Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 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 As the year draws to a close, there's always a certain hush – that pause between what has been and what's to come. It's a time for reflection, but also for fresh beginnings, and in the world of interiors, that means looking ahead to the shapes, textures and ideas that will define 2026. On page 27, Jenny Oldaker speaks to the experts to discover the new year's biggest trends – think cosy colours and new prints that are about to become your favourites. Yet as we look forward, there's equal joy to be found in looking back. Ellie Tennant's feature on house history (p35) invites you to uncover the hidden…

Simply divine Ca'Pietra Studio celebrates pattern and craftsmanship with a striking capsule collection of 12 glossy ceramic tiles, inspired by Divine Savages’ iconic Brambles and Lovebirds designs. Handcrafted in Wiltshire, these statement pieces invite endless creativity, especially when paired with the original wallpapers. £25 per tile, made to order. capietra.com Retro radiance Boasting a high-gloss finish fused with exquisite solid brass detailing, the sculptural Rizzo side table channels 70s glamour to perfection. Crafted to order in Studio Duggan's London workshop, it's offered in three sumptuous tones (Oxblood, Canyon and Brown Sugar, shown here) or a bespoke hue. An impeccable statement for your next cocktail soirée, it costs from £2,250. thetrove.co.uk Handmade tales… Arti's first collaboration with Sarah Odedina sold out at its summer pop-up, but the ceramicist is back with…

This is the year to embrace handmade furniture, earthy colours and tactile woven materials to create a home that feels grounded and inviting. It's a style that values soul over perfection, turning every corner into a haven of comfort… Colours Colour experts are heralding a new age of warmth and richness in interior palettes. ‘We're seeing a trend towards earthy colours and “new neutrals”, moving away from the many shades of white that have dominated for so long,’ says Cinny Aumonier, founder of interiors brand, Cinny. Warmth is a key theme for bold shades as well as neutrals, a prediction borne out by paint brands such as Earthborn, whose colour of the year is the versatile, grounding terracotta-influenced Freckle, while Little Greene's Adventurer – a regal shade of plum-aubergine –…

The electoral register This lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections and was compiled annually from 1832. Search these to find out the names of people who lived at your address in the past. Earlier registers don't include women, who only appeared on the register in 1918. It's worth noting, too, that the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1969, which also impacts results. The National Archives has a list of historical versions of the electoral register that you can search online. nationalarchives.gov.uk Census records Since 1801, the census has been conducted every 10 years across the country, although the first three returns only recorded numbers of people, rather than names. These returns can provide a lot of information about the…

When antiques dealer Martin Murray was growing up in London, he would always look forward to the annual family holiday to rural Ireland, where his parents were originally from. ‘I loved it; I never wanted to come back,’ he says. ‘I always found London overstimulating and craved the peace and quiet of the countryside.’ And while Ireland wasn't a realistic option for Martin and his wife Emma (a freelance fashion designer), when they finally found themselves in a position to move out of the capital, they both knew that a house of stillness and tranquillity in a rural setting was what they needed. Having discovered Suffolk on their mini honeymoon, they focused their search in the area. When they discovered a 16th-century house, with Georgian and Victorian additions, in a…

If one can walk into a house with a leaking roof, rattling windows and the chill of a grey January day in its bones and still feel an unmistakable sense of home, then it's surely worth a second look. That was exactly the case for Heather Riches and her partner Sam Heemsbergen, who were captivated by a modest brick farmworker's cottage, built around 1860, on the edge of the Cotswolds. The couple bought the cottage in 2018, and spent time making it liveable before moving in 2019. ‘It had sat empty for over a year and was in a sorry state – windows sealed shut, part of the roof propped up with cardboard, and no working plumbing,’ says Heather. Over the next two years, the couple set about restoring the…

