON
STYLISTS GUDY HERDER KATE BAXTER MAXINE BRADY
RESEARCHER ROCHELLE COOTE A Crafty Workspace page 37
Shop online at pablo blue and treat your home and your loved ones to beautiful British-made homewares, jewellery and gifts from contemporary UK designers.
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Contents HOMES 9 Escape to the Country – One home
owner swaps London life for the countryside idyll and creates a stunning home.
19 Style Steal – Create you own home in
the country with our shopping guide.
FEATURES 20 Location, Location, Location –
Kirstie Allsopp gives us a unique insight into how she achieves a good work-life balance.
26 A Creative Life – Heart Home talks
to interior stylist and ceramicist Gudy Herder.
37 A Crafty Workspace – Blogger and
book author Torie Jayne inspires us to create a pretty and perfectly organised workspace.
SHOPPING 24 Jewelled Opulence – How to ramp up
the impact of autumnal colourings in the home.
42 Modern Country – A modern take on
the traditional country kitchen look.
44 Ask the Expert – The first of a new
series from interior design company Salveson Graham.
LEISURE 46 Blueberry and Almond Muffins –
Let the baking season begin.
49 Take me Away – Emma Reddington, the
Home Editor of Chatelaine, Canada’s most widely read magazine, shares with us some of her favourite places in Toronto.
54 Where Luxury Lives – Three different
hotels with three very different forms of luxury.
58 In the Diary – Where to go and what to
see this autumn.
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Escape to the Country PHOTOGRAPHS by MICHAEL NORMAN WORDS: by VICTORIA DOCKRELL
We catch up with Sarah Wilkie who, alongside sister-in-law Sally, runs destination vintage interiors store, HomeBarn in Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire. She gives us the low down on swapping London life for the countryside idyll.
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“Incredible view of nothing but uninterrupted rolling fields and distant woodland”
Sarah and her family moved in to their current house, a traditional woodman’s cottage in Little Marlow, 12 years ago, having been seduced by the “incredible view of nothing but uninterrupted rolling fields and distant woodland”. Looking past the ubiquitous deep purple walls, they saw real potential in the house. “We do like a project,” Sarah chuckles. The family took advantage of this potential by adding a substantial extension, doubling the size of their living space downstairs and adding a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom upstairs. With two small children (Samuel, now 14 and Hannah, now 12) in tow, the family abandoned their London terrace on a busy road and “swapped the sound of sirens and traffic throughout the night for the sound of owls … initially a very frightening sound after living in the city for so long”, Sarah laughs. Both Sarah and her husband Mark grew up in the area and the children’s grandparents are on the doorstep, so despite a temporary adjustment period, Sarah admits that the move “felt like coming home”. 11
Sarah explains that their previous home was “very hastily put together - after much structural work and with two babies, we went for the easy option, being very neutral and all rather safe.” Inspired by their new beginnings in the countryside, Sarah describes how upon leaving London “we left all the furniture behind and started again.”
In contrast to their first property, Sarah admits that today they are a lot more careful with their home purchases. “We now wait for years if necessary to buy the right piece, preferring not to compromise but to buy something which we will love for a long period of time.”
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Their most recent purchase was a custom made reclaimed rustic dining table. “It’s 8ft long and is perfect for informal dining, homework and painting as it’s got a pre-loved and scrubbed look to the recycled timber top,” Sarah explains. It takes pride of place in the hub of the house, their large open-plan kitchen / dining room with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, which is where the family congregate after school and in the evenings.
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“We love to use three dimensional items as artwork such as American tin vintage ceiling tiles.”
The house’s decor is a balance between Sarah’s style and that of her husband, Mark Wilkie, Creative Director of London design agency, The Narrative. “His taste is more contemporary so we really have to make the two looks blend together, but the old and the new work so well side by side,” Sarah explains.
dimensional items as artwork, such as American tin vintage ceiling tiles,” Sarah explains. They also turn curated collections of personal or interesting objects into pieces of art, such as botanical samples in resin or the wall of framed items that the family has collected on memorable walks or holidays.
