The New Country Style England

by Chloe Grimshaw, Ingrid Rasmussen

The first in a new series that breathes freshness into interior and lifestyle books, The New Country Style England presents a wide array of rural retreats, seaside cottages, forest huts, and nature getaways. While the city home has undergone countless well-documented stylistic changes, there has been a quiet revolution going on in the countryside. The picture of pastoral perfection (think chintz) is being reinvigorated and modernized by the creativity of a new generation of owners, reflected in the stylish (and sometimes utterly unexpected) interiors of their homes. A converted neo-Gothic church is home to a contemporary furniture maker and his family, with Arne Jacobsen chairs in the dining room, Pucci upholstery in the chapel, and a trampoline for the children in the nave. In Gloucestershire, a dark wooden bed from Lombok is tucked into the eaves of an old rectory, while a Venetian glass chandelier hangs in the dining room, and hand-painted Chinoiserie adorns the walls. The mix of colors and textures, palettes and patterns, and, most importantly, a commingling of eras all help to make this book a visual delight. The intrinsic value comes with the hundreds of photographs, an incredible juxtaposition of detail, and a handsome heft. The New Country Style England showcases interiors that redefine traditional country style with wit, fun, and modern taste. It's the rustic experiencewith a here-and-now twist!

Genres: Interior Design

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2006

Reviews

[Mary Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not recommended. The photos were beautiful but to me did not illustrate the text or illuminate the ideas of the author or the specific projects. An artistic photograph of a birds nest or a flower blossom is not telling me anything about country style. The book design was beautiful and pleasant to read but show me more actual architecture and interiors and fewer mood photographs of random objects.

[Michael Heath-Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on more contemporary interior design style in the UK.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this one because it is unexpected in some ways. It's a really good dicussion of where a modernistic approach can meet the classic English county look. Very cool.

[Leslied · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough but once again houses of the rich and famous...