Innholdsfortegnelse for March 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 Antiques and sustainability go hand in hand – after all, cherishing and repurposing pieces was an ‘eco-friendly’ pastime long before it became a trend. Each item carries not only the artistry of its maker, but also the enduring proof that quality outlives fashion – something, I’m sure, you don’t need reminding of. In this issue, we explore what it truly means to be eco-conscious, beyond the obvious. From curating a low-waste kitchen with natural materials and simple swaps (p18) to rediscovering traditional techniques in heritage homes that remain relevant today (p27), there are positive steps anyone can take, no matter how small. On page 88, Celia Rufey traces the journey…

Bring the outside in Love visiting formal gardens? Now you can admire the views in your own home with Little Greene’s latest wallpaper collaboration with the National Trust. ‘In the Garden’ features eight designs inspired by real gardens, including Lilly Pads, based on the lakes of the Stackpole Estate, and Castle Garden (shown) depicting the planting at Sissinghurst Castle. Each coloured to coordinate with Little Greene paints. From £122 per roll. littlegreene.com Fresh shades for spring Earthborn has added 12 new shades to its collection, including Thimble Lane, a soft blush pink, and Riverbank, a zingy green (each pictured). Designed for both classic and contemporary interiors, the colours have been developed to balance timeless style with modern appeal and showcase greens, blues and neutrals, as well as a lovely golden…

Without the generosity of one remarkable man, Sir James Roberts, the Brontë Parsonage Museum might never have come to be. Roberts’ own rags-to-riches story sounds like something from a book. He was born just outside Haworth in West Yorkshire and left school aged 11 to take up work as a spinner in a woollen mill. Despite his humble start in life, he climbed to the very top of the textile industry, ultimately becoming one of the richest self-made men in Britain. The local lad never forgot where he came from, though. In 1928, he used a portion of his wealth to buy Haworth Parsonage, the former home of the Brontë family, for £3,000 and donated it to the Brontë Society, which was founded in 1893 to promote interest in the…

Completely by chance, Edward Ray and his husband Mark Leese came up with a sunny yellow and red kitchen colour scheme that is a perfect match for a collection of Art Deco cups and plates that has been part of Edward’s life since his childhood. The dinner service had belonged to his family’s next-door neighbours, Mr and Mrs Buss. ‘It was their wedding set and I remember admiring its bright floral pattern as a child. I was so fond of them and touched that they had left it to me, along with so many happy memories,’ says Edward. The cherished Hancocks ivoryware is displayed on open shelves in Edward and Mark’s recently refurbished two-bedroom flat in St Leonardson-Sea in East Sussex. Edward, known professionally as Teddy Ray Stylist, is an…

Discovering that the terraced house they had spotted being cleared had been home to the same family for more than 60 years was just the push James and Eleanor Hemsley needed to decide that this was the home for them. Even more happily, it would become the place where they started their own family with daughter Tamsin, now one. When James and Eleanor bought the house in 2020, it had barely been touched since the 1970s so the fittings and decor were firmly of that era. They embarked on a full renovation and moved in a year later. ‘Many features had been removed or covered – original fireplaces replaced with electric fires and faux ceiling tiles added. It was also heavy with swirly carpets and textured wallpaper,’ says Eleanor. What…

In pre-industrial Britain, yarns for clothing and furnishings came from wool and from two similar but unrelated plants – flax (linen) and hemp. Extracting plants from the ground and wool from the sheep’s back, then hand-spinning and weaving yarn into cloth was labour-intensive – so too were the hours spent hand-sewing it. Naturally, fabric was valued. Garments were taken in, let out, handed down and repaired, with textile use in many homes limited to bed sheets, even by the 17th century. By then, raw cotton had arrived from the American Colonies and textile production expanded, still using natural, biodegradable yarns. Britain’s worn textiles were thrown into rubbish dumps and rotted away – except suitable rags that early recyclers collected and sold to paper makers. Change came around 1900 with the…

We arrive in the New Forest under a curtain of torrential rain; windscreen wipers on full throttle, headlights catching glimpses of muntjac deer as gusts batter the car. Crawling up a winding dirt track, Undercastle Cottage reveals itself – a warm, majestic haven glowing invitingly from within. Inside, we’re greeted by an abundant hamper of goodies: local cheeses, cake, butter, biscuits, juice, booze, and the perfect sourdough loaf (alongside dog treats and swan food). Yet, as hard as it is to tear ourselves away from the treats, crossing the toasty flagstone floor reveals the true indulgence: the house itself. Set on the beautiful banks of the Hampshire Avon, with 2,500 metres of private fishing rights, this former salmon keeper’s cottage was discovered by owner Shabs Kay – founder of antique…

1 DOTTY BEE HANDMADE Not only is upcycled vintage fashion good for the planet, it’s also perfect for those wanting to make a statement with their clothing as no two pieces will be the same. Dot, who is based in Devon, makes colourful, patterned, and incredibly popular one-of-a-kind jackets using reclaimed fabrics. To make her jackets, she’ll take textiles such as 1960s Heal’s curtains, a beautiful vintage Scottish wool blanket, a 1980s sleeping bag, an old quilt, or a 1970s floral bedspread. The results are stunning. dottybeehandmade.com; @dottybeehandmade 2 FUTURE FOLKLORE Future Folklore, based at Snoopers Attic in Brighton, handmakes incredible pieces using reclaimed, preloved, second-hand, vintage, antique and seconds fabrics. Each piece is always a one-off, and fashionistas (including Fearne Cotton) can’t get enough of the flamboyant dresses featuring sportswear logos,…

