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25 buys to give your home the contemporary country look
Country style doesn't mean kitsch. These essential purchases are your quick-pass to modern rural charm
Think country style means gingham, bunting and lace? It’s time to update your references. The countryside is a hotbed of design ingenuity, dotted with some of the most innovative and architecturally daring homes in the world.
When it comes to their interiors, the look is one of classic and iconic pieces (from the likes of Fornasetti and Carl Hansen & Søn) interspersed with future heirlooms crafted by the best artisans, including leading woodworkers, ceramicists and more. Timelessness is key. When you are surrounded by ancient forests, mountains or the ocean, the pieces in your home have to complement the views rather than compete with them.
Here, we have compiled a selection of some of the outstanding buys from past issues of ELLE Decoration Country – all inspired by the lakeside cottages, coastal villas and rustic retreats that fill their pages. Whether you have your own sanctuary away from it all, or simply dream of bringing a bit of the good life into your urban abode, there’s something for everyone.
‘Hammershøi’ teapot, Kähler
Hans-Christian Bauer’s teapot for Kähler has a brass-plated handle and a built-in strainer for brewing loose-leaf tea. Its porcelain body comes in ‘Indigo’, ‘White’ or ‘Anthracite Grey’. £87, nordicnest.com
‘Pilgrim’s Chair’, Pedro Da Costa Felgueiras
Inspired by characters from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, this ‘Wife of Bath’ ash chair, one of three in the range, is finished in navy with a tan leather top. £2,570, thenewcraftsmen.com
‘Konkret’ pendant light, Örsjö Belysning
Crafted using an ash veneer that fades into a black tint, this pendant lamp by Danish product designer Jonas Edvard creates a warm glow and aims to challenge the way wood is used in lighting design. £402, nest.co.uk
‘Blue Larks’ plate, Lucy Ogden
Designed to work as a decorative piece or as rather special tableware, this plate is handmade from red earthenware clay and finished with layers of coloured slip. This method means no two plates are the same. £58, lucyogden.co.uk
Alpaca Throws, L’objet
Woven from 100 per cent baby alpaca wool, these jacquard throws are soft, warm and available in an array of contemporary designs, including ‘Crocodile’, ‘Triangles’ and ‘Tiger’, and in three elegant colourways. From £445, l-objet.com
‘Sofa One’, Another Country
Stylish and practical, ‘Sofa One’ features a solid oak base and upholstery that is tailored for a relaxed, loose fit. Hand-finished in the UK using only natural materials, its dimensions make it a great occasional bed, too. £3,975, anothercountry.com
‘Drawi’ throw, Caravane
Softly felted with delicate fringing, this throw features a loose geometric pattern in rich jewel shades. Made from 100 per cent merino wool, it is lightweight yet comforting, therefore perfect for all seasons. £265, caravane.co.uk
‘CH24 Wishbone’ Chair, Carl Hansen & Søn
Released to celebrate the brand’s 110th anniversary, this ‘Russet Red’ version of the design classic was a limited edition. Don’t worry if you can't get your hands on it – the original is still the height of style. £671, skandium.com
‘Tim’ pendant lights, Bomma
Bomma combines mouth-blown glass with automated crystal cutting methods to make individual pieces on an incredible scale. From £1,284, hollowaysofludlow.com
‘Objects’ basket, Fritz Hansen
British designer Benjamin Hubert artfully combines functionality and aesthetics in this steam-bent ash basket, which can be used to store anything from magazines to knitting kit. £212, skandium.com
‘Sole’ stool by Fornasetti
Piero Fornasetti was often inspired by graphic themes found in calendars, almanacs and zodiac charts. This stool features his ‘Sole Raggiante’ design. £848, fornasetti.com
Wooden boards, Freight
These boards are made using fallen wood from around the UK, much of which is taken from London plane trees. Each piece is unique and will age well over time. From £45 each, freightstore.co.uk
Green ceramic coffee jug, Hend Krichen
With its sculptural form and modern matt finish, this contemporary earthenware coffee pot is part of a new ‘Breakfast Set’ collection by the London-based designer. £40, hendkrichen.com
‘Stool Barth Marble’ by Le Berre Vevaud
Sculpted from solid Carrara marble, this stool is also available in black Marquina and brown Emperador stones. £3,570, theinvisiblecollection.com
Cutlery set by Valerie Objects
The octagonal stems of this four-piece, brass cutlery set are based on the shape of Japanese designer Koichi Futatsumata’s favourite technical pencil. £180, monologuelondon.com
‘Fielding’ armoire, pinch
The internal components of this simple cupboard are designed without metal fixings, which means they can be easily adjusted for wardrobe use or general storage. The handles are copper plated. £8,200, pinchdesign.com
‘(Perfectly) IMPERFECT’ stool, Galvin Brothers
An unconventional interpretation of traditional wood turning, the Galvin Brothers’ playful stool is available in oak and walnut, as well as black or white ash. £210, galvinbrothers.co.uk
‘Lipe’ towel set, Society Limonta
Naturally hypoallergenic, these 100 per cent linen towels are woven using a traditional waffle technique that increases their absorbency and feels pleasant on the skin. £124 for two, societylimonta.com
Bowls by Alice Blogg
Dorset-based maker Alice Blogg creates elegant, functional and tactile objects from British hardwoods. These hand-turned bowls are sealed with a food-safe oil. £180 for six, thegarnered.com
Quilted velvet throw, Toast
This luxurious throw is hand-quilted in India using soft and tactile cotton velvet. The reverse side is made from pure linen and it is filled with natural cotton. Available in this rich olive shade, as well as on-trend teal. £225, toa.st/uk
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