Reply
Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,823
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSES

[ Edited ]

Classic. Beautiful antique cabinet in corner.  Love the springtime blooms scenting the air from a wide old basin, with the fire contributing its aromatic woodsmoke--

1)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 6.39.41 AM.png

 

 

This picture above, so typical of the style, got me started.  Always have loved the venerable old English country house-- from wee cottage to rambling manor.  Like its closely intertwined and overlapping sister style, 'English cottage' style, 'English country house' is warm, forgiving, timeless. 

 

Emerging between the two World Wars, design legend John Fowler, and the very social Nancy Lancaster, are credited with creating much of what we've come to know as "the look".  Over time, she popularized the style in her gorgeous historic houses, Haseley Court, Mirador, Kelmarsh Hall.   And Nancy Lancaster was an American!  One with exquisite taste, in both houses and gardens.   

 

The late, great William Yeoward,  who died in 2019, epitomized what you'd call a *modern* English country house style.  It was less 'faded', a bit more spiffy,  but still with a deep honoring of tradition. 

 

2)

William-Yeoward-3.jpg

 

Everyone loved his large house in the Cotswolds, but his guest house there was a little miniaturized gem.  You could live there all year round--

 

The pocket-sized sitting room is brimming with comforts--  overstuffed furniture, plenty of lamps to read by, fireplace, lovely natural light-- yet it has a dignity conferred by the art and other portraits, fine rugs and antiques, and custom fabrics.

3)  

cnstmmglpict000001240569075x.webp4) 

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 3.09.53 PM.png

4)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 3.10.26 PM.png

 

Here's William Yeoward's charmingly quirky, personality-filled seaside retreat--

 

5)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 3.27.28 PM.png

 

He designed all his own luxe fabrics, much furniture, and fabulous crystal-- all adapted for our times, but based on graceful English tradition.

 

6)

Manresa-674-e1504199063901-1000x993.jpg

 

7)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 3.36.14 PM.png

 

Look at the kitchen in his large, main Cotswold house--  country house perfection:

 

8)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 7.12.46 PM.png

 

Everything he put together was magical...

9)

CB1094_William-Yeoward.100-e1504197944742.jpg

 

But let's go on to another practitioner of modern English country house style, youthful Sean Symington:

 

Here's his sprightly, but classically themed kitchen in his Victorian terraced house in Bath.  Those fab cabinets give me a Regency feeling:

 

10)

sean-symington-kitchen-2048x1371.jpg

 

That hearth-like niche, with copper pans hanging above, love!

11)

Copy-of-Pera-Place-002.jpg

 

12)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 6.26.38 PM.png

 

 

Color and humor, just two essential elements of English country house style...

13)

Copy-of-Pera-Place-016.jpg

 

His enveloping sitting room--

 

14)

Pera-Place-2-001.jpg

 

Symington does lovely, relaxing bedrooms as well-- I think these two are from different clients' houses:

15)

Sean-Symington-Ealing-027.jpg

 

16)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 4.05.24 PM.png

 

Really like this airy stair hall he did in a manor in Gloucestershire below.  There's a grand perspective in the architecture, yet nothing's stuffy.  That's so "English country house".  Nancy Lancaster had that gift in spades:

 

17)

Firs-House-009.jpg

 

18)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 6.29.07 PM.png

 

Sitting room in the same house:

 

19)

Firs-House-013 (1).jpg

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Now, switching out from specific designers, here are a few more random examples of classic English country house style:

 

 

20)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 3.56.09 PM.png

 

21)

Dining-room8.jpg

 

22)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 4.00.09 PM.png

 

23)

Striped-Furniture-and-Colorful-Palette.png

 

24)

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 4.02.16 PM.png

 

25)

233-1075x.webp

 

 

"Watchwords" for this style could be, let's see:  comfort, age, color, warmth, nature, softness, eccentricity, usefulness, print and pattern.

 

The English country house style can evolve as a more collected look, or, can even be dialed back and more lean and edited.  It's more of an attitude, I think!  But layering enhances it-- it's never starkly minimal.

 

Favorite brief introductions to the style:

 

"The Englishwoman's House".    Alvilde Lees-Milne and Derry Moore

 

"Colefax and Fowler-- The Best in English Interior Decoration".      Chester Jones

 

Edited to add:   Both books are super reasonably priced on the secondary market on Amazon. 

 

Screenshot 2024-03-15 at 9.03.31 AM.png

 

Screenshot 2024-03-15 at 9.04.19 AM.png 

    

 

 

 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,669
Registered: ‎10-09-2023

I love it all. ALL of it.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,755
Registered: ‎06-10-2015

I am in love with the first picture.

BE THE PERSON YOUR DOG THINKS YOU ARE! (unknown)
Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,100
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@SaveTheTurtles wrote:

I love it all. ALL of it.


Same!  Absolutely LOVE it.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 44,347
Registered: ‎01-08-2011

Quite interesting.

 

The blue and green is so refreshing with the white stairway!

 

Love this!  The parquet floor, the Louis XV setee and Regency chairs and table.

 

Firs-House-009.jpg

 

Screenshot 2024-03-14 at 6.29.07 PM.png

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,748
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Wow, so many pretty rooms. Thank you for posting, @Oznell I enjoyed these very much.

 

I love what you wrote "Everything he put together was magical"

CB1094_William-Yeoward.100-e1504197944742.jpg

 

Lovely bedroom. I have always wanted a sitting area in my bedroom but not the space for  one.

 

Sean-Symington-Ealing-027.jpg

 

 

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,175
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

So pretty, love that Staircase and Foyer-just gorgeous!

Valued Contributor
Posts: 756
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSES

[ Edited ]

Thanks for posting these wonderful pictures @Oznell . I love English country house decorating. I enjoy watching a British tv show called Escape to the Country - not only do I get to see some great homes but the beautiful English countryside in the different counties.

 

You described the English country home perfectly... Warm, forgiving and timeless. Visiting England one day is on my bucket list. Most of my ancestors on my mother's side came from England.

 

Love pictures # 1, 8, 10-12.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,267
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

The Staircase and surrounding area is by far my favorite space in the home. Not sure if this is the Entry room to the home or not.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,708
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

@Oznell     You're sure right about him being able to design a house!  This is just my style too!  I love the kitchen and dining area in particular.  The bedrooms look so peaceful and inviting.  This is definitely a home I'd love ❤️ to wake up in!   

Thank you for taking the time to share this one!💝

TOP