Abingdon Living Mar - Apr 2021

Waitrose & Partners No.1 Dry Aged Sirloin of Beef Roasting Joint 

Rubbed with French wet salt, sea salt and three types of pepper, and served bone-in for a more intense flavour. 

SRENTRAP NODGNIBA 

& ESORTIAW

Contents 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

08 

Glorious 

A Culinary Easter Journey recipes through to 

Northern celebrate Ireland the spring 

I was hoping we would be 

approaching this edition with a bit 

more of a certain outlook, but at the 

time of going to press, the shape 

of the next few months still looks 

rather…fluid. Time to call on some of 

that British resilience and adaptability 

– and wait for the joys of spring to 

flow forth. After all, there’s nothing 

that a big old wedge of cake can’t fix, 

so that’s what we are providing! 

This edition is still a celebration of 

my favourite season – a time of 

fabulous food, spring cleans and 

new beginnings. We hope you enjoy 

reading it as much as we have 

enjoyed putting it together! 

The competition 

page returns 

04 

Whilst Easter might yet again not take 

its usual form, we still have some 

celebratory and seasonal recipes to 

help you take joy in the preparation 

and flavour of good food - no matter 

how much company you have to 

share it with. 

On the home front, we have a 

wonderful kitchen before and after 

feature to inspire. If lockdown has 

seen you improve instead of move or 

you love your home but the space is 

no longer working the way it should 

for you, take a look at what can be 

done with a bit of imagination! 

A real-life before and 

after kitchen renovation 

14 

Key Account Manager Marcus Hawke 

e marcus.hawke@minervapublications.co.uk 

d/l 01225 984505 

twitter: @AbingdonLiving1 

Spring clean tips 

from the experts 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre-Press Manager Kate O’Connell 

Contributors Rebecca Rose, Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs 

Angela Cave and Pete Lawrence. Front cover courtesy of Clarence Court Eggs 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton 

Trowbridge BA14 6JB 

t 01225 984 550 

visit our website www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

24 

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by failure of an 

advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and 

misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the 

publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers. 

Spring is a traditional time for a 

good clean and clear out - given 

we are bursting out of the seams of 

our homes, we should be making 

the most of the storage we have 

and reduce the clutter - so we’ve 

got some expert tips to banish the 

baggage and some cleaning hacks to 

make your house shine. 

Our ever-popular competition page is 

back with a bumper crop of amazing 

prizes - don’t forget to enter - I always 

bemoan the fact I can’t as there are 

some exceptional goodies to be had! 

All that’s left is to wish that the next 

time we see you, we are firmly on 

the road back to normality - there’s 

a palpable good feeling in the air and 

long may it continue! 

Katie Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

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4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

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The Value of 

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TONIQ On Demand 


We caught up with personal trainer Arron Collins-Thomas to find out about his new 

online fitness offering, expanded from his very successful gym TONIQ... 

Your gym, with its fully-rounded approach to health and 

lifestyle, has made national news for its incredible client 

results – what will the app offer? 

At TONIQ we recognise that good health is more than just 

regular workouts, it encompasses taking care of every aspect 

of your body. We have created a solution where everything from 

nutrition, mindfulness, amazing workouts, yoga and more is 

available with guidance from fantastic trainers and experts in 

one place. 

Not only this, but as part of TOD you have access to your own 

coach, ensuring that you have someone you can speak to, to 

keep you on track and accountable as well as supporting you 

throughout. 

We have had some incredible results over the past few years at 

TONIQ and we want to be able to bring those results to more 

people. With the app we aim to give anyone, anywhere in the 

world, a taste of the TONIQ-life. 

As a TONIQ On Demand member you get to join the incredible 

community online, have access to our on demand workouts as 

well as live workouts, Q&As and educational talks. We have an 

incredible coaching team with a huge array of skills to bring to 

you including yoga, qigong, nutrition and mindfulness. 

The main workouts are written based on what we are up to at 

TONIQ in any given training block and a new phase of workouts 

launches every 6 weeks on the app as well as regular bonus 

content to keep the training varied and inspiring. 

Can you get a good experience with online coaching? 

Are you accountable and is it personalised? 

With TOD you have a designated TONIQ coach who you speak 

to on a one to one basis. When you first sign up with us you 

will have a call to help you set up your accountability sheets, 

help you curate your workout schedule and set you on the 

right nutrition plan for you. Then every month you get another 

call with your coach to help keep you on track and answer any 

questions you may have. Accountability is key if you really want 

to get results and that is one of the reasons why TONIQ has 

been so successful. 

Are the classes accessible no matter your fitness level? 

Some of us are self-conscious about going to the gym or 

nervous in COVID times. 

No matter what your levels of fitness we can help you. Our 

expert coach will advise what level to start at for you and 

how hard to push yourself in the first consultation you have 

with them. It will be based around your fitness and any health 

concerns, so you can feel secure in the fact that you won’t be 

over training or causing yourself any harm by taking part in our 

programs. 

For people who aren’t ready for the gym again yet or who are 

self conscious TONIQ On Demand is the perfect choice. You get 

personal trainer support and expert written workouts, all from 

the comfort of your own home. 

You also get to join a great online community who share their 

experiences and help support each other to get the results they 

desire. 

TONIQ ON DEMAND 

MORE THAN A WORKOUT 

Join our community from anywhere, at anytime with 

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Nutrition plans based on your needs and goals. 

Monthly 121 check in calls with an expert coach. 

Extensive library of classes including SWEAT, STRONGER, 

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Visit TONIQLIFE.COM to find out more

EASTER 

Though it is still not Easter as 

we know it, it doesn’t mean you 

can’t celebrate with some special 

dishes and delightful bakes. 

