< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOR THAT OLD FASHIONED PERSONAL SERVICE 10% OFF VOUCHER* *OFFER TO BE USED ONLY ONCE PER CUSTOMER SUBJECT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS Come visit our showroom at Princes Street, Brigg, DN20 8HG Email: briggbeds@hotmail.co.uk TEL: (01652) 651 828 @briggbeds Looking for a great gift idea? WWWLINCWWW.LINCOLNSHIRETOOLNSHIRETO OANODAY.NE www.blmgroup.co.uk 1st 3 issues only £1 Lincolnshire Today’s gift subscription for only £27.55 with free delivery Call 01472 310301 or visit www.lincolnshiretoday.net/341 Fireplaces – Fires – Stoves Visit the showroom to see our fabulous selection of fireplaces, fires and stoves in traditional and contemporary styles. This January you can also take advantage of some fantastic special offers. Burning Sensation (Grimsby) Ltd Armstrong Street, Grimsby. DN31 1XD Call: 01472 351651 sales@burningsensation.co.uk www.burningsensation.co.uk HAPPY NEW YEAR! May all your New Year dreams be cosy ones in front of your beautiful Burning Sensation Fireplace and Fire! 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:04 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 HOMES Outside of the house, there is a spacious and well thought out garden to enjoy. Sharon detailed: “Since it’s set on an acre plot there’s plenty of outside area, but we’ve sectioned it off so for example you’ve got the big front garden, then we have the area where we entertain and then we have the hot tub area. Beyond that we were actually on the verge of creating a children’s play area.” An abundance of wildlife can also be found in the garden. “We have a resident owl that is permanently out there in the evening,” Sharon said. “And we have been known to have deer in our garden as well, alongside lots of birds - there are hundreds of different varieties.” The property also has a detached garage with an apartment placed above, perfect for visitors, a garden store, summer house and solar panels. When asked what her favourite aspect of the house is Sharon simply could not pinpoint one. She said: “I love the outside areas in the summer, but the bar is brilliant for entertaining and having social events, but I also love the open plan nature of the kitchen and the lounge area - that’s nice in the evening when we all sit around together.” Ultimately Sharon said that the property is “a great family home for all ages”. Sherwood House is now on the market for £795,000 with Paul Fox Estate Agents. When asked why, after all the work they have completed, they have now decided to leave, Sharon said: “My husband is ready to do another project. But we will not be leaving the area!” 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:04 Page 6HOME TRENDS There’s nothing at all wrong with setting health and fitness focussed New Year’s resolutions – in fact, we salute you for it. But how about this year extending those promises of getting into shape and looking good to your home. Although at first it might sound odd, it makes a lot of sense the more you think about it. By using the “new year, new start” philosophy as a starting point, you can treat January as an excuse to get rid of all the clutter in your home and replace it with things that are actually in tune with your own personal taste and style, instead of competing against it. It’s amazing how willing we are to keep things around us just because we’ve grown used to them, but it’s time to break the cycle. Be efficient and ruthless, going from room to room, and piece to piece, and asking yourself whether or not it has a place in that room or any other, whether it’s still in touch with your style and, to quote Marie Kondo, whether or not it brings you joy. If a piece fails even one of these questions, it’s probably worth giving it to a friend or taking it to charity. Whatever ambience you’re going for – from farmhouse to shabby chic – there’s a whole host of ornaments and furniture pieces that could be better served in your space than those that are there for the sake of it. Don’t let clutter and ugly pieces sink into the background of your life. We’re not about to start harping on about feng shui or anything, but suffice it to say that being surrounded by clutter and things that don’t inspire you won’t do your wellbeing any favours. It’s time to take charge this New Year’s, and that includes your home. 1 2 3 4 5 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:06 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 9 1) This mirror from Beaumonde has a dramatic design that makes it suitable for adding a golden spark of unique style to a multitude of transitional settings. 2) Inspired by Grecian design, this candle holder from Melody Maison is made from metal with an antique effect gold finish. A stylish home décor accessory for a living room, bedroom or hallway space. 3) Taken from Wild Folk’s Picture Perfect Collection, this elegant cushion offers striking colours and a touch of luxury. 4) Developed as part of Marz Design’s signature Bright Beads range, these table lights feature exaggerated beaded bases. Sitting as individual table lights, they convey a sculptural quality which complements any interior space. 5) The creativity and rich decoration of the Versailles Palace helped inspire the creation of this exuberant sofa from Boca do Lobo. 6) Perched on a small branch, the toucan lamp from Cotterell & CO is cast in resin with a wonderful golden finish. It is partnered with the company’s Chameleon Fabric for the shade, adding depth, texture and colour to this eye-catching piece. 7) From Melody Maison comes this stylish mirror that would add a retro look perfect for the bedroom, bathroom, living room or hallway. 8) Namib Desert in southern Africa was the inspiration for this armchair from Brabbu Design Forces. Its distinguished attributes combine the struggle between the Atlantic waters and the desert sands for a stylish statement for the home. 9) Pride and unprejudiced simplicity – that’s what you get with this Scandinavian-inspired TV stand from Swoon. A sliding grey panel meets contrasting natural timber to form a simple yet classic shape, perched upon splayed legs for added depth of character and patented elegance. 10) Add a touch of timeless elegance to your home with this vibrant porcelain box from Sweetpea & Willow complete with a lovely colourful bird and antiqued accents. 