Tartan check is indelibly associated with Scotland's identity, but it took centuries to get there. While not a true tartan, the earliest Scottish check is a simple weave in undyed wool, c250 AD and found in Falkirk. Over the following centuries, tartan developed its distinctive check patterns through evolving weave structures, regional colours, and a spirited defence of its homeland. Early tartans were woven across rural areas in the Highlands, with women making a significant contribution. They spun the wool, prepared natural dyes to colour the yarn, wove the cloth, then worked at fulling it to clean out the natural oil and restore the weave's structure. This vigorous working of the cloth with hands and feet was often a communal task, and songs to keep movements in time are still…

Oh, the joy of curling up on a winter's afternoon to immerse oneself in a compelling crime novel or TV drama featuring victims and sleuths. The story will be set in a picturesque, seemingly safe place – but beneath the surface is an underbelly of deceit, greed and violence. You know the type of thing: Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club, Arthur Conan Doyle's Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Madame Blanc Mysteries, currently streaming on Netflix. It seems we can't get enough of these gently thrilling tales that are – thankfully – always solved, so we can breathe easily once more. 1 Murder most fun Marketed as ‘The Great Detective Game’, the board game Cluedo allows you to become an amateur sleuth. Originally…

Few dining experiences involve a Damien Hirst butterfly winking at you from across the room. At The Gunton Arms, it's in good company, sharing the walls with works by the likes of Tracey Emin, Lucian Freud, Glenn Brown and Beatriz Milhazes (some pieces considerably more risqué than others), all curated by art dealer Ivor Braka. Pull up a pew – or a Windsor chair – and settle in for a cultured stay at this north Norfolk gem. Bought by Braka in 2009, this traditional country pub sits at the heart of an early-18th-century deer park near coastal Cromer. It's an experience where nature appears twice: stags wander among striking sculptures in the grounds, while venison sausages and Gunton red deer rump sizzle over the open fire in the toasty Elk…

BUY NOW Female authors As the fight for parity between men and women continues, so too does the re-evaluation and discussion about women's roles in literature, politics, the workplace, culture and law. Greats like Jane Austen are more popular than ever – celebrations to mark 250 years since the author's birth took place across the country throughout 2025 – and early editions of her works can reach very high prices. But there are some groundbreaking writers and contemporary commentators who are as yet underappreciated, so look for editions from low print runs on important subjects such as women's education. An unassuming volume such as Francis Power Cobbe's Essays on the Pursuits of Women recently sold for £875 at auction. Buy niche subjects, influential authors and volumes in good, original condition.…

THE LAUNCH The Otterton bed Set yourself a new year's resolution of a great night's sleep with the Otterton bed from Naturalmat. Handcrafted in Devon and inspired by mid-century design cues, the Otterton is all clean lines, sinuous form and effortless elegance, from its tapered oak legs to the plumply padded headboard. The bed costs from £1,290 and makes a gloriously comfortable bedroom staple as well as an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture in its own right. naturalmat.co.uk THE AUCTION The Ski Sale 13th January, Lyon & Turnbull The heritage of winter sports is celebrated in this annual sale, curated by art consultants Tomkinson Churcher in partnership with auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull. The auction focuses on the golden age of travel, from the turn of the 19th century to the…

Fabric Wallpaper Choose furniture with soft, rounded edges to create a comforting feel – a dining table with curvy legs, for example, and chairs featuring gently curved oval backs. Complement these organic shapes with patterned wallpaper to fill the space with a sense of energy. To ground the look and add a touch of sophistication, introduce a few straight lines through wall panelling and a rectangular rug…

In the garden of a rectory in Kent, there's a rustic brick outbuilding, its window panes covered with green algae. At first glance, they look slightly scratched but, on closer inspection, the marks are long-forgotten names and dates inscribed by Victorian gardeners. ‘E Thomas, April 17th, 1874’ is etched carefully, deliberately but secretly, into the glass. Perhaps it was a rainy spring day. Imagine the gardener sheltering among the flowerpots and tools in the damp darkness, the gentle drum of raindrops on the roof, the scent of petrichor in the air, his tea steaming. Absent-mindedly, he picks up a pin and makes his mark on the glass – graffiti for the future, a tiny but reassuringly permanent human imprint in the vast ephemeral transience of life. ‘E Thomas’ was here.…