These fabulous recipes all come 

from Clarence Court Eggs 

Bites 

SIMPLE HERBY 

ASPARAGUS OMELETTE 

WITH FETA AND RADISH 

Preparation time: 10 minutes 

Cooking time: 10 minutes 

Serves: 1 

INGREDIENTS 

150g British asparagus spears 

A small handful radishes 

Juice of half a lemon plus a wedge for 

serving 

½ teaspoon honey 

Extra virgin olive oil 

½ small bunch fresh dill, leaves picked 

A few sprigs parsley, leaves picked 

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 

2 Clarence Court Hens Eggs 

A knob of butter 

40g feta cheese 

METHOD 

Click the woody ends from the asparagus 

and place a medium frying pan on a 

medium/high heat. Add all but one spear 

of asparagus and dry fry for about 5 

minutes or until starting to soften, turn 

occasionally. 

Use a speed peeler to peel strips of 

radish and the raw asparagus. Add to a 

bowl, with the lemon juice, honey and a 

drizzle of olive oil. Toss together and add 

a few of the herb leaves and a pinch of 

salt and pepper. 

When the asparagus spears are cooked, 

remove from the pan and place to one 

side on a plate. Return the pan to a low/ 

medium heat. Beat the eggs well with the 

remaining herbs and a good pinch of salt 

and pepper. Add the butter to the pan 

and swirl it around, once melted tip in 

the eggs and use a spatula to draw lines 

through the mixture and make sure any 

raw mixture gets contact with the pan. 

Cook to your liking arrange the asparagus 

on one side of the omlette, scatter over 

the feta and fold the omelette over. 

Gently transfer the omelette to a serving 

plate, top with the salad and serve with a 

lemon wedge. 


PEA AND PECORINO 

QUAIL EGG ARANCINI 

Preparation time: 10 minutes, plus time 

for cooling 


Serves: 6 

INGREDIENTS 

6 Clarence Court quail eggs 

1 white onion, diced 

1 garlic clove, minced 

A splash of white wine 

200g of pearl barley 

600ml of vegetable stock 

50g frozen peas, thawed and roughly 

chopped 

50g of butter 

50g of Pecorino, grated 

2 tablespoons plain flour 

1 Clarence Court egg, whisked 

4 tablespoons breadcrumbs 

Vegetable oil for frying 

METHOD 

Boil the quail eggs for 2 minutes, peel 

and set aside. In a pan over a medium 

heat, sweat down the onion in a little 

oil until softened but not browned, add 

the garlic and cook for a further minute 

before adding the barley stirring well. 

Add the wine and stock one ladle at 

a time until all the liquid has been 

absorbed and the barley is cooked 

through. Add in the chopped peas, 

butter and Pecorino and season to taste. 

Spread the mixture onto a tray and allow 

to cool. 

Lay out the flour, beaten egg and 

breadcrumbs in 3 separate bowls. Take 

a handful of barley risotto and with 

wet hands, gently lay a quail egg into 

the middle and mould into a ball. Roll 

in flour, dip into egg and roll into the 

breadcrumbs. Cook two at a time in oil 

at 160ºC for 3-4 minutes until golden 

brown. Drain onto kitchen paper and 

serve warm. 


EARL GREY AND GINGER 

SIMNEL CAKE 

The Simnel Cake is buried deep in the traditions of England. It 

signals the start of new beginnings with the coming of Spring. 

It often now served around Mothering Sunday. This zesty 

version includes the not too traditional addition of warming 

ginger and citrus Earl Grey tea. 

Preparation time: 40 minutes (plus soaking fruit overnight) 

Cooking time: 2 hours 

Serves: 10-12 

INGREDIENTS 

6 pieces of stem ginger in syrup 

50g dried apricots 

50g glace cherries 

100g sultanas 

50g dried cranberries 

125g currants 

60g chopped mixed peel 

Zest of 2 oranges 

200ml earl grey tea (made with 3 tea bags and cooled) 

250g unsalted softened butter 

250g soft light brown sugar 

230g self-raising flour, sieved 

4 large Clarence Court Hens Eggs 

½ teaspoon mixed spice 

1 teaspoon ground ginger 

3 tablespoons apricot jam 

Icing sugar for dusting 

300g marzipan 

Mini eggs and edible flowers to decorate 

METHOD 

The night before you bake the cake, chop the stem ginger, 

apricots and cherries and add them to a bowl with the 

remaining dried fruit, orange zest and cooled tea. Cover the 

bowl and set aside to soak overnight. 

The following day drain the fruit and discard any tea that 

hasn’t been soaked up. Grease and line a deep, heavy, 20cm 

round baking tin with baking parchment. It’s often useful to 

wrap a sleeve of foil wrapped in baking parchment around 

the outside of the tin and secure it with string. This prevents 

the cake from browning too much as its baked for around 2 

hours. 

Pre-heat the oven to 150ºC/gas mark 2. Place the butter, 

sugar, sieved flour and spices into the bowl of a free-standing 

mixer. Whisk for a minute or two until beaten into a smooth 

cake mix. Alternatively, you can do this by hand with a 

wooden spoon. Fold through the tea-soaked fruit. 

Spoon the mixture into the lined tin and level out evenly. Place 

the cake in the oven to bake for 2 hours or until golden and 

risen. To check it’s ready, insert a skewer into the centre of the 

cake. If any mixture remains on the skewer, cover the cake 

with tin foil and bake in the oven for a further 10 minutes. 

When it’s ready, allow the cake to sit in the tin for 20 minutes 

on a cooling rack, then carefully turn it out and allow to cool 

completely. 

Melt the apricot jam and brush it on to the top of the cake. 

Roll out half of the marzipan to a 20cm circle on a clean work 

surface dusted with icing sugar and place on top of the cake. 

Roll out 11 balls and arrange them around the edge of the 

marzipan circle. Use a blow torch or place on a hot grill for a 

minute or two to achieve a golden-brown finish. Top with mini 

eggs and edible flowers if using. 


HOT CROSS BUNS 

Preparation time: 2 hours, 20 minutes 

Cooking time: 15-20 minutes 

Serves: 12 

INGREDIENTS 

500g strong white bread flour 

10g fine salt 

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

2 teaspoons ground mixed spice 

1 orange zest, finely grated 

1 lemon zest, finely grated 

300ml semi skimmed milk 

60g unsalted butter 

10g fast action yeast 

1 large Clarence Court Hens egg, beaten 

150g sultanas 

50g dried cranberries 

50g chopped mixed candied peel 

Vegetable or flavourless oil 

75g plain flour 

100g Bonne Maman Apricot Conserve 

METHOD 

Place the strong white bread flour in a large 

mixing bowl. Stir in the salt, mixed spice, ground 

cinnamon, orange and lemon zest. Make a well in 

the centre. 

