Alice Temperley MBE, founder and creative director of British independent fashion brand Temperley London, lives in this Grade II listed Regency country house, built in 1811 and nestled in the rolling hills of Somerset, with her teenage son Fox; Guinness the dog; three cats; Tiny the shire horse; and three alpacas – This and That, Geronimo and Hercules.
Alice has 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 homeware collection,” she says. ‘I have always dreamed of creating a homeware collection as this seems like an obvious extension for my brand. The conversations continued, so I invited Emily and her team to my design studios in Illminster, Somerset, and took her through my archive – we could have spent days going through all the designs….”
The house was once owned by Lord Beaverbrook and visited by Winston Churchill. “I found it in 2010, when a friend’s daughter sent me to check it out,” says Alice. ‘I immediately fell in love with the house: the architecture, the proportions, the magic. I had never seen a house like this and still haven’t. It looks like something out of a fairy tale.’
The country house is a perfect example of British eccentricity and features fantastic architecture with upside-down wedding cakes inspired by the work of Sir John Soane. Original features include the domed library, hand-painted murals, large windows and original plaster roses. The house is very close to Alice’s parents’ cider farm, where Alice and her siblings grew up.
Waiting room
The inspiration for this room is an Art Deco, 1970s Palm Springs vibe. “I knew I wanted the Italian Solutions sofas upholstered in Mimi velvet, so that was the starting point for this room,” Alice explains . ‘Leopard print goes with absolutely everything. Euphoria velvet for the curtains was a must, and the gold palm and screen add a luxurious, decadent feel to the room. The walls are painted in Kelp from Colourman Paint, while the coffee table is covered in pink plain Frieda velvet from the collection.
‘I love the intoxicating atmosphere created by the color palette, especially when the fire is lit and the candles are burning. The French doors open onto a terrace that surrounds the house and where I enjoy myself in the summer. It is an extension of the house.
‘I use this room a lot when I have house guests and people seem to gravitate towards it… for cocktails during the golden hour, for an after-dinner drink or to read the newspaper in front of the fire on a Sunday morning. Piano is often played. I love hanging vintage jackets and headdresses on the wall. I also have an unhealthy amount of mirrors because I love light reflections when I play, which is 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, we sometimes use it as an office,’ says Alice, ‘sometimes as a breakfast room or playroom. It has grand proportions, so it lends itself perfectly to this bold, repeating wallpaper and long, romantic, draped velvet curtains. The theme is the Wild West, and the print – consisting of hand-painted key mandalas, intricately mosaic with new motifs such as antique scissors and rodeo trinkets – is the hero.
‘The Roxanne wall covering matches beautifully with the green Frieda velvet curtains. The window seat cushion, in romantic Mimi leopard velvet, always puts a smile on my face, while the ceiling is all curved and the gold paint makes it a warm, inviting, slightly decadent entrance. Even though the wallpaper is painted in keys, it still has a lace or filigree effect from afar, making it quite subtle. There is an Art Deco-style round mirror table that reflects all the patterns and ceiling details, and my enormous elk head, which I bought at an antique market a long time ago, wearing a vintage pasta crown.”
Dining room
The architectural details throughout the house are generously proportioned and the enormous windows in this room are the perfect place for the curtains with the Lavinia embroidery. ‘The garden doors are big enough for my shire horse to come through and spend time with us,’ says Alice. ‘This room is for fun and entertainment; I often host 25 people for Sunday lunch, so a large dining table and a fireplace are essential.
‘The dining table, originally from Wells Cathedral, was found on a reclamation site. It is used when the house is full – for long lazy lunches or dinners with decadent candlesticks and late evening dancing on the table… with or without Tiny, my shire horse.
‘My figurative bronze ladies’ lamps were a wedding gift from my parents. I also have a big drawing table 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 spaces to spend time. The proportions of the room and the color palette create masculine furniture. ‘I upholstered my vintage sofas in Fantasia velvet – the color palette matches the rich, tobacco-coloured walls perfectly,’ she says. ‘The velvet is based on our crystal print and what this stands for therefore has a beautiful meaning in this incredibly powerful room.’
The checkered coffee table from the 1970s 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 curiosities. The lampshades are done up in the collection – I now want to do every lampshade in my house! I love the proportions of this room, the dome and the view – at sunset it is bathed in the most magical golden light.
‘My son, Fox, used to play video games, but since we incorporated the Romo x Temperley fabrics and trims, I’ve taken it back! The colors make it a very intoxicating, atmospheric room – a place to read, listen to records or stay up into the early hours with friends. It is also where Fox and I keep our crystals and stones that we collect from all over the world.”
Large bedroom
In the master bedroom it’s all about the 3 meter wide bed that Alice loves. ‘We upholstered my bed with Mimi velvet and the continuous curtains have Lavinia embroidery. This fabric is overtly feminine and decadent, and the leopard base 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 color along with the natural light and proportions of the windows. I found my A&E II shield, now on the wall above the bed, at Alice’s on Portobello Road.’
Guest room
“The guest room is occupied by friends most weekends because I like to have a full house,” says Alice. “I wanted it to be a calm, quiet space. I love the dark masculine base of the wall covering, juxtaposed with the feminine leopard. For this room we chose the Delilah wall covering – it is both playful and bohemian and the black base with metallic print gives a richness and decadence, especially with the pink jacquard curtains and the rich brown Frieda plain velvet canopy above the bed.’
Master bathroom
This bathroom is Alice’s private sanctuary. “It’s the place I go to relax and reset,” she says. ‘I love to lie in the bath and relax after a busy day, often twice a day! My inspiration for this room is the French boudoir style with a bohemian touch.
‘About twelve years ago, a friend, Jade Parfitt, and I decided to cover my freestanding bath with a broken mirror. It took a lot longer than we thought, but it was worth it… When the light shines on the bath, it fills the room. simply magical.
‘I love the light in the afternoon when it falls into the disco ball pool. The walls are covered in flocked leopard Mimi wallpaper and the curtains are in plain pink Frieda velvet, while the vintage rugs and mirrors come from Alice’s travels. ‘I collect some vintage chairs that I have reupholstered and will soon be selling similar chairs in my shop.’
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