Forty years ago, The Court House in Wiltshire became Robert Kime’s first decoration project. It was owned by an old friend of his, who asked for his help to ‘arrange the furniture’, as the late designer modestly described his own approach. With a long and rich history, the 16th-century property is believed to have been built on the site of a dwelling with origins in the 13th century, possibly associated with John of Gaunt. A few years ago, Rosie Hayes and her husband bought the house – along with a few carpets and pieces of furniture – from Robert’s friend’s estate and set about making it a home for themselves and their four young children.
Rosie, who previously worked at Christie’s, specialises in sourcing furniture for country houses and decorators. She and her husband were keen that The Court House should generally be updated with a ‘light hand’, so as to preserve the character and historic features. They also wanted to retain the spirit of Robert’s decorative scheme. So they enlisted the help of Robert Kime’s studio, which has, since his death in 2022, been led by Orlando Atty.
Furnished with antiques found by Rosie, including an 18th-century elm sideboard from Worboys, alongside the existing rug originally chosen by Robert Kime and lamps supplied by his studio, this large entrance space is particularly inviting at Christmas
Christopher Horwood
‘I received a phone call from the new owners, asking whether we would be interested in working with them to keep the house much as it was, while making it relevant for today,’ says Orlando. ‘I was delighted. My aim was to update it in such a way that a visitor might not realise anything had essentially changed.’
He began with the hall, off which runs the main staircase and what was the music room. Orlando suggested that the undistinguished pine floor should be replaced by antique French oak planks, which has transformed the feel. Given the importance Robert placed on the role of a rug in a scheme, Orlando suggested they build the room around the existing one. Rosie found a Georgian parcel-gilt mirror and paired it with an unembellished side table – staying true to Robert’s maxim to mix simple objects with grander ones.
The sofa and Persian rug were bought with the house, and the chandelier was an auction find that used to hang at Halswell House, in Somerset
Christopher Horwood