Some years ago, when I went from photo byline to editor of a bi-monthly magazine, my mother was miffed. ‘What did you do in all that time?’ she asked, not seeing any words or pictures credited to me other than the Editor’s Letter. I was reminded of that question when one of the House & Garden Art team was feeling frazzled while putting together a particularly vast special section, which I had the temerity to tinker with. Several times. ‘If only people realised how much work goes into these pages,’ she bemoaned. I think the passion (bordering on obsession) of House & Garden’s staff clearly shines through in the way that projects are so thoughtfully and evocatively documented. Every submission is considered and discussed by several editors – differing tastes keep things interesting – and then the work of planning and executing begins, not to mention everything that comes after that. My point, more succinctly, is that we are exacting and dedicated to showcasing the best of the best.
With all this in mind, the House & Garden x Savills Project of the Year 2026 has been taken very seriously indeed. Both the in-house team and the wider judging panel – including (from second left) Savills UK head of lettings Amelia Greene, contributing editor Sophie Dahl and Savills private office country director Crispin Holborow – scrutinised a long list gleaned from an open call. Submitted by homeowners and design professionals, houses across the land such as the one shown here, by Peter Joseph (far left), of P Joseph architects, were visited and rated against strict criteria. Whittling the properties down to four finalists was challenging – and hotly debated over the course of a day. By the end, I’d dubbed them the most talked-about houses in England.
You can see the shortlisted projects in this issue. Each is the best of its kind and responds beautifully to its setting. For example, designer and artist Harriet Anstruther’s West Sussex farmhouse was renovated using materials from the land. ‘I’ve always been fascinated by our interaction with an environment… how it makes you feel,’ she says. ‘It’s the layering of a house, the building up of a picture, the story revealing itself. It’s marvellous stuff.’ I couldn’t agree more. Also in this abundant issue are many pages brimming with glorious gardening stories. These were expertly curated by our indefatigable garden editor Clare Foster, who shares a few behind-the-scenes tales in the issue, too. I hope you enjoy the fruits of our labours.
