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Having been immersed in the intriguing world of luxury rugs and carpets from a young age, it is no surprise to find Peter Page open his first eponymous studio. Peter's experience and forward-thinking have positioned him as the designers' choice for both advice and beautiful bespoke solutions. We caught up with him amongst his personally curated selection of rugs and samples as he was recovering from a very successful opening...
You recently opened your studio in April at London’s Chelsea Wharf, how did that go?
It’s been great. We had a soft opening and it’s had a lovely response. It’s been a wonderful encouragement and the clients we have spoken to have been really excited that we are back. Jo, my colleague I worked with at Tim Page Carpets, has come with me and we make a great team. We have different strengths and particular skillsets, especially within the sourcing and making process. It’s been a very exciting time.
Your inaugural collection has been designed by Turner Pocock. That’s a great collaboration, how did it come about?
By mistake really! I’ve worked with Bunny on numerous projects, she came in and we were talking about her various projects. We started talking about her home and then veered off onto other topics. So we ended up going through some initial ideas, going through samples, and identifying what they like and what we could create. They like a Moroccan-style rug, with an antique look and feel to it.
Was the aim of this collection to fill an antiques style whilst also working with contemporary living?
The key consideration for us all was having the flexibility of size. The difficulty with buying antique rugs is that you don’t know what size you can get. Often, Turner Pocock like to have a rug big enough to put the furniture on top, and often rugs come in sizes that are too small for that. So we absolutely loved the antique designs, whilst ensuring that we could create options that would fit within the designer's schemes.
Interior clients often have varied aesthetic preferences, do you offer bespoke options with different designs and/or colours?
The idea is that this collection keeps it simple. Of course, with everything we do, we are happy to chop and change. One interior designer client we have would like to change the material from jute into wool as they know their client wants something slightly softer and easier to clean. From a retail perspective, keeping it simple to the collection we have created means that clients can purchase their own Turner Pocock and Peter Page piece. It has been hand-woven and hand-crafted so the pieces are still all individually unique.
Your love for the tradition of weaving has been a life-long passion. (Peter’s father, Tim Page, launched Tim Page Carpets in 2003). Tell me a little about the art of rug making and why it has become such a passion of yours?
It happened by osmosis. As a child, I used to iron labels onto samples for my father’s shop in Sloane Square at that time. You pick up an awful lot by people talking around you. He used to have people who hand-painted the rugs in the office so it was an extraordinary place to be. I went to work in New York and ended up working in carpets, and that’s when I realised that I had picked up this knowledge and interest since childhood. I still, to this day, cannot believe how skilled and clever these people are who craft the rugs, they are following design graphs in front of them. It is a skilled craft and I am in awe of it all.
Where do your team of weavers and rug makers herald from?
We weave in India and a couple of other different areas depending on what we’re making. It depends on the project and lead times. I have found that different places can produce different end products. For example, people wash the yarn differently and clip it to create different textures. I find it all really fascinating. So much goes into each rug, trying to replicate certain colours. When yarn is washed and left in the sun to dry, it changes and brings out its lustre. If there is no sun, it is a different quality of project. This is why India is the perfect location! But if it’s a rainy period, then you have different problems! It’s fascinating how such small things can affect a project. You don’t get the same lustre to the yarn if they are dried in indoor drying rooms.
There is such a connection to the natural world, even in rug weaving. Is this what makes your rugs stand apart?
Yes, it is wonderful to see how little changes to anything – from washing to spinning, to drying, can affect a rug. It is interesting to see how all these small changes make each rug unique. Everything is a one-off piece and there is a charm to this.
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Click here to read more L-Shaped interviews or click here to visit Peter's website.
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Traditionalists have lamented the downfall of ‘brown’ furniture in popular taste for decades. But like all great things, antique dark wood is making a comeback – and for good reason.
What exactly is brown furniture?
19th Century burr walnut gueridon.
Even the name is unfair, and frankly lazy. Brown furniture implies plainness and drudgery, when in fact it encompasses a brilliant spectrum of pattern and colour. Usually, brown furniture refers to solid dark woods like walnut, mahogany, rosewood and teak. It can also apply to any wooden furniture that has been stained dark at some point in its life.
‘Brown’ is a weak adjective though. These quality woods often feature a whole rainbow of browns, but also red, yellow, and black hues. A beautifully figured burr walnut table looks totally different to a mellowed oak refectory table, for example. 'Brown’ sells both short.
The wood itself aside, we commonly associate brown furniture with a certain style too. The heavy-duty furniture that adorned your grandmother's home, polished twice daily and kept out of reach of grubby hands, might spring to mind.
But centuries of cabinet-making produced reams of dark wood furniture in different forms. From slender and elegant Edwardian cabinets to bold and expressive Regency tables, brown furniture critics unfairly lump a vast range of styles into one bracket.
Somewhere around the 70s, we started to turn on this furniture. The forward-thinking Mid Century Modern approach quickly made traditional antique furniture look tired and dated. Luckily, trends are always cyclical, and the brown furniture renaissance is finally here.
Why your interiors need dark wood
The main reason why you shouldn’t dismiss brown furniture is its quality. Genuine period furniture from the Victorian, Regency and Georgian eras reflects expert cabinet-making. Manufacturers like Holland & Sons and Gillows of Lancaster set a high standard for craftsmanship in their fields.
Even simple country antique furniture demonstrates impressive skill. The charming bobbin-turning on a side table or chair stiles from the pre-industrial era reflect hours of handiwork at the wooden lathe. Such features are remarkably popular in contemporary furniture right now, so sourcing an original - probably for cheaper - is a no-brainer.
The sturdy construction speaks for itself; antique wooden furniture has served its purpose for over 100 years. If you need extra bedroom storage, an English 18th Century commode, made from solid wood with spacious drawers and working handles, is going to do the job just fine. Dining tables that have endured perhaps thousands of different family dinners in their lifetime aren’t about to let you down now.
But the best word to describe what brown furniture bestows on an interior is gravitas. A tall Georgian chest on chest, with gleaming colour and graining and decorative brass handles, demands respect. It commands attention and authority in a room, seeming to draw all the other elements towards it. This is the power of traditional antique furniture. One or two imposing brown wood pieces will mature any interior, even the shiniest new build property.
