You want to mix antique brown furniture with an eye-poppingly pink contemporary velvet sofa? Go right ahead - and add some fluffy cushions for good measure. Here at Michael Graham we’ve shortlisted our top ten classic elements that make an English country house a home:
- Big sofas. At least one must be enormous, draped in a hand stitched quilt and piled with cushions. Somewhere soft and comfy to relax with the Sunday papers.
- Antiques. They were only on loan but somehow stay, despite the fact that they don’t really go with anything else in the room.
- Pot plants. Jugs of flowers cut from the garden are always lovely, but true English country homes display their greenery in an eclectic mix of chinoiserie vases and terracotta planters.
- Bookcases, cosy armchairs and reading lamps. Classically British.
- Florals everywhere. Whether on soft furnishings or wallpaper, trailing blooms add a feeling of softness to English country homes. Think 1980s Laura Ashley.
- An unassuming kitchen. Reclaimed-mahogany countertops, a ceramic double Butler sink and pottery displayed on shelves or crammed on a dresser. Rustic, never minimalist.
- Farmhouse tables. Family breakfasts, kitchen suppers, school art projects. The kitchen table embraces wear and tear and charts family life better than any smart phone.
- A boot-room. Essential for all those muddy wellies and riding boots. Storage baskets for hats and gloves and hooks for dog leads complete the look.
- Exposed wood. Original oak doors and beams on the ceilings and walls add character, charm and a sense of history.
- Last but not least, an Aga in the kitchen. You can’t get more English than that.
Are you in love with English country style? Get in touch and let us know via our social channels, and for a selection of Michael Graham properties to buy or to rent, see below
