17 minute read
HOMES Cool, calm and collected neutral colours to give your home a relaxed new look.
COOL, CALM and COLLECTED
This month we’re championing the cool, calm and collected shades of duck egg blue and warm neutral linen hues, to create an ambience of calm throughout your home...
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Main Image: Colefax & Fowler’s 2021/2022 autumn/winter collection; sofa in Porth Stripe fabric, left cushion Ashmead in navy, Sidbury in aqua. Right cushions Sidbury in aqua, Ellison in aqua. Chair Hardy Stripe in leaf green, chair cushion Birch Stripe, green. Sanderson fabrics are stocked by most of our independent local soft furnishing specialists.
Cool blue, aqua and duck egg shades can be warmed using neutral colours like linen...
Top: Wallpaper Zoffany Ormonde, bed and curtains Zoffany Visconte in stone. Above/Right: Inspired by nature, Elysian by Sanderson. Right: Autumn/winter 2021 collection from Zoffany; curtains in Talmont jade, headboard in Selma metal, cushion in Talmont jade, throw in Rimini jade edged.
Zoffany’s Sansui in Snow Peaks colourway, a feature wallpaper featured in the brand’s Akaishi collection.
A whimsical design or print can bring a sense of fun to an otherwise calm and understated colour...
Top/Left: Botanica wallpaper by Clarke & Clarke. Above: Sanderson Sailor wallpaper. Right: William Morris Pure Bachelors bedding.
Clarke and Clarke’s Avebury. Fairford natural, Fairford linen and Bibury in ivory.
Stamford & Rutland Interiors: Broughtons: Leicester, 0116 2341888,www.broughtons.com. Delcor Interiors: Stamford, 01780 762579, www.delcor.co.uk. Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors: Oakham, 01572 722345, www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk. Hunters Interiors of Stamford: 01780 757946, www.huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk. Sarah Harding Interiors: Uppingham, 01572 823389, sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk. Simply Stamford: St Mary’s Street, Stamford, 01780 481852, www.simplystamford.co.uk.
STYLE & CREATIVITY
AT HUNTERS INTERIORS OF STAMFORD
Helping to make the most of the home you cherish, Hunters Interiors of Stamford is founded on creating collaborative working relationships with local clients, like Kathryn White...
YOUR HOME has never been more important. Over the past couple of years we’ve all spent more time in our home, and we’ve begun to work from home as well as conducting our family life there too. No two properties are the same, no two families are the same, and your sense of taste and style, too, is unique. And so, that being the case, why would you choose anything other than an interior design service that values your individuality and aims to bring your vision to life, whether it’s the creation of a single room, complete house or bespoke curtains, blinds, headboards or furniture? “People are at the heart of everything we do, and everything that we do is a reflection of our clients’ individuality and personality,” say Candida Smith and Georgina Teesdale, of Hunters Interiors of Stamford. “We’ve a collective 40 years of experience in the industry and we’re proud to say that every single commission has been different.” Hunters Interiors has become a destination venue to which people from across Stamford & Rutland visit to gain inspiration and ideas from home accessories and finishing touches to complete projects. That led the company to create The Hayloft, their adjacent coffee shop which serves excellent coffee, homemade cakes, lunches and salads with Hambleton Bakery bread. “The Hayloft is a great place to meet, with lots of free parking and cosy indoor spaces plus a large sunny terrace for the spring and summer months.” “It’s become a popular meeting place and somewhere to sit and consider a project you’re contemplating for your home.” “Every consultation with us begins with a discussion over a coffee and it’s a really important feature of Hunters Interiors that interior design is a collaborative process, bringing to fruition your ideas and your vision.”
In 2019, Stamford resident Kathryn White moved from a large Georgian property into a cottage adjacent to The Meadows in the town and sought Candida’s advice for how to impart her existing property’s sense of style into her new home.
