Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2024 i Homes & Antiques

Tell us what inspires you in this issue of H&A. Tag @homes_antiques on Instagram or use the email address, right Autumn is the perfect time for a bit of a rethink on the home front: with the distraction of the summer holidays behind me, I always start making plans for some redecorating project or other. However, my enthusiasm usually stalls in the face of my hopeless indecision. But this year will be different, thanks to the help of a one-to-one session with a colour consultant – a liberating experience I can highly recommend if you suffer from similar paralysis. You can read all about it in our Decorating Guide (p69), along with the latest decorating trends and expert advice on picking the perfect white for any scheme. Meanwhile, in her column on…

Born in 1978, Małgorzata Mirga-Tas lives and works in Czarna Górna, at the foot of the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland. In 2022, she became the first Roma artist to represent any country at the Venice Biennale. This new show at Tate St Ives represents the first major UK exhibition of Mirga-Tas, whose unique and colourful textile collages depict scenes of Romani life. Often working in collaboration with other women, she sews together pieces of clothing, handkerchiefs, tablecloths and curtains, mostly gathered from family and friends. Mirga-Tas's work challenges stereotypical representations of Roma people and celebrates them as a vibrant contemporary community. Over 25 of her artworks will be on display, including three that are part of the Tate's collection – Sewn with Threads (2019), My Mother (2019) and The…

Even if you're a total beginner, a course in upholstery could soon have you creating your own soft furnishings, or repairing pieces around your home. It's a useful and satisfying skill to master and there are so many options out there, whether you want to focus on footstools, repair a chair or whip up a high-class headboard. The Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) is an organisation that supports the industry, including administering a comprehensive training programme. Its Upholstery Qualification is delivered in three stages, leading towards the AMUSF Diploma, though each stage is a qualification in its own right. These courses are delivered by AMUSF-approved training centres, all of which are listed via its website. Some of these centres also offer less formal courses and workshops, so…

If there's one thing guaranteed to add a little instant grandeur to a bedroom, it's a four-poster bed. Originally designed to include thick curtains for warmth and privacy in the draughty old homes of medieval aristocracy, today's curtainless versions still evoke a sense of heritage and luxury, and are much sought after. The Cornish Bed Company has a reputation for producing exquisite hand-cast beds using traditional techniques, and the Clifton four-poster is a firm favourite in the range, having been part of the collection for more than 30 years. With its opulent silhouette and additional detailing, including regal arches and floral fixings, this four-poster fits perfectly with the grand design sensibilities of the Victorian era. A stately and elegant affair, it belies the solid engineering behind its production – the…

• Windows By the 1840s, the wider availability of sheet glass, followed by the abolition of window tax in the 1850s, meant that windows could be made up of larger panes. Gothic Revival houses often had large bay windows, inset with leaded panes, and sometimes, stained glass (casting dramatic light inside), inspired by medieval churches. • Pointed or lancet arches Used in windows and doorways, inspired by the medieval Gothic, emphasising Christian values. Used extensively at Tyntesfield, Somerset, built in 1863. • Doors Often made from sturdy oak, with decorative ornamental ironwork, including hinges, studs and handles. • Steeply pitched roofs High, sharply angled roofs and steep gables, often covered with slate or tiles, enhancing the vertical emphasis. • Quatrefoils and trefoils Decorative motifs featuring four-lobed and three-lobed designs, found…

Before Dave Kay and Tokes Sharif started renting this three-bedroom apartment in Edinburgh 12 years ago, it had a been a student flat and had the decor to match: all peeling magnolia walls and cigarette-burn carpets. 'I still loved it,' says Tokes. 'It had – and still has – so much character: high ceilings and original fireplaces, and also its own front door and a small garden.' When the opportunity to buy came up, the couple leapt at the chance. Owning the flat has given them free rein to fully transform the space with bold, confident schemes – think a deep blue colour-drenched living room and a bedroom clad in dark green panelling. These aren't choices for the faint of heart but then Tokes, a ceramicist, clearly has an eye…

