2019-07-01_Country_Homes_Interiors

ON OUR DOORSTEP

Visit...‘Hardy’sCottage

(nationaltrust.org.uk/hardys-cottage)

is ThomasHardy’sbirthplacenear

Dorchesterandis a magicaldayout

witha lunchspot,a walkthrough

woodlandanda beautifulcottage

garden.Hisfamilyhomehasbeen

beautifullypreservedandinformative

guidesbringhisworktolife.’

Shopat...‘CircusBoutique

(01935816551,thecircusboutique.

com)inSherborneforcool

homewareandclothes.’

Goforamealat...‘Brassica

(01308538100,brassicarestaurant.

co.uk) in Beaminster – it’s a must.’

maintainingthepatternandtexture,whilelighteningand

brighteningthespace,balancingthiswiththeaddition

ofa logburner.’Modernlightingchoicesalsogivethe

housea contemporaryliftanda hintofurbanstyle.

ClaireandDavidkeptthingslocalwithFarrow& Ball

paints– thecompany’sheadquartersareclosebyand

manyofthepaintsarenamedafterplacesinDorset.

Theneutraldecormakesa gorgeousbackdropforClaire’s

collectionoffamilyartwork,too– herfather,Michael

Bowman,is a landscapepainter;bothhersisters,Vanessa

andSarahBowman,arecollectableartists;and Sarah also

ownstheWhiteSpaceGalleryinTotnes.

Aftertheinteriorwascomplete,theytackledthegarden.

Clairewanteda herbaceousborderandwasdelighted

toenlistthehelpofgardendesignerfriend,AnnaVines.

Sunnyandsecluded,theoutsidediningareahassince

beenthesettingformanyhappyalfrescomeals.

ClairenowworkslocallyatKettlewellColours,which

suppliescapsulewardrobesinpersonalisedpalettes.

‘Learningaboutcolourandseasonalityhasactuallyhelped

metoresolvesomelong-held,knottydecoratingdecisions,’

saysClaire.‘It’sgivenmetheconfidencetoinjectsome

warm,earthycoloursintoourotherwisequitemuted

backdrop. I’m so happy we made the move.’

BathroomA

traditionalbasinenhances

theperiodfeel,whilemetro

tilesadda moderntouch.

Basin, VictoriaPlum.

Similartiles, Topps Tiles

dorsEt cottagE