House of Henley

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From Jane Austen to Ikea: A Detailed Guide to Georgian Renovations

By Max Birkin for House of Henley

The Georgian era is one especially characterised by its architecture and design. We might also think of powdered wigs, mad kings, and candlelit balls, but the real legacy of the Georgians are their sweeping sandstone terraces, grand country houses and gracefully proportioned drawing rooms. Indeed, perhaps the most relatable aspect of Jane Austen's heroines is not their lust for well-bred men emerging from lakes, but rather their admiration of the beautiful homes inhabited by their love interests. Elizabeth Bennet may have been lucky to land Mr Darcy, but her real triumph was becoming mistress of Pemberley. For those of us without an income of £10,000 a year (supposedly £12 million in today’s money), a Georgian property is still in reach - it is a truth universally acknowledged that a Georgian rectory is the most eligible home of them all, but equally as desirable are the smaller cottages, flats and farmhouses that are dotted throughout the UK.

Decorate in calming hues

Picture Credit: Laurence Pidgeon

Picture Credit: Laurence Pidgeon

The Georgian style can be split into two halves: the earlier, more colourful period, and the later, more restrained Regency iteration. The latter is what really characterised the era and stands in total contrast to its Victorian successor - in fact, with its elegance, symmetry, and muted hues, it could almost be described as modern. For those of us more inclined to take a minimalist approach to decorating (and less inclined to replicate a dollshouse), it would make sense to follow after this fashion. Happily, the greys, soft blues and calm greens of the Regency style chime well with modern trends and can be coupled with pale oak furniture and simply upholstered seating to create a contemporary aesthetic. However, there is much to be said for the earlier style of Georgian decorating, which employed bold colours as a theme for a whole room. For modern living, hanging your dining-room walls in the same yellow silk damask that you have upholstered your chairs in is perhaps a step too far, but do not shy away from bold colours; keeping ceilings, mouldings, windows and shutters painted in a brilliant white will offset the impact of strong colourways, and ensuring furnishings are neutral and natural will further calm the scheme. Look to Ben Pentreath and his projects for inspiration.

Be mindful of heritage

The narrative concerning Georgian properties is that they are versatile, simple to decorate and can carry off any style. One or two exceptions aside, this is wrong. The graceful proportions and classical influences of the period do make it easier to plan and style a room than, say, a Tudor manor or 12th century threshing barn, but one must be mindful of the heritage of a Georgian property, and decorate accordingly. The most effective way to do this would be to focus on keeping the skeleton of the house as Georgian as you are willing to go – preserve panelling, choose brass light switches and fittings, lay sandstone floors and pale parquet, and decorate with Mylands paints – before then carefully branching out into more individual furnishings. Fit your personal style preferences into Regency dictums; a loud curtain fabric, but hung with a traditional pelmet, drapes and tie-backs. Or, pick a kitchen company that suits your aesthetic preferences (although do consider Plain English, which appropriately started life in a Georgian farmhouse) and leave the primary functions of your kitchen on show. Invest in beautiful pots and pans and hang them from a rack above an oak island with integrated butcher’s block, fit a range cooker and conceal the more modern accoutrements (Nespresso pods, sandwich toasters) in a built-in larder cupboard. Not only does this mean that your £120 Le Creuset casserole dish can finally see the light of day, your kitchen will also harmonise with the Georgian bones and atmosphere of the home. Fitted cabinetry, marble worksurfaces and shiny chrome taps will stop your kitchen from being used in the next Downton Abbey film, and this gentle introduction of modern touches heralds an important warning - try not to overdo it. It is possible to go too far down the heritage route; hang too many tasteful oil paintings of horses and fields, for example, and you may end up with a sitting room that resembles The National Gallery.

Avoid IKEA

Picture Credit: Sims Hilditch

Picture Credit: Sims Hilditch

This is perhaps the only time such advice should even be considered; IKEA is a titan of design and we all ought to appreciate it for every bit of engineered plywood and coated fibreboard it produces. However, try to imagine a Billy bookcase in the library at Pemberley and you might see why Swedish flatpack furniture is an unwelcome guest in a Georgian home. Instead, visit your local auction house to snap up ‘brown furniture’; make sure you pick pieces made from real wood and avoid anything covered in super-shiny polish unless you are willing to sand, seal and rub all over in beeswax. Gumtree, Ebay and Facebook Marketplace can also all turn up unexpected finds – one man’s trash is another man’s longed-for upholstery project – so register for email alerts on searches. Try to avoid buying pine furniture, painting it in Annie Sloan and labelling it ‘shabby chic’- Georgian homes need real wood. There is of course an argument for 'dressing up' IKEA pieces to better suit their surroundings, but this should be approached only in moderation and with a heavy dose of DIY modification. Taking the example of a Billy bookcase, it could perhaps look more appropriate if a simple cornice was added and some decorative wood strips used to line the supports. However, you are better off dedicating time to hunt for a freestanding, hardwood version. You shouldn’t expect to furnish a Georgian property all in one go, and nor should you aim to; allow your furniture collection to grow organically and don’t be afraid to wait for the perfect piece. Perhaps you will have to squat on packing crates to eat your supper for the next six months, but you’ll consider it worth the wait when you finally find a set of beautiful bow-legged wooden chairs on Ebay for less than the price of six OMTÄNKSAM stools.

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Chris Henley