PARED-BACK COUNTRY
Featuring beautifully crafted pieces with cleaner lines than their rustic cousins, this season’s take on country style shows perennial favourites in an elegant new light
A fresh take on the rustic look for rooms with comfort and style.
Seagrass flooring is a traditional option that is firmly back in vogue, and works equally well as a large-scale rug. For an interesting display, collect objects on a simple theme – in this case wooden and ceramic spoons – and show them off to best effect in exhibit boxes such as these.
FURNITURE Sussex console table, H77xw168x D41cm, £850, Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam. ACCESSORIES (From left) Exhibit boxes in White, large, €88 each; medium, €58; all Nomess Copenhagen. Similar wooden mixing spoons, £7 each, Natural Spa Supplies. Small birch spoons, £45 each, Robin Wood at The New Craftsmen. White ceramic spoons, from £10 each; white ceramic birds, £6.95 each; all Serax at Borough Kitchen. Striped porcelain spoons, from £15 each, Justine Allison Ceramics. Ming vase in White, £139, Marimekko at Skandium. Atlantic Wakame block print, £57, Superfolk. Ontario oak frame, £30, Habitat. Faux flowers, £7.50 each; pots, £5 each; all Pimpernel & Partners. Vellum bound books, from £80 each, Guinevere. Seagrass mat, 180cm sq, £130, Pentreath & Hall.
A round pedestal table is an ideal choice for convivial entertaining as the extra leg room offers greater comfort. For a new take on the classic jug of cottage garden flowers, try a terracotta planter filled with low-growing plants. A large verdigris lantern over the table will provide an eye-catching focal point.
FURNITURE Henley six-seater round pedestal table, H75xdiam150cm, £1,175; Suffolk dining chairs in Natural oak, H93xw48xd58cm, £240 each; all Neptune.
FABRIC Curtains in Windmill Wood in Dew on White, linen, £46m, Zoe Glencross Fabric and Home.
ACCESSORIES Hanging Ashbee lantern in Verdigris, £2,340, Charles Edwards. Edge Pot in Sierra Yellow, £78, Skagerak at Skandium. Vintage French tea towels, £15 each; small brush, £5; all Pimpernel & Partners. Olive tumblers, £8.50 each, The Conran Shop. Petunia Hemp rug, diam182cm, £450, Northwood.
For a pared-back scheme, upholstered furniture should have a simple silhouette and minimal detailing. To achieve this look, opt for a neat sofa in a plain linen with no buttoning, while loose covers can be made for existing armchairs. Hints of subtle pattern and colour can be introduced with soft furnishings.
FURNITURE Henry armchair, H81xw83xd96cm, from £2,190, The Odd Chair Company. Southwick Gilt 2.5-seat sofa, H92xw198xd92cm, £6,890 plus 15m of fabric, Sean Cooper Sofas. Antique metal garden table, H61xdiam91cm, £900, Puckhaber.
FABRICS Loose cover in Sahara in Aqua, linen mix, £120m, Threads at GP&J Baker. Sheer curtain in Rimini in Beetle, linen, 300cm wide, £76m, Zoffany. Cushion in Ruslan in Teal, linen, £76m, Volga Linen.
ACCESSORIES Kombu Kelp print, £57, Superfolk. Ontario oak frame, £30, Habitat. Chinese Han dynasty jars, £550 each; Chinese Han dynasty green glaze jar, £480; all Guinevere. Kubu oval basket, £25, I&JL Brown. Billy floor lamp, £732, SCP. Valois aged rug in Blue, 400x300cm, £4,560, Oka.
A dresser has a natural place in any country-style scheme, and this glazed design has clean lines and classic looks. Bring it up to date by stacking ceramics in daily use alongside more treasured pieces. As many of us tend to have a colour we favour, edit accordingly so an accent hue runs throughout.
