interiors food in association home interiors page 18 cabin · 2020-07-07 · shares his top ten...

Tuesday, July 7, 2020 | METRO | 15

TREE houses, beach huts and forest cabins are having a moment, with thoughts of escapism at the forefront of our minds after months of

incarceration. Indeed, recent reports suggest that many buyers want to move closer to nature for a better quality of life, post-lockdown.

It’s something Tom and Camilla Spinks understand only too well, having swapped their busy north

London neighbourhood for a tranquil former keeper’s cabin in Epping Forest.

They were enjoying a Sunday roast at a country pub when Tom, who heads up ecommerce at luxe interiors brand House Of Hackney, idly started googling property and realised that the charming wood cabin immediately opposite was up for sale.

‘We arranged a viewing and ended up in a bidding war,’ recalls Camilla, a

creative director, who is expecting their first child later this year. ‘We knew from that first moment that it was the right place for us. It felt so relaxing and peaceful.’

Transforming the dated three-bedroom lodge with yellow – yes, yellow – lino in the living room into a stylish, open-plan log cabin in the heart of nature, yet just 30 minutes from London’s Square Mile, has taken three years, with the couple tackling

every DIY job themselves. ‘Our style is minimalist black and white so we painted the cabin white throughout,’ says Camilla, ‘but it has lots of character and we had to embrace that.’ Given that Tom works for the most maximalist brand around, it was only a matter of time before their beloved monochrome palette took colour on board.

‘We’ve recently decorated the spare room in House Of Hackney’s Babylon

wallpaper to bring the outside in,’ explains Camilla. ‘We used a garden green paint by Farrow & Ball below and it really works. The jungle vibes are playful, which is apt as this room will become the nursery.’

Adds Tom: ‘Each room has been a project but this is the first time we’ve played with print and colour. It’s amazing to work with products I love

Karen HocKney meets a couple who found wooded

bliss in epping forest

CABINHOME INTERIORS / INSPIRATION / FOOD

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award-winning garden designer will williams shares his top ten bedding plants

BeD sPreaD

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o: @

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abin

16 | METRO | Tuesday, July 7, 2020

and want to use in my own home. This is now my favourite room.’

Colourful Moroccan rugs abound but the yellow lino was a step too far and the couple opted for a raw concrete floor from Copenhagen-based paint specialists Detale CPH. ‘We laid the floor together using a trowel, sanding after each coat before reapplying,’ says Camilla. ‘It took a few weeks to complete but was worth the effort.’

They were so impressed by the result that they chose a lighter, textured linen plaster paint in vibrant terracotta from the same company to transform their bedroom walls.

‘We painted the bedroom floor white originally, but have now repainted it black to contrast with the walls and shutters and give the room a cosier feel,’ adds Camilla.

The kitchen facelift was less arduous – original cupboard doors

were replaced with sleek, black doors and open wood shelving is adorned with colourful Portuguese ceramics.

They retained the work surfaces and weathered wooden floor that runs from the kitchen into the bathroom,

which was retiled and given a new shower area. Painting the

bathroom walls Camilla’s favourite shade of

green provides a fresh backdrop to the original bath.

Hand-sewn wall hangings from Portuguese designer Rug by GUR add further colour. The pair in

the dining area were inspired by a

beach Camilla and Tom visited in Porto.

‘We love iconic furniture but didn’t want to spend a

fortune, so we chose affordable brands like Zara Home and H&M Home, which we can make look more premium,’ says Camilla. ‘Our main sofa from Ikea is covered with a Bemz black sofa cover to give it a touch more luxe.’

Their biggest nightmare was painting the orange-hued cabin exterior black during a heatwave. ‘We

had no idea what we were doing but Tom hired a sander and as he finished sanding a patch, I would prime and paint,’ she recalls. ‘It was a huge risk but we finished it in three days, and we love the effect.’

Drab terrace decking was also given a lick of black paint, turning it into a stylish veranda from which to soak up the forest views.

