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Arts & Literature, Culture, Homes, Magazines, Previews, Reviews

Previews: Country Life Magazine – March 20, 2024

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Country Life Magazine – March 20, 2024: The latest issue features:

Riding to the rescue

James Alexander-Sinclair hails the remarkable revival of the gardens at Dowdeswell Court, Gloucestershire, the charming Cotswolds home of Jade Holland Cooper and Julian Dunkerton

The cutting-garden diaries

In the second of a series of articles, Oxfordshire flower grower Anna Brown shares her tips on creating a floral spring spectacular

Great nurseries

Growing sweet violets has been a family passion since 1866 at Groves Nursery in Bridport, Dorset, as Tilly Ware discovers

 ‘After everything they do, we owe them’

Service dogs and horses risk life and limb to keep us safe. Katy Birchall salutes the work of a charity supporting these animal heroes in retirement

Mark Cocker’s favourite painting

The Nature writer lauds a work by a masterful wildlife painter

Where traffic stops for sacred cows

Dairy farmer Jamie Blackett is heartened to witness cattle worship on a trip to Rajasthan

New series: The legacy

In the third instalment of this new series, Kate Green celebrates the Revd John Russell’s role in the emergence of the terrier

The very nature of Middle-earth

James Clarke visits the magical Malvern Hills to explore a land-scape that so inspired Tolkien

Planters punch

Amelia Thorpe picks garden pots that make a sizeable statement

The good stuff

Hetty Lintell ushers in spring with a selection of floral favourites

Interiors

Soak up the style with an array of elegant bathroom fittings and furnishings from Amelia Thorpe

Kitchen garden cook

Fresh spring onions steal the show, says Melanie Johnson

Grandeur in granite

The restored Cluny Castle in Aberdeenshire is equipped for a future as prosperous as its colourful past, finds John Goodall

It’s a kind of dark magic

Whitby jet and mourning go hand in hand, but is it time to reassess this beautiful heritage gemstone, asks Harry Pearson

How to revive a classic

Michael Billington puts himself in the director’s chair as he ponders spectacular remakes of plays by Ibsen and Chekhov

Back to square one

What is it about cryptic crosswords that has kept us racking our brains for the past 100 years? Rob Crossan has all the answers

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

New Zealand Design Tour: ‘The Folly’ Island Cabin

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The Local Project (March 19, 2024) – The philosophical intent of The Folly by Chesire Architects is to provide a gentle cabin retreat for its owners. As such, the architect is concerned about employing a built interior quality of calm and repose to the cabin. Positioned on a clifftop in Takapuna, New Zealand,

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to The Secluded Cabin 00:44 – A 25-year Long Process 01:35 – Incorporating Considered Luxury 02:22 – The Cabin Floor Plan 03:17 – A Warm Material Palette 04:30 – The Collaborative Process 05:11 – Inspired by Personal Memories

The Folly is an end piece of a project that started near thirty years prior and is a single house with steps down the clifftop. To complement the original luxurious home, the architect built The Folly on the far northern edge of the landscape to embrace the sun and views. With each Chesire Architects projects there is an element of managed revelation, so that when one arrives there is hint of something before the reveal is slowly rolled out. Designed to look like a modern yet rusted shed, The Folly can be seen across the landscape from the main home, yet it isn’t until approach that its charm is revealed.

Following the house tour through the entry, there is a realisation that there is a level of consideration and luxury provided through the choice of materials, decor and interior design. The cabin appears to look casual and informal yet, through its meticulously planned interior design and architecture, a certain level of luxurious indulgence is felt. The floor plan of the cabin is kept quite simple as the architect has built it to serve two functions. One half is the garden shed and the other is the retreat and guesthouse with kitchen. The inside of the home is rectangular in shape and everything, such as the kitchen, lounge space and two-way fireplace, is visible upon entrance. Outside is an open-air terrace where one can sit and look out to the ocean.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

San Francisco Design: Tour Of ‘Hidden House’

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The Local Project (March 9, 2024) – Located on Telegraph Hill, a meticulously preserved locale in San Francisco, Hidden House breaks away from conventional architectural styles and emerges as a contemporary house amid the historical backdrop of the city.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Contemporary House 01:13 – The Three Basic Components and Zones 02:14 – The Collage of Materials 03:05 – Capturing Spontaneity and Dynamism 03:30 – The City of San Francisco 03:56 – Tying Spaces Together Through Light 05:25 – Proud Moments

To realise the project, OPA demonstrates contextual sensitivity with the facade, which features timber as well as a traditional bay window with extensive glazing, fitting for the streetscape. Furthermore, the facade is adorned with wooden panels transitioning from vertical to horizontal orientations, symbolising contemporary innovation over traditional craftmanship. The contemporary house is composed of three fundamental elements. The house tour unveils how the facade of the home serves as a disguise, concealing the inner workings of the residence along with its modern interior design and architecture.