The family takes a practical approach to the Rather than traditional artwork, the family like continuing evolution of the house, as Sarah to make unique pieces a decorative focus. “We explains, “We never set a budget for home décor, have an old colour mixing palette board from an we do what we can when we can afford it.” artist’s studio above the fire, we love to use three
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Sarah and Mark have finished the major work on the house for now and at present the children are the priority so they have no immediate plans to renovate any more rooms. When pressed, Sarah admits that her next project would be the kitchen. “I’d love to redesign the kitchen with a bigger 18
cooker as we struggle to cater for bigger parties these days,� she admits. All in all, it seems that this was one pretty successful escape to the country. homebarnshop.co.uk thenarrative.co.uk
Style Steal
Heart Shopping
Get the look from Sarah’s house
Large 2 Seater Burlington Leather Sofa, £1,425, Laura Ashley • 50’s Electric Clock, £66, Darlings of Chelsea • Glass to Glass Frame Feather Collection, £70, Home Barn • Ines Cole Vintage Deep Button Chair, £1,095, The Old Cinema • Coloured Glass Bottles, £14, Not on the High Street • Wooden Cross Table, £200, Homage • Wall mounted lamp chrome, £151.67, Design 55 • Breakfast Boards ($175 for large), Herriot Grace • Chapel Chairs, £95, The Old Cinema • Entemology Real Butterflies Vintage Style Dome, £265, Home Barn • Dime Industrial Copper Lacquered Bar Stool, £120, Alexander and Pearl • 17 Drawer Wooden Cabinet, £390, Rockett St George. 19
Location, location, location Words by Kelly Lavender Photographs by Fiona Murray
Best known for her on-screen presenting of home design and property shows, for Kirstie Allsopp home and family are most definitely where her heart is. Here she gives us a unique insight into how she achieves a good work-life balance Kirstie Allsopp has a job that many of us would die for – she looks around other people’s houses for a living, and often in the company of the lovely Phil Spencer. And when she’s not helping 20
Heart Homes
the latest set of desperate house hunters find their perfect property, she can be found showing off her craft skills, having turned a hobby that she clearly enjoys into a series of successful TV programmes.
Off-screen, Kirstie is mum to two sons, Oscar and Bay, and step-mum to partner Ben’s two children, Hal and Orion, so she certainly has her hands full with a houseful of boys. With such a busy filming schedule, Kirstie is often up and out on the road by the time the children wake up, so on her days off she takes full advantage of being able to do the school run. “When I’m filming I normally get in the car very early, so anytime from 6am, or sometimes I travel the night before,” the Location, Location Location star tells Heart Home. “When I’m home I take my boys to school and do the usual mum stuff, go to sports things, football and so on.”
Proving that location really is all-important when it comes to owning property, Kirstie and Ben (a property developer) have a house in London to enable them to be close to their work, as well as a home in Devon, where the family can retreat to and spend some quality time together. But Kirstie admits that relaxing at home for her involves lots of ‘doing things’ and being constantly on the go. “I potter about, move things, tidy things, mend things, make things. I’m not great at sitting still,” she comments. “I organise a lot on the days I’m not filming, whether its school stuff, holiday stuff, home stuff. There’s always a lot going on.”
“I organise a lot on the days I’m not filming, whether it’s school stuff, holiday stuff, home stuff. There’s always a lot going on.”
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“I love markets, second hand shops, antiques and craft fairs and I spend a lot of time shopping in our local village in Honiton as I love the antique shops there.” A particularly favourite pass-time for Kirstie is to indulge in some retail therapy. Rather than sticking to the High Street though, she can often be found browsing markets and craft fairs looking for things that suit her ‘English floral’ style. “Fashion wise, I mix it up with High Street and some staples, like my shirt dresses. I also go to New York once a year to find my staple slips for under my dresses.” “My favourite thing in the world though, is finding things for the boys. I LOVE it. They’re t-shirt wearers with jeans – things that are easily washable and durable.” In terms of home comforts, Kirstie has seen enough good and bad interior design during her time as Location co-presenter, to really get to know what she likes personally. “Home wise I’ve learned a lot from my mum, and my partner Ben. I love markets, second hand shops, antiques and craft fairs and I spend a lot of time shopping in our local village in Honiton as I love the antique shops there,” Kirstie explains. Shopping done and it’s time to head home, where Kirstie can often be found preparing a meal for her hungry boys. “I love cooking, but it’s one of the things I want and need to spend more time on” she admits. “One of my favourite things to make is Yorkshire puddings, something I learned from chef James MacKenzie a few Christmases ago on one of the shows.” 22
And when she does, finally, get some time to put her feet up, her favourite place to retreat to, is her bathroom. “It’s a boy free zone and the one room in the house where everything is just the way I want it.” There’s not long to enjoy too much of a soak in the bath though, as there’s always more work to be done. For Kirstie at the moment that means getting organised ahead of The Handmade Fair this month, where she’ll come together with some of Britain’s best artisans and handpicked sellers for the first all making craft fair, held in the beautiful grounds of Hampton Court Palace.
