English Houses

“Eight years have passed since the first edition of this book. It’s wonderful to see it being reprinted again, not least, I think, because it proves the adage that while nothing dates as quickly as fashion, nothing stays in fashion longer than timeless design—which is really at the core of what I try to do.” In this timeless and beautiful book, now reissued complete with a brand-new introduction, renowned architectural and interior designer Ben Pentreath presents an insightful overview of the classic English style. The classic English interior is a timeless one, characterized by richness of color and texture, a mixture of old and new pieces and a generous layering of books, paintings, cushions, and flowers. In English Houses, Ben visits 12 classically English homes divided into three sections: London, Country, and Country House. The interiors featured range from a 1930s pied-a-terre in London's historic St James district to a townhouse in North London to designer Veere Grenney’s tiny Palladian folly in Suffolk to Wardington, a 16th-century manor house in Oxfordshire. Ben’s own homes, an apartment in London and a farmhouse in West Dorset, are also included. These homes vary greatly in architecture, size, shape, and age, but they all have in common the English style—richly-layered rooms that deftly intertwine color and pattern and a mix of old and new furniture to create timeless and comfortable places to live.