English-style house: a design review for suburban and urban buildings (80 photos). Cozy English houses: history and traditions Interiors of English houses

Today's trends in the development of society, technology, of course, have left their mark on the modern English house. But, in fairness, it is worth saying that their influence on the conservative in terms of traditions and way of life of the British is very small. Just look at the traditional and typical village dwelling.

Classic modern city and country house

Great Britain has been an industrial country for several centuries. In this country, the urban population prevails over the rural. And if so, then there should be more city dwellers. Indeed, in our understanding, a city dweller necessarily lives in an apartment. But in Britain this is not the case at all.

The majority of the population of the United Kingdom prefers to live in their own homes. Of course, as in many other states, not many people can pay for the construction or purchase of a private house. Therefore, the vast majority become owners of houses, paying mortgages for twenty to twenty-five years.

But to say the majority is to say nothing. Therefore, it is worth clarifying that the majority in British reality is about 80 percent. That is how many inhabitants of foggy Albion live in their own homes. There are cities too. And there are a lot of them. But both in the cities and in the countryside, conservative Englishmen prefer a private house.

What does a modern dwelling in England look like? A typical English house is a two or three story building. Moreover, the understanding of the number of storeys is somewhat different from ours. The first floor is considered zero by the locals. And only that which is above the level of the earth's surface is considered the first and subsequent floors.

The house is usually built of red brick. Moreover, no external wall decoration is provided. It is quite durable and beautiful material. And houses from it in the conditions of an island and mild climate stand for centuries. That is why the ground floor is built at ground level. The foundations are low. And you will not see here any porch or terrace at the front door.

And in these conditions, a deep and heavy foundation is not needed. The soil does not freeze at all even in harsh winters by local standards. For reference, it is worth mentioning that in Russia the depth of soil freezing can reach several meters. A significant part of the country is generally located on permafrost.

As already mentioned, there are no porches as such. But the visors and canopies over the front door are striking in their diversity. This is also due to the traditions of the British. They love to diversify their homes. So much so that with the general similarity of projects, houses can turn out to be completely different.

This is facilitated not only by visors and canopies over the front doors. Each house must have a small lawn where you can set up a flower bed or flower garden. And the buildings themselves are often decorated with climbing plants. At the same time, it happens that the house is almost invisible through the plants. And of course, the house is decorated with numerous decorative elements. The design of English houses is diverse.

Old English house in the countryside

An old English house can be seen in the countryside. And really old houses are protected by law. You can buy them and live there. But it is forbidden to radically rebuild or change the appearance of such a building. And inside such a building can be made completely modern.

The concept of countryside and village is somewhat different here. Villages are essentially small towns. The roads are asphalted, the territories are ennobled. You will not see vegetable gardens with potato plantations in them. Villagers do not grow vegetables and fruits. They are engaged in the cultivation of flower beds and lawns. Therefore, in any English village it is cozy and clean.

And the cultivation of vegetables and fruits is done by farmers who do not live in the villages. They live on the outskirts or, as we say, in a settlement or a farm, that is, separately. Most of the villagers only live in the countryside and work in the city. Fortunately, Great Britain is famous for its roads. Every British family has a car, often more than one.

The house in the English village is located along the street. Often the front door opens directly onto the sidewalk, if there is one. Sometimes a flower garden or a small lawn is located between the wall of the house and the road. There are no gardens, as mentioned above. But there is always the pride of the owner behind the house - his lawn and flower beds.

Houses in the countryside are a bit simpler than in the city. Here you can often see dwellings made of stone. In size, an old rural British house is usually smaller than a city one. Yes, and the second floor is often attic. But in the village you can see roofs made of reeds and grass. They look very original and beautiful.

In ancient times, a roof covered with reeds or herbs spoke of the poverty of the owner. But times are changing and today, few wealthy home owners can afford such a roof. Now the presence of a thatched roof speaks of the wealth of the owner of the house.

British home interior

Usually on the ground floor there is a living room, a kitchen and an office, if provided. The bedroom, bathroom and other rooms are located on the next floors. The kitchen used to be small. Today they are trying to make it bigger so that the whole family can fit at the dining table.

