Escape the city and explore a world of inspiration with ELLE Decoration Country. From remote enclaves in tucked-away corners of the British countryside to inviting coastal boltholes and spectacular mountaintop hideaways, there's a host of imaginative interiors to explore. Plus, rediscover the UK's seaside towns and hidden waterways, meet exciting new small-scale food producers and plan your very own creative country break.

Elle Decoration Country

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EMBRACE THE EXODUS • An early convert to country living, novelist Rachel Edwards explains why it’s not all wellies and rambling. Rural life can be enriching and surprising

LIGHTING THE WAY • This once-neglected 18th-century lighthouse on the windswept Norfolk coast is now a beacon of sympathetic, modern design

GOING NATIVE • Why the creative couple behind one of London’s celebrated restaurants has decided to up sticks and decamp to the Essex coast…

THE BARN THAT FRIENDSHIP BUILT • It began as an escape from London, but the renovation of this Wiltshire home quickly became the inspiration for a brand-new venture

TO THE RAFTERS • Gallerist Ole Høstbo has turned his vast country estate into an extension of his showrooms, filling it with the best of Danish art and design

The dream of paradise • Returning to the Alpine valleys where his grandfather first taught him woodwork, one artist, sculptor and nature-lover has created a very personal sanctuary

A MOMENT CAPTURED • This traditional finca, a snapshot of serenity in the Ibizan hills, is home to a vast collection of art and photography, and one man’s keen sense of style

RUSTIC • The textures are natural, the palette is neutral, the ethos is simple… Country chic at its beautiful best

NESTING INSTINCT • In the world’s oldest desert, one committed conservationist and entrepreneur has built a fantastical house inspired by his avian neighbours

DOUBLE EXPOSURE DOUBLE EXPOSURE • Identical from the outside, these twin cabins stand sentry over the silent landscape of Kaiwaka on New Zealand’s North Island

The muse house • Life inspires art in this characterful Kent cottage filled with curios that display its owner’s love of the countryside

UNIQUE • Eccentric, quirky, bold and beautiful… Take your pick of idiosyncratic objects which are big on personality

THEORY OF EVOLUTION • The past is a welcome guest in this grand old house in New York State, which has been respectfully updated by its architect and stylist owners

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY • A singer/songwriter and her interior designer fiancé have brought a rock ’n’ roll sensibility to this Rococo-era villa in Merate

Raw beauty • Inspired by the untamed majesty of its island coastline, this Danish summerhouse and cookery school offers much more than a delicious meal

CLASSIC • Perennials for a reason, these pieces of exceptional quality and design have timeless appeal

DIVINE MATHEMATICS • Named 18-36-54 after the number of planes, points and lines in its unique construction, this Connecticut home by architect Daniel Libeskind is a work of art

OUT OF THE RUINS • Set respectfully within the crumbling walls of an old Northamptonshire parchment factory, this home is a celebration of the countryside’s past and present

SHIFTING SANDS • Disguised amid rolling dunes, this New Zealand holiday home offers stunning views of the ocean as well as protection from its harshest elements

ARCHITECTURAL • Supremely functional with sculptural silhouettes, these designs have impact in every setting

directory • Source the perfect pieces for your home with our round-up of the best brands, shops and specialist suppliers

sourcebook • Fallen in love with a piece of furniture, a light...