the-best-plants-for-a-bathroom:-houseplants-that-thrive-in-humidity-and-low-natural-light
| | | |

Best plants for a bathroom: Houseplants that thrive in humidity and low natural light

ByHazel Sillver

As well as being that haloed place where one can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet and a hot soak, the bathroom is also one of the best rooms to grow house plants. Its high humidity is a haven for a lot of indoor plants because so many of them hail from tropical or subtropical forests. There they flourish in the consistently damp, warm air and the light that pours in between the trees. These plants will feel right at home in bathrooms, shower rooms, and kitchens, if provided with the indirect light and average-to-warm temperature that most of them crave. African violets are one of the best plants for a bathroom Flowerphotos/Getty Images The best plants for a bathroom Small bathroom plants Air plant (Tillandsia argentea) This weird and wonderful epiphyte from the warm, humid forests of Cuba and Jamaica can be slotted into glass globes, narrow-necked vases, or shells, without any soil. Place in bright indirect light. Soak in rainwater or filtered water once a week, then drain. Temperature: 15 to 27°C. Forming a small mound of burgundy-backed green textured leaves, this easy evergreen perennial from the rainforests of Brazil enjoys bright indirect light and warmth, where it will send up cream flower spikes. Water when the soil feels dry; feed in spring and summer. Temperature: 15 to 27°C. The green leaves of this small evergreen from Java and Sumatra are clothed with pink-purple hairs that make them soft and velvety. It’s best to remove the winter flowerheads should they appear, as the orange blooms don’t smell pleasant. Place in bright indirect light. Water when the compost feels dry and never leave the plant waterlogged. Temperature: 15 to 23°C. Saintpaulia ‘Top Dark Blue’ There are few plants that rival the intensity of purple that some of these small plants produce when they flower between spring and autumn. Sit in bright indirect light. Water from below when the upper compost feels dry and feed during spring and summer. Temperature: 16 to 25°C. Medium-sized bathroom plants An attractive upright evergreen subshrub from Paraguay and Brazil, bearing lush, glossy lobed leaves. Sit in medium to bright indirect light. Water when the soil feels dry and water less in winter. Temperature: 10 to 27°C. This airy African evergreen perennial is a close relative of the asparagus fern. Place in medium indirect light in a cool bathroom. Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged. Temperature: 10-25°C. Resembling a miniature Swiss cheese plant, this wonderful fuss-free climber from the damp forests of Malaysia is best grown around a moss or coir pole in medium to bright indirect light. Temperature: 12 to 27°C. A subshrub from the damp, warm forests of the Philippines with huge arrow-shaped green leaves above striped stems. Sit in low to bright indirect light. Water when the upper layer of the compost feels dry. Temperature: 15 to 25°C. A fiddle-leaf fig in an Edwardian villa designed by William Smalley Alexander James Large bathroom plants A lovely tree from the wet tropical forests of New Guinea and Australia, with ferny green foliage around slender, upright, woody stems. It will grow well to around 2 metres in bright indirect light and will grow more slowly in lower light. Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. Temperature: 15 to 27°C. This African tree can reach over 2 metres, its big paddle-shaped leathery leaves are dark green, and it likes a lot of bright indirect light, so it is only suitable for a spacious, light bathroom where it won’t dominate. Water when the upper compost feels dry. Temperature: 15 to 24°C. A beautiful evergreen fern from the South Pacific, with lush bright-green fronds from a trunk-like rhizome. Place in medium indirect light and keep the compost moist (but not waterlogged) using rainwater (or filtered tap water with a dash of vinegar). If it’s happy, it can grow to 1-metre wide and 2-metres tall. Temperature: 10 to 24°C. From China and Vietnam, this evergreen palm produces dark-green fans of blunt-ended leaves from upright canes. Place in medium to bright indirect light. Water when the upper compost feels dry. Slow growing to 3 metres. Temperature: 15 to 26°C.

