Interior Inspiration: Petersham House, the artful stately home belonging to the founders of Petersham Nurseries

This week, I’m thinking about spring refreshes for your home and Petersham House feels like the perfect inspiration. The 17th century Queen Anne estate manages to strike a balance between English countryside chic and an 18th century Italian aesthetic. Purchased in the mid-1990s by the owners of Petersham Nurseries, Gael and Francesco Boglione, the house is a mix of “accidental minimalism” and stunning original architectural elements (including original plasterwork and Louis Laguerre frescoes), along with the Boglione’s own collection of antiques. 

When it comes to decorating with antiques, I’m always weary that they can overpower a room, but in this case, they work perfectly. The contemporary furniture bought for the house was reupholstered with French linen sourced by Charlotte Barnes, which helps draw all of the rooms together. I’m a huge fan of repurposing furniture to make it more your own. I've recently reupholstered my headboard at home and think it's such a great way of working with what you already have (stay tuned for an article) and creating something personal.

When interviewed about the house, Gael described the interior design process as one of “undecorating”, which involved stripping back the garish additions made by the previous owners. They worked closely with English Heritage to restore the original grandeur of the home whilst retaining a contemporary feel. This really comes across in the house, where the Bogliones have used a neutral color palette to draw attention to the original detailing, whilst still retaining a sense of their own style through their art and unique furniture collection.

A particular favorite for me is the kitchen - I love the aluminium-fronted cupboards topped with dark green Italian marble! The intensity of the marble is beautifully contrasted by the soft Roman curtains made from the same French linen that runs throughout the house.

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Words by Clemmie White & photo credits: George Horwood.