Brown furniture myths
This sort of furniture can alienate people, feeling too stern or formal for their tastes. However, just because this furniture was designed for Georgian or Regency townhouses doesn't mean it won't look right anywhere else. Be imaginative with your styling and you can make antiques relevant for a 21st Century setting.
There is plenty of inspiration out there, as we increasingly see brown furniture in a diverse range of interiors. Majestic antiques are finding homes in contemporary flats, apartments and loft conversions. It all comes back to contrast, the greatest interior trick in the book.
We are not defined by one style. An antique mahogany dining table looks fantastic surrounded by abstract contemporary art, for instance. If you are limited on space, a well-chosen piece of antique dark wood furniture, like a walnut bookcase, instantly creates a mature space.
If your style is more modern, incorporate antique wood furniture sparingly and don’t fear juxtaposition. A tall mahogany cabinet in the same room as a glass and chrome coffee table adds depth and interest. Taking risks is essential for creating that friction that makes an interior successful. Equally, the Mid Century take on brown wood was all sleek lined and sculptural. A teak sideboard from this era will bring the same qualities as antique examples, just with a more contemporary feel.
The colour question
Dutch 18th Century commode.
For many, colour is a major consideration when it comes to choosing furniture. Those who aren’t a fan of colour in general tend to gravitate towards whitewashed interiors. Others will match their furniture colours to other interior elements like paint. Lots of us jump to paint a piece of brown furniture to make it fit into a wider scheme.
However, it is important to remember that brown IS a colour – it is not a blank canvas. Natural timber, beautifully aged and patinated, is one of the loveliest colours you can have in an interior. It also works well with a remarkable range of colours, patterns, and textures.
With light paint and minimalist furnishings, a mahogany commode in the living room will ground the scheme and add richness. Equally, brown furniture will look brilliant within a moody scheme paired with rich dark paint. Look at the dominant hues in the wood and use paint and soft furnishings to draw out those colours.
Breathe new life
Dark wood furniture was designed to be well used and well-loved, and this should still be our approach today. Keeping it in check just requires a little TLC, as our in-house restorer Dave explains.
Hopefully, we have convinced you to resist the urge to send that old chest of drawers you inherited to landfill or to paint over it. Instead, embrace its quality and natural aged colour and breathe new life into it.
Browse our antique cabinet furniture on our website, as well as our extensive collection of dining furniture. To find out more about creating sustainable interiors with antiques, read our latest article ‘Sustainable antiques for soulful homes.'
There is no denying that antiques elevate our interiors in more ways than one. They connect us to the past and create unique spaces full of character. The often forgotten but equally important point is just how sustainable antiques are.
The fast furniture crisis
We spend a lot of time showing off our beautiful antiques here at Lorfords and too little time sharing how good for the planet they are. This may seem like an obvious statement, as antiques are in essence sustainable. And yet, in an age of climate consciousness around food, clothes and single-use plastic, the fast furniture crisis is on the backburner.
This doesn’t mean the crisis is not there, nor that it hasn't been exposed. A study commissioned by Antiques are Green found that a new piece of furniture lasts for an average of 15 years. Meanwhile, an antique piece of furniture is resold once every 30 years. This study concludes that the environmental impact of an antique piece is six times less than that of a new piece of furniture. Stark statistics indeed.
What is fuelling this crisis? Throwaway culture has become the norm. In 2019, the North London Waste Authority found that 22 million pieces of furniture are binned in the UK each year, with much of that going straight to landfill. Super low prices and the flatpack revolution have simply made it too easy for us. We’re on a conveyor belt of buying a piece of furniture, getting bored of it or it breaks, throwing it away and then buying another to replace it.
Conscious interior design
It’s not all bad though. A younger generation, the same age group we have labelled the ‘flatpack generation’ in years past, are waking up when it comes to their interiors. This is partly because they want to live an eco-friendly life and understand that fast furniture has a big impact on their carbon footprint.
But it is also because they are seeking soulful interiors – and the same can increasingly be said for all of us. The fast furniture culture resulted from modern living demands, the rent revolution and constantly changing fashions. The result was minimalist, functional… uniform.
The theory that such interiors aid our busy lives started to show cracks in lockdown. The Marie Kondo approach felt stark when our homes acted as a permanent base and refuge. This generation is seeking interiors with personality, character and soul. They want novel furniture and decorative pieces that provide a talking point. Our interiors are a reflection of us, so looking the same as everyone else isn’t cutting it anymore.
Why are antiques sustainable?
Antiques create more sustainable interiors - that's a fact. But why, exactly?
By definition
Antiques are one of the most forgotten forms of recycling, and yet one of the most obvious. To classify as an antique proper, an object must have survived for over 100 years. This is no mean feat and often a credit to the original craftsmanship. We already mentioned the statistic that antiques are resold every 30 years on average. They were crafted to last and be passed down through generations and that trend continues today.
Through materials and craft
Before the industrial revolution, cabinet-makers did everything by hand with a limited range of tools and techniques to hand. There was no MDF, nor any laminated chipboard.
Makers had to be invested in their product; if a piece fell apart after a few weeks, they would be the talk of their community – and not in a good way. There was a personal responsibility for good craftsmanship, a sense of ownership. It can feel like eco-consciousness is a relatively new development, but this is not the case. Back in the 19th Century individuals were striving to counteract the excess and waste of the industrial revolution.
One such pioneer was William Morris. His enduring mantra ‘have nothing in your home you do not believe to be beautiful or know to be useful,’ is more relevant than ever. The Arts & Crafts movement put moral responsibility back into furniture and interior design. Ernest Gimson made his Windsor chairs from ash, beech and elm sourced from local woodland. Given the fact that antique Windsor chairs are still very popular today, it is hard to get more sustainable than that.
It wasn’t just wooden furniture, either. Bamboo and rattan, both rapidly renewing plants, boomed from the Mid Century onwards. Leading designers of the age transformed them into stylish wicker furniture and homeware. Sustainable production certainly didn’t sacrifice style then, and it doesn’t now.
Through timeless appeal
Antiques are not bound by style, however. They are sustainable because they are not subject to the whims of fashion. Modern furniture companies jump on emerging trends and overhaul their collections when they are no longer fashionable. Antique and vintage designs, on the other hand, have a very enduring appeal. Take the iconic Chesterfield sofa, for example. Since its conception in mid 18th Century, the mighty button back has never been considered passé.
