Decorating & Design
15+ Spaces That Prove English Decorating Never Dates
Updated on January 19, 2024
English-inspired spaces continue to pop up in the pages of House & Home, offering a look that both endures and is of the moment. From classic farmhouse kitchens to layered living spaces packed with color, pattern and antiques, these eclectic rooms prove why English decorating never goes out of style. Scroll down for a look at some of our favorite British-inspired spaces from the H&H archives.
The minimalist, white-painted brick exterior of this Toronto semi draws inspiration from classic London mews–style houses. Having lived in London, architect Vanessa Fong has a soft spot for British residential architecture. “Mews houses, like semis, tend to be similar to the neighboring houses but also have distinct features that make them unique.”
The foyer in this Tudor-style home has all the classic elements of an English entryway: crown moulding, chair rails and panelling, antique pieces and black and white checkered floors.
These homeowners wanted an eclectic, vintage-inspired home with modern and English-style elements.”We love brass and black,” says Sarah. “Our wedding theme six years ago was Gatsby. We’ve always liked that color palette.”
Designer Natalie Tredgett’s living room is an informal pasticcio of modern English style. “I try to put a bit of chintz in each project I do,” says Natalie. “It’s even better next to a contemporary piece.”
The standout moment in designer Olivie Botrie’s semidetached home is the English-style kitchen — a tea-sipping, pie-making charmer, where Shaker-style doors and historical green cabinets were inspired by Britain’s deVOL Kitchens. “I fixated on that khaki green early on,” says Olivia, referring to Farrow & Ball’s Treron hue. “I love the look of it with the medium brown floors and the brass.” Her overall design goal was to create a kitchen that felt lived in and warm. “Like it had been here forever,” she says.
This homeowner wanted an English-style country home that felt collected over time, and design firm Les Ensembliers was fully on board. “We just played with colors and textures — nothing matchy-matchy — and found fabrics we loved.” The result is an effortless mix of treasured pieces and modern classics, pulled together with thoughtfully chosen art and wallpaper. It’s farmhouse style, but fresher and more modern,” says Richard Ouellette.
Designer Ashley Montgomery brought English country style elements to her client’s bungalow in Barrie, Ont. In this charming bathroom, raw brass fixtures, quaint floral wallpaper and traditional sconces bring the look home.
“My clients love doing laundry now,” says Ashley. In the laundry room, classic elements like checkerboard-style tile, a peg rail and a brass faucet reinforce the retro vibe. Botanical prints are an artful addition.
This 1871 Connecticut farmhouse pulls out all the British-inspired decorating moves, from the patterned wallpaper and floral pillows to the roll-arm seating and gilt-framed art.
“I like taking risks and doing the unexpected,” says London designer Beata Heuman. In her whimsical 1870 townhouse in London’s Hammersmith neighborhood, Beata folds in bespoke elements like a playful wraparound mural. A pair of canopy beds are another nod to classic English decorating.
Her book-lined living room is layered with bright art, sculpture and bar that flies under the radar on the bookshelf. “My style is imaginative, considered and fresh,” says Beata.
The owners of this Tudor Revival home in Victoria asked Bidgood design studio to take their kitchen from contemporary to traditional, so they took their cues from the quaint countryside neighborhood. Marble checkerboard floors, beadboard walls, brass hardware and dark green cabinets in Cushing Green by Benjamin Moore establish the English farmhouse character.
You can never go wrong with an eclectic gallery wall. British designer Ben Pentreath anchors the classic art and marble mantel in this Georgian flat with unexpectedly eclectic pale pink walls.
“When you think of an English farmhouse, you think of practicality and finishes that will develop character over time,” says designer Shannon Vosters. To get that look in this kitchen, Shannon chose a lot of natural materials, like the brick floors in the mudroom, the butcherblock on the island, and vintage pieces like the stools.
In this Dartmouth Park, London home, design and architecture firm Finkernagel Ross embraced the foyer’s classic Victorian design by preserving the original oak staircase, restoring the ceiling cornice and adding traditional chair rails along the walls.
English-style gardens never go out of style. This home taps into the look by lining its façade with climbing ivy. A charming bistro set and scattered pots and baskets give the quiet corner a timeless feel and quiet beauty.