St George’s Day (that guy who killed a dragon and saved a princess, possibly) is celebrated on 23 April – just after the Easter weekend, so this year it’s likely some of us could still be stretching out a bank holiday weekend meaning that there’s no better time to squeeze in a bit of DIY or decorating! Here we take a closer look at some aspects of quintessentially English interior style and hope to provide you with some St George’s Day inspiration…
Derby Patterned Porcelain Floor | Durham Patterned Porcelain Floor | Southampton Patterned Porcelain Floor | Tile Mountain
Floor Show
Intricately patterned floor tiles are a very English look, especially when teamed with ultra-trad bathroom fittings such as a roll-top bath and wall-hung basin. With eclectic style currently being particularly successful, this kind of scheme could look at home in a very traditional home or add a period feel to a more modern home. Check out the header image for this article – they’re our Brighton Blue tiles, and individually, from left: Encaustic styles in porcelain; Derby, Durham, and Southampton.
Full English
We love this kitchen, which encapsulates modern English style in a clean-cut manner, adding a breath of fresh are to a country-style home – this look is timeless and achievable. Shown here with some of our Dakota porcelain tiles, available in varying shades and perfectly at home in a busy, hard-working kitchen space. Choose painted cabinetry in soft shades to complete an ‘English home’ look.
Retro English
Brick-shaped tiles immediately conjour up a retro/metro and very English look – whether they jog memories of tiled pie’n’mash shops in the East End, the tube, or just a normal freezing-cold bathroom in pre-central-heating times! Things have moved on, thankfully, and now brick-shaped tiles are considered a must-have in many homes – with the advantage that they can look retro, trad or contemporary, depending upon how they are styled. These are our Linear Grey Gloss ceramic tiles, measuring 300mm x 100mm and available in lots of colours, including neutrals and brights.
English Crafts
To reflect St George’s day we though we’d focus on some fabulous English pieces to inspire and delight… This classic English sofa is the Woodford from Darlings of Chelsea, which is a company I’ve always loved since I first started writing about interiors. It’s the perfect name, darling. A Chesterfield-style sofa generally has a deep-buttoned back, scrolled arms and an equal height all around for the arms and back. Of course, there are lots of variations and interpretations of such a classic English style, but we think this one is practically perfect…
Bancha | Farrow & Ball
Mid-Century Modern Green
Goodness knows how many English homes are decorated with Farrow & Ball paints, or have been inspired by the firm’s traditional colour palettes. We’ve picked this shade, Bancha, partly because it will work with a host of traditional English decorative schemes, but also because it’s an accessible colour that suits both kitchens and bathrooms, adding that very English sense of style whilst still looking at home in period and contemporary (think jungle green) settings. And of course, don’t forget the traditional English AGA, originally produced in Smethwick in 1929.
Royal Beasts (And Where To Find Them)
Gorgeous upholstery fabric from the quintessential specialists in English (and British) traditional style, GP&J Baker, Royal Warrant holders and founded in 1884. This Royal Beasts design is gorgeous, and if it’s all a bit too experimental for a chair or sofa, why not just make up some cushions? This design is on pure linen, is from the Historic Royal Palaces Collection, shown here in Ivory and also available in Blue.
The English Countryside
What could possibly look more ‘English’ than a beautiful image of the countryside? This mural of John Constable’s Hay Wain, is such a familiar painting – I think we had Hay Wain kitchen tiles and place mats in my dim and distant childhood! So to add a bit of olde-worlde atmosphere to your home, this is something to think about (in an ironic way, of course …!) The Hay Wain, 1821 by John Constable is from Bridgeman Images at Wallsauce.com
A Nice Cuppa
Well, we could hardly resist bringing this to your attention regarding St George’s Day! English Breakfast Tea, Peppermint Tea and Earl Grey Tea, all grown in the historical botanic garden, Tregothnan, in Cornwall. Tregothnan provides this unique British-grown and British dried tea. It’s available via the Royal Opera House shop, place an order here!
Don’t forget…we are always very keen to see pics of your projects, especially any St George’s Day inspired creations. Hit us up @TileMountainUK or tag us on Instagram with your photos.
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Linda has worked as a freelance interiors writer and blogger for many years; she has written for most of the major home and design magazines, including KBB Magazine, Grand Designs, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Period Homes and Good Homes. She made the break and moved from London back to her home town of Shrewsbury three years ago and has just finished renovating her house. She also works in an interior design studio, produces copy for brochures and website, tries to tame her garden, aims to finish all the home furnishing projects she has on the go … and loves walking.