CATEGORIES

A Living Museum

Architect and artist Simon Hurst has spent years turning his everyday terraced house into a bequiling cabinet of curiosities

Queen of Vintage

Tineke Tichelaar has collected vintage design for decades, but only now have her treasures found a perfect home an old village train station with its authentic colours still intact

Ancient and MODERN

A crumbling Dorset barn nestled in a beautiful garden has been transformed into a quirky open-plan home, filled with art and antiques

FRANCES PRIEST

Dominique Corlett speaks to the ceramic artist about the language of pattern, and tiles as public art

200 YEARS OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY

As the National Gallery celebrates its 200th birthday this May, Caroline Wheater discovers how the priceless art collection was born from the donations and bequests of wealthy art-lovers who wanted to share their treasures with the People

Six of the best HISTORIC SHOPS

Whether you're looking for jewellery, sweet treats or a classic novel, make gift-shopping an event this Mother’ Day with a visit to these historical establishments, says Rhiannon Batten

48 hours in MAASTRICHT

‘A walled city on a beautiful river, with cobbled streets, stylish boutiques, grand squares and one of the world’s top antiques fairs, Maastricht in the Netherlands is steeped in history and charm, discovers Caroline Wheater

Pride of place SUNDERLAND LUSTRE

Admired for its pearly-pink glaze and often beguiling inscriptions, Sunderland lustre is a collector’s dream, says Janet Gleeson in her first column on regional antiques

STAR SALES

For this months selection, Caroline Wheater focuses on furniture that has recently been offered in Fine sales at some of the UKs best auction houses

Antique Rugs

Sue and Nick Shrimpton and their daughter Min sell antique rugs through their business, Yarn, after years of collecting for their homes. Sue tells us more...

Collecting JOHN OGILBY'S MAPS

A typical 17th-century county map finely detailed towns, villages and rivers, yet it was Ogilby who made roads the focus

HEART OF OAK

From tables to coffers, beautifully handcarved pieces of early oak furniture are as useful today as they were over 400 years ago, and work surprisingly well in modern interiors

UK FAIRS SPECIAL 2024

Whether youre searching for a key piece to complete your collection, or hoping to find interiors inspiration and afew decorative items to update your home, a fair is the place to start, says Charlotte Packer

Spitalfields Silk

During the 18th century, thousands of skilled Huguenot silk weavers settled in east London’s Spitalfields, kickstarting the golden age of English silk design and production, says Celia Rufey

A lesson IN STYLE

Nestled in one of the Cotswolds' most notable villages, this unique historic property has seen numerous changes over the years, but is now a welcoming home, thanks to its industrious owners

Fresh Perspective

Bursting with character and charm, Jojo Humes’ Suffolk home is a testament to her vision, hard work and creativity

English Rose

Blousy florals and vintage finds conibine to Create a Felaxed feelin an 18th-century farmworker s cottage

MARTIN & DOWLING

Malcolm Martin of the esteemed wood-sculpting duo speaks to Dominique Corlett about a quarter of a century of collaboration, and letting the work lead the way

48 hours in Manchester & Stockport

There is so much more to this thriving area of north-west England than football and soap operas

THE ALCOCK MYSTERY

Willa Latham goes on the trail of one of the most enigmatic figures in British porcelain

Bringing it all back home?

As ancient treasures are steadily returned to their places of origin after decades housed in Western museums, Emma Longstaff explores the complex and often emotive debate

Collecting POCKET WATCHES

More affordable than wristwatches and often superior in quality, the pocket watch could well be the timepiece of the moment for collectors...

Ruling the roost

A modest farm building in Kent proved the perfect blank canvas for a joyful restoration that celebrates salvaged items and industrial antiques

Surprise creations

Natasha Redcliffe breathed fresh life into this Victorian stationmaster's house, combining vintage finds with DIY flourishes to give this once-neglected home an elegant, theatrical edge

ART AND BEAUTY

Franck Montialoux and his husband Miguel lovingly restored this elegant manor house in Normandy, and filled it with pieces that reflect their love of antiques and portraiture

Paper Trails

Museum archives and historic stately homes are mines of decorative wallpaper designs that are ripe for reinterpretation

The art of colour

Exciting partnerships between paint companies and museums, galleries and heritage organisations offer inspiration for home decoration

BOXES OF DELIGHTS

A habit once beloved by all tranches of society, snuff taking sparked a fashion for elaborately crafted boxes to house the tobacco, opening up a rich collecting field

Irresistible ikat

The intricate dyeing technique of ikat has changed little since its nascence and the fabrics remain much admired, says Celia Rufey

Forgotten female artists.

Florence Evans tells us about her passion for bringing forgotten women artists to light, and the great joy in discovering hidden gems