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Choosing paint should be fun, if all the dreamy room reveals on Instagram are to be believed, but the reality is often very different. For most of us, there is a big gap between the desire for a bold new scheme and our confidence when it comes to seeing it through. Not surprisingly, paint companies have cottoned on to our indecision and spotted an opportunity: most brands now offer some form of colour consultation service. Aimed at helping customers navigate the vast choice of colours and finishes without making costly mistakes, there are options to suit all budgets: from virtual guides online, to Zoom calls and in-person home visits, there seems to be something for everyone. But do they really work? Can a stranger really help you find a scheme…

'Our large, sunny, triple-aspect bedroom with en-suite bathroom should be a doddle to decorate, but the choices have always felt overwhelming: the scale of the room calls for a bold approach, but I'm more at home with a pale, neutral palette. 'In need of a confidence boost as well as inspiration, I turn to Edward Bulmer Natural Paint for advice. Prior to our consultation, I receive an email describing what to expect, explaining that the aim of the process is to leave us “feeling confident and empowered when selecting your colour options”. We're asked to share images of the room and what we'd like to achieve, and reminded that the consultation is intended as a collaboration, rather than simply dictating what we should do. 'On arrival, Emma Bulmer is keen…

'As someone who is ridiculously indecisive about paint colours, I'm delighted to get advice on my drab hallway from Flora Hogg at Craig & Rose. Painted off-white since we first moved in many years ago, it's in desperate need of a facelift. We begin with a virtual tour of the house using my phone, so Flora can get a feel for my style and we also discuss the 'non-negotiables' of the existing decor, such as the black-and-pink geometric porch floor tiles and grey/blue of the front door, both of which I want to keep. Flora suggests either light but warm Chinese White or Pale Celadon for the walls and stair spindles, to help open up the narrow space; she also recommends a dark blue, Lido Blue, or grey/blue Payne's Grey…

'When pairing white with a neutral, pick a warm, inviting shade, such as our White Clay. It's a well-balanced, traditional white, less harsh than a typical brilliant white, and is great for both north- and south-facing rooms. Its subtle warmth means it pairs perfectly with a range of neutrals, from cream and ecru to beige and the trending greige.' Bailey Oates, Earthborn 'We are seeing a move towards softer whites such as our Slaked Lime, warm neutrals Portland Stone and Clay, and versatile hues such as French Grey. When opting for an all-over white scheme, consider how you want the space to feel: a very clean, brilliant white might feel cold and stark, while a warmer white such as Stock or Clay Pale will be cosier whilst still feeling expansive,…

THE AUCTIONS Fine Jewels including the Collection of Dame Shirley Bassey 10th October, Sotheby's Paris Jewels and watches belonging to Dame Shirley Bassey will go under the hammer this month at Sotheby's saleroom on rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré in Paris. The gems, which are valued at around £2m, have been collected by Dame Shirley since she was a young singer in the 1950s. She fell in love with jewellery when she first discovered natural pearls, and a string of pearls was the first piece of jewellery she ever bought. However, she quickly graduated to diamonds, which preceded the recording of Diamonds Are Forever, and would become a lifelong passion. Highlights include a vintage Van Cleef & Arpels ring given to her by Elton John, which she has worn many times, and…

'Colin served in the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy and as a coastguard. After he finished going to sea, he settled in Wells-next-the-Sea and opened a little bric-a-brac shop. He had a few interesting nautical things, like anchors and ships' lamps, and he became aware of sailors' woolworks, as he had a few pass through the shop. The way Colin tells the story, he said to his wife, “I reckon I can do that,” and she said, “No you can't!” It was the spur he needed to start making woolwork pictures, and not just one… a lot of them. One day he turned up at my place and said, “Come look in the back of my car,” and he had about 20 different pictures. He took some convincing, but I…