The living room often has a fireplace, which is found in almost every British home. Opposite the fireplace, according to tradition, put an armchair or sofa. Near it, a tea table, which is covered with a tablecloth, will also be appropriate. In the office, they usually put a table and an armchair, and shelving for books or a cabinet for the same purpose.

The bedrooms have the usual set of furniture - a bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. In general, in the dwelling of the British there is a minimum set of furniture. There is never anything superfluous in them. Only the most necessary things and items.

Despite the stiffness and external closeness of the British, in English houses one rarely sees curtains on the windows or curtains. Windows are usually made quite wide. Rectangular and square in shape, they are often divided into small fragments.

English house traditions

When people talk about an Englishman's house, they always remember the fireplace. And although the fireplace is rarely used for its intended purpose, it is an integral part of the interior. Photographs, small figurines, vases, clocks are placed on the mantelpiece. And in front of the fireplace, like hundreds of years ago, they arrange tea parties.

10. Living room with fireplace and aquarium

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of a living room with an aquarium

And this living room with a fireplace in a laconic white portal and a pair of classic green armchairs could be an example of pure English style, if not for a bright modern aquarium. Thanks to the appearance in the interior of this "piece" of the underwater world, as well as the hearth, the room began to resemble an area for relaxation even more. But it is precisely this effect that the English style always achieves, for which it is important to create the most cozy and comfortable environment.

English style in the interior of the office and armory

A bias towards the English style is done by many office owners. Respectable furniture with a "carriage" screed, massive built-in wardrobes with bookshelves and pilasters in the finish, wood wall panels - it would seem that these attributes of the style direction that appeared in the UK are simply created for arranging cabinet spaces. It seems to us that only a serious and self-confident person will choose the English style for the office interior. That is why such cabinet spaces always look very respectable and inspire confidence in their owners.

11. Cabinet-library in coffee and chocolate tones

All photos In the photo: Cabinet design in chocolate and coffee shades with a library

An English-style office always serves not only as a workspace, but also as a library. Of course, not every room will allow arranging entire galleries for bookshelves, as was the case in the movie "My Fair Lady". But at least for one bookcase there is always a place in the office.

12. English study in the attic of a country house

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the attic office

The design of the English study in the attic appeals to classical solutions. So, a chair with "ears" and armrests may well resemble models named after Voltaire. The classicism of the composition is also emphasized by the pilasters used in the decoration of the bookcase.

13. Armory with wood trim

All photos In the photo: Armory with wood trim

Wood is considered the ideal finishing material for an interior in the English style. And the presented design of the armory, the decoration of which is dominated by polished wooden textures, is the best confirmation of this. The English classic with its respectability and sense of self-worth is expressed primarily in wood paneling. And the curtains and sconces assembled in a somewhat theatrical manner seem to be so out of history that, thanks to them, it is difficult to say exactly which century the composition belongs to.

English style in the interior of the kitchen and wine cellar

14. Black and white monochrome in the interior of the kitchen-dining room

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of a monochrome kitchen

The design of the English-style kitchen-dining room is usually built on a monochrome basis. It can be black and white monochrome, as in the photo above, or a beige gamma. You can diversify the monochrome palette by using natural stone with its unique pattern in the decoration.

15. Shades of coffee with milk in the interior of the kitchen

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the kitchen in shades of coffee with milk

The shades of coffee with milk in the interior of the kitchen in the photo evoke pleasant associations with an invigorating aromatic drink and desserts. This palette is unobtrusive and versatile: it is combined with most other colors and color accents.

16. Country motives in the interior of English cuisine

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the kitchen with country motifs

The English style in the interior of a kitchen in a country house has the charm of a quiet village, lost among the picturesque hills of one of the counties of Great Britain. We owe this effect to a large extent to the country elements used in the project in the form of stonework and curtains with a floral pattern. As a result, we get an interior that is close in its atmosphere to the cozy English houses from the time of the action of the novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles".

17. Kitchen-dining room with an island

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the kitchen with an island

English kitchens are no less multifunctional than minimalist interiors, in which entire storage systems can be hidden behind the laconic facades of cabinets. An island is one of the most accessible and obvious ways to improve the functionality of a kitchen space. In the example shown in the photo, the island structure acts as a work surface and storage system. But many islands today are also used as bar counters and zoning elements.

