English Country House Style: Traditions, Secrets, and Unwritten Rules

by Milo Campbell, Katy Campbell, Mark Nicholson (illustrator)

An interior design guide to creating English country house style wherever you may dwell, from property expert Katy Campbell and acclaimed photographer Mark Nicholson The authors of At Home in the Cotswolds return with a new book full of English charm and style savvy. English Country House Style explores the signature rooms and furnishings that are synonymous with this comfortable, sumptuously lived-in look. There are certain motifs unique to English country houses. These may be specific rooms, architectural details, decorative flourishes, or arrangements of furniture, but all are unmistakably synonymous with that peculiar and lovely ideal that is the English home in the countryside. These features are not solely the preserve of large country houses. Many can be found in country cottages as well as stately homes, and most can be recreated by modern homeowners in their own dwellings in urban, suburban, and rural environments. This book explores the iconography of the English country house and lifts the curtain on its interior design secrets, with more than a dozen chapters on various country house motifs, each illustrated with photographs taken in private country homes throughout England. From the boot room to the butler’s pantry, from the library drinks table to the kitchen AGA, each chapter unpacks all the little design details for readers who are eager to make the look their own—or simply wish to enjoy a peek at English country life.

Genres: Interior Design, Nonfiction, Reference

240 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Teres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Besides its beautiful photos, each chapter provides insight into the quintessential English country home motifs — the boot room, the kitchen AGA, the drinks table, etc. — which I quite enjoyed. There was even a chapter dedicated to the dogs!

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I watch many hours of British programming, mostly about architecture, design and gardening. I learned more about British design from this book than anything I had watched before.

American Nancy Lancaster was the first to show the English how they should decorate their homes. The way she decorated her English homes in the early 20th century, was influential to the British, and later she commercialized it.

Lady Sibyl Colefax stated, "The greatest mistake in the world is to believe that so-called good taste is any use without a sense of comfort." It is easy to see when looking through these pages how the English use their antiques, but make sure to ensure comfort with pillows, blankets, rugs, etc. Cozy is a way of life.

Speaking of antiques, nostalgia and sense of history are foundations when decorating. Having a table, a painting, well worn rugs, chairs or just anything antique gives the visitor a connection to the spirits of the past. "The worst sin one could commit in decorating a room is to make it look newly decorated."

Lastly, the British have a sense of humor. A cheeky saying embroidered on a pillow, gives a laugh and a wink letting us know we are going to have a good time while visiting this home.

The way this book was organized was great, in that it wasn't just page after page of rooms in homes. Rather it was sectioned into different design topics from fireplaces to cocktail tables. One of my favorite designers was Jessica Fleming and her husband Christian. How they mixed the old with the new, felt fresh and historic at the same time. A place one could actually live in with ease.

Dogs are celebrated in this book. My favorite photo was of Dilys the lurcher laying on the sofa in the hallway of Waverton House in Gloucestershire. I suspect it was one of the authors' favorites too, as it is one of the first pictures the reader sees in the opening of the book.

[She Who Shall Remain Nameless · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Books do furnish a room “
First of all, can we just all agree that this cover is perfection? A full bookcase, a needlepoint chair, and a gorgeous dog. It doesn’t get any better in my opinion. I also loved just how many of the photographs featured dogs, and there is an entire chapter dedicated just to them as well. As an American, I am extremely jealous of the English boot room. We may have conventional mud rooms, but nothing compares to the beauty and practicality of a boot room. The downstairs loo was a complete surprise to me. These were so whimsical and full of personality. I had to order a copy of John Julius Norwich’s Christmas Crackers after reading this book just to know what I was missing. Another thing that I am jealous of is the English club fender. Just so cool. Of course, my favorite rooms will always be the libraries. My husband jokes that I have turned our entire house into a library and I just sigh happily. Overall, this was a phenomenal book with lovely photography and fascinating text that I am proud to add to my design and architecture hoard…I mean library.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork.

Loved the showcased dogs!

Divine bathrooms.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous and fun! The writing was great, and the photos were fantastic.

[Paul Caruso · Rating 2 out of 5]

light

It’s fine, but very easily skimmed through, and no detail at all. Plenty of elements aren’t even discussed. Not worth a purchase.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowed from the library. A real joy to peruse and imagine yourself in the pages - especially cuddling up with the cutest dogs. Sad to return.