Country Furniture Online

Wow what a strange summer we had this year – started off with late snow and frosts with coldest temperatures for years, then suddenly as if by magic a warm spring came, only to be washed and blown away befre a truly amazing summer. Heat and dryness that we’ve never experienced since our UK records began.  Thoughts of quiet countryside holidays came to our familie’s collective minds this year – although summer holidays are meant to be on the beach – there was something ghastly about the prospect of sharing my square metre of sandy beach too closely with Joe Public.  However the very prospect of a country living, even for a short holiday period is so divine.  Gorgeous old  buildings with character – not  necessarily all  beams and thatches, but thick walls, inglenooks; funny little staircases halfway up the wall and oddly unfitted kitchens.  knowing families have lived together over the centuries is a lovely feeling.

You only really appreciate the words country furniture when you have experienced an authentic village house way up in the hills in Cyprus.  In a village half way p the Troodos mountains I know of a chap who is almost 101 year old – he and his live in maid/companion live in a simple village house made of stone, with a fireplace and open chimney in the corner of the main room.  There are two very basic wood and bamboo chairs and a low slung sofa bed affair made of a wooden frame and bamboo plaited across, this supports a matress made of sheeps wool that is spun and then dyed.  Once dry it goes through the family loom in the yard.  The ‘matress’ is filled with feathers and more sheeps wool.    The matress is then folded to suit a sofa or left flat to use as a bed.  The simplicity if wonderful.

I do love going out into the countryside – walking out along the lanes is just so relaxing and therapeautic, most of the time anyway.  It can get a bit tense when you have to encounter dog walkers, bike riders, and the like.  But when I think back to books and articles on the old country houses, they had a lot more going on along the lanes.  Carriages from the big house would take up a vast space, going rather slower than today’s mode of transport.  Then there was the twice yearly livestock movements – in the spring there would be the sheep with their lambs turfed out into the grassy fields, as was cattle, pigs and fowl.   I like to think of these regular events when I’m sitting in country tea rooms with their  lovely old furniture and it feels like I am part of this old unchanging world.  At least for a few minutes here and there.

I have a young relative who with her partner moved from a compact starter home to their dream house in the country.  The move involved much more than just changing houses though.  Once they had waved the removal folk goodbye, they unpacked the essentials and scooted off to check on their long list of newly ordered furnishing items from an independent maker and supplier who had exactly the country furnishing theme they so desired.  It had always been their intention to change up from smart, convenient modular furniture to massive, comfortable 4 seater sofas and this has now been achieved with aplomb.  Together with beautiful stag shaped lamp stands for the floor and tables.  With their garden meeting the edge of the wood surrounding the stately home next door, this back drop couldn’t be more perfect. On the walls are photos of the house in a previous incarnation, as aperfect thatched cottage.

Ah how I remember back to the old days when I was never quite able to appreciate the beauty of beams in any property conversion.   I would see these great barns on the property programmes on tv, the host or hostess would stand back, as the parties trying to move are standing below, absolutely agog at the wonder of all the cross beams and arched beams.  I always thought they looked a bit heavy and out of place in an otherwise super modern looking environment.  Wrong!  Now that I have close relatives who do enjoy exactly this scene every day, with carefully preserved beams running along the landing between and through the bedrooms.  I have only nearly bopped myself on them, but having been thoroughly warned, I remember to bob a cursey.  The furniture chosen for the home has really brought those beams alive now – exactly the right painted oak to lighten and refresh.