18. Stone finish in the interior of the kitchen

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the kitchen with stone trim

Stone decoration adds a bit of brutality to the interior of the kitchen in the English style. Thanks to her, the space also acquires a certain historicity, taking us to the Victorian era. Deliberately rough stone textures look especially impressive in combination with classic furniture made of noble woods.

19. Wine cellar with stained glass ceiling

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the wine cellar in the house

Some English-style country houses provide for the arrangement of wine cellars in which you can store both Burgundy and cider and ale. The ideal material for finishing such premises, of course, is wood. You can also add masonry to the interior and highlight the suspended ceiling with a stained glass window. A stained glass insert on the ceiling will help to give the space an artistic sound.

English style in the bedroom interior

English bedrooms may not be as ornate as the French sleeping rooms, with their canopies and finely carved furniture legs. But they are very cozy and comfortable. If in the French bedrooms there is a desire to please, then the English lounges are more intimate, they are guided not by outsiders, but by their owners.

20. Bedroom in light colors

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the bedroom in bright colors

The interior of the bedroom in the English style is almost monochrome. Wooden panels are used in the decoration of the space. To diversify the composition, inserts framed by moldings with floral wallpaper help to diversify, the unobtrusive bluish pattern of which brings some spring colors to the room. The built-in mirror cabinet helps to visually enlarge the space.

21. Wood carving in the decoration of the bedroom

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the bedroom with wood carvings in the decoration

The English style in the interior of the bedroom involves the use of a large number of wooden textures. Thanks to the tree, the space looks more comfortable. In one bedroom, polished and matte wood textures can be combined. And you can increase the artistic value of the composition by using elements made using the wood carving technique. In the design of the bedroom in the photo with light green wallpaper with a pattern close to Damascus, carved wooden inserts are used in the design of the headboard area.

22. Wooden furniture and pilasters in the interior of the bedroom

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of a bedroom with wooden furniture

The English-style bedrooms have wooden furniture. But it is important to understand that this style direction does not accept fakes. Therefore, the furniture here should be made of solid wood. In the presented example of an English bedroom interior, a wooden bed, a coffee table and bedside tables serve as an addition to the unusual wall decoration with pilasters and carvings.

23. Textured headboard in the bedroom

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the bedroom in light shades

English style bedrooms can be decorated with art deco elements. For example, in the decoration of the headboard area, you can often see upholstery with a “carriage” screed. In the presented example, such a textile textured panel with a diamond layout is “supported” by a corresponding white back with “ears”.

24. English bedroom with fireplace

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of a bedroom with a fireplace

In the interiors of English bedrooms, a fireplace can be seen as often as in the living rooms. It uses both classic chimney portals with stucco and more concise modern hearths powered by biofuel.

25. Classic armchairs for an English bedroom

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of a bedroom with classic armchairs

As we mentioned above, the English interior style "strives" to fill all the voids. Therefore, there is often at least one cozy armchair near the fireplace. In the presented example of the interior, in the area of the hearth, an entire area for relaxation and reading is equipped. Designer Anzhelika Prudnikova decided to furnish the fireplace area with a pair of classic armchairs with a screed finish and mother-of-pearl poufs that can serve as footrests or coffee tables.

26. Bedroom with truffle accents

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the bedroom with truffle accents

Truffle accents in the form of a pouffe with a “carriage” screed and upholstery in the headboard area are perfectly combined with the mother-of-pearl palette chosen as the main range. Such a coloristic solution is reminiscent of desserts with cocoa, as well as fragrant glaze with chocolate ice cream.

English style in the interior of the nursery and other rooms

English style in the interior of a children's room usually exploits typical British themes. As a rule, these are travel motives (after all, England has always been a maritime power and a major colonialist). When designing bathrooms in the English style, designers strive to create a very cozy composition. Therefore, you can often see textiles here. As for the hallways, in their design the English style remains true to its principle of equipping the space with objects as much as possible. Therefore, in the halls we can often observe islands for relaxation with armchairs, poufs or soft benches.

27. Children's room for twins

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of a nursery for twins

The English style in the interior of the children's room for twins manifested itself in the choice of themes. Models of airplanes, posters depicting details of aviation technology bring the motives of travel into the room and, at the same time, remind of the exploits of the Royal Air Force of Great Britain. As a color basis in the presented example, the shades of Bondi beach were chosen, the dark turquoise depth of which is set off by sky blue textiles.

