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English country style is popular in many places in the world, not just England, because of its warmth, coziness, and character. This style started in the rural parts of England, and feature an abundance of antique, vintage, and/or thrifted traditional floral prints, natural materials, and classic furniture pieces that seem to be collected throughout the years. Here are some interior designer tips & tricks for how to decorate in an English country style in your home.   Furniture PiecesThere are several classic furniture pieces commonly found in English country style homes. These furniture pieces are typically antiques. A common English country sofa is a brown leather chesterfield sofa.  Other options include a roll-arm sofa or a slipcovered sofa with a skirt in a white, khaki, or cream color. Wingback chairs are very popular in living rooms. Bookcases or perhaps an entire library is very common in the English country style.  The bookcases are filled with mostly vintage or antique books. Smaller English country homes often have a farmhouse table in the kitchen. Many larger homes will have a billiard or card table. Bedrooms often have a four poster bed.   Choose a Warm and Inviting Color PaletteEnglish country style homes are decorated in soft and natural colors that have a comforting and natural feel. Muted pastel colors like pale pink, soft blue, and sage green are perfect to use in an English country style, since they mirror the colors of the blooming flowers and lush greenery of the English countryside.  Don't forget the white or cream colored accents so the room does not look too dark. Earthy tones like terracotta, rust, and mustard yellow are also great options, as they create a cozy and inviting ambiance. A neutral brown stained wood color is also prevalent in furniture as well as architecture.   Embrace Natural MaterialsUse natural materials when decorating your English country style for the most authentic look. Look for pieces made from wood, leather, wicker, rattan, and other organic materials that add a sense of warmth and texture to your home. Stained wood furniture pieces are a great choice for an English country style, however older wood pieces in poor repair can be painted to give them new life. Wood or stone floors are most common in traditional English country homes.  Brick floors is also a good option. Stone interior walls or fireplaces are another natural feature of many English country cottages. ArtThe most popular art for an English country home is a framed oil painting #ad. These paintings usually have an ornate antique gold or stained wood frame. The subject matter of these paintings are typically family portraits, landscapes, or animals, such as dogs or horses. Don't worry too much about your artwork matching, since art that looks collected throughout the years is very common.   Add Floral PrintsOne of the most popular repeating elements in an English country style home is the use of floral prints and floral patterns. Consider decorating your home with floral patterns on your upholstery, curtains, bedding, and/or wallpaper. Popular flower types used in the English country style are the rose, peony, lily, lavender, poppy, and iris. You can mix and match different floral patterns in your room for a unique eclectic look that is one-of-a-kind. If you don't want to cover your room with flowers everywhere, try decorating with just a few floral patterns through accessories like throw pillows, blankets, or rugs.  A needlepoint pillow #ad or seat cushion with a floral pattern is very common in English country decorating.   Layer TexturesFor a cozy English country room, make sure to layer your textiles instead of just using the same fabrics throughout your room.Decorate with different textiles (like wool, linen, leather, velvet, and cotton) to create a room that feels collected and eclectic. Mixing and matching different textiles adds depth and interest to your space. For example, a wool plaid/tartan blanket draped over a linen sofa creates a cozy and inviting spot to sit for a while and read your favorite book. A linen pillow on a leather sofa creates a nice textural contrast so the leather sofa does not look so formal and uninviting.   