Gently heat the milk until lightly steaming and stir 

in the butter until melted. Pour the milk and melted 

butter into a jug (check that’s it’s lukewarm) and 

stir in the yeast. Mix until frothy then pour into the 

well and add the beaten egg. Mix with a dinner 

knife at first bringing the flour slowly into the milk 

mixture and forming a rough dough. 

Transfer to a free-standing mixer with dough hook, 

spoon in the mixed fruit and knead to a smooth 

dough for about 5 - 10 minutes. Tip into a lightly 

oiled large bowl and cover with clingfilm. Place 

in a warm cupboard or by a radiator for 1 hour or 

until double in size. 

Meanwhile line two baking trays with greaseproof 

paper. When the dough is ready turn out on to a 

clean lightly floured work surface and ‘knock back’ 

divide the dough into 12 equal sized balls, using a 

weighing scale helps make sure they are all even. 

Place 6 balls on each tray fairly close to each 

other. Place each tray in a large food safe bag 

(large roasting bags work well) and secure with an 

elastic band making sure the bag doesn’t touch 

the buns. Place the trays back in the warm place 

and allow the buns to double in size (about 45 

minutes). 

Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/Gas Mark 7. Mix the 

flour with 75ml water and spoon the paste into a 

small icing or piping bag. 

When the buns are ready, remove them from bags 

and pipe a cross over each bun. Place the trays 

in the oven and bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until 

golden brown. Turn the trays halfway. 

Meanwhile, melt the jam in a pan and pass 

through a sieve. Once the buns are cooked 

remove from the oven, brush over the glaze 

and allow to cool a little. Serve fresh or toasted 

with butter. You can freeze the buns, just cool 

completely and glaze after defrosting and 

reheating. 


CHERRY, BERRY AND ALMOND 

CLAFOUTIS 

This classic clafoutis with a twist is a great pudding for 

entertaining a crowd. Using minimal effort, it makes for quite 

the showstopper when placed in the middle of the table in the 

beautiful deep teal Le Creuset shallow casserole dish it’s cooked 

in. Cherries, mixed berries and little pieces of marzipan are 

encased and baked in a delicious, rich almondy batter made 

with Clarence Court eggs. Top with flaked almonds and icing 

sugar and serve with cream. You can change the fruit to the 

season, try apricots, peaches, apples, strawberries, plums or 

even grapes. 

Preparation time: 20 minutes 


Serves: 8 

INGREDIENTS 

Unsalted butter for greasing 

500g mixed de-stoned cherries and berries (raspberries and 

blueberries work well) 

100g golden marzipan, chopped into 2cm pieces 

100g ground almonds 

4 tbsp plain flour 

150g caster sugar 

4 Clarence Court Burford Brown eggs 

4 Clarence Court Burford Brown egg yolks 

500ml double cream plus extra for serving 

20g toasted flaked almonds 

Icing sugar for dusting 

This based on a 30cm Le Creuset Casserole Dish 

METHOD 

Preheat oven to 180ºC/ gas mark 4. 

Grease the inside of a 30cm shallow casserole dish with butter. 

Scatter the fruit and chopped marzipan evenly in the dish. Whisk 

the remaining ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and 

pour over the fruit. 

Bake in the oven for 50-55 minutes or until golden and risen. 

Remove from oven, dust with icing sugar, scatter over the 

almonds and serve immediately with cream. 

en? 

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HAVE AN ELTON POWER HOUR 

Put I’m Still Standing on at full blast 

and tell us you don’t feel better after a 

boogie to all his classics 

BAKING KITS DELIVERED 

We love these adorable kits from Craft 

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KEEP ON 

STEPPING 

As well as having 

an enormous 

benefit to our 

physical health, 

getting out for a walk 

can do wonders for the mind too. Even a 

short, 15-minute walk can help clear your 

mind, improve your mood, and boost your 

energy level. 

BREAK FREE FROM 

LOCKDOWN 

lethargy 

LITTLE LIFTS 

DURING LOCKDOWN 

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UNBELIEVABLE BAKES 

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at home. And, whilst stocks last, all orders will 

come with a free mystery pack of cheesecake 

slices. £10 per roll, englishcheesecake.com 


FAMILY 

FOCUSED 

living 

As well as shaping our lives and plans, the last year of intermittent 

lockdowns has certainly changed the way we need our homes to 

function. With kitchen tables shared between home schooling and 

home-working, or living spaces packed with exercise kit, many of 

us have gotten to know our four walls very well - but found them 

falling short in terms of how they work for us... 

This was the case with homeowners 

Lisa and Phil, who had to put off a more 

significant move in March 2020, “we 

had had our offer accepted on a period 

property that needed lots of work, but 

right as we were about to exchange, 

our buyers pulled out. In a way, it was a 

blessing in disguise, as whilst our house 

isn’t our dream home, we were glad to 

not have to live in a full-house building 

site during lockdown. All this did make us 

reconsider our space and how to make it 

work better for us in the present.” 

With two young children, like many 

homes, the kitchen and dining areas 

were the heart of the action, “I suppose 

our layout was a fairly standard one – a 

kitchen looking over the back garden, 

then a separate dining room which had 

an opening into the sitting room. We also 

had a conservatory which was just never 

The old conservatory (right) transformed 

into a modern extension and new 

French doors from the kitchen. 

used – it was either very cold or upwards 

of 50ºC in the summer months. It just 

seemed like a huge waste of space and 

created this awkward, multi-door access 

to the garden, with about 1,000 trip 

hazards for my two-year-old.” 

Many of us have spaces like this, which 

don’t fit with how we want to live – often 

the kitchen is separate and leaves one 

family member away from all the action. 

