Lanhydrock - A glistening victorian gem in the heart of Cornwall.

Lanhydrock House - Entrance

Cornwall takes my breath away, if we didn't live in London it would be high on our list of places to live. So much beauty, creativity and rawness in such a diverse county. We honeymooned there as did my parents many years before us - and on our honeymoon the one building we both fell for was a late Victorian country house in Bodmin called Lanhydrock.

I cannot think of any better way to gather ideas and inspiration for your interiors than nose around other houses. And as soon as we heard the words ' one of the most intact victorian houses left in England' our history obsessed gothic loving bums couldn't get their fast enough!!!

The house illustrates the life of both above and below stairs so perfectly, with not just amazing high victorian interiors - but also so many personal belongings left out on display. We wanted to take photos of everything we saw! We loved it so much we returned last year just so we could soak it all in. Remembering all this I felt I had to share it with you all and hopefully inspire you to visit not just Lanhydrock - but also other historic homes. You never know who's interior style you will fall in love with and go off inspired.

The walk up to the gate house

The exterior doesn't even begin to suggest what lays await for you when you walk through the door. Prepared to be over stimulated and in awe! The exterior is very beautiful in itself - originally a Jacobean building it was severely damaged by fire in 1881 and refurbished in a high victorian style. Sat in a quiet and magnificent position on the estate - you arrive at the gatehouse after a fairly long walk - you will should be suitably impressed with the greying stone exterior - and manicured greenery and topiary.

Below are some of my favourite images of interiors both above and below stairs in Lanhydrock. As there where so many amazing things throughout the house I have selected five of my favourite and have put together a gallery photos at the end of the post for you all to pursue and hopefully inspire you further.

I adore this amazing original wallpaper and glorious dark wood furniture and accessories.

The family who reinvented this house by jam packing it with amazing Victorian luxuries - where the Robartes and sadly the air of the estate Thomas Agar - Robartes was killed in battle during the first world war. Leaving the family in decline and eventually gifting the estate to the National Trust in the 1950's. Leaving the Victorian decor virtually untouched.

As you travel through the rooms the family lived in - you can see expensive design touches, wallpaper like that above, fancy electric light switches and rooms for every occasion including a Billiard room, a Piano Room, a study, living quarters and the library. Typical of high victorian design there is plenty of dark wood furniture dotted about - which considered by many these days as a no- no we adore, plenty of pattern and textiles and walls jam packed with taxidermy animals, photography and art.

If like us you like your walls full and busy, and your collections of beautiful things on show - then this is very much the house for you.

Viscount Clifden's Estate Office

You get a rounded view of life in a Victorian estate as you can see the not so glamorous rooms of the house too - such as the estate office above, where the Viscount ran the day to day life of the estate ... despite this being a functional room - I think its full of gorgeously designed furniture and fittings, that would not look out of place in a Victorian semi now.

Im not the biggest fan of pink but the light pink walls look great with the dark wood and makes the room look very stylish. I like this room as it gives me a sense of who the "man of the house" was and is a prime example of the gentleman's style that you can see in much steampunk and vintage styling today.

The rather stylish iron claw foot bath with lovely wooden trim.

This dashing bathtub couldn't be more Victorian if it tried. I cannot imagine a 21st century family finding it very practically with the beautiful wooden trim, but this is what initially attracted me to it - that and the fact it's painted red. The colours in this scheme, those in the wallpaper and bath tub remind me of the palettes often used by William Morris in his designs - who's wallpaper is featured in the house. This bath feels surprisingly contemporary and I wouldn't say no to taking a lovely long bath in it!

These Cooper pans though...

Every country house I visit I must stare lustfully at the beautiful copperware in the kitchen - especially the pots and pans. I know they where a nightmare for all those servants to clean (everyday no doubt) - but they are without a doubt the most stylish feature in this kitchen.

Something so practical that is so beautiful cannot be a bad thing. I am more than delighted to say that cooper is back - and it shows no sign of going away - and it is not just been restricted to the kitchen either ( if you want some copper inspiration check out our pinterest board here). I would say though as with anything, only buy into the cooper trend if you like it. I know I will always love it and one day will invest in a lovely set of pots I can hangup in our little suburban kitchen.

The kitchens here where vast with each part of storing and preparing food having a separate room, a bakery, a dairy room, a meat room and so on. I found the amazing kitchenalia and practical Victorian objects so very beautiful ( I could have happily tucked a few in my bag!)

It makes you realise just how, even with all the modern technology they where able to afford their staff in the kitchens, just what a vast undertaking feeding and serving the family and the estate would have been.

Back upstairs, and you will notice how many of the corridors give of a brooding air, helped by the dark red walls and taxidermy displays, this dark decor is exactly the reason I fell in love with Victorian design years ago. I love how dark walls, and interiors are considered a doable thing these days, gone are the days you must paint everything white ( which is fine if that's your bag).

I think anyone who loves dark decor should look back at styling like this and look to Victorian designers and craftsmen for their initial inspiration. Even if your home is not Victorian that does not mean you cannot encompass the feel or ideas of the period. And if you find taxidermy a turn off there are plenty of faux alternatives out there too.

The dark and atmospheric taxidermy filled halls...

#heritage #inspiration #cornwall #victorian #interiors #nationaltrust