A popular location for shoots by fashion brands such as Bellerose, the cabin’s reinvention is almost complete, with an outdoor hot tub and nursery the final projects for now.

‘Moving here was a huge lifestyle change for us,’ says Tom, ‘but when we first viewed the cabin, we didn’t want to leave. Being in the forest has made us more creative and inspired with our interior choices.’

‘We have totally embraced the cabin way of life,’ adds Camilla. ‘I think it will become a more popular lifestyle choice now that people realise they can work from home and have more flexibility.

‘I walk our French bulldog, Iris, in the forest every day yet we’re a short Tube ride from London. The first day we woke up here, instead of hearing lorries rumble by, we heard horses. It was life-changing.’

n Instagram @eppingcabin

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Processed with VSCO with hb2 preset

Opt fOr neutral base cOlOurs‘We’ve kept the base of all rooms neutral with simple colour palettes or concrete paints, and used cushions, wall hangings, rugs and throws from stores like Goodhood, A New Tribe and Ferm LIVING to add warmth, texture and interest.’

Keep the character

‘The cabin has a contemporary feel inside but we’ve kept original

features like doors and wood floors throughout. Combining modern interiors with the property’s heritage gives it an

authentic cabin feel.’

lOOK further afield‘Portugal is a special

place for us, so we have lots of Portuguese

interior pieces. Our next destination is

Marrakesh as we love the designer LRNCE and want to visit her

showroom there. We’ve already bought

a beautiful vase and espresso coffee cups,

which are colourful but minimalist.’

Clean slate: The bathroom was given a lick of Camilla’s favourite green paint

» From Page 15

‘it’s been a huge lifestyle change for us’

Deck appeal: Tom and Camilla, inset, spent three years restoring the cabin

So to bed: The floor was painted black for a striking contrast

16 | METRO | Tuesday, July 7, 2020 �

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Don’t rush‘We’ve lived here for three years and the cabin’s style has evolved over time with our own tastes and new interiors trends. Live in a space and identify what you want from it. We’ve had so much fun changing rooms and styles. Here, we’ve used eye-catching House Of Hackney Babylon wallpaper. We will probably always have something to update.’

So sleek: A rug and wall hanging enliven the

minimalist kitchen

Be inspireD By your surrounDings‘We feel very lucky to live by such a calm, beautiful forest and want the inside to reflect this. The cabin is open-plan, all the rooms open up onto a garden and we have lots of plants bringing colour and life into the space.’

PHOTOs: DAn

ieL LyncH; @

ePPingcABin










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bedding plants provide an instant garden makeover, but which to choose? garden designer will williams picks his favourites...


Why not plant some vegetables and herbs in your borders and pots? Not only can they look stunning, they benefit greatly from the pollinators in your garden. Check out the lovely foliage of the strawberries, left, and thyme and rainbow chard, right. Growing your own food is amazing!

n For a design consultation, visit willwilliamsgardendesign.com,

Instagram @willwilliamsGD will spoke with clare morrisroe

EdiblEs

CosmosThis plant, pictured left, is really beautiful, not only for its flowers but for its fabulous foliage. It is an amazing addition to any

garden because it

attracts all the pollinators, which play such an important role in

maintaining plant diversity in the garden. It

will sit comfortably in most sunny spots in the garden, is available in an

abundance of colours and will flower from mid-summer until the first frosts.

swEEt pEas

There is nothing quite as nice as a single sweet pea stem in a small vase. Not only

does this plant look great within the garden, it makes the perfect cuttings for

decorative flowers. Be sure you give it something to climb up though, as it can reach up to 1.8m high! It is great for a

balcony if you need privacy. If that sounds extreme for your space, there are some dwarf varieties as well. You need to

plan for these – sowing seeds early gets good growth.

And so to


GEranium An absolute classic. Chances are your grandparents will have a few of these in the garden, but there are some awesome varieties out there in some incredible colours that should work with your aesthetic. Suited to almost any sunny spot in the garden, this is one of the most popular summer plants – and one of the easiest to grow. It will be sure to bring pops of colour, whether in pots or directly into the ground.

wHEN we get bored of our interiors, we paint the walls or invest in new cushions for the sofa. But it’s just as easy to switch things up in the

garden, with a little bit of know-how. ‘Bedding plants are a great way to add

extra oomph to your outdoor space in the summer and the perfect excuse to sort out

those tired borders or lack-lustre planters,’ says triple RHS medal winner, Will Williams.

‘As fast growers, they will produce an abundance of new flowers, so need to be dead-headed regularly. And they will benefit

from a good quality compost and a good feed over the growing season.’

Here, Will – a former RHS Young Garden Designer Of The Year – shares his top ten bedding plant favourites that can be dug in now to add a vibrant deluge of colour and give extra interest to your garden, patio or balcony.










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Calendula offiCinalis

Also known as English Marigolds, these flowers, above, are a must for the

summer border. The vibrant orange blooms of this favourite will flood your garden with

colour – and the plant’s daisy-like long-stemmed flowers can be cut to create

beautiful indoor displays. It is easy to grow in a sunny spot and will deal with most well-drained soil types and will flower

from June to October.

Petunia Perfect for creating a seamless carpet of colour when grown en masse in

beds or borders, this plant is really easy to keep and grow, too. This makes it one of the most popular summer bedding plants as it flowers

through the summer until early autumn. It comes in a great variety

of colours, but stick to one scheme for real impact.


edibles

erysimum ‘bowles’s mauve’ A powerful punch of purple, used not only for its colour, but its architectural form. This long-flowering vigorous plant makes a big impact in a rock garden or raised bed, but can also mix and sit quite happily within any garden scheme, too.

lobelia If you are short on space outside and looking for a

plant for a hanging basket, then look no further, this is

one of the best in the business. Not only are the

blooms a sheer joy to look at, they are jam-packed full of

gorgeous, much smaller flowers. The plant has a really

lush green foliage to boot. It will also trail downwards, creating an avalanche of

colour to soak up.

niCotianasylvestrisAlso known as the tobacco plant, this night pollinator, with its trumpet-shaped flowers, will keep the bees busy well into the evening. Simply place the plant around a sunny seating area to enjoy the fragrance into the night. There are smaller varieties of nicotiana too, which are not quite as pleasant. So if you want to avoid disappointment, try to stick to the original variety.

verbena This is one of my favourites when it comes to adding a little height into a garden. I love to pair it with tall whites and oranges to make a really bold border. Fairly heat and drought- tolerant, this long-blooming plant gives plentiful clusters of small blooms from spring to frost.

20 | METRO | Tuesday, July 7, 2020 Tuesday, July 7, 2020 | METRO | 21










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as lockdown eases, Rob buckhaven

highlights the bottles to get stuck into, whether in beer gardens, parks or our own back yards

Ranked

the unbReakables...

Shatterproof glasses that take the worry out of outdoor drinking. By Lara Sargent

on the bubbleJenkyn Place Brut, Hampshire, £24.99, Waitrose English wine is on the case, now bringing home more bubbles for your buck than ever before. Brands like Jenkyn Place are flying the flag for fine fizz, making it less pricey for our mid-week froth fix. A former award-winning Hampshire hop garden now nurtures the three traditional vines for sparkling wine-making, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. You’ll need your oven-mitts, though. Figuratively speaking, this wine is a delivery service of freshly baked apple pie, dusted with cinnamon sugar.

out to DRyClassics No.3 Gavi, Italy, M&S (in store only)The M&S team have been busy bees, recently dropping a new 16-strong wine range,

focused on popular regions. Good for them, they’re giving us what we want. From German Riesling to Classic Claret, there are even plans for expansion. Gavi, made from the Cortese grape, is one of Italy’s go-to summer staples; think peach juice with a twist of lime. Slightly randomly, ‘First Dates’ fans can even watch Fred Sirieix taste a few on the website.