“The kitchen had only wall units too and I 

really wanted a breakfast bar area where I 

could have friends over for coffee but have 

eyes on the kids playing at all times too.” 

BEFORE 


Lisa and Phil wanted to create a ‘broken plan’ 

space – that is, an open-plan kitchen/diner 

with some seating and a play area for the 

kids, then closing off the sitting room to have 

more of a cosy retreat. “Rather than having 

a full extension, we found out that we could 

use the existing conservatory foundations and 

half wall to create a whole new room with a 

skylight – then, by removing the existing wall 

between the kitchen and dining room, we could 

create a large L-shaped space, with a snug for 

the kids and a peninsula - we didn’t have the 

clearance room for an island, but this gives us 

a lot of the feel without making the walkways 

feel cramped” says Lisa, “this reconfiguration 

also allowed us to have French doors direct 

from the kitchen to the garden – something I’ve 

always wanted for summer dining outside. 

“We decided to seal up the opening between 

the dining area and sitting room so we had a 

separate space - a retreat from the kids and 

all their stuff!” 

The couple went to a local kitchen supplier 

who suggested they look at the Lifestyle 

Kitchen range by Crown Imperial – they 

loved the sleek simplicity of a modern shaker 

style called Avio and the colour options 

were fantastic. “I’ve always loved the look 

of dark kitchen units, so we went with a mix 

BEFORE 

“MANY OF US HAVE SPACES LIKE THIS, 

WHICH DON’T FIT WITH HOW WE WANT TO 

LIVE – OFTEN THE KITCHEN IS SEPARATE 

AND LEAVES ONE FAMILY MEMBER AWAY 

FROM ALL THE ACTION.” 


Frayed linen cushion and mudcloth 

cushion, both hauslife.co.uk 

the Graphite shade on the bulk of the cabinets 

and white on the storage around the banquette 

seating area. I was worried the dark colour might 

overwhelm the space, but it’s gorgeous – there’s 

such a depth to it which shifts in the light and 

the simple lines keep it timeless. The doors and 

drawers have such a feeling of quality, they’re 

really robust and easy to clean - important with 

sticky kids about – and they have the soft close 

function, which is just amazing when you’ve not 

had it before! We opted for a mix of conventional 

cupboards, a larder cupboard around the fridge, a 

curved one for the breakfast bar and of course the 

full height ones on the banquette seating – great for 

housing the hoover and large kitchen appliances!” 

Lighting was a huge consideration for this newly 

zoned, multi-function room. Lisa wanted the 

lights to help define each space - with functional 

track spotlights in the kitchen, pendants over the 

breakfast bar and a beautiful statement light over 

the dining table. “To save on costs, instead of 

having a raft of new spotlights installed, we chose 

these beautiful ‘Osaka’ track spots from DAR 

Lighting. Then we chose the ‘Dynamo’ pendant 

lights for the breakfast bar - they have a diffuser 

on the bottom which stops the light from having 

that stark, interrogation appearance - they create 

a fabulous ambiance. The pendant over the dining 

table is called the ‘Alana’ and I was immediately 

attracted to its stylish form and functionality - it 

looks amazing in situ. Despite choosing lights from 

three different collections, they work together really 

well and all have a stunning antique chrome finish, 

which tied the metallic finishes on the handles and 

tap together.” 

Whilst you may not consider it, the sink and tap 

are some of the most important purchases in the 


Cabinets from Crown Kitchens 

Tap and Sink from GROHE 

Accessories from jysk.co.uk 


BEFORE 

DAR Lighting 

Alana Pendant 

“THE PENDANT OVER 

THE DINING TABLE IS 

CALLED THE ‘ALANA’ 

AND I WAS ATTRACTED 

TO ITS STYLISH FORM 

AND FUNCTIONALITY - IT 

LOOKS AMAZING IN SITU.” 

kitchen - especially with our heightened-awareness of the importance 

of regular hand washing. This beautiful GROHE Minta SmartControl 

kitchen mixer tap is perfect for the hygiene-focused and budding chefs 

alike with its button-controlled start technology, “it’s so convenient - if 

you have a heavy pot to fill with water or have handled raw meat, you 

can start the tap with the touch of an elbow or wrist. You can adjust 

the flow of the water with the button too - the spout can also pull out 

so you can rinse down the whole sink with ease. We paired it with the 

GROHE K700, which has an undermount design - it’s so sleek and 

looks amazing against our composite worktop.” 

It’s no secret that kitchens require robust flooring – it has to be able to 

cope with water but also resist damage from dropped pans or knives. 

The obvious answer was luxury vinyl, so Lisa and Phil went straight to 

the experts at Amtico, “we knew we wanted wood effect and I am a huge 

fan of a classic herringbone pattern. Our concern was that this floor had 

to run into the hallway too, but that’s too narrow to support this pattern 

– but the beauty of these Amtico planks was that they can be laid in a 

whole host of different configurations – ours has a transition from straight 

planks in the hallway to my beautiful herringbone. We went for the colour 

Honey Oak, but you can even mix and match shades in the range to 

create some lovely tonal variations and patterns. They also come with an 

amazing 25 year guarantee which gives real peace of mind.” 


Table, vase, tray, sculpture and 

candle all jysk.co.uk 

Mudcloth Throw, hauslife.co.uk 

Amtico Flooring in 

Honey Oak 

DAR Lighting Osaka Track 

and Dynamo Pendants 

Having now completed the project, 

would they change anything? 

“Honestly, it’s surpassed our 

expectations - it was a relatively 

painless process which has 

completely transformed the way we 

live. We opted for the best quality we 

could afford and I’m so glad we did - 

this is beating heart of our home and 

now it works for all of us.” 

STOCKIST DETAILS: Sink: K700 

undermount sink, £591.13 excl. VAT 

and Minta SmartControl kitchen tap in 

Supersteel £395.97 excl. VAT, both grohe. 

co.uk; Lights: Osaka, £134.40, Alana, £96 

and Dynamo, £132, all darlighting.co.uk; 

Flooring: Amtico in Honey Oak part of the 

Amtico Spacia Collection, amtico.com; 

Cabinets: Lifestyle Kitchens by Crown 

Kitchens, crown-imperial.co.uk 



willowbrook park, didcot 

Located in the Oxfordshire town of Didcot, Willowbrook Park 

is an exciting new development of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom 

homes, including apartments, with a carefully designed 

neighbourhood park... 