Fowey Though most closely associated with the late 18th and early 19th centuries, gothic fiction has remained enduringly popular. One later example is Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel, Rebecca. Dreams are a classic trope of the genre and the book's opening, 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again', is clever signposting. The haunted country pile at the centre of the story was based on Menabilly, near Fowey in Cornwall, with which Du Maurier was fascinated. Though Menabilly is not open to the public, the local coastline - conjured so atmospherically in the book – can be explored along the National Trust's four-mile Gribbin Head walk. nationaltrust.org.uk Haworth Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë wrote most of their novels while living in the West Yorkshire village of Haworth in the…

Sunbury Antiques Market This world-renowned market held at Kempton Park Racecourse – and fondly known as 'Kempton' – is held on the second and last Tuesday of every month. A busy, bustling fair that regularly attracts over 600 dealers, the family business was started by the late Sue Cruttenden and celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. 'Imagine your favourite vintage store and Parisian flea market rolled into one, then add those off-the-beaten-track furniture shops of your dreams,' says Sue's son and organiser Edward Cruttenden. Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5AQ. sunburyantiques.com…

THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME What sparked your interest in antiques? It was probably my first visit to Kettle's Yard when I was a teenager. A friend and I were spending a day in Cambridge, and we simply stumbled across this extraordinary house, which has influenced me ever since. It was the way that paintings, sculptures, antique furniture, ceramics, glass, seedpods, feathers and, of course, pebbles, were all part of a domestic space. A lemon might be placed on an old pewter platter, making reference to a yellow spot in the Miró painting hanging close by, and soft feathers might lie in a shallow glass dish. Both my home and studio reflect this eclectic range of objects and artworks, making associations between them, as do my still-life prints and paintings.…

This joint exhibition brings together work by two leading contemporary printmakers, Angie Lewin and Carry Akroyd, drawing on their shared love of the natural world and exploring how they transform the simplicity of nature into intricate, harmonious compositions. Featuring a selection of the artists' most recent works, as well as some of their renowned classics, the show provides a comprehensive overview of their artistic evolution. Also featured will be sculptures by Lizzie Farrey and ceramics by Elizabeth Renton and Ania Perkowska. Angie Lewin will be joined by Christopher Stocks on Saturday 5th October from 11am-1pm to sign their new book, The Book of Wildflowers, and Carry Akroyd will be in the gallery to sign her newly published book, Swoop Sing Perch Paddle, on Saturday 19th October from 11am-1pm. cambridgegallery.co.uk…

This Month Presented in association with Penguin Random House Children's UK, 'Flower Fairies: The Magical World of Cicely Mary Barker' takes visitors on a journey, starting with the artist's childhood and ending with the creation of her captivating characters. The exhibition is very much aimed at adults and children – there are various opportunities for young visitors to play and create, such as dressing up and entering the giant pages of one of the books, while many adults will be able to indulge in a spot of nostalgia. Children will also enjoy peering through the windows of a doll-sized replica of Barker's childhood home and glimpsing the activities she herself enjoyed. Barker's original illustrations will be on display, alongside her sketches and family photographs, revealing tender moments such as days…

Gothic Revival Mention the word 'Gothic' and it will probably conjure up an instant, if vague, impression: medieval castles, cowled monks, ruined abbeys, the Houses of Parliament, pointed arches, Dracula, and even the punks and goths of the 1970s and 80s. Architecturally, it refers to the building style that dominated Europe during the High and Late Middle Ages (c1000–c1500). Although, as Kenneth Clark says in The Gothic Revival: A Study in the History of Taste (1928), 'for centuries the Gothic style had no name; it was the only way of building'. The word itself comes to us from the Goths – the Germanic tribe of the 3rd and 4th centuries – and over time it became associated with anything artificial and peculiar, especially architecture built in a non-classical style. During…

Claudia Lyons spent 40 happy years living in her six-bedroom family home in north London, where she and her husband had raised their four children. With plenty of space to fill, they had surrounded themselves with substantial pieces of Georgian and Victorian furniture – much of it inherited from family – as well as interesting decorative pieces, and artworks they had picked up on their travels. But when Claudia's husband sadly passed away in 2021, she knew things would have to change. It was time to downsize, and that was going to mean a serious edit of the contents of her home. Claudia found a lovely, sunny two-bedroom garden flat just around the corner to move to. With a spare bedroom and an extra office room in the garden, there…