For more details visit thehandmadefair.com 19th - 21st September 2014
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Ram head bust, £60, turquoise ceramic vase, £30, owl lamp, £85, teal flocked mirror,£120, all from the Abigail Ahern collection at Debenhams.
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Jewelled Opulence Ramp up the impact of classic autumnal colourings with vibrant bejewelled tones of aubergine, navy blue and teal to create an instant style statement. 1.
By Kate Baxter
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1. Bay round scatter cushion, £19, Made.com 2. Double cylinder customized velvet lampshade, £325, The Velvet Lab 3. Wisley cushion, £40, Sofa.com
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4. Eloise bed, £669, Made.com 5. Fleure sofa, £3,995, LuxDeco 6. Lotus footstool, £99, Made.com 7. Titania chair, £879, Darlings of Chelsea 8. Estella horizon rug, £269, Kelaty 25
A creative life Photographs by Gudy Herder Words by Ruth Garner
HEART HOME TALKS TO INTERIOR STYLIST AND CERAMICIST, GUDY HERDER Eclectic is the perfect word to sum up German-born Gudy, who has lived in Spain for the past 25 years; 20 of which she has spent in Barcelona. Known for her visual styling and moodboarding workshops, Gudy has long been passing on her expertise to others. A teacher at the upcoming ‘Meet the Blogger’ brunch in Barcelona, Gudy also forecasts trends and shares her finds on her blog, Eclectic Trends as well as contributing monthly to the popular blog, decor8.
A shelf in Gudy’s workshop is
immaculately styled, and is home to a beautiful collection of her ceramics.
Setting up Eclectic Trends happened somewhat unintentionally when Gudy was attending a business class and one of the courses was an internet bootcamp: an intense five-day session where each participant had to set up a blog. Since then Eclectic Trends has evolved into what it is today, a space where Gudy can share her knowledge and musings
about interiors and upcoming trends. “My life has changed in many ways, thanks to Eclectic Trends: I have different projects that have come in thanks to the blog, I travel to events I had no chance to go to before and above all, it’s about the people. I never imagined I would meet so many like-minded creative souls. It’s a wonderful journey.”
Gudy’s ceramics workshop is a haven: ” When I step into my
working space, I feel immediately happy and at ease. It kind of transforms me. Everything beyond loses importance.”
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Working in paper clay, Gudy is attracted by its light and fragile nature. Another outworking of Gudy’s passion for the visual is her debut ceramics collection, White Atelier BCN, which is due out this year. “Ceramics is my hidden passion. My love for it dates back to the year 2000. Since then I have tried several techniques and materials. When I step into my working space, I feel immediately happy and at ease. It kind of transforms me. Everything beyond loses importance.” For her debut collection Gudy has been working with paper clay, attracted by its light and fragile nature. “It is basically porcelain 30
mixed with paper that disappears during the firing process in the kiln, leaving a really nice texture.” Her creations are nothing short of stunning. Gentle, yet exuding strength and elegance, the textures are so intricate and in their natural allwhite state each piece’s individuality shines. Ideal vessels for air plants and succulents alike, her pieces sit in the light-filled workshop. This curated and styled space is both exquisite and effortless and reflects Gudy’s passion for interiors.
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Moodboards are ever present in Gudy’s workshop, these boards help to inspire and define her ceramics collection.
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Texture is a vital part of Gudy’s work in ceramics: “I am interested in textures, be it from old door handles in Venice, peeled-off facades in Barcelona, food markets in Brazil or textiles found in Istanbul.”
