Country Homes & Interiors

This is the year I plan to take my festive decorations up a notch. Inspired by the magical looks on our pages, I’ll be branching out from my usual tree and bannister trimmings and adding an extra dose of fabulous! Because if you can’t be OTT at Chris

Narrating a reconnection with the natural world through reflection and optimism, Graham & Brown has unveiled wallpaper of the year, Restore. With exotic botanicals on a chalky backdrop, the elegant design evokes a wild, yet calming jungle, in Midnigh

Renovating a period home is rarely a quick process. But Amanda and her husband James, with their shared vision of a blissful country home, were prepared to take the long view. Ten years after acquiring the Old Rectory, a Georgian house in an Oxfordsh

VELVETY, RICH DARK WOOD FEATURES AND SLEEK FINISHES GIVE A COUNTRY KITCHEN A SOPHISTICATED AND REFINED EDGE ■

Driving past the 1950s bungalow that was to become her home, Danielle’s first thought was that it was ‘fairly ugly’. But the building was on a good plot and looked robust, so she and her husband, Bobby, couldn’t rule out a viewing. The family was rap

Fyona Hill and her husband Nicholas bought their first home knowing they were taking on a renovation project, and expecting to complete the work over five years. ‘That was 20 years ago, and there’s always more we could do,’ says Fyona. ‘There are so

Buying a holiday home can often be a tug from the heart: you choose somewhere you’ve fallen in love with because you’ve spent so many happy times there and feel like a local. Other times it’s a decision led by the head, a shrewd investment based on a

There is ‘a sense of calm’, as one resident describes it, about the historic town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire. Known as The English Spa, it boasts unspoilt Regency architecture and The Stray, 200 acres of parkland, along with the high jinks of ti

Strands of magic, memory, folklore and heritage run deep through Amy Swann’s life. ‘My childhood was spent in the same ancient Welsh village in Snowdonia where my mother and grandmother grew up. We were surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, forests, p

Amy Swann’s burgeoning heirloom Christmas decoration enterprise has tapped into a demand for authentic, unique pieces that will be treasured by her customers year after year. But while a strong USP is essential for any business, one that is tethered

Pack love and care into every present, with thoughtful choices that will bring a smile to faces

Before you buy, keep in mind the space you have; if the tree is too tall, trim the base and branches at the bottom. Lynsey Abbot, buyer at Dobbies, advises to look for a glossy coating and to test needle retention – take the tree by the trunk and tap

Black metal console table, £320; etched coupes, £7 each, all Rocket St George. Black vase, £45, Cox & Cox. Kintaro side plate, £60 set of four; honeycomb decorations, £45 set of six; Adam Lippes Coquille wine glasses, £195 set of four, all Oka. Maroo

Patterned fabrics inject interest, while warm blue walls add depth and balance to this space, decorated by Taline Findlater and Victoria Gray of Olivine Design. They incorporated interesting fabrics that give this room a strong identity, while contin

Named after an English king, this regal piece is a modern classic with its tapered legs and embellished gold metal detailing. When hosting, simply pull apart the centre of the table and connect the extra leaves. Alfred extendable dining table in ebon

Repeating a stone surface that you’ve chosen for your walls and floors across your vanity unit will ensure it blends seamlessly with the rest of your bathroom. This Lundhs Blue Larvikite natural stone countertop and integrated basin is part of a besp

Create a felt forest as a stylish, Scandi-inspired table decoration 1 Wrap a 2cm-wide strip of felt around the base of a polystyrene cone. Secure using a hot-glue gun. 2 Cut out, then glue on felt triangles (with the point down), working from the bas

SERVES 6 200g Brussels sprouts½ small red cabbage100g cavolo nero2 clementines, segmented and roughly chopped1tsp dried chilli flakes1tbsp flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped1tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped100ml crème fraîche100ml mayonnaiseSea salt an

■ TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED SECTIONS Some of the latest models allow you to switch a freezer section for fridge use, ideal when you need more space to store a turkey at Christmas or drinks for a party. Others feature separate drawers that allow you to a

With perfect pastry and fragrant mincemeat, these generously filled mince pies, handmade in Fulham by Jack & Beyond, are really special. If you fancy a change from the classic recipe, there are chocolate or gingerbread options, too. Mince pies, £12 f

Keen to find a larger home to share with their growing family, Carolyn and Jimmie Hay moved quickly to snap up a four-storey listed Georgian house around the corner from where they were living at the time. ‘Houses in this location don’t come up very

Carolyn and Jimmie wanted the island to be as large as possible, since it was to provide the main preparation area. They were also keen to have maximum storage, so chose not to have an overhang for bar stools, and also specified full-depth cupboards

The song O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) emphasises the fir tree’s year-round appeal: ‘How lovely are thy branches! Not only green when summer’s here but in the coldest time of year.’ The Nordmann fir, Abies nordmanniana, is the most popular variety,

Make… your own Advent calendar bunting with fabric bags, and hide treats for each day. Learn… how to have a SLOW (seasonal, local, organic, wild) River Cottage Christmas in an online cookery course, from £65, learningwithexperts.com Cut… hydrangeas f

Join florist Lucinda Watts of The Flower Alchemist at The Bell, Ticehurst, East Sussex for a three-hour morning or afternoon session on 8 December, £65, curioushouse.net. Floral designer Bloom & Burn is hosting workshops at Water Lane Walled Garden,

I was smitten the first time I saw the magnified Moon aged 11. A friend had been given a small telescope and he showed me the Moon and Saturn through it – the craters of the Moon and the rings of Saturn were glorious. Ever since, my first instinct on

With its rows of timber houses dating back to the 15th century, Lavenham in Suffolk makes a magical setting for a festive break. Dubbed ‘England’s finest medieval town’, Lavenham’s High Street is home to The Swan Hotel & Spa, an oak-beamed oasis with

My favourite view is on the west coast of Scotland and it’s around Loch Moidart. It was a place I used to go to for holidays as a child with my oldest friend and her family. They converted an old fishing boat so on the outside it just looked like a b