Four floors of history  – each with very different characters and characteristics. 

The Brief: To advise our clients on period details and craftsmen, colours and textiles, then to supply and make the furnishings.

The project:

Our American clients first passion is for ancient timber buildings, but it was their close running love of vintage Jaguars that brought them to this house – to buy a car.  The car wasn’t ideal,  good, but they fell in love with the house and bought that instead!  The restoration of an early timber house  in the States, although completely different in scale and style had given them a  knowledge and academic interest in historic buildings generally that stood them in good stead for their extensive research into the history of this one.

A building such as this needs little intervention and any work done should look immediately at home – in fact, as though it hasn’t been done  at all.  Colours, furnishings and textiles, even though less vital to the essential elements of the structure must be comfortable for todays living, yet composed and as though they have always been there.

The materials: Paint colours and composition were selected and made by specialists to be as true to the original as possible, silk and cotton damasks were hand woven, wallpapers and chintzes hand block printed, all to original archive designs and colourations.

The result: A comfortable and timeless environment that belongs to the house, accommodates friends and guest groups from historical societies with equanimity.