If money were no object…

When I read about people winning the lottery, I am always surprised that they don’t make more drastic changes to their lives i.e. swap their home for a country estate etc. If I had a spare couple of million pounds, I could definitely see myself splashing out on a 4-6-bedroom waterfront home at The Lakes by yoo, a private estate, set amongst 650 acres of glorious Cotswold countryside. As you can imagine, the properties are the height of luxury, and are the brainchild of yoo, which is a collaboration of property entrepreneur John Hitchcox and world famous designer Philippe Starck. I just love this fabulously funky Jade Jagger designed kitchen, with the turquoise aga and cool lighting. The vibrant glassware on the table contrasts perfectly with the black kitchen surfaces. The doors also open out onto a terrace, perfect for sipping cocktails on a warm summer evening. Now, I must stop daydreaming…

This funky Jade Jagger designed kitchen is enhanced by the turquoise aga and brightly coloured glassware.

Could you see yourself living in this waterfront property with the amazing view?

Wake up to spring

Well last week the weather did a bit of a ‘spring tease’, a little bit of a sunny taster of all the lovely things to come when spring eventually arrives…and that’s what we have done in our ‘Wake up to Spring’ decorating feature in our April issue.

We’ve had a bit of fun with fabrics depicting farmyard animals such as roosters and ducks and mugs and eggcups decorated with chickens, pigs and spring lambs, there’s even a cow shaped notice board! All things designed to put a little bit of a spring in your step and banish away the seriousness of winter.

Designer’s Guild have created a refreshing fabric collection with hens and ducks on a gingham checked background and we thought it a great start for this happy go lucky spring story.

Rosecomb, col Apple, ref F1924/03, £30 a metre, Designer's Guild

Vintage chic at DesResDesign

I love the discovery of a new website to browse and escape into a dreamy world of fabulous finds! The object of my online affections this week is DesResDesign, a treasure trove of unique homewares for the relaxed country home. The eclectic mix of contemporary lighting, chic accessories and rustic furniture offers something for everyone.

I’ve been admiring the vintage style collection and wanted to share a few of my favourite pieces, particularly the metal lace edged pendant. A great example of modern country style, with its delicate vintage design in a sleek contemporary finish – it really is a thing of beauty!

With butterflies, flowers and birds all set to be big trends for interiors this summer, these beautiful accessories are sure to add a pretty touch to your home.

Top from left; Vintage style washbag £21.95; Lace metal pendant light in pink, £79.50; Vintage style cup & saucer in Olive, £11.95; Vintage style botanics cake stand, £24.95, all DesResDesign

Neptune

Just outside Winchester, in a newly converted listed building, Neptune has just opened an amazing new home and lifestyle proposition. Already known for its ‘great quality, great style, reasonably priced’ kitchens, this home brand run by John Sims Hilditch and his interior designer wife, Emma, is definitely worth a visit. I stepped through the doors of this former pub last week and discovered a beautiful world of classic design perfectly suited for today’s country home. As well as the three existing kitchen ranges, you’ll find living, bathroom, garden and accessories with a pared-back elegance and exacting attention to design. Lovely cafe too!

Step into the world of Neptune - a beautiful and calm place where you'll feel right at home

At the new Neptune store, you'll find interiors ideas for every room in the home

The classic Chichester kitchen

Scion launches country inspired collection

This week I attended the launch of exciting new fabric and wallpaper brand Scion, with its fabulous debut collection Melinki. Scion is the trend savvy sister brand to Harlequin and aims to create a fresher, more fashionable modern feel to interiors.

Drawing inspiration from the countryside the core designs are a fun interpretation of all things woodland ­– from furry creatures to abstract leaf prints.  Overall this debut collection is an eclectic mix of feel-good graphics with a nod to Scandinavian style. Team with jazzy stripes and block colours to bring an element of fun to any room in your home.

I think the fantastic Mr Fox is my personal favourite, which is yours?