Willowbrook Park is a vibrant, growing 

community in keeping with Didcot’s 

Garden Town status, achieved by 

holistically blending traditional, 

inspirational architecture with specially 

selected landscaping. The beautiful 

neighbourhood park is designed to 

encourage inhabitation by local wildlife 

and provide a safe environment for 

families to explore and enjoy, creating a 

unique space that mixes the traditional 

with the contemporary and the rural with 

the residential to promote greener living 

and inspire active lifestyles. 

The neighbourhood park is a 

multifunctional urban oasis with a 

turfed central area and wildflower-rich 

meadow areas to encourage pollinating 

insects. The site is bordered with mature 

planting and strategically placed swales 

that provide additional habitation for 

other wildlife, with bat and bird boxes 

positioned in trees and minimal lighting 

throughout the garden to support 

nocturnal fauna. 

An expertly designed, tree-lined avenue 

links each phase to the neighbourhood 

park, with lush green corridors containing 

cycle routes and footpaths that interlink 

with existing public rights of way, 

providing residents with alternative routes 

to neighbouring villages, the town centre 

and the Science Vale UK Enterprise Zone 

campuses nearby. 

Known as the gateway to the largest 

‘scientific cluster’ in the UK, Didcot is 

part of the Science Vale UK Enterprise 

Zone. A number of important scientific, 

research and development and high 

technology campuses are based in 

nearby villages, including Milton Park, the 

Culham Science Centre and the Harwell 

Science and Innovation Campus. 

Didcot was the first existing town to 

be declared a ‘Garden Town’ when it 

was awarded the status in 2015. In 

keeping with the requirements Garden 

Town status affords, Willowbrook Park 

balances the natural environment with 

energy efficient new homes and carefully 

planned communal areas. 

The idea of garden cities was first 

introduced by British urban planner 

Ebenezer Howard in his book 

Garden Cities of To-morrow (1898) 

which described a utopian city that 

harmoniously blended nature with urban 

landscapes. This started the Garden City 

Movement, which proposed this new idea 

as an alternative to cramped, 

over-crowded industrial cities and could 

also solve the issue of rural 

depopulation. 

Croudace Homes is a well-established, 

family owned residential developer that 

was founded in 1946. An award winning 

house builder, Croudace is known 

for building high spec homes to an 

exceptional standard and has received 

the HBF 5 Star Award for Quality and 

Customer Service for eight years in a row. 

A familiar presence in Didcot, Croudace 

built over 1000 homes and a number of 

community facilities, including schools, a 

neighbourhood centre and Didcot Town 

football stadium, in the Ladygrove area 

between 1987 and 2003. 

Didcot is a thriving town that is popular 

with commuters and offers a variety of 

things to see and do. Willowbrook Park 

is a stunning new addition that provides 

space for individuals and families to grow 

and thrive. 

Willowbrook Park has excellent transport 

links; Didcot Parkway Station can be 

reached in 15 minutes on foot or in 

just three minutes by car. The station 

is well served, with regular trains to 

London Paddington, Reading, Oxford, 

Cheltenham, Bristol and a number of 

destinations in the Southwest and South 

Wales. Junction 13 of the M4 is under 

15 miles away from Didcot and the M25 

can be reached in an hour via the M40. 

Heathrow Airport is an hour’s drive away. 

The Marketing Suite and Show Homes 

at Willowbrook Park are currently open 

on an appointment only basis. Contact 

our Sales Consultants today by email 

willowbrookpark@croudacehomes. 

co.uk or phone us 0333 321 8649 to 

arrange your visit. 


image from Studio McGee 

DECOR HOW TO: 

THE MODERN RUSTIC AESTHETIC 

What do you get when you mix 

mid-century modern furniture with 

rustic materials and accents? A 

perfectly modern rustic look! Kate, 

the founder of online homewares 

company Haus, delves into how you 

can achieve the look in your home. 

New to modern rustic style? You’ve 

probably seen it before and just 

didn’t know what to call it. It involves 

comfortable but streamlined furniture, 

natural elements, earth tones, and 

reliance on rustic materials and decor. 

This style is all over Instagram and 

Pinterest, and brilliant designers like 

Amber Interiors and Studio McGee often 

design rooms that you could easily say 

are of this style. 

Comfortable foundations 

Comfort is key with this look. So, the 

largest pieces of furniture in any modern 

rustic room should be streamlined 

but never skimp on comfort. In living 

rooms, start with cosy oversized sofas. 

In bedrooms, opt for plush, upholstered 

beds. For a dining room, look for an 

oversized, rustic wood dining table 

around which big groups can gather. 

But, while prioritizing comfort, make sure 

the furniture lines are clean and simple to 

keep the look modern. 

Add Mid-Century Modern 

Accents 

Once the comfortable foundation is 

laid, introduce a more mid-century or 

eclectic vibe. At first it may seem odd 

to mix these styles—but the contrast 

they create is what makes this look so 

dynamic and fun. 

An easy place to do this is with your 

accent furniture. Think of an eclectic 

woven leather armchair or a coffee or 

bedside table with an antique flair. In 

dining rooms, pair your farmhouse dining 

table with more modern seating, like 

Wishbone or Eames shell chairs. 

Create Conversational 

Layouts 

A family-friendly style by nature, 

modern rustic interiors often have more 

symmetrical layouts that are geared 

toward large gatherings and facilitate 

conversations. (Hence the huge, rustic 

dining table we suggested above.) This 

is where the look leans more rustic and 

formal rather than modern and eclectic. 

Layer on Natural 

Textures 

When bringing the modern 

rustic style to life, we love 

the opportunity to play 

with textures and different 

materials. This keeps a 

room looking liveable and 

approachable. Look for natural 

materials like seagrass, jute, 

ceramics, leather, and liveedge 

woods—then mix and 

match them together in one 

space, incorporating them 

in furniture, lighting, and decor accents! 

