Luxury lifestyle, prime property
DOWNTON RETURNS
FEEL AT HOME
EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE
Refining the art of dining, HestiaLiving Everyday is now available at Harrods. Named after Hestia the goddess of the hearth, home and family, founder Lisa Domenico Brooke looked to her own upbringing for inspiration around the daily ritual of table setting, designing a collection with French motifs. hestialivingeveryday.com
Labour of love
Block-print designer Molly Mahon has launched a special collaboration with the Saheli Women, a social enterprise based in India. The three embroidered designs were made using a bespoke blue-and-white gingham fabric woven at their rural Rajasthan site, using time-honoured techniques. mollymahon.com
BATHE AND BLOOM
SAY CHEESE!
Tile specialist Fired Earth has joined forces with renowned contemporary British artist Frances Costelloe, launching a limited-edition freestanding bath. Adorned with her signature illustrations, the design nods to Frances' background in garden design and draws from a palette of 12 shades in Fired Earth’s collection. Priced from £5,225, it's available at Fired Earth’s New King’s Road store. firedearth.com
The Fromagerie cabinet by renowned bespoke kitchen creator Lanserring is designed for cheese connoisseurs, bridging the gap between artistry and science. The innovative cabinet keeps cheese cooler than room temperature, while backlighting adds a further touch of refinement. Lined with integrated tiles of Himalayan rock salt to regulate moisture levels, it adds a restaurantlevel flourish to home comforts, with all of the precision Lanserring is known for. lanserring.com
LOCKER ROOM
Get the SW19 experience with Wimbledon supplier Christy. On Harrods' third floor, learn more about the brand’s 175-year history through a curated display of historic Wimbledon Championship towels. Its limited-edition So Last Year collection features an exclusive range of upcycled products made from 2024’s surplus towels. Until 13 July. christy.co.uk
COUNTRY
HOW TO DECORATE A COUNTRY HOUSE, INTERIORS INSPIRED BY JANE AUSTEN, TOP COMMUTER HOTSPOTS, COUNTRY SCHOOLS AND MORE
CHYKNELL HALL SAVILLS
RH ENGLAND
LUCINDA MARTIN INTERIOR DESIGN
American dream
ALEXANDRA GOSS DISCOVERS THE US CULT INTERIORS BRAND HOUSED IN AN OXFORDSHIRE STATELY HOME WITH A STORE COMING TO MAYFAIR NEXT YEAR
The Cotswolds are Britain’s answer to the Hamptons, so it’s no surprise that the cult US brand RH chose the area for its first foray outside North America. RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, is a luxurious home furnishings retailer that offers “a curated world of luxury living, dining and design services”. Rather than operating out of conventional furniture showrooms, it has “galleries” housed inside unusual and impressive buildings.
Few edifices could be more impressive than Aynhoe Park. Near Banbury, on the edge of the Cotswolds AONB, this Grade I-listed, 400-year-old landmark estate was designed by the preeminent architect Sir John Soane. Opened in June 2023 after a three-year renovation, RH England is an immersive experience that has the feel of a fabulously chic stately home, with RH interiors and outdoor collections sympathetically and seamlessly integrated with rare art, antiques and artefacts from across the globe, spread across the 60 rooms and 73 acres.
wander through a dedicated Soane exhibition, explore historic gardens by the iconic landscape architect Lancelot “Capability” Brown and gaze out over Europe’s largest herd of white hart deer. If they’re feeling peckish, visitors can dine on wood-fired pizzas in the Loggia, American bistro fayre in the Conservatory or opt for the “live-fire” concept at the Orangery; there’s also a wine lounge, tea salon and “juicery”.
“RH has put Aynho and surrounding
“RH IS OPENING IN PARIS IN SEPTEMBER AND WORKING ON NEXT YEAR’S MUCH-ANTICIPATED LONDON LAUNCH”
RH is expanding rapidly across Europe, opening in Paris in September and working on next year’s much-anticipated London launch, just off Savile Row in Mayfair. Details of the gallery – which will be spread across three historic buildings, one of which was last occupied by Abercrombie & Fitch – are being closely guarded. However, plans submitted to Westminster council by the architects, Foster + Partners, show proposals for a restaurant, a wine bar on the second floor with its own roof terrace and a champagne and caviar bar in the basement.
As well as browsing for furniture or enlisting RH’s interior design services, guests can
villages on the map – what was once a rather sleepy place is now an international lifestyle destination in its own right,” says Harry Gladwin, head of the Cotswolds office at the Buying Solution. “RH’s pared-back look and neutral palettes resonate especially with our American buyers and the restaurants are a real draw too. A summer’s evening spent on the terrace watching the deer is the Cotswolds countryside experience at its best.”
