Floral Country Style

By Katherine Sorrell

A classic English setting for tea and cake in the garden with all the trimmings. Sun canopy in Pale Rose Ivory Wide Stripe, £48 per metre; Duck Egg, Rusty Rose, Pale Rose, Jute tassels, £24 per metre; Rose Ivory Stripe tablecloth, from £52; Echinacea Rose jug, £62; Indian Wedding round teapot, £52; glass candlestick, £48; Oscar Small Bird candlestick, £38; all Susie Watson Designs.

From blowsy hollyhocks to ditsy daisies, flowers are always inspirational for interior design. Bring the shapes and colours of a country garden or meadow into your home this summer with a range of irresistible homewares.

Combine a graphic floral with a wooden bed frame and a naturalfibre rug for a calm and relaxing effect in the bedroom. National History Museum Meadow bedding, available from autumn, Dunelm.

Wrap yourself in nature with a 100% wool throw in delicate colours. Light green fern throw, £104, JJ Textile. A floral meadow of ditsy daisies in 100% cotton – perfect for drifting off to sleep. Daisy cotton bed linen, from £14, The Secret Linen Store.

This luxury wallpaper depicts sweet songbirds nestled in branches of fresh white blossom. Birdsong wallpaper in Forest, £79 per roll, Fiona Howard.

Hand printed and made in Cornwall, this linen cushion perfectly evokes the English countryside. Duck egg blue floral cushion, £50, Helen Round.

A perfect flower in shape and colour for a small plate. Emma Bridgewater Flowers Pink Dahlia 6.5in plate, £14, Daisy Park. Add some pretty colour to your kitchen with a floral mug. Green Meadow mug, £8.50, Quince & Cook.

For a lovely window treatment, not much could be nicer than softly gathered floral curtains with an adorable trim. Bespoke Curtains in 301 Hollyhocks linen, £135 per metre; trimmed in Olive, Rusty Rose, Pale Rose, Jute tassels, £24 per metre; both Susie Watson Designs. • If you adore the idea of roses around the door, chickens in the yard and a cake baking in the range cooker, then creating a floral country style in your home is perfect for you. Inspired by gorgeous flora and foliage, from dahlias to roses, poppies to cornflowers, this is a soft and pretty look that can be as subtle or as bold as you wish.

• This look works beautifully with a traditional room, filled with comfortably plump sofas and armchairs, knitted throws and natural floorings. Accessorise with watercolour paintings, wicker baskets, vintage books and a tray with tea in a proper pot and some home-made cake.

• Floral prints, weaves and embroidery are especially suited to bed linens and tablecloths, cushions and throws, but you can also choose them for wallpaper, crockery, curtains and more.

• The colours of a garden or meadow in summer can range from soft pastels to vibrant brights. Once you have decided on a colour scheme, stick to the palette and avoid mixing them up. Add creams and browns as a neutral backdrop.

STOCKISTS

Dobbies Garden Centres: 0131 5616 406; dobbies.com The French Bedroom Co: 01444 415 430; frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk Homesense: 01923 473 561; homesense.com Made.com: 0845 557 6888; made.com Martin Moore: 0845 180 0015; martinmoore.com Nicholas Engert Interiors: 01488 657 900; nicholasengert.co.uk Ruff And Tumble: 0333 207 9960; ruffandtumbledogcoats.com Sophie Allport: 01778 560 256; sophieallport.com