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'Show me a paint chart and I'm a kid in a sweet shop: I want all the colours. In fact, it seems that I want all the paint charts, too. I have a stash that I consult every now and then, poring over those little squares that offer so much possibility. Too much possibility, unfortunately. How can you choose a favourite when you love them all? 'This inability to decide is the reason our gloomy, north-facing home office has remained dotted with experimental squares of green and blue for the past 17 years. I clearly need help, which is why I jump at the chance of an hour-long colour consultation with Anthony Fortune from Little Greene. 'Ahead of my session, I fill out a detailed questionnaire to help me identify…

LITTLE GREENE There are two types of hour-long consultation: a Teams call for £95, or a home visit for £195, plus travel if you live too far from a Little Greene showroom. Both consultations cover up to four rooms but, for larger projects, additional time can be booked at £97.50 per half hour. The results of your consultation are sent over via email itemising schemes, quantities and finishes. A 15 per cent discount on all products lasts for a year, so you can order in one go or work room by room. FARROW & BALL Colour consultations with dedicated colour experts start at £140 for an hour-long virtual consultation and £200 for an hour-long home visit. After both the virtual and in-person sessions, your colour expert will send a follow-up…

'The move towards indulgent cocooning interiors has resulted in a resurgence of brown in decorating. Earthy yet refined shades, such as Ganache and Affogato, make the perfect backdrop to natural materials – wicker, rattan, warm woods and stone finishes – as well as being a wonderful foil for artwork and pattern. Brown-based tones are making their way into lighter colours, like Mochi (seen here), which is a versatile, neutral shade.' Ruth Mottershead, Little Greene 'Whether you're recreating a maximalist 1970s interior, or you just want an elegant backdrop to complement your furniture, furnishings and other colours, brown is the epitome of elegance, incredible with blues, pinks and lighter, muted neutrals. And brown itself can often read as a neutral if you choose a lighter shade like Tawny. Our two newest…

1 Alderney & Wright, Lucinda Wright has been dealing in antique glass for over 30 years. Her online collection features an eclectic mix of 19th- and 20th-century decorative pieces, including a pair of c1890 Bohemian glass vases finely decorated with applied glass cabochons, a French c1900 Clichy glass vase, and several sets of Champagne coupes and flutes. alderneyandwright.com; @alderneyandwright 2 Antique Glass This Insta account based in Paris brings the virtual antiques shopper a beguiling array of 18th-century glass, with a particular focus on wine glasses. Shot beautifully and atmospherically, the photos feature delicate engraved liquor glasses and exquisite Champagne flutes, as well as an oil lamp, a ewer, a bonbonnière, and a magnificent (and rather curious-looking) guédoufle - an oil and vinegar cruet. @_antique_glass 3 Nick Jones Antiques A…

A printed fabric can define a room, whether it hangs at windows or covers furniture. Stripes and small geometrics may be a room's best friends, but choosing a distinctive print is an affair of the heart. The ones with enduring appeal are great survivors. They span decades in collections, sidestep fashion, consistently retain esteem and are regularly ordered. Several textile themes have potential for enjoying this longstanding regard, but flowers and plants lead the pack, bringing the power of nature into the interior. Their design secret seems to combine history, symbolism and harmonious arrangement, as in a much-loved piece of music. So here are five much-loved prints that are playing all the right notes. As the symbol of love, the rose had a head start as a textile motif. It…