Likewise, a 17th Century oak refectory table has survived for over 300 years and lived to tell the tale. Such a piece may have characterful grooves and a deep aged patina, but its solid construction means it will likely go on for hundreds more. Aside from anything else, these are investment pieces. An antique dining table will serve you and probably your children and grandchildren too. It won't ask for much in return other than an occasional polish or reinforcement. A small price to pay, we think.
You need only flick through this month’s interiors magazines to see that we are moving in the right direction. Ethical sourcing and a ‘period meets contemporary' aesthetic are top of the agenda for an increasing number of interior designers. This sway is not only good for the planet, but for the end result. When you hire an interior designer, you don’t want them to present you with something akin to a department store showroom. You want something layered and lived in; this is what antiques provide in spades.
Making antiques work for you
For some, antiques feel too special, too majestic, for their lifestyle. But respecting antiques doesn't mean having no relationship with them. You can still be careful whilst making bold choices. We are seeing something of a ‘recovering revolution,’ whereby contemporary fabrics breathe new life into period pieces. This is a great way to adapt antiques to your taste. You might love the imposing proportions and design of a Victorian armchair, but the faded and dated covering? Not so much.
Part of the reason for the current throwaway culture is our reluctance to put a bit of work in. Less than 1 in 10 people are willing to repair an item to extend its life – a fact I’m sure would horrify our ancestors. Restoration and upcycling are not only satisfying, but they also connect you to your interiors in a personal way. If DIY is not for you, many talented experts are on hand to help. Read some tips for the amateur restorer from our in-house professional Dave.
The truth is there is a vast spectrum of antique and vintage pieces out there. Our collection offers something for every soul, from traditional Georgian furniture to cool vintage memorabilia. Not only are our pieces an antidote for flat interiors, but they are also an ethical choice. The best thing? There is no flatpack assembly involved.
Get inspired with our latest lookbook, 'The conscious interior.'
The season for outdoor entertaining is in full swing... and the weather has come back to encourage us yet further! A show-stopping tablescape sets the tone for an event or celebration... but just a few minutes of table preparation will help the most simple of mid-week suppers feel that bit more special.
Why bother with a tablescape?
Tablescapes can have an intimidating reputation. Flicking through the pages of glossy magazines or Pinterest can make it seem like an impossible task. Highly curated examples, with an array of fine china and accessories to envy royals, shouldn't put you off.
Creating a tablescape should be a simple and enjoyable experience for both host and guest. Setting the table with your favourite things makes an occasion feel special. Here at Lorfords, we argue that there is no hierarchy when it comes to dining. Whether it is a simple midweek family dinner or an extravagant birthday event, an eye-catching tablescape is never a wasted effort.
The key element in an effective tablescape is expressing your own personal style, meaning there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. The only real rule is to bring together things you love – nothing is too precious or too out there. The secret ingredient is, of course, antiques.
Chaotic harmony
Don't try to create a flawless tablescape with perfectly matched pieces - it will almost certainly take the joy out of the process. Instead, bring together a range of styles and contrasting elements. This approach is not only easier, but it creates a more stimulating aesthetic.
See your table as a blank canvas to build upon. Layers are important for creating an eye-catching result, so start with the first, a cloth or covering of some sort, and go from there. Adopt the mindset that mismatching is your friend, not foe. Different colours and materials create friction, which is essential to any successful design. Each guest will feel special if each setting is different and it makes sourcing for your table a whole lot easier! All your beloved pieces have a seat at the table, whether it is a plate you picked up in Sardinia many moons ago or a hand-made bowl from a local market.
Of course, dining does have a practical element and it’s not all lawless creativity. Don't forget any platters, tureens and dishes that might need a space on the table and be aware of space. Your guests will appreciate the quirky features, but they will also appreciate an easy dining experience.
When alfresco dinners turn into long balmy nights of drinks and laughter, you’re going to appreciate some soft lighting. Candlesticks offer a gently flickering light, or perhaps you prefer the steady glow of a lantern. Either way, antique lighting will bring a magical quality to your tablescape.
To unify your scheme, create some sort of centrepiece. This doesn’t have to be an elaborate affair – it might be a simple vase or urn filled with flowers. Centrepieces are great for establishing a seasonal theme. You could fill a trinket bowl with dried flowers, or a large vessel with fruit and vegetables.
Use those antiques!
It’s not just in the lighting that you should look to antiques. Not only do they nail the tablescape aesthetic, but antique pieces will also bring a personal feel to the table.
Don’t be afraid to use that silverplate dinner service you inherited from a loving grandmother, but has since been gathering dust in a locked cupboard. It is in the dinner party setting, with its peals of laughter and loving toasts, that life returns to antique pieces. Equally, use those shabby chic and ‘seen better days’ pieces in your collection. They bring an informal elegance and a sense that they have been well-loved. Some wear and tear will encourage guests to properly enjoy themselves, without worrying that they are going to chip the china.
The tablescape offers an opportunity to embrace those quirky relics. A pair of 'his and hers' antique napkin rings – once gifted to newlyweds centuries ago – provide a great talking point. What about a set of knife rests in the form of dachshunds? These features are sure to make your hosting stand out amongst all the summer garden parties.
Antiques are an essential ingredient in the tablescape tapestry. Blend them with new contemporary wares to add interest and texture to your scheme.
We're all a little weary after the last year and a half of rules, so let setting the table be a liberating experience. Invite loved ones back with a tablescape that stimulates all the senses. Just don't forget about actually feeding them!
Become a tablescape expert...
Inspired by this magical tablescape filled with antiques? Discover all our antiques for the tablescape on our website.
The beautiful tablecloth is from Bertioli by Thyme’s wonderful collection and it provides the perfect backdrop. Getting started with your own tablescape is made easy with their linens, which are designed by Caryn Hibbert and inspired by nature.
Read Caryn's top tips for vibrant table lays.
"I'm looking for drama in my interiors. That means pieces with great shapes, rich textures, and patina, patina, patina!" This week, we chat to none other than The Antiques Diva herself, Toma Clark-Haines.
Q: The antiques industry has rapidly evolved during the pandemic. What key lessons have you taken away?