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For Gudy, inspiration is never far away. “Travelling and taking pictures is one of my major sources [of inspiration]. I have literally thousands of pictures. I am interested in textures, be it from old door handles in Venice, peeled-off facades in Barcelona, food markets in Brazil or textiles found in Istanbul.” But not content with finding beauty and inspiration in the day to day life that surrounds, Gudy also values Instagram: “In the digital world, Instagram never stops surprising me. You can discover so much creative talent on that platform.”
makes it so much fun. You share your experience, sometimes materials and the kiln, which makes it so much more flexible for all of us.” Her workshop is home to her ceramics collection – and is a space that is light, airy and full of character. After spending many years travelling extensively for various projects and to attend all the major interior trade shows, Gudy is this year looking forward to spending more time at home in Barcelona where she savours a daily ritual of a café-con-leche on the terrace, no matter what the season. Ceramics with a side dose of coffee – the perfect partnership.
Currently renting a workshop space with 15 other ceramicists, Gudy is finding joy in the community: eclectictrends.com “We support each other and the daily contact @GudyHerder
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Photography by Kristin Sjaarda
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A Crafty Workspace BY TORIE JAYNE
Being well organised is the key to keeping your creative space tidy and inspiring. If your craft space becomes overwhelmingly cluttered, it can sap your creative energy. Dealing with a mess of tangled ribbons, loose buttons and scissors (that become invisible just when you need them) makes you lose valuable time‌
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Tips • A sturdy chair is crucial, and the more stylish it is, the better. • In addition to natural and overhead lighting, consider more focussed task lighting, which can be useful when it comes to small-scale projects. • Avoid carpet and rugs – flooring should ideally be suitable for sweeping. • Consider mobile storage so you can transport your materials easily. • Designate a space in your craft area for items typically used in every project like scissors, glue guns and tape, and keep that space tidy. Store these items in an easy-to-access area, such as in a drawer or on a grid system over your work table. Seldom-used supplies can be stored out of sight but should be clearly labelled so that you can always find what you need quickly. • To get the most out of your crafting area, utilise all of the available space, whether it is over the door or even under a bed or table. You will be amazed at how much space you can create for storing your organised supplies. • Hanging fabric and other large scraps can be the most effective way to store them, as it is much easier to rifle though them this way than as piles of fabric in boxes or baskets.
Make your own storage shelves and use them to sor and tidy your supplies so they can be easily seen.
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Neatly roll up your paper and store it in a waste paper bin or a washing basket for easy access.
Tidy away ribbon ends using wooden spools.
Think of inventive storage solutions such as spice and wine racks.
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Hang spare material on hooks, which can be personalised according to your style and brand. An old mannequin does double duty looking pretty and storing lace scraps. Use picture shelves to display inspirational images in full view.
Craft Show and Sell by Torie Jayne is published by Search Press (rrp £12.99.) To get your copy at the special offer price of £11.99 post free in the UK, log on to www. searchpress.com, and quote promo code HH4975 Visit www.searchpress.com for lots more lovely craft books. 41
French Farmhouse Kitchen Range, Matalan.
Modern Country Combine farmhouse touches with clean lines, chunky wood, stripes and a simple blue and white palette, for a modern take on the typical country kitchen.
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1. Tesco Ceramic loaf pan, £8, Tesco Direct
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2. Yellow Normandy Enamel Style Ceramic Mug, £5.95, Dotcomgiftshop 3. Chopping Boards from £45.00, The Oak and Rope Co
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4. Cabbages & Roses Natural Jolly Stripe in Blue, £48 per m, John Lewis 5. SPARQ Home Condiment Trio, £40, Formahouse 6. Twist Pendant by Jo Davies, £95, Sable and Ox 7. Statement Wall Art Wooden Spoons, £125, Pastel Lane
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8. Lexington Star Kitchen Towel, £15, Lexington, available in John Lewis, Selfridges, Fenwick’s 43
Ask the Experts Ever wanted to re-create that idyllic country kitchen at home? In our new series the lovely ladies at Salvesen Graham give us the answers to some FAQ’s.