In partnership with the National Trust for Scotland, Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh is presenting a major new exhibition, celebrating Scotland's embroidered textiles. After a two-year research and conservation programme, many of the delicate treasures in the collection are now deemed fit for public display for the first time – an exciting moment for historical-textile fans. The exhibition will include more than 80 richly embroidered textiles from 1720-1920, and will feature armchairs, large bed hangings, firescreens and tablecloths, alongside personal items such as cushions and tea cosies. The works have been selected from key National Trust for Scotland properties, encompassing Newhailes House, Drum Castle, House of Dun, the Weaver's Cottage and The Hill House. 'The textiles in the exhibition highlight the vibrant trends, influences and personal choices that helped shape the…

Running for two weeks, the City Festival of Music, Invention & Knowledge (CFMIK) promises an exciting programme of evening events, performed and presented by world-class classical and jazz musicians. Alongside will be a series of free 'Before They Are Famous' lunchtime recitals in the historic settings of Sir Christopher Wren's churches. Thanks to the current Lord Mayor of London's Ligurian heritage, there's a decidedly Italian flavour to the festival. As part of Michael Mainelli's year-long mayoral theme of Connect to Prosper, CFMIK has forged a partnership with the Municipality of Genoa to bring the music of Paganini into the heart of London. Highlights of the festival include the opening concert in the Mansion House, featuring jazz pianist Julian Joseph and a new band playing specially written music and improvised versions…

Citrus burst When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, or so the saying goes. Alternatively, you can cheer yourself up with one of these fabulous table lamps from David Hunt Lighting. Inspired by the Amalfi Coast, the witty and uplifting Limone range includes a statement lamp base featuring a pedestal bowl heaped with lemons, and a more restrained, sconce-style wall light. Table lamp, £354, shown with bespoke shade, £177. davidhuntlighting.co.uk TREAD SOFTLY English Country Garden is the latest collection in a long run of impressive collaborations through which Knots Rugs has rightly made its name. Featuring five delicate and romantic designs by artist Charlotte Krone of Rediscovered By, the rugs come in various sizes, and bespoke colourways are available. Prices from £1,750 per sq m. knotsrugs.co.uk Top Brass The Southbank…

Early English (late 12th to late 13th century) Imported to England from Normandy, the style featured tall lancet windows topped with a pointed arch, symbolising two hands clasped in prayer. Innovations included buttresses, clustered columns and stone vaulted roofs with carved sculptural decoration – often floral motifs. Examples include the choirs of Canterbury Cathedral (above) and the Temple Church in the City of London. Decorated (late 13th to late 14th century) Influenced by increasing English prosperity, the Decorated style featured elaborate fan vaulting and sophisticated, sinuous tracery (the bars or ribs that divide up a window). Buttresses became more common, often topped with heavy, ornamental stone finials to give them weight. Examples include the west fronts of Lichfield Cathedral and York Minster (above). Perpendicular (late 13th to mid 16th century)…

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line the shelves. The search for a new home is rarely trouble free, and for Carla and Ronald, who needed more space for their business – which had grown from antiques shop and tearoom to making artisanal jams and chutneys – the hunt for a new house turned into a frantic race against the clock. 'We've always liked the flexibility of renting and being able to leave at short notice,' Carla explains. 'But this time it was difficult; we'd ended our lease, but we couldn't find what we wanted: an old school, a church, a castle… anything, as long as it wasn't ordinary!' Having searched locally without much luck, they contacted Geldersch Landschap – the Dutch equivalent of the National Trust – who offered them a property on an old…

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Decorating 'When I told friends I was trying out the Farrow & Ball colour consultation service for our recently revamped kitchen, I was met with a fair amount of scepticism. One wanted to know how it could take an hour to choose a paint for one room, while another wanted to know what I'd do if I hated the colours. Thrilled to have access to some expert colour advice, I shelved their concerns and embraced the process with an open mind. 'Renovations by their nature involve endless decisions, and by the time our kitchen/diner was finished, my husband and I had run out of steam. When it came to choosing paint for the walls, we'd taken the easiest option and gone straight for brilliant white, with a yellow feature wall…

