A Classical House

These are the interiors of a remarkable architectural project that may be viewed here. We were working with a listed building, in which few original interiors remained, to which we added two large new wings.

The entire interior was reconstructed in a careful and measured approach to create a fine new sequence of spaces. A panelled, double-height hall leads to a completely new early-Georgian styled staircase and Regency oak library. Extensive new kitchen and pantry joinery was designed and detailed by the firm.

We are now commencing with the furnishings and interior decoration of the project, a long and careful task that will take some time to bring to complete fruition. In the meantime, the house has an architectural purity that relies purely on light and shadow, and authentic architectural detailing, to achieve a serene and calm effect.

A Country House in the South of England

This is a fine neo-classical house with later Arts & Crafts additions. in 2017, the house was sold for the first time ever to a new family, and we were asked to decorate it and breathe new life into its old rooms. The house had been beautifully looked after by the previous family who owned it, and our involvement – unusually for a project of this nature – did not need to involve a huge programme of repair and renewal. We were able to treat our work more gently, therefore, rotating around the building over the course of 2 or 3 summers, while the owners were away, to carefully re-do the whole house. This form of somewhat slow decorating is very conducive to creating a settled and intuitive result.

Our clients had strong interest in colour and pattern, and we designed rooms that picked up on the Regency architecture, with bold shades of coral, moss green and browns to respond to the fine historic interiors. At the same time we were influenced by sources such as 1960s Colefax & Fowler, and 1970s David Hicks, to create strong interiors that felt new and fresh, with a sense of liveliness that can be missing in historical interior decoration. The family were young and filled with a sense of fun and glamour – an atmosphere that needed to pervade everything we did.

A Castle in Scotland

There has been a castle on this site since the 13th century. This house, masterplanned and designed by our senior design director, Rupert Cunningham, represents the latest phase in a storied building programme that saw the house largely rebuilt in the 17th century, enlarged again in the 18th century, enlarged again and considerably remodelled in the 19th century, and then suffering ruin in the 20th century.

In the 1970s, the Victorian work was demolished and the tower house beautifully and imaginatively restored to its 17th century form – once again becoming home to the family that have owned it for the last 650 years.

As well as significant exterior alterations and extension, Rupert designed the interior architecture of all the new rooms in the castle, including the spectacular double height staircase, kitchen, bedrooms and service wing shown here. The interior decoration was carried out by the owner, working closely with Kate Arbuthnott.