Today's trends in the development of society and technology have certainly left their mark on 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. 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 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 houses. 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. First floor local residents considered zero. And only what is above the level 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. It is quite 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 here 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. Design English houses differs in diversity.
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 the cultivation of vegetables and fruits is done by farmers who do not live in villages. 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 size. Today they are trying to make it more so that dining table The whole family fit.
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 English there is minimum set furniture. There is never anything superfluous in them. Only the most necessary things and items.
Despite the stiffness and outward closeness of the English, it is rare to see curtains on the windows or curtains in English houses. 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.
Classicism of English style for decoration 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 houses in english style demonstrate the external roughness of unclad facades with low-lying window openings and a bright red tiled roof.
Distinctive elements outside English apartments are considered:
- 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 appearance a little rude.
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 modern English world This direction of development 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 same sizes, 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. Different 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. External facade they are not decorated or covered in any way, so it looks rather rough.
Window openings rectangular or square shape 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 are 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 next to an English residential building small gardens and design picturesque flower beds.
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 is a lot of light in the room. window openings. 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.
Mandatory characteristic for English direction element interior decoration is the fireplace. It acts as the center of the entire interior composition in the guest area.
You can cover the fireplace various materials in the form of 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
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.
How do you like it?
Very nice atmosphere in the kitchen. The classic look goes 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.
Dreams of durable, cozy and beautiful house may someday come to fruition. It all depends on how these dreams are combined with physical and mental efforts.
And if you have such (or a slightly different) house (or apartment), you need to be fully armed and finally arrange your home the way you wanted. And in order to know what you want, it is better to familiarize yourself with the interior that others have. In this article I propose to look at interiors in the English style. The photo below shows a classic living room with a carpet, a sofa and armchairs with ears. A low table in front of the sofa with a top covered in genuine leather is a calling card. English home. The combination of furniture with thin legs (sofa and armchairs) with more massive and voluminous ones in one room is also distinctive feature English.
The same “eared” chairs, but in colorful upholstery, books on the shelves, a twisted wrought-iron chandelier, lighting in the form of small floor lamps with fabric lampshades and, finally, a palm tree by the window - all this is a classic English interior.
An ordinary comfortable old chair next to the bed, where you can sit before going to bed and leaf through a book or watch TV. Everything is simple, but looking at this interior, you understand that everything in this house is good with comfort and arrangement!
An English house usually has large windows decorated with floor-length curtains. This gives the rooms a special elegance.
Small rooms with low ceilings, panels on the walls made of natural wood, olive color walls and soft electric and natural lighting create the atmosphere of an English home.
Wooden panels on the walls are preferably made from durable types of wood, which are treated in a special way to prevent mold and bugs.
Semicircular windows, dark olive-colored walls, a large fireplace, massive upholstered furniture and palm trees, as evidence of past colonial conquests of the British. Much in the interior, like strange plants, appeared in the homes of the British thanks to fearless sailors who brought all this from their long sea voyages.
Accommodation in one room upholstered furniture With different upholstery for some reason it does not evoke a feeling of disunity in the interior, but quite the opposite. There is something elusive and unifying in this environment.
A fireplace or stove, which needs to be heated with wood, will warm its owners in any frost. And how great it is to come after a slushy and cold street, light the fireplace and sit next to you, listen to the firewood crackle and feel the warmth flowing through the room.
Evenings by the lit fireplace in narrow circle family, what could be better?
Winter evenings will not seem tediously long, in this small room It’s warm next to your loved ones and you don’t want to go anywhere.
And around the fireplace you can place all the portraits and small paintings dear to your heart.
The chimney is like a home decoration.
A bedroom in an English house is a well-appointed room. The bed is the main piece of furniture, always beautiful and fundamental.
Not only the furniture in an English house is solid, but also other interior items. The British don't fill their house with cheap trinkets, and once they bring something into the house, it's permanent.
The secret of quality and quality English furniture is to use natural materials for its manufacture and the skill of furniture makers.
Such metal bed with a forged back it looks elegant and light. Bright room filled with sun and fresh air.
Such a bed is covered with a ruffled bedspread; pillowcases on the pillows and curtains on the windows should match it.
All English furniture is reliable and high quality, serving several generations.
And this girl's bedroom is in soft blue with lots of colored pillows.
Here is a bedroom for adult family members. Every centimeter of space is used here. But everything is in its place, everything pleases the eye.
Once upon a time, the canopy over the bed was evidence of the greatness of its owner. Nowadays, romantic people arrange this addition to the bedroom interior over their beds.
Order in the house means order in your thoughts, success in work, a calm and measured life.
They carefully arrange not only the bedroom, but also the kitchen. This special place in a house where food is prepared, it is always cozy, smells delicious, there is an abundance of sunlight and flowers.