These days, most paint companies offer some form of colour advice, so if an in-person consultation isn't for you, or your chosen paint brand doesn't offer the service, there are plenty of options to help you find the right colours and finishes for your project – and some of them are free. Both YesColours and Craig & Rose offer virtual colour consultations conducted via Zoom (see review below). Meanwhile, Lick provides two online options to help you narrow down your choices. A personalised Colour Quiz, billed as a 'virtual colour consultancy', will help you discover your perfect palette by working through a series of questions, and the site will suggest specific shades. Lick's Colours Tool will help to refine your choices. It works on a mood board system, whereby you…

'The English country house style is a timeless architectural and interior design aesthetic that exudes charm, elegance and comfort. Interiors are typically cosy and inviting, featuring luxuriously rich furnishings, floral prints and an abundance of natural fibres. This style evokes the tranquillity and beauty of the English countryside. It's a perfect blend of sophistication and homely warmth, making it a favourite for those looking to create a serene and picturesque living environment.' Saffron Hare, managing director at James Hare…

'The gothic aesthetic isn't a trend at House of Hackney, it's more of a way of life. “Paint it Black” is like a call to action! The dark romance of moody blooms in deep and decadent shades never really goes out of style, so is a mainstay in our house. For a modern gothic look, invest in bewitching wallpaper prints, sumptuous velvet fabrics, and accessories like our gothic mirror and enchanting floral lamps.' Frieda Gormley, founder of House of Hackney…

NEW ENGLISH INTERIORS Elizabeth Metcalfe Featuring 22 expertly chosen interiors, this book doubles as a who's who of England's most exciting creatives, from the iconic Cath Kidston to the antiques dealers behind antiques emporium Brownrigg – whose guest bedroom features on the cover. And while all have been chosen for their inspiring approaches to decorating their homes, they all also champion integrating art and antiques to create more personalised schemes. As author Elizabeth Metcalfe explains, 'almost all of the interiors are born out of a love for collecting – everything from furniture and art to curious flea-market finds and ceramics – and, as a consequence, they continue to shift and evolve.' Against a backdrop of beautiful patterns – applied to wallpapers, textiles and painted directly onto walls – and soft…

Collecting Sewing and sailing have always gone hand in hand, says Paul Vandekar, an antiques dealer with a specialist interest in sailors' woolwork pictures, affectionately known as 'woolies'. 'Although we normally associate needlework with women, they were all made by men, and ordinary sailors, not trained artists.' In centuries past, sailors needed to be handy with a needle. Voyages across the world took them away for months or years at a time, so practical mending and making skills, for repairing sails and patching clothes, were vital. But why in the mid 19th century did salty ships' crews start stitching pictures of their ships? Paul explains that 19th-century sailors were prolific makers – of scrimshaw shellwork, and other crafts. Their interest in woolwork was partly driven by the availability of new…

1. Portrait of Majesty Estimate £300,000-£500,000 Sold £907,200 This sumptuous oil-on-oak panel painting of Elizabeth I is one of the earliest likenesses from her reign and is attributed to George Gower (1538-1596), a well-known court painter of the day who was appointed Serjeant Painter to the Queen in 1581. This artwork was probably created in the mid 1560s to help marriage negotiations with Archduke Charles II of Austria. At the time, the Queen would have been a young woman in her early thirties looking to make a mutually beneficial match with another European royal dynasty. It's thought that this painting may have been taken by the Earl of Sussex to Vienna in 1567 to show to Charles. The proposed marriage did not come off, however, and the portrait is thought…

Utrecht: the compact city that packs a punch when it comes to sustainable living. Once the most prominent city in the Netherlands (until it was surpassed by Amsterdam in the 17th century), famous for its Dom Tower, and as the birthplace of Miffy the rabbit, Utrecht has much to offer for a weekend jaunt. Hire a bike and cycle through the city, meander around the shopping streets, or take a nature-filled walk along the canal and discover a waterside park, created when the city decided that motorways were passé and took the refreshing decision to dig one of them up. See The Dom Tower The tallest church spire in the whole of the Netherlands, Utrecht's iconic Dom Tower stands at 112 metres high, giving amazing panoramic views across the city…