A: People do business with people. The world may have gone virtual, but buyers want to connect with the people behind the brands and customer interaction is more important than ever. One of the things we teach in our Antique Dealer Training and Mentoring Program is that dealers need to be the face of their brand in order to connect with their buyers. The connection is important. As a result, video content is key- especially when working with the American market. We work with dealers to develop a video content strategy that connects with their target audience.
Early in the pandemic, I made the bold move to share my personal diary during quarantine on republicoftoma.com. In my blog posts, I spoke about day-to-day life in quarantine. I was vulnerable, open, and real. I confessed the struggles I was going through being alone in lockdown in Italy. It seemed a strange "marketing move," but my business doing antique buying tours has been really disrupted, so I needed to find a way to stay relevant. I stayed relevant by being real. I discussed what was going on in my life at the time.
Also, I pivoted The Antiques Diva to incorporate virtual tours, long-distance buying and selling services, brand-coaching, and more. When you can't go outside, you go in. I started painting again and will be launching a fabric collection in June 2021 at High Point Market. One of the most important lessons I've learned has been about supply and demand. Between Brexit and the pandemic, there is a shortage of inventory on the market. Brits are having problems securing inventory from France because the French are having problems securing inventory from house clearings due to Covid restrictions. Auction houses are experiencing higher volumes of traffic and prices are surging.
In these times, dealers need to think smart. They have to be strategic. I often speak about the gentrification of antiques. What's on the market at a lower price point? Antiques dealers are the arbiters of style- what they sell, interior designers buy, and home décor trends emerge.
Q: Your finger is always on the pulse when it comes to interior trends, are you predicting any revivals in the near future?
A: Asian antiques are killing it right now. With Brits facing difficulties sourcing antiques on the continent, and normal trade routes drying up during the pandemic, our British buyers are relying upon Antiques Diva Asia to bring South East Asian Antiques into Europe. We are watching a global movement of inventory in a different fashion to previous years. For three years I've been predicting this will be the trend, and based upon sales my predictions have finally come true. Combine Brexit sourcing difficulties with a pandemic that doesn't allow people to travel and we've all got island fever! Americans have been embracing this wanderlust vibe for the last several years. Buying exotic touches from faraway places allows us to travel in our own homes.
Speaking of homes, we are selling more practical items. Tables, chairs, sofas, side tables, and even armoires. Remember when armoires were all the rage? And then dropped out of fashion with the advent of the flat-screen TV? Well, they are back as people are seeking storage spaces, particularly for their home office. Tables that can be converted into desks have also been big sellers. Art sales have also increased significantly... perhaps we're all tired of looking at the same four walls?
In these times, dealers need to think smart. They have to be strategic. I often speak about the gentrification of antiques. What's on the market at a lower price point? Antiques dealers are the arbiters of style- what they sell, interior designers buy, and home décor trends emerge.
Q: Furnishing an interior, especially from scratch, can be daunting. Where should you start?
A: In the last 20 years, I've moved eight times within four countries. I always start with the lighting in a new home. Lighting is the jewellery of the room and sets the vibe of a space. When it comes to lighting, it's got to be Italian. From lighting, I then look at pieces with fabulous lines. In love- as well as in antiques- opposites attract. I love a low-slung sofa combined with sexy legs on a French bergère, or the long voluptuous lines of a chaise longue. I'm looking for drama in my interiors, and that means pieces with great shapes, rich textures, and patina, patina, patina!
I always start with the lighting in a new home. Lighting is the jewellery of the room and sets the vibe of a space. When it comes to lighting, it's got to be Italian.
Q: The Antiques Diva is more or less global and pre-pandemic you travelled a lot. What made you settle in Venice?
A: Love. No, not a man. Venice itself. I fell in love with Venice. When I was a child I dreamt of Venice. I had a black and white swimming suit I would wear standing in my bathtub with a yellow broom and I would swish the water and pretend I was a gondolier. When I first moved from America to Europe 20+ years ago, I visited Venice and was disappointed. It was crowded and hot and I hated it. Years later I returned for work with The Antiques Diva & Co and made Venetian friends. They let me inside Venice. The real Venice. There are two Venices. The city the tourists know and the city that lays beyond. Venice is like an onion- you have to peel back the layers to get to the core of the city. I liked the adventure of peeling back the layers.
When I divorced, I found myself frequently going to Venice because it made me happy. I would wander the canals and alleys and get so lost. In getting lost I found myself again. I was living in Berlin at the time and realized that because my job was global, so long as I had a laptop and a plane ticket I could live anywhere. Moving to Venice was the best decision of my life.
Q: When did your passion for antiques start?
My parents didn't have much money, but my mom had great style. She would scour the flea markets, thrift stores, and second-hand markets for fabulous finds from the past. One of her most prized possessions was the silver her grandparents- my great-grandparents- brought with them on the boat when they moved from England to America. I joke I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth- literally. We used the "good silver" every day because my mom's dad always said that there is no silver polish like the patina of daily use. My mom was a second-generation American. Meanwhile, my father's family fought in the Revolutionary War.
I moved to Europe 20+ years ago- first to Paris, then Amsterdam, then to Berlin, before moving to Venice three years ago - I brought the family silver with me and continue to use it every day. I've always seen antiques as another way of travelling; they take you on a voyage to other times and other places.
When I was young I would go with mom to garage sales and she would give me four quarters- $1- to spend. I was rich. For four quarters I could buy a Barbie doll, or a fantastic REAL teapot to play tea party with. I realised at a young age that you could get more for your money at garage sales. I never understood why I would buy new when there were such fabulous treasures for a $1. And more to the point- I could sell what I bought at a garage sale for the same price I paid! If I bought a new Barbie it immediately lost value and had the same value as the used one I purchased.
When I moved to Paris in my 20s with my then-husband, it was second nature to shop the brocantes and vide-greniers. I decorated my fifth-floor walk-up apartment with Paris flea market treasures. I was hooked. Bitten by the fleas.
Q: What prompted you to start your podcast, The Business of Antiques?
When people ask me what I do, I say "I'm in the business of antiques." My company, The Antiques Diva & Co, has always had a mission: to make antiques fun, sexy, modern, relevant, accessible, and PROFITABLE. Most of our clients in America are trade clients and buying for re-sell. If my clients sell well, they buy well, so I began giving clients tips on how to increase their sales. I realised quickly that most people who go into antiques go into the profession because they love antiques- NOT because they understand how to run a successful business.