Additionally, the unique house boasts two distinct zones, each with its own character and personality. One zone presents a vertical and abstract aesthetic, where the materiality is obscured by vibrant blue paint, while the other exudes a raw and refined charm. The initial zone aims to immerse visitors in a psychological experience, utilising colour as a bold element within the home’s interior design, despite its relatively low cost compared to other features. Transitioning to the second zone of the contemporary house, OPA has achieved a strikingly contrasting effect. In this area, materials are expressed in their raw and refined forms, all oriented horizontally.

#House#Abstract#TheLocalProject

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Design: ‘Invisible House’ In Joshua Tree, California

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The Local Project (March 5, 2024) – A highly minimalist, almost invisible home, The Invisible House reflects the natural beauty and art of the desert landscape. A 1,680-square-metre, three-bedroom, four-bathroom invisible home cantilevered 30 metres off the ground, Invisible House is the innovative and imaginative collaboration between film producers and owners Chris and Roberta Hanley and architect Tomas Osinski.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Invisible Home 01:07 – The Evolution of the Landscape 01:56 – Conceptualising the Home 02:49 – An External Illusion 03:30 – The Material Palette 04:08 – Surprising Theatrical Moments 04:42 – Proud Moments

The invisible home is located on 36 hectares of land in Joshua Tree National Park and features a mirrored exterior to reflect the ever-changing landscape and create a dialogue between object and site. “We were drawn to the desert of Joshua Tree. We would always come out here, we see it as an escape,” says Chris. “We were looking for a place with rocks … and then we just had to pull it together and do it,” says Roberta. After exploring the site, Chris and Roberta’s vision for the invisible home was quickly conceived.

As filmmakers and creatives, their intention was to create, approaching the house as an art object and a space to facilitate entertainment, creativity and contemplation. They were inspired by their interest in large-scale projects with minimalist design, a vast network of artists and a passion for architecture. Once inside the Airbnb guesthouse there are solar and thermal systems, 68-square-metre projection wall, large kitchen and a 30-metre indoor solar pool. “We drew on the idea of the pool as an ecosystem so there would be more moisture and you wouldn’t dry out here and used glass walls on both sides of the pool.” says Roberta, “it’s a living room, we put the pool in the living room.

Arts & Literature, Culture, Homes, Magazines, Previews, Reviews

Previews: Country Life Magazine – March 6, 2024

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Country Life Magazine – March 5, 2024: The latest issue features The Country Life Top 100 – Britain’s leading exponents of country-house architecture, interior design, gardens and specialist services…

The Top 100 builders, architects, interior decorators and garden designers in Britain

Welcome to the eighth edition of our guide to Britain’s leading exponents of country-house architecture, interior design, gardens and specialist services

New series: The legacy

In the first of this new series, Kate Green celebrates Dame Miriam Rothschild’s remarkable contribution to the nation as a pioneer of wildflower gardening

Reach for the Skye

Following in the slipstream of swimming cattle, Joe Gibbs enjoys safe passage to the Isle of Skye courtesy of the world’s last manual turntable ferry

Hail the conquering heroes

Jack Watkins is in the saddle for a canter through 100 years of the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival’s Blue Riband event, the Gold Cup

Arts & antiques

Works by a whole host of great artists are more accessible than you might imagine. Carla Passino talks to leading art dealers about the Old Masters you could collect

Sir Alistair Spalding’s favourite painting

The artistic director admires a religious fresco that encourages contemplation and reflection

Out of Africa

Carla Carlisle reflects on the life of Karen Blixen after visiting the author’s former home in Kenya

Renewal and recovery

The restoration of Boston Manor House in Greater London offers a fascinating insight into changing tastes, reveals Charles O’Brien