“We’d decorated before but never renovated a property to this extent,” she says. “I really
liked my existing furniture and the colours, the look and feel of the place. I’m quite decisive but Candida still helped me to ratify my own ideas and to pull everything together.” “Hunters Interiors of Stamford reupholstered chairs and stools, created bespoke curtains and really helped me to think outside the box. It really was a very collaborative experience.” “Even now I return home and smile. I love the place, and that’s due to the way we’ve created the interiors,” says Kathryn. “Good design is a partnership and we’re proud not just of our ability to provide the brands, the know-how and an ability to project manage according to your needs, but also the personal approach we take and the care we invest in building relationships with clients,” says Candida. “The brands we work with include some of the finest names in the interior design world in terms of quality and innovation.”
“These include paint from Little Greene and Zoffany, fabrics from Colefax & Fowler, Nina Campbell, Mulberry, GPJ Baker and Designers’ Guild.” “We’ve also curated a range of accessories from mirrors and lighting to cushions and home fragrance, and we partner with some of the UK’s most skilled furniture makers to create completely bespoke sofas, chairs, upholstered headboards and other furniture for our customers.” “Its a misnomer that interior designers are only interested in larger projects. In fact, we’re interested in any project that you’re involved with in your home. Our reputation is founded on a passion for good design and in nurturing great working relationships.” n
Find Out More: Hunters Interiors of Stamford is based at The Stables Copthill Farm Deeping Road, Stamford PE9 4TD. Call 01780 757946 or see www.huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk.
Interior Design Service
Be inspired by the rich cultures of the ancient silk route and add a touch of the exotic to your home with this embroidered fabric of jewel shaped ikat motifs. If you are looking for home styling ideas or advice, visit our showroom, we are always delighted to discuss design.
Showroom and Coffee Shop
Open Monday to Saturday 9am-4.30pm
Call 01780 757946
LAND, HOPE & GLORY
If you’ve land with potential, and high hopes, The Little Land Company can help you achieve glory. With backgrounds in property, planning and finance respectively, three local experts have come together to offer advice and expertise to help you benefit from land acquisition and development…
Words: Rob Davis.
YOUR PROPERTY and the land upon which it’s located is probably the most valuable asset you have, both financially and intrinsically. And now, there’s a trio of local specialists who can help you maximise the benefit of that land.
The Little Land Company’s remit is bespoke to every client, but coming from a property, planning and finally a finance background respectively, Helen James, Karen Darrington and Natasha Darrington can acquire, achieve planning permission for, develop, and finally build on or sell land.
Who do we work with? “Every client we work with is different,” says Helen. “Being a small company we’re nimble enough to bring three different professional skill sets to a project, in a way that suits a client without compromise. The size of our company also means clients have a consistent point of contact, too.”
“Whilst there’s no typical client, a scenario might be that a client’s paddock, part of their garden or their estate has potential for redevelopment. In that case, we can establish what a client’s objectives are – realising the uplift value in their land as a whole, dividing up their estate to provide a smaller overall plot with less work, releasing equity, or securing planning permission for a new property.”
What pitfalls can you help me to avoid? “Typically, someone looking to build a property looks for land, purchases it, and only then discovers any potential pitfalls, or faces a struggle to achieve planning permission. We’ve years working in property, but we’ve also worked with the planning departments of local authorities for more than 20 years, so we’ve not just an overall understanding of the whole planning and development process, but specific local knowledge and familiarity too.”
“As part of our services, we visit a site and look at issues likely to arise from conservation areas or proximity to listed properties, ecology and tree surveys, access and all of the other detailed considerations that a planning department will look at.”
What are the advantages? “Where do we start? It’s in our interests to ensure you get the most value from your land. It might be that rather than a simple development, there are other scenarios we can suggest to utilise the land more efficiently and achieve greater uplift value.” “Moreover, we can help to take the stress out of a land transaction, and we can use our knowledge and experience to make communication with people like planning departments much easier, ensuring that planning problems are more likely to be avoided prior to submission.” Are you a replacement for an estate agent? “No! Quite the opposite. We’re keen to work with estate agents to add value to their existing listing by exploring the possibility of increasing the upsell value of an area of land. Potentially this could mean the sale of the property, the land that’s separated off, and a property on that piece of land, once developed.” “We also work alongside many third-party builders, contractors or project managers to ensure there’s a clear direction in which a project can proceed, once planning permission has been achieved.”