Shaker style units with rounded corners and a pale stone floor bounce plenty of light around this kitchen in an old property. Kitchen by Davonport.
wellies, dogs and mud! York stone works particularly well in this setting, or traditional large terracotta tiles. Alternatively wide planks of oak look great, but it’s One of the key features of a country kitchen has to not always quite as forgiving as a hard surface. be space. Room enough for a large table for family gatherings and a sofa or arm chair to curl up on, with We would love a country style kitchen a dog or two at your feet. At the heart of a country but we live in a modern house. kitchen is usually an Aga, but there are plenty of How can we marry the two styles? other more economical range cookers that can work equally as well in a traditional kitchen, but also in a Try and retain the key features of a country kitchen, more contemporary setting. Freestanding pieces of as mentioned above, but mix in modern pieces of furniture are also key elements in a typical country furniture and more contemporary finishes. Simple kitchen; we’re thinking Welsh dressers, larder units, shaker style units have a country feel but also sit well in a modern setting when hand painted to soften them. butchers blocks etc. Combine these with honed floor tiles and a smart corian worktop and you’ve instantly bridged the gap between What type of flooring would you country and modern. Again, freestanding pieces are recommend? important but rather than an antique dresser you For practicality stone is best as a country kitchen will could use a brightly coloured contemporary sideboard often have doors leading straight out on to a garden or instead. Keeping a large family table is important but in a farmyard and the floor therefore needs to withstand a modern house we’d recommend combining a classic
What are the main features of a typical country kitchen?
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farmhouse table with some seriously modern dining chairs and a contemporary hanging light above. Small details like a rounded edge on the worktop, or a powder coated glass backsplash instead of tiles will also help to give the space a contemporary feel.
Country kitchens can sometimes end up looking a bit twee. How can we avoid this? Keep them clutter free! Avoid bunches of dried lavender or hops and make sure you haven’t got too much on the surfaces! To achieve this, well thought out storage is essential. Keep the detailing on your units to a minimum. There’s no need for fancy pilasters and busy cornices. Better to have simple units housing clever storage solutions. Window treatments can also make a huge difference to the overall feel of a kitchen so make sure you keep them simple (an unfussy roman blind perhaps?) rather than anything too frilly or flowery.
How easy is it to install a range cooker? Heavy range cookers like Aga’s often need to be installed on concrete bases, so check with the supplier and if necessary get a local builder to inspect your floor and assess it’s suitability. If you don’t have an existing chimneybreast in your kitchen then you can also use design details, such as a pair of corbels, to create a ‘chimney’ area for the range to sit within. Handpainted units and a lack of clutter typify the modern country kitchen. This one is from DeVOL Kitchens.
Above: Hardwearing stone flooring, a range cooker and modern lighting combine to prevent this kitchen by Chislewood Ltd from looking too twee.
Salvesen Graham is an interior design and decoration practice specialising in classic traditional interiors with a modern twist, working for both private residential and commercial clients in the UK and abroad. Founders Nicole Salvesen and Mary Graham draw on their combined 20 years’ experience to offer a comprehensive service, creating beautiful interiors that sit comfortably within their environment and meet the hopes and expectations of the client.
Blueberry Almond Muffins By Giedre Augustinaviciute
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Ingredients 250g ground almonds ½ cup brown sugar 2 tsp baking powder 300g blueberries 200 ml buttermilk or low-fat/skim milk 1 large egg 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 200ºC / 180ºC fan • Mix together the ground almonds, brown sugar, and baking powder in a bowl. Toss in the blueberries. • In a separate bowl whisk together the buttermilk or low-fat milk, egg, and vanilla extract. • Add the wet ingredients to the almond meal mixture and mix lightly. Do not overbeat or mix the batter. • Pour the batter into 10 to 12 lined muffin tins or moulds (how many depends on the size). • Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean. • Cool on a wire rack before turning out.115g caster sugar
October issue Features to include:
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Be brave with tactile fabrics and furnishings with a tribal look.
Carrot cake triangles with cream cheese drizzling.
Time for tea One of life’s simple pleasures‌
The perfect family home in Clapham.
Out 9th October
Words by Emma Reddington Photographs by Kristin Sjaarda
Tabule
Take Me Away – Toronto Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods. If you ask anyone where he or she lives, they will give you a name. It might be Little Italy or Riverdale, Forest Hill or Cabbagetown. Each has it’s own characteristics and own history. Some are defined by their physical boundaries while others by the culture that inhabits them. These small neighbourhoods give Toronto a distinctly small town feel within a larger urban city. Chances are, you will know your green grocer, the person who works at the post office and have a friendly relationship with the barista who makes you coffee every morning. If you visit Toronto make sure to take the time to visit some of these neighbourhoods and immerse yourself in the fabric of the city.
