Influenced by protracted stints in south-east Asia, the country house of Charles and Luli Orchard is a vibrant blend of unusual textures, unexpected pops of colour, antique collections, Asian art and classic English silhouettes
FEATURE EMMA J PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY GRANT SCOTT
The relaxed decor of this Cotswolds home is an apt reflection of the building itself, which owners Charles and Luli Orchard describe as having “developed over time”. Built in local, honey-hued stone, it has Georgian bones, with Victorian additions forming its L-shape. In an echo of that organic footprint, the interiors are populated with a blend of art, books, sculpture, antique furniture and fabrics: testament to the intrepid life of its inhabitants.
The couple live here with their three children, Inigo, 19, Savannah, 17, and Ottilie, 13, with Charles dividing his time between the UK and Bali, where their business produces vivid reinventions of rattan, lacquer and bamboo furniture. Having worked across Asia for nearly four decades as a supplier, maker and art consultant, it is no surprise that Charles has filled the country house with an eclectic blend of English florals, classic furniture and Indonesian art punctuated with dashes of bold colour, from bright coral-hued trellis wallpaper in the dining room to rich blue walls in the television room. “We were looking for a house with the space to relax and entertain,” says Charles. “For us, nothing says ‘home’ more than being with friends and family, surrounded by meaningful pieces.”
While the listed property had a “good flow”, it needed reviving, so flagstone flooring, door frames and cornicing were repaired or reinstated and fireplaces sourced, all serving to elevate its Georgian architecture. “You know you are in a traditional country house as soon as you walk in, but there’s something playful about it too,” reflects Charles. “We are both drawn to bright tones and unusual finishes, from rosewood to shagreen, and we’ve paired those with classic pieces, such as Queen Anne chairs or 18th-century English oil paintings.”
It is an unexpected marriage, no doubt made harmonious by Luli’s decorative eye, trained during her career as a fashion editor at The Telegraph and later honed during a long stint in tropical Bali. “There can be a danger of using too much dark wood when you live in a country house with antiques,” says Charles. “We were careful to mix things up – so Georgian chairs sit next to bamboo, penshell next to lacquer.”
The couple have taken the same approach to their extensive art collection, which gets rotated of
