STORY
inDEPENDENT BUSINESSES
DURING THE SEASON OF LOVE, GIVE YOUR HOME A HEARTFELT REFRESH WITH THE HELP OF THESE ULTRA-STYLISH KENTISH ENTREPRENEURS AND THEIR BEAUTIFULLY CURATED OFFERINGS.
BROCK COTTAGE HOME brockcottagehome. com brockcottagehome
When Daniel Baldwin and Fiona Burgess moved to Brock Cottage- a former 19th-century stable in the Kentish countryside- they made a conscious decision to furnish their home with pieces of provenance rather than buying new. This choice sparked a deep appreciation for antiques and a passion for vintage country design. More than 15 years on, their commitment to sourcing and restoring timeworn pieces remains unchanged. At the heart of Brock Cottage Home is a desire to present these pieces in ways that celebrates their beauty and honours their history. Often found truffling through furniture fairs, Dan and Fiona are drawn to pieces that simply call to them. With help from a trusted network of couriers, today the pair help others create beautiful interiors filled with characterful pieces that carry stories waiting to be told.“ Preserving objects crafted by skilled hands and built to last is essential- we are merely custodians- these pieces deserve to be cared for and celebrated, allowing them to live on and be cherished by future generations,” says Fiona. Recently, Brock Cottage Home has taken residence in a barn at Landway Farm, near Sevenoaks. Open by appointment, visitors are welcomed to explore their latest finds, or you can visit their website for inspiration and an ever-evolving collection of carefully sourced pieces.
SIMON JAMES HOME simonjameshome. co. uk simonjameshome
Simon James Home was founded in 2024 as a passion project inspired by a lifelong love of fragrance and creativity. With a background in HR and recruitment, founder Simon Goodwin’ s journey into home scents and candles was driven by a true love of complex, beautiful smells. While running a successful money-saving consultancy, Simon discovered the therapeutic power of creativity, particularly in handcrafting scented candles. What began as a personal hobby to unwind and explore, soon blossomed into an award-winning brand specialising in luxury soy wax candles and reed diffusers.“ Whether you like sweet, floral scents, bakery-inspired foodie scents or deep, dark rich scents, we’ ve got you covered,” says Simon. Holding a strong commitment towards high-quality craftsmanship, Simon’ s goal is to create fragrances that bring comfort and joy to your space, with every candle handmade right here in Kent using sustainable materials, vegan-friendly soy wax and paraben-free fragrances. Sustainability is at the heart of Simon James Home, with a tree planted for every purchase as part of the brand’ s commitment to giving back to the environment. Looking ahead, a new range of wellbeing candles is set to launch early this year alongside additional reed diffuser scents, so watch this space!
LIZ CROWCROFT DESIGN lizcrowcroftdesign. co. uk lizcrowcroftdesign
After earning a degree with a specialism in textiles, Liz Crowcroft entered the art and design world and never looked back. Her artistic career remarkably began at Buckingham Palace where she catalogued items from the Royal Art Collection, deepening her appreciation for craftsmanship being surrounded by the most exquisite works of art. From there, Liz moved to a Chelsea-based company known for its hand-embroidered fabrics and was able to explore textile factories in China, gaining invaluable insight into the manufacturing side of the industry. In 2002, following the birth of her first child, Liz Crowcroft Design was born. The business has continued to evolve alongside Liz over the years, including a chapter spent in the Middle East.“ Now back in Kent, my focus has shifted firmly toward sustainability,” says Liz.“ I use designer offcuts from my own projects to create cushions, breathing new life into materials that otherwise might be discarded. Sustainability is a large focal point of my textile and interiors- buy once and buy well.” This year, Liz is excited to broaden her work into interiors, as well as offer more workshops and sewing lessons from her Sevenoaks studio.“ Sharing the joy of sewing and helping others develop their own skills is something I find deeply rewarding.”
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