Country House Style

Country house style shows how everyday objects, traditional fittings and well-chosen antiques create interiors that feel welcoming, practical and distinctly individual.

 Magazines, television programmes about auctions and house renovations, and much contemporary interior advice seem increasingly to promote a sleek minimalist ideal — with kitchens resembling operating theatres and bathrooms not unlike mortuaries! While this look undoubtedly has its attractions, and has proved highly profitable for the kitchen and bathroom industry, it often produces living spaces that feel sparse rather than comfortable or characterful. From many years’ experience in the residential property market, I came to realise that although such fittings may add value initially, they date surprisingly quickly and are not always the sound long-term investment they appear. By contrast, country house style offers warmth, individuality and comfort, and can be successfully achieved even in the most ordinary semi-detached house.

Beginning with the entrance hall, a pair of Wellington boots, gardening shoes, tennis rackets, walking sticks and an old-fashioned row of coat hooks will immediately give visitors the impression that this is the home of an active and interesting family, and they will feel at ease from the moment they arrive. A Fortnum & Mason picnic basket is both practical and stylish for storing everyday odds and ends. Period tiles or bare boards are ideal flooring choices, but where these are not available, simple black-and-white tiles can work remarkably well and create the atmosphere of a traditional property. Entrance halls are meant for receiving people and passing through, so avoid overcrowding them beyond perhaps a small hall table.

Kitchens are the true hub of the home, so why not allow them to feel like proper rooms rather than purely functional spaces? Old cupboards, pictures, a short row of books, hanging saucepans and perhaps some dried herbs or flowers will quickly create the right effect. Living rooms should look as though they are genuinely used for relaxing — with space for the dog, books and magazines close to hand, and convenient places for tea or coffee. Even a simple rustic vase filled with seasonal leaves can add charm and character.

Bathrooms and cloakrooms are, by their nature, practical spaces and need not be fashionable to be attractive. One of the most stylish lavatories I have encountered was very old indeed, with a high-level cistern, exposed stone walls and a circular table stacked with Country Life magazines. A small window overlooking the countryside held a simple bowl of primroses. It was an absolute pleasure to spend time there!

In summary, whether your preference is for sleek modern simplicity or comfortable country house style, a well-chosen picture, an interesting object, or a distinctive piece of furniture will always help to reinforce the atmosphere you wish to create and make a house feel truly individual.