Country Living UK

Whether you live in the town or countryside, in Country Living you’ll find a wealth of ideas for your home and garden, learn about traditional crafts, keep informed of rural issues, enjoy irresistible dishes using seasonal produce and, above all, escape the stress and strain of modern-day life.

Country Living

WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

Folk tales • SIMPLE, PRACTICAL AND HANDMADE, THIS CHARMING STYLE CELEBRATES ALL THAT IS CUSTOMARY AND CULTURAL

Folk tales • INSPIRED BY EASTERN EUROPEAN WOODWORK, DECORATIVE PAINTWORK OF TRADITIONAL CANAL BOATS AND THE EARTHIER COLOURS OF THE AMERICAN SHAKER MOVEMENT, THIS IS A TRADITIONAL CHOICE LACED WITH THE ONE-OFF ORIGINALITY OF HANDCRAFTED MAKES AND HAND-PAINTED FINISHES. MIX CRAFTSMAN-FASHIONED FURNITURE AND ARTEFACTS WITH SCHOOLROOM PROJECTS AND DISPLAY FLEA-MARKET TRINKETS BESIDE NATURAL TREASURES.

Welsh blankets

VINTAGE IN OULTON

A simple PLAN • A MIX OF HISTORIC OBJECTS AND FOLK MOTIFS IS DISPLAYED TO GREAT EFFECT IN THIS WELSH GEORGIAN HOME

Carved wooden moulds

BOWLEY & JACKSON

Heart of the COUNTRY • A CREATIVE CRAFTWORKER HAS INBUED REELS OF PERSONALITY AND PERIOD CHARM INTO AN EDWARDIAN FARMWORKER’S COTTAGE IN EAST SUSSEX

Terracotta dairy bowls

SARA HUGHES

Time and TRADITION • ADDING HERITAGE CRAFTS AND LOCALLY MADE ANTIQUITIES, CHRISTINE AND PHILIP HAVARD HAVE RESTORED CHARACTER AND COLOUR TO THEIR WELSH COTTAGE IN BANNAU BRYCHEINIOG

Modern retro • PRIMARY COLOURS, GRAPHIC SHAPES AND MID-CENTURY FURNITURE BLEND BEAUTIFULLY FOR EXTRA PERSONALITY AND PIZZAZZ

Modern retro • IT’S HARD TO JUDGE THE EXACT MOMENT WHEN A STYLE GETS REHABILITATED FROM ‘DATED’ TO ‘RETRO’. BUT JUST AS FLARED JEANS AND BOHO MILKMAID DRESSES REAPPEARED ON THE FASHION PAGES, SO THE TAPERED TABLE LEGS AND SLIM STANDARD LAMPS OF THE 1970S HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY BACK INTO OUR HOMES. THINK HEAL’S AND HABITAT – PART FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN SLEEK MODERNITY, PART SIXTIES PSYCHEDELIA, SERVING UP FUNCTIONALITY WITH A DASH OF FUN.

Vintage radios

PROPER OLD

Flash of GENIUS • ORIGINAL RETRO PIECES WITH SPARKS OF COLOUR HAVE BROUGHT LIFE TO A TRADITIONAL WILTSHIRE STONE COTTAGE

Homemaker ceramics

DANISH HOMESTORE

Colour POP • INVENTIVE STYLING AND BURSTS OF NEON BRIGHTNESS UNITE MODERN AND RETRO IN A SIXTIES COPENHAGEN VILLA

English eccentric • LET YOUR CREATIVITY RUN WILD AND INTRODUCE AN OUTLANDISH MIX OF COLOURS, SHAPES AND PATTERNS. ANYTHING GOES…

English eccentric • THIS IS THE LOOK TO EMBRACE IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE BOXED IN BY ONE SPECIFIC STYLE. EXUBERANT AND THEATRICAL, IT LETS YOU MIX CONTRASTING PATTERNS, DISPLAY QUIRKY COLLECTIBLES AND PUT INHERITED FURNITURE ALONGSIDE FAIRGROUND PRIZES WITHOUT WORRYING THAT IT ‘DOESN’T GO’. BUT DON’T LET IT BECOME CONSCIENCE-FREE CLUTTER. ECCENTRICITY NEEDS CAREFUL CURATING TO AVOID TOTAL CONFUSION, SO BE PREPARED TO ‘EDIT’ EACH ROOM FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT.

Tolix chairs

VINTAGEFRESH

All in THE MIX • WITH A WONDERFULLY ECLECTIC HOARD OF VINTAGE FINDS, SCANDINAVIAN INFLUENCES AND A BOLD PALETTE, A SPACIOUS GARDEN FLAT IS NOW A CHARACTERFUL FAMILY HOME

Ladybird books

FIR TREE HOUSE VINTAGE

Free SPIRIT • A PASSION FOR FLORAL PRINTS AND QUIRKY VINTAGE FINDS HAS BROUGHT PERSONALITY AND PANACHE TO A YORKSHIRE FARMHOUSE

Simply salvaged • ADD A RUSTIC AND RECLAIMED FEEL TO YOUR INTERIOR WITH TEXTURAL MATERIALS CLEVERLY REPURPOSED TO EXTEND THEIR LIFE

Simply salvaged • ROBUST AND PRACTICAL, RECYCLED FURNISHINGS EVOKE THE PLEASURE OF THE FAMILIAR, AN UNDERSTANDING OF MATERIALS WELL-USED IN THE PAST, SCHOOL AND SHOP FITTINGS REMEMBERED FROM CHILDHOOD. THEY REASSURE YOU THAT YOUR FURNISHING CHOICES ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY...