2019-06-01 Homes and Gardens

CHRISTOPHER HOWE

Providerofeverythingthatcontributes

totimeless,trend-freeinteriors,plusan

antiques dealer and furniture maker

Thisroomis ina derelictfarmhouseinSicily.

Theexcitementa roominthisstateevokesis

incredible,andoftengreaterthanthefeeling

whena roomis finished.Itsuggeststomeso

manyideasandpossibilities,bothintermsofthe

spaceandthematerials,especiallysincesomuch

ofit is actuallyintactandtellsofitshistory.As

a personwholovestheprocessofbuildingand

making,andhasanappreciationofmaterials,

especiallyoldones,thisis theultimateplace,

theultimateroom– andwithamazingSicilian

sunlighttoboot.Itwasirresistible – in fact,

I bought the farmhouse!

WhenI stepintotheArabHallatLeightonHouse

Museum,builtbythepainterFredericLeightonto

househiscollectionofIslamictiles,it’sa moment

whenI celebratethereturnofcolourtointeriors.

Aftermanyyearsofminimalistroomsinbeigeand

grey(inwhichI hada part!),thiswonderfulroom

anditsadjoiningareasexplainthevisceralimpact

ofcolour,patternandcomplexity.Leightonsought

outtiledpanelsthatdatefromthe14thtothe17th

centuriesfromTurkeyandDamascusandhad

WilliamDeMorgandesignthelayoutforthem.

I comeheretobaskinthejoyofcolour,pattern,

superb craftsmanship and more colour.

OLGA POLIZZI

A designerbornintoa familyofhoteliers,

withtwoaward-winninghotels of her own

in Devon and Cornwall.