Londoners who can’t wait until 2026 can buy into their own immersive RH experience at the Whiteley, the Bayswater department store that’s been given a £3bn revamp. Apartment 304 South, a 4,000 sq ft three-bedroom duplex with incredible 6.1-metre ceiling heights in the main living area, has been designed bespoke by RH Contract to create a home that blends “classical European elegance with modern refinement”. A serene palette of soft beige, creamy whites and warm caramel offsets RH sofas, chairs and tables, as well as statement pieces and talking-point chandeliers. And it can all be yours for £13.5m. L
PERIOD DRAMA
IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT EVERY HOME MUST BE IN WANT OF CHARACTER, WRITES TALLULAH RUSHAYA
Through the pages of Jane Austen’s novels to their on-screen adaptations, generations continue to be enthralled by Regency style. The 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth is encouraging a resurgence of the era’s elegant interiors. Coinciding with her anniversary, fictional biopic series Miss Austen and Netflix’s upcoming take on Pride and Prejudice continues to ignite imaginations, while previous dramatisations (particularly the 1995 miniseries and 2005 film based on the same novel), remain much-loved comfort watches.
In the world of Austen, the home was much more than a dwelling: it shed light on societal standing. A timeless style to emulate or adapt, take a leaf out of Jane Austen’s books to see how your home can be ardently admired.
FINE FURNITURE AND ANTIQUES
The broadening of minds through travel and education was reflected in furnishings of the period. Lennox Cato, LAPADA exhibitor (lennoxcato.com; lapadalondon.com), remarks that it was an essential “display of refinement”. Experiencing the wonders of Europe through the Grand Tour, influences from ancient Greece and Rome were apparent. Cato notes fashion and interiors took inspiration from these cultural expeditions. As empire-line dresses echoed classical silhouettes, furniture followed in kind. “For the aspiring middle and upper classes, decorative pieces brought back from the Grand Tour – particularly from Italy – were highly prized,” Cato comments.
Symbols of antiquity, from urns to sculptures and micro mosaics, were incorporated by skilled British cabinet makers. This would result in pieces like centre tables, or klismos chairs which stand as artworks in their own right”.
Far East brought significant design influence. Pivotally, The Treaty of Alexandria in the Battle of the Nile, which saw the British Army defeat Napoleon, enabled “looted” antiques to be on permanent display at the British Museum. The convex mirror also known as ‘butler’s mirror’ was a popular addition. Reflecting more light than a flat mirror, Dadswell explains it was used for butlers to “discreetly observe dinner guests to ensure they were providing a good service!”
An attribute in homes past and present, the fireplace is a symbol of practicality and beauty. Laura Dadswell, director of Westlands London (westlandlondon.com) comments that while fireplaces were plainer, they came with ‘bullseye designs’, carved from marble, wood and stone. Beyond Europe, Egypt and the
Peter Alexander, founder of Reindeer Antiques on Kensington Church Street (reindeerantiques.co.uk), concurs the era has an enduring appeal. Thomas Hope, George Bullock and Gillows were the top designers of the day, he notes. Bullock supplied furniture for Napoleon’s exile residence on St Helena. “They’re not as well known as Chippendale, but most of my clients will have heard of one of them if not all,” he adds. Finding that clients select antiques to mix with more contemporary pieces and art, Alexander notes that strong yellows, red and pinks a re popular choices.
“Flirt with the contemporary,” suggests Sophie Salata , head of brand at Vinterior (vinterior.co). Using a showstopper, such as a Regency console, will enable you to build upon the theme. Rosewood, mahogany and walnut
were some of the most desired materials. Salata believes the charm is in not overrestoring. “Glossy woods, intricate carvings and tufted upholstery are all synonymous with the period, let them clash with your more-contemporary pieces,” she says. Think a Regency mirror above a brushed-steel fi replace: “The tension is what makes it work”.
BOOKS
There’s no better time to embrace bookshelf wealth than through a Regency-style library. Jane Austen’s fi rsteditions remain highly desirable, with their supply and price reflecting this, cautions Adam Douglas, senior specialist at Peter Harrington Rare Books ( peterharrington.co.uk). Instead he suggests expanding to works that shaped the author’s literary landscape. “Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney o ers a fantastic guide to the female authors who directly influenced her,” he says. “These include Ann Radcli e, whose 1794 gothic thriller The Mysteries of Udolpho is a constant reference in Northanger Abbey ;
GENTRY REQUIREMENTS Opposite, top to bottom: Jane’s Reading Room in Henry’s Townhouse, the Marylebone residence of Jane Austen’s brother. Current owners Steven and Jane Collins worked with Russell Sage Studio to refresh the property in a way that’s sympathetic to its original and architectural features, using National Trust paints throughout; a klismos chair with cream and gilt decoration c.1810, LAPADA This page, clockwise from top left: Lucinda Martin’s grand Shropshire project received the Regency treatment with classical curtain draping and Grand Tour inspired furnishings; a pair of George III mahogany torcheres c.1760-65 (possibly by Thomas Chippendale), estimated £30,000-£50,000, Christie’s; Burr tea caddy c.1820, £2,850 Reindeer Antiques; the first fully illustrated editions of Jane Austen’s collected works, £12,500, Peter Harrington Rare Books
Elizabeth Inchbald, whose 1798 play Lovers’ Vows is rehearsed by the characters in Mansfield Park ; and Frances Burney, whose 1796 third novel, Camilla, originated the phrase ‘pride and prejudice’.”
