Step through the doors of Studio Farrows and take in the quirky surroundings – starting with a lounge-residing pale blue Ford Anglia! Walls are splashed with eclectic art and mismatched cushions, throws and rugs add to the appealing and homely feel. The hosts couldn’t be friendlier, arranging courses from baking to glass blowing, and swims in a friend’s walled pool. This beautifully renovated potters’ shed boasts original oak beams that stretch across high ceilings and carefully placed beautiful objects. Snuggle up in the kingsize bed, complete with Hungarian goose down, before ambling out into the pretty south-facing garden for a breakfast basket of organic goodies. The cottage stands as the perfect base for exploring Hay-on-Wye, the Black Mountains, Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons. Light, airy and family-friendly, with pale beams that line the wood-panelled walls and comfy cream carpets – this listed Coach House has a lodge-like feel. The open-plan living space spans across a snug bedroom and plush en-suite bathroom, to a relaxed lounge area with cream sofas that fold into double beds, separated by the stairs.
Interiors are friendly with scatter cushions and matching gingham table cloths and curtains. Take in stunning views across the Colne Valley from the balcony and play a board game or two in the evening.• Doubles from £95 B&B (sofabed extra £15pp), 01787 221561, sawdays.co.uk Whether in the Hare, Pheasant or Fox bedroom, sleep tight on crisp white linen and feather pillows. Bedrooms are thoughtfully decorated with choice pieces – a Roberts radio here, a framed picture of the area there … and what an area it is! Acres of organic pasture surround the converted dairies, but the bustling village of Sherston is close, offering guests the best of both worlds. At breakfast feast on local ham, sausages and eggs from the hens, smoked salmon and cream cheese as well as homemade bread and jams in the garden room.• From £85 B&B, 01666 841445, carriersfarm.co.uk A wall of windows open on to spectacular views across to the three glens of Dlawhat, Castlefairn and Craigdarroch at this striking eco-friendly B&B.
The roof bears the same turf of the land it was built into, walls are insulated with the wool of local Blackface sheep, and stylish leather seating bear the hides of cows from the farm. Guests can expect a full Scottish breakfast, and luxurious bedrooms – one with a private terrace. Between the carefully tended orchard, rows of vegetables and trellised vines are a herd of alpacas … The good life awaits in this Georgian house, which is complete with a beautiful walled garden and ancient mulberry tree. In the oldest part of central Norwich stands the Grade II listed Gothic House (ask the friendly host about the history of this splendid building), where a myriad of trinkets complement the period feel. Sup a hot drink from silver tea and coffee pots and eat a lavish, locally-sourced breakfast from traditional Portmeirion china. Beautiful windows grace the stylish and spacious bedrooms, where a good night’s sleep is guaranteed in this unexpectedly peaceful spot. This converted 19th-century church may have impressive architecture with marble pillars and stained glass, but the spirit of the place is the best part.
Expect the unexpected – the sound of a Welsh harp or table tennis may echo from the domed mosaic ceiling. A real family home, the atmosphere is as fun as it is relaxing. For romance, book a four-poster room with underfloor heating before heading outside into the hot tub under the stars. Rebecca really has brought this 16th-century pink castle to life, lovingly restoring it and inviting all to share her spectacular home. The 40 acres of grounds have rose gardens, a laburnum walk, secret tunnel through rhododendrons and waterfalls that you can spot on a woodland walk. Expect warming open fires, antique furniture, romantic art and rich colours. Crawl up the steep stairs to the Tudor Room and step back in time. Look out for the swimming elephant table, twin golden unicorns and cheetah rug!• Doubles £110 or £140 B&B, 01466 751595, castleofpark.co.uk No 3 sits at the end of a terrace of handsome 19th-century houses. Hosts are friendly, offering to help to plan outings, as well as breakfast in bed and a paper delivery if requested.
Breakfast otherwise is in the lovely kitchen, where French windows look out over the walled garden, or on the terrace on warm days. Bedrooms are elegant and luxurious bathrooms have freestanding roll-top baths. Head out to the bustling market town and return for a scrumptious dinner.• Doubles from £75 B&B, dinner by arrangement, 01729 825673, no3atsettle.co.uk All properties can be booked at sawdays.co.uk. Sawday’s new British Bed & Breakfast guide is published on 1 September (£11.99)Too many sofa beds fall short of being useful as either a sofa or a bed. With firm cushions, bad support, thin mattresses and clunky mechanisms, they’re usually not met with great enthusiasm by house guests. Thankfully, there’s a whole new breed of bed designs that solve the problem, with those at the top of the range being so comfortable they’re good for use every day. As always with large furniture pieces, think about size, access to your home, and guarantees that indicate sturdiness and good craftsmanship.
