The new look in kitchens isn’t chic and sleek — it’s decorated and pretty
Arabella Youens spoke to designers who've made it their mission to bring charm and comfort to the most-used room in the house.
The best interior designers in Britain
Our definitive annual look at the best interior designers in the country.
Open fires v wood-burning stoves: The grate debate
Wood-burning stove or open fire? Arabella Youens examined the pros and cons of both options in a piece published in late 2022 that remained popular throughout the winter.
10 ways to insulate a period property
Tim Moulding, an eighth-generation builder, suggested ways to keep an old building warm.
Six things you need to know before painting a room off-white
Trying to choose a neutral? Amelia Thorpe got expert advice on the sea of confusing choices.
Open plan or keep things separate? There is another way
Opening up space either side of a chimney breast transformed this kitchen and dining room, designed by Susie Atkinson.
A country house kitchen which shows how adding new walls can transform your space
When the new owners moved to this Georgian manor house, they decided work was required to bring the interiors back to a design that was more sympathetic to its architecture.
Revolution or evolution? The reinvention of cottage interiors
The renewed popularity of cottages is spawning dramatically different approaches to their interiors, as Giles Kime explained.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
The Country Life Podcast
Listen to all the episodes of the Country Life Podcast.
-
Sold, singed and sunk: The sorry tale of Normanton HallFew English country houses suffered more than Normanton Hall.
-
A Clarkson's Farm of one's own: Five properties with just enough farmland for you and your family, from under £1 millionMoving to the country is one thing; moving to the country and being able to grow and rear all your own food is another level entirely, and all these properties offer exactly that.
-
Interiors of excellence: all the events and inspiration you can't missOver the next month, events at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour and beyond will offer plenty of inspiration for design lovers
-
The Mitford family once called this handsome Cotswolds house a home — and it inspired Nancy's greatest novelMary Miers is enchanted by the one-time home of the Mitfords — whose spirit lingers in the walls.
-
How shoe designer Penelope Chilvers transformed two adjacent rooms into a spacious kitchenArabella Youens meets shoe designer Penelope Chilvers who collaborated with Neptune to transform her kitchen, dining space and bootroom.
-
Country Life's never-before-published photographs of ‘101 Dalmatians’ author Dodie Smith's London flatEvery Monday, Melanie Bryan delves into the hidden depths of Country Life's extraordinary archive to bring you a long-forgotten story, photograph or advert.
-
Giles Kime: 'Why contemporary art should become a feature of everyday life'The belief that contemporary art looks best when displayed against a white, minimalist backdrop is dangerous — it can also make it look irrelevant, our Interiors Editor writes.
-
The designer's room: This kitchen in a Queen Anne-style home is proof that pretty and practical can go hand in handHiding the conveniences of modern-day living lends a timeless feel to the kitchen of this 18th-century house.
-
Giles Kime: 'Darkness in an interior is equally as beguiling as large amounts of natural light'Why subtle lighting is about more than a dimmer switch.
-
'Tones of natural wood and warm olive': Isabella Worsley transforms a coastal Sussex kitchenFor this kitchen on the Sussex coast, Isabella Worsley dispensed with a classic seaside palette and turned to rich colours and natural textures
