Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom – November 2014

When it comes to decking the halls at our house this Christmas, I’m already divided about which decorating route to take. While in the moody, low lighting of the Boffi showroom on our kitchen shoot (page 76), where all was sleek and glossy and the styling dark, luscious and glamorous, I was feeling it for the cool monochromes against the rough-hewn wood; in that soft flickering candlelight the earthy styling was made deliciously luxurious contrasting the deep-hued classical panelling. But then, once back in the office, and seeing the stunning images coming through from our cover house shoot in Herefordshire, I’m now feeling swayed by the new pastoral farmhouse look, in all its rustic gorgeousness. Think salvaged wood, warm texture and colour pop and a bright family kitchen space that is cosy and cool, but unfussy and inviting too. Isn’t this just the sort of place that you’d like to be over the festivities? These juxtaposing styles are carried throughout this issue. In our featured houses, the dark atmospheric kitchen of interior designer Melanie Hill (page 46) sits against the fresh white palette and classic cabinetry of the Martin Moore designed space (page 36), while the mixed themes of warm wood, industrial edge and cool metallics is the look for a family-centric London kitchen (page 58). In our return to Part II of our British-made kitchens feature (page 88), this interweaving of tradition and modernity continues. The trend for blending styles and materials means that even the most ultra-functional of looks are a little bit rough around the edges, but smooth, sleek and ultra-functional too. In with the new, in with the old… my home interiors scheme is actually now shaping up perfectly. Have a wonderful time preparing for Christmas everybody, and see you again just in time for the festivities, and before New Year 2015. Happy holidays!