I launched my Antique Dealer Training and Mentoring Program as well as our Antiques Diva marketing services. We help dealers to build websites, create marketing templates, and offer social media services. We introduce dealers to potential buyers to help them be more successful in their business. The podcast was developed to continue to support our audience and help them to make antiques more profitable.
Q: How do you unwind when you're not running your Antiques Diva Empire?
Pre-Covid I would have said hopping on a plane and going someplace warm and sunny, with a good book and a great spa. Post-Covid, it's simpler times. I live in Venice, so I take long walks in the fog in the early morning. I am learning Italian and take classes four days a week. My mouth is learning the acrobatics required to pronounce those Rs! I love to cook and always set a gorgeous table (even when dining for one). I read and write a lot!
I've been fortunate because even though gyms are closed throughout Italy due to Covid, my gym allows you to book private sessions so you have the entire gym to yourself and your trainer. I have weekly calls with my dear friend Gail McLeod- our head Antiques Diva agent in the UK and founder of Antique News and Fairs. Somehow, when you talk to a friend you feel like anything is possible. Friends and cats! Those are great solutions for unwinding. I have two cats named Fortuny and FIorella, and they are the naughtiest kittens in Venice- but also the most fun. I've trained them to walk on leashes so they go with me on my strolls. One of the nicest things about Venice at this time is that I have the city to myself. It's a magical experience to be alone in Venice.
Q: What's your favourite location for an Antiques Diva buying tour?
Ooo la la. That's got to be the most difficult question I am asked. I LOVE all my tour countries. It's got to be France. Paris prices are at rock bottom at the moment. Provence is always king... or shall I say, Le Roi! Britain also delights because of the wide variety of inventory. Many British dealers have become dear friends and understand the American market so well- even better than the Americans. I love Chaing Mai Thailand for sourcing antiques and Bali is also beyond wonderful. Mamma Mia... did I forget Sweden? How can you ask me to choose? This is like asking a mother to choose her favorite child.
Q: Do you ever get creative or writer's block?
This past year I took a break from blogging on antiquesdiva.com for exactly that reason. During the pandemic, I lost my vision and needed time to think about where we were going next as a company. I took the decision to take a step back from blogging for antiques and focus on blogging on my website for our parent company republicoftoma.com. Only now, one year into the pandemic, do I feel like I'm getting my groove back! In general, my solution for writer's block is to do something else entirely to "forget" about what I'm trying to do. Once I stop forcing it, the words come naturally.
My favourite thing is my desk. It's a desk for a Diva- a French 18th Century marquetry bureau plat, with the most gorgeous ormolu mounts with the faces of women on all four corners. It's feminine yet powerful and reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Yasmin Mogahed. “Being both soft and strong is a combination very few have mastered.” It also reminds me of how I want to run my business and what type of CEO I want to be.
Q: What's your most treasured antique?
I mentioned my great-grandparents' silver earlier. My house is positively filled with antiques. But my favourite piece is my desk. It's a desk for a Diva- a French 18th Century marquetry bureau plat with the most gorgeous ormolu mounts, with the faces of women on all four corners. It's feminine yet powerful and reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Yasmin Mogahed. “Being both soft and strong is a combination very few have mastered.” It also reminds me of how I want to run my business and what type of CEO I want to be.
Q: What would our readers be surprised to learn about you?
I only pretend to be a Diva. Really I am a farm girl. Growing up, I lived on a ranch 30 miles from the nearest town. I learned to drive a pickup truck when I was 12 and a tractor when I was 14. I love adventure and I love horses, but I don't ride dressage- I ride Western. Although I once played polo in Buenos Aires, and it gave me a new respect for the thighs of English-style riders! I've played polo in Buenos Aires and jumped out of aeroplanes. I've gone elephant trekking in Myanmar and learned to steer my own elephant. Contrary to what you might expect, guiding an elephant is NOTHING like guiding a horse!!!
Q: What's your go-to comfort food dish?
Mamma Mia. I may live in Italy, and I may have attended cookery school in Paris in my 20's, but when it comes to comfort food I am a true American. I am a rancher's daughter. Give me a really rare steak and fries any day and you've got a very happy girl!
Q: What has been your best lockdown purchase?
A: Okay this question makes me realise I've been seriously remiss. I don't think I've made any indulgences (other than too much wine) in more than a year. Come to think of it, my wine cellar may be the benefactor of my best lockdown purchases. I decided mid-Covid life is too short to drink bad wine. After our first lockdown ended in the summer, I went to my favourite wine shop in Venice- Cantine del Vino già Schiavi- and informed them I needed to learn about wine. Rather than me choosing the wines, I asked them to prepare some palette teasers for me. The next day they delivered 36 bottles, each with a special nuance I need to taste. I'm working my way through their recommendations in a self-study wine course.
Q: What makes your house your home?
A: I fill my house with objects from my travels. The word 'souvenir' in French means 'travel memories.' And that's what you will find in my home. Memories. Memories of places visited, people whose lives have intersected with mine. The architecture of life. My house becomes a home when it's filled with living things- my cats, plants, friends, family, and laughter. My home is about long dinners and late nights. Lazy mornings in bed. The smell of coffee in the morning.
"The showhome vibe doesn't deliver in lockdown. Homes need to be comfortable and real so you can properly enjoy them." We chat to the powerful duo behind Turner Pocock, the renowned London-based interior design company.
Q: Where do you start when you take on a new project?
A: We really drill down into the brief in order to understand our client's lifestyle and requirements. We passionately believe that a house can only ever be great if it services the needs of its owners. We also spend time considering the architecture and setting to make sure our designs respond appropriately to both. Only once we understand the practical requirements and the architectural context do we move onto the more creative side of our job which is scheming and planning furniture layouts etc.
Q: You recently collaborated with our sister company, Lorfords Contemporary, on a new range. What does bespoke upholstered furniture bring to an interior?
A: Our early projects focussed on London houses, which is when we started to appreciate the benefits of bespoke furniture. London houses are generally tight on space and playing with scale is crucial to getting the best out of a room. Being able to enlarge or reduce upholstered pieces enables you to scale up/ down as required to furnish a space appropriately. Having cut our teeth on smaller spaces, we now have the confidence to play with proportion in large volumes. This results in comfortable and intimate environments- even when the floor plate is vast. We really enjoy the journey of creating bespoke pieces that will stand the test of time. We have an extensive library of design monographs in the studio and we use these as a source of inspiration for one-off pieces. Creating something unique for our projects that isn't available on the retail market is really satisfying.