George Home Disco Rainbow Ball tumbler. £2, Asda, in store only

Tesco Grey Diamond margarita. £3, Tesco, in store onlyFour Rainbow picnic gin glasses. £15,

Marks & Spencer, marksandspencer.com

Stainless steel champagne

flutes. £21.99 for set of two.

Amazon, amazon.co.uk

PHoTo: GeTTy

Mario Luca Giusti Small Lente acrylic tumbler. £14 each,

Amara, amara.com











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Hop and GloryDuvel Triple Hop Citra Belgian IPA 9.5%, £2.50, TescoThis is a strong, complex beer containing the Captain America of hops. Citra is a super-aromatic variety, the result of a breeding programme back in the Nineties. See what I mean? Formerly known as ‘114’, it’s the ‘third hop’ referred to on the label, known for its high myrcene content, an oil also found in mangos and lemongrass. Bingo, it’s citrus-tropical superpowers, which makes this pale ale a perfect sipping partner to a ploughman’s lunch.

ToTally TubularMaree d’ione Fiano IGP Puglia Organic, £25.99, WaitroseHow have we managed to get by for so long without wine in a tube? Containing the equivalent of three 75cl bottles, once opened, it lasts ten days longer than a bottle. The phrase ‘no brainer’ springs to mind. The wine itself practically jumps out of the tube, with exuberant flat peach and tropical notes, typical of the fine Italian Fiano grape. There’s even a rope carry handle to add to its portable credentials.

in THe pinkCune Rioja Rosado, Spain, £8.50, Co-op

Pink plonk comes in all shades and sizes, not just the ballet-slipper hue from Provence.

Spain tends to major on darker, dry styles, which go well with tapas. I know, it’s a

shocker. As a region famed for its reds, Rioja has been flexing its rosado muscles for a while. In a plot twist, this blend of Viura,

Tempranillio and Garnacha is giving me lifted peach blossom realness, with a surprisingly

softer side I never knew I needed.

red-dy CHilledTaste The Difference Marzemino Trentino, Italy, currently on offer at £7, Sainsbury’sOpera fans may know this grape from Don Giovanni, who cries out for it just before his descent into hell, shouting, ‘Versa il vino. Eccellente Marzemino!’. Who wouldn’t? Especially slightly chilled – a useful USP in scorching conditions. An ancient grape from Italy’s northern Trentino region, which produces reds with youthful, vibrant cherry notes that nail the summer sipping game. Show the bottle the fridge for half an hour before serving.

G & T-SHirTMalfy Gin Rosa, £28, Sainsbury’sGive me a hint of pink for summer drinking, and I’m all in. Something to do with that

inevitable red fruit injection makes it the ideal shade for outside frolics. Case in point here, and for anyone who enjoyed the lemon version, this should be next on your ‘to-taste’ list. Sicilian pink grapefruit peel provides that bitter-sweet component, rhubarb gives a touch of the tang and lemon zest brings a burst of brightness.

Can-do HUN Sparkling Rosé

Bubbles 5.5%, £2, TescoTinned wine is now a thing, and I’m here for it.

Taking some of the guilt out of weekend day-drinking, this pocket rocket may be light in

alcohol, but it isn’t in flavour. Made by an East London team, from Fairtrade grapes from South

Africa, housed in fully recyclable packaging, there’s just one box left to tick: taste. With candied cherry

blossom bubbles, they’ve even nailed that part.

CoCo nuTTyAluna Coconut Rum, £25, WaitroseOn a mission to ‘shake up the Colada’, Aluna is a sign of the times. Doing away with heavy creams and sugar can only be a good thing. Right? They’ve taken premium rum from Guatemala and the Caribbean, blended them with macerated coconut and sustainably sourced coconut water. Their Colada is 50ml Aluna, 50ml coconut water, 100ml pineapple juice and a twist of lime in a shaker, with ice.

