Country Life's 10 best interiors stories of 2021
From quirky kitchen cupboards to foolproof shades of paint, here are our best interiors stories of 2021.

The humble kitchen cabinet, as reinvented by an award-winning architect
Back in March, we reported on how architect George Gardner decided to turn his hand to cabinetry — with startling and ingenius results.
The best interior designers and decorators in Britain
Our list of the best interior designers and decorators who specialise in country houses is indispensable.
Britain’s best interior designers on the paint colours you just can’t go wrong with
This piece first appeared in April 2020, but the advice has proven perennially popular ever since — with good reason.
50 best interiors tips of the last 50 years, from legendary interior designer Nina Campbell
Husbands can come and go, but whatever you do, hang on to your curtain-maker' — these gems are priceless.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
How to do your own French polishing or restoration – and when to leave it to the pros
Expert advice from Alex Webster on the things you can do yourself in the event of furniture-related disaster.
12 of the best new kitchen looks and ideas
From chairs and taps to tiles and lights, the state of the art in kitchens is always intriguing.
How kitchens are being enlivened with colour, from romantic juniper tones to mustard and olive for the brave
The days of greige are numbered, with cabinets and appliances appearing in all sorts of wonderful colours — the only question is how far you dare go.
Six things you need to know before painting a room off-white — and five beautiful tints to consider
Trying to choose a neutral? You’ll be presented with a sea of confusing choices. Here's how to navigate your way through.
Why the classic kitchen look will always trump the latest trends
If the bright colours referred to above aren't for you, fear not: the classic look never goes out of style, as Amelia Thorpe explained in this piece.
Ten wonderfully uncompromising conservatories, orangeries and garden rooms
Right at the end of last year, we published this beautiful piece to inspire you to make more of the spaces that blue the lines between indoors and outdoors.
Credit: Francesca Paint
Best new paint colours for the season, from Sea Mist to Piranesi Pink
Selecting paint colour is no easy feat, especially with the seemingly endless list of colours in every hue and tone
In Focus: How Pierre Bonnard used photography to help him paint pictures that would once have been near-impossible
The mysterious French artist Pierre Bonnard is the focus of a new exhibition at Tate Modern. Lilias Wigan went along.
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.
-
From the Country Life archive: The 19th century answer to Swingball
Every Monday, Melanie Bryan, delves into the hidden depths of Country Life's extraordinary archive to bring you a long-forgotten story, photograph or advert.
-
Hope from the ashes: A new generation of ash trees is evolving to make them more resistant to dieback
When ash dieback first arrived in Britain, in 2012, an emergency COBRA meeting was formed. The disease has since spread rampantly across the countryside, but there is still hope.
-
'Comfortable, cosseting and far from the madding crowd': The recently refurbished Cornish cottage that proves Victorian decor is making a comeback
Plum Cottage in Padstow, Cornwall, has been brought to life by Jess Alken and her husband, Ash — and is the latest addition to their holiday cottages on the north Cornish coast.
-
'These aren't just rooms. They are spaces configured with enormous cunning, artfully combining beauty with functionality': Giles Kime on the wonders of WOW!house 2025
WOW!house 2025 is here. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore more than 20 indoor and outdoor spaces, dreamt up by the biggest names in design, says Giles Kime.
-
How the deep-lustre of copper brings period glamour to this kitchen
Designed by deVOL, inspired by a New York bistro
-
A dozen slices of al fresco inspiration from the best designers in Britain
Amelia Thorpe shares her pick of the most beautiful outdoor furniture and accessories to help you make the most of summer.
-
A feast of ideas: What to expect at WOW!house 2025
More than 20 rooms and outdoor spaces by leading interior designers will offer depth and breadth of inspiration, with an emphasis on bespoke craftsmanship, at WOW!house, the summer’s major interiors event, finds Amelia Thorpe.
-
Curious Questions: Where did the viral Instagram Shaker kitchen come from — and how is it linked to Quakerism?
The traditional and incredibly versatile Shaker kitchen is looked up to the world over, but where did it actually come from?
-
18 inspiring ideas to help you make the most of meals in the garden this summer
From tie-dye tablecloths to tasseled awnings, there's something for every garden space.
-
The designer's room: How rare, 19th-century wallpaper was repurposed inside a Grade I-listed apartment complex on London's Piccadilly
This home in Albany, Piccadilly, was decorated by Wendy Nicholls of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, as a quiet refuge in the heart of the capital.