Q: You are a powerful duo, where do your personal tastes differ? Is one of you more of a maximalist than the other?
A: I think we both have very conflicted tastes. We love everything from neutral, natural Vincent Van Duysen style interiors right through to Anna Spiro and have to make decisions when it comes to our own homes on what route to take. I think Emma probably finds it harder to live without colour than I (Bunny) do.
In fact, our aim with any project is to create timeless interiors. They should feel like spaces which have been legitimately curated over the course of a lifetime.
Q: Turner Pocock's interior projects blend contemporary and traditional themes. Do you think the idea of distinct 'town' and 'country' styles is blurring?
A: More recently I think we have seen a general trend towards traditional country aesthetics in the city. We are always very keen to avoid trends and haven’t changed our approach. We would rather consider the context of a project and sense check materials to make sure they are suitable for the project and setting. In fact, our aim with any project is to create timeless interiors. They should feel like spaces that have been legitimately curated over the course of a lifetime. The last thing we want is for a client to be left with a house that has obviously been ‘Turner Pococked’! Any interior should reflect the lifestyle and personalities of its owners, so there is a huge variety in our output. We actively encourage our clients to be eclectic and combine furniture and art from different periods.
Q: What has been your favourite lockdown purchase?
A: Bunny- We moved to the country in lockdown one and have ended up deciding to stay put, so I have invested in an amazing emperor four-poster bed! I've always dreamt of having a bed that’s big enough for all the family (and dogs) to pile in, and this delivers in spades! But I have to say I'm torn on this because, along with the rest of the country, we’ve succumbed to another puppy. Linford- a beautiful brindle whippet pup- is about to join the family, and he should really go down as the best purchase!
Emma- We bought a couple of early edition David Shrigley prints which turned out to be a really enjoyable investment. I have also moved and bought a house in Switzerland so I have been doing that up over the last nine months which has been a welcome distraction from lockdown.
Q: We've spent more time at home than ever before lately... what has this taught you about interiors?
A: I think creating real spaces that really deliver practically has paid off. The showhome vibe doesn't deliver in lockdown. Homes need to be comfortable and real so you can properly enjoy them.
Q: How do you get started sourcing pieces for a client's home? Do you have a list of tried and tested destinations?
A: Initially, we collect a selection of concept pictures that guide the aesthetic route we take on the project. We then produce furniture layouts and at that point turn our minds to specific pieces. This is all whilst trying to balance scale/period/style/texture across a room so that there is enough interest. We are lucky enough to have an amazing little black book of suppliers who all bring something unique to the table.
Q: Interiors is an all-consuming industry. How do you switch off from work?
A: Emma- Haha, we don't! Children are probably the best distraction- we can't work all weekend anymore which is a good thing!
A: Bunny- I love a long walk to clear my head and switch off. Preferably with a friend to natter with!
We are lucky enough to have an amazing little black book of suppliers who all bring something unique to the table.
Q: What one piece of advice would you give someone looking to set up a home office?
A: Spend money on joinery. A well-thought-through storage solution is indispensable to a tidy and organised home office.
Q: Lots of people are wishing they could get away at the moment. How can they bring a sense of overseas into their home?
A: Framed/ hanging textiles are something we often use to fill walls in projects. These come from all over the world and include anything from African mud cloths to Chinese marriage skirts. This helps to bring an eclectic feel to a house, as well as a sense of layering and other cultures.
Read about the Lorfords Contemporary X Turner Pocock collaboration here.
The Arts & Crafts movement touched every corner of the design world. From furniture to textiles to jewellery, designers adopted a holistic approach to manufacture. At the very heart of every surviving piece is the craftsman himself.
Another cog in the machine
Vintage engraving from 1860 of a jacquard weaving machine.
By the end of the 19th Century, the industrial revolution had utterly transformed Western society. Industries boomed as new technologies emerged, and handicrafts dwindled. Vast factories emerged to accommodate these changes, and productivity and efficiency were the new watchwords.
The industrial revolution brought many elements of our lives today into fruition. In lots of ways, this was a momentous step forwards. Society underwent a dramatic change and standards of living improved for many. However, it was not so for those on the frontline of machine-led production.
The underbelly of factory work was tedious, gruesome, and dangerous. Unskilled labour was in high demand because the process required scores of workers to perform repetitive tasks. Certainly, the skilled craftsman conceiving, designing, and producing a piece became mere nostalgia.
The counter-revolution
Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.
For some thinkers, critics, and designers, these developments were unsettling. John Ruskin was a vocal art critic in the second half of the 19th Century. He claimed a link between poor design standards and poor social health in England. Ruskin suggested a return to handicraft: 'fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.' This idea that art serves a moral purpose would later become a fundamental principle of the Arts & Crafts movement.
Let's go back to 1851, the year of the highly anticipated Crystal Palace exhibition in London. This exhibition celebrated the finest corners of Victorian design and pieces from as far away as India. It was a majestic display of talent and wondrous furniture, but it also exposed the excesses of industrialisation. A nauseating range of revival styles was on display, and much of it was heavy-duty furniture that was rich with ornament. It was no coincidence, then, that the following years of the 1850s sowed the seeds for a different sort of revolution.
The pre-Raphaelite brotherhood
Excitement about machine-led production side-lined the decorative arts, and discontent mounted. The antidote to this artificial excess was a return to medievalism. The gothic was a popular Victorian revival style, and reformers hailed 16th Century methods. In his 1851 text, The Stones of Venice, John Ruskin praises gothic architecture and saw its roughness as evidence of the craftsman’s personality and freedom.
Pugin was another gothic advocate, and he believed in the importance of a piece's construction. He was in favour of exposing joints and other methods in the manner of a Medieval carpenter. This school of thought found its voice in the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, formed in 1848.
Among the group's members were Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Morris, and Ford Madox Brown. The Pre-Raphaelites opposed the High Renaissance, which they saw as frivolous and insincere. Instead, they sought moral seriousness and integrity, and this group was in many ways a precursor to the Arts & Crafts movement.
Madox Brown was one of the first to transfer the group’s shared ideals about design into furniture. He shared Pugin’s vision of flat surfaces and linear profiles that had more in common with Medieval carpentry than refined 18th Century cabinet-making.