Can you find us land? “Because we’ve quite a specific interest – the acquisition and development of land – we’re always quite familiar with what’s going on in our local area. Again, though, because we’re a small company, the best scenario is to discuss your bespoke needs and see if we’re aware of anything that may be of interest to you.” n
We have great coffee… for a free, no obligation latté and a discussion about your circumstances, call 01832 279089, email hello@thelittlelandcompany.co.uk or see www.thelittlelandcompany.co.uk.
QUALITY KITCHENS
FOR 40 YEARS IN STAMFORD
Four decades of craftsmanship and style and more than 10,000 kitchens created during his career. When it comes to creating your perfect kitchen, Stamford’s Malcolm Brandwood and his team are the experts with invaluable advice...
A PLACE TO COOK. A place to dine. A place to spend time with family, to catch up on office emails or for the kids to do their homework. And last month, our kitchens also served as football stadiums too. Of all the purposes they’ve served, this was undoubtedly one of the most important. My wife, son and I were in our kitchen, sitting around the table and watching intently as England’s hopes faded into penalties... but there’s not penalty to pay for speaking to Stamford’s QKS when you’re looking to create your next kitchen. Like the England team, looking back on their 1966 victory, Malcolm too is able to reflect on his past achievements, whilst also looking to the present and the future. Since beginning his career in 1976 and founding QKS – Quality Kitchens Stamford – in 1981, he reckons he’s provided over 10,000 kitchens for his local customers. Today, QKS has five kitchen designers with a combined 185 years of experience, designing, supplying and installing kitchens from
£3,000 to £50,000. QKS’s showroom on the town’s Barnack Road has 25 room settings. A combination of professionalism and a desire to retain the good reputation they’ve built up has ensured the business has created a steady stream of satisfied customers, and Malcolm is busier than ever.
Design Director Andrew Singer and our Sheraton specialist Jonathan Ramm manage the company’s larger projects and Malcolm describes them as being the driving force behind the company’s success. Whilst the company does provide the option of supply only kitchens, the majority of clients are seeking the convenience of a turnkey service. This options sees Malcolm and the team coordinating all of the trades necessary to deliver the client’s projects, liaising with structural and building specialists, plumbing, gas and electrical contractors, plasterers, tilers and decorators to ensure that all you have to do is choose the look you’re seeking and then appreciate years of quality.
The firm specialises in both traditional and more modern in-frame shaker style kitchens, and the latest high gloss cabinetry from industry-leading names like Sheraton, Omega and Chippendale. In stock is a range of 80 different appliances selected from Neff, Bosch and Smeg, whilst work surface options include the latest engineered stone surfaces from Corian and Silestone as well as traditional timber, quartz and marble.
“We’ve thrived even through three recessions and a global pandemic,” says Malcolm. “And there’s no reason for that beyond the fact that we’ve built a rock-solid foundation of a good reputation in the town.” “Styles may change, technology may come onto the market and each property that we work with – each family that visits our showroom – may be unique, but what’s absolutely universal across the industry is an appreciation for quality and good service.” “Offering that to every customer, without exception for 40 years has ensured that our clients always appreciate coming home to a Quality Kitchen in Stamford.” n
n QKS Kitchens is based at The Maltings, Barnack Road, Stamford PE9 2NA. Call 01780 755855 for a free, strictly pressure-free, no obligation discussion about your project. Alternatively, see www.qksstamford.co.uk.
Oxford double wall lamp £call. David Hunt Pimlico floor lamp in antique brass £450.
Aspen Table Lamp
By David Hunt, crafted in wood effect resin, £210.
Joshua Bronze
Six light pendant, taupe, silk shade by David Hunt, £793. Cecilia Oval Pendant
Finished in chrome, by DAR Lighting, £261.
Dynamo Bar Pendant
Triple light in antique chrome, by DAR Lighting, £122.
