The English country house is one of the most enduring and celebrated styles in the interior design lexicon. This scheme is hard to pin down because it doesn’t follow a fixed set of rules. Nonetheless, its powerful influence is blatant at every turn - whether you are conscious of it or not.
The country house interior is full of paradoxes. It feels quintessentially English, yet an American dev...
Aristocratic in conception as well as appearance, the Chesterfield sofa has become one of the most instantly recognisable furniture designs in history. There's a great story surrounding its origins, although as with all legends the evidence is anecdotal at best.
Lord Philip Stanhope, the fourth Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773), supposedly commissioned the first Chesterfield sofa. Lord Stanho...
Gustavian style flourished in Sweden during the 18th Century. Inspired by the neoclassical French style, Sweden became major players in Europe’s age of elegance.
Gustavian enlightenment
When discussing Gustavian design, the individual behind the name matters. King Gustav III reigned from 1772 to 1792 and oversaw and encouraged the flourishing of the arts.
The King was shot at a masquerade ...
The Regency was the pinnacle of British sophistication and a pivotal period in design. It was a time of fascinating architecture and elegant furniture, but the influences in this period were far from straightforward.
The Prince Regent
At the heart of the Regency was the Prince Regent himself. In 1810, George III became seriously ill and was deemed mentally unfit to rule. The Regency Act was p...
Howard & Sons was established in 1820 by John Howard and the family business became an iconic name in Victorian England. Their beautiful pieces are still recognised as leading examples of upholstered furniture today and have inspired many bespoke copies.
Howard & Sons was curated for the top end of the market, satisfying demand that was not being met by other upholstered furniture at...
