VEN HOUSE FEATURES IN 'THE WORLD OF INTERIORS'

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

Since 2007, Jasper Conran has been working on the reformation of Ven House, his Grade I-listed 18th-century house located in the heart of the West Country - with the help of his great friend Edward Hurst.

In October’s edition of 'The World of Interiors’ magazine, Ven House is featured on the front cover, along with a fourteen-page feature interview inside which captures the essence of Jasper’s journey over the last four years.

“A formal garden lies behind the wall of Ven House and beneath the shade of a walnut tree, flower-sprouting steps lead up to the terrace on the south side of the house. The double-height entrance hall features an iconic colonnade, which supports a gallery leading on to Jasper’s library. In the middle of the cabochon-dotted floor stands a large George II dining table from James Brett, Norfolk. The reindeer leather that covers the chair to the table’s left was rescued froma Russian ship which sank en route to Venice in 1782...” reports 'The World of Interiors.

Jasper told the magazine: “I instinctively knew that I did not want a decorator. The tone and texture of the house did not seem appropriate for that. But fortunately Edward – as well as his encyclopaedic knowledge of everything,especially 18th-century English and Irish antiques and interiors – has great vision.”

For Edward, that a piece is 18th-century is just the beginning. Aside from exhibiting top-natch craftsmanship, it must break the mould of its genre in some way: be a one-off. He looks for “pieces which have a tender quality and have not been ruined by over-restoration,”he explains.

To read the full interview, see the ‘The World Of Interiors’ magazine, out today.