93-hallway-ideas-to-make-a-great-first-impression
|

Hallway ideas to make a great first impression

ByCharlotte McCaughan-Hawes

An antique runner adds further colour to the hallway, which features an antique Welsh dresser sourced by Tamsyn Mason in this handsome Georgian rectory in Hampshire Christopher Horwood “It is easy to forget that an entrance hall is a room,” says decorating maestro Rita Konig. “It often receives corridor status, but it is, in fact, an important space. As the place for arrivals and departures, it sets the tone for the rest of the house, so it needs to be welcoming.” For this reason, pay as much attention to the stuff in a hallway as you would in any other room, and don’t use it as dumping ground for furniture or art that has no home elsewhere. Just because you’re moving through a space regularly to get to another room where you might spend longer, that doesn’t make it less important – if anything, it makes it more important. The hallway is nearly always the part of a house that you and your guests will encounter first, so make sure it leaves an impression, perhaps by hanging a statement piece of art in it or by introducing an unusual colour. Hallway ideas: decoration Since hallways, especially in city houses, tend to be narrow, the walls are an important feature. Opt for a warm paint colour, some elegant wall panelling, or a patterned wallpaper to lend the space character. Also consider adding wall lights, for a gentler glow than an overhead light. This is a great place to display art. We’ve seen some brilliant examples of statement pieces taking up practically an entire wall, but gallery walls are also a great option in a hallway, perhaps displaying a collection of photographs or botanical prints. “Traffic is a consideration when you are decorating,” notes Rita. “The floor, for example, has to be practical while remaining in keeping with the style of the house.” We love a flagstone hallway, or the traditional tiles you can still find in Victorian houses, but sisal or jute can also be a great, hardwearing option for this space. Don’t forget to take into account the other rooms you can see from a hallway – if you have easy views into lots of rooms or one particular room, try to keep the colours of the walls tonal, and think about positioning hallway mirrors to allow unexpected glimpses throughout the house. Pocket or sliding doors can also work well for the rooms that lead off a hallway, especially if it is a dark or narrow space, allowing the doors to be open most of the time, letting light flood in. Hallway ideas: furniture “The furniture here should be good,” continues Rita. If you have enough space, consider a hall table, either a console table that can provide a space for keys, post, along with flowers, lamps and decorative objects, or something a bit grander to go in the centre of the hallway if you have a larger space. “The hall table can be quite magnificent – just as it is in many of Robert Kime’s projects, and in William Yeoward and Colin Orchard’s house in Gloucestershire.” A bench or pair of chairs can also be a great feature, allowing people to perch and take off their shoes, or providing a place to wait as you prepare to leave the house. Hallway ideas: storage Finally, hallway storage is absolutely key if you want to maintain tidiness. Hallways are always prone to get cluttered up with shoes, bags, umbrellas, coats and other paraphernalia. A bench with storage built in underneath can be a great option, while wall-mounted storage or a simple row of hooks can work well in super small spaces. If you have a bit more room, a coat rack, wardrobe or built-in joinery can look rather distinguished.