SEE THE LIGHT
This month we’ve a selection of luxury lighting to help brighten up the darkest months courtesy of specialist lighting and ironmongery supplier Broughtons
All products featured are available at Broughtons, The Old Cinema, Cropston Rd, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7BP. Call 0116 234 1888 or see www.broughtons.com. Academy Pendant
Five light in black, by DAR Lighting, £306.
Croc Wall Light Bailey Chandelier
In light bronze, by David Hunt, £199. 12 light, by David Hunt in Rich Bronze, £850.
Boavista Table Lamp
By David Hunt in gold and cream glass, £285.
CELEBRATING ENGLISH STONE
This month we’re celebrating a natural product that’s beautiful, durable and timeless. Stamford Stone is the home of a truly versatile building material for both indoor and outdoor use...
Words: Kate Cadman.
SUSTAINABILITY is key these days and sourcing materials with a low carbon footprint is becoming increasingly important for many of us. So why source stone from around the world when English stone is perfectly suited for the job? Stamford Stone’s renowned Clipsham limestone has won a variety of awards. This year alone, judges at the Stone Federation National Stone Awards, named the winning project of the New Build Modern Category as a redevelopment project at St John’s College, Oxford, built with Clipsham limestone. In addition, a private build project to create a seven-bed country house in Cambridgeshire, again using Clipsham stone, was judged as Highly Commended in the Traditional Style Stonemasonry Category of the same Awards.
Dan Wilson, Director of Stamford Stone: “We have worked hard to promote our own Clipsham limestone to be the go-to stone for both development and restoration projects throughout the UK over the years and this work is beginning to pay dividends.”
“The limestone we excavate from our quarries is the most recognised stone in the area for large-scale commercial projects.”
“Stamford Stone is the exclusive global supplier of Clipsham limestone. As owners and operators of two Clipsham Quarries just north of Stamford, in addition to Clipsham’s proven history as a building material spanning hundreds of years, and the fact we can guarantee reserves for the next 900 years, are all important factors when architects are specifying materials,” adds Dan.
English limestone is an exquisite, natural material. Its versatility means it is often used for restoration works on many prestigious buildings. Indeed, Stamford Stone has supplied Clipsham limestone to The Palace of Westminster, Windsor Castle and many historical college buildings in Oxford and Cambridge for both restoration and new development.
“At Stamford Stone, we are continually changing and upgrading our processes with a view to becoming carbon neutral by 2025, we are constantly researching ways to make our production as streamlined and energy efficient as possible,” explains Dan.
Limestone ticks all the sustainability and environmentally friendly boxes, making it a sought-after material for new builds too.
In addition, limestone requires minimal maintenance, controls sound and insulates against fluctuating temperatures, making it as popular today as a building material as it has always been. n
UNVEILING WESTBY AGED FLOORING...
Stamford Stone is excited to be unveiling a beautiful new stone to add to their English limestone natural stone flooring range Westby Limestone Flooring, which will be available in an Aged or Honed finish. The limestone for Stamford Stone’s range of English limestone flooring is extracted from the company’s Clipsham Bidwells Quarry. “We have recently begun excavating in the new area of the Clipsham Bidwells Quarry and discovered a new bed of limestone, which is a gorgeous pale cream colour, with minimal fossil content, giving a really clean but beautifully understated look to the flooring,” explains Stamford Stone at Home’s showroom sales manager, Luciana Ciarla. “The testing of the stone gave excellent durability results and the ability to process in both a Honed and a Hand Aged finish, so it complements both traditional and modern schemes.” n
PICTURE PERFECT NATURAL STONE FIREPLACES...
Your fireplace is often the focal point of a room. If you really want to make a statement, why not install a natural stone fireplace that will frame your fire beautifully. Take a look at some inspirational interiors featuring Stamford Stone at Home’s handcrafted stone products. n Visit www.ssathome.co.uk to view the range, order a free sample or book a showroom visit. The company is based at Swaddywell Quarry, PE6 7EL, or call 01780 740970.