Hoi Bo Hoi Bo is located in the Distillery District, a collection of Victorian-era, industrial buildings that were originally part of the Gooderham & Worts distillery. In 2003, the area was transformed into a place where art and culture mingle among good restaurants and independent boutiques. Hoi Bo, is the vision of artist Sarra Tang. Along with a small team, they hand make finely crafted bags out of materials like waxed cotton and leather in a palette of white, grey, black, navy and khaki. There is also a curated selection of jewelry and clothing available.
Tabule Restaurant This Middle Eastern restaurant can be found in Leslieville, a hip, young community in the lower Eastern part of the city. Designed by the of-the-moment firm Commute Home, the space is as pleasing to be in as the food is good to eat. Turquoise tiles in traditional geometric patterns mingle with space-age light fixtures and rich wood detailing. The menu features traditional Middle Eastern cuisine like fried eggplant, labni – a homemade Lebanese yogurt cheese mixed with garlic and topped with za’atar and falafel. There is a spacious patio out back and on Monday and Tuesday’s there are no corkage fees for their BYOB program.
Coriander Girl If you’re looking for the perfect bouquet or just want to be inspired, stop by the charming, whimsical flower studio, Coriander Girl, owned by Alison Westlake in Parkdale. With its whitewashed brick walls, vintage furniture and numerous vases and pots for sale you won’t be disappointed. There is often a roving menagerie of animals floating around as well from the resident rabbit Harry to a King Charles spaniel to lovely feathered friends.
Type Books Type Books likes to call itself “your friendly neighborhood bookstore.” With two locations in Toronto (Queen Street in the West and Spadina Road in Midtown) it adapts itself depending on the neighbourhood it is in, hosting readings for local authors and supporting homegrown artists with its innovative window displays. This one, in the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood is definitely worth a visit. Pick up a book or magazine, head next door to Chippy’s and grab some fish and chips. Then head across the street to Trinity Bellwood’s park and wile away the rest of the afternoon under a tree.
Emma Reddington is the designer and editor behind The Marion House Book. She is also the Home Editor of Chatelaine, Canada’s most widely read magazine.When she’s not busy doing all of the above you can find her over on Pinterest keeping her close to 4 million followers inspired.Emma has a degree in Interior Design and has worked in the field as both a residential and commercial designer. She occasionally moonlights as a prop stylist.
Where Luxury Lives By Ellie Walker-Arnott
Luxury comes in many forms, whether that‘s a peaceful country escape, a night of traditional elegance or your own slice of high-end urban style...
The Landmark
The Landmark London Rooms start at £300 Just outside Marylebone station sits The Landmark London: an imposing red-brick hotel which channels all the glamour of rail travel in years gone by – and thankfully none of the overcrowded realities of travelling through London in rush hour. The Landmark London is a big hotel, with 300 elegant and classically designed rooms as well as four restaurants, but it is far from intimidating or impersonal, earning its 5 stars with the little touches: fancy coffee machines, generous supplies of Molton Brown toiletries and permanently smiley staff who are helpful, whether you’re asking for an ironing board or help taking a photo over breakfast in the impressive Winter Garden.
Entrance
The Winter Garden is the heart of the hotel. A grand room, with a glass ceiling eight stories high, complete with palm trees and the tinkling of piano keys, it is an incredibly distracting place to eat - you'll constantly find yourself gazing skywards - but one that should definitely not be missed. Your stay wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the hotel’s basement spa either, which boasts a state of the art gym, treatment rooms which use indulgent VOYA products and a delightfully quiet pool.
Reception
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Maison Talbooth, Essex Rooms start at £215
Arriving at Maison Talbooth can be a little confusing. Follow signs saying Talbooth and you might just end up at Le Talbooth, the group’s riverside restaurant, instead. Not that that mistake would be too awful. The beamed building serves up some surprisingly fine dining – think elegantly presented poached lobster tail or braised snails plus the staff are more than happy to drive you to your intended destination, which is just up the road.
Each of the hotel’s 12 rooms are inspired by a British poet, with a book of their poetry tucked within the plush interior. On the first floor of the hotel you’ll find day spa The Treatment Rooms the Dermalogica facial comes highly recommended – though the real jewel in Talbooth’s crown is its pool house: a gated, secluded area, with a heated pool, sunbeds, a hot tub, changing rooms and a cosy covered space with honesty bar, squishy sofas and magazines. It really comes into its own during the summer months. When we visited the weather Maison Talbooth, a grand manor house enjoying was positively Mediterranean – so we skipped expansive views of the surrounding greenery, dinner for a few extra hours soaking in the hot tub. which feels as though it is in the middle of lush Essex countryside, though it’s actually just a short drive from Colchester town.
