Having lived in countries as diverse as Guyana, Jamaica, Ireland, Wales, Canada and America, it was Karen Hall’s love of antiques that eventually led her to put down roots in Tetbury, one of England’s finest antiques meccas.
Tucked behind the high street, the house that captured the hearts of Karen, an interior designer and antiques dealer, and her husband, John, is a Grade II-listed, double-fronted Georgian townhouse built in the 1820s. With its symmetrical layout, spacious rooms and large, light-filled windows, the house won them over, while Tetbury offered the perfect blend of town and country living they had been seeking. ‘Although we viewed many charming homes during our year-long search, this one absolutely stood out for its character and location,’ says Karen. ‘Living here feels like we’re cocooned in our own quiet and peaceful world.’
Constructed from creamy Cotswold stone, the house has served many purposes over the years, including being an antiques shop, a solicitor’s office and, most recently, a boutique hotel. When Karen and John took ownership, the building was in need of updating. ‘It looked so tired, with walls painted in dark colours and original marble fireplaces buried under layers of paint. It took four coats to bring the walls back to white,’ notes Karen.
Outside, the overgrown rear walled garden was cleared of trees, which had been blocking valuable daylight. More natural light poured in as slatted blinds and heavy drapes were removed, replaced with shutters and breezy curtains. After extensively moving around the world, Karen has developed an appreciation of different qualities of light, which greatly influences how she designs a space. ‘The further north I’ve lived – Canada, for example – I’ve noticed the light is bluer and cooler, whereas the light in the Middle East has a harshness to it. Here in England, I’ve found the light to be quite subdued and therefore easy to work with,’ she explains.
No stranger to transforming spaces, Karen founded her interior design and antiques business, Ashcroft & Tibbles, in Chicago in 1993. Before this, she’d worked in the luxury hotel industry, where she led design and renovation projects across North America. This led to requests from homeowners for interior design services, including sourcing antiques, art, furniture and lighting. ‘It marked the beginning of a life devoted to seeking out the best pieces
I can – for others and myself,’ Karen says. And seek out she has, with a keen eye for French, Swedish and Italian pieces. ‘Amongst other things, I collect crystal-drop chandeliers. My favourites are a pair from Sweden that hang in our dining room.’ Originally designed to hold candles, they have since been wired and retro-fitted for electricity. ‘A chandelier is the jewellery of a room, setting everything else off beautifully,’ Karen believes.
Collections of antique oil portraits with areas of missing paint, furniture authentically distressed by time and use, statuary with cracks or missing fingers, and breadboards worn with dips and gouges from years of service, all find their way into Karen’s heart and home. ‘I love this kind of imperfection and the stories these scars tell. I’m also drawn to wooden and porcelain objects that proudly display their repairs with metal staples,’ says Karen, who inherited her love of all things old from her English and Welsh grandmothers.
Unfazed by the practical challenges of decorating with large items, Karen has managed to incorporate several pieces. ‘Determination has seen me move an enormous, original plate-glass mirror I bought in France many years ago into every house, despite the removal people having serious doubts about whether this was possible,’ says Karen.
Her most treasured piece, however, is an iron and Carrara marble-topped table. ‘It came from my dearest friends, who have an antiques shop in Canada, and has travelled with me to homes in three different countries. It’s thought to have originated in Cornwall in the 19th century. I like to think that, in a way, it’s come home.’ In the kitchen, a French scraped-paint dresser, holding everyday crockery, is another showstopper. ‘It offers both beauty and function – the perfect combination,’ says Karen.
Describing her personal interior style as ‘humble elegance’, Karen has woven together her life’s experiences and most treasured possessions to create a home where antiques bring warmth and a touch of whimsy – and this, finally, is where she plans to stay.
GET THE LOOK
Traveller’s tales
Marry muted walls with eclectic finds for a scheme that’s calm and considered
Compiled by Kirsty lyons
