English Eccentrics
The above words for me usually conjure images of people with land, animals, clutter and an inbuilt sense of taste. As my brother used to say – this in the era when he bought a straw hat in Greece, then wore it out back in Glasgow ‘and got two “fuck you’s” and a “wanker” before I made it to the shop’ – class, you’ve either got it or you’ve not.
Judging by Ros Byam Shaw’s new book English Eccentrics (with photography by Jan Baldwin), I’m not far off with my perception of what English Eccentrics are. Their interiors are vast, colourful, cluttered and show off a devil-may-care attitude to clashing stuff. Whether that’s furniture or patterns. It’s an attitude to decorating that’s been going on for centuries in this country as far as I can tell from the stately homes such as Chatsworth. But the book is still full of very different inspirational interiors. Here’s a peek…
The home of Annabel Lewis of VV Rouleaux.
I love the mash up of Orkney chair and printed wall here.
And the wallpapered bathroom there, in a house where ‘fabrics chop and change, sometimes in the middle of a wall.’
Lovely stuff. The book is published by Ryland Peters and available now.
My natural habitat is nothing like these wonderful homes, but I find them so appealing. Sunday is Mother’s Day in the US and all I want is a hot soak in that bath! I will be content, however, with a copy of the book *note to children*.
I know the interiors are great aren’t they? Nice to dream a bit.
Nice article. I’ve recently moved from west Yorkshire to north Yorkshire and this place is streaming with such an eclectic bunch of these. Its fabulous!
It sounds it, feel free to take some surreptitious snaps of the most eccentric homes for us to see.