Forms in nature have always inspired the work of Swedish-born glass artist Elin Isaksson. Growing up in the north of Sweden, close to the border with Lapland, days spent in snowy landscapes ice fishing or cross-country skiing created an affinity for shapes and colours at the glacial end of the spectrum. And when, as a teenager studying at art school, she discovered glass, the medium spoke to her. ‘We went to a glass studio for the day, and were just allowed to have a go,’ Elin recalls. ‘We had this blob of molten glass to work with, and I just thought, “this is amazing!” And that was it. I had an instant love for glass and knew that this was what I wanted to do.’ Today, based in Scotland and…

The word ‘primitive’ might sound derogatory, says Welsh antique furniture dealer Tim Bowen, ‘but there is nothing substandard about what we now describe as primitive Welsh furniture.’ Tim explains that it's described as primitive because it was made by local craftspeople who were not trained cabinetmakers. ‘It's likely they worked daily with wood – as carpenters, cart-makers, coopers, hurdle-makers or spinning-wheel turners – and brought the same techniques they used in everyday life to the making of furniture.’ Their approach, he says, was unconventional; completely different from the sophisticated methods employed in cabinetmaking workshops. ‘They didn't waste much time prettifying. But they still knew how to make furniture that was practical, durable and strong.’ Centuries later, its survival is testament to the skill of the unknown makers. ‘Some pieces are…

‘I've always had a spirit of adventure; an urge to discover what lies beyond the horizon. I was born in France, raised in Algeria, and as an adult I've worked all over the world. Wherever I was posted, I sought out new challenges. My inspiration often came from the travellers of the 18th and 19th centuries – some well-known, others much less so – who set sail into uncharted seas and ventured across unmapped lands, often at tremendous risk. For the last 30 years, I've been trying to recreate some of their journeys. In the South Pacific, for example, I retraced the voyage of French navigators Louis-Antoine de Bougainville and Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse. Both continued the work of James Cook and charted the Pacific Islands, like Tahiti,…

Q1 How can I hide clutter in a small home without it feeling cramped? This is an age-old problem. The simplest answer is to start with less, so decluttering is always the first step. Sort through your belongings and separate what you use daily from what you only need seasonally. Anything that doesn't fit into either category can usually go – if it doesn't serve a purpose or bring you joy, it doesn't deserve to take up space. Your home (and your mind) will feel lighter for it. Once you've pared back, focus on smart storage. Each room should include at least one multifunctional piece: an ottoman in the living room, a bed with hidden drawers, or a bathroom mirror with built-in shelving. Use the space under your bed for…

Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration Housed in a restored 18th-century building in Clerkenwell, London, and scheduled to open its doors in spring 2026 is the world's largest space dedicated to illustration. Founded by Quentin Blake (and housing 40,000 of his works), this vibrant cultural centre will include a library, gardens and three temporary exhibitions. The venue will also host residencies, talks and workshops, placing a firm focus on visual storytelling in all its glorious diversity. In the words of Blake himself, the new space represents ‘An international centre for the display, discussion and celebration of the extraordinary wealth of illustration.’ qbcentre.org.uk Vanbrugh300 London Museum Running throughout 2026 and taking over six country houses across the UK, Vanbrugh300 marks the tercentenary year of Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726), one of the great…

Check ahead Please contact event organisers to check for postponements & last-minute cancellations FAIRS AROUND THE UK Northern Ireland 3rd Ballyhackamore Art, Antiques and Collectables Fair, St Colmcille's Church, 191a Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3JB. waringfield.com North & Scotland 4th York Racecourse Antique & Collectors Fair, York Racecourse, Knavesmire Road, York, YO23 1EX. dualco.co.uk 4th Ilkley Antiques, Vintage & Collectables Fair, Clarke Foley Centre, Cunliffe Road, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 9DZ. 18th Vintage Flea Market, EXO Centre, Lincolnshire Showground, nr Lincoln, LN2 2NA. asfairs.com @asfairs 24th-25th The Great Wetherby Racecourse Antiques and Collectors Fair, Wetherby Racecourse, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 5EJ. jaguarfairs.com 31st-1st Saltaire Vintage Home & Fashion Fair, Victoria Hall, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, BD18 3JS. roseandbrownvintage.co.uk Central 4th Cambridge Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair, Cambridge Regional College, King Hedges…