Choose Cozy LightingLighting is an important element in any design aesthetic, but it is especially in an English country style. English country style homes tend to be a little dark and moody, perhaps because England is known for its dark and dreary weather. Make sure to use multuple source of lighting instead of just your overhead light bulb in the center of your ceiling.  Many designers prefer to not use ceiling light at all except for when bright light is required, such as when cleaning. Table lamps, floor lamps, uplighting on something with an interesting texture (a stone wall or a potted plant), chandeliers, and wall sconces are great lighting options. Make sure that all of your light bulbs are the same color of light, listed as a number followed by the letter K.  For a warm aesthetic, you will want light bulbs around 2700K.   Mix and Match PatternsMixing and matching patterns is one of the characteristics of English country style since many of the items have been passed down from generation to generation. Don't be afraid to combine floral prints with stripes or plaid patterns with checks. When mixing patterns, don't select patterns with the same scale, else the patterns might feel too cluttered.  Instead, select a large scale pattern, such as a floral, with a medium scale pattern, such as a plaid/tartan, with a small scale pattern, such as a small dot print. The key is to keep the colors cohesive, so the patterns don't clash. Experiment putting different items together to see how they look.  You never know which items might unexpectedly look good together! Incorporate Vintage and Antique PiecesDecorating your home with vintage and antique pieces is the best way to get the English country look. These pieces add character to your home since they are unique and often a much higher quality than items made today. Look for vintage artwork, old-fashioned lighting fixtures, and classic furniture pieces to create a lived-in and comfortable environment. Understand the difference between distressing and damage.  Distressing is when furniture or decor is altered over time from standard wear and tear.  Damage is when furniture or decor is altered all at once, such as your dog chewing on the leg of your table while stressed out.  Distressing is good since it showcases the heritage of the piece.  Damage is bad and should be repaired.     WoodworkWoodwork is very popular in English country homes. Exposed ceiling beams that might look a little rustic are very common. Some larger homes have stained wood paneling on the entire wall instead of plain drywall walls. Smaller homes will often have painted paneling, such as beadboard or wainscotting.  This paneling sometimes covers the entire wall but other times is only on the bottom third of the wall.  The woodwork is often painted white or a light color to make the home look lighter & brighter or a darker color to make the home feel a bit cozier.   Add AccessoriesDon't forget to add many accessories to your English country-style home since many homes of this style tend to be nearly cluttered with an abundance of stuff that has been passed down to them for generations. Look for items like floral-printed cushions, woven baskets, and vintage knick-knacks to add personality and character to your space. Walking sticks, equestrian items, Staffordshire dog statues #ad taxidermy, antique books, pottery, classic hunting items, floral china, and a grandfather clock.are common English country home accessories.     Embrace ImperfectionOne of the defining characteristics of English country style is its imperfection since many of the high quality pieces of furniture and decor have been used by the family for many years.   Embrace the lived-in and almost shabby look of antique and vintage pieces.   Look for furniture with patina and character, and don't be afraid to mix and match different styles and eras. English country homes are typically not perfectly curated and well designed.  More commonly, the items in the home have been collected over decades and tend to look a bit cluttered and a tiny bit messy. Imperfection adds personality and charm to your space and gives your home a sense of history.     Live Plants and FlowersEnglish country style celebrates the outdoors, especially during the cold winters. Adding potted plants #ad can make a sterile room feel more alive and happy. You can also add fresh flowers for a colorful touch either weekly or on special occasions when you have guests.  

