INTRODUCING NANCY THE SHOP DOG

From walking the streets of south London to an antiques shop on the King's Road Nancy has changed her life..................and landed on all four feet.

GRAND COUNTRY DECORATING

England is full of grand country houses and one of our favourite interior decorators Mark Gillette. He has been working on a magnificent Georgian house in the Cotswolds. The May issue of House & Garden with photographs by Simon Brown has ten pages devoted to the restoration and decoration of this beautiful house. Built in the early 18th century c. 1700 and with extensive alterations by John Soane in 1791. The house has been restored for family use by the new owners.

Seen here in a photograph taken in 1890

Seen here after restoration

(photograph by Simon Brown for House & Garden)

In one of the bedrooms Mark used a large black Chinoiserie wardrobe with gilt decoration that came from the shop

(photograph by Simon Brown for House & Garden)

(photograph by Simon Brown for House & Garden)

Seen here is a large collection of framed Laura Knight drawings close hung, the way I like to hang pictures. In the foreground is a large chandelier.

(photograph by Simon Brown for House & Garden)

This 19th century large gilt bronze chandelier could give a grand look to your country drawing room

hung in front of a large set of 19th century mounted dried ferns in gilt and painted frames

DESIGN IDEAS FOR YOUR WALLS

Many years ago I visited friends who had a flat in Rome. The flat was in an ancient palazzo and was completely white apart from the prints and 17th and 18th century paintings on the walls. The effect has always remained in my memory as something wonderful. Even the frames were white, not something that aways works, but close hanging of prints seems to be coming back as a great look. What you hang on the wall can make a room and this was the proof. The only colour was the art and the people, the furniture was white too.......The hall was close hung with black and white 18th century architectural prints which lead into the most beautiful large drawing room hung with fabulous paintings.

I have always close hung pictures and prints at home and we have also done it in the country. It works both in a town house and a country house. In the shop we do the same.

Here in English designer Anouska Hempel's country house  the walls are covered in marvellous framed antique prints as shown in the April issue of Architectural Digest.

The bathroom is also hung with antique sporting prints

Below old framed photographs surround the mirror in our bathroom in the country

An assortment of travel prints are hung above the bath  in this image from the May issue of House & Garden showing an English country house

A curious collection of framed braces and suspenders, part of a 19th century French travelling sales man's collection make for a great look, shown here in our house in the country. Framed in hand painted cream and pale blue frames.

For that all British, or to be more precise, Scottish look,  these coloured 19th century prints of Scottish Clansmen framed in faux rosewood frames with ebonised corner pieces with ivory coloured pyramids would make great decoration. To see them all click on the image below

and if you feel that a little more of that classic English look is what you are after we have a set of twelve 18th century armourial prints framed in ebonised frames