English Country Style. Explore creative design ideas, tips and inspirations for this classic architectural design style.

English Country Style

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Stenciling Effect

The Decorative effect Stenciling traces its roots as far back as Egyptian times, and has surged in popularity during various periods of history. In the Victorian period we find stenciled patterns on a variety of surfaces. Folk artists enlisted stencil techniques in a multitude of applications, both on furniture and walls. As tastes changed over time, artists have transformed stenciling from a simple pattern repeat process, to a sophisticated and colorful design tool, rich with story lines and decorative symbolism.

Robert Adam Style

Adam style is named for Robert Adam, the most famous architect of the British eighteenth century, who revolutionized Neoclassical design and created a style remarkable for its freshness, fluidity, and grace.

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English Country Style

In the English countryside, pretty villages dot rolling hills and cobblestones line narrow medieval streets. Come in through the garden gate, and you'll find a steep thatched roof overhanging ancient leaded glass windows. Old garden roses creep around the carved oak door. The grounds, whether a picturesque cottage garden or the rolling parkland of the local manor house, are lovingly cared for. Everything is fresh, tidy, and welcoming.

On country walks one passes by charming brick walled and slate roofed homes surrounded by welcoming gardens.

Rural England is best seen on foot or bicycle, the better to appreciate ancient towns, medieval chapels, hills full of wildflowers, and enjoyable local traditions. The pace of life is slow, the rural environment unspoiled. Some tiny hamlets seem almost to have escaped modernity altogether, and the summertime fete, the cricket field, and the local rugby team provide the Traditional focus for community life.

In the summertime, the all-important cottage garden serves as an "outdoor room" where tea and lunch can be served. The lawn or stone courtyard is surrounded by clipped hedges, climbing roses, forget me nots, bluebells. An old well cover, a low stone wall, or perhaps an arch clothed by clematis add architectural interest. Ever-practical, the English cottager includes some vegetables in the landscape: a cucumber frame, a fruit cage for red currants and gooseberries.

Regional stones are used to construct the walls of many country cottages. While thatched roofs create cozy character.

In ancient towns in the Cotswolds or the Lake District, public space is built on a welcoming, human scale. Honey-colored stone shop fronts form a pleasing corridor along busy sidewalks. Charming architectural detail, whether medieval or Victorian, is still carefully maintained. Slate roofs, thatched cottages, wood beam ceilings, and flagstone floors evoke scenes from Dickens or Hardy.

Local pub - great for a pint - go for the Bangers and Mash, or Fish and chips!

The local pub is homey, with low ceilings, cozy rugs, and dark wood bathed in warm yellow lamplight. Stories, gossip, and local politics are traded here over pints of local ale. For the weary traveler, a bed and breakfast offers rustic charm, time-darkened wood wainscoting, low-hanging leaded windows.

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Painted Inlay Floor Border

This process imitates the appearance of individual pieces of wood inlayed as a border to a wooden floor. A variety of patterns can be created, often imitating an assortment of wood types such as mahogany, oak, pine, ebony and maple. I’ve found this treatment to be a successful method of creating a period feel within a range of styles. And since there are very few design limitations you can create wonderfully unique floors to fit your style.

Craftsmanship is important in English country style: carved wood and stone, wrought iron, the simple yet imposing lines of a classic stone manor house.

English country colors are natural and subtle: dark wood, gray or beige stone, warm ivory walls, perhaps a dark red or green accent wall. Furniture and wainscoting are carved wood, with Victorian lines. Lamps are key, with wall sconces or perhaps a rustic iron chandelier creating intimate pools of light and making hand-rubbed wood carvings gleam. A rug in a nineteenth-century floral pattern can add color, or perhaps a basket of dried wildflowers.

Most rural towns / villages have there own summer 'fete'. Bringing together the local community to celebrate with old fashioned fun, car boot sales, games and vintage tractor rides.

No visit to the English country side would be complete without a visit to the cricket field, or a stomp in the mud watching a rugby team.

Elements of English Country Style

Rustic earth tones

Vibrant, colorful patterns underlie this design style.

Feature tutorial.

The Parchment colorwash. Creating the impression of aged walls, the Parchment finish evokes a feeling of history and old world charm. The color density varies over the finished surface and creates appearances of lightly mottled parchment. A soft and airy finish, the Parchment glaze is an ideal way to create mood and character in any room. I’ve found it to be an ideal solution for finishing irregular or textured wall surfaces.

English Country Style Inspirations

Uncluttered stone walkways and arches.

This ancient slate roof offers protection from the English elements.

Small leaded window panes are opened allowing fresh air to enter.

Side entrance to a chapel rectory "Feed my lambs" carved over the entrance.

An old iron knocker and door handle announce neighbors coming for tea.

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Early American Style

Colonial Amercians drew inspriation from their European heritage. Curent design styles would filter across the ocean and become reinventedin early America. Proportion and scale took reign over ornementation, A neutral color palette of grey blue, greens and rose pinks is readily apparent.

Stucco Rustico - Aged Plaster

Stucco Rustico is a Traditional interior and exterior textured plaster that epitomizes the rustic old world charm commonly associated with Tuscan environments. I love this treatment for its ease of application and the natural, organic glazed appearance that results when using mineral based plasters and glazes. Whether a rough application or a smooth finish, this treatment holds true to the test of time and, in fact, feels as if time itself stopped to wash the walls personally.

The Rustic Color Palette

The Rustic Style color palette falls within a distinct range of color tones and is essential in creating a successful Rustic interior. By using the appropriate color tones you can create a variety of design styles ranging from Period and Historic, regional or thematic. Color helps define our experiences within an interior and exterior environment. It affects us on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level and can be calming and passive, expressive and vital.

Painted Floral Details

Floral patterns used as accents in fabrics and furniture are common place details in the English Country home. These graceful and organic patterns complement the cozy interior of this style and work particularly well with lace window treatments, an heirloom tea service set and the natural and rustic charm of wooden ceiling beams and slightly irregularly textured walls.