Editor’s Letter
pring is finally here, bringing so much joy and optimism with brighter days, budding flowers and the dawn chorus. If you find the reawakening of nature has inspired a renewed sense of vigour for improving (page 33), an exploration of the ancient craft of hand block printing, which is experiencing a renaissance thanks to a new generation of design talent. It’s an incredibly intricate process, and it can take days to produce a small amount of fabric or wallpaper, using as many as 200 printing blocks. It’s no wonder that many of the designs come with a high price tag, due to the labour involved. However, even when used in small doses, a beautiful block print really injects charm and originality into a room. often celebrates the work of Arts and Crafts luminaries like William Morris, but if any group of artisans ever embodied true craftsmanship, it has to be the Shakers. Originating in northern England, they moved to the US in the 18th century. The community was famous for its exceptionally well made, yet simply styled furniture, which along with chairs, tables and peg rails, included the panelled cabinet door style so ubiquitous in kitchens. This issue, we offer advice and inspiration for recreating this iconic style – not just imitating that most popular of door fronts, but capturing core elements of the Shaker ethos (page 101). If the delights of spring are encouraging you to get outside this month, then you will enjoy National Trust head gardener Rosie Fyles’ feature on cottage gardens, and why they were such a Victorian idyll (page 128). Not only were these romantic schemes bursting with flouncy, perfumed flowers, they also had to be productive spaces, with herbs and crops close at hand for food and medicine. It’s a garden style that many of us still aspire to capture today, so take a cue from the key plants and design elements. Finally, this month you can bring a reminder of the garden indoors with our subscription offer (page 50). When you sign up, you will receive a free set of Emma Bridgewater cake tins, worth £42, featuring painterly tulips, sunflowers and dahlias. Enjoy the issue.
