An old house in England. English-style house: review of design for country and urban buildings (80 photos)

The house is usually built of red brick. Moreover, no external decoration of the walls is provided. This is a fairly durable and beautiful material. And houses made from it, in an island and mild climate, have stood for centuries. This is actually why the ground floor is built at ground level. The foundations here are low. And you won’t see any porch or terrace at the front door.

Now let's go inside... Just a picture from a magazine! The owners wanted to introduce both rustic and modern elements into the design.

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Very nice atmosphere in the kitchen. The classic look combines well with modern equipment.

In the village, houses are a little simpler than in the city. Here you can often see dwellings made of stone. An old British country house is usually smaller in size than a city house. And the second floor is often an attic. But in the village you can see roofs made of reeds and grass. They look very original and beautiful. Now we go out onto the terrace and admire again.

In ancient times, a roof covered with reeds or herbs spoke of the owner's poverty. But times are changing and today few wealthy home owners can afford such a roof. Nowadays, the presence of a thatched roof indicates the wealth of the owner of the house. Incredibly cozy courtyard! Ideal for breakfast.

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 houses a fireplace, which is found in almost every British home. Traditionally, an armchair or sofa is placed opposite the fireplace. Near it, a tea table covered with a tablecloth would also be appropriate. In the office there is usually a table and an armchair, and bookshelves or a wardrobe 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 home of the British there is a minimum set of furniture. There is never anything superfluous in them. Only the most necessary things and items.

Another traditional design element, albeit external, is the arrangement of a lawn and flower beds. The lawn is the pride of the home owner. It has been grown and refined for years. But numerous flower beds and flower beds are located both in front of the house and behind it. And this is another English tradition.

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

The distinctive elements of the exterior of English apartments are:

• wall surfaces made of natural stone elements or bricks;
• lack of carved parts;
• asymmetry in the location of the exterior composition;
• presence of columns;
• narrow color palette;
• gable roof;
• The area 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 characteristics and features.

Tudor house style. Visually, such buildings resemble fairy-tale village houses. However, the appearance is a little rough.

The main architectural features of this type are:

• the presence of high pediments on the main façade;
• roof with a steep slope and uneven edges;
• large chimney and miniature dormer windows;
• the general outlines of the building are asymmetrical;
• the entrance has an arched design.

Georgian architectural style. For the modern English world of development, this direction is the most popular. Georgian buildings 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;
• lack of various kinds of decorations;
• the main facade of the building is decorated with five windows;
• the entrance door is located very low;
• low roof.

Victorian direction. It features decorative cladding and contrasting color combinations.

Its features:

• asymmetrical arrangement;
• overall veranda area;
• decorative finishing of wall surfaces with stone or siding;
• ornamental and stucco elements.

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

Another advantage is high sound insulation qualities indoors.

An English apartment project 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 practically coincides with the ground plane. You won’t be able to find the usual basements and garages in the house, since the English style does not imply this.

Sometimes owners can equip a small cellar or storage room in their home. The external façade is not decorated or clad in any way, so it looks rather rough.

Window openings of 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 structure is very high. In recent years, the roofs of English houses have been made of straw or reeds.

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

The ivy climbing along the canopy brings special luxury to the design of an English-style house. It is customary to plant small gardens and create picturesque flower beds next to English residential buildings.

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 must be made light, since there are many window openings in the room. Another room on the first level is a study.

The second floor is considered the sleeping area. There are three bedrooms in total, one of which has a bathroom and wardrobe.

Interior composition of the house

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

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

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

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

The fireplace can be faced with various materials such as marble, wood or lime panels. On the shelf above the fireplace it is customary to display clocks, bronze sculptures, flowerpots with flowers and snuff boxes with cigarette cases.

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

Photos of English style houses

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

Classic modern city and country house

Great Britain has been an industrial country for several centuries. In this country, the urban population predominates over the rural population. And if so, then there should be more city residents. After all, 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 countries, not many people can afford to pay for the construction or purchase of a private home. Therefore, the vast majority become home owners, paying off a mortgage 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. This is exactly how many residents of Foggy Albion live in their own homes. There are cities there too. And there are a lot of them. But both in cities and in rural areas, conservative Englishmen prefer a private house.