1. Willow and Hall Appley 2-seater Sofa Bed: from £554, Willow and Hall This small but comfortable bed from Willow and Hall folds out easily by pulling the wheeled base. Good for spare rooms and studies, the two-seater version is 122cm wide, and the armless design means it’s good for getting through small doorways. The frame is steel, and the cushions are foam and fibre. It’s available in 90 different fabrics and leathers, and is handmade and delivered in four and five weeks. 2. Sofa Workshop Jude Corner Sofa Bed: from £1,994, Sofa Workshop More of a sofa with an added bonus, the Jude sofa bed hasn’t compromised on comfort in order to discreetly include a pull-out double bed within its design. Made by hand in Britain, the sofa bed has a 15-year guarantee, a hardwood frame, foam seat cushions with fibre-filled back cushions and a deluxe double mattress that will give your guest a good night’s sleep. 3. John Lewis Clapton Sofa Bed: £349, John Lewis Great for small budgets and spaces, the petite Clapton sofa bed simply folds flat to go from day to night, rather than involving a bulky pull-out mechanism.
The hardwood frame is guaranteed for 10 years – a good investment for a small price. Best for occasional use, the bed is a compact 182cm x 109cm when flat, and may need a mattress topper for added comfort. 4. Habitat Honovi Sofa: £1,700, Habitat If you’re dead set on impressing guests, the Italian-made Honovi sofa from Habitat is a three-seater that converts to the equivalent of a kingsize bed, with a luxurious 14cm-deep sprung foam mattress. Foam is used for the deep seats cushions, and feather-filled for the back. The covering fabric is removable (dry clean only), making it practical too. Delivery takes eight to 10 weeks. 5. Loaf Pavilion Medium Sofa Bed: £1,445, Loaf The slouchy design of Loaf’s beds and sofas put comfort first, with deep seats and feather-filled back cushions across the range. The Pavilion sofa bed is no exception. Proving comfortable as both bed and sofa, it has a 12cm deep folding mattress and a mechanism that’s easy to use. The sofa comes with a 10-year guarantee.
There’s a medium, large and love seat/single bed combination available too. 6. Made Jefferson Sofa Bed: £999, Made The ingenious folding mechanism makes Made’s Jefferson sofa bed stand out. The whole piece glides smoothly from sofa to bed in one action, with the back cushions stowing under the legs. With a 14cm-deep mattress it’s comfortable enough to be used every day – great for studio flats or small bedrooms. The polyester fabric comes in grey and dark red versions. 7. Esme Sofa Bed: £970, Living It Up Esme is a smart-looking sofa bed with extra care given for your guest’s sleep. There’s a 13cm-deep pocket sprung mattress with layers of cotton, fibre and insulator pads. The sofa bed also locks into place at six points, giving good support. The small two-seater version folds out to a bed of 85cm x 186cm. The sofa has loose back pillows making it better suited to occasional rather than constant use. 8. Next Brompton Occasional Sofa Bed: £950, Next
Next’s Brompton bed has a design to suit traditional interiors, with scrolled arms and a high back that look great in tweed and checked fabrics. It comfortably sleeps two with a fold-out size of 194cm x 98cm, and has a standard pull-out mechanism. There’s great scope to design a sofa to suit your needs, with a choice of three feet colours and 91 fabrics. Delivery takes six weeks. 9. Aissa Two Seat Sofa Bed: from £1,410, Sofa This charming sofa bed looks small but packs a lot of space. Thin arms allow it to deliver a generous area for seating and a surprising mattress size of 193cm x 153cm. Comfort is key: the seat and back cushions have feather in the fillings, and the mattress is 12cm deep. There’s a choice of 100 fabrics and the frame has a lifetime guarantee. 10. Backabro Sofa Bed with Chaise Longue: £725, Ikea Ikea’s solution for combining corner sofa and bed is neat and practical – including hidden storage space under the chaise longue section for pillows and blankets.