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Paris 1924, when sport came headfirst into an intoxicating mix of art, fashion and desire
When the Olympics opened in Paris in 1924, the French capital was already gripped by a ferocious blend of art, literature, cinema, fashion and a wild desire to dance. Sport merged into this culture to become the pinnacle of an extraordinary time, as Mary Miers reveals.
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Before the palazzo there was Petersfield: The Hampshire cottage where Peggy Guggenheim learned to love the art world
Humble Yew Tree Cottage stands in stark contrast to the excesses of this great art collector, but was a formative period in her life and is the subject of a new exhibition.
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Ballone Castle: How a roof-less shell inhabited by cows became medieval modernism at its finest
The restoration of the ruined tower house that is Ballone Castle in Easter Ross — the home of Lachie and Annie Stewart — has created the opportunity for a remarkable contemporary essay in the spirit of the Arts-and-Crafts Movement, as Mary Miers discovers. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Perugia and rural Umbria: Where to go, what to see, and the best places to eat, drink and stay
Mary Miers explores what the capital of Umbria and its surrounding hilltowns have to offer.
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A castle saved for the ages — and now you can rent it by the weekend
Fairburn Tower is the latest magnificent building saved and given a new life by The Landmark Trust. Mary Miers takes a look.
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Leuchie: The house and garden where the 1960s meet the 1690s
A Modernist home created during the 1960s within the walled garden of a historic house stylishly blends the contemporary and the historical. Mary Miers reports; photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Gleneagles Townhouse review: The contemporary townhouse hotel with a beguiling history
Gleneagles Townhouse has seemingly, and impressively, matched the lofty standards set by its country cousin, Gleneagles hotel, finds Mary Miers, on a visit to the hotel, member's club and all-day restaurant rolled into one.
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Balmoral: A Highland paradise, and the much-loved royal family summer escape since 1848
Mary Miers takes a look at a much-loved home of the Royal Family, Balmoral.
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Life on the islands of Britain: 'Mesmerising in its beauty and deeply cruel in equal measure’
They may not be home to great cities or blue lagoons, but our British islands are places of insular retreat that encapsulate extremes of weather, architecture, landscape and emotion, says Mary Miers.
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In Focus: Walter Sickert, the artist who dragged Modern Art into Victorian Britain
Walter Sickert introduced Victorian Britain to Modern art, yet is best known for his drab-toned nudes on iron bedsteads. Mary Miers considers the career of an individualist who was both radical and charming.
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In Focus: How Italy inspired JMW Turner
Mary Miers considers how the country that fascinated Turner from youth shaped his artistic vision.
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English Tweed: The cloth made 'to look like grandpa wore it, but to feel like butter'
You might think tweed, named for the Scottish pronunciation of ‘twill’, is only made north of the border. Not so, says Mary Miers, who finds English makers are becoming a force to be reckoned with. Photographs by Mark Williamson.
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In Focus: How Fabergé created his delicate, technical, imaginative, whimsical and always recognisable eggs, only to die 'exhausted and broken'
Against a backdrop of war and revolution, the mesmerising work of an imperial goldsmith sparked an Anglo-Russian phenomenon. Mary Miers considers the international success of Fabergé, now being celebrated in an exhibition at the V&A Museum.
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A weekend (or longer) on Skye, Scotland: What to do, where to eat, where to stay
How to make the most of one of Scotland's most beautiful islands, by Mary Miers.
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In Focus: The Glasgow Boys, the Scottish painters inspired by an iconic French Naturalist
Mary Miers revisits the work of a group of rebellious young artists who challenged the artistic establishment and became an international sensation — and who are now the subject of a new exhibition. Pictures courtesy of the Fleming Collection.
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The Solway Firth AONB: 'The most delicious piece of sea-coast to be found within the limits of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales'
After the wild grandeur of the fells, the flat, arable plain north-west of the Lake District comes as a slight anti-climax, but persevere: England’s least known AONB offers unexpected delights.
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In Focus: The Suffolk sculptor who ended up rubbing shoulders with Laurie Lee, Lucian Freud and George Melly in 1960s London
The sculptor Elisabeth Frink (1930–93) responded to the climate of the Cold War with powerful works exploring man and beast as predator and prey. As her work undergoes a timely reappraisal, Mary Miers considers her career.
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In Focus: The artist and printmaker who was 'master of the unassuming sublime'
Mary Miers considers the contribution made to British art by William Nicholson (1872–1949).
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Blair Castle: Feudal power, sophisticated patronage, rebellion and romance
Reinvented several times, this ducal seat reveals to Mary Miers the story behind the Rococo palace in the wilds. Photographs by Simon Jauncey.
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Cobblers Cove, Barbados: A paradise of palms and pastels, with sparkling beaches and British interiors
Mary Miers visited a beautiful Caribbean oasis, designed by a theatre designer and Lulu Lytle of Soane Britain.
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Bruges, Belgium: The city of arts and crafts, a cultural hub for the last 700 years
Mary Miers visited all the artisanal wonders Bruges has to offer, from Flemish Masters to chocolate-makers.
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Hacienda La Caravedo, Peru: The oldest working distillery in the Americas, talented horses and a lasting memory of peace
Mary Miers visited the lesser-known side of Peru for a lesson in relaxation. She found nature reserves, geoglyphs and a jolly good pisco sour.
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The book that combats disposable culture with tips and tricks for the perfect restoration
Mary Miers applauds an evocative portrait of a group of London Georgian houses cherished back to life.
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When small is beautiful: 10 types of cottage you’ll find in Britain
Dream cottages come in many forms, from the half-timbered to the stone-built. Mary Miers casts her eye across the country and looks at the full panoply of rustic beauty they have to offer.