Here everything is at hand, everything is familiar and familiar. And it has always been this way, because conservative Englishmen honor their traditions and maintain the connection between generations. wonderful self made furniture is passed down from grandmother to granddaughter.
English cuisine can be light colors with mandatory covers on chairs, with fabric curtains on glass cabinet doors, with lace curtains on windows.
There is always a lot of dishes in English cuisine. English porcelain is renowned for its quality, both ancient and modern.
Dishes in England were always made not only of porcelain and earthenware, but also of ceramic and metal.
How nice it is to celebrate holidays in such a reliable and beautiful house, for example, New Year and Christmas. Fresh pine or Christmas tree branches, lit candles, waiting for a miracle.
And here is the Christmas tree, in the evening it will gather the whole family in this small living room.
Such New Year's evenings with family are remembered forever and live in our childhood memories as the best.
To make your fairytale home not only cozy and comfortable on the inside, but also pleasing to the eye on the outside, it should be surrounded by green spaces.
Trees, flowers, climbing plants there will never be too many if they are well maintained. Of course, such a house is more like the abode of gnomes from English fairy tales, but the flowers are real.
Without the wonderful plants around this house it would be empty and lonely.
And this, albeit small, but such a nice house, also looks good.
I would like to live in such an old brick house, decorated with a climbing trellis rose.
And in front of the house or on open terrace put this swing sofa with a lace cape.
On such a sunny terrace, among the abundance of plants, it is easy to breathe.
The sofa can be placed not only on the veranda or terrace, but also in the garden in front of the house and admire the daisies, cornflowers and asters in moments of relaxation.
The British, like many people on Earth, value nature and love trees and flowers, so they surround their homes with them.
Such a house should have a simple but comfortable interior.
All these houses have their own face, look closely and you will see it too.
Even from the photograph you can feel the warmth of human hands, with what love and businesslike everything was done. A poultry only adds color to this rural idyll.
“My home is my castle” - not only the British say so now. After all, all people in the world understand that their home is part of the happy existence of an entire family.
There is no need to copy the English way of life, their houses and interiors. We are different, but no one forbids us to adopt experience and learn from other peoples the quality of life, improve our culture of life, equip our home, relying on the achievements and skills of Europeans.
English-style houses are in demand all over the world. The style incorporates conservatism, rigor, practicality and sophistication. Such houses are considered the standard of reliability, stability and correspond to the moderate size of life of the British aristocracy. Historically, the architecture of modern England combines three styles: Victorian, Georgian and Tudor.
Peculiarities
At home old England very similar to the classic ones. At first glance, it may seem that massive stone houses in the English style with a wide facade do not look laconic, but architectural elements do not fit together. But design projects prove the opposite: elegance, restraint and spaciousness - everything is perfectly mixed in one style.
The English style combines functionality, rigor and shows the character of its owner.
The architecture of English houses is a kind of visualization of the British mentality. Its design should take into account traditional features, restraint and some isolation. In addition, such houses are always reliable and durable. Main features of the English style:
- The first thing that becomes noticeable is the predominance of natural red stone in the decoration of buildings. The peculiarity of the architecture was influenced primarily by the rainy and cool climate of England.
- Large windows of square or rectangular shape.
- High and sharp roof with red tiles and stone chimney pipe.
- Asymmetrical architecture.
- A large number of flowers, trees and bushes on the site.
Given the insular nature of the British, most areas are fenced off from prying eyes fence This is a mandatory feature of an English-style home.
Fence in rustic style creates a unique look and a complete picture of an English home. The most common option is hedge with climbing plants.
The house is always located separately from the garage and other outbuildings. It is customary to place all structures in the backyard in the middle of the site in order to hide it away from prying eyes. Often houses have a small terrace, a lawn with a flower garden and evenly trimmed bushes, also hidden from prying eyes.
Facade
The finished house in the English style looks massive and strict. The façade is distinguished by the use of natural materials. Typically, such a building can be described as a stone structure with a wide facade, which, however, attracts attention with its clear lines and neatness. As a rule, The house is plastered and made of red brick with classic masonry. Cladding, light plaster and any facade decorations are not considered traditional in the British style.
The facade has distinctive features:
- natural stone or brick;
- absence of carved and decorative elements;
- high pediments and columns;
- lack of a porch;
- uniform distribution of large windows;
- color palette of red or gray shades.
When building houses, the British give preference to natural materials - brick and stone. This material has a long service life and is able to withstand temperature changes and high humidity.
A real English house should be built from natural red brick.
The main advantages of brick houses:
- environmentally friendly finishing material;
- resistance to changes in temperature and humidity;
- excellent sound insulation;
- reliability and durability;
- low cost.
Often for imitation brick facade used clinker tiles or brick-like thermal panels. Wooden houses are built from rounded logs. Such houses speak of the impeccable taste and status of the owners. But you can often find houses with a combined facade made of wood and stone.