6 7 8 10 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:07 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE B orn and raised in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Leigh Lambert was endowed with a keen eye for detail and the patience for observation. As soon as he was able, he had a pencil in his hand and would draw everything he saw, from some of the simplest things to a passing combine harvester. His family were quick to pick up on this natural talent and as he progressed through school, his impressively detailed creations earned the attentions of his teachers. Yet despite all this, Leigh remains self-taught, having received no formal art training. This month we look at the works of Leigh Lambert, whose beautiful, often humorous, works show scenes of the nation’s industrial heartland like you’ve never seen them before. Scenes from a street It was only after relocating to Warwickshire with his family in 1996, that Leigh really focussed on developing his technique. Leaving Newcastle allowed the fledgling artist to appreciate the nature of his upbringing. What he had always thought of as a concrete jungle now appeared through the prism of memory as somewhere strangely beautiful. This was a crucial epiphany that has gone on to provide the framework for his work – that sense of nostalgia and evoking fond memories of youth. Leigh was desperate to dive headfirst into the art world and make a career from painting, but when he left school at eighteen, he begrudgingly took a job in a local factory. Although this took up much of his day, the evenings remained free for painting. It was during this time that he released a series of watercolours based on street scenes of Warwick, his new adoptive home. This was the perfect storm of creativity, cementing his style, matching detailed observation and realism with rose-tinted nostalgia and more than a little humour. The factory was only ever a stopgap and soon Leigh bid it bon voyage to work at an art supply shop. One step closer to his dream, he now had a whole new world of art supplies and different mediums to explore. Although he has worked in a variety of mediums, it’s oils on board to which he most commonly returns. His use of colour is minimal, lending his pieces a monochromatic quality and mirroring the industrial streets. Vibrant colours are instead reserved for the figures inhabiting the frame, or a vehicle perhaps, which seem to leap out at the viewer. It adds a vital sense of joy and the vitality of youth, indicating that there’s more to Britain’s industrial heartlands than meets the eye. Leigh has made good on his dreams having accrued several successes in recent years. In 2014, for example, he was shortlisted as ‘Best Up and Coming Artist’ in the prestigious Fine Art Trade Guild Awards. As a result, his works became highly sought after with limited editions often selling out within weeks, with waiting lists for those hoping to acquire an original. 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:08 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. 8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE 01522 589134 8 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DP art@thelittleredgallery.co.uk www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk Leigh is most commonly found in his garden studio, capturing everyday scenes, each with their own nostalgia and humour. To see more Leigh’s works first hand, visit www.leighlambertgallery.com or on Facebook @leighlambertgallery 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:08 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS T his authentic cottage garden comes complete with its own fruit trees, vegetable patch and fruit bushes and is very much in keeping with the style of the garden when Gillian and Colin inherited it, but with so much going on, it’s hard to believe the garden is merely a third of an acre in size. As Gillian explains: “The structure was already there when we moved in to be honest but we’ve since added plants and vegetables and added to the planting around the garden to try and get as much colour and interest going in the garden as we can around the year.” A Lincolnshire Cottage Garden 28 Á It’s been thirty years since Gillian and Colin first bought their Lincolnshire property and how the garden has developed in those years. A Lincolnshire Cottage Garden 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:10 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27 GARDENS 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:10 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS A tulip tree is a major feature within the garden and whilst this flowers mainly in July, the shrubs and well stocked herbaceous borders provide textures and colours for most of the growing season. But the garden did have to be tamed a little when they first took it on: “The hedge behind the garden had got away from the previous owner and become a little overgrown,” explains Gillian, “so that needed work and three large conifers had to be removed, leaving a large gap in the hedge which had to be replanted.” This cottage garden has an array of shrubs, ornamental flowers, fruit trees, and vegetables all growing in a kind of informal layout, which typically, attracts wildlife and rewards the gardener with a more self-sufficient lifestyle. It also helps keep weeding to a minimum, particularly important given that the soil is a loam which provides plants with a great start but also means weeds could thrive if given half the chance. 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:10 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 GARDENS The fact that this soil is such a great growing medium allows the couple to split and divide existing stock and take cuttings. “I’m always propagating new plants from old,” says Gillian, “and have had quite a bit of success with Buxus Semperviren cuttings – in fact, I’m pleased to say, all our box hedging has grown from cuttings I’ve taken, as have the Buxus balls in the tubs.” But Gillian confesses that she also buys plants from her favourite nursery in Hemswell, to increase the variety of plants in their garden. This third acre plot is packed with plants but, despite this, there is a sense of space and order and this makes the garden feel and look bigger than it actually is. Perhaps it’s that there’s no fixed borders or symmetry, perhaps it’s the lush planting – no doubt it’s both of these factors. One thing that is certain is that the results are spectacular and this is a testament to Gillian and Colin’s efforts and know-how. 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:10 Page 4Next >