by Alice Temperley MBE, Founder and Creative Director of independent British fashion brand Temperley London, lives in this Grade-II listed Regency mansion, built in 1811 and nestled in the Somerset hills, with her son, Fox , who is a teenager; Guinness the dog; three cats; Tiny the shire horse; and three alpacas – This and That, Geronimo and Hercules.
Alice launched her first interior fabric collection with Romo Fabrics. ‘When I first met Emily Mould, Director of Design and Excellence at The Romo Group, we immediately clicked on our vision for a Temperley homewares collection,’ she says. ‘I’ve always dreamed of creating a homewares collection as it seems like an obvious extension of my brand. Conversations continued so I invited Emily and her team to my design studios in Illminster, Somerset, and took her through my archive – we could spend days going through all the designs….’
The house once belonged to Lord Beaverbrook and Winston Churchill used to live there. ‘I found it in 2010, when a friend’s daughter sent me to see it,’ says Alice. ‘I immediately fell in love with the house – the architecture, its proportions, its charm. I’ve never seen a house like it before and I still haven’t – it’s like something out of a fairy tale.’
A perfect example of British eccentricity, the manor is inspired by Sir John Soane’s stunning inverted wedding cake architecture. Original features include the vaulted library, hand-painted murals, large windows and original plaster rosettes. The house is very close to Alice’s parents’ cider farm where Alice and her sisters grew up.
Sitting room
The inspiration for this room is a 1970s, Art Deco, Palm Springs vibe. ‘I knew I wanted the sofas from Italian Solutions to be covered in Mimi velvet, so that was the starting point for this room,’ explains Alice. ‘Leopard print goes with absolutely everything. Euphoria velvet for the curtains was essential, and the gold palm and screen add a luxe, decadent feel to the room. The walls are painted in Kelp from Colourman Paint and the coffee table is covered in Frieda white, pink velvet from the collection.
‘I love the dominant atmosphere created by the color palette – especially when the fire is burning, and candles are burning. The French windows open onto a terrace that goes around the house and is where I entertain in the summer – it’s an extension of the house.
‘I use this room a lot when I have house guests and people seem to gravitate to it…for cocktails at golden hour, after dinner drinks or reading the Sunday morning papers in front of the fire. The piano is often played. I love hanging vintage jackets and headwear on the walls. I also have an unhealthy amount of mirrors because I love the reflection of light playing, which is also why I love a disco ball…’
Morning room
The morning room connects the kitchen to the entrance hall and has an alcove that opens onto the stairs. ‘This room is so versatile, sometimes we use it as an office,’ says Alice, ‘Sometimes it’s a breakfast room or a games room. It has large proportions and is therefore perfectly suited to this bold, textured wallpaper and long, romantic velvet drapey curtains. The theme is the wild west, and the print – made up of hand-painted mandalas of keys, which closely intertwine with novelty motifs such as antique scissors and rodeo trinkets – is the hero.
‘Roxanne’s wall covering goes well with Frieda’s green velvet curtains. The window seat cushion, in romantic Mimi Leopard velvet, always brings a smile to my face, although the ceiling is all curved and the gold paint makes it a warm, welcoming slightly decadent entrance. Although the wallpaper is painted keys, there is a lace or filigree effect from afar so it is quite subtle. There’s a round Art Deco mirrored table that shows off all the ceiling patterns and details, and my giant head, which I bought at an antiques market a long time ago, wears a vintage plaster crown.’
Dining room
The architectural details throughout the house are generously proportioned and the huge windows in this room are the perfect home for the Lavinia embroidered curtains. ‘The French doors are big enough for my county horse to come through and spend time with us,’ says Alice. ‘This room is for fun and entertainment; I often have 25 people over for Sunday lunch so a huge dining table and fireplace are essential.
‘The dining table, originally from Wells cathedral, was found in a reclaimed yard. Used when the house is full – for long lazy lunches or dinners with decadent candelabras and late night dancing on the table…with or without Tiny my shire horse.
‘My figurative bronze lamps were wedding gifts from my parents. I also have a big drawing board there and I like to lock myself in this room to work. My great friend Frederick Winsett painted the chinoiserie-inspired mural on the China-Blue painted walls.’
Library
The library, on the first floor, is one of Alice’s favorite places to spend time. The room’s proportions and color palette allow for masculine furniture. ‘I put my vintage sofas in Fantasia velvet – the color palette works perfectly with the rich tobacco walls,’ she says. ‘The velvet is based on our crystal print so there is a beautiful meaning to what it stands for in this very powerful room.’
70’s checkered coffee table lights up. I found it in Les Couilles Des Chien on Golborne Road where my friend Jerome the owner has the most eclectic selection of antiques and curios. The lampshades are made in the collection – now I want to make every shade in the house! I love the proportions of this room, the vault and the view – at sunset it’s bathed in the most magical golden light.
It was where my son, Fox, used to play video games, but since we’ve incorporated the Romo x Temperley fabrics, I brought it back! The colors make it a very atmospheric room – a place to read, listen to records or stay up early with friends. It is also where Fox and I keep the crystals and rocks we collect from all over the world.’
Master bedroom
The master bedroom is about the 9 foot wide bed that Alice loves. ‘We made my bed in Mimi’s velvet and the full-length curtains are in Lavinia’s embroidery. This fabric is overtly feminine and decadent, and the leopard print is an unexpected twist that I love. I also love the pink paint, handmade by Colourman Paints for the room, as it is the perfect pink with the natural light and the proportions of the windows. I got my ER II shield, which is now on the wall above the bed, at Alice’s on Portobello Road.’
Guest bedroom
‘Friends are in the living room most weekends because I love having a full house,’ says Alice. ‘I wanted it to be a quiet, quiet space. I like the dark masculine base of the wall covering alongside the feminine leopard. We chose the Delilah wallcovering for this room – it’s fun and bohemian and the black base with a metallic print adds richness and decadence, especially with the pink jacquard curtains and the rich brown Frieda plain velvet canopy over the bed.’
Main bathroom
This bathroom is Alice’s private sanctuary. ‘That’s where I go to relax and unwind,’ she says. ‘I love soaking in the bath and relaxing after a busy day, often twice a day! My inspiration for this room is French boudoir style with a bohemian twist.
‘About 12 years ago, a friend, Jade Parfitt, and I decided to cover my freestanding bath in a broken mirror – it took a lot longer than we thought but it was worth it….when the light comes on in the bath it fills the room, it’s worth it. just magical.
‘I love the light in the afternoon when it hits the bath of the disco ball. The walls are covered in Mimi leopard flocked wallpaper and the curtains are the plain pink Frieda velvet and the vintage rugs and mirrors from Alice’s travels. ‘I collect pairs of old chairs that I have reupholstered and I will soon be selling similar chairs in my shop.’
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