A long career at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler was the perfect preparation for Emma Burns’s greatest design challenge yet: the sensitive transformation of the former dovecote and stables in…
Arabella Youens
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The rise of the ‘super cottage’: Underfloor heating, dining table for 12 and claw-foot baths in the bedroom
Creaking country piles with drafty corridors and leaky roofs are increasingly a thing of the past - today's homes in the country have a very different list of features, many…
The benefits of four-poster beds: ‘I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t sleep better in one’
Interior designer Veere Grenney tells Arabella Youens why the only bed to have is a four-poster.
A beautiful townhouse in Deal with a kitchen that mixes modern and Georgian
This town house on the Kent coast has been restored by its actor owner to create a kitchen that’s sympathetic to its Georgian roots.
The 50 best places to live near London
Where are the best villages, towns and small cities which are a pleasure to live in, but still offer a decent commute to the capital?
A utility room that demonstrates how style and function can go hand-in-hand
Arabella Youens takes a look at a utility room which shows that practical spaces can also be beautiful.
The dos and don’ts of designing your own ideal utility room
From stone sinks to sturdy, Merlin Wright of Plain English offers advice on creating the perfect utility room.
The beautifully symmetrical London drawing room of interior designer Douglas Mackie
Symmetry is regarded as the secret to creating a calm, coherent space, but for many designers, it’s more about creating balance, says Arabella Youens.
A library in Bath transformed into a bright and beautiful room to think, play the piano and just enjoy the view
Nicola Harding and Christopher Howe joined forces to transform this first-floor library into a serenely elegant sitting room. Arabella Youens explains more.
Inside Kate Moss’s bathroom, where the wallpaper alone took six months to create
Sometimes, you need to take your time to get things right – but the results are usually worth it. Take this bathroom as an example. It took Kate Moss a period…
Where to live in the Cotswolds: A guide to choosing the perfect spot
In these days of flexible working, country-house buyers are more motivated by finding the right house, rather than being locked into a specific location. However, one area where the old…
The Gavin Houghton drawing room with wit, elegance and silk wallpaper
Gavin Houghton's brief for the drawing room of a London art dealer was simple: do whatever you like, so long as it's elegant and shows touches of wit.
The designer’s bedroom: ‘Juxtaposing colours and pattern is great, but you still need to know when to pull back’
South African designer Hubert Zandberg’s blend of new and vintage pieces can lend depth and character to any room.
11 steps to creating a perfect bathroom for your house
When the interior designer Joanna Wood moved to an 18th-century manor house in the Cotswolds, she had an opportunity to create a space that combines a bathroom with a dressing…
Living in a conservation area: Ten things you need to know
Conservation areas have been protecting Britain's most beautiful areas for 50 years – here's what you need to know if you live in one, or are thinking about moving to
Open fires v wood-burning stoves: The grate debate
Wood-burning stove or open fire? Arabella Youens examines the pros and cons of both options.
Six of the best European resorts for ski lodges you can use all year round
Some traditional winter resorts are just as idyllic in summer as they are in winter, with the allure of snow being replaced by wildflowers and cowbells.
Top 10 design dilemmas – solved
An interior design project presents a maze of head-scratching conundrums, from choices between plain and patterned fabrics to whether you really need a club fender.
The Memory Box: An exquisite keepsake made from 100 pieces of timber per square inch
These beautiful pieces are made bespoke for each client.
At home with Uncle Monty: Design cues from the Withnail and I icon
Thirty years after the release of Withnail and I, Arabella Youens examines the stylistic legacy of the fictional character's taste for deep Howard-style sofas and chairs.