Arts & Crafts established
Arts & Crafts societies sprung up to centralise this growing group of individuals. The biggest of these, the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society, was formed in 1888. This society held regular shows up to and beyond its 50th anniversary in 1938. They gave the decorative arts a stage and spread the beauty of Arts & Crafts. In 1960, the society merged with the Cambridgeshire Guild of Craftsmen to form the Society of Designer Craftsmen which is still active today.
There was a strong sense of community amongst these different organisations. 'The best tastes are to be found in those manufacturers and fabrics wherein handicraft is entirely or partially the means of producing the ornament.' These words of Richard Redgrave, a prominent reformer at the London School of Design, describe their shared sentiment. Significantly, many of the early members of this movement were architects. This meant that they held a shared interest in the gesamtkunstwerk- the 'total work of art.' For example, Charles Voysey was foremost an architect and then a major contributor to Arts & Crafts furniture and textiles.
Exhibitions put Arts & Crafts on display for all to see and escalated the movement. Journals such as The Studio helped to spread the word internationally. America's own movement was well underway, but with a slightly different approach. Unlike UK reformers, US practitioners were indifferent to the machine. They saw it merely as another tool at the craftsman’s disposal and necessary for commercial success. Under Gustav Stickley the American 'mission style' emerged. The mission style used sturdy oak and promoted democratic values, but Stickley was more than happy to use machinery to produce the furniture.
William Morris
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
Although he was already a prolific designer, William Morris only became fully involved with Arts & Crafts later on. Nonetheless, his influence was monumental and he played a central role at the beginning of the Arts & Crafts heyday in the 1880s. His focus was on a return to small-scale workshops, whereby the craftsmen involved could oversee the design process from beginning to end. The Medieval Guilds inspired Morris and offered a model for the personalised craftsmanship that he craved.
As an upper-class man himself, the impact of the factory system on the working classes shocked Morris. He drew on Ruskin’s teachings and shared his nostalgia for a pre-industrial world. Morris loved nature, and flora and fauna are front and centre of the 50+ wallpaper designs he produced over his career. The designer realised that to live in his perfect home, he would have to design every aspect of it himself. His famous Red House embodies his trademark quote: ‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.’
Arts & Crafts design principles
Designers wanted to create furniture that was useful to ordinary people and free from fussy decoration. Nonetheless, this movement was about reviving the decorative arts and aesthetics were still important. But crucially, designers did away with the ‘artificial’ ornamentation that had been front and centre of the Great Exhibition.
The Arts & Crafts umbrella was wide-ranging, but the majority of designs are united by a few simple features. Tables, chairs, and cupboards would have rectilinear shape and rely on simple vertical forms. The construction was a return to basics and most joints exhibit mortise-and-tenon or dovetail joinery. Arts & Crafts practitioners were unconcerned with hiding hinges or other aspects of a piece's mechanism. The movement proved that practical and aesthetic elements could happily coexist in design.
19th Century engraving showing the interior of the Crystal Palace in London, UK, which housed the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Substance over style
Craftsmen preferred darker woods, such as stained oak. They would use the wood itself as an aesthetic factor, with the grain, flecks, and rays often on display. It was not always solid wood, and some craftsmen took a more decorative approach than others. Some pieces might exhibit veneers and intricate carvings, but these elements never sacrifice the piece's utilitarian value.
The ‘through tenon’ provided another decorative touch, whereby the tenon extends through the mortised piece and projects out of the other side. Craftsmanship itself is visible in the end product of an Arts & Crafts piece, in a way that had formerly been lost to the machine. ‘Truth to materials’ was the mantra, and the results had a sense of integrity.
Upholstery would involve leather or simple cloth, in order to keep the overall look as plain as possible. Hand-sanding and pigment-staining gave pieces of furniture the best possible finish. Hand-rubbing exposed the different layers in the wood and began a piece's journey to having a wonderful patina.
The Arts & Crafts legacy
In the cities, Arts & Crafts gathered momentum through exhibitions and print promotions. Soon, the philosophy turned into commercial success. Designers forged good working relationships with manufacturers who could sell their wares. William Morris set up Morris & Co in 1875. The major Oxford Street store stocked other designers too, and they also sold through Liberty and Heals. Suddenly, the Arts & Crafts movement was reaching a much wider audience and it moved into the mainstream. It was the dominant design force in Britain up until the 1910s, and its influence spread across Europe, America, and Japan.
At the turn of the 20th Century, Arts & Crafts migrated out of the city and into the countryside. Lots of the designers celebrated simple rural ideals and the rolling hills naturally held great allure. Workshops sprung up across Britain, and many designers settled in the Cotswolds. These workshops became their own schools of sorts and each had its own take on design.
Sturdy structure, compelling patina, and timeless aesthetic appeal. These are just some of the qualities offered by Arts & Crafts designers. From cupboards to metalwork, every piece has the social history of this movement behind it. We are privileged to have the Arts & Crafts legacy around us in the Cotswolds. Our dealers are always sourcing Arts & Crafts gems so that we have wonderful pieces in stock. Our collection includes big names and makers, from iconic Heal's pieces to Gordon Russell's fantastic works. Visit our lookbook, 'Truth to Materials,' to explore a sample.
He was the creator of era-defining textiles, a writer whose ground breaking ideas forever changed how we think about our homes and, according to a recent study, a peddler of poisonous wallpaper. “Antiques Roadshow” expert Chris Yeo asks “Will the real William Morris please stand up?”
When William Morris (1834-1896) died at the age of sixty-two, his physician declared that the cause was "simply being William Morris, and having done more work than most ten men." We know him best for his easy-on-the-eye textiles with their scrolling leaves and biscuit cutter birds. The designer of patterns such as Willow Bough and Strawberry Thief, his is the face that launched a thousand National Trust tea towels. We probably think that that’s all there is to know about Morris: move along, nothing more to see here, but we’d be wrong. This multi-faceted man was at one time or another (and sometimes simultaneously) a designer and manufacturer of furniture, wallpaper and fabrics, stained glass, and tapestries; an accomplished weaver; successful businessman; a pioneering preservationist; an active Socialist and social reformer; a successful poet and novelist; and in his last years, the founder of the Kelmscott Press. We see him in photographs with tousled hair and wild, unkempt beard; part Byron, part Marx. His passionate belief that everyone should surround themselves with beauty revolutionised the way we think about our homes and his influence went well beyond these shores. If these days he’s known as a pattern designer in his own lifetime he was actually better known for his writing. Morris was a revolutionary force in Victorian Britain – the original Angry Young Man whose rages against the shortcomings and injustices of the world changed the fashions and ideologies of the era but is life was filled with paradoxes. He was obsessed with the medieval, but he also had a socialist vision of the future. He’s considered by many to be the spiritual Godfather of modern Socialism and a champion of worker rights yet he died a multi-millionaire and was a part owner of the world’s largest arsenic mine. Will the real William Morris please stand up?
