Designed to impress cotwc

S THE TREE LINED GRAVEL DRIVE GUIDES ME TOWARDS THE MAGNIFICENT AND DRAMATIC BRADFIELD HALL I am quite literally re-tracing the steps taken by Philip II of Spain who stayed here when en route to marry Mary Tudor in 1554 and whose Italian craftsmen worked their magic on many areas of the interior of the property. On reaching the house itself I catch a glimpse of movement under one of the immaculately kept formal hedges and to my delight a family of ducks emerge and waddle straight passed me.

Curious to see where they might be heading I follow quietly as we make our way along a path welcomed by the heady smell of old English roses we turn a corner and at the edge of the house completely unexpectedly is Bradfield’s stunning lake, breathtaking in its beauty the lake sits to the right of the house and is almost completing hidden on approach. With such a dramatic discovery immediately on my arrival I know that I am in for a real treat and cannot wait to see what other gems Bradfield Hall has to offer.

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A love affair It seems only fitting that Bradfield Hall should have been discovered and brought back to life by someone who had not only the design skills but also the passion to successfully achieve such a grand scale project.

Interior designer Chrissie Fairlamb knew she was in for a mammoth journey in restoring Bradfield Hall but she was still in for a few surprises along the way.

When Chrissie and her husband renowned photographer Colin Mills decided to make Bradfield Hall their home they took on

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DESIGNED TO

IMPRESS

We discover one of the region’s most dramatic private residences and talk to international interior designer Chrissie Fairlamb about how Devon’s Bradfield Hall was lovingly bought back to life

Main image: Lake; Inset: Chrissie Fairlamb

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one of their most challenging interior design projects so far. A grade 1 listed building the Elizabethan and Jacobean manor house has its origins in the 12th Century when it was built by the Walronds and it remained in their family for over 700 years. A building of significant heritage and with only four owners in its long history the house had seen little in the way of recent refurbishment.

Undaunted by the magnitude of the restoration required Chrissie’s provenance as an interior designer held her in good stead for tackling the challenges of Bradfield Hall. Achieving a careful balance of homeliness and grandeur would be necessary and Chrissie’s work with iconic establishments such as Raffles Hotel Singapore and Browns in London had given her the breadth of experience in this classic style of interior design.

“My approach to Bradfield Hall was the same as for any project – successful interior design must combine good taste, style and practicality. We had to create an interior that looked great and yet worked for us day to day”, explains Chrissie.

Renowned for her eclectic and stylish interiors and with a particular empathy for period properties Chrissie has now succeeded in transforming the house into a welcoming and comfortable home.

A grand entrance

Main image: Chair; Inset from left to right: Dining Hall; Ornately beaded cushions decorate an antique chair; Entrance Hall; Left: Hall

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16th Century oak panelling framed by incredibly intricate carvings, original wooden and stone floors and high ceilings with decorative plasterwork feature throughout Bradfield Hall’s proudly Jacobean rooms.

Most of Bradfield’s panelling and other original features were in excellent condition but where needed Chrissie gave the paintwork a fresh look using an authentic cream colour to add a neutral clean look throughout. This provided a blank canvas on which to build stunning individual interiors for each room. The main entrance to Bradfield Hall is through a fittingly large and impressive front door which Chrissie had re-instated. The huge oak door was designed and manufactured in the

traditional way using photographs of the original door, which was lost in the last century. Chrissie commissioned a local blacksmith to create ironwork to match that found elsewhere around the house and she has planted at the entrance a pair of Grandiflora Magnolia trees, lavender and box plants to give the area further prominence.

Once inside the house a hallway opens into the Great Hall, the oldest part of the house, truly breathtaking with its carved roof beams, oak linen-fold panelled walls, and decorative plasterwork boasting The Royal Crest of James 1st. Chrissie was determined to keep the sense of space here and has succeeded in creating a very open, inviting area. A centrally placed 16th Century refectory table, found at auction, plays host to silver candlesticks and a stunning vase for the flowers Chrissie loves to have in every room. The fireplace is flanked by two sofas, one of which is a Knowle sofa, a style she particularly favours for its high backed design which provides a very safe, enclosed place to sit. Small tables around the room hold antique lamps and other objects. “Colour and light are so important for all interiors”, explains Chrissie. “ For instant warmth I love the deep jewel colours – reds, burgundies, and golds that are very suited to a house of this period. With ceilings of this height there are no overhead lights so I use lots of antique or reproduction lamps to create just the right ambience”. Another of Chrissie’s trademarks is a sense of humour beautifully illustrated in the Great Hall with the cannonballs that sit by the fireplace and the gong, a perfect reminder of days gone by!

