Sarah beeny’s bespoke oak staircase & Library, somerset
Property expert Sarah Beeny and her husband, artist Graham Swift have recently swapped London life for a new start in the Somerset countryside. With ambitious plans to build a modern stately home, they called upon Stuart Interiors to commission the design, manufacture and installation of an authentic Georgian style bespoke oak staircase. Installed in 2021 and filmed for the television series, ‘Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country’, the majestic oak staircase has been designed to create a grand impression in the Palladian style Entrance Hall.
Attention to detail and authenticity were important to Sarah & Graham. Research and discussion led to using an original turned baluster design which perfectly compliments the style of the house. The quality of the finish was also fundamental to the success of the project. Using traditional methods and techniques, the oak has been finished by hand to build a patina which gives the impression the joinery has far more age than it actually does.
Sarah Beeny comments, “What has been most important to us is creating a sense of history and permanence in a new build. Stuart Interiors have created an oak staircase that looks and feels as if it’s been here for centuries, which is exactly what we wanted, and we are thrilled to think that it will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Such a success is the staircase, Sarah & Graham also commissioned a classical style traditional oak library for the same project.
The episode was broadcast on C4, Tuesday 7th December 2021, at 8pm. Click here to watch – Series 2, Episode 2.
Bespoke, Gothic Oak Staircase for a Somerset Manor
Installed in 2021 as part of significant modifications to a traditional Somerset Manor House, the brief was to create a spectacular bespoke Gothic oak staircase in our clients’ new Entrance Hall.
Inspired by the beautiful geometry used in Gothic architecture, the arched tracery designed for the oak balustrade and gallery landings is breath-taking.
A hand-carved, oak dragon finial guards over the Entrance Hall and the beauty of the timber is accentuated by the fine patina achieved by hand finishing each piece of the oak staircase.
bespoke interior joinery for a family home in bucks.
An extensive bespoke interior joinery project, working alongside our client and their architectural and building teams. Stuart Interiors are designers and makers of two oak coffered ceilings, the first in the main reception room and the second crowning the pool room.
Each ceiling featuring hand carved oak bosses, with every boss a different C16th design.
Solid oak panelling has been installed throughout the house, with a linenfold design running through the ground and first floors.
Large, Tudor arched Entrance Doors feature three door leaves and a hand-carved solid oak curtain pelmet, with a leaf and vine design.
Further oak doors, including two sets of bespoke sliding doors and an impressive curved oak door, the designs for which are based on a C16th original from a Devon manor house.
Please contact us and we would be delighted to discuss how we could be of help with your project.
King Edward I’s Medieval Bedchamber, Tower of London
Working closely with the research teams at Historic Royal Palaces, Stuart Interiors were commissioned to re-create King Edward I’s Medieval Bed Chamber in St Thomas’ Tower at the Tower of London, as it might have appeared during his reign in the 13th century.
With little evidence of any furniture this early we conducted detailed research to create an appropriate design for King Edward’s bed. Looking at early historic documents, the design emerged from arcade detailing on the early medieval chair at Hereford Cathedral. We also supplied specially woven carpets, bed furnishings, wall hangings, ironwork, ceramic jugs and X-frame chairs.
These rooms are among the most decadent at the Tower and give a fabulous insight into royal medieval life.
Oak Joinery for a Commercial Property, City of London
Stuart Interiors were commissioned by a leading merchant banker in St James’ Square, London, to create an impressive suite of oak panelled rooms, including Entrance Hall, Library, Conference Room and Board Rooms. We also produced a small Georgian style staircase with monkey tail handrail, and various pieces of bespoke furniture.
This project took eighteen months to complete, from initial concept designs to final installation, with a total spend of around £400,000.
If you would like further information on how we can help with your project, please contact us and we would be delighted to discuss your project.
Manor House, Oxfordshire
Stuart Interiors were commissioned to design and manufacture several areas for this beautiful 17th century Manor House in Oxfordshire. Working directly with the client, we used existing period joinery references as a starting point and developed ideas creatively with the client.