design-ideas-for-cosy-winter-bedrooms
|

Design ideas for cosy winter bedrooms

ByChristabel Chubb

Winter is near – the air is crisper, the sun sets earlier and the jumpers stashed in the back of your closet make their annual appearance. To escape the chill of the months ahead, too, you will probably find yourself staying indoors and curling up in bed with a mug of hot chocolate and a good, long book. Because of this, it is vital to transform your bedroom into a winter oasis, full of warmth, cheer and relaxation. We’ve rounded up the best design ideas from the H&G archive to cosify your bedroom for winter. Consider ambient lighting While great lighting is crucial any time of year, in winter, it is perhaps in winter when great lighting is truly essential. The winter months bring with them long, dark nights and afternoon sunsets, which can be jarring. In your bedroom, especially, creating a beautiful lighting scheme with ambient lighting (think floor lamps, candles and glowy fairy lights, and, designers’ favourites, candle sconces) maximises the room’s cosiness and turns it into a true retreat from the cold, pitch-black outdoors. Additionally, for those especially affected by those 4.30 sunsets, investing in a ‘SAD’ (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lamp – which mimics sunlight – may be worthwhile. Wrap up in blankets Ollie Tomlinson Is there anything better than bundling up in a gigantic, oh-so-soft blanket? Fuzzy blankets and cashmere throws are crucial to amping up the cosiness of a winter bedroom. Quilts and eiderdowns are also having a moment, and this throwback to our grandparents’ decorating style feels particularly welcome in a difficult winter. Investing in high-quality textiles, too, adds to the decor of your room and adds a touch of sumptuous elegance to staying warm. Welsh blankets are one of our favourite styles; their traditional styles can bring much-needed colour and texture to a bedroom. As for bedding, consider a brushed cotton set of sheets for added warmth. Jan Baldwin Feel the glow of candles While you now know that great ambient lighting is essential for a winter bedroom, candles, too, are just as important. Candles give off warmth, add glow and, should you opt for those of the scented variety, engulf your bedroom in your favourite smells. Consider candles whose scents are reminiscent of winter: cinnamons, pine tree or citrus scents are perfect. The spare room in shop-owner Alastair Hendy’s restored Tudor home has beds under the sloped roof, creating a perfectly cosy small bedroom, lit by the light of a single candle. Paul Massey Warm up your room with a great paint colour Interior designer Philip Hooper’s masterful blend of the classic and contemporary has given this late-Regency house in Hampshire a greater sense of harmony and dignity. The walls in the main bedroom are covered in ‘Strie’, a linen-silk blend from George Spencer Designs. Michael Sinclair For those seeking to winter-proof their bedroom to the fullest extent, re-painting a bedroom is the perfect next step. Paint colour adds warmth to your bedroom’s palette, transforming your room into a warm safe haven. Certain colours (think beiges, creams or paints with sateen-y finishes) better help to reflect light – so important during those dark winter days, whereas other colours, such as darker greens or blues, can make a room feel more intimate. Wallpaper, too, can add cheerful personality to the bedroom. Make your bed more inviting Studio Squire designed a contemporary bed tester for the primary bedroom of this cottage, using fabrics from Guy Goodfellow, Marvic and Claremont. The velvet bed throw is from Toast. Christopher Horwood Spending so much time indoors can make anyone develop cabin fever. Beat it by kitting out your bed for winter. Choose embroidered throw pillows with festive, winter themes to add to your holiday spirit. Adding extra cushions and making extra space for books on your nightstand are two simple steps to creating a cosy reading nook on your bed; for morning people, by laying down a fluffy rug at the side of your bed grounds your room and ensures a great, soft start to your morning. At The Fife Arms in Braemar, Scotland, this bedroom known as ‘The Artist’s Studio’ draws on the decorative style at Charleston in East Sussex. Benjamin Edwards In this London project by Veere Grenney, the bed has curtains in ‘Blenheim’ by Michael Smith. Woodwork in a deep, olive green and brass finishes make the space feel luxurious and cosy. Mark Anthony Fox If you have a four-poster bed, or are considering buying one, drape it in fabric to create an enveloping place to sleep. We love tartans and plaids at this time of year; their woollen texture is perfect for chilly nights. For a small bedroom, the box bed has to be the most attractive thing on a winter evening; these charming nooks where you can draw the curtains and hide away are exactly where we’d want to be when the temperature drops.

