43 DOS AND DON’TS OF COUNTRY STYLE
JUSTIN VAN BREDA
Interior and bespoke furniture designer
1 DO remember the natural light. The light in the English countryside changes throughout the year and there is often a pronounced difference from winter to summer not just in the level but in the tone of the light indoors as the inside surfaces reflect the amount of greenery that surrounds the house. When picking wall colours or fabrics consider that changing light. What feels cosy in winter and cool in summer? Some colours can seem soft in summer but move to the acidic in winter, so avoid bleached white or primary yellow bases in soft furnishings. A hint of natural white, pale tobacco or pale creamy yellow will work well across the year. And, if you can be bothered, you can always rotate your soft furnishings in spring and autumn – it’s always exciting to add or remove details with each changing season.
2 DO keep it crooked. Country homes are never straight – provincial architecture is deliciously hodgepodge and in most homes, even regimented Georgian properties, you couldn’t drop a plumb line. Embrace that crooked imprecise nature and work with it, using rounded, softer shapes. Steer away from hard, clean lines and angles and embrace details like Victorian millwork joinery and gentle curves in furniture.
3 DON’T be too old-fashioned when it comes to kitchens The idea of recreating the idylls of Regency country life is enticing but, in practice, nothing beats good plumbing. Kitchens and bathrooms are relatively modern inventions and their style should reflect that. Quarter-turn ceramic taps are a brilliant option and you can crank them on energetically. Ample quantities of immediate hot water is one of the most luxurious things in life. Modern well-appointed kitchens are better than those that stay true to the traditional features but mean you have to walk a thousand steps to make a cup of coffee.