28. Bathroom with partitions and columns

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of a bathroom with columns

With the help of partitions, the space of the bathroom with mosaic tiles in the floor decoration is conditionally divided into three areas. In the center of the room is a bathtub with a window fitted with a white printed curtain. Our designers decorated the partitions with dark chocolate columns.

29. Black and white hall with facet

All photos In the photo: English style in the interior of the hall in the apartment

The interior of the hall in the English style in the photo is “woven” from details: figurines in the shape of a white horse, a decorative lantern, a panel with butterflies. And the bevelled mirrors in the decoration, “supported” by the diagonal layout of the stained-glass insert on the ceiling, add a glamorous sheen typical of art deco to the composition.

England itself is characterized by small, but at the same time cozy cottages and townhouses. Therefore, the English style can be used both in the interiors of huge country houses and in small apartments. This stylistic direction is very close to the Russians, as it also has something from the Soviet Empire, for which many are still nostalgic. At the same time, the English style always reminds us of our favorite characters from books and films about good old England from childhood.

The classicism of the English style for the design of country houses attracts both designers and ordinary people with its functionality, rigor and the ability to demonstrate the taste and character of its guests well. Photos of houses in the English style show the external roughness of unlined facades with low-lying window openings and a bright red tiled roof.

The distinctive elements of the outside of the English apartments are:

wall surfaces lined with natural stone elements or bricks;
lack of carved details;
asymmetry in the arrangement of the exterior composition;
the presence of columns;
narrow color palette;
gable strict roof;
the territory near the house is planted with a garden and flowers.

Types of English country buildings

The architecture of English buildings is recognizable all over the world. There are three main architectural and construction trends with their own peculiarities and features.

Tudor house style. Visually, such buildings resemble fabulous village houses. However, the appearance is a bit rough.

The main architectural features of this type are:

the presence of high gables on the main facade;
a roof with a steep slope and uneven edges;
a large trumpet and miniature dormer windows;
the general outlines of the building are asymmetrical;
the entrance has an arched structure.

Georgian architectural style. For the modern English building world, this direction is the most popular. The buildings in the Georgian direction look magnificent and simple at the same time.

The direction is characterized by the following features:

symmetry;
window openings of the same size, which have the same location;
the absence of various kinds of embellishments;
the main facade of the building is decorated with five windows;
the front door is very low;
low roof.

Victorian direction. Differs in decorative facing and contrasting combinations in color registration.

Its features:

asymmetric arrangement;
overall territory of the veranda;
decorative finishing of wall surfaces with stone or siding;
ornamental and stucco elements.

The main feature of the houses, made in the English style, is the construction of a red brick building. Thanks to this material, which has a very reasonable cost, the life of the house is increased.

Another advantage is the high soundproofing qualities inside the premises.

The project of English apartments is characterized by the presence of two full floors and, in some cases, an attic. The entrance to the room is located in the middle.

architectural features

The foundation of a typical English residential building is very low, so the floor surface is almost level with the ground. You won’t be able to meet the usual basements and garages in the house, since the English style does not imply this.

Sometimes the owners can equip a small cellar or pantry in the home. The outer facade is not decorated or clad in any way, so it looks rather rough.

Window openings of a rectangular or square shape of the first level are located low. The roof of the house is covered with red tiles, its shape is sharp, and the construction is very high. In recent years, the roofs of English houses are made of straw or thatch.

A porch is attached to the house only if the building is located on a plot with a slope. But the entrance doors and windows are often framed by canopies.

Ivy winding along the canopy brings a special luxury to the design of the house in the English style. It is customary to plant small gardens and arrange picturesque flower beds next to an English residential building.

Layout inside the house

The main living area of the first floor is represented by a spacious living room, which, as a rule, is combined with a dining room, corridor areas and a hall. The guest room is sure to be bright, as there are many window openings in the room. Another room on the first level is an office.

The second floor is considered the territory of sleep. In total, there are three bedrooms, one of which has a bathroom and wardrobe.

Interior composition of the house

The main conditions for creating an internal English interior for a private house are comfort and coziness. The living room is arranged in such a way that it is convenient for all guests and household members to be here.