how-to-make-your-bedroom-feel-more-luxurious
|

How to make your bedroom feel more luxurious

ByCharlotte McCaughan-Hawes

The idea of luxury means different things to everyone and so a luxurious bedroom will entirely differ based on your taste. However, looking at it with a broad brush, we’re taking the idea that hotel bedrooms are places that – should you be staying in a good hotel – feel like pure luxury from the minute you walk in. Perhaps it’s the hospital corners on the perfectly-made beds, the fact that they’re free from the mental and physical clutter of our own or the superior bedding – whatever the cause, that feeling of relaxation you get when entering a hotel bedroom should be achievable at home too. We’ve broken down the key elements that can help make your own bedroom feel more luxurious and separate it from the mental load that follows us from room to room at home. Bedding There is no way a bedroom can feel luxurious if you don’t invest in your bed. We spend hours of our lives in bed, so while the best mattress can be an investment, it’s one that hugely pays off. Similarly, your bed frame should bring you joy when you see it, whether that comes from a sleek wooden design or a gingham-upholstered headboard in an elaborate shape. “We usually like to design a half tester or four poster bed for a principle bedroom,” say Mary Graham and Nicole Salvesen of interior design studio Salvesen Graham, “for added luxury as the cocooning nature of a bed treatment of this kind with the added fabric they bring to a space makes you feel incredibly comforted and comfortable.” The rest of your furniture in your bedroom should be there to enhance the space and make it useful, but not overcrowd it. As interior designer Kerri Lipsitz confirms, “I feel it is very important that one needs to leave room to breathe in a space, it is often as much about what you do not do as what you do.  This is what I believe to be the key to creating an aesthetic of discreet luxury.” Habitat Chiltern Spindle Double Wooden Bed Frame Simba Hybrid Pro Double Mattress Of course, the sheets are key. Opt for the highest thread count you can afford to get that crisp hotel feeling. If that’s not quite your style, linen bedding also has a luxury appeal to it and is soft and cool to sleep in. The look of your bedding is a personal choice but it’s hard to deny that plain, muted colours or fresh white sheets always look the smartest. Leave the patterns for the kids’ rooms and invest in good quality, simple sets of bedding. Annabelle Scalloped Bed Linen, asparagus White Violet 100% Linen Bed Linen Sateen Organic Cotton Duvet Set Organisation “It is essential that storage is perfectly organised in a bedroom so you can feel tranquil in this space at all times,” advise Mary and Nicole, continuing “we often opt for larger bedside chests of drawers for this reason and the symmetry of matching pieces either side of the bed also aids the feeling of calm to the eye.” Most people – or at least many – are likely to have the ‘clothes chair’ in their bedroom; the chair that you put in there with all the good intention of using to read or relax but has actually become an unceremonious dumping ground for clothes that we can’t quite be bothered to put away. You can’t feel like you’re sleeping in a swanky bedroom when you’re faced with that pile so getting organised is a key step. A big part of that may be a change in mindset to take the couple of minutes it requires at the end of a long day to fold your clothes neatly into the chest or drawers or hang them back in the wardrobe. Those two minutes will make a difference to your mood when you wake up the following morning faced with a beautiful, empty chair in which to plonk yourself with a cup of tea, rather than yesterday’s knickers stuffed down the leg of your jeans. In the same vein, consider kicking your laundry basket out onto the landing or hallway so you’re not confronted with the thought of it each day and thus your bedroom becomes utilitarian. Cables too should be tidied away – it’s basically about clearing the clutter from your bedroom so your mind can be at rest, as well as your body. The sexy solution? Have a tabletop charger built into your bedside table (should you be someone who charges their phone next to them overnight) so you simply place your phone down and it charges without the need for cables. Scent It may seem frivolous but if the idea of luxury in a bedroom is to make it feel like a distinct space from the rest of the house, then giving it a signature scent can do wonders. There are many ways to scent a room – candles are always a winner, especially for the soft glimmer of light they’ll bring to the room. However, you can’t burn a candle all day long. Consider instead a diffuser or, our top recommendation would be a scented wax tablet from Santa Maria Novella, coupled with their scent-soaked terracotta pomegranate. Santa Maria Novella Tabacco Toscano Wax Tablets Santa Maria Novella Melograno Terracotta Diffuser Colour There is no colour that dictates luxury and it’s

why-do-we-associate-red-and-green-with-christmas-and-is-it-time-to-branch-out?
| | |

Why do we associate red and green with Christmas and is it time to branch out?

