English House Style from the Archives of Country Life

Book excerpt: An inspirational look at the most iconic interior styles of magnificent English country houses: a thousand years of decorating as told through famous and many never-published photographs, all culled from the incomparable archive of Country Life magazine. This gorgeously illustrated tome is as indispensable as it is beautiful, a rich resource and a visual guide of quintessential British country house style for decorators, architects, designers, and the many armchair travelers who fantasize about revitalizing or re-creating their own castle on the hill. English House Style traces the evolution of sixteen quintessential interior styles found in British homes that have helped lay the foundations for what have become the touchstones for every decorator, designer, and architect working today. Each style, from Gothic and Tudor to Cottage, Arts and Crafts, and Palladian, is represented through lavish photography culled from the rich archive of Country Life, the hugely popular 120-year-old British magazine about life and living in the estates, castles, and cottages that are ubiquitous across the countryside. Also explored are the most influential tastemakers through the centuries, from Horace Walpole and William Morris to Nancy Lancaster and Colefax and Fowler. Decorators across the globe draw from these styles, which are embodied in the most important homes across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, many of which are featured here, including the magnificent Castle Howard, Chatsworth House, Strawberry Hill, and Hatfield House, along with exquisite hidden gems, such as Wardington Manor, Marchmont House, and Lindisfarne Castle.