The Devil wears parsley

March can be the month of all weathers, warns Lia Leendertz

The masked singer

Jack Watkins goes in search of the elusive, enchanting woodlark

London Life

  • Cashing in with Russell Higham
  • Celebrating Claridge’s
  • Revisiting James Burton’s beat with Carla Passino
  • Jack Watkins finds change in the air at the Natural History Museum

Stancombe revisited

Marion Mako visits Stancombe Park, Gloucestershire — Waugh’s garden inspiration for Brideshead

Kitchen garden cook

Melanie Johnson harnesses the subtle depth of flavour of leeks

And so to sleep…

Hemlock is a pretty addition to riverbanks, but its charm ends there, says Deborah Nicholls-Lee

The claws are out

Simon Lester shares the thrill of an encounter with the secretive native white-clawed crayfish

The good stuff

Patterned or pastel? Hetty Lintell showcases the finest waistcoats

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Design Tour: Morris Cove House, Long Island, NY

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The Local Project (February 28, 2024) – Located on a narrow peninsula in Sag Harbor, with access to water on all sides, Morris Cove by Bates Masi + Architects is a peaceful lake home.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Peaceful Lake Home 00:50 – Designing for the Landscape 02:19 – Accomodating for the Weather 02:44 – The Layout of the Home 03:51 – A Character Filled Material Palette 05:00 – An Extension of the Architecture 05:28 – Favourite Aspects of the Home

The architects, Paul Masi and Aaron Weil, whose personal affinity for this part of the world and appreciation for the site’s heritage enhanced the architecture and interior design of this peaceful lake home, have crafted a family house that will, over time, ameliorate the site’s natural conditions and deepen the residents’ connection to the landscape. Bates Masi + Architects were approached by the clients – a large family “whose love of this special place makes them stewards of the site more than just owners of it,” notes Paul – to conceive a peaceful lake home. “Previously, there was a home here and, frankly, it was contributing to the erosion of the property, so one of our goals was to look at a new design that would be beneficial to the property.”

Therefore, Bates Masi + Architects decided against a renovation or refurbishment, opting instead for a family house that takes cues from Arts and Crafts style architecture and contemporary design ideals. The result is a family house that pays deference to the landscape while responding to the clients’ patterns of living and briefing requirements. Stretching along the peninsula and oriented towards the water, the architecture encompasses five pavilions beneath an overarching roof structure, including a kitchen, dining and living area as well as bedrooms and bathrooms.

Arts & Literature, Culture, Homes, Magazines, Previews, Reviews

Previews: Country Life Magazine – Feb 28, 2024

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Country Life Magazine – February 27, 2024: The latest issue features ‘Britain’s Top Dogs’ – Our favorites, decade by decade…

Arts & Literature, Culture, Homes, Magazines, Previews, Reviews

Previews: Country Life Magazine – Feb 21, 2024

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Country Life Magazine – February 21, 2024: The ‘The Fine Arts Issue’ – Artists who say it with flowers and the AI debate; Wig law, daffodils and how does your hedgerow grow?….

Artificial art

With the technology powering artificial intelligence advancing so rapidly, what can artists do to protect their original work?

Blooming marvellous

Michael Prodger examines how flowers have inspired artists for centuries, from the ancient Egyptians up to the present day

On a wig and a prayer

The periwigs that were a 17th-century status symbol are still a mainstay of our legal system, as Agnes Stamp discovers

Hedge of eternity

They have long been used to contain cattle or define boundaries, but hedges can be beautiful, too, argues Charles Quest-Ritson

Trumpet majors

Alan Titchmarsh takes a wander with Wordsworth as he dreams of spring daffodils ‘fluttering and dancing in the breeze’

Norman Foster’s favourite painting

The architect falls under the spell of a gritty, but humorous work

All in a day’s work

Jamie Blackett is ready to man the barricades to scupper plans for an unwanted national park

Brothers in art

John Goodall applauds the restoration of Leighton House in London, which formed the hub of a 19th-century celebrity circle

Man of the world

Mary Miers follows the globe-trotting Sir John Lavery from Ireland to Africa and beyond

Follow your art

An inspiring oil painting was at the centre of a heist with a happy ending, reveals Carla Passino

Where be dragons?

