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Day: 29 July 2021

Keep it cool: 12 ways to do stylish summer bedrooms

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Sam Wylie-Harris rounds up the freshest bedlinen, accessories and decos for sweet summer dreams.

Somehow, getting a good night’s sleep come summertime takes on a whole new meaning.

Between the heat, excitement and longer daylight hours, the best summery bedrooms need to beckon you with a sense of wellbeing, comfort and – above all else – sweet dreams.

This is especially the case if you’re not jetting off to far-flung locations, with the promise of slipping between freshly laundered sheets and turndown service at the end of an oh-so tiring day. Channelling those holiday highlights at home will have to do.

And come those hot August nights, when you’re tossing and turning and longing for an ocean breeze (or air-conditioning), there is comfort to be found with lighter, breathable bedlinen, natural fabrics, and a few little details to remind us of a stylish hotel suite, or villa escape with a splash in the pool first thing, to help you cool off, chill and sleep in style.

1. Kara Hemp Collection: Duvet Cover, double from £120; Oxford Pillowcase, from £40; Flat Sheet, double from £100 (other items from a selection), The White Company

While some of us can only dream of billowing white muslin and sleeping under the stars, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a heavenly night’s slumber in the comfort of natural hemp bedlinen. Eco, luxuriously soft and breathable, this blend of 52% linen and 48% hemp with a vintage inspired ruffle border combines a modern, boho-chic look with five-star luxury.

2. Black Tea And Sandalwood 3 Wick Candle, £14, Next

Even with the windows ajar, there’s nothing lovelier than the soothing, calming woody scent of sandalwood topped with fragrant lavender for feel-good vibes.

3. John Lewis & Partners Washed Cotton Bedspread, £80; Washed Cotton Cushion, Plaster, £30; The Ultimate Collection Silk Standard Pillowcase Caravelle Light Grey, £45; Anyday John Lewis & Partners Velvet Cushion – Olive, £20 (other items from a selection), John Lewis

When the temperature soars and you’re ready to ditch the duvet, nothing beats the comfort of good old-fashioned sheets and blankets. Lightweight and soft, think about layering large cotton bedspreads with oversized flat sheets draping to the floor, set against a rattan bed frame for a chilled Mediterranean vibe.

4. Natural Jute Circular Rug, £250, Joe Browns

A beautifully textured jute rug is a natural bedfellow with linens and hemp, and will rekindle happy memories of padding around barefoot and carefree.

5. 3D Daisy Pom Pom Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set, from £22-£40 (other items from a selection), Next

Fresh as a daisy, who can resist a sweet yellow flower print embellished with pom-poms? This bedlinen loves a sunny situation, and easy-care polycotton means it’s quick-drying – as hassle-free as those much-loved perennials.

6. Artificial Floral In Glass Vase, £30, Next

If you’re bedroom happens to be south-facing and your summery white flowers are starting to wilt, a glass vase of something faux and fabulous looks light, bright and creates a fresh feel.

7. Violet White 100% Linen Bed Linen Collection: Duvet Cover, currently from £130.50 for a single to £202.50 for emperor (was £145-£225); Standard Oxford Pillowcase, from £28.80 (was £32), Secret Linen Store

With vintage inspired flair and flirty accents, this laundered-soft bedlinen will feel even more comfy and welcoming with every wash. Dress the bed with pretty embroidered pillow covers aplenty for that romantic French château style, and keep the curtains drawn during a heatwave.

8. Mother of Pearl Organic Silk Eye Masks, £30 each, John Lewis

If the summer sun’s flooding your room before it’s time to rise and shine, a sumptuous silk eye mask will ensure you get your beauty sleep.

9. Mother of Pearl Check Linen & Organic Cotton Double Duvet Cover Set – Tan, from £125-£145, John Lewis

If you love to mix patchwork quilts and patterns, this reversible bedding, made from a 50/50 blend of cotton and linen, will absorb moisture on those hot, balmy nights, and each set comes with two side fastening standard pillowcases. A decorative detail to work around with fringed throws and windowpane patterns, for a casual country living feel.

10. Bolga Fan – Granada, £28, Lola & Mawu

Made from natural straw, this fair trade fan from West Africa not only keeps you cool with the flick of a wrist, but it can double up as decorative wall art. A breeze to mount, it’s available in a range of colourways, from neutrals to brights.

11. Blakely Bed Linen Collection: King Duvet Cover – White Blue, £130; King Flat Sheet, £80; Blakely Oxford Pillowcase, from £35 (other items from a selection), The White Company

With an attractive chambray border for a washed denim look, this 400-thread count Egyptian cotton percale weave offers ‘the softness of sateen, without the shine’. Absorbent, breathable and luxurious, the coastal inspired colours feel cool before you’ve even pulled back the bedding – and sets the tone for navy trimmings, such as a throw and scatter cushions, styled with a jute rug and beach basket.