FURNITURE Similar cabinet, Tall Country cupboard/ kitchen dresser in Grisaille Pale, H220xw111xd45cm, £995, An Angel At My Table. Invisible Green Painted Pembroke chair, H75xw58xd57cm, £1,350, Pedro da Costa Felgueiras and Sarah Kay at The New Craftsmen. ACCESSORIES (On top of cabinet) White cousson pot, £35, I&JL Brown. Vintage crate, £15, Pimpernel & Partners. (On top shelf) Bowl vase in glazed porcelain, £210; Green Brushstroke plate, £55; both Olivia Mcgill.
Mia wine glasses, £26 set of four, LSA International.
Confetti print napkins, £44 set of four, Georgia Bosson.
Vintage bread board, £75, I&JL Brown. Green glass storage jars, from £6 each, Pimpernel & Partners. (On second shelf) Point Duchesse bowl, £58, Anthropologie.
Pencil dish, £34; pencil mug, £25; plain dinner plates, £34 each; side plates, £15 each; all Rachel Dormer Ceramics. (On third shelf) Linen Stripe stoneware in Duck Egg, from £17 for a side plate; fluted bowl, £110; all John Julian. Copenhagen Forest bowl, £295, I&JL Brown. (On bottom shelf) Mia container, £24; Mia recycled carafe, £15; both LSA International. Puritan side plates, £6 each; dinner plates, £8 each; Puritan noodle/snack bowls in Mint, £8 each; all John Lewis. Vintage glass float, £40, I&JL Brown.
To give a classic roll-top bath a contemporary feel, consider simple rather than decorative feet and opt for a delicate painted border instead of an all-over colour. Fixing hooks to a foraged birch branch provides extra hanging space and adds a whimsical touch.
FURNITURE Canterbury freestanding bath with White Deco feet, H65xl176x W80cm, £1,900; Metro floor-standing single-lever bath and shower mixer in Chrome, £3,750; both Fired Earth. Salon chair, H94.5xw51xd59cm, £2,370 plus 2m of fabric, Howe.
FABRICS Café curtain in Grace in Jasper White, linen mix, £110m, Mark Alexander.
Chair in Vintage Canvas, linen, £150m, de Le Cuona.
ACCESSORIES Chandler hooks in Polished finish, £8.30 each; Raydon wall lights in Nickel finish, £167.50 each; all Jim Lawrence. Elisa mirror, £800, Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam. Washed Waffle towels in Ice Blue, Silver and Aloe Green, £24.99 each; Washed Waffle big bath towels in Stone Blue and Navy Blue, £34.99 each; all Linen Me. Painted border on bath in South Bank, £38 for 2.5 litres, Fired Earth. Vintage book, £3.50; vintage bottle, £4; both Pimpernel & Partners. Happ & Stahns perfume, £24, Anthropologie. Tension net rod in Satin Silver, 40-60cm, £9, John Lewis.
This wide-width wallpaper, which evokes the feel of a secluded woodland glade, makes a great substitute for traditional country-style floral papers, while plain upholstery gives the wingback headboard a modern look.
FURNITURE Suffolk double bed in Pearl Cotton, H130xl205xw145cm, £1,650; Luxury Lancaster Hypnos double mattress, £275; both The White Company. Medici side table, H60xw46xd46cm, £285, Oka.
WALL Beech wallpaper in Document Green, 136cm wide, £56.40m, Lewis & Wood.
FABRIC Boudoir cushions and middle quilt in Mason Diamond in White, Green and Grey, cotton, 280cm wide, £138m, Hodsoll Mckenzie at Zimmer+rohde.
ACCESSORIES Green glass lamp with shade, £275, I&JL Brown. Athena pillowcases, £74.95 each; Athena double duvet cover, £379; all Yves Delorme. Crosses quilt, 150x180cm, £450, Georgia Bosson. Linear Stripe white quilt, 150x200cm, £80, John Lewis. Similar rug in Jute Ju-tweed Natural, £39sq m, Crucial Trading.