Fit for a King From the Great Hall steps lead up to the magnificent carved door porch that is the entrance into the drawing room or Spanish Room. Its name is a reference to Philip II of Spain who stayed at Bradfield Hall when en route to marry Mary Tudor in 1554 and whose Italian craftsmen are credited with the astonishing carvings adorning the door porch and fireplace. The room is panelled ¦

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and heavily carved throughout and an enormous stone fireplace with a carved and decorated mantelpiece of similar scale provides a stunning focal point.

“In a home such as this the room really dictates the furnishings and I am a firm believer in creating interiors that are sympathetic with the house’s original style. I get the greatest satisfaction from being asked if the furniture was here when we bought the house!”. Chrissie sourced sofas and chairs to form a central seating area around the monumental fireplace, using other items of furniture to create points of interest around the room. Among these is a stunning heavily carved desk, bought in a local antique shop, which dates from the turn of the last century and is very oriental in style but compliments the room’s original carvings beautifully. Another of Chrissie’s trademark round tables, covered with a stunning paisley throw found in Singapore, sits in a corner laden with a collection of delicate glass perfume bottles, pretty enamel boxes and photograph frames.

rooms in the house. Conveniently placed next to the kitchen is Chrissie’s studio, designed and arranged with functionality in mind. To house her vast library of fabric sample books, probably the largest and most exclusive selection in the South West, she fitted modern shelving running the full length of one wall and from her work area on the opposite wall she can at a glance locate any material she has in mind for a particular project.

Onwards and upwards Chrissie always advises her clients to prioritise and was happy to heed her own

advice when embarking on the redesign of her own home. “The task at Bradfield Hall was so huge that I had to focus my efforts on one area at a time, starting with the formal rooms and working upwards and outwards from there”, she explains.

Only in the last year has Chrissie been able to turn her attention to the bedrooms and bathrooms. In reference to the house’s Jacobean links, the couple have named their stunning guest bedroom the King James suite and it has all the feel of a royal resting place. The magnificent carved bed was specially commissioned by Chrissie from The Crown Guild of Carvers. Firmly ¦

The King James Suite features a bespoken bed created by The Crown Guild of Carvers

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Relaxed elegance In the lower ground floor of the house is Chrissie’s welcoming kitchen where style and practicality form the central elements of the design. The original York flagstones that run throughout the passageway and into the kitchen itself provide a traditional feel and were discovered beneath a bitumen floor. Freestanding units were commissioned from a local carpenter and are painted cream with teak worktops.

Chrissie used cream bead and butt around the walls which was commissioned locally and echoes materials that were originally used to clad the walls of the less formal

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establishing itself within the house’s history the carved bed head bears the crest of James I, and all the carvings around the bed were chosen for their similarity to those found elsewhere in the house. Oak furniture around the rest of the room reinforces the appearance of a Jacobean bedroom brought up to date. The red velvet throw on the bed is very regal in appearance, re-creating the luxurious look seen throughout the house. A sofa upholstered in red and gold, another auction house find, completes the look and ties in beautifully with the rich colour of the bedspread. The huge windows flood the room with light and afford the best view of the unusual wild flower spiral that Chrissie has created in part of the garden.

The rest of the bedrooms are found in the North wing of the house and, in contrast to the masculinity of the King James suite, the master bedroom is a triumph in feminine interior design. The very pretty antique lamps on either side of the bed were the starting point for Chrissie’s plan for this room. “I loved these lamps the moment I saw them – the simple crystal bases work beautifully with the delicate shades of pleated cream silk trimmed with gold”. Taking her inspiration from these, Chrissie sourced pretty antique gilt furniture for the rest of the room and combined it with her favourite aquas and rose. The antique gilded chaise longue is upholstered in pale blue velvet and another of Chrissie’s favourite round tables has a throw tying all the colours together. The dressing table is princess style in shape and draped with gold silk over which Chrissie has placed embroidered lace curtain panels from English Home at Chelsea Harbour. The antique Italian bed head was

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Chrissie’s greatest coup as its carved, painted, gilded style ties all the elements of the room together.

Pastures new Bradfield Hall has been lovingly transformed from a neglected building into a stunning yet comfortable country home.

Ultimately, Chrissie Fairlamb has successfully combined the very finest in period style with contemporary elements that not only look stunning but also function well. With the impressive restoration of Bradfield Hall now complete Chrissie and Colin have decided to do it all again. “I know, I know we must be mad but I feel happy to move on now, we have given

Bradfield 8 years of our energy, love and devotion, the house is transformed, it is full of life again. We enjoyed such a feeling of wellbeing seeing Bradfield Hall slowly emerge from the shadows and would like to give another property the chance to shine”.

Chrissie and Colin have just purchased another period property in Devon which too is in need of some expert help and they plan to start yet another journey into the unknown very soon.

Chrissie in the Spanish Room

Chrissie Fairlamb is available for interior design consultation on residential and commercial projects. www.chrissiefairlambdesign.com

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