How to decorate your stately home
Filling a stately home with enough furniture for it not to feel empty simply requires deep pockets, but filling it tastefully requires so much more. Choosing furniture that will complement each space and live up to the heritage of the house is not an easy task, but these five timeless pieces from Ronald Phillips, the leading experts in English antiques, should get you started.
For your Dining Room
A George III Mahogany Secretaire Display Cabinet, Ronald Phillips
This extremely rare and exceptionally made 18th century Chippendale period carved mahogany display cabinet would be a suitable accompaniment in any dining room. At over 7ft, it would work well in a high ceilinged room and its unusual Chinese pagoda top would certainly make this a great conversation piece.
For your Drawing Room
George II Mahogany Bookcase, Ronald Phillips
This is an extremely rare example of an early English bookcase. Dating back to the mid 18th century, this bookcase is elaborately adorned with an exceptionally finely carved cornice, consisting of acanthus leaf decorations around a glazed single door. Although almost 300 years old this bookcase remains in almost untouched condition.
For your study
A Regency Mahogany Pedestal Desk, Ronald Phillips
This fine early 19th century mahogany pedestal desk attributed to Gillows, consists of a rectangular top with lobed corners, crossbranded in mahogany and lined with gold tooled faded red leather. The simplicity of the design enables it to be the perfect surface on which to put everything and anything.
For your entrance hall
George II Parcel Gilt Mahogany Side Table, Ronald Phillips
Magnificent and striking, this side table would be a great focal feature for the entrance of any stately home. Lavishly carved, this table still retains most of its original gilding. The ‘yellow Sienna’ marble top rests upon an exquisite moulded frieze, carved with an acanthus leaf and centred by a lion mask within a scroll cartouche.
For your bedroom
An Irish George III Oval Mirror, Ronald Phillips
This fine late 18th century Adam period oval mirror would sit nicely upon your chest of drawers. The frame, made up of cobalt blue wavy studs and interspersed with opaque studs of gilt cut decoration is neutral enough that it would work in most interiors as well as almost modern in appearance, despite its date of 1790.
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