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'I'd willingly give a year of my life for a fortnight there': The green dream that is the garden of Derreen
Exotic woods, labyrinths of narrow, mossy paths and thousands of tree ferns make this an internationally important garden, writes Charles Quest-Ritson. Photographs by Jonathan Hession.
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‘It had the air of an ex-rental, and that’s putting it politely’: How an antique dealer transformed a run-down Georgian house in Chatham Dockyards
An antique dealer with an eye for colour has rescued an 18th-century house from years of neglect with the help of the team at Mylands.
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Folio, Folio, wherefore art thou Folio? Shakespeare set to be auctioned by Sotheby's
Four Folios will be auctioned in London on May 23, with an estimate of £3.5–£4.5 million for 'the most significant publication in the history of English literature'.
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The big reveal: A first look at Country Life's RHS Chelsea Flower Show stand
Interior designer Isabella Worsley reveals her plans for Country Life’s ‘outdoor drawing room’ at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which will be at stand PW210.
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Sanderson's new collection is inspired by The King's pride and joy — his Gloucestershire garden
Designers from Sanderson have immersed themselves in The King's garden at Highgrove to create a new collection of fabric and wallpaper which celebrates his long-standing dedication to Nature and biodiversity.
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Six of the best Clematis montanas that every garden needs
Clematis montana is easy to grow and look after, and is considered by some to be 'the most graceful and floriferous of all'.
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Designer's Room: A solid oak French kitchen that's been cleverly engineered to last
Kitchen and joinery specialist Artichoke had several clever tricks to deal with the fact that natural wood expands and contracts.
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John Sutcliffe — The man, the myth and the paint-naming legend behind Dead Salmon and Elephant's Breath
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Why LOEWE decided to reimagine the teapot, 25 great designs over
Loewe has commissioned 25 world-leading artists to design a teapot, in time for Salone del Mobile.
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The power of the youthful gaze: A new generation tackles modern day design conundrums
How is a new generation of interior designers responding to changing lifestyles, proliferating choice, the challenges of sustainability and the tireless demands of social media?
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'Rooms can be theatrical and comfortable at the same time': Top tips for decorating with conversation in mind
Carefully placed furniture encourages conversations, says Emma Burns, of Sibyl Colefax & Fowler
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Reader event report: Spaces that feel like home
On March 26, Country Life hosted an event at which interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch and Amanda Barrett of George Smith discussed the secret to interior design with a distinctive, personal feel.
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A remarkable $100 million numismatic collection reappears after being buried for more than 50 years
A collector hid his treasure from the Nazis, his widow kept it secret for decades, but now Roman aurei, Greek staters and British pounds so rare that some have never been sold at public auction have resurfaced and will go under the hammer.
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Evenley Wood Garden: 'I didn't know a daffodil from a daisy! But being middle-aged, ignorant and obstinate, I persisted'
When Nicola Taylor took on her plantsman father’s flower-filled woodland, she knew more about horses than trees, but, as Tiffany Daneff discovers, that hasn’t stopped her from making a great success of the garden. Photographs by Clive Nichols.
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A tub carved from a single block of San Marino marble — and nine more beautiful things for the ultimate bathroom
There's a bathroom out there for everyone — whatever your preferred style.
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Reader Event: Why Sir John Soane matters
On March 10, Country Life's Giles Kime hosted an event that explored the legacy of the great architect Sir John Soane, featuring a panel discussion that included Will Gompertz, Maria Speake, and Hector and Emma Finch.
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Go Dutch: Understanding the Duke of Wellington’s passion for Dutch art and how to view his collection
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington was a terrible Prime Minister, but made up for it by being a sophisticated collector.
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The best rhododendron and azalea gardens in Britain
It's the time of year when rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and many more spring favourites are starting to light up the gardens of the nation. Here are the best places to go to enjoy them at their finest.
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Reader Event: Designing spaces that feel like home
Sponsored by Sims Hilditch and George Smith
On Wednesday, March 26, interior-design studio Sims Hilditch and George Smith, makers of luxury, handcrafted upholstered furniture, will mark the launch of new furniture designs for bedrooms in an event chaired by Country Life.
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Great Comp: The blissful garden flooded with rhododendrons and azaleas that's just beyond the M25
Each spring, Great Comp Garden — just outside the M25, near Sevenoaks — erupts into bloom, with swathes of magnolias, azaleas and rhododendrons. Charles Quest-Ritson looks at what has become one of the finest gardens to visit in Kent.
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The Country Life Top 100 architects, interior designers, garden designers, landscape designers and country house specialists in Britain
It's now six years since the original Country Life Top 100 was published, but the aim hasn't changed: we name the very best architects, interior designers, craftsmen, builders and garden designers in Britain.