Roof
Due to complex configurations The roof is given a high shape. The pointed roof of the English style is difficult to confuse with other architectural or design solution. Steep, with red or dark tiles– is considered a kind of business card.
Also popular roofing materials country house what remains is shale and straw. Such houses have their own special and unique style.
In the mid-17th century, roofs were covered with thatch or water reeds, such houses testified to the complex financial situation owner of the house. Today the situation has changed: thatched roofs are considered environmentally friendly, therefore they are gaining popularity among wealthy citizens and are sure sign well-being and prosperity.
The cool climate, constant humidity and frequent rains have left their mark on the construction of the roof. All houses have an additional canopy around the perimeter. It is rare to find a porch in a classic English house. But a canopy in the form of a pointed roof is a necessary attribute of the entrance group. The green ivy climbing along the canopy looks great here.
Windows
The tall windows of the cottage are located very close to each other and have a strict shape of the same size - a square or rectangle. They play a special role in the interior of the house and have two or three doors. They are located evenly around the entire perimeter of the building. In rare cases, and often as an exception, round or arched windows are found.
On the ground floor of the house in the living room there can be panoramic windows and bay windows. Windows must have additional wooden crossbars that divide the glass into separate squares.
Ideal option The Dutch system of sliding frames is considered, which involves vertically raising the lower part of the frame.
In the interior, the windows are covered with voluminous curtains, decorated with drapery, cords and a floor-length veil. This gives special elegance and sophistication to the room.
Number of floors
Traditionally at home in England they were built according to a plan based on a rectangle. Modern buildings have retained their correct shape. Project two-story house will become great solution For suburban area. But even a small one-story house, surrounded by greenery, will allow you to relax away from the metropolis.
The buildings have a small foundation, and the height of traditional houses reaches two and three floors. The floor on the first floor is almost at ground level. There are usually no basements, but a small cellar may be provided, in which the British prefer to store rarely used items and items.
Most main room considered a living room. It is located on the ground floor and includes an entrance hall, dining area and hall. The large room has many large windows, so there is always a lot of air and light. On the ground floor there may be a library and a study, as well as a kitchen.
The second floor is allocated for sleep and rest of household members and is traditionally a bedroom. One of the rooms may have a bathroom and wardrobe.
Sometimes a house may have an attic. Despite the fact that the roof has a complex, large shape and occupies a huge part of the building, according to the plan, this part of the house is practically not used as free space. It is customary to hide non-residential areas under the roof utility room With large windows. The attic can be used for domestic purposes: for drying clothes or as a storage room.
Interior decoration
The choice of interior is very important and painstaking work. English interior considered one of the most difficult among stylistic directions. It is often equated to classic style and are associated with something majestic. The main palette in the decoration is all shades of red: soft burgundy, rich and dark red. And also gray, white and olive.
The English style is typical large number wood in the interior. Mahogany is ideal for interior decoration of a room. Expensive and elegant material perfectly complements the conservative style. And this applies not only to the floor, ceiling and baseboards, but also ceiling beams And wall panels in combination with wallpaper.
However, not all wallpapers are suitable for an English-style interior. Preference should be given to vertical patterns and clear geometric shapes, as well as floral motifs.
Floors
The floors, windows and doors of a private house are made of noble wood species: oak, walnut and mahogany. Perfect fit natural parquet. To give a special shine and preserve the natural deep color, the boards are coated with varnish and wax. It is also possible to use light tiles or parquet board in some areas of the house.
Walls
The lower part of the wall, like the floor, must have wood covering. Wallpaper with geometric patterns or dense ones can be pasted on top. plant patterns. The joint closes wooden slats at the level of the back of the sofa. Light paint in combination with wooden slats is often used as wall decoration.
If the house is built of logs, then interior decoration hides the tree with plasterboard structures. Paintings, mirrors and photographs in large gilded frames can give a finished look to the wall design.
Ceilings
The entire house has a ceiling white. To create the effect of centuries family home, can be used wooden beams on the ceiling, imitating ancient ceilings. Stucco molding can be used as decoration.
Furniture
Furniture and any decorative elements in village house must be made from expensive natural materials and be of high quality.
Products and furniture made of plastic and artificial synthetic materials cannot be used in English style. The main materials are wood, bronze and silver.
Main feature any English home is presence of a real fireplace. In damp and chilly weather, it performs more than just an aesthetic function. The cladding is made of stone, wood, marble with an openwork forged fence. On the mantelpiece there are clocks, tall candles, porcelain sculptures and flowers. It is advisable to use antique items.
A sofa or armchairs with “ears” are placed opposite the fireplace and located in the center of the living room. A must-have attribute for a living room is classic. coffee table made from natural wood. All furniture should have clear, smooth lines and thin carved legs. You can complement the living room interior with a velvet footrest and a wrought-iron metal stand for fireplace accessories.