Simple Country

When life feels complicated and unpredictable, there’s nothing more restorative than a home that provides a soothing antidote to all that busy-ness. There’s something about simple country style that delivers a sense of easy contentment and calm. It’s there in the gentle colour palette; in the tones and textures of natural materials including wood and wicker, cotton and linen, flint and stone; and in the connection between the comfort of a characterful and cosy home, and the gorgeous cottage gardens and rural landscape outside. In this first edition of Simple Country, from the creators of Country Homes & Interiors magazine, we’ve brought you stunning rustic homes that are effortlessly simple yet filled with personality (from page 26). We’ve curated three decor stories to take you through the seasons, from a…

To make a rustic wreath, wrap a wire or moss ring with hay. Arrange flowers around it and secure with florist’s wire Stick a lovely label to a hard-boiled egg and write a pretty place card. Finish with a scattering of spring flowers A hallway tableau of beautiful bulbs creates a fragrant welcome home. Change the bloooms with the seasons…

Every room needs a hero feature. Here, decorative wallpaper gets star billing, with cosy fabrics and simple furniture in support. The stage is set for comfort… Take your cue from the forest, with a display that evokes the colour, texture and beauty of a woodland walk – or panelling that brings the treeline inside Create a space to let your mind wander. Cushions and throws in warm colours and touch-me textures invite you to relax, while candlelight lifts the spirits…

Bee Osborn has carved out a successful career designing beautiful interiors with her award-winning firm, Osborn Interiors. For her, home is a place in which you should feel nurtured and relaxed. ‘Life is hectic and it is important to create personal spaces that enable you to unwind,’ she says. Located in the Cotswolds, Bee’s thatched stone cottage dates back to the 1530s. Combining classic detailing with a modern country aesthetic, the interior is a beautiful mix of traditional and contemporary: think a chalky palette, original stone walls, panelling, elegantly styled furniture and occasional dark tones, adding a subtle change of pace and drama. ‘I had been looking for an out-of-London rental in 2017 as my daughter was starting school in the Cotswolds. We were living in a townhouse in Battersea…

The cottage reminds me of my grandma’s house - I know she would have loved it,’ says Rachel Southern of her Cotswolds bolthole, an idyllic property that dates from the mid 1600s. Originally a barn adjoining the next door farmhouse, it was later converted into two simple ‘one up one down’ cottages. Then in the early 1900s, it was knocked through to create a single home. Rachel describes it as ‘a pandemic buy’. Having purchased it in February 2021, building work commenced in March and the interior was completed by the end of September. ‘Our main home is in London but we wanted somewhere closer to family that all of us could enjoy, but which would also generate some income by renting it out occasionally,’ says Rachel. ‘Lockdown gave me…

Ashley Graham’s elegantly renovated Edwardian home sits in a small medieval village in rural Nottinghamshire, surrounded by farmland – a quintessentially English setting that stole her heart back in 2008. Working and living close to Nottingham city centre for many years, Ashley and her husband, David, both solicitors, were keen to move further into the countryside to find more balance with their demanding jobs. ‘It was time for a change and village life had always appealed,’ explains Ashley. Their hunt led them to a striking ex-post office dating back to 1905. ‘I have always loved Edwardian architecture and we instantly fell in love with the impressive facade of the red-brick building,’ says Ashley. Although it was in a poor state of repair, the couple were taken with the well-proportioned rooms…