Classical Interiors (Part 1)

When one says "classical interiors", what do people visualise? A ubiquitous google search yielded nothing I expected - just pages and pages of links to shops selling mostly reproduction furnishings and accessories that one could perhaps think of as classical, occasionally a design firm, a wikipedia entry on classical architecture. So what comprises a classical interior? Are classical design principles rigorously applied when designing new interior spaces and rooms? How do we express classical design principles in historic interiors today?

The Great Hall at The Queen's House, Greenwich

Inigo Jones, England's sixteenth century classical architect, was transformed by his years in sun-kissed Italy and returned to England filled with his vision of classical architecture and consequently classical interiors. Simply expressed, if the exterior of a building is regular, symmetrical and in proportion according to the golden mean, that translates to an interior filled with more light, a more rhythmic and regular placement of doors,  fireplaces, windows, a hierarchy of ornamentation and consequently a greater sense of direction and aesthetic pleasure.  It means the surfaces will be embellished within a framework of architectural ornamentation expressed in carved cornices, plasterwork, architraves and other mouldings. The furnishings echo the ornamental motif and are often more comfortable, with upholstered settees, sofas and chairs taking the place of hard chairs, benches and stools. A few years ago I attended a wedding at The Queen's House Greenwich, a precious survivor of Jones' interior work. Furnished by him in the 1630s, The Great Hall is a masterpiece of elegant geometry, the Tulip Staircase appearing to float into eternity. It never fails to invoke in me a sense of the possible and to fill me with both serenity and longing.

The Tulip Staircase at The Queen's House

That's all very well but what does that mean to us today? As a result of what is popular, we notice a look that might be called "eclectic" tends to dominate period or period inspired interiors. Those living in a Georgian farm house will have a Magnet fitted kitchen, and Conran style furniture throughout, with the odd Georgian secretary (or Victorian copy) or sofa table dotted around. Is this just going with the flow of what is readily available and what is considered up to date by peers and the media, is it comfortable, is it simply a modern expectation of what constitutes home? Or are we coldly influenced by the perceived resale value of the house? Do we picture a dream and find the reality of a period house is not comfortable enough and so fill it with incongruous furnishings? Something must surely be taking place at an emotive level because in real terms, it will usually be a better investment to buy period furniture than to buy mass produced furnishings that will be largely worthless shortly after purchase. Also, antiques can be continually repaired and renewed - and carefully placed look peerless in a modern setting.

Robert Adam, in conjunction with artists and makers, in particular the renowned furniture maker Thomas Chippendale, created some of the most important neo classical interiors known today. He was an architect with a complete vision, in an era which celebrated the harmony that he created in a room where everything was connected by repeated motif.  He created a cohesive world which included the design of the lighting, mirrors, furnishings, carpets, every single architectural moulding and bit of plasterwork. Though his vision was initially implemented only for the very rich, elements of it eventually trickled down to most homes. Classical elements, widely copied by those who could not afford architects like Adam, are also evident in the simplest of terraced houses, whether in the architraves and entablatures of doors, ceiling roses, regular window placements, plasterwork and balanced arrangements of furniture, paintings and ornaments.

The Long Gallery at Syon House, by Robert Adam

Next week we'll explore how these historic examples of Classical interiors influence how we create rooms today...