Lampshades (left to right) Mr Fox, £25 a metre; Sorbus, £25 a metre; Woodland, £25 a metre; Blocks, £25 a metre; Lunaria, £25 a metre; Strata, £29 a metre; Rosehip, £25 a metre, all from the Melinki collection by Scion.

Fabrics, all from the Melinki collection by Scion.

p.s Feel-good factor- all its fabrics and wallpapers are manufactured here in the UK!

How to sew an appliqué apron

The latest Country Homes & Interiors sewing project was inspired by our love of the farmyard.

The pretty striped fabric is Elm Spring by Voyage and the leaf motif Bantam Trail from Baker Lifestyle.

The apron is simple to make from just two main pieces of fabric and we’ve used an easy cheat’s technique to create the patchwork-style cow motif. Why not have a go yourself and follow our instructions?

For more sewing projects like this one, visit Housetohome.

What looks like patchwork is in fact an easy appliqué technique using iron-on webbing – you don’t even have to worry about raw edges.

Gather the main apron piece and insert into the tie.

All things bright and beautiful…

I don’t know about you, but there is something so heartening about seeing a home filled with vibrant colours and bold patterns. All too often people feel restricted when it comes to decorating and as a consequence, choose something far removed from their personal taste simply because they think it is appropriate.  This beautiful living room features in Homespun Style by interiors stylist Selina Lake (£19.99, Ryland Peters & Small), and shows that you don’t have to choose a muted shade on the walls in order to complement a bold floral design on a sofa. On the contrary, the strong blue colour on the walls only enhances the sofa rather than overpowers it. Would you be tempted to go for something similar in your own home?

The pretty yet bold floral design on this sofa looks simply perfect against the vivid blue walls. Perfect for a contemporary country living room.

Homespun Style by Selina Lake (£19.99 hardback, Ryland, Peters & Small). Photographs by Debi Treloar.

Jubilee fever

Things are certainly cranking up ahead of the The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June. I’m off to my first Jubilee party today courtesy of Sainsbury, then there are more events to follow next week. Cake baking (especially rosewater and lavender scented sponges and retro classics – the new Tea Room at Harrods features a Jam Tart with English Rose Marshmallows), traditional afternoon tea (there’s never been a better time to bring out the bone china), possets and trifles, and English themed cocktails (Earl Grey Fizz anyone?) are going to be trending bigtime this summer, along with the bunting. World famous for their window displays, here’s a snapshot of the Jubilee inspired decor at Fortnum & Mason which caught my eye earlier this week. Inspired by the Queen’s beasts, it’s certainly a stunning display both inside and out. I also love Fortnum’s limited edition range of Jubilee tea caddies, biscuit tins and bone china for a quintessentially English gift. And perfect if you’re interested in collecting Jubilee themed memorabilia to pass down through the generations.

Fortnum & Mason does the Jubilee

Block print linen

The trend for traditional hand-block printing on fabrics is bigger than ever. The pretty Kalamkari linen design from Villa Nova’s new Indienne collection perfectly demonstrates why this artisan skill is so popular.

I love the charm of its bold print mixed with delicate embroidered detailing; ideal for curtains and cushions to add a handmade country touch to your home.

Shown here with the hand-carved wooden block used to transfer the motif onto the fabric, you can really gain a sense of how much care and attention goes into this beautiful design.

Kalamkari Agapanthus, ref V3013/01, £55 a metre, from the Indienne Collection by Villa Nova.

Country Homes & Interiors visits Mediacom

We brought a little bit of the country to London-based media agency Mediacom a couple of days ago. The reason? To tell them all about our fantastic ABC circulation figures for Country Homes & Interiors. Our lovely Advertisement Manager Kate Bragazzi and Decorating Assistant Johanna Roberts hung bunting and styled a pretty country-style table filled with Country Homes & Interiors magazines, scented candles and cakes.

Thanks to everyone at Mediacom for chatting to us and taking such interest in all our good news!

Country Homes & Interiors visits Mediacom