BUY NOW English drinking glasses There has never been a better time to buy early English drinking glasses, as the more ordinary pieces, which once formed the foundations of many great collections, have become increasingly affordable in recent years. Traditionally, collectors liked to showcase variety or evolution with examples of different shapes and styles. Today, however, the focus is far more on the aesthetics and the intricate twists in the stems or unusual shapes. A classic English air-twist or opaque-twist wine glass from the mid-18th century, for example, can be picked up for a very modest amount. The shift in taste toward exceptional pieces allows new collectors to enter the field confidently, and seasoned enthusiasts to expand their displays with charming, well-preserved glasses at remarkably accessible prices. SELL NOW Gilded…

THE GETAWAY Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire Just a hop, skip and jump from London, but a million miles from the stresses of the city, newly refurbished countryside retreat Burnham Beeches makes a perfect escape, whether you’re seeking a Mother’s Day treat or a lavish weekend reset. Built in 1727, today the hotel offers guests a taste of Georgian opulence, but with all the comforts of the 21st century. There are 79 immaculately decorated rooms and suites, plus an elegant bar and restaurant, a wellness suite, and 10 acres of manicured grounds and woodland to roam around. Rooms start from £149 B&B, based on two people sharing. burnhambeecheshotel.com THE DESIGN The Artichoke lampshade Fresh from the studio of Bloomsbury Revisited, the Artichoke lampshade is a covetable and striking design in a sophisticated…

Fabric Wallpaper It’s well documented that having more nature in our lives is good for us. We are a part of nature, after all. One way to connect our homes with the great outdoors is to use green colour palettes as well as furnishings inspired by patterns in plants. Choose a curtain fabric with a leaf motif and team with rustic furniture and vintage pottery…

Earth Building A construction method that employs raw earth to build structures. This ancient practice covers a range of forms, including cob, adobe and wattle-and-daub. Earth building is renowned for creating durable, well-insulated, non-toxic structures, and its sustainability, energy-efficiency and durability have added to a recent increase in interest in these techniques. Lime Plaster A traditional building material made from a mixture of lime, sand and water (additions such as horsehair, other animal hair or plant fibres are sometimes added for reinforcement). It creates a hard but flexible, long-lasting and breathable finish, which is naturally resistant to mould. Unlike modern plaster, it has minimal chemical additives and can last centuries if maintained. Lime Mortar A strong, natural building material used to bind masonry. Sharing the same base as lime plaster…

‘The Brontë siblings made miniature books – they’re handwritten in tiny script, and were designed as magazines for their toy soldiers. These include Charlotte’s second series of what she called ‘The Young Men’s Magazine’, consisting of six tiny volumes. Back in 2011, we owned four. The location of another was unknown at that point in time (although it’s since been acquired by the museum), but its contents had previously been transcribed and published. The final book had been in private ownership since the death of Charlotte. It was the only little book never to have been transcribed, which made it especially desirable. We knew one of the short stories was about a murderer haunted by his victims. His bed curtains set on fire, a precursor to one of the scenes…

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) Dedicated to helping old buildings and the people who care for them, SPAB is a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in heritage buildings. It runs a wide range of courses and workshops – as well as offering hands-on experience through its various ‘working parties’. spab.org.uk Earth Building UK and Ireland (ebuki) With the aim of fostering understanding and appreciation – and furthering the development of building with earth in all its forms – ebuki is a great first port-of-call for all things related to earth building. Its annual Clayfest event offers four days of earth building, learning and connection including talks, hands-on sessions, demos and site visits. ebuki.co Manifest Design Workshop Manifest is an architecture and natural building practice in Gloucestershire…

As the Brontë collection is so wide-ranging, the museum works with a mix of external specialists to help look after the artefacts. Art conservator David Everingham recently carried out work on what’s known as the Apostles’ Cupboard. The dramatic panelled cabinet made an impression on Charlotte when she visited North Lees Hall in Derbyshire, two years before the publication of Jane Eyre. She reimagines it in Bertha Mason’s rooms (the famous madwoman in the attic): ‘the shadows… quiver strangely over the doors of a great cabinet opposite – whose front, divided into 12 panels, bore, in grim design, the heads of the twelve apostles.’ David describes what was involved in the conservation process: ‘TV shows tend to make art conservation look like it involves little more than sweeping a damp…

Several decades on from her primary school days, hand weaver and textile designer Llio James still remembers one particular lesson. She grew up in the small village of Talybont, close to Aberystwyth, in the far reaches of western Wales, and that day her Welsh-speaking school was giving its pupils a local history lesson. The subject was the village’s two wool mills. Located on the banks of Talybont’s two rivers, and powered by waterwheel, the mills had for generations taken wool from local farmers to wash, brush, card and spin into yarn, which was then machine-woven into a tweed cloth sold in the factory shop. The mills continued to operate until the mid-20th century, providing the area with jobs and a sustainable, circular economy. As a child, Llio didn’t think much…

ANTIQUES EXPERT LUKE HONEY Q1 I’ve just inherited my mother’s antique mahogany chest of drawers. Should I have it French polished? First, congratulations on your inheritance. A Georgian or Victorian mahogany chest of drawers is always a nice thing to have, and recently I’ve noticed prices for decent examples creeping upwards at auction, despite years of ‘brown furniture’ being dismissed as unfashionable and out of date. ‘French polishing’ is a specific, labour-intensive and skilled technique that involves thin coats of shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol, applied with a rubbing pad lubricated with oil. The important point to understand is that French polishing developed as a technique in the early 19th century, and was often used to bring out the grain of exotic woods, resulting in a high-gloss finish. So, historically,…