Interiors Guide 2009-2010 - On-line
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A wealth of antiques at your fingertips
Welcome to Homexplorer Interiors Guide on-line. This yearly publication is dedicated to bringing you the best hotspots when shopping for your interior.
How to use the on-line guide
The guide is conveniently divided in to counties and lists all the best hotspots for each.
Once you have opened a section of the guide you can view the complete contents, as found in the printed edition.
However, the on-line version has an additional feature. Where there is a website listed you can click on the site address and it will take you to the listed site.
Likewise if you see an email address, and click on it, this will create a blank email for you if you have an email program, such as outlook, installed on your computer.
To access the guide just click on the PDF links under the picture of each section, or click on the counties in the map below.
Please note that you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to be able to view the files. This is a free download and is available from the Adobe website. More...
Introduction. View PDF
Introduction - The Art of Eclecticism
By Margaret Powling
'I recently looked at several estate agents' websites for no other reason than sheer nosiness. Some properties fell within my price range (if I was selling my home, which I am not) and some were well outside it. (we can all dream, can't we?) What struck me forcibly was their boring sameness, for there appeared to be only two kinds of interiors...'
To view the full article click on the PDF link or view the web page. More...
Click on a county to see the PDF
Map of Counties included in the guide
To view a PDF of each county either click on the county in the map below or scroll down to the county section further down on this page.
Oxfordshire. View PDF
Oxfordshire
Steeped in history, rich in heritage, and awash with natural beauty, the Oxfordshire Cotswolds is a charming blend of bustling market towns such as Chipping Norton and Banbury, and picturesque villages with breathtaking scenery.
Synonymous with affluence, the area's population demands quality and choice, and therefore it has become a great hunting ground for that something a little bit different.
Gloucestershire. View PDF
Gloucestershire
The Cotswolds is arguably one of the most beautiful and interesting areas of southern England, with its rounded hills, stream-fed valleys, and mellow stone buildings. Stop off in such towns as Lechlade, Cirencester and Moreton-in-the-Marsh with their vibrant antiques shops bursting with antiques and interior inspiration.
To ensure an economic and rewarding buying trip, we also highly recommend that you visit our two Gloucestershire ‘hot spots’: Stow-on-the-Wold and Tetbury – both offer probably the best concentration of top end independent shops in the region.
Berkshire. View PDF
Berkshire
Historic Hungerford has boasted antiques shops for centuries and you can see why, as the diversity of the architecture certainly provides the perfect setting.
The broad main High Street is a great starting point where parking is plentiful. Our recommended dealers are situated on two main roads, the High Street and Charnham Street. Hungerford really has its finger on the design button whilst offering good, honest value for your money on all manner of furniture, lighting and accessories for your home, presented in a very confident and inspiring way.
Wiltshire. View PDF
Wiltshire
Wiltshire’s rolling landscape, with its famous chalk White Horse and Stonehenge shows the enigmatic face of ancient Britain, yet it is very much alive to the present.
Such places as Tisbury – home to one of the largest tithe barns in the country – lively market towns such as Warminster, Devizes, and Bradford-on-Avon, and the bustling city cultures of Swindon and Salisbury, offer the buyer the whole home package.
Somerset. View PDF
Somerset
Somerset has abidingly beautiful countryside, and hidden hamlets and villages, as well as fine towns and cities. Bristol, with its stunning Suspension Bridge which spans the Avon Gorge and leads to Clifton Village, no doubt the city’s most attractive shopping quarter with its wonderful Georgian and Regency architecture, terraces, and squares, is a city where the cosmopolitan mix of unique shops and café culture somehow attract a feast of interior delights.
Meanwhile, nearby Bath is still as much in vogue today as it was when the Romans built it thousands of years ago. Don’t miss the top end of Bath; the upper town is filled with hidden gems where the ancient streets are lined with a great mix of irresistible antiques shops, galleries and boutiques.
Dorset. View PDF
Away from the city environment, there are a number of great countryside finds such as Shepton Mallet, Hambridge, Wedmore, Ilminster, and Bruton.
Dorset
The Dorset countryside is largely renowned as an agricultural area however, interestingly enough, towns such as Wimborne Minster, Sherborne, and Dorchester – the county town – offer the shopper a great insight into current design trends.
Devon. View PDF
The small village of Semley, and the nearby town of Shaftesbury (made famous by the Hovis Bread advertisement) can also offer some hidden treats, whilst the choice of excellent hotels and good quality accommodation, provides a fine centre for those wishing to explore the delightful Wessex area.
Devon
Devon has been home to artists for years, inspired by the lure of colourwashed cottages tumbling around the quaysides, and the warm feel of Mediterranean-like sunlight.
Specialists. View PDF
This has no doubt been an attraction to the local studio potters over the years whose finely crafted, spectacular artworks are showcased across the county.
The cathedral city of Exeter and neighbouring town of Topsham offer the explorer a vibrant range of contemporary and traditional design, both have attractive quayside areas with a collection of historic warehouses.
This is also a great hub for linking up with the popular surrounding towns of Cullompton, Tavistock and Totnes, all of which have a great deal to offer the home owner looking for inspiration.