11 Classic Decor Elements Every English Country Home Should Have
When writer and fashion insider Amanda Brooks first visited Fairgreen Farm, her now husband’s family home in the English countryside, she found the interiors to be “perfectly tasteful but slightly dated.” Fifteen years later, faced with busy careers and grueling schedules, she and husband Christopher decided to relocated their family from New York City to the home for a yearlong sabbatical—and Brooks grew to appreciate the quaint charm of her new home. “Many of the most charming and authentic aspects of the house—those I thought were so English-country cliché way back then—still exist, untouched,” she says. It’s been four years now, and her family is still living there, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere that surrounds them, both in the country environs and the warm and inviting interiors that Brooks has maintained and updated to suit her tastes. Here, 11 classic decor elements that make an English country house a home.
Photo: Oberto Gili1/11Reading material No English country home is complete without shelves and shelves of books and cozy reading nooks—ideal for making the most of rainy days.
2/11Cozy seating Forget the streamlined sectionals. Tufted chesterfields and overstuffed armchairs—especially when covered in plush pillows in intricate patterns—impart a sense of warmth.
3/11Potted plants Cut flowers naturally appear on mantels and windowsills, but true English country homes spotlight their greenery in terra-cotta planters and an eclectic mix of chinoiserie vases and ceramic vessels.
4/11Muted colors A neutral color palette punctuated by subdued greens, sunny yellows, faded pinks, and watery blues and grays draws inspiration from nature and underlines the bucolic atmosphere.
Photo: Oberto Gili5/11Florals everywhere Whether in the upholstery or on the walls, trailing blooms lend a note of softness throughout English country homes. In the master bedroom, Brooks maintained the 1980s Laura Ashley wallpaper, which adds feminine contrast to crisp striped linens.
All rights reserved.6/11Linear textiles From grain-sack pillows to ticking-stripe upholstery—as seen in Brooks’s print-filled living room—the look is classic country.
Photo: Oberto Gili7/11An unassuming kitchen Brooks’s cookspace features such country-chic staples as reclaimed-mahogany countertops, a brass gooseneck sink faucet, and weathered metal pendant lighting. Exposed utensils and a quaint spice rack reinforce the laid-back atmosphere.
Photo: Oberto Gili8/11Farmhouse tables Brooks updated the classic in her kitchen with a contemporary painting by her husband.
9/11A mudroom Especially one filled with riding boots. Brooks’s Boot Room features vintage military prints from a Paris flea market and limestone flooring from a quarry on the farm. Designated cubby holes and shelving complete the look.
All rights reserved.10/11Exposed wood Rustic beams on the ceilings, walls, and doorways add a historical element, referencing the age and patina of a home, as well as a note of inviting rusticity that’s in keeping with the rural setting.
11/11Ivy-covered exteriors Fairgreen Farm is the picture of English country bliss thanks to greenery-lined structures surrounded by imperfect flower beds.