Designing ornate cornices, coving and paneling, The Library Ladder Company (llcompany.co.uk) is mostly known for interior ladders. A practical and visually interesting solution for reaching books, founder Jessica Davis started the company after struggling to source ladders for clients.
ROOMS
In any room, colour plays a vital role, advises Paula Taylor, head stylist and trend specialist at Graham & Brown ( grahambrown.com). While the Georgians opted for dramatic colours, the Regency era’s tastemakers tended to use lighter shades. She suggests, “Aliza and Ellie pastels and lush greens like Adeline, alongside rich burgundy, olive green, and indigo blue.” D uck-egg blue Pool Deck and dusky green Sage are also period-accurate paint hues.
Regency style was “bolder and more decorative” according to interior designer Victoria Wormsley of French-Brooks Interiors ( french-brooks.com). The welcoming of bolder patterns materialised as stripes. Elsewhere, window treatments became more elaborate. In a late-Georgian Notting Hill project, Victoria adopted a Regency approach. Using the colour of the client’s art as a starting point for the sitting room, additions like a blue velvet sofa provided
MASS WISTERIA
Clockwise from top left: Priced £11m through Savills, this nine-acre Little Marlow estate has a seven-bed Grade II-listed manor and spa complex; the four-bed Red House in Ide Hill, Sevenoaks offers period charm and AONB living for £1.495m via Knight Frank; Tom Kerridge’s Michelin-starred gastropubs are drawing foodie buyers to Marlow; set five miles from buzzy Chichester, this characterful four-bed period home is on sale for £1.2m through Hamptons
Sobering new research by Hamptons reveals that, of the people selling a rural home this year, a disproportionately large contingent bought their properties in 2021. That’s when the Covid race for space was at its height and a septic tank and three-hour commute seemed like a good idea. For those thinking of leaving the capital now, increased office working and a challenging housing market mean picking the right location is more important than ever.
Many current London leavers are looking for a bigger house and the best schools. Plus, crucially, “being less than an hour from the desk that’s going to pay for it all,” says Jemma Scott, partner at the Buying Solution, who adds that many clients are now working three or four days in the office.
“If you’re not careful, the reality can be a beautiful-looking money pit, located too far from London in the wrong village where everyone’s a retiree, the pub closed during the pandemic and it’s a 40-minute drive to an independent coffee shop,” Scott warns.
Here are the proven commuter spots that offer a bucolic life with plenty of buzz.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
The lovely Chiltern Hills, quick links into the capital and educational powerhouses such as Wycombe Abbey have long made Buckinghamshire a des res goldmine, points out Scott. However, with school fees now subject to VAT, the county’s grammars look even more appealing.
From Amersham, trains take half an hour to Marylebone, plus there’s the Metropolitan Line to Baker Street. The town’s excellent eateries include acclaimed tapas bar Pluma and the Michelin-starred Artichoke.
Foodies are even better served in the refined riverside town of Marlow, which has chic fashion and interiors boutiques and where the opening of Crossrail in nearby Maidenhead means a much faster journey into London.
The super commuter hotspots
POST-PANDEMIC BUYERS RETURNING TO THE OFFICE ARE SEEKING HAVENS WITHIN EASY REACH OF LONDON WHICH OFFER RURAL CHARM, GREAT SCHOOLS AND A DASH OF SOPHISTICATION. ALEXANDRA GOSS GOES IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT BALANCE
Marlow boasts three Tom Kerridge outposts, including the Hand and Flowers, the only pub in the UK with two Michelin stars.
EAST SUSSEX
As well as the city’s hip bars and eateries, excellent schools – including Brighton College and plentiful Ofsted-outstanding state options – attract those leaving the capital; 60% of buyers registered with Hamptons in Brighton hold a London postcode. “Brighton offers everything London has but on a
WHO’S LOOKING AFTER YOUR HOME THIS SUMMER?
SMART TECH, CONTRACTOR NDAS AND STAFF SOCIAL MEDIA CHECKS… WHEN IT COMES TO PRIME LONDON HOMES, THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO HIGH-END SECURITY THAN CCTV, CHARLOTTE DUCK DISCOVERS
