Moors Valley

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Moors Valley country park and forest in East Dorset, a wonderful place for an active family day out with cycle trails, woodland walks, fishing and wildlife, all surrounded by acres of lofty woods. Live wires of all ages should brave the popular Go Ape! tree top adventure – there’s a version for younger children and grown ups from which you can have a birdseye view of the forest…

Go Ape! Tree top adventure

Or, if swinging from trees isn’t your thing then check out the Moors Valley Railway which runs along a track round the lake and back on steam and diesel locomotives with proper signals, toots and turns…

Moors Valley Railway

With all that exertion you’ll need somewhere to eat and sleep. Moors Valley Seasons restaurant comes up trumps with simply delicious lunches and firm favourites for children. Stay nearby in cosy woodland lodges at Merley Court - close to historic Wimborne and the stunning Dorset coastline… a weekend stay perhaps?

Shop of the Month… Norfolk Living

This month, I visited the beautiful region of North Norfolk where I found this fabulous emporium of home interiors overlooking the village green of Burnham Market.

Norfolk Living

Norfolk Living offers an abundance of home and garden gifts including cushions by Linum and Norfolk’s  VH  Designs; Ruby & Ed slippers; Avoca candles; John Hanly merino throws and Heyland tweed rugs. The shop also opens on to a large courtyard where garden lovers will delight at the mix of practical garden solutions and gorgeous decorative finds in the stables…

Norfolk Living Garden Courtyard

Be sure to see the surrounding area too… Palladian Holkham Hall and Pensthorpe Nature Reserve offer great days out, or discover coastal artworks at Andrew Ruffhead’s  Fish and Ships art gallery .

Read all about Burnham Market in Country Homes & Interiors  March issue – now on sale!

Do you have a favourite country  shop or market town we should visit? Tell us more…

Shop of the Month… Su Chases

This month, Country Homes & Interiors writer Sarah Warwick visited the historic market town of Amersham in Buckinghamshire where she discovered Su Chases Interiors.

‘Set in a magnificent Georgian townhouse with original period features, the shop is an inspiring showcase for everything from furniture and fabrics to linens and paints from favourite designer brands, including  Zoffany, Colefax & Fowler and Jane Churchill. There are plentiful smaller gifts and pretty stationery too so its worth visiting for all occasions…’

Su Chases, Old Amersham 01494 721626 Image © Richard Caulfield

Take time to enjoy this historic town and its gorgeous surroundings – we recommend a trip to Renaissance-style château Waddesdon Manor,  The Horse in Art exhibition at Obsidian Art (until 5th February), or kickstart those new year’s resolutions with a healthy winter walk in the Chilterns.

Pretty Amersham

Read more about Amersham in the February issue of  Country Homes & Interiors  now on sale!

*Do you have a favourite shop or market town? If so, we would love to hear your recommendations…

Creative gift wrapping ideas

Wrapping presents ready to put under the tree is one of my favourite Christmas preparations, so I’ve been looking for some lovely ideas as inspiration for this year’s gifts.

I love these creative ways to personalise presents and tips on how to get organised with a gift-wrapping station for rolls of wrapping paper, tissue, scissors, tape, ribbons and bows.

There’s a gorgeous selection of paper and trimmings at Notonthehighstreet.com, including handmade snowflake design paper, personalised gift tags and country-style striped ribbons…

How are you getting creative for Christmas this year?

Giftwrap, tags and ribbons, from a selection at Notonthehighstreet.com

For more gift wrapping ideas, see the Papers & Trims feature in the January issue of Country Homes & Interiors.

Colourful dining room

When it is cold and dark outside, I love nothing more than looking at houses where owners have used colour to enliven a room and give it personality and warmth. This dining room, which features in Decorate by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick (£30, published by Jacqui Small), showcases colour so effectively. The room is a fairly blank canvas, but is given an instant lift through the colourful lampshades, cushions, and tableware. If you’re entertaining over the festive period, why not enliven your dining table by injecting splashes of colour through everything from your napkins to the Chrismas crackers?

Decorate by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick. Photographs Debi Treloar (£30, Jacqui Small).

Shop of the Month… Squirrels

This month, Country Homes & Interiors writer Sheila Purcell visited the New Forest in Hampshire where she discovered this gorgeous home interiors shop in Brockenhurst:

Squirrels Lyndhurst Road Brockenhurst 01590 622433

‘Brimful of country style furniture, glassware, ceramics and unique vintage finds for the home and garden, Squirrels is a treasure trove of affordable decorative items to brighten up the home all year round…

Be sure to see the surrounding area too – palatial Beaulieu, idyllic Swan Green and curious New Forest ponies await your visit.’

Palace House Beaulieu celebrates Christmas with Victorian festivities from 17th December to 3rd January. Image ©Beaulieu Estate

Read more about the New Forest in  Country Homes & Interiors  January issue now on sale!

Do you have a favourite country style shop? We would love to hear more…

Christmas decorations

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Here at Country Homes & Interiors we’ve had our festive thinking caps on since July, so forgive me for being a little over excited that this weekend I can finally fetch a tree and start decorating – no dress rehearsals, this is the real thing.

This year is all about adding a touch of sparkle and these vintage inspired gems from The White Company are perfect; I adore the elegant cut-glass drops and pretty snowflakes. I also love the alternative ideas of how to display decorations in filled bon bon jars or dainty shoes – finding inspirational new ways with baubles is always good.

Anyone else planning to decorate this weekend?

Christmas decorations, from £4 to £25; Crystal lights, £35, all The White company.

Lovely decorating ideas, from The White Company.

Christmas inspiration

One of the nicest things about my job is that I get to see loads of wonderful designs and products and decide which ones to put in the magazine. Two things inspired our  ‘Welcome to Christmas’ feature on pages 55-62 of the December  issue - a beautiful piece of fabric from Pierre Frey depicting snow covered ski lodges and downhill skiers, having fun – and a red, cast iron fondue set from Kitchen Craft. Put these together and you have the start for an après ski-style decorating story packed with snuggly sheepskin throws, vibrant reindeer cushions, mulled wine and dressing up boxes Hopefully it’ll give you plenty of ideas for Christmas!

Fabric, Tyrol Original, £208 a metre, Pierre Frey.

Hector & Haddock

This week we’ve been admiring online boutique Hector & Haddock, where designer Justine combines her love of whimsical craftwork with a passion for all things paper – resulting in a delightful selection of hand crafted treats, from framed artwork to playful bunting.

Each piece is lovingly made using recycled papers sourced from an eclectic mix of vintage postcards, cherished certificates, treasured letters and old maps. These bespoke keepsakes would add the perfect personal touch to your home or, with Christmas shopping in mind, they’d also make an ideal and thoughtful gift for loved ones.

'Happy' brown paper bunting & Triple hearts of Hampshire, by Hector & Haddock.

Make a Christmas Advent calendar

I love these Christmas craft ideas from Cox & Cox. Its new Advent calendar is easy to make and the kit has everything you need, including colourful fabrics, embroidery thread, tape, needles, glue and instructions. The kit costs £17.50 and the finished calendar measures H80cm by W48cm.

Also try the snowflake hole punch, £12, which can be used to add three-dimensional snowflakes to gift tags or wrapping paper – an easy way to get creative in the run up to Christmas!

For more Christmas craft ideas, go to housetohome.co.uk/crafts.

Christmas Advent calendar kit, £17.50, Cox & Cox.

3D Snowflake punch, £12, Cox & Cox.