12. Knitted Blanket in French Blue, £45, The French Bedroom Company

This super soft knitted blanket makes a cosy cover when you take the weight off your feet for a peaceful catnap.

How to attract beautiful dragonflies to your garden

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Experts offer tips on how to get your gardening buzzing with these colourful insects.

So often during the summer, we see iridescent dragonflies and damselflies flitting between plants and water on river paths or lakeside walks, but how do we tempt them into our gardens?

Modern-day development, drainage and pollution have meant numbers have fallen dramatically, along with the reduction in ponds over the 20th century. Ponds are particularly important as dragonflies spend most of their lives as aquatic larvae, so need water to survive.

Ruary Mackenzie Dodds and Kari de Koenigswarter, authors of The Dragonfly-Friendly Gardener, who advised Exbury Gardens in the New Forest on its new dragonfly area, have the following tips on how to attract these colourful creatures into your outdoor space:

1. Make a splash with a new pond

Dragonflies need ponds as they spend around two years – the majority of their lives – as larvae in the water. You need to consider safety if you are installing a pond, particularly if you have young children, as well as location, as ponds need maximum sunshine and are best built away from trees.

2. Use rainwater

You’ll need easy access to good quality water to fill your new pond as dragonflies are sensitive bio-indicators. Mains water contains nutrients that can cause algal blooms and weed growth, so ideally fill any pond with rainwater run-off via a hose or water butt. It is best to invest in a pump with a filter if you want running water but keep it gentle as water lilies are unhappy with too fast a flow.

3. Don’t worry about size

The ideal pond size for dragonflies is 14 square metres but 3.75 square metres will do, and even a tiny raised pond on a balcony will work. Dragonflies prefer gentle gradient sides – some shallow water will be warmer and encourage larvae to emerge sooner.

A rough, slightly wiggly oval shape for your pond usually works but there is no fixed rule. Work out how you are going to reach parts of your pond, if needed, and include places to sit with large stones and a bench.

4. Think about construction

If creating your own pond from scratch, think about where you are going to put the soil. Once you’ve dug a hole, add a layer of sand beneath the pond liner for protection to avoid leaks.

Lots of preformed ponds are available online or at garden centres if you find this option easier. Fill slowly with water and then test with a pH kit to work out whether its alkaline or acidic – rainwater is typically slightly acidic.

5. Right plant, right place

Some plants thrive in flowing water, others in still. Some like acidic conditions others alkaline, so pick plants that will suit your pond’s conditions. You’ll need aquatic baskets to hold your plants and you can adjust the height of these with clean bricks laid carefully on the liner.

Choose peat-free aquatic compost and source local native water plants if possible. Why not ask a friend if they will share some from their pond? But double check what you are taking is local and not non-native or invasive. Check out the RHS website (rhs.org) for a list of suppliers.

In the water – water starwort, hornwort, spiked water milfoil.

In/on the water – greater pondweed, water lily (fringed, white and yellow), water mint, water forget-me-not.

Around the edges – flowering rush, yellow flag iris, bog bean, marsh marigold, Branched Bur-Reed.

Close to the pond – ox-eye daisy, primula, loosestrife, hemp agrimony.

6. Keep pond plants under control

Dragonflies like clear water, not overly cluttered with plants, so make sure you keep the most vigorous plants under control. Keep the water level up, particularly in warm weather. When leaves start to fall in autumn, try to keep as many as possible from falling into the pond.

7. Look out for different types of dragonfly

Emperor dragonfly – Britain’s bulkiest dragonfly, males are sky blue and females green with a central dark line.

Migrant hawker – small with paired spots along the abdomen, males are dark with blue spots and yellow flecks and females are brown with yellow spots.

Common darter – can be found well into November, males are dull to bright orange-red, and females are ochre becoming duller/reddish with age.

Black–tailed skimmer – medium-sized with a tapering abdomen, males have a blue body darkening to the rear and females have yellow with dark ladder pattern on the abdomen

Four-spotted chaser – uniformly brown dragonfly, active in late spring and summer, males and females look similar with two obvious dark spots on each wing.

Exbury Gardens in the New Forest has just been designated a Dragonfly Hotspot by the British Dragonfly Society. Visitors can learn about the insects and get close to wildlife on floating pontoons over a new dragonfly pond. For details visit exbury.co.uk.

First Drive: Land Rover Defender P400e

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Land Rover has added a new plug-in hybrid setup to the new Defender, but has it helped the overall package along? Jack Evans finds out.

WHAT IS IT?