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Daylesford House in Gloucestershire, England. Watercolor image via Christie's. Some consider the interiors Daylesford to be one of the greatest works of legendary decorator John Fowler. The 2nd Viscount Rothermere, Esmond Harmsworth, was 47 when he bought Daylesford in 1946. The late 1940s, 50s, and early 60s were the golden age for collectors like Harmsworth as there was wave after wave of treasures coming on the market. Also, there were inspiring exhibitions to stimulate interest in the English Taste and new books about 18th century furniture and architecture. Lord Rothermere's historically-based restoration with the advice of John Fowler was unusual for a private home in the early 1960s, however, despite the significance of the house. An architectural rendering of the east (entrance) elevation of Daylesford by Simon Vernon. The Daylesford estate was the ancestral home of the Hastings family. One of the most important figures in 18th century Anglo-Indian history was Warren Hastings who essentially created the base for British supremacy in India. Beginning with a career in the service of the East India Company, he rose to become the first Governor-General of Bengal, the richest and most powerful of the Indian states. Unlike many of his contemporaries who were only to extract wealth from India, Hastings was noted to place national interests, both British and Indian, above his own personal gain. Hastings introduced policies that respected native traditions and the local princes and maharajahs, but clamped down on corruption. However, political opponents turned public opinion in London and India against him, resulting in his being recalled to London to face charges of embezzlement, fraud, abuse of power and cruelty. A trial before the House of Lords lasted seven years before Hastings was exonerated of all charges. But he never returned to India.  The west elevation of Daylesford in an architectural rendering by Simon Vernon. In 1788, just as the trial was beginning, Hastings bought back the manor house and estate of Daylesford dating from the medieval period that had been sold when he was a child. Employing architect Samuel Pepys Cockerell, Hastings set out to create a monument to his career that would house his ever expanding art collection. (The architect was later to design the fantastic Sezincote House nearby for his brother Samuel Charles Cockerell, Surveyor to the East India Company). As many of the paintings in Hastings' collection were on the subject of India, it was fitting that the house would have detailing that would be reminiscent of the exotic architecture of that country. The cabinet makers Ince and Mayhew supplied furniture and textiles. Although no longer in public disgrace, Hastings was content to life in self-imposed exile in great comfort with his family and friends at Daylesford.  The south elevation of Daylesford in an architectural rendering by Simon Vernon. In 1853, the house and contents were dispersed by his stepson, and the house and estate passed through several owners before being purchased in 1946 by the 2nd Viscount Rothermere.  Lord and Lady Rothermere with son Esmond Vyvyan Harmsworth, in the 1970s. Image via Christie's. Lord Rothermere had not only the enthusiasm, but also the means, to restore the house to reflect Warren Hasting's late 18th century transformation of Daylesford. There are some jobs on which John Fowler was said to have "pulled out all the stops" and Lord Rothermere was an appreciated, insightful client who brought out Fowler's sympathy for the house. A view to the Entrance Hall (and beyond) from the Long Hall. The entrance to the house had been changed in 1855 by Edward Kemp, moving from the south to the east with the principal reception rooms arranged with a southern exposure. All had classical decoration but was in poor condition by 1946. Architect Philip Jebb was brought in for the renovation with the assistance of John Fowler. The restoration of the Anglo-Indian architecture was compliemented by furnishings in the Anglo-French fashion of the late 18th century based on contemporary documents. The Saloon at Daylesford as decorated by John Fowler for Lord Rothermere. A view of the curtains can just be glimpsed in the reflection in the mirror. Image from JOHN FOWLER PRINCE OF DECORATORS. While Lord Rothermere sought out particular items that had belonged to Warren Hastings, Fowler used written descriptions of the interiors as a basis for the new decoration. Although not a historical recreation in terms of a museum setting, the furnishings of Daylesford were intended to be in the style that had appealed to Hastings. Another view of the Saloon at Daylesford. Image from JOHN FOWLER PRINCE OF DECORATORS. Colefax & Fowler assistant Tom Parr found a suite of armchairs and settees for the Saloon that had been made for David Garrick. In the French taste by Thomas Chippendale, the suite will be presented in more detail in the following blog post featuring the furniture. Although the color of the walls does not come through in these photographs, they were said to have painted by John Fowler in 'periwinkle blue' to match the results of his paint scapings and the contemporary accounts of the original decoration of the room. An Indian carved ivory games table added to the exotic theme of the room, as did two large Indian pictures. A blue banquette in the alcove was decorated with velvet cushions that were hand painted in the same decoration to match the curtain borders.  