A highly detailed look at the most accomplished English country house interiors, exemplifying English decorating at its best.

A highly detailed look at the most accomplished English country house interiors, exemplifying English decorating at its best. The English drawing room, a formal place within a house of status where family and honored guests could retire from the more public arena, is one of the most important rooms in an English country house, and thus great attention has been paid to preserving the decoration of this most elegant of spaces: the center of life in the English countryside and the epitome of English country house decoration. This book offers privileged access to fifty of the finest drawing rooms of country houses and historic townhouses—many still in private hands—including Althorp, Attingham, and Knepp Castle. Through these sumptuous rooms, readers experience a history of English decorating from the sixteenth century to the present day, including the work of design legends such as David Hicks, Nancy Lancaster, John Fowler, and David Mlinaric. Specially commissioned photographs capture the entirety of each room, as well as details of furniture, architectural elements, artwork, collections, and textiles, creating a visually seductive book that will inspire interior designers and homeowners interested in the widely popular classic English look.

“The Drawing Room is a highly detailed look at the most accomplished English country house interiors. This book offers privileged access to 50 of the finest drawing rooms of country houses and historic townhouses, many still in private hands…” –Editor at Large

“…well worth the wait…As tempting as it might be ignore the text in favor of the book's beautiful photos by Paul Barker, don't. Musson's brief but illuminating surveys of each drawing room are chock full of architectural history, social history, and descriptions of furnishings and décor…” –Peak of Chic