Electrification is at the forefront of the motoring industry’s concerns right now, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Jaguar Land Rover line-up. Across its range, it has begun to introduce far more electrified powertrains than before, with plug-in hybrid setups applied to all manner of the firm’s cars. Now, it’s the turn of the go-anywhere Defender.

But the Defender brings with it a whole different set of requirements. That plug-in powertrain needs to work alongside this Land Rover’s off-road tech, delivering plenty of performance and grunt, as well as those important efficiency benefits. So, how does it get on…?

WHAT’S NEW?

Outside, the Defender PHEV looks much the same as a ‘regular’ version. It’s only available in 110 layout – the batteries would’ve proved too much to pack into the smaller 90 – so there’s still plenty of space for all occasions. Boot space, however, has taken a bit of a dive, down to 853-litres with the second row of seats in place and 2,127 with second row put flat from 1,057 and 2,300-litres respectively. That said, that’s still more than enough room for most activities.

Inside, you’ve got the same combination of rugged yet high-quality materials, while the PHEV also benefits from additional readouts detailing the remaining charge left in the batteries, as well as how that electricity is being deployed in combination with the electric motor.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The new Defender plug-in hybrid – badged P400e in reference to the car’s power output measured in PS – hits the road as the most efficient version of the off-roader to date. Underneath the bonnet sits a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which combines with an electric motor and 19.2kWh battery. Together, you get a sizeable 398bhp and 460Nm of torque, equating to a 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 119mph.

In efficiency terms, the P400e should return a claimed 85.3mpg – providing the batteries are topped up, of course – while CO2 emissions stand at 74g/km. Capable of travelling up to 27 miles on electric power alone, the P400e’s batteries can be topped up from zero to 80% via a home wallbox in two hours, or seven hours with a three-pin plug. The Defender is also one of the only hybrids that can charge at speeds of up to 50kW, which would return an 80% charge in just 30 minutes.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The added quiet and refinement that the hybrid powertrain really plays to the Defender’s strengths. It’s a comfortable car regardless, but the way the P400e quietly wafts along on its standard-fit air suspension means that it’s a genuinely relaxing car to potter around in.

The switch between electric and petrol power is hard to notice too, while thanks to its ability to travel at speeds of up to 81mph on electric power alone, you can also use that zero-emissions capability on the motorway.

That said, if the majority of your miles are conducted on the highway and at greater speeds, you may still want to consider the diesel – once the battery power has been depleted, the P400e will struggle to match the oil burner for efficiency. However, if you’re travelling shorter journeys with longer ones peppered in between, you’ll really notice the added efficiency that this setup brings.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

The P400e looks – as you’d probably expect – just like a regular Defender. Land Rover has resisted the urge to add loads of hybrid-only design touches, with just the rear badging and charging port showcasing this as anything but a ‘regular’ Defender. In 110 layout it has a real presence, while our solid white test car had a particularly utilitarian feel to it.

The Defender’s styling has, in our eyes, been a success. It brings enough of the original’s styling touches so as to not dismiss the past, but is up to date enough to be aware of the future. This PHEV version feels particularly appropriate.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

The Defender’s cabin feels robust and well made. There are loads of big, chunky switches and dials which not only look good, but will no doubt prove easy to use when wearing gloves during colder months. There’s plenty of space too, with all manner of cubbies and storage areas ensuring that there’s a place for everything.

There’s the option of either five or six-seater layouts too, giving families a more flexible seating option should they need it. You’ve also got loads of charging ports dotted throughout the cabin, ensuring that everyone can charge their devices as and when they need to.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Defender P400e models come with a comprehensive list of standard equipment, which, considering prices start from just over £65,000, is no bad thing. All models boast 20-inch alloy wheels, air suspension and three-zone climate control. Land Rover’s excellent Pro Pilot infotainment system is included too, transforming the way you interact with all of the car’s major functions. It’s clear, simple and easy to use while the integration of Apple CarPlay is one of the most successful we’ve seen – it fills the screen, rather than settling for a small portion of it as we’ve seen on other models.

There’s more than enough equipment on board to keep most drivers happy, that’s for sure.

VERDICT

Given the performance it brings, as well as the added efficiency brought on through its hybrid setup, the P400e could be the most compelling version of the Defender on sale. Though high-mileage drivers – as well as those who more frequently find themselves towing – will no doubt lean towards the diesel versions, for everyone else this plug-in hybrid version could be a very good fit indeed.

It’s not often that a car allows you to have your cake and eat it, but the Defender P400e appears to be a rare example of this in action.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: Defender 110 P400e

Base price: £65,915

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with electric motor

Power: 398bhp

Torque: 640Nm

Max speed: 119mph

0-60mph: 5.4 seconds

MPG: 85.3

Emissions: 74g/km CO2

Electric-only range: 27 miles

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