Decorating & Design
January 6, 2021
Trendwatch: 20 Ways To Bring The English Eclectic Look Home
It’s one of our 2021 Trends, but for those who love a layered look full of collections, color, pattern and heirlooms, this quintessential style never really fades from popularity. We’ve pulled some U.K. homes from our archives by designers who are masters of the well-loved English Eclectic look. Scroll down to see the hallmarks of this timeless favorite!
Artwork
Colette van den Thillart (who worked with Nicky Haslam, the high priest of English Eclectic style) always has a flair for assembling a room with disparate elements and making them work. Her previous London home — a storied apartment in Notting Hill — was the culmination of her travels with statement pieces from Turkey, Morocco and France. A large canvas (originally a theater set backdrop) adds whimsy to the space, making it feel like her own little museum, when paired with handsome busts, books and ceramics.
Mixed Patterns
A woodcut print rug, bold stripes and squiggly seat cushions? Yes to all of it! To capture English Eclectic requires the hand of a true mix master, so don’t be daunted.
Lacquered Walls
Lacquered peacock blue walls in the living room are “very 17th-century,” according to Colette. “That era was so sumptuous.” This labor-intensive treatment requires expert application of multiple coats of lacquer, but the end result is a stunning finish that adds depth.
Decorated Ceilings
Often referred to as “the fifth wall,” English Eclectic never overlooks a ceiling to make a grand statement. Colette’s sunken dining room has a custom, cloud-like fresco painted on the ceiling. An oversized lantern draws more attention to the painting.
Framed Prints
An orderly display of neoclassical prints in matching gold frames lend symmetry to Colette’s principal bedroom, and create a heritage touch that’s a foil for the curvaceous hand-blocked wallpaper. “Good layering is about using the tools we know — symmetry, subtlety — and then throwing in contradictions like asymmetry and boldness,” notes Colette.
Canopies
Colette gave her daughters the princess treatment in their bedroom with matching lits à couronne, where the canopy is suspended above the head of the bed like a crown. The canopies have a cheery floral pattern on the outside, and luscious coral fringe and contrast interiors. A pleated fabric lampshade is another English Eclectic staple.
Statement Carpets
Canadian firm Sarah Richardson Design jumped across the pond to work on this London townhouse, and underscore its quintessential English flair. There’s no better rug to set the stage than a timeless handwoven rug in deep shades of red and navy.
Velvet
Regal and cozy, it’s hard to top a red velvet chaise by the fire when it comes to classic British flair. This version gets extra points for the old-school tack detailing along the back. “I wanted the house to feel like you could cozy up in every corner,” says Sarah, who tucked the chaise lounge next to an original fireplace for views out of the living room windows.
Books
Whether it’s a library dedicated to the printed word, or a spot carved out in a living room, books are a key foundation for the English look. Sarah installed bookshelves in an old doorframe to convert a full wall in the living room into a library. French wing chairs (recovered in cut velvet) are a perfect perch to catch up on reading.
China Displays
As a producer of some of the best china in the world (Royal Doulton! Staffordshire! Wedgwood! Spode!), it’s no surprise that dishes get pride of place in an English home. Open shelving is a prime spot to show off traditional transferware patterns.
Cozy Seating
This Edinburgh home, owned by a young family, bears the telltale marks of English eccentricity — even if it doesn’t fall within the strict geographical confines. A curvy armchair by the fire — loaded with throws and pillows (with an ottoman for extra points) — is exactly where we want to find ourselves on a cold December afternoon.
Floral Wallpaper
Whether it’s a traditional mini print, or a more modern take, like this oversize monochromatic version, English designers depend on flowers to mimic the often glorious English gardens outdoors. Homeowner and blogger Samantha Lawrie chose Designers Guild’s Mehsama for the children’s playroom. “I knew there’d be loads of color from the toys anyway,” she says.
Bull’s Eye Mirrors
A convex beauty adds a different perspective over a fireplace in this Scottish home. These traditional mirrors are Brit mainstays: the outward bending glass allowed the butler and servers to survey a dining room to see if guests’ glasses needed refilling, while allowing them to stay discreetly out of sight.
English Leather
In designer Thomas Wiggins’ handsome Georgian home in Surrey, England, a tufted leather chesterfield is a natural fit in the drawing room. Moody wall colors, deep mouldings and a roaring fire set the scene for a picture-perfect English room.
Conservatories
Once used to lavish plenty of light onto plants in Victorian times, these glassed-in rooms are quintessentially English. Thomas transformed this former conservatory into a dining room (the roof is made of angled glass to catch the sun). He hung heavy curtains which can be drawn to cut drafts. The table is set with Spode’s Greek Key china.
Antiques
In the principal bedroom, the rich wood tones of an antique sidetable are a foil for the contemporary Irish linen canopy and seagrass carpeting. Although the ceiling timbers are painted out, wood is an important element of English decor.
Collections
Thomas bought the framed coin collections (left of the fire) at Christie’s and they help disguise the entry to the ensuite. Show off your favorite items and give them more presence by grouping them together for impact.
Lush Drapery
A gingham balloon shade on the window and silk canopy makes this guest room feel extra inviting. Thomas also snuck in two well-loved English motifs: dogs (on the pillow) and horses (the print on the wall) — two essential companions for life in the British countryside.
Portraits
They don’t need to depict actual ancestors, proves Thomas, discussing his collection of 18th-century portrait paintings. “I started buying the portraits at auction after we moved in,” he says. “They have a spooky quality to them that really suits the house. They add so much atmosphere. If it depicts a half decent face, I’ll buy it.”
Panelling
It not only adds textural interest to walls, but panelling enhances the heritage look of spaces, like this neoclassical folly built from scratch by Thomas, which elevates dry stone walls and stone flooring. Lanterns and a set of antlers impart hunting lodge flair.