ByEvie Delaney

As December approaches, red and green take centre stage in shop windows, homes, and festive advertising. The roots of Christmas’s red and green palette are a mix of ancient tradition, nature’s seasonal palette, and a touch of early modern advertising genius. The colours, which sit directly opposite each other on the colour wheel and are therefore complementary, can be traced back to pagan winter festivals, where evergreen holly with its scarlet berries was a symbol of life and resilience, providing a lush green backdrop in an otherwise barren winter landscape. Ancient Romans decorated their homes with these hardy plants during Saturnalia, a festival of feasting and merriment marking the solstice, which later merged with early Christmas celebrations. In Christianity, red took on a sacred symbolism, representing both the blood of Christ and the love that underscored the nativity story. Paintings of the Virgin Mary often depicted her in red robes, a colour that eventually found its way into festive decorations to honour the Christmas season. The combination of red and green endured throughout the centuries, mingling and merging with folklore and spirituality until it felt deeply rooted in the holiday spirit. However, the clinching moment for red and green as Christmas colours was less ethereal and more commercial. In 1931, Coca-Cola’s advertising campaign, featuring a plump, jolly Santa in a vivid red suit (a shade closely aligned with the brand’s own red), solidified the colour pairing in popular culture. Before Coca-Cola, Santa Claus was depicted in a variety of colours, including tan, green, blue, and brown. He was also sometimes drawn in patriotic stars and stripes during the Civil War. The campaign’s success gave red and green a fresh relevance, and – as is the power of commercial advertising and messaging – permanently embedded these colours as the colours of Christmas in the public imagination. Yet, as with many traditions, even the most enduring ones can benefit from a little updating. Besides, red and green are not the globally accepted Christmas colour language: in Norway, purple is much more associated with Christmas (because of its association with royalty, and many associate it with the ‘King of Kings’, Jesus) and in Sweden you’ll find red, white and gold adorning the trees and presents. This year’s interiors often favour palettes far removed from the traditional primary versions of red and green, with colour experts identifying gentle terracottas and biscuit tones as the hues to know right now. Whilst red and green can feel very festive, red in its most primary form has been shown to increase your heart rate and create stress, so it makes sense to move towards something more gentle and calming. But if we’re attempting to slip through the traditional clutches of red and green, what are we moving towards? Teal, aqua and orange ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Offering a fresh take on the traditional Christmas colour scheme, House & Garden ‘s Decoration Editor Rémy Mishon whipped up a wonderfully inventive and whimsical take on the red and green regime, offering shades of teal, aqua and orange as this year’s alternative. After all, if you edge slightly along the colour wheel from green, you’ll find yourself at turquoise. Directly opposite the bluey-green shade is just the kind of burnt orange hues that Rémy recommends. So, despite veering away from tradition, Rémy’s palette still maintains familiarity by keeping it in the family of red and green, as well as ensuring significant contrast between her two main tones. “I had some pictures saved from a Rubelli and Formafantasma collection which looked particularly nice clustered together in my photo library,” explains Rémy, “there were apricots, a light pink, strong oranges and a zingy green which I thought would make a pretty, but off beat base for a scheme.” She then came across The Perfect Nothing Catalogue’s pieces of ordinary household items incrusted in semi-precious stones: “I thought the two were a good marriage with the stones complimenting the scheme whilst also not being too delicate. I added a deep green into the mix to further toughen it up and make it more wintery. I thought the combination had something quite magical and fairytale about it, fitting for Christmas, though maybe more Brothers Grimm than Disney.” Brown and gingerbread Nobody could have predicted quite the scale of brown’s return to favour, both in clothing and interior decoration terms. We’ve seen plenty of glossy brown front doors and stairways that would take well to being adorned with branches, pine cones and other neutral foliage. The oak-panelled walls and large mahogany table in the show-stopping entrance of Ven in Somerset means brown accessories make sense in this environment. The owners used russet-coloured strands of leaves instead of garish tinsel to create a natural, warm palette that fills the room with an opulence that still feels organic. At this former rectory in the West Country, foraged Christmas decorations and salvaged materials enhance the sense of a house that has been made suitable for modern family life, while retaining its Victorian character. At Christmas, the family gathers pine cones and branches of old man’s beard to decorate this room at the front of the house, which has walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Setting Plaster’, a sandy pink colour that complements browns very well. 1980s maximalist rainbow Paper decorations can make any room feel festive, and don’t reject streamers for being too naff. Bright and cheerful, they’re an