What does a modern home look like in England? A typical English house is a two or three-story building. Moreover, the understanding of number of storeys is somewhat different from ours. Local residents consider the first floor to be zero. And only what 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 decoration of the walls is provided. This is a fairly durable and beautiful material. And houses made from it, in an island and mild climate, have stood for centuries. This is actually why the ground floor is built at ground level. The foundations here are low. And you won’t see 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 winters that are severe by local standards. For reference, it is worth mentioning that in Russia the depth of soil freezing can reach several meters. And a significant part of the country is generally located on permafrost.

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

This is facilitated not only by canopies and awnings over the entrance doors. Every house must have a small lawn where you can plant a flower bed or flower garden. And the buildings themselves are often decorated with climbing plants. 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 village

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

The concept of countryside and village is somewhat different here. In essence, villages are small towns. The roads are paved and the areas are landscaped. You won’t see vegetable gardens with potato plantations there. Villagers do not grow vegetables and fruits. They are engaged in growing flower beds and lawns. Therefore, any English village is cozy and clean.

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

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

In the village, houses are a little simpler than in the city. Here you can often see dwellings made of stone. An old British country house is usually smaller in size than a city house. And the second floor is often an 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 owner's poverty. But times are changing and today few wealthy home owners can afford such a roof. Nowadays, the presence of a thatched roof indicates 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 houses a fireplace, which is found in almost every British home. Traditionally, an armchair or sofa is placed opposite the fireplace. Near it, a tea table covered with a tablecloth would also be appropriate. In the office there is usually a table and an armchair, and bookshelves or a wardrobe 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 home 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 outward closeness of the English, in English houses you can rarely see curtains on the windows or curtains. Windows are usually made quite wide. Rectangular and square in shape, they are often divided into small fragments.

Traditions of the English home

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. On the mantelpiece there are photographs, small figurines, vases, and clocks. And in front of the fireplace, just like hundreds of years ago, tea parties are held.

You will find a historical excursion into the origins of a comfortable and so sweet-looking English home. Photos of houses and interiors are modern.

In the 16th-17th centuries, England became the center of world trade and a powerful colonial power. Country estates are becoming the defining type of English housing. During this period, the architecture, named after the ruling dynasty, was called “Tudor”. The estates have already lost their fortress character, residential buildings have increased in width, large and frequent windows and bay windows have replaced the slit-like openings of medieval castles.

At this time, many Flemish architects were working in England, fleeing the persecution of the Spanish Inquisition; they had a significant influence on the development of decorative motifs in the design of buildings. The requirements of reliability and defense capability gave way to concerns about the best lighting and ventilation of the room; now the housing had to be comfortable, have not only cozy living rooms, but also beautiful formal rooms, and the beauty of their decoration testified to the power and wealth of the owner.

As before, in the center of the house, as in medieval castles, there was a hall - a ceremonial hall, but now it was richly decorated along the walls with carved oak panels, and above them were hung hunting trophies, weapons and portraits of famous ancestors. The ceiling was covered with stucco or carved open rafters.

On one side of the hall there were living rooms, and on the other - utility rooms. This configuration of the house goes back to the ancient wooden dwelling of the Saxons, where utility and living quarters were located around a threshing floor, the ceiling of which was the open rafters of the roof. An indispensable attribute of the house was a huge fireplace that reached almost to the ceiling. And another characteristic detail is the wide staircase in the hall, decorated with sculptures and carved wooden railings. The owners of the estate were very proud of the beauty and size of the staircase.

The outside of the building was clad in brick with white cut stone trim. These details were decorated with intertwining curls of carvings, masks, and figures of monsters. The contrasting combination of decorative white stone parts and brick surfaces is a characteristic feature of English architecture.

At the same time, half-timbered houses began to be built in large numbers in English villages (the influence of Flemish architects was felt). Their facades were covered with a dense network of wooden beams - half-timbered beams, which stood out brightly against the background of white plaster and picturesquely decorated the streets of villages and small towns.