The original Perne Library at Peterhouse College, Cambridge, provided inspiration for the oak joinery in the Drawing Room, featuring oak double doors, early C17th style oak panelling and overmantel.
The Knole settees, Elizabethan style oak desk and pewter wall lights for the Drawing Room are also designed and supplied by Stuart Interiors.
An impressive Tudor arch has been installed between the Entrance Hall and Piano Hall, with full height oak panelling throughout, connecting these two reception rooms.
Solid oak planked and panelled doors have been installed across the ground floor and first floor.
The Master Bedroom is inspired by late medieval designs and includes parchemin panelled oak wardrobes, a medieval style oak tester bed, gothic low table and bespoke television cabinet.
If you would like further information on how we can help with your project please contact us and we would be delighted to discuss your project.
Bespoke Joinery for an historic Devonshire Manor
A house of some form has existed on the site of this Manor in Devon probably since the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.
Stuart Interiors was commissioned to create Tudor style solid oak panelling for the Great Hall and a personalised overmantel for the East Hall, along with bespoke pieces of oak furniture and hand forged ironwork.
The overmantel is late C16th in style with the carved details inspired by historic panels found in the local church. Enhanced with polychrome decoration, the owner’s family’s coats of arms are proudly displayed.
The oak panelling was inspired by original joinery at Muchelney Abbey in Somerset, currently in the care of English Heritage and well worth a visit if you are in the area. Details and photographs can be found here.
Many of the oak panel feature hand carved parchemin decoration, a stylised design, which became popular across Europe in the C16th century.
Great care and attention has been given to the finishing of the oak, creating a patina which successfully merges the new joinery into its ancient surroundings.
If you have a similar project you wish to discuss, please contact us.
oak joinery, furniture and furnishings for a devonshire manor
Tucked away in a beautiful part of Devon lies this jewel of an English Manor house. Stuart Interiors have a long-standing relationship with this special building and over the years have undertaken numerous commissions from both current and previous owners.
Most rewarding has been the restoration of the magnificent original Elizabethan staircase which was in need of general care and also required the replacement of the impressive carved animal finials which had been unfortunately removed and lost in years past.
Careful research led us to illustrations of what should have adorned the newel posts and our master carvers recreated the beasts on display today.
Commissions have also included the solid oak front door, with inner-framed panelled design; oak tester bed, wardrobes and curtaining for the Master Bedroom and other furniture and furnishings throughout the house.
Interiors for a georgian manor in west sussex
This interesting Georgian Manor in West Sussex required restoring to its former glory. Visited by the public and used for events, such as weddings and conferences, Stuart Interiors were tasked with designing and specifying everything in this forty-plus room property.
Including joinery, furniture, floor coverings, textiles and lighting, highlights include a bespoke oak library with library ladder to house a vast collection of the owner’s published books; dining furniture for the extraordinary Monkey Room, hand-painted in 1945 by artist John Spencer-Churchill, the nephew of Sir Winston Churchill; Georgian style office furniture, display cabinets and partner’s desks; extravagant C18th style curtaining and decorative items such as candle sconces, mirrors, antique items and globes.
Working directly with the client and their design team, this project took three years to complete, from initial concept design to final installation, with a budget of over £1,000,000.
Oak Joinery for a new build Tudor style House, Connecticut
Stuart Interiors were commissioned to design and manufacture all the principle interiors for this new build timber framed house in Connecticut, USA. With a strong emphasis on late medieval and early Tudor designs, our work included four bespoke oak staircases, the main staircase featuring hand carved lion and unicorn finals. The master bedroom suite includes a canopied four poster bed and Renaissance style cabinet with hidden television. The intimate Dining Room includes Tudor style oak panelling throughout with hand carved overmantel and the Medieval Great Hall also features an 18’ dining table. Tudor arched, glazed doors are a feature in the oak library along with a beautiful hand carved Renaissance style overmantel. Solid oak doors, bespoke furniture, soft furnishings & lighting were designed and supplied throughout the house.