SofTen upTurner Hardy & Co Feisty Spiced Tomato Juice, £3.25, Sainsbury’sAtoning for our lockdown excesses doesn’t come more deliciously packaged

than this. As a soft option, this blend

of pressed Isle of Wight tomatoes, 24 in each bottle, cayenne peppers and chilli powder packs a sophisticated punch. Lovers of heat in their drinks will definitely get a kick out of this, and it’s easily switched up as a cocktail with a slug of gin, vodka or most fittingly, tequila.

Pint Festival cups, from 63p each (minimum order 10). Happy Cups, happycups.co.uk

Set of four acrylic tumblers. £5, Dunelm, dunelm.com

St Tropez set of four bamboo cups

£7.99, Home Essentials, homeessentials.co.uk











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new homes for our new heroes...

‘We didn’t just buy our new home in lockdown, we moved in, too...’

a key worker incentive scheme helped this couple’s money go further. by AndreA deAn

(For a four-bed house)Purchase price: £532,95010% deposit: £53,295Estate charge: approx £12 per monthMortgage: approx £1,961Monthly spend: approx £1,973

do the mAThs

When Peter Sharpe, a medical engineer for the nhS, and Sam Bradfield, a college deputy head teacher,

reserved their first home together at Mulberry homes’ Brunswick Gate in Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire, they were delighted to discover that they were eligible for the developer’s key worker scheme. It enabled them to upgrade their kitchen and have carpet fitted throughout their four-bed home.

however, not in their wildest dreams could they have imagined that they would be moving into their new home in the midst of a global pandemic.

Peter and Sam, who are both 35, reserved the property off-plan last november, and were legally contracted to buy it when lockdown was announced in March.

‘We were anxious that we wouldn’t be able to move but Mulberry did everything they could to make it happen for us,’ says Peter, who used his previous flat in St

Albans in part exchange. ‘Most things were done over the phone and online and when it came to moving day, the team followed social distancing measures and they’ve been on hand remotely ever since to help with anything we’ve needed.’

Peter has been going out to work, providing vital maintenance for hospital equipment –including the ventilators at West herts hospital Trust being used to care for Covid-19 patients – while Sam has been based at home, providing support to her college to ensure continued learning through online tuition for the students ahead of them returning in person.

The house has given the pair all the space they’ve needed to cope with lockdown: they’ve converted one of the bedrooms into a study for

Sam, and another has been transformed in a games room for Peter. And the transition from a flat to a roomy house in a semi-rural setting has meant that they’ve been able to make the most of their own private outside space and enjoy countryside views while stuck at home. ‘We feel so lucky to have

made it into our first home together and we are really

making the most of the location,’ says Sam. ‘We have the best of both worlds here.’

Mulberry homes’ Key Workers Scheme is available to staff in schools, hospitals,

doctors’ surgeries, emergency services and

armed forces personnel, and has recently been

extended to include all essential and critical workers, as defined on gov.uk. On offer to first-time buyers and people who are looking to move up the property ladder, it provides a contribution of up to £500 for every £20,000 of the purchase price, and can be put towards stamp duty, legal, survey or mortgage broker fees – or, as Sam and Peter have done, used to pay for flooring or other upgrades. The maximum contribution is £15,000 and the scheme is available on selected properties at developments in Leicestershire, Bedfordshire and northamptonshire.

Key workers will also receive a gift of £1,000 to spend with local businesses of their choice.

n Brunswick Gate consists of three, four and five-bed houses in a

secluded spot looking out over farmland, from £459,950,

mulberryhomes.co.uk

Signed, sealed, delivered: Peter and Sam outside

their new Mulberry home

oAklAnds heATh Birchencliffe HD2, from £374,995A range of four and five-bed homes in a charming village with fast access to Huddersfield and the M62. NHS employees receive a £5,000 discount and £1,000 in vouchers to spend on upgrades from Harron’s Excellence range, harronhomes.com

The spinneysCawston CV22, from £239,995These three, four and five-bed houses are less than two miles from Rugby town centre and are convenient for the M1 as well as schools rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Key workers get £500 off for every £25,000 they spend plus flooring worth up to £3,000, lindenhomes.co.uk

BArrATT @ heriTAge grAngeEdinburgh EH17, from £249,995Only 15 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh, these three and four bed-houses provide the perfect balance between city and countryside living. Barratt is offering NHS staff a five per cent contribution towards their deposit up to a maximum of £15,000, barratthomes.co.uk

n Key workers can benefit from fee-free mortgage advice from an independent mortgage company. Find out more at keyworkerdiscounts.ukn All these offers run until December 31.

