If you go down to the Chelsea Flower Show today, you're sure of a big surprise... Chiefly Country Life's 'Outdoor Drawing Room', an Italianate-style space, inspired by the loggias you might hope to find on the ground floor of a beautiful country home — in Italy or the UK.
We're thrilled at the reception we've had from visitors to the show — and even more thrilled that Chelsea's judges have given our drawing room a four-star award.
The stand was the brainchild of the magazine's Interiors Editor, Giles Kime, but also interior designer Isabella Worsley and landscape designer Hugo Elwes, of Studio Elwes — two hugely exciting and talented, young, British creatives (Isabella is 36 and Hugo is 34).
The project began more than six months ago, in Isabella's living room, where we discussed what a warm and joyful space that makes the most of both of the indoors and great outdoors might look like to the Country Life reader.
Since then, we've exchanged more emails than we can count, argued over the logistics of how best to manoeuvre 1,250 copies of the magazine from one part of London to the next, and discussed the merits a myriad different plants.
It's been an intense four days of building, styling and hoovering — but we are finally ready to welcome as many of you as possible to our stand. We are hugely proud of it — and we hope that by visiting, or simply looking at these images, you are inspired to create your own transitional space to allow maximum enjoyment of a garden through to the evening and into the Autumn.
The Country Life 'Outdoor Drawing Room' is at stand PW210 at the Chelsea Flower Show from May 19 to 24 May. For more information, visit the Country Life Chelsea Flower Show hub or the RHS website
Isabella Worsley trained at the KLC School of Design, worked for Guy Goodfellow and the hotelier Kit Kemp, and then set up her own practice; Hugo Elwes studied garden design at the Inchbald School of Design before working for Arabella Lennox Boyd and, most recently, Todd Longstaffe-Gowan before setting up his own design studio.
Isabella designed many of the fabrics on the stand, including the awning — pictured top right — which is her Ionic Stripe silk-linen mix in Copper.
Hugo arranged small, hand-thrown terracotta pots with blush-toned poppies on top of the fireplace. The paint was made to Isabella's specification by Rose of Jericho, which is based in Dorset.
A statement chair from Munder Skiles adds interest and a spot for quiet reading or reflection.
Munder Skiles's elegant Belmont chairs in all-weather wicker sit infront of a stone trough, made from Lansdown limestone by Artorius Faber.
A framed, black and white photograph of the gardens at Iford, in Somerset, hangs above an antique credenza. It was taken by Clive Nichols for Country Life magazine.
To celebrate Country Life's return to the Chelsea Flower Show, we're offering up to 40% off subscriptions to Country Life Magazine. It's our best offer ever; available until June 30, 2025.
-
'Fences have blocked wildlife corridors, causing the wildebeest migration to collapse from 140,000 individuals to fewer than 15,000': Is the opening of the Ritz-Carlton in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve a cause for celebration or concern?In Kenya's iconic Masai Mara region tourism is an important and necessary part of the economy, but the arrival os several large hotel groups — including Ritz-Carlton — have some on edge.
-
‘I get all twitchy when I see people wearing something that really doesn’t belong’: A watch for every summer occasionThere’s a watch for every social summer occasion, from the Mediterranean to muddy festivals. Chris Hall selects some of his favourites.
-
The 'Rose Labyrinth' of Coughton Court, where 200 varieties come together in this world-renowned garden in WarwickshireVal Bourne finds the award winning-roses flourishing at Coughton Court in Warwickshire, where the historic garden is now in the hands of the latest in many generations of the same family. Photography by Clive Nichols.
-
'None of this would be here had the tithe barn not burned down that night’: How the terrifying destruction of a medieval landmark sparked the creation of the magnificent gardens of Bledlow ManorAfter inheriting the Bledlow Manor in 2018, Lord Carrington has been devoted to the thoughtful renewal and replanting of this historic Buckinghamshire garden. Tiffany Daneff reports, with photography by Clive Nichols.
-
'The whole house shook. Everything was white. For four months, it felt as if we were on Mars': The story behind one of Hampshire's most breathtaking gardensWhen Kim Wilkie sculpted a tiered grass amphitheatre behind this 17th-century house, the garden finally settled into place, as Non Morris discovers.
-
Myddleton House: The place that 'will help you learn what true gardening is' is open to everyone, and just 30 minutes from central LondonE. A. Bowles created a horticultural playground in the gardens of Myddleton House that was years ahead of its time, and continues to influence even today. Isabel Bannerman takes a look.
-
Wakehurst: 500 years of history, 2.4 billion seeds, 500 acres of planting, and scientists who might just save us allCharles Quest-Ritson takes a look at the amazing work that's been done to update Wakehurst, Kew's trailblazing outpost in Sussex.
-
A dozen slices of al fresco inspiration from the best designers in BritainAmelia Thorpe shares her pick of the most beautiful outdoor furniture and accessories to help you make the most of summer.
-
'Victorian magnificence skilfully simplified and distilled': A peek at the restoration of Somerleyton Hall gardensRecent works have retained the former theatrical splendours of these gardens near Lowestoft, Suffolk, finds Tilly Ware.
-
Alan Titchmarsh: I've tried every slug control known to man, and these are the only things that have ever worked for meAlan Titchmarsh is as charming, warming and friendly a man as anyone you'll ever meet. Unless, of course, you're a slug... in which case you'll awaken his ruthless side.
