5 minute read
HORWOOD HOUSE
THE STUNNING HORWOOD HOUSE
DATE WITH HISTORY
Absolutely visits Buckinghamshire’s Horwood House to discover the new Manor Suites in the Grade II listed Manor House
Once the birthplace of renowned TV gardener Percy Thrower, the historic Grade-II listed Manor House at idyllic countryside hotel Horwood
House recently unveiled three fully refurbished Manor Suites. The latest milestone in an extensive £6 million, 18-month redevelopment programme, the new look suites draw on the rich horticultural heritage of the 110-year-old property, which is set within 38 acres of stunning gardens and grounds.
Originally a farmhouse (some 300 years ago), the Manor House was upgraded in the early 1900s by Frederick Denny, and his original commission design played an integral part in the refurbishment. Lovingly restored to showcase and celebrate the building’s original features, the three master suites are all located on the Manor’s top floor. After ascending the original and fully restored feature staircase – complete with a showstopping three-tier custom made chandelier, inspired by the traditional 19th century heritage lighting found in many stately homes – guests will be greeted by features from the original Manor House such as reconditioned vaulted ceilings,
original stonework and grand bay windows synonymous with the Jacobethan era, which were originally designed by well-known architect Detmar Blow over 100 years ago.
The Denny family alongside their Head Gardener (Percy Thrower’s father) took immense pride in rebuilding the gardens to the glorious scenes present today. When designing the rooms, it was of utmost importance that the breath-taking grounds took centre stage, with views of the glorious tree-lined drive and the picturesque lily pond (created by Percy Thrower himself) forming integral parts of each scheme. Both vistas are lit up at night to ensure views at every time of day. Carefully decorated to ensure guests enjoy a luxurious yet comfortable stay, the suites have each been individually designed but all feature a lounge, a bathroom and a spacious bedroom with luxury king-size beds complete with Art Deco inspired headboards. Plush bay window seating – a perfect spot to enjoy an hour or two of reading – and richly textured soft furnishings are in a colour-scheme selected to complement the hotel’s horticultural setting and o er serenity to those staying – expect light greys, deep greens, subtle teals and warm terracotta hues.
The bathrooms feature eye-catching grey scallop tiles and either a walk-in rainfall shower or bath with gold accents. No amenity or detail has been overlooked, with each suite also featuring a dining table, mini fridge, air-conditioning throughout, complimentary Wi-Fi and a Nespresso co ee machine. Throughout the suites and into the ground floor of the Manor House, guests will see artwork that explores 1911, the year in which the Manor House was built and the landmark events that mark the period, such as the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, along with the publication of “The Secret Garden” and works by the celebrated poet, D.H. Lawrence.
And that’s not all – the ground floor bar, lounge and ceremony spaces have also been refurbished and o er the perfect backdrop for an early evening drink, afternoon tea with friends or a lavish dinner party in the private Manor library room with carefully curated menus, full of the finest seasonal ingredients, from the hotel’s Executive Chef Will Dimartino.
Looking for a historic, horticultural stay full of rural opulence? The Manor Suites are available to book now. See more at
reservations.horwoodhouse.co.uk
The bespoke APPROACH
Charting the evolution of Ben Heath, from sourcing fine furniture to creating the kitchen of your dreams and more
Ben Heath – previously named Tables and Chairs – was established in 1999 originally sourcing fine quality dining sets and furniture from Britain and Europe. In 2002 they expanded into UK handmade sofas and interior design, and in 2007 Ben expanded the business into kitchens and the very first kitchen was the Chichester from Neptune.
One of the major challenges became a lack of UK and European furniture suppliers as more and more closed down due to Chinese imports. In 2012, mainly due to frustration of not finding the right quality or flexibility, Ben took the opportunity to make and design his own bespoke kitchens and furniture. The first workshop started o in a small barn located in Hungerford, Berkshire, but with high demand for their bespoke kitchens and furniture they moved and expanded the workshop in 2015 to a new unit, only 400 yards from their showroom. Being able to control the entire supply chain including having an in-house installations team places Ben Heath in a position to be able to o er first class quality and service.
Today, they have an inspiring showroom, highlighting contemporary and classic kitchens with stateof-the-art appliances plus all the accessories to make your space your own. They have room sets for you to fall in love with, where they showcase all their hand-made furniture, with soft lighting, flooring, fabrics, and luxurious soft furnishings, everything to enable you to imagine the setting in your home. Plus, they are champions of finding exclusive artists, such as Swin Edmonds, who is not only a local artist, but also an ex-colleague of theirs.
The showroom has an experienced team to assist customers with making the right choices on design, whether it be for a brand new kitchen, redesign of the living room, or a beautiful bespoke original piece of furniture to finish o a favourite space.
With a wealth of knowledge and 20-plus years of experience in bespoke furniture design and interiors, they know how to create beautiful homes. Whether you are renovating your entire home, upgrading your soft furnishings or starting afresh with your favourite room, their designer and installers will work with you to transform your existing space into the environment of your dreams. They look forward to turning your dreams into reality.