Photo: Steve M

ulvey PhotograPhy












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the bush frontman was in his 20s when he bought in one of London’s most excLusive areas

‘As Bush began to blossom, life came up Primroses...’

GAVIN ROSSDALE

MY FIRSTHOME

Gavin Rossdale’s band has always been popular in the UK, but it is across the atlantic where Bush’s fan base really exploded. as a

result, london-boy Gavin now splits his time between los angeles, which he shares with his children, and london, where pre-lockdown, he could often be found grabbing a pint in his local. He is also on the committee behind a unique exhibition, isolation Mastered, at Mayfair’s prestigious Jd Malat Gallery.

Where did you buy your first home? i bought my first place in Primrose Hill, london, at the age of 28. i was at an incredibly fortunate point in my career. My endless rejection from labels in england led me to sign a record deal in los angeles, with a small independent label. it was the ultimate act of faith and desperation. The artist’s cocktail of choice. That first record, sixteen stone, sold really well and we went from clubs to theatres to arenas within two years of touring. That was how i got the Primrose Hill house.

How did it feel to be a homeowner?i felt i had a security and independence that i’d never known before. i was as grateful then as i am now. it took the extraordinary combined efforts of my band, my representation and all the pieces of a career puzzle required to sell records and tour non-stop for years and years to have this life.

What place did you go for? i had lived in a basement for a number of years before with four or, for a while, five people living there in two rooms and a kitchen. We were young and it was brilliant and wild. When i looked for my own place i wanted to be as close to a park as possible for me and my dog Winston. so i found the Primrose Hill place, which i still own today.

What kind of place is it?it’s on four floors of an old terrace that was built in 1904. i have a wonderful, famous and powerful occupant on the ground and basement floors. The house was owned by an architect so it was in perfect condition and inspired, it seemed, by Greek architecture, so there were inside columns and gladiators all around. We removed them and i opened up the floors to create an open-plan feel. i also added a modern touch, matching

primal colours and art to the traditional architecture.

Tell me about your art collection...i don’t buy indiscriminately; i consider each piece intensely. i don’t have a big art collection, but i do have some wonderful works that i’ve collected over the years. i live with my three young sons and i think it is essential to have books, music and art to surround them with culture. each piece that i own floods the room with inspiration. Whether they realise it or not, the walls have power.

What do you love about Primrose Hill?When i first moved there i got to know John, the landlord of The Queen’s. He’s since moved, but i still go there because it’s close by and has a great fire in the winter. a lot of my friends who live in the area drink there, so it has a real ‘local’ feel about it. in the summer we take our drinks out on to Primrose Hill, which is by far the best bar of all.

Have you hosted any memorable parties?The last party we had was for my father’s wake. We cleared all the furniture, opened up the space, covered the house in sunflowers, stocked up with more booze than we needed and celebrated my dad with my best friends, family and my first love. it was a long beautiful night and a fitting farewell.

Why did you get involved with Isolation Mastered?Jean-david Malat’s idea was to unearth artists’ responses to the pandemic and later include the focus on BlM, which was a stroke of brilliance. it’s important we not only recognise the issues, but we do whatever we can to inspire change. Jean-david is also waiving any commission from the show; for me that was the final touch of class in this difficult time.

n Take a virtual tour of Isolation Mastered at jdmalat.com; Bush’s

new album The Kingdom is out on July 17, bushofficial.com

INTERVIEW BY OLIVER STALLWOOD

Photo: Getty

interiors food in association home interiors page 18 cabin · 2020-07-07 · shares his top ten...

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