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The Hoxton, Shoreditch Rooms start at £49
Venture into the east of London and luxury takes on a slightly different form. Right in the heart of Shoreditch, just off Old Street, sits The Hoxton, a bustling bar and busy grill which sit underneath 208 cool and cleverly designed rooms, with views of the City’s dramatic high rises as well as the area’s graffitied roof tops and terraces. The Hoxton’s rooms might be small but they sure do pack a lot of style into their square footage. You won’t be able to swing a cat – there isn’t room for a bath in the bathroom – but the space you do have is utilised to its full potential and a lot of thought has gone into each room’s design, from the quirky cushions on the bed to the huge mirrors on the walls. Breakfast comes in takeaway bags hung on your door - convenient for business trips as well as eager guests keen to make the most out of their time in the capital. But breakfast-on-the-go or not you shouldn’t stay at The Hoxton without a trip downstairs where you can enjoy an array of cocktails in the bright and airy conservatory, or roll up your sleeves for a generous Americanstyle dinner. Think spicy shrimp, giant racks of ribs, burgers too big to get your mouth around and creamy New York cheesecake. Just don’t eat lunch beforehand. And maybe take your belt off before you embark on your starter…
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In the Diary... Handmade In Britain Chelsea Old Town Hall, London 14-16 November One Day entry £10/£7 concessions available on the door
Image: Taz Pollard
Handmade in Britain returns for the 8th year with over 100 UK based design makers showcasing the best of contemporary fine crafts in all disciplines across fashion and interiors. Alongside established and well-known makers, the show celebrates new talent and invites you to meet designers at the very start of their career in the New Graduate Showcase. This year is extra special, as it is supported by us at Heart Home. Our editors have carefully selected the brightest new talent to present their work in a dedicated gallery; which will be for many, their first ever professional show.
London Design Festival London 13 - 21 September Open to the public.
The London Design Festival, encompasses the capital’s major trade shows – 100% Design, Decorex International, designjunction, Focus/14 and Tent London & Super Brands London. This year there will be six design districts: Brompton, Chelsea,
Handmade Fair Hampton Court Palace 19-21 September Tickets £29
Having spearheaded Britain’s craft revolution for the last five years, Kirstie Allsopp presents The Handmade Fair. This fantastic day out will give every visitor the opportunity to make something in one of their craft workshops, listen to the grand masters of handmade products, enjoy great food in the palace gardens and buy beautiful products from handpicked sellers. There will also be a daring attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest line of pompoms! This will be made at the event and everyone is invited to take part. 58
Candice Coetser
Clerkenwell, Islington, Queens Park and Shoreditch. Each of the areas, variously known as quarters, triangles and districts, will organize a programme of exhibitions, events and open studios. All will organise late night openings, parties and events on specific days and nights during the Festival. For further information Design Destinations visit:
on
londondesignfestival.com/ design-destinations
New Wave Collection from Graham & Brown.
Tent London & Super Brands London Old Truman Brewery 19-22 September Open to the public.
This September, the Truman Brewery holds a beguiling collection of design labels. Upstairs, there’s all the energy and experimentation that has become the signature message for Tent London, while downstairs, in cool contrast, Super Brands is all serene and assured elegance; the place for big name brands to lure buyers into spending more than they should. A Place Called Home’ supported by Airbnb and ‘Double Space’ for BMW.
A playful and striking stand from leading UK wallpaper brand Graham & Brown should attract plenty of attention; featuring an enormous floral printed roll of paper that covers not just the stand, but a Morris Minor too.
Made Brighton – The Design and Craft Fair The Dome Corn Exchange, Brighton 21-23 November Tickets £6.50 on the door. Children under 14 free
The fair offers the public the opportunity to buy original and exceptional pieces of craft and design direct from the designer / makers. It has since become firmly established as a top class, friendly and accessible design event. MADE BRIGHTON showcases over 100 makers and designers; from unique glassware to luxurious textiles, functional ceramics to dazzling jewelry, beautiful furniture to quirky accessories- there is something for everyone! 59
photographs by ANDREW BOYD
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styling by MAXINE BRADY
Next Issue Out 9th October