{"id":6142,"date":"2025-06-19T15:05:06","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T15:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk\/blog\/?p=6142"},"modified":"2025-06-20T21:31:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T21:31:42","slug":"country-living-magazine-then-vs-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk\/blog\/country-living-magazine-then-vs-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Coming Full Circle: Country Living Magazine Then vs. Now with Vanessa Arbuthnott"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

In the early 2000s, shabby chic and cottagecore were having their moment. Flick through any interiors magazine from the era and you\u2019ll find page after page of dainty floral fabrics, weather-worn wood, and cherished vintage finds. So, when Vanessa began transforming her once-derelict cow byre into a storybook Cotswold cottage 25 years ago, Country Living Magazine was quick to take notice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In July 2000, the Country Living team stepped inside The Tallet \u2013 Vanessa\u2019s vibrant, slightly chaotic family home that was brimming with painted furniture, children\u2019s artwork pegged to string, and a chorus of chickens and goats roaming outside. Vanessa\u2019s home wasn\u2019t grand or polished, but it was full of soul; and it marked the beginnings of Vanessa\u2019s renowned British fabric and interiors brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fast forward to June 2025, and the team have returned to The Tallet once more; this time for their 40th anniversary collector\u2019s edition, which coincidentally falls alongside Vanessa\u2019s 25 year anniversary milestone. Today, we reflect on our 2000 and 2025 features in the magazine, and tell the story of how our beloved brand has come full circle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Celebrating the simplicity of country life in The Tallet<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Vanessa's<\/p>\n

Back in 2000, The Tallet\u2019s appeal came from its simplicity. Vanessa\u2019s home was adorned with vibrant, home-printed fabrics that her mother helped turn into curtains, and her children were running around outside and soaking up every ounce of country life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vanessa\u2019s first press feature in Country Living came as something of a surprise. \u201cA friend encouraged me to let our house for photo shoots to make some money,\u201d Vanessa recalls. \u201cI never imagined that anyone would be drawn to such an unsophisticated lifestyle, but that was precisely what Country Living loved.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And the readers agreed! The article immediately generated hundreds of requests for fabric samples. \u201cWe had the children stuffing samples into freezer bags,\u201d Vanessa laughs. \u201cIt was all so chaotic!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This initial coverage was transformational for our brand, helping to introduce Vanessa\u2019s beautiful nature-inspired <\/span>fabrics<\/span><\/a> to homeowners across the country. So, how did our most recent 2025 feature in Country Living come about, and how has The Tallet changed over time?<\/span><\/p>\n

Comparing our 2000 and 2025 magazine features<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The latest Country Living feature came about \u201cslightly by default,\u201d Vanessa admits with a smile, when another photoshoot fell through. But reconnecting with journalist Caroline Atkins and editor Ben Kendrick after 25 years \u201cfelt like coming home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lovely circularity in being featured again,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s flattering that Ben still had an eye for the house. And it\u2019s wonderful to be part of the magazine\u2019s 40th year, just as we mark our own 25th.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Country<\/p>\n

When you compare the 2000 and 2025 features side by side, the evolution of The Tallet is striking. Yet, you can clearly see Vanessa\u2019s passion for quality craftsmanship and simple country living shining through.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gone are the frilled slipcovers and soft creams that featured prominently in The Tallet 25 years ago. Today, they\u2019ve been replaced by vibrant colours (such as deep teals and jewel tones) and layered patterns that echo the boldness of Vanessa\u2019s latest collections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Take The Tallet\u2019s kitchen, for example. The once cream kitchen cabinets now wear a lively coral, and the chicken wire fronts have been swapped for Vanessa\u2019s own fabric panels. A central island has also been added, creating the perfect perch to enjoy a fresh cup of morning coffee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Country<\/p>\n

However, you\u2019ll still see children’s artwork pinned up proudly in the living room (now showcasing Vanessa\u2019s grandchildren\u2019s drawings) and vintage heirlooms hiding in the upstairs bedrooms.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Country<\/p>\n

Over the last 25 years, our business has also grown room by room, just like the house itself. We now have a dedicated shop in Cirencester and have introduced a flourishing <\/span>made-to-measure<\/span><\/a> service to bring beautifully bespoke upholstered <\/span>furniture<\/span><\/a> into homes across the UK. You can read more about <\/span>the story behind our brand\u2019s success<\/span><\/a> in our dedicated blog post.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let Vanessa\u2019s story inspire your own<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s extremely humbling to see that Vanessa\u2019s passion for creativity and country living has inspired hundreds of homeowners across the UK. What started off as a simple hobby has now transformed into a flourishing business, with The Tallet\u2019s creative roots continuing to influence Vanessa\u2019s latest collections. Her fabric designs have evolved over the years, bringing more colours and patterns into the mix \u2013 but they still evoke the same sense of joy and craftsmanship that they did in 2000.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s next for Vanessa? \u201cI\u2019m still not sure what my next project will be,\u201d Vanessa says. \u201cPerhaps more paper cutting, or a lino print. But The Tallet will always be the place I come back to. And everything still looks better painted!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the early 2000s, shabby chic and cottagecore were having their moment. Flick through any interiors magazine from the era and you\u2019ll find page after page of dainty floral fabrics, weather-worn wood, and cherished vintage finds. So, when Vanessa began transforming her once-derelict cow byre into a storybook Cotswold cottage 25 years ago, Country Living […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6143,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[249],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fabrics"],"yoast_head":"\r\nCountry Living Magazine Then vs. Now with Vanessa Arbuthnott<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We reflect on our 2000 and 2025 features in Country Living Magazine, and tell the story of how our beloved brand has come full circle..\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk\/blog\/country-living-magazine-then-vs-now\/\" \/>\r\n<meta 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