What does English country house charm conjure up for you? It is it maximal with a lavish print covered sofa, vintage fabrics, worn arm chairs, embroidered pillows, and fussy trims? Those design elements certainly belong if you love them, but there are so many fresh ways to dress a room with English country influence. Collections, flowers, shelves of books, and beautiful wainscoting are just a few ideas. Let’s explore even more interpretations from the UK and beyond.
Modern English Country Charm
I am currently obsessed with all things British and especially the English countryside. The rich history and marks of time everywhere enchant me as my age climbs!
White Beaded Board Walls
Would you believe that this beautiful moment hails from a home by the sea in Malibu?
So crisp and lovely!
Warm & Sunny Cotswold Stone
Remember this fantasy Cotswold cottage where its antique dealer owners have layered it with lovely white?
See what I mean about maximalism being optional?
Unfussy & Open Shelving
I’m calling this lightened up English country cottage look “modern” but “contemporary” may be a better description.
There’s plenty of Old World charm inside…
and out…
And I love when the line is spectacularly blurred between outside and inside!
Oh the look of these stripped English antiques! And all of that gorgeous stone!
Is the look a bit too “lightened” for you?
Sometimes the spare look is for the sake of ease (the cottage above is offered as a rental and photography location).
And in other cases, it is very intentional (above: Helen Parker styling magic!).
English Country Cozy Inside Heckfield Place in Hampshire
Heckfield Place arrived on my radar a couple of years ago when none of us were able to travel and suddenly I felt desperate to visit this boutique hotel. The interiors and English countryside landscape (400+ acres) took my breath away. The charming 18th-century restored manor home in Hampshire, England received a redesign by Ben Thompson.
“Resolutely natural, elegantly evolving, we are a beautiful piece of English history that redefines the idea of a hotel. All just an hour from London.”
Interior Design by Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson (bwt) describes his aesthetic as one encompassing: understated elegance,
effortless design, and lightness of impact. His work is distinguished by context and mood, not just architecture and interior design. That is, it “subtly speaks of the people and places at the core of the projects.”
Some of the guest suites at Heckfield Place are spacious, while others are snug. Seeing this sliding barn door below gave me pause as I would never have thought to add one inside a traditional Georgian home!
There’s a quiet contemplative nature to these cozy designs, and it is calming to simply behold images of these rooms.
If your style happens to be “warm hug and warm mug of deliciousness,” this flavor of English country style is likely vibing for you. I feel inspired in fresh ways!
Cozy Rustic Organic Materials
What an impact fresh flowers, live plants, and organic touches everywhere will make in a space!
I can imagine a long lunch in this sunny space!
See more photos HERE and HERE, and enjoy more English country inspiration HERE.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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love this blog, I look forward to it every day for very selfish reasons. it vindicates my choice of kitchen design from 25 years ago with the old beams in the ceiling and windows looking at a view instead of upper cabinets. I love my old house more now than ever.
Author
selfish reasons – Hahahaha – yes! I hear you, and you’re delightful. How wonderful to have that sense of satisfaction and gratitude. There is simply nothing like an old house full of soul and stories. xox
Well again I have invited you into my little cottage you bring some light enjoyment and smiles to me in the stressful world that we live in I find some calmness in reading your post
I find myself reading out loud in all of the wonderment that you provide
in the wake of my mother’s passing (she was an interior designer and the last of the true Southern belles)
you give me encouragement to continue to decorate make a home and move forward thank you again
Author
What a blessing to be invited into your little cottage. Thank you for journeying with me and sharing a glimpse of your world. So sorry for your loss, but I’m sure it was a heavenly gain now that your mother’s beauty can be everywhere. Moving forward…it’s hard. I am grieving the loss of a close friend. Oh, this ache of heavy stuckness. May beauty keep calling to us, and may we keep answering it with our YES. Sometimes it is all we can do – bravely welcome beauty into our broken open heart where it can make a home. xox