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Howsham Hall

Unconventional Grade I listed house in Yorkshire

When the owners of this historic house, built in 1610 and used as a private boys school for the past 50 years, wanted to carry out a major restoration and decoration they called on James Perkins of GL50 Interiors. An award winning expert at restoring listed English houses and the owner of Aynhoe Park (an important historic house near Oxford) he understood the scale of work and the many rules that apply to such important properties. His clients gave him freedom to decorate and furnish the house in his own idiosyncratic style, using furniture from the GL50 range of period tables, mirrors and lighting as well as including reproduction plaster casts from his own extensive collections. They certainly did not want a conventional country house decor - it had to be modern while respecting the classic architecture. Important period features such as the stone fireplaces, panelling and elaborate cornicing have all been retained while a sleek modern kitchen by Mark Wilkinson sits between the grand dining room and the breakfast room. There are 5 reception rooms, 7 bedroom suites and numerous leisure spaces and wine cellars and with parkland stretching to some 85 acres. It is a perfect example of how historic houses can be restored for 21st century lifestyles.