Two centuries later, the residential buildings of Victorian England, common in both town and country, retained many of the architectural features of the manor houses of the past, but became more compact. The center of the building was still made up of the traditional hall and staircase, and the remaining rooms were grouped around them.

The utility rooms were moved to the ground floor. As before, the houses were brick with white stone trim, and in the center of the facade there was a door framed by white columns.

The cozy interiors of such houses were especially attractive. Their decor was based on antique motifs. Walls covered with carved oak panels, carved fireplaces and white staircases decorated with sculpture.

And in the rooms there is stylish furniture by Chippendale, a famous master of that time, as if “quilted” with many nails. The next generations of their inhabitants fell in love with the coziness and comfort of these houses, carefully preserving the interiors and supplementing them with objects from their eras. As a result, a completely original style was formed - a traditional English house.

Loyalty to traditions, as is known, is a distinctive feature of the British. The reason for this was the island isolation, the reserved character, and the measured way of life of the subjects of the kingdom. The well-known motto “My home is my fortress!” - this is a kind of philosophy of their life. And in our time, respectable Englishmen prefer antiquity to avant-garde, and authenticity to stylization, so if there is oak furniture in the house, then it is really made of solid oak, and not finished “to look like oak”. Everything in this house is installed firmly and for a long time and is passed on unchanged from generation to generation. For example, the Windsor hard chair made of wood, invented three hundred years ago and is just as popular today. And the wood species used to make furniture are the same as many centuries ago: oak, walnut, yew. But this furniture, on which many generations of ancestors sat, seems to be surrounded by a special aura and creates the indescribable charm of an English home.

Each new generation of its inhabitants, without changing anything inherited from their ancestors, brought something of their own to the environment. Thus, wicker rattan furniture for the terrace was brought from the colonies, and Arab lamps, Japanese screens and engravings were brought from travels to the East. And, as a result of the gradual acquisition, pieces of furniture in the interior differ in tone and style, generally creating a kind of harmony.

Textiles occupy a large place in the decor of an English home: lampshades, covers on sofas and chairs, pillows and blankets on armchairs, curtains and canopies over the bed. The color scheme is usually light and calm. And the designs are varied from Scottish checks and printed chintz with small flowers in the kitchen, strict stripes on silk and colored cashmere in the living room to luxurious bouquets of “English” roses on the canopy, bedspreads and curtains in the bedroom.

A typically English design with lush bouquets of roses scattered on a light background has become popular not only in England. But he could have been born there: with such curtains and a canopy over the bed you can isolate yourself from the humid fog and drizzle outside the window, recalling centuries-old English lawns and luxurious flower beds. Plain, striped, with small floral designs or covered with antique oak panels, the walls of the house are decorated with tapestries and paintings: watercolors, engravings, landscapes, oil paintings, and, of course, originals.

An indispensable attribute of a house in foggy and cool England is a fireplace. It can be different: simply decorated with bleached bricks with a dark wood mantel, lined with tiles or natural stone. But in any case, this is the center of the living room, around it there is upholstered furniture, low tables, woolen carpets with a dim pattern on a wooden floor. Such fireplaces look very stylish even in modern interiors:

The kitchen in an English house is a special room. Good quality furniture made of hard wood, carved and painted in light colors: a chest of drawers, a pile of dishes, open shelves with ceramics, most often blue and white. Plates with discreet patterns of all sizes, candlesticks, teapots. What was previously used today serves as a decoration for the kitchen. Modern household appliances are “hidden” in such a kitchen, but the decoration of the kitchen is the hearth-fireplace, which was previously used for warmth and cooking, but now creates a cozy atmosphere of an old house.

All the details of everyday life in such a house, be it trinkets and souvenirs on the mantelpiece, a carpet, a lamp, a painting or furniture on the terrace, correspond to the customs and habits of this particular family and are associated with family stories and legends. English interiors of the Victorian era are very individual and natural - this is their main distinguishing feature and this is also the special charm of the style of a traditional English house.

Unfortunately, now modern Englishmen of average income do not strive to follow centuries-old traditions, while Russian-speakers who have moved to Albion are happy and meticulous in recreating replicas of such spectacular Victorian interiors, beloved from books, skillfully incorporating British notes into the modern style with the help of designers: