Open fires v wood-burning stoves: The grate debate
We can only thank you all for forgiving our sub-editor's Dad-joke-level pun in the title of this article — the list of pros-and-cons put together by Arabella Youens is fantastically helpful... and the information on just how efficient log-burners are compared to open fires is eye-opening.
Six things you need to know before painting a room off-white — and five beautiful tints to consider
Some of the best designers in the business spoke to Amelia Thorpe for this article right at the end of 2021 on the 'sea of confusing choices' that greet anyone trying to keep things neutral.
The Country Life Top 100 architects, interior designers, craftsmen, builders and garden designers in Britain
Our top 100 list has now been going for half a decade, and is the absolute best starting point for anyone considering doing serious work to a country house.
At home with Cath Kidston: Inside the designer’s gorgeous country home
Our interiors guru Giles Kime has known designer Cath Kidston for decades. Back in April she invited him to take a look inside her Grade-II listed Cotswolds home.
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The transformation of an old Cotswolds farmhouse into a beautiful eight-bedroom house
Rosanna Bossom's work at Manor Farmhouse in Conderton, Worcestershire, came under the microscope in February.
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Seven beautiful new looks in kitchens, from classic cabinetry to 80s revival
New, old, retro... the appetite we have for reinventing our kitchens knows no limits, and this round-up of some of the cleverest new ideas in the area clearly struck a chord.
10 things I wish I’d known about doing up old houses before I started, by Country Life’s interiors guru Giles Kime
In November, Country Life’s executive editor and resident interiors expert Giles Kime shared the lessons he’s learnt from the experience of dragging a succession of houses into the 21st-century. It's fascinating — especially his views on following trends, or rather not following them.
The interior trends of 2022
‘'Maximalism is here to stay — minimalists would be advised to emigrate,’ warned Giles right at the start of the year.
Nine of the best potting sheds
Shed life has been one of the big lifestyle trends since the Pandemic, and this round-up included some truly lovely garden buildings.
A country kitchen in Berkshire that proves a small kitchen can be bright, light and beautiful
You don't need hundreds of square feet to make a really lovely country kitchen, as Sophie Eadie and Fi Crole showed with this design in Berkshire.
See Country Life's top 10s of 2022
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‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now'Now is the time to firstly, hug a tree, and secondly, plant some more — in increasingly imaginative ways.
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At the Bonneville Salt Flats, the only currency is speedCharlie Thomas reports from Speed Week, and talks to those with a bad case of 'Salt Fever'.
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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.
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Farmhouse kitchens done right at these five beautiful country houses across BritainA country house with a farmhouse kitchen is the archetype of the bucolic dream in Britain. Arabella Youens picks out five on the market right now that have wonderful examples.
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Diversity in style and diversity in location: London's best art is all around usLondon's hotels, pubs and restaurants show the great depth of the capital's artistic tastes.
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A derelict school turned into a gorgeous home with 'an interior of harmony and visual éclat'Capel House in Badminton, Gloucestershire — the home of Gerald Harford and Jane MacEwen — is a fine 18th-century estate building with a remarkable history has been converted into a stylish home, as John Martin Robinson discovers. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Interiors of excellence: all the events and inspiration you can't missOver the next month, events at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour and beyond will offer plenty of inspiration for design lovers
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The Mitford family once called this handsome Cotswolds house a home — and it inspired Nancy's greatest novelMary Miers is enchanted by the one-time home of the Mitfords — whose spirit lingers in the walls.
