Staying In

Give Your Kitchen A Countryside Makeover

It’s an age-old question: town or country? We obviously wouldn’t make you choose between the two – but you might be swayed by this Cornish kitchen, which builds on both historic and local design traditions. ‘We drew inspiration from the great Georgian kitchens of English country houses – spaces that were hardworking but full of life and accumulated detail,’ explains Tom Cox, CEO and chief creative of HÁM Interiors. ‘We kept the original Cornish Delabole slate floor to the tone, adding a freestanding island based on a Georgian dairy table.’ The hand-painted Delft tiles, meanwhile, were made by local Cornish company Decorum. ‘The motifs – mackerels, seagulls, sailing boats – felt completely right for this part of the world. We were particularly drawn to the stargazy pie, a nod to the traditional pilchard pie from Mousehole. There's a lovely piece of local folklore woven into those tiles, and that kind of detail is exactly what we were looking for.’ Find more British country kitchen inspiration here.

Going Out

Sip Fizz At A Nyetimber Open Day

As the weather hots up for summer, here's one to book ahead. Nyetimber’s Open Day Tour and Tastings give fans of the multi award-winning English sparkling wine access to its idyllically verdant South Downs estate. First arrive in the pretty courtyard with its tinkling water fountain and learn a brief history of the estate, including its Tudor heritage. Then venture on a guided walking tour of the fields to see the flourishing vines – some of the oldest in England – in all of their leafy green glory. While you won’t be touching any of the precious grapes, everyone is welcome to pick the tour guide’s brains, from clued-up grape aficionados to newcomers learning about (sparkling) wine for the very first time. Then it's into the 15th century barn for a four-fizz tasting with enlightening tasting notes and more insight into the sparkling winemaking process. You’ll sip the Classic Cuvee, Rosé, Cuvee Chérie and the coveted Blanc de Blancs 2017, the 2016 version of which became the very first wine from outside of Champagne to win Champion Sparkling Wine in the International Wine Challenge’s 34-year history last autumn. Ensure you make a note of your favourite: bottles can be purchased at cellar door prices at the end. £50pp, select weekend dates in June, July, August and September. nyetimber.com 

Property Of The Day

Who doesn’t dream of owning a private island? Set within the Bahamas’ Abaco archipelago, this five-acre tropical paradise boasts soft-sand beaches and swimming coves. At its heart sits a 7,200 sqft home and three-bedroom guest suite with an oceanfront gym and plunge pool. 

$15,900,000, sothebysrealty.com 

Little Luxury

Good quality olive oil is the ultimate luxury nowadays – and there’s a new brand on the scene. Krude is a premium extra virgin olive oil co-founded by Gordon Ramsay alongside Ben and Elle Caring, the owners of Soho House wine brand Lady A. Crafted by cold-pressing fresh ingredients, there are seven flavours to choose from, including Chilli, Garlic and Lemon & Basil, as well as the Krude Nude range: uninfused oils including the ‘Finish Me’ Nude – perfect for drizzling and dressing. £22 per bottle, krudeoliveoil.com

Competition Time

Here’s your chance to win a luxury AVAIA handbag from LIAVELLA, the newly launched accessories brand redefining the modern carryall. Enter here.

Psssst…

The late Queen Elizabeth’s private apartments at Scottish home Holyroodhouse are being opened up to the public for the first time ever, marking the centenary of her birth. It’s a chance to see the place where the monarch would have breakfast with Prince Philip (between 9 – 9.15am, while the Piper played music down below in the garden), the writing desk where she used to work, and her beloved teddy bear which she liked to be displayed on the sofa.

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Overdo it on the electrolytes. Although regular use is safe for most people, nutritionist Kim Pearson stresses that ‘more is not always better’. Whether you need to take them everyday depends on your activity output: ‘someone exercising intensely, training in hot conditions or losing large amounts of sweat may benefit from them daily, whereas someone sitting at a desk all day is unlikely to need a high strength electrolyte drink.’ 

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