Open fires v wood-burning stoves: The grate debate
We can only thank you all for forgiving our sub-editor's Dad-joke-level pun in the title of this article — the list of pros-and-cons put together by Arabella Youens is fantastically helpful... and the information on just how efficient log-burners are compared to open fires is eye-opening.
Six things you need to know before painting a room off-white — and five beautiful tints to consider
Some of the best designers in the business spoke to Amelia Thorpe for this article right at the end of 2021 on the 'sea of confusing choices' that greet anyone trying to keep things neutral.
The Country Life Top 100 architects, interior designers, craftsmen, builders and garden designers in Britain
Our top 100 list has now been going for half a decade, and is the absolute best starting point for anyone considering doing serious work to a country house.
At home with Cath Kidston: Inside the designer’s gorgeous country home
Our interiors guru Giles Kime has known designer Cath Kidston for decades. Back in April she invited him to take a look inside her Grade-II listed Cotswolds home.
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The transformation of an old Cotswolds farmhouse into a beautiful eight-bedroom house
Rosanna Bossom's work at Manor Farmhouse in Conderton, Worcestershire, came under the microscope in February.
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Seven beautiful new looks in kitchens, from classic cabinetry to 80s revival
New, old, retro... the appetite we have for reinventing our kitchens knows no limits, and this round-up of some of the cleverest new ideas in the area clearly struck a chord.
10 things I wish I’d known about doing up old houses before I started, by Country Life’s interiors guru Giles Kime
In November, Country Life’s executive editor and resident interiors expert Giles Kime shared the lessons he’s learnt from the experience of dragging a succession of houses into the 21st-century. It's fascinating — especially his views on following trends, or rather not following them.
The interior trends of 2022
‘'Maximalism is here to stay — minimalists would be advised to emigrate,’ warned Giles right at the start of the year.
Nine of the best potting sheds
Shed life has been one of the big lifestyle trends since the Pandemic, and this round-up included some truly lovely garden buildings.
A country kitchen in Berkshire that proves a small kitchen can be bright, light and beautiful
You don't need hundreds of square feet to make a really lovely country kitchen, as Sophie Eadie and Fi Crole showed with this design in Berkshire.
See Country Life's top 10s of 2022
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The 'breathtakingly magnificent' English country gardens laid out on the Amalfi Coast, and the story of how they got thereKirsty Fergusson follows the Grand Tour to Campania in Italy, where the English combined their knowledge and love of plants with the rugged landscape to create gardens of extraordinary beauty.
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'The Wild Rabbit is a paean to Lady Carole Bamford's ethos of comfortable, yet incredibly spoiling accommodation'At the heart of Kingham, one of Oxfordshire’s most historic and beguiling villages, The Wild Rabbit offers the chance to enjoy the authentic charm of the Cotswolds with all the trappings of a five-star hotel.
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A tub carved from a single block of San Marino marble — and nine more beautiful things for the ultimate bathroomThere's a bathroom out there for everyone — whatever your preferred style.
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In search of the perfect comfy armchairWhat makes the ideal cosy, comfortable armchair? Arabella Youens asks some of Britain's top furniture experts to find out.
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All the new entries in the Country Life Top 100 for 2025Each year, our Country Life Top 100 is completely revised and updated — and several new names appear.
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The timeless elegance of English country house style, with Guy Goodfellow and Steven RodelTwo of Britain's top interior designers share their wisdom with James Fisher on the Country Life Podcast.
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Dawn Chorus: Meet Farrow & Ball’s new paint colours, shop the must-have hotel merchandise and find out what Tom Parker Bowles likes to order from GreggsIt’s time to redecorate because paint connoisseurs Farrow & Ball have added 12 new colours to their palette.
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Why size doesn't matter if you've got some decorating derring-doA small space can be just as appealing as a large one — as long as you decorate with confidence, says a new book.
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What this bathroom says about the return of the shiny surface -
The art of glass: Is this the ultimate greenhouse for family entertaining?This versatile greenhouse, designed for a family in Kent, and our round-up of the best orangeries, garden rooms and glasshouses is the only indoor-outdoor space inspiration you need.
