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Fabulous English Country House!

As many of you know, I'm a big fan of English and American country decorating. I came across this article in House and Garden UK, and wanted to share it with my Houzz friends.

It's owned by Ted and Olivia Morrison, he being the son of the famous decorator, Penny Morrison. The 19th century stone house of course is quintessentially English country, replete with loads of architectural details--old ceiling beams, beautiful millwork, multi-paned windows. The decor is "a perfect mismatch of old and new, pattern, colour and texture that looked as if it had been there forever." I could move in and not change a thing!

Even if your house isn't a 19th century cottage in Wales, a similar effect can be achieved with a little creativity. What do you think?

https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/ted-morrison-cottage-wales?uID=ffeff916a721242add87b3a80117c3a08c745fb5c37315f2293234d01b14feaa&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_source=newsletter&utm_brand=hg&utm_mailing=HG_NEWS_DAILY_170125&utm_medium=email&utm_term=HAG_Daily_Active

Comments (23)

  • 21 days ago

    Ditto to porkchop’s comments.

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked 2pups4me
  • 21 days ago

    Fun to look at, but I think unless you are a designer, trying to coordinate all those patterns would be impossible. Like you said it’s a ”perfect mismatch”….if I tried, it would be a ”perfect disaster”.

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked Molly D. Zone4B
  • PRO
    21 days ago

    I totally understand the comments above, and the fact that Ted has the ultimate access to all of Penny Morrison's products, it can be overwhelming. It did make me smile, however!

  • 20 days ago

    Oh i love it — elegant yet cozy - so inviting! the most beautiful place i have ever stayed was a country inn located in rural Wales, my sister and I still talk about the incredible floral arrangements in the front hall

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked la_la Girl
  • PRO
    20 days ago

    I had a feeling you would like it, la_la Girl!

  • 20 days ago

    Interesting that even Ted admitted it’s too much for a place you might live in every day.
    It reminds me a bit of inheriting great quality furniture from one’s ancient relatives when trying to furnish a first house or apartment.
    Not a lot of money left for re-upholstering at that point, so things can look a little bit eclectic.
    I adore the comfy, lived-in look of English country houses though!

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked AC M
  • 20 days ago
    last modified: 20 days ago

    Although not for me, I think it’s beautiful. It reminds me of one of my friend’s home, she loves 18th century English antiques & even though her home was bullt in the early 90’s it has the same feel. I’m clutter phobic, that mantle alone would drive me bonkers! There’s some beautiful colors on the walls & the house itself is incredible.

    Thanks for sharing …

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked K Laurence
  • 20 days ago

    I love the colors and patterns, especially the walls! If I tried to do anything like that it would look like a low rent indoor flea market.

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked ShadyWillowFarm
  • 20 days ago

    It’s amazing. I love that English look of all these loved and cherished, mismatched things just all coming together.

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked steelgirl065
  • PRO
    20 days ago
    last modified: 20 days ago

    I love color, I love pattern, I love cozy and I am far, far, from minimalist..........but true "English Country" is always over my threshold for what my eye can tolerate. I need a calm and cohesion resting place. This need varies by season as well, where my tolerance is higher in winter, and makes me want to strip to the walls in July!

    I love James Farmer........

    I can count the number of clients, who'd let me do it as of late? NEAR ZERO.

    " Not on trend"..............!! What would my neighbors think!?









    Speaking of which?

    I got a call recently, a circuitous route, via my upholstery lady, and it turns out to be..........A HOUSE I DID TWENTY YEARS AGO!!!

    They bought it lock stock barrel! Contents all!, and changed..........not ONE thing in twenty years

    Now, some fading and a refresh which has been my brain beat for a month. Why? Some stays and some goes,,,,,recover, pricing,,you name it." Keep m Oh so CHEERFUL, WE ADORE IT!" and change it lol

    Get this from blues and yellow......to Greens and coral. TRIED TO FIND CORAL LATELY ? No orange, not peach, not pink, not rust.......CORAL!! I wish you LUCK and I have found it!

    Price = GAG me.

    But it WILL be gorgeous: )

    The oldie? Still online! I walked in, and it was .....where time simply stopped!

    " Hello! So nice to meet you! and here I am, back to the scene of the crime......!"


    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked JAN MOYER
  • PRO
    20 days ago

    I love James Farmer too--most of his work in in the South, where they are less interested in being on trend. More traditional and more colors/patterns.

  • 20 days ago

    Wild. It's maximalist, busy and cluttered - I sure couldn't live there!

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked BPMBA
  • PRO
    19 days ago

    I have been in many fabulous English country homes and none quite like this for over the top and IMO not lovely only busy and for no reason. Maybe he had all this stuff and did not know what to do with it so lets just put it all in the country house where e do not actually live . I just look at it an cringe at the cleaning bill

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 19 days ago

    I can appreciate the work that went into that home, but can barely tolerate it on the page. Would I like it more, or less, in person? Hard to say; if I knew the people and was enjoying their hospitality, maybe more. Touring the space like a museum visitor, probably less.


    Really busy visuals raise my cortisol levels. I wouldn't call myself a minimalist, but I'm definitely calmer and happier with the home-design equivalent of white space in a print layout.

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked amystoller
  • 19 days ago

    I like it very much….except for the Rubik’s Cube!

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked grapefruit1_ar
  • Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked thinkdesignlive
  • PRO
    17 days ago

    @thinkdesignlive, I love the stone walls and old wood beams! The color palette is more muted than I would prefer, but I appreciate it. The backsplash and shower tiles are stunning. Not a fan of the brown and black checkerboard floor. And the exterior is to die for!

  • 17 days ago

    So glad you shared this @Diana Bier Interiors, LLC . I'm in love with the first room. It feels incredibly cohesive and calming to me. I'm amazed that even the rubics cube looks at home here. How did he do that?! ? I could spend long, long days in here and my tastes lean minimalist.


    The ever so pale light green on that gallery wall and secretary desk wall is so sublime. And thank god for the Brits who know that a backsplash is so often not needed - just a bit of plexi behind the range is enough. YES!!!


    The bedrooms make me anxious. And I loathe how often Brits like to drape fabric over every table in sight. Nope. Too much for me. I love a naked table.

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked Kendrah
  • 17 days ago

    Oh my @thinkdesignlive I love that cottage - wow, so charming and still smart as it seems to live larger than it is 😍 thanks for sharing that


    (DH always says to me ”i don’t think you will leave me for another man but you might leave me for a tiny overseas cottage“ he’s right lol)

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked la_la Girl
  • 17 days ago

    Part of what I appreciate about Heidi Caillier is her skill in putting varied prints together, yet her rooms remain calm, and some even have a minimal vibe. Best of both worlds.

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked Kendrah
  • PRO
    17 days ago

    Love that comment, la_la Girl!

    And I also appreciate all the work by Heidi Caillier--her muted colors are very serene.

  • 17 days ago

    Oh, that cottage that thinkdesignlive linked to is gorgeous, right up my alley. The stone exterior is swoonworthy!

    Diana Bier Interiors, LLC thanked porkchop_z5b_MI