This helps the room feel dynamic and 

visually interesting 

We love introducing lots of texture with 

soft furnishings too - think of fringing 

and tufts plus artisanal products like the 

gorgeously tactile mudcloth cushions, 

with their handwoven texture and 

abundance of prints and patterns. 

Introduce Industrial 

Lighting 

With modern rustic, light fixtures are 

often industrial with sleek, streamlined 

forms that are sculptural in nature. Look 

for matte black or antique brass options, 

or even rattan and include multi-level 

light sources. 

Shop the range of artisanal 

homewares at www.hauslife.co.uk 

Fox Club Chair, 

£870, limelace.co.uk 

Tray, £40, sweetpeaandwillow.com 


image from modsy.com 


Cosmia Tassel Throw, 

£58, hauslife.co.uk 

Anouk Pillow Cover 

(also available in coral), 


image from One Affirmation 

image from Studio McGee 

SHOP 

THE 

LOOK 

Layer these 

items in your 

home to nail the 

modern rustic 

look 

Anouk Pillow Cover, 


Wells Bubble Vase 

Wide, £40, 

gardentrading.co.uk 

Lines Mudcloth 

Pillow, £58, 

hauslife.co.uk 

Boston Reclaimed Wood 

Coffee Table, £314, 

modishliving.co.uk 

Extra Long Calliope 

Lumbar Cushion, £75, 

hauslife.co.uk 


SPRING 

Spring cleaning and 

organisational tips 

refresh 

CLEANING HACK 

Regular vacuuming may leave carpets looking spotlessly 

clean but lurking within the fibres of the household 

carpet is a layer of bacteria that cannot be removed 

by vacuuming alone. Regularly washing your carpets 

will keep bacteria at bay, and ensure they keep their 

appearance for longer and smell fresh and clean. 

LAUNDRY HACK 

To make laundry 

smell amazing, 

soak a thick 

sponge in 5 parts 

water to 1 part 

fabric softener, 

wring it out until 

damp and then 

add it to the drying 

cycle - your laundry 

will smell amazing 

and it’s more ecofriendly 

than using 

dryer sheets 

New VAX Platinum SmartWash 

Our carpets have to stand up to a lot of action, but 

sometimes vacuuming just isn’t enough. Wage war 

on dirt, bacteria and odours in the home with the new 

Vax Platinum SmartWash, the UK’s first carpet washer 

with motion sense technology that removes over 

99% of bacteria trapped in your carpet fibres that can 

cause bad smells.The clever solution for home carpet 

washing also outperforms the UK’s leading rental and 

leaves carpets dry in as little as just one hour. 

Carpet washing has never been easier. Just add 

warm water and VAX Platinum Antibacterial Solution, 

turn on and push forward to start washing. The 

advanced FlexForce brush bars set to work agitating 

the carpet to remove tough stains, dirt 

and spills, delivering a deep clean 

seven times more effective than 

vacuuming alone. If time is short, 

simply activate the ‘dry only mode’ 

after washing and pass over your 

carpets again; to dry them in as 

little as one hour. 

Where to buy: Direct from 

www.vax.co.uk priced 

£299.99 including 2 x 250ml 

VAX Platinum Antibacterial Solution 

and 1 x Pre-Treatment Spray, free delivery and a free steam 

cleaner worth £59.99.*only when purchasing direct from VAX. 

Which Interior Personality Are You? 

With The Home Edit and 

Marie Kondo sparking a 

generation of interior and 

organisation obsessives, 

Brabantia is working 

with organiser to the 

stars Vicky Silverthorn 

Set of Four Square 

to reveal the personality 

Stacking Canisters, 

£31.50, brabantia.com types when it comes to 

home organisers 

In response to the 

decluttering trend, 

Brabantia and Vicky Silverthorn have 

identified five personality types when it comes 

to how we keep our homes. 

WHICH PERSONALITY ARE YOU? 

THE PRACTICAL: tidying up is a breeze 

for this person, within 10 minutes the house 

is looking spotless without what looks like 

any effort 

THE SHOW HOME: their home is clean 

and shiny at all times, and the pride in their 

immaculate space is clear. It’s just so! 

THE TRY HARD: this person really wants 

to be tidy; the intention is there but there’s 

always too much ‘stuff’ they’re buying! 

THE NATURAL: they don’t live with much 

stuff, so organising their belongings is easy. 

THE THROW AWAY: how this person’s 

house looks depends on the day. They like to 

shop, but equally like to have a mass clear out 

every few months, but it always fills back up. 

TOP TIPS 

START WITH THE KITCHEN: Clear your 

food cupboards, give to the food bank and 

get the food looking like a shop shelf so you 

can see exactly what you have. Food which 

needs using up at the front and surfaces clear 

ready for healthy prep time. 

CHARITY SHOP BOX: Place a box or bag 

in your hallway (or hang on door handles) so 

when you spot something you don’t want / try 

something on you no longer want, you have 

somewhere to put it before it heads to the 

charity shop. Not having this often means we 

put things back and think ‘I’ll do it later’ and it 

often never happens. 

THROW THE RULEBOOK OUT THE 

WINDOW: Ignore any unnecessary rules 

such as have I worn it in the last year and 

ask yourself the most powerful question of all 

(if you are decluttering to give yourself more 

space) ‘Can I live without this?’. 

THINK CONSCIOUSLY: More sustainable 

living – this is a valuable reason to be more 

conscious of what you are buying. The 

throwaway culture we have lived in needs to 

come to an end and placing appreciation on 

long lasting good quality items needs more 

focus and attention. 

DECLUTTER FIRST, STORAGE 

SECOND: You need to declutter before you 

buy storage which is too big and not actually 

needed. Often once you’ve got rid of things 

you no longer want you’ll find your storage 

problem isn’t as bad as you first thought. 

