Country Homes & Interiors, April 2011

When the lovely Rhoda, who edits Country Homes & Interiors and authors the blog, Countrydays, wrote about the April issue having a brand new look I couldn't wait to pick up a copy. The issue doesn't disappoint, with a refreshed design and considered features it holds interest and inspires throughout. My favourite tears from the issue include the whimsical shepherd's hut, the crafty ideas from the piece on adding personal touches to linens, tablescapes and vases, and the gorgeous food styling seen in the Good Food Good Times feature. If you can buy an issue, I'd highly recommend it.

Country Homes & Interiors

Country Homes & Interiors, January 2011

I often feel drawn to life in the country at this time of year. Perhaps it's the idyll of a country cottage laden with snow and rolling fields as far as the eye can see. Or, maybe, it's a hankering after childhood memories: waking up on a winter's morning to see the frost-hit fields from my bedroom window. Either way, there's no denying that the latest issue of Country Homes & Interiors brought back many a happy memory. As well as a trip down memory lane, the January pages were plentiful with their ideas. From alternative festive wreaths to new traditions and welcome lighting suggestions, their New Year stories are uplifting and comforting. P.S. Rhoda - who edits the magazine - writes a daily blog, which I thoroughly recommend checking out.

Country Homes & Interiors

{Country Homes and Interiors July 2010}

The July issue of Country Homes and Interiors proves how the magazine is going from strength to strength at the moment. Being a coastal special, I expected it to be page after page of 'beach' signs and fish paintings. How wrong I was! Yes, there are the occasional stereotypical beach-inspired accessories, but in essence, this issue has much more to offer. From colourful brights (2, 3, 9) to sophisticated grey-hued farmhouse-style kitchens (4), this issue will inspire you whether you live by the coast or inland. My favourites include: the vibrant azure blue bedspread (5); the multi-coloured striped napkins tucked into clear glasses (8); and as soon as I saw that deep beetroot colour (12) I knew instantly it would make a great accent colour. Thanks for another brilliant issue!

Images: Country Homes and Interiors

P.S. Be sure to head over and check out their blog, Country Days. It's a lovely and sometimes touchingly personal look at the life of Rhoda, the magazine's Editor.

{Magazine Review: Country Homes and Interiors June 2010}

After reading this great post by the lovely Lousie of Table Tonic, I felt inspired to pick up a copy of the UK's equivalent 'modern' country interiors mag - Country Homes and Interiors. Country-centric interiors are a tough one for me becuase I either love them or hate them. There's no in between for me really. The June issue of the mag airs on the side of delicious! Check out that kitchen (4), I'd love to have a central pots and pans hanging thingy and it's nice to see the country take on the big time interiors trend of the moment - brights (7, 8).

Flick though the digital preview, here.

Images: Country Homes and Interiors

{Lovely, indeed}

Recently we've been swooning over the gorgeous styling on the blog by stylist Selina Lake. Having styled for countless home and interior magazines including, Ideal Home and Country Homes and Interiors, we know Selina knows her stuff when it comes to styling a fabulous photo shoot. Take a look at these lovely pictures from the kitchen of her own home, which is now being rented:

Kitchen, styled by Selina.

Images: Selina Lake Stylist

The simplicity of her styling is what makes it so effective. We love how something as simple as a shocking pink tea towel can add such dramatic effect to the image. Using this as a focus for colour and then referencing it with similar, more subtle tones in the kitchen accessories, works wonders. The result - a kitchen to die for!

Having fallen head-over-heels for the gorgeous pink tea towel, we knew we just had to buy one for the Bright.Bazaar kitchen. The source? A great online store called Lovely Lovely, which sells a whole host of tempting bits and bobs for both your wardrobe, and your home.

Tea towels from Lovely Lovely.

Images: Lovely Lovely

{A double dose of inspiration}

Have you just finished reading the latest issue of Country Homes & Interiors? Feeling a little like you've lost a friend? Fear not, as Bright.Bazaar has just discovered a fantastic blog called Country Days. A daily blog about the home and work life of none other than Rhoda Perry, Editor of said magazine, it provides insight on Rhoda's 'double' life. With tales from her working life in London and family life in the Sussex countryside, Country Days is both interesting and inspiring.

Rhoda recently shared her childhood memories in the post 'Granny's Attic'. Like Rhoda, I have many fond memories of my time spent at my Gran's house: playing cards by the open fire; chatting late into the night; and rushing into her room first thing in the morning to make her some fresh coffee. Situated down a tiny country lane; breached on both sides by the wild flowers of the countryside, her cottage still stands today. As I'm decorating her bedroom on my next visit, I feel it would be wrong not to include something from the new 'Granny's Attic' range by John Lewis. Thanks for the inspiration, Rhoda!

Granny's Attic bed linen from John Lewis

Image: countydays.wordpress.com