Natural wood is chosen as finishing materials typical for work in the English style. The floor surfaces are covered with a noble parquet flooring.

The chosen direction is characterized by large spacious areas for the living room, however, with the help of design techniques and in small rooms, it is possible to create a project that is spectacular and stylish.

A mandatory element of interior decoration characteristic of the English direction is a fireplace. It acts as the center of the entire interior composition in the guest area.

You can clad the fireplace with various materials in the form of marble, wood or lime panels. On the shelf above the fireplace, it is customary to display watches, bronze sculptures, flowerpots with flowers and snuff boxes with cigarette cases.

The English stylistic direction is perfect for decorating a private country residence.

Photo of houses in the English style

An observant person does not escape the fact of a harmonious combination of old English traditions and modern trends. Agree that if you skillfully combine tradition and modernity in the interior, you can achieve special uniqueness and originality.

Features of the English interior

Anyone who is familiar with the English interior knows that a characteristic feature of such living quarters is restraint, calmness, and reliability. It is not for nothing that only natural materials are used in the English interior. This refers to strict, massive solid wood furniture. Moreover, the tree must be of expensive species.

Paper wallpaper - certainly with a traditional English pattern. A special distinguishing feature of British interiors is the sophistication and sophistication of the color scheme. Usually in the houses of the British everything is deeply thought out to the smallest detail - from the shade of the wallpaper with which the walls will be pasted over, to the upholstery of the furniture that will stand in the rooms. All color schemes should be concise and sophisticated.

If we talk about English interiors in other words, then all their furnishings testify to royal sophistication, grace and aristocracy. Actually, the interior that the owners of their own houses or apartments choose can say a lot about their character. We can say with confidence that lovers of English motives are trustworthy and phlegmatic people, that they are adherents of comfort, solidity and constancy.

The next feature of the English interior is some conservatism. It is hardly possible to imagine an Englishman's house without a fireplace. It does not matter what kind of fireplace will be, electric or real, which needs to be heated with wood, it is important that there is one in the interior. In addition to beauty, the fireplace is able to give precious warmth on cold days.

English living room

The arrangement of the living room of an English house, like everything else in England, has its own traditions. The living room must be elegant and comfortable.

It is in this room that there should be a fireplace, comfortable deep chairs with a high back, opposite him and always a small coffee table, on which there should be a fresh newspaper. An English fireplace is a large, most often solid stone structure with an indispensable marble mantelpiece, on which a mantel clock is located. Often, the mantelpiece is decorated with strict, laconic candlesticks, elegant figurines and caskets.

An English living room cannot be imagined without expensive wood trim.. The most commonly used walnut, oak, mahogany, wenge. The floors in the living room, designed in the English style, must certainly retain the color of natural wood, so they are sanded and covered with several layers of transparent colorless varnish. Sometimes a parquet board can also be used in the living room, but it must imitate a structured tree. It should be noted here that the colors of floors, walls and furniture in an English living room should be combined with each other.

The interior of the apartment in the English style

Needless to say, an English-style house is the perfect solution. But for those who prefer living in the city, in a separate apartment, you can also reproduce the "island" of real England. It is important to remember that an English-style apartment does not tolerate a variety of colors. Basically, for the arrangement of the English interior, several shades of any one color are used. It is important that these shades flow smoothly from one to another.

Particular attention in the British interior is given to ceiling. It must necessarily contrast with the general color scheme, if the living room or offices and bedrooms are made in light, pastel colors, then the ceiling can be chocolate-colored. In addition, it should be decorated with a luxurious chandelier. The main task of the chandelier here is not lighting, but making the room spectacular.

As a rule, the chandelier is crystal and hung quite low. And the main function of lighting in the apartment in these cases is floor lamps, table lamps and sconces.

On the issue of furniture in the English interior, it should be noted that, first of all, it must be made of solid wood - yew, walnut, oak. This furniture is massive, reliable. Be sure to use natural materials as upholstery - leather, wool, printed linen, tapestries.

Windows in the English style decorated with massive thick curtains made of natural silk with lambrequins and drapery. Naturally, the color of the curtains should be combined with the overall color scheme, but at the same time it should not be too contrasting.