PURSUING THE PAST Choose from a digital discovery report or from five storytelling house history packages (including a giclée fine art print and the option of bound presentation books). Time scale: Digital findings delivered in 4-10 weeks. Storytelling house history packages delivered in 8-16 weeks. Price: Digital discovery reports cost £175-£1,350. Storytelling history packages cost £330-£6,000. pursuingthepast.co.uk MELANIE BACKE-HANSEN House histories can range from a shorter history looking at the key owners, occupants and events, through to in-depth books where the client is looking to uncover as much as possible. The choice of final presentation ranges from a simple bound book to a bespoke gift book. Time scale: Varies depending on the property and the client's brief. Price: Price on application. Melanie provides both shorter and more in-depth approaches, and…

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Irish hedge chairs get their distinctive name from the hedgerows, where makers sourced wood for free. They might use a range of timbers – naturally curved branches of ash for the arms; strong elm for the seat; hawthorn for smaller pieces. Particularly characterful, crudely made or asymmetric examples are sometimes referred to as famine chairs. The Irish potato famine of the mid-19th century saw more than a million people die of starvation and disease, with millions more emigrating in search of work and a better life. It's incredibly touching to think of the history of a chair made during this dark and desperate period. Imagine a husband whittling wood to make a chair for his ailing wife, the two huddled by the fire, hungry yet holding onto hope… However, without…

1. An artist's best friend Estimate £1,000-£1,500 | Sold £21,801 Fans of the leading British artist David Hockney will know how much he doted on his pet dachshunds. Sold at Phillips last autumn, Little Stanley Sleeping was a poster made for the show ‘David Hockney: A Retrospective’, held at the Tate Gallery in the late 1980s. Hockney went on to create a further series of drawings and paintings of Stanley and companion Boodgie in Malibu in 1995, in response to the death of his great friend, the American art curator Henry Geldzahler. The artist recalls: ‘I wanted desperately to paint something loving… I felt such a loss of love I wanted to deal with it in some way. I realised I was painting my best friends, Stanley and Boodgie. They're…

Need an answer? Send your questions to: homesandantiques@ourmedia.co.uk Q3 We're clearing out my parents’ home. How do I know which items might be worth keeping or valuing? It's a good question, as having recently cleared out the contents of my mother's cottage, I know how difficult this can be. There's a lot of emotional baggage, and a definite case of heart versus head. Do you really need to keep that 1960s butter dish, or that cracked souvenir from the Isle of Wight? What to do with Aunty Dot's vast collection of coronation mugs? And how on earth do you get Grandpa's carriage clock valued? All of this can seem overwhelming. Remain calm: it's best to tackle this in stages. The first step, if you suspect there may be items of…

1 J FRANCES ANTIQUES French soupieres, soup bowls, plates, trays, pots, cutlery, and dishes make up the mainstay of self-declared hoarder and treasure hunter Jodie's stock, perfect for adorning a dining table. The Insta account that accompanies the website store, which Jodie runs from her home in Creeting St Peter in Suffolk, is fun to follow for updates on latest stock and for glimpses of her buying trips in France. jfrancesantiques.co.uk @jfrancesantiques 2 MAISON FÊTE ET CIE You may not have the budget for many of the items available from this London-based online shop run by Miranda Lance, the doyenne of vintage and antique tablescaping, but it's worth a nose just for the delectable inspiration. Think exquisitely styled cutlery, tureens, antique French table linen, as well as antique-inspired pieces such as menu cards,…