Country kitchens, period house insulation and open fires: Country Life's best interiors stories of 2023
We take a look back on the most popular interiors articles in Country Life over the past year.
The new look in kitchens isn’t chic and sleek — it’s decorated and pretty
Arabella Youens spoke to designers who've made it their mission to bring charm and comfort to the most-used room in the house.
The best interior designers in Britain
Our definitive annual look at the best interior designers in the country.
Open fires v wood-burning stoves: The grate debate
Wood-burning stove or open fire? Arabella Youens examined the pros and cons of both options in a piece published in late 2022 that remained popular throughout the winter.
10 ways to insulate a period property
Tim Moulding, an eighth-generation builder, suggested ways to keep an old building warm.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Six things you need to know before painting a room off-white
Trying to choose a neutral? Amelia Thorpe got expert advice on the sea of confusing choices.
Open plan or keep things separate? There is another way
Opening up space either side of a chimney breast transformed this kitchen and dining room, designed by Susie Atkinson.
A country house kitchen which shows how adding new walls can transform your space
When the new owners moved to this Georgian manor house, they decided work was required to bring the interiors back to a design that was more sympathetic to its architecture.
Revolution or evolution? The reinvention of cottage interiors
The renewed popularity of cottages is spawning dramatically different approaches to their interiors, as Giles Kime explained.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
The Country Life Podcast
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Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
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What on earth is the person who comes up with Annabel's otherworldly facade displays on? London's most magical Christmas shop displaysPhotographs by Greg Funnell.
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What trees taught me about perfect planting — Alan TitchmarshSense and patience is key to growing healthy trees, as a certain Mr Mackenzie showed a young Alan Titchmarsh
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Making space in a Georgian terraced Chelsea cottageGuy Goodfellow removed an internal wall to transform the sitting room of this Georgian terrace
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Moths and memories of the Russian Revolution: Why it's worth saving that tired old rugDon’t consign that faded and tatty rug you inherited to the skip, warns Catriona Gray. A specialist repairer can work miracles on even the most unloved pieces
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How one family went about creating a welcoming kitchen in one of England's neo-Palladian houses‘We were nervous about creating a kitchen in such a grand room.'
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How do you make a 300-year-old Baronial castle fit for modern-day living?A mix of sympathetic colours and elegant furniture has brought new life to this impressive space at Aldourie Castle.
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Oh, my gourd, it’s Hallowe’en: How best to decorate your home with pumpkins, squashes and moreAs the feast of All Hallow’s Eve approaches, Debora Robertson advises how best to decorate your home with autumn's edible bounty.
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At the Snowdon Summer School, the future of design lies in the traditions of the past'It was the first time that I had ever been around people who shared my interest in making furniture at such a high level — and who shared my passion for fine furniture.'
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It's a perfect storm for the revival of eclecticism, and we're in the middle of itIn design, periods of purism are often followed by a dramatic new mood. Now, the scene is set for an exciting revival of eclecticism.
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For Rita Konig, interior design isn’t only about coherence and comfort — it should be a celebration of stuffGiles Kime charts the transatlantic career of the eclectic journalist-turned-designer.
