CATEGORIES

48 hours in FUNCHAL

Jenny Oldaker discovers Madeira's capital to be an elegant, artistic place with wide open spaces, verdant beauty spots and a picture-perfect sea-facing location...

LUKE HONEY'S Enthusiasms

On an autumn day in 1783, a sheep, a duck, and a rooster became the first living creatures to fly in a hot air balloon.

Collecting NUTCRACKERS

Not just for Christmas, these nostalgic keepsakes come in an abundance of novelty shapes and styles, offering character and affordability for budding collectors

WHY I COLLECT Medals

Oliver Miller, managing director of Bishop & Miller Auctioneers and Valuers, is fascinated by medals - for him it's all about the preservation of stories for future generations...

Fashionably CURATED

Roni Lang's home in Deal, situated above her clothing store, is every bit as creative and stylish as you'd expect from a fashion designer

Work life balance

Lucy and Guy Rutter - a ceramicist and artist respectively - have found the ideal place to live and work: a Victorian property in Faversham attached to a once-neglected studio...

Farm FUSION

A farmhouse near Cape Town has been given a rustic-meets-industrial makeover, using found materials and objects, as well as treasures brought back from afar

SAVVY Sophistication

Affordable and intriguing charity shop and eBay finds are teamed with statement pieces in this impressive Victorian home in West Yorkshire

DARREN APPIAGYEI

The wood artist talks to Dominique Corlett about seed pods, creative reinvention and the life-enhancing feeling of turning a lathe

Collecting Dioramas MINIATURE WORLDS

From elaborate taxidermy museum displays to humble folk art creations, a diorama can transport us to another time and place

Pride of place LEEDS CREAMWARE

In its heyday the pre-eminent rival to Wedgwood's Queens ware, Leeds creamware is still much revered by collectors for its understated elegance

Bohemian Rhapsody

An exuberant approach to decor, with rooms enveloped in colour and pattern, has brought this historic home merrily into the 21st century...

THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME Rory Hutton

The accessories designer on his love of silver spoons and Sévres porcelain

European HERITAGE B&Bs

Is there anything more inspiring than staying somewhere that's both beautifully stylish and imbued with history? Rhiannon Batten explores five gems across Europe, from Sweden to Spain...

STAR SALES

A Hitchens painting, a museum-quality teapot and a Parisian chocolate box are all top of the lots

Textile designs by artists

Influential 20th-century fine artists and sculptors, from Picasso to Barbara Hepworth, gained additional status as textile designers until decline set in during the 1970s

Period DRAMA

A painstaking renovation has brought this 1725 former Huguenot silk weaver's house in London's Spitalfields back to life

An artist's RESIDENCE

Rustic details and a restrained palette lend a sense of simplicity to this lovingly restored Friesian bakery

Carefully Curated LIVING

This lovingly restored Gustavian manor has become both home and showroom for its owners, Maria & Jan Åke, who deal in European antiques

Asante & Ewe Kente

This West African stripwoven cloth dates back centuries and is still manufactured today, representing a vibrant symbol of the area's history and traditions, says Celia Rufey

A place of CONTRASTS

Filled with art, Murano glass and other treasures, this Milanese villa is experiencing a new era of splendour thanks to Marco Arosio

Industrial OASIS

Pernille Holm transformed this Copenhagen workshop into an inviting home that's packed with quirky details and original features

Greek mood

Returning to France after several years living on the island of Hydra, Véronique Bloch-Powell has infused the interior of this 18th-century mill with Greek style, via furniture and paintings brought back from her Hellenic journeys

HEIRLOOMS OF THE FUTURE GERALD MAK

The ceramic artist talks to Dominique Corlett about Meissen, friendly gestures, and the benefits of distance when considering your heritage

Six of the best COTTAGES FOR GARDEN LOVERS

Summertime is when the English country garden is at its best, which is why you should pick one of these picturesque cottages, castles or cabins to enjoy arural idyll, says Rhiannon Batten

48 hours in NARBERTH & the Pembrokeshire Coast

Much feted for its food scene, the small Welsh town of Narberth can also be applauded for its vintage and antiques offering, which has blossomed in recent years, says Rosanna Morris

TRAVEL

Visit Narberth, plus six holiday cottages for garden lovers. Review of The Lido Townhouse by Katie Pike, travel stories by Rhiannon Batten

Pride of place COALBROOKDALE GARDEN SEAT

The Shropshire village made famous by the Darby family's adventures in iron is as celebrated for its ornate garden furniture as it is for its ground-breaking bridge, says Janet Gleeson

A buyer's guide to GARDEN ANTIQUES

Elevate your garden, Bridgerton style, with opulent statues, romantic fountains and oversized urns

Cartes de Visite

Some 20 years ago, Paul Frecker first discovered an album of cartes de visite - small Victorian photographs that were a phenomenon of their time. Today, he has a collection of over 10,000 cards