A protective force in China and Wales, but a symbol of greed and evil in England: Lucien de Guise delves into dragon lore

The good stuff

Hetty Lintell celebrates the best of the Art Deco era with earrings old and new, but always modern

Is this London’s most exquisite hotel room?

The astonishing King’s Lodge suite at The Connaught is fit for a monarch, finds Rosie Paterson

Interiors

Amelia Thorpe shares the very best of London Design Week

A seed of an idea

Tilly Ware meets the wild-seed pioneer ‘nurturing the future’

A tower of thorns

Ben Lerwill finds the salt of the earth on the coast of Scotland

Kitchen garden cook

Melanie Johnson on rhubarb

Love and marriage

A real-life couple are in harmony on stage, finds Michael Billington

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Architecture: Cliffside House In New South Wales

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The Local Project (February 16, 2024) – Cliffside by Thomas Hamel & Associates is an interior designers own home located on the South Coast of NSW, with an enchanting character and scenic setting that captures immediate attention.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to An Interior Designers Own Home 00:41 – A Magical Site 01:35 – The Evolution of the Style and Mood 02:13 – Robust Materials and Textures 03:53 – Blending the Old and New 04:33 – A New Passion for Gardening 04:52 – Favourite Aspects

Nestled amid boulders, Cliffside emerges as a dream home that caters to every need. Located an hour south of Sydney within the Royal National Park, the home boasts a layout that closely aligns with the owners’ preferences, yet it lacked a personalised touch to truly make it their own. To address this during the design process, Thomas Hamel of Thomas Hamel & Associates – who is also the client – focused on fulfilling his and his partner’s needs and desires for a residence that would serve as their forever home.

As seen in the house tour of an interior designers own home, the style and mood of the interior have evolved organically, shaped by the owners’ cherished collections of treasures and souvenirs. Drawing inspiration from the boulders and the coastal location of the beach house, Thomas Hamel & Associates curated a palette for the interior of Cliffside that harmonised with its environment. This led to the incorporation of cohesive materials throughout the home, such as custom-designed wallpaper from Los Angeles, imparting a natural plaster texture. Complementing this, the furnishings exhibit a similar sense of harmony, featuring rough-hewn timbers reminiscent of forest elements turned into sculptural pieces.

Arts & Literature, Culture, Homes, Magazines, Previews, Reviews

Previews: Country Life Magazine – Feb 14, 2024

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Country Life Magazine – February 13, 2024: The latest ‘How Do I Love Thee?’ – Let me count the ways; Rough collies, red roses and royal caviar; Glass acts – the coolest conservatories; Head start – why real gentlemen wear hats….

The romance of the rose

With its velvety, softly scented depths, the red rose has long beguiled lovers. Charles Quest-Ritson falls under its spell

Thoroughly good eggs

Tom Parker Bowles savours the unctuous delights of caviar from the mother-daughter team at King’s Fine Foods, ethically farmed and utterly delicious

Taking the rough with the smooth

Famed for their loyalty, rough collies are happy finding hidden sheep, bounding up Munros or simply curling up with children. Katy Birchall meets Lassie

In the hat of the moment

Time was when every gentleman of every background wore a hat. It’s time to fall back in love with bowler, beret and bonnet, recommends John F. Mueller

Interiors

Amelia Thorpe admires the most stylish conservatories

Sir Karl Jenkins’s favourite painting

The composer chooses an ethereal Italian scene that literally reflects his own music

Behind the scenes at the cathedral

Fiona Reynolds explores the environs of St Albans in Hertfordshire, from the longest nave in Europe to the River Ver

A Georgian reinvention

With imagination and style, late-18th-century Marlwood Grange in Gloucestershire has been transformed into a family home fit for the 21st century, discovers Jeremy Musson

The good stuff

Hetty Lintell gets a handle on the most colourful handbags

Music to our ears

As the famous opera house at Glyndebourne, East Sussex, turns 90, the gardens are more glorious than ever. Tiffany Daneff admires a symphony of planting

More pudding, pease

Tom Parker Bowles tucks into the succulent, comforting suet pudding, an old favourite that deserves to return to our plates

More than a pretty face

Admired for his portrayal of dewy eyes and diaphanous fabrics, John Singer Sargent rose to the top of the portrait-painting world. Mary Miers follows his career from peripatetic childhood to Society favourite