BE PRACTICAL: Get rid of what isn’t 

working for you and replace it with practical 

equipment. This could be anything from a 

bin that is too small or a clothes dryer that 

annoys you every time you try and put it up! 

The right equipment will make life easier and 

reduce stress! 

Organister to the stars 

Vicky Silverthorn 

Bo Touch Bin, from £158, 

brabantia.com 


haus 

HOME | LIFESTYLE 

ARTISANAL SOFT 

FURNISHINGS 

FOR THE MODERN 

HOME 

Simply 

SHUTTERS 

USE CODE 

LIVE15 FOR 

15% OFF 

YOUR FIRST 

ORDER 

NEW COLLECTIONS OF MUDCLOTH AND KILIM 

PILLOWS AND LEATHER POUFFES COMING SOON - 

AVAILABLE TO PRE ORDER NOW 

FREE UK P&P ON ALL ORDERS 

www.hauslife.co.uk 

• Bespoke made to measure 

Plantation Shutters 

• Free Installation 

• Varying louvre sizes 

• Huge colour selection 

• Colour matching 

• Choice of Hardwoods 

• UPVC for moist areas 

(kitchens, bathrooms) 

• Aluminium 

• Tilt Mechanisms to 

suit all situations 

Contact us today! 

07787 648062 

robert4d@tiscali.co.uk 


haus 

HOME | LIFESTYLE 

ARTISANAL SOFT FURNISHINGS FOR THE MODERN HOME 

USE CODE 

LIVE15 

FOR YOUR 

EXCLUSIVE 

15% OFF ALL 

ORDERS 

Image courtesy of 

cityfarmhouse.com 

NEW COLLECTIONS OF MUDCLOTH AND KILIM PILLOWS AND 

LEATHER POUFFES COMING SOON - AVAILABLE TO PRE ORDER NOW 

FREE UK P&P ON ALL ORDERS 

www.hauslife.co.uk

NOTES FROM THE GARDEN 

SPACE STATION 

Our regular contributor Matt Biggs is currently away, 

meanwhile we talked with our in-house gardening expert 

Angela Cave and discussed how we may wish to consider 

making the most of our gardens... 

Whatever we have been doing, or not doing, over the last year 

most of us will have spent quite a lot of time at home. For those of 

us with gardens there may have been a reappraisal of how we use 

the space we have, and many people will be feeling that the space 

they do have in the garden might be up for a re-think. Working 

from home may have been temporary for some, others might be re 

assessing how they work and wanting to work from home on a more 

permanent basis or starting a new venture which needs just that bit 

more overflow and storage space. 

Enter the garden building. This option is becoming increasingly 

popular as it adds space without the need, usually, for planning 

permission and it can be achieved relatively quickly too. There are 

other perks apart from a shorter commute - why not install a home 

cinema so that your office can turn into a place of recreation once 

the working day is over, add a bar and have a home pub, add some 

gym equipment and get the abs you have always wanted, there are 

so many great things about new space! For those just starting a new 

business, it can be a workshop, production area, packing space, 

even a studio to film those all-important blogs and vlogs - the more 

you think about the options the more essential it becomes! 

It would be a good idea at this stage, to get in touch with a local 

company who can advise on the options, make yourself a mood 

board and a list of what you want your space to do, how big you 

want it, how it is going to blend into your existing space and the 

style of your home - there are many things to consider, but whatever 

you decide, the anticipation and realisation of having your own new 

space is definitely something to look forward too. 


SELL HIGH, SELL FAST 


Experienced home staging expert, 

property professional and director of 

Lemon and Lime Interiors Elaine Penhaul 

has launched her first book – ‘Sell High, 

Sell Fast - How to sell your home for the 

best possible price, in the quickest 

possible time’... 

The book, which was written with 

vendors in mind, equips sellers with the 

skills and knowledge they need to get 

their homes ready for sale. It helps them 

to understand their market, find their ideal 

buyer and demonstrates how to create a 

home that will sell quickly, using tried and 

tested home staging techniques. 

Elaine said: “This book explains what 

I have learned about the ‘whys’ and 

‘hows’ of selling a home as quickly as 

possible for the maximum financial gain. 

For most of us, selling a home represents 

far more than simply a bricks and mortar 

transaction.” 

Covering topics such as marketing 

property in the 21st century, the 

importance of presentation, home 

staging, decluttering, and decorating 

– the helpful guide gives well-rounded 

insight into all the elements of a property 

sale. The book also includes Elaine’s 

expertise and knowledge gained since 

setting up Lemon & Lime Interiors in 

2012. Here, Elaine gives us some handy 

tips from the book to get your property 

on the right track for sale… 

• Buyers decide very quickly if they 

are interested in buying a home, 

perhaps even within the first ten 

seconds or so. These days, those 

precious first seconds are spent 

looking at your photos online. 

These comprise your shop window 

for prospective buyers, your 

chance to catch their attention. 

They need to be the best you 

can possibly achieve. Hiring a 

professional photographer and a 

videographer is one step, but the 

best photographer in the world can 

photograph only what’s in front of 

them. Achieving the perfect photos 

will depend a lot on the work you 

do before they arrive with a camera. 

(start of chapter 2) 

• Creating the win-win-win - Selling 

a home is a partnership – and in 

any partnership, every stakeholder 

needs to feel they’re getting the 

best deal possible. Thinking about 

the sale of your home in this way 

will help you think through what 

you’re bringing to the market. If you 

can get into the headspace of your 

agent and your buyer, you’re going 

to get the best deal for yourself as 

the vendor too. (p.17) 

• Why can’t people see past my 

stuff? - I explain to vendors daily 

that while many people find it 

hard to visualise a house without 

clutter and with their own furniture 

installed, even more people simply 

don’t understand why they should 

have to see past someone else’s 

clutter if that person is serious 

about selling their house. This is 

a generation of people who have 

grown up with television and 

digital advertising. They’re used 

to businesses competing for their 

money, and they spend only on 

products they believe are the best 

for the task in hand. A property 

which is cluttered, dated or dirty 

sends a strong message that the 

vendor doesn’t care about the 

buyer. They will quickly suspect 

that the house is probably not well 

maintained and that the vendor 

won’t be interested enough in them 

as a buyer to progress the sale 

quickly and efficiently. You can see 

how this will rapidly translate into a 

potential buyer saying no. (p.60) 

• Viewers often find it hard to 

visualise a room with a function 

it doesn’t have in that moment. 

