| Considered by many to be the epitome of all that is | | | | Classical pediments, plinths and pilasters all found their |
| desirable for the interior design ideas (and, incidentally, | | | | way indoors to become common interior |
| the exterior too), the Georgian period has a great | | | | embellishments. |
| influence on how we arrange our homes today and is, | | | | Overseas trade and increased wealth led to a |
| in fact, the basis for the currently popular English | | | | demand for a more sophisticated lifestyle. Rudimentary |
| country house style. A combination of perfect | | | | plumbing (running cold water at ground level and basic |
| proportions, symmetry and harmony is hard to resist | | | | waste disposal) became available, as did better |
| for long. | | | | heating and illumination in the homes of the nobility and |
| Covering a period of about a hundred years from | | | | merchant class. Lower down the social strata it was a |
| George I\'s accession to the throne in 1714, Georgian | | | | very different story, a fact that can be used to great |
| style represents the sum of several highly diverse, | | | | advantage when planning a Georgian style interior |
| imported styles, the homogenization of which produced | | | | today. It is not necessary to inherit a grand country |
| a high point in English decoration. This style in turn was | | | | mansion together with a substantial budget before |
| re-exported, influencing, in particular, the newly | | | | considering the adoption of Georgian style. All you |
| established colonies in North America. | | | | need are rooms of pleasing proportions and a |
| At the start of the period, rococo was all the rage in | | | | knowledge of the materials and styles adopted by the |
| France and to some extent in the rest of Europe. With | | | | average household of the day. A modern-day natural |
| its rampant, florid, asymmetrical lines featuring such | | | | floor covering, such as jute over a quarry tiled floor, will |
| motifs as scrolls, shells, flowers and ribbons - in fact, | | | | serve every bit as well as a precious Aubusson |
| anything which could be represented by a curve - it | | | | carpet on ancient wood. |
| had many admirers, not least the French court, the font | | | | As with the interior styles of other ages, it was the |
| of fashion in Europe. | | | | development of materials and skills which greatly |
| In England, however, there were other forces at work. | | | | influenced the changes in interior fashion. The use of |
| The Grand Tour, undertaken by many a well-heeled | | | | hardwoods (mahogany in particular) and the |
| gentleman to enrich his cultural knowledge of the world, | | | | refinement of glass production meant that early |
| meant that continental ideas, especially those | | | | \'heavy\' designs gave way to more delicate styles. |
| espoused in Italy - a \'must stop\' on the trek - were | | | | Rooms were dominated, as ever, by practical |
| given an airing back home. The Earl of Burlington was | | | | considerations. The need to keep warm and to |
| one who made the trip. An architect, he was much | | | | introduce as much light as possible meant that |
| influenced by the work of Andrea Palladio in Italy, and | | | | considerable thought was given to fireplaces and |
| upon his return to England did much to popularize this | | | | windows. |
| classical style of architecture. | | | | Mirrors were also an important feature, reflecting and |
| The clash of these two very different styles could | | | | increasing what natural light was available and, at night, |
| have meant an awful compromise. Instead the best of | | | | candlelight. Practical though these elements were, it did |
| both was retained and the result was magnificent. The | | | | not mean that they had to have a utilitarian |
| straight lines, symmetry and control of the Palladian | | | | appearance. Fireplaces were surrounded by the |
| style served to restrain the more excessive fluidity and | | | | grandest of treatments in fine marble, mirrors framed |
| glitz of the rococo interpretation. In turn the French | | | | with intricately carved, gilt moldings and windows |
| delicacy and freedom of line lifted the rather | | | | dressed either with beautifully paneled shutters or |
| constrained classical style. | | | | curtains hanging from delicately worked, wooden |
| To these two important influences were added two | | | | pelmets. In addition, doors (often double) were fielded, |
| more, Gothick (the \'k\' denotes the revival period) and | | | | ceilings molded and walls frequently paneled. |
| chinoiserie. Every age draws upon the past and this | | | | Not only was this a golden age of architecture and |
| was no exception and, with the increased availability of | | | | decoration but furniture making too was at its height. |
| furnishings from the east, oriental taste also crept into | | | | The designs of Thomas Chippendale, George |
| the currency of English decoration. | | | | Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton are legendary and |
| One outstanding feature of the period was that, | | | | constantly revived. No wonder, then, that elements of |
| through the genius of people such as Robert Adam | | | | Georgian style have endured and are as popular |
| and William Kent, the designs of interiors were, for the | | | | today as ever. |
| first time, indelibly linked with those of the exterior. | | | | |