New Country Living

With a fresh, clean colour palette of soft powdered and dusted shades set against chalky whites and light natural wood, this relaxed country styling has a new contemporary feel. Traditional country elements are updated and incorporate everything required for today's modern living. Simple printed fabrics inspired by nature in restful tones combine with cosy wool plaids and knits to make this a soothing, welcoming home.  

 Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

 Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

 Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

Above image: 'Grafton Throw' and cushion from The White Company bedlinen and home furnishings

Above image: Ceramic Apples and Pears from Rowan & Wren

Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

Above image: Neptune handmade interiors and paints

 Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

Above fabrics and paints: 1.Fabric 'Seaside Spot' in mist 100% cotton by Clarke & Clarke 2.Paint 'Pale Powder' No: 204 by Farrow & Ball 3.Fabric 'Raphael' duckegg 100% cotton by Clarke & Clarke 4.Fabric 'Inverness Tweed' 100% wool by Anta 5.Fabric 'Sail Stripe' in mineral 100% cotton by Clarke & Clarke

Above image: Sims Hilditch interior design and Neptune handmade kitchens - the central island is painted in a shade called 'Mist' from the Neptune paint range which is gorgeous!

Above fabrics and paints: 1.Fabric 'Robert Robertson Lowland' wool tweed by Anta 2.Paint 'Cornforth White' No: 228 by Farrow and Ball 3.Fabric '320 Shalini' linen in violet by Susie Watson Design 4.Fabric 'Cove Check' in Mineral linen by Clarke & Clarke 5.Fabric 'Etoile' natural cotton/linen by Ernst and Matilda

Above image: Sims Hilditch interior design and Neptune handmade interiors

Above image: Sims Hilditch interior design and Neptune handmade interiors

Above: Zinc lined willow baskets and knitted throw from Rowan & Wren

Above image: Neptune handmade interiors

Above images:1.& 6.Sims Hilditch interior design and Neptune handmade interiors 2.Fabric'Robert Robertson Lowland' wool tweed by Anta 3.& 4.Cushions 'Gill Scott' linen & 'Teal' linen by Anta 5.Wallpaper 'Dahlia' sky by Clarke & Clarke

Above image: curtains made from 'Inverness Tweed' 100% wool by Anta  

 Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

 Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

 Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

Above fabrics and cushions: 1.Fabric 'Seabirds' mist 100% cotton Clarke & Clarke 2.Cushion 'Dove' linen by Anta 3.Cushion 'Macintosh' linen Anta 4.Fabric 'Seaside Spots' surf by Clarke & Clarke

 Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

  Above image: Fabrics from the new Clarke & Clarke 'Maritime Prints' range

 Above image: Border Oak fabulous new oak framed houses - photographer and stylist Merry Albright

For more information on anything featured in the above images please click on the names under each photograph to go through to their web sites. The colour swatches featured are my suggestions for accent shades and do not relate to specific paint shades unless otherwise stated, but I'm sure your favourite paint companies would be happy to suggest matches!

With warmest wishes 

Christmas wishes from an old farmhouse in England

(Update: this was our home until November 2012) With Christmas now just a few days away the preparations here have reached fever pitch! Having put the finishing touches on the decorations and stacked baskets with fragrant logs for the fire we are almost ready to welcome friends and family to join us in the celebrations. I adore this last minute flurry of activity and will be, as you read this, busy filling tiny white crackers with Italian truffles and arranging white roses and herbs from the garden into mercury vases for the table. With the ancient oak beams hung with snowflakes, this year our old farmhouse is decked in ice and snow! Here are a few photographs from our home (please excuse my awful photography and the length of this post!!!): 

Image: The Paper Mulberry - 

A small live blue spruce from Homebase on a dresser in the kitchen the oversized mat and shiny silver baubles are part of a 75 piece set from Tesco!  

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen

The white ceramic pot that we have planted the Christmas tree in is from Cape Henley and the white ceramic flower tea light holders are from Bliss & Bloom

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen

tiny glass cloches filled with silver parcels

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen fireplace

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen mantelpiece swag 

A faux pine needle swag with mat and shiny baubles part of the 75 piece set from Tesco!

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen fireplace swag

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen - Aga mantel shelf decorated for Christmas!

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen - Aga mantel shelf with a combination of faux pine needle foliage, berries and fresh pine cones

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen - Aga mantel shelf with mouth blown, recycled glass goblets

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen dresser

Icy faux pine branch garland with fresh pine cones 

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the kitchen dresser

Icy faux pine branch garland with fresh pine cones & the china is Asiatic Pheasants by Burleigh

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the sitting room

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the sitting room with the faux tree stands in a log basket, the tablecloth is burlap and the tree covered in faux snow and glass icicles! 

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the sitting room tree

the artificial snow is from Snowbusiness the special effects company who provided the snow scenes for the Harry Potter films! They now sell a range of artificial snow for domestic use, I used their spray snow topped with display snow coarse and finished with the amazing snow sparkle that glistens like the real thing!  

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the sitting room fireplace 

the swag is faux pine and covered in artificial snow and icicles

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the sitting room fireplace swag
the lantern is a vintage find, the icicles I have been collected for a few years now

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the sitting room 
I have placed an old lantern in a niche in the living room with a carved wax candle 

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the home
I have place a large wreath of faux pine and beaded fruit covered in simulated ice on the oak banister at the top of the first staircase

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the home

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the entrance hall
the console table is decked with a gilded leaf garland from Decorative Country Living and coach lantern from Culinary Concepts

Image: The Paper Mulberry - the entrance hall console table

So until the new year...

Warmest of Christmas Wishes from this old farmhouse in England 
- Glenda xxx