Morris was born in Walthamstow, east London in 1834. The financial success of his broker father led to the family moving in 1840 to Woodford hall, a large house in rural Essex, as well as providing young William with an inheritance large enough to mean he would never have to concern himself with the tedious business of earning an income. Morris enjoyed an idyllic childhood growing up in the countryside, exploring local parkland and churches and immersing himself in the novels of Walter Scott, helping him develop an affinity with the natural world and historical romance. William was a privileged boy, but had a mind of his own. He a was forced to leave Marlborough College in 1851 following a “rebellion” but still made it to Exeter College, Oxford in 1853. He first planned to become a clergyman but, following a trip to northern France and inspired by the gothic architecture he saw, opted for architecture. Morris was a rebel by nature and one, very much, with a cause: ugliness. We all know his famous dictum Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. For Morris this was nothing short of a battle cry against poor taste. What started him on his crusade was what he saw as the sheer tackiness of the Great Exhibition in 1851. This colossal event, staged in the specially built Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, had been intended to display the best of British manufacturing, a dazzling showcase for the Workshop of the World. For Morris it was neo-Renaissance, neo-everything nightmare of poor design and shabby art. Tales of the teenage Morris’s visit to the Crystal Palace are legion and range from the strange to the ridiculous – my favourite being that Morris was so appalled by the poor taste on show that he staggered from the building and was sick in the bushes.
For Morris shoddiness was a punishable offence; ‘Shoddy is King’ he railed, ‘From the statesman to the shoemaker, everything is shoddy’. From that point on he dedicated his life to creating useful and beautiful objects for the modern home.
While working in Oxford Morris had a chance meeting with a local stableman's daughter, Jane Burden. Consciously flouting the rules of class, Morris married Jane in 1859. Morris and Jane moved into Red House, their home in rural Kent, the following year. Morris wanted his home to be a ‘small palace of art’ Unhappy with what was on offer commercially, spent the next two years furnishing and decorating the interior with help from members of their artistic circle. And what friends: Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabrielle Rosetti, Ford Maddox Brown. As George Martin was to the Beatles, so Morris was to the Pre-Raphaelites; the unofficial eighth member. It was at Red House that Morris began to find his forte - he was, in truth, an abysmal architect and a lousy painter, but he had an affinity with interiors. At heart, he was a pattern-maker, taking his inspiration from the English countryside to create the patterns that made him famous. Having decided to branch into textiles, he apprenticed himself to a dyer's workshop in order to "learn the practice of dying at every pore" even going as far as grinding his own pigments. Over the course of two decades Morris produced over 600 chintzes, woven textiles and hand-blocked wallpapers. They were distinctive for their soft, flat colours, their stylised natural forms, their symmetry and their sense of order. His patterns were revolutionary at the time, and quite at odds with prevailing mainstream fashion.
Having gained a taste for interiors, and the experience of 'joy in collective labour', Morris and his friends decided in 1861 to set up their own mega-design partnership: Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co, later re-named Morris and Company, but nicknamed ‘The Firm’ by William. It was virtually a Pre-Raphaelite co-operative with £1 share contributions from Burne-Jones, Rosetti and Brown. From its London headquarters the Firm issued a selection of carefully crafted household items, painted furniture, metalwork, pottery, carpets and cushions. All were guaranteed to have been created by an expert hand using artisanal – the word still meant something – methods.
Morris was a radical thinker of his day; a prolific poet, author, publisher, campaigner and socialist reformer; “Apart from the desire to produce beautiful things, the leading passion of my life has been and is hatred of modern civilization”, he said. By the 1860s skilled workmanship was being replaced by machines. He was a dedicated socialist, and wrote passionately about the growing gap between rich and poor, which had been intensely accelerated by industrialisation. Morris saw salvation in a return to a medieval craft-based society, one where happy, contended workers would produce objects with integrity. If this is sounding at all familiar we need only look to the nearest artisan hipster baker or be-whiskered craft brewer. Although Morris preached passionately for the return of the medieval craft ethic, his objection was – contrary to what you’re likely to read elsewhere - not so much to machine production as to poor workmanship. He loathed mass-production but understood its place in society. In fact his first registered design was a trellis of African marigolds for machine-made linoleum. William Morris lino, who would have guessed?
The most ironic aspect of Morris’s aims was that, although he aimed to make good design available to all (‘I do not want art for the few, any more than freedom for the few…’), ultimately his own furnishings — made painstakingly by hand using the best natural materials — were typically too expensive for anyone but the wealthy industrialists Morris hated.
Morris was a founding father of the Socialist movement and a champion of workers’ rights. He campaigned against many things, banning arsenic in wallpaper was not one of them. Arsenic was a major component in wallpaper manufacture and by the 1870s, when Morris was at the height of his fame, its ill effects were becoming well-known. Morris inherited his fortune from an arsenic mine in which he still held stock for a number of years. By the 1870s, the Morris family’s Devon mine was reportedly producing over half the world’s supply of arsenic. And while he did ultimately divest his interests in the company, questions on Morris’s apparent hypocrisy—and why he never actually visited these notoriously bad workplaces—casts something of a shadow over his right-on credentials.
Happily, this is the Lorfords blog, so we can leave the politics at the door. In design terms William Morris was a true visionary whose influence was felt well-beyond his own lifetime. With his hands-on philosophy he pioneered the idea of the artist-craftsman and his designs helped to lay the foundations for the modern movement. Today, we find ourselves returning to many of Morris’s preoccupations with craft skills and the environment, with local sourcing and vernacular traditions. But perhaps his greatest legacy was his avowed belief that, rich or poor, male or female, aesthetic beauty should be a central feature of everybody’s life and home.