Classic English Interiors
Monday, March 31, 2008
Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill is the daughter of the Duke of Marlborough, whose family seat is Blenheim Palace. Few people are more qualified to discuss English style than someone who grew up in a classic Georgian manor and has become a successful interior designer.
In this book, Spencer-Churchill explores the origins of English design and the influences that have created what today is considered classic English style. She takes us into the colorful rooms of Blenheim Palace as she breaks down the elements that combine to create the unstructured, eminently comfortable look that defines English style.
This is not the country cottage England of chintz and china dogs. This is, as the title suggests, classic style. The author’s text, particularly where she explains the history of English style and how to recreate it, provides an excellent blueprint for reproducing the best of the English look.
Tool Thyme
Botanical Style for the Handywoman
Friday, June 08, 2007
You’ve never looked so good hammering a nail or clipping a rose as you will with these ‘’pretty useful tools’’ from the Victoria and Albert Museum Shop.
The gardening set is a must-have for the stylish gardener - the hand trowel and cultivator is decorated with the vibrant Cray chintz design by William Morris. The Daisy tool set includes a combination hammer (with 4 screwdrivers in the handle), slip joint pliers and a 6-in-1 screwdriver all printed in a gorgeous “Daisy” design by William Morris, a naively drawn image of meadow flowers.
The firm of Morris & Co. designed and produced a wide range of glass, tiles, furnishings and textiles which went on to become synonymous with the Arts and Crafts movement and the Victorian era as a whole. “Daisy” was the first wallpaper pattern to be issued by the company in 1864.
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Get the Lead Out
Planters With an English Accent
Monday, October 09, 2006
No English garden is complete without lead planters. The iconic English gardener Gertrude Jekyll wrote, “There can scarcely be a doubt that the happiest material for our garden sculpture and ornament is lead.???
The classic lead planter features raised panels and oftentimes classical motifs. The material lends itself to the addition of monograms and other personalization. Planters come in all shapes and sizes, but the edged square is probably most identified with gracious English country homes and gardens.
Owning a lead planter means carrying on a long and rich tradition. The first architectural use of leadwork in England traces back to the Romans. By the Middle Ages, church roofs and spires were frequently clad in lead. But it wasn’t until the late 1600s that golden age of English leadwork began, when elaborate ornamentation began to appear on architectural lead and the material became popular for statues, urns and other garden features.
Today, lead fountains, planters and statuary punctuate many of England’s finest gardens. Here in the U.S., homeowners are just beginning to appreciate the classic look, rich heritage and easy-care longevity of lead. In fact, lead has been known to last hundreds of years — the surface of rain-washed lead forms a protective layer of carbonates which prevents deterioration.
For those who want the look of lead without the weight, faux lead planters fill the bill. The lightest are made from fiberglass. Another, more natural-looking option is a clay mixture which, because of its naturally retained salts, ages naturally. Both alternatives are lightweight, durable and water and UV resistant.
A premier regional source for real English lead is Proler Garden Antiques in Los Angeles, 310 459 0477.
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