Inside design: Jane Cumberbatch

S@H: What's essential for you and good to look at?
JC: I just bought an old house in Portugal, and I'm sitting here right now going over the plans. I'm trying to decide what I really need -- a good supply of hot water, comfy beds and a functional kitchen. I don't need to spend a lot of money on fancy fabrics and endless trinkets that ultimately make you stressed because you have to take care of them.

Once you've determined what you need, you can concentrate on finding items that will stand the test of time and are pleasing to the eye. For me, that's a sturdy kitchen table, robust glassware, plain white plates, classic cutlery, and washable paints and slipcovers. The greatest benefit of a simple life is having time to enjoy simple pleasures -- to appreciate life, to feel calm. So anything that makes life comfortable and affords more time to explore worthwhile pursuits is pure and simple living at its best.

Simple formula
Few, functional and fine -- those are the three "Fs" of Jane Cumberbatch's blueprint for a simple life. Her new line of practical products, including Irish linen tea towels, blue-and-white enamel bowls, and sewing kits, will soon be available at purestyleonline.com.

Few
Pare down belongings to only those necessary things. You need a sofa, but what about all those throw cushions? Similarly, says Jane, "having two sets of china and three sets of glassware eats up time taking care of them."

Functional
Ovenproof pots, tumblers that work for both juice and wine -- "multipurpose items are the key to simplicity," says Jane. "Everything I bring into my house must fulfil more than one function."

Fine
Colour and texture are intrinsic to what Jane calls the "DNA of simple living." She takes her cues from nature, favouring the shades of earth, sky and sea, with pops of colour added (fresh flowers are a great way to do this). Jane also likes "rough log baskets, crisp cotton sheets and frothing soap."

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