Ben Pentreath, who happens to be the interior designer for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, is one of my favorite follows on Instagram. Ben lives with his husband, famed floral designer and gardener Charlie McCormick, in an old Parsonage in West Dorset, England. Their home has been widely published in The New York Times, The Telegraph, House & Garden Magazine, and in Ben’s renowned book, English Decoration. I recently stumbled upon pictures of the Parsonage via House & Garden and thought it would be fun to share along with additional pictures from his website and the couples’ Instagram accounts.
The house is a simple, early 19th century former Parsonage, and when Ben took a long lease for the house in 2008 he put in place a simple but thorough restoration of the whole building and garden. The Parsonage sits in a beautiful location next to the church facing south across a wooded valley. Over the years the interiors have evolved to form a restrained, soft, comfortable backdrop to a collection of ordinary and inexpensive English antique furniture, pictures and prints. The home and surrounding gardens are unhurried, gentle, and very English.
For more on Ben Pentreath and his work, I recommend his books English Houses: Inspirational Interiors from City Apartments to Country Manor Houses and English Decoration: Timeless Inspiration for the Contemporary Home. You can also visit Pentreath & Hall, one of London’s most distinctive interiors and decoration shops, co-founded by Ben Pentreath and Bridie Hall. The shop has a worldwide following.
Mark Gillette Refreshes a 300-year-old English Manor
A Storybook Country House by Kirill Istomin
65 Ways to Decorate with Silhouettes!
A Classic London Townhouse by Veere Grenney
This was an inspirational post. Fantastic. So many ideas and details to mull over.
I like that this home doesn’t look overly “decorated” but I think that some of the rooms would perhaps benefit from having one or two items removed. I think the rows of magazines stacked on the hallway floor need to go, they’re a tripping hazard and a bit reminiscent of a hoarding situation.
Hi! I have a friend that used to be a Hee Haw Honey and Just wrote a book with another Hee Haw Honey:). She has a very gorgeous historical house here in Nashville. I didn’t know if you would ever do a post on her. She is awesome person and just thought I would throw it out there. Her name is Victoria Hallman Traver and I am not an agent or anything. I’m just a friend that loves her house and your website. best polly winecoff 615-922-9437. Thanks!! Love your site!!
Hi Polly,
I would love to see them!!
Xx,
Andrea
The Glam Pad
That kitchen! I adore it. Everything a kitchen should be. So glad they didn’t modernize it and muck it up. It has character and charm. Really made me smile. No all-white surgery theatre there. It looks like it has always been that way.
I follow Ben and Charlie on Instagram, and love their style. And what a place! So idyllic. Dorset is one of my favourite areas in England.
Being a decorator, his books and magazines are inspirational . The floor is fine and easy. This is Country English’s decor and garden at its finest.
It is wonderful when two of my favorite inspirational people come together, have been a long time follower of Ben’s blog and it like yours is always a feast for the eyes and soul….
Thank you, Michelle! 🙂
Xx,
Andrea
The Glam Pad
Wonderful blog post! I have both of Ben’s books, so I am quite familiar with his design aesthetic.
There’s not a thing I would change in Ben’s quintessential English homes- I just love every thing about them,, and if you want more corroboration and more photos of the parsonage, check out Laurel Bern’s blog. Last year, Laurel was part of an architectural tour group touring England and Ben was kind enough to invite them all for lunch.
Swoon! 🙂
Total coincidence. I’m researching a post and came across this post. Thank you so much kind Dolores for mentioning my blog. Yes, I was incredibly fortunate to visit Ben and Charlie’s home last October and have a delectable lunch created by Charlie. Two more talented and charming men, than Ben and Charlie do not exist.
And their home in person is even more enchanting, if you can imagine. As I had already spent countless hours dreaming, thinking, stalking on instagram, ;] the entire two hours was the most surreal and incredible experience that I’ll never forget. Plus, we got to spend the entire day with (hubba hubba) Ben! I’m linking to the main post in the website box. (you’ll see a pic of me giggling like a schoolgirl in between them.)
BTW, Huge fan of this blog and find myself on it quite often. xoxo ~ Laurel
What a fun post Laurel, thank you for sharing! And thank you for the kind words, I am a huge fan of yours as well! 🙂
Xx,
Andrea
The Glam Pad
As always, you’ve done a great job presenting a great blog post. Ben Pentreath and Charlie McCormick’s home is indeed a little slice of heaven. Andrea, thanks for doing all the work to make our day a little brighter. Love getting your email saying there’s a new post at The Glam Pad.
Hi Judy,
Thank you so much for the kind words! Your home is also a little slice of heaven, and I loved featuring it on my blog. 🙂 https://www.theglampad.com/2017/12/an-old-fashioned-southern-christmas.html
Xx,
Andrea
Swoon! Ben is one of my all time favorite decorators. The English simply know how to live and decorate.
I just looked at these pictures yet again. Now THIS is how one makes a HOME! It’s personal, filled with the story of ones life and loves. And the garden – oh be still my heart! Of course, the garden is brought indoors with all that glorious chintz.
When I look at all the all-gray rooms out there today, I could dry. This is color at it’s finest.
What a treat! Thank you for these lovely pictures!