You will significantly increase your 

chances of attracting your buyer 

if every room in your home has a 

clear, logical function. Ask your 

agent, a friend or a professional 

stager for advice if you don’t 

know what function a particular 

room should have for the market 

you’re aiming for. A second or third 

reception room may need to be 

transformed into a home office or a 

gym. Or perhaps a sixth bedroom 

could become a dressing room or 

even a cinema room. (p.94) 

• If there’s no serious interest in your 

home in the first six weeks or so, 

it’s time to take stock. There are a 

few options. 

Should you change your estate agent? 

This decision will usually depend on 

whether you feel the agent has been 

proactive or whether the lack of interest, 

at least in part, is due to the agent listing 

the property and then sitting back and 

waiting for buyers to come along. 

Should you drop the price? The estate 

agent will likely suggest this. It’s always 

an interesting conversation. ‘Well if it 

isn’t worth that much now, why did you 

list it at that in the first place?’ against 

‘You wanted me to list it high, saying 

you’re not in a rush. I did explain that the 

guide price was aspirational.’ It’s often 

difficult to work out whether an agent 

has been overambitious in their valuation 

or whether they’ve felt pressured by a 

vendor to list high in order to get the 

instruction. Be honest with yourself as 

the vendor. Did you pressure your agent 

to put your property onto the market at 

a valuation they described as ‘hopeful’? 

If so, now is the time to listen to more 

realistic advice. 

Or should you take a serious look at 

your home’s presentation? Did you 

launch before addressing the outstanding 

issues you were hoping you wouldn’t 

have to spend any time or money on? 

If so, now is the time to address them. 

It’s entirely possible that changing the 

presentation will make enough difference 

and you won’t need to change the price 

at all. (p114) 


THE REBIRTH OF LES BORDES 

Globally recognised for being home to one of the world’s most 

prestigious golf clubs, the new owners of Les Bordes have devoted 

the last two years to delivering new life into France’s famed Loire 

Valley region as the estate has quietly entered an eagerly awaited 

new chapter in its history... 

Only a 90-minute drive from Paris and 

spread across 1,400 acres of mythical 

Sologne Forest, significant investment 

since 2018, embraced by nature and a 

sense of community and connectivity. 

The Loire Valley is already recognised as 

a UNESCO World Heritage region famous 

for its historic chateaux, medieval towns, 

fine wine, cuisine and breath-taking 

landscape, and the owners, the principals 

of RoundShield Partners and a few 

outside partners, have moved quickly to 

invest in their Les Bordes masterplan. 

New family facilities have already been 

delivered across the estate including a 

natural swimming lake with a white sand 

beach, enhanced equestrian facilities, 

boating lakes, archery, fishing, cycle and 

electric quad paths and a new tennis 

centre. Younger family members can 

experience a petting farm, go-kart track, 

pony riding and adventure playgrounds, 

with a kids’ club, ice-cream shop and zip 

lines coming on stream this winter. 

On the golfing side, spring 2021 will 

herald the opening of a much anticipated 

second 18-hole golf course, with the 

owners having secured the services of 

globally acclaimed American architect 

Gil Hanse – who created the 2016 Rio 

Olympic Course and world top-100 

courses Castle Stuart and Ohoopee 

Match Club – for what is his debut 

original design project in continental 

Europe. 

Hanse is also lauded for his restoration 

work including three of the next four US 

Open venues – Winged Foot, The Country 

Club and The Los Angeles Country Club 

– and has already completed work on an 

accompanying 10-hole short course at 


Les Bordes – the Wild Piglet – with US 

authority Golf.com immediately placing it 

in its top-25 par-3 courses in the world. 

When viewed together with Les Bordes’ 

original Old Course, already determined 

as one of Europe’s masterpieces and of 

a contrasting style to the New Course, 

the members of Les Bordes Golf Club – 

which is an exclusive, private club and 

governed separately from the rest of 

the estate – will be welcomed into one 

of the greatest golfing experiences in 

the world with an incomparable 46-hole 

combination. 

As a result of these developments, the 

global allure of Les Bordes Golf Club is 

greater than ever, with members of Pine 

Valley, Merion, Riviera, Sunningdale, 

Royal St. George’s, Friar’s Head, Royal 

Melbourne and Morfontaine among 

the approximately 140 members who 

have joined since the club – which is 

accessible only to members and their 

guests – was formed in August 2019. 

Additionally, leading architects Michaelis 

Boyd have completed a redesign of the 

clubhouse and renovation of 24 member 

cottages, while work on a new member 

gym, sports bar, mini-spa and private 

lounge and games room, including golf 

simulator, is to be completed for March 

2021. 

Driss Benkirane, founder of RoundShield 

and an avid six-handicap golfer with 

membership at several clubs including 

The Berkshire, Royal Cinque Ports and 

Ballybunion, said: “We are blessed with a 

beautiful site in one of the most stunning 

and culturally-rich areas of France, and all 

within 90 minutes of Paris. 

“With my fellow 

owners, a group which 

includes Bluecrest 

founder Mike Platt, 

we have aimed to 

create the pre-eminent 

European golf club and 

to build a relaxed and 

fun-filled community 

for all members of the 

family – golfers and 

non-golfers, adults and 

children alike.” 

Near-term plans include the announced 

partnership with Six Senses for the 

transformation of the 19th century 

‘Chateau Bel Air’ into an 88-key 

luxury hotel and spa, the creation 

of a community village square with 

restaurants, shops, a farmers’ market and 

outdoor amphitheatre centred around 

the estate’s 13th century priory, and a 

variety of residential homes designed 

by Michaelis Boyd, half of which have 

already been reserved by golf club 

members prior to a year-end release to 

market. 

www.lesbordes.com 


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Abingdon Living Mar - Apr 2021

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