The sample board for the Saloon, left. The original border for the curtains, right, found after the death of John Fowler. Images via JOHN FOWLER PRINCE OF DECORATORS. The contemporary documentation had also described the curtains as having painted borders with sequins. With Tony Watkins and George Oakes, Fowler painted the borders on ivory velvet using copper stencils he had made, using antique bell pulls as inspiration. After the borders were sewn onto pale blue satin curtains, they were edged in sequins. (When Stanley Falconer worked at Daylesford for the present owners, he discovered a fragment of the orginal curtains that had been preserved with the Hastings furniture in another collection to be very similar to what Fowler had produced, and had the borders copied and the curtain fabric dyed to match the original. More about the present owners of Daylesford will follow in a future post). The Evening Room at Daylesford decorated by John Fowler. Image via JOHN FOWLER, PRINCE OF DECORATORS. The Evening Room, facing west, was painted a very pale grey to compliment the yellow-tinged light from the setting sun. The curtains were mustard colored with bullion fringe and cording. Much of the upholstered furniture was covered in yellow silk, picked up in the colors of the 19th century needlework rug. The Morning Room at Daylesford with John Fowler's curtains as they were realized and how they were planned. Image via JOHN FOWLER PRINCE OF DECORATORS. The Morning Room which faced east was painted off-white with details of the cornice picked out in gold. Using the colors in the Aubusson rug, Fowler devised a fresh color scheme for the room. According to Martin Wood in JOHN FOWLER, PRINCE OF DECORATORS, the curtain panels were made of sewn-together strips of taffeta in celadon green, French blue and dull apricot; the French blue pelmets were swagged and scalloped with an apricot lining and fringed apron. Wood says that John Fowler's curtain sketches were annotated by his long-time assistant Imogen Taylor. In the sketch above, another hand has written "Lath Line" and drawn two horizontal lines to indicate the framework that was needed for support. Below that, the notes presumably by Taylor indicate an earlier scheme, "Blue Tails & over Sways. Green linings & under Swag." The Dining Room at Daylesford. Image via JOHN FOWLER PRINCE OF DECORATORS. The furnishings of the Morning Room, also referred to as the Chinese Room, along with the Dining Room and the Study will be discussed in detail on the next post. Lord Rothermere's Study at Daylesford. Image via JOHN FOWLER, PRINCE OF DECORATORS. As always in Colefax & Fowler projects, the guest bedrooms were treated in detail to make them very individual and comfortable. John Fowler designed a tent wardrobe similar to a Mughal tent for a guest bedroom needing a closet. Image via JOHN FOWLER, PRINCE OF DECORATORS. Additional guest rooms at Daylesford. The Red Bedroom is pictured on the left. Another guest room has walls covered in "Print Room' toile. Image via JOHN FOWLER, PRINCE OF DECORATORS. The guest room with walls covered in a toile giving the effect of a print room. Photo from COLEFAX & FOWLER THE BEST IN ENGLISH INTERIOR DECORATION. Lord Rothermere succeeded his father Harold Sidney Harmsworth, the very successful owner of Associated Newspapers Ltd who developed the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror newspapers and a 1930s supporter of Germany (convinced the Nazis would restore the German monarchy), in the viscountcy in 1940. His first marriage, 1920 to 1938, resulted in two daughters and a son, Vere, who became the 3rd Viscount Rothermere after his father's death in 1978. (Vere was married, Devoted Readers will recall, to Bubbles Rothermere who was the subject of the previous post here). His second marriage, 1945 to 1952, also ended in divorce (with his ex-wife marrying James Bond author Ian Fleming that same year). His third marriage, in 1966 to Mary Murchison, produced a son in 1967 (prompting Vere and Bubbles to have another child, a son who would become the 4th and present Viscount Rothermere). A guest room at Daylesford decorated by John Fowler using "Hollyhock' chintz as the primary fabric. The hand-blocked print is still produced for Lee Jofa. Image via JOHN FOWLER, PRINCE OF DECORATORS. The next post in this series of The Devoted Classicist will feature the interiors and specific antique furnishings of Daylesford as created by the 2nd Viscount Rothermere and John Fowler as it appeared until the dispersal at the death of Mary Harmsworth, Viscountess Rothermere.

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