This project took around two years to complete, from initial concept designs to final installation, with a budget of around £800,000.
If you would like further information on how we can help with your project please contact us and we would be delighted to discuss your options.
Restoration of a Somerset Manor House
After a beautiful Arts & Crafts Manor House in the Quantock Hills suffered extensive fire and water damage, Stuart Interiors were commissioned to restore it to its former glory.
The challenge was to seamlessly blend what remained of the original oak joinery with the new. Sections of the grand three-storey staircase needed replacement balusters, treads, risers and hand rail. As much of the original oak panelling as possible was conserved and restored in the Entrance Hall, Dining Room and Drawing Room.
New joinery was specially designed and installed to match where required. We also undertook the re-colouring and polishing of decoratively carved overmantles and designed and installed a partially glazed oak Library featuring a hand-carved frieze.
This project took one year to complete, from initial consultation to final installation, with a total spend of around £250,000.
Oak Panelled Drawing Room, Henley-upon-Thames
Stuart Interiors were commissioned to design and make a contemporary style oak panelled Drawing Room for a private home in Henley-upon-Thames. The design was very much based on classical Georgian style with bolection mouldings, high ceilings, and large oak panels. It also has a contemporary feel with a light painted-wash and polished finish. Integrated within the joinery scheme are bookcases, cabinets, hidden TV and audio-visual units, room doors and architraves.
A solid oak arched front door was also commissioned for the main entrance.
Westcountry Barn Conversion
A medieval theme was the design brief for the conversion of this C18th threshing barn in the Wescountry. Stuart Interiors worked directly with the client to design and manufacture bespoke joinery and furniture for several areas including the Great Hall, Dining Hall, Kitchen and Mezzanine.
Inspiration for the solid oak plank & muntin panelling in the Great Hall came from a photograph of original period joinery in Wales, featuring an ogee arched opening. Also specially designed and made for the Great Hall was a medieval style hooded fireplace in stone.
An original medieval cupboard from Aubazine, France, provided design inspiration throughout the Kitchen. A replica of this cupboard is used as a store cupboard and the arched doors continue as a theme throughout the kitchen joinery. Hand forged ironwork is a strong feature and this was specially designed and made for the project.
The oak and steel spiral staircase rises to a Mezzanine above, the shaped slats inspired by an original spiral staircase from Spain.
Furniture & Furnishings for Cothay Manor
Cothay Manor is one of Somerset’s finest historic houses and the Robb family have commissioned several items of furniture and fabrics from Stuart Interiors over the years.
The Manor dates back to the 14th century and is one of the finest examples of a small medieval manor in England.
More information about Cothay Manor can be found at the Cothay Manor website.
bespoke tudor style oak staircase, greater london
Taking inspiration from original carved oak balusters from the 17th century, we worked directly with our client to design and install this bespoke Tudor style oak staircase for their Entrance Hall. The project is a new-build, timber framed house influenced by the Tudor period and the brief to create an impressive architectural feature in the hall.
More than 60 balusters are turned in oak and each carved by hand to create the staircase and gallery landing is finished by hand with a natural beeswax polish, to blend with the traditional timber construction of the building.
The Renaissance palace, stirling castle
An outstanding project, the re-presentation of the Renaissance Palace at Stirling Castle has been the culmination of years of detailed research by an exceptional team of academics and expert craftsmen. Stuart Interiors were involved from the early stages, due to our unrivalled knowledge of historic joinery, furniture and interiors.
Working alongside an expert team, we are proud to have been a part of this exceptional project which sees the interiors re-presented as they may have appeared in the 1540’s.
Each element of the project was researched and studied in detail, including the solid oak shutters with hand forged ironwork, the rich and opulent textiles used for both wall hangings and upholstery, the phenomenal painted decoration to walls and ceilings and the remarkable pieces of solid oak furniture.
The resulting interiors are a feast for the senses, please go and visit next time you are in Stirling. Further information can be found at the Historic Scotland Website.