A converted 18th-century stable block in Dorset

By Katie Pike

Published: Wednesday, 28 December 2022 at 12:00 am

When Henriette von Stockhausen was 10 years old she had two hobbies: horse-riding and collecting glass. ‘It was a bit of a weird interest for a little girl,’ she laughs, ‘but I would always dedicate a shelf or corner in my bedroom to displaying my collections. I particularly loved 17th to 20th-century bohemian glass in vibrant colours.’

Henriette credits this early appreciation of antiques to growing up in homes filled with beautiful pieces. Her mother loved antiques, as did her grandmother, whose home in Vienna made a lasting impression. ‘I remember each piece she had and where it sat in her home,’ says Henriette. ‘I can picture it exactly.’

Henriette’s passion led her to study fine art and sculpture before completing a masters in 17th to 20th-century interiors at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, where she worked after graduating. Then, after working for a family friend developing country houses, she made the move into interior design.

Her collections are now liberated from the corner of a bedroom. In fact, her Dorset home – where she lives with husband Mark and their three children, Ben (13), Henry (seven) and Lilly (six) – provides ample space for her to celebrate her favourite items. It’s far from what you may imagine when you think of a collector’s home, though.

The kitchen, which is as contemporary as they come – all high-gloss units and concrete surfaces – proudly displays her collection of antique and vintage woven baskets. The dining room, in contrast, has a much more delicate feel, with an Austrian 18th-century chandelier and French mirror. Yet its most striking aspect is the display of Henriette’s cabbage plates – collected over a decade and arranged to dramatic effect on the wall.

Art plays a part in each room, too, with modern works given as much wall space as fine, antique numbers. While the collections are varied, what’s important to Henriette is the aesthetic – what’s pleasing to the eye and what works well in the surroundings. This open-minded approach serves her decorating ethos well. Her look, she says, is ‘classic but not traditional, with a sense of humour and plenty of colour.’ Quirkiness and originality are key.

Henriette’s thought process after viewing the house three years ago speaks volumes of her poise when it comes to turning around interiors. ‘The house was filled with rats, split into two separate flats containing poky rooms, and had been empty for over two years. It was horrific. I absolutely loved it,’ she says. ‘This was a place that I could start from scratch with, which made me really excited.’

Having previously lived in an idyllic – but dark – thatched cottage, the space and light that this rambling home offered were huge draws. What also charmed the horse-lover in Henriette was that it was originally a stable block and carriage block belonging to ‘the big house’: Henriette says that she ‘loves the thought of horses having lived here.’

The couple picked up the keys to their new home on 1st January 2013 and Henriette’s years of design experience was quick to come into play. Within 12 weeks the house was transformed. The layout was largely reconfigured and each room was given a head-to-toe refresh in Henriette’s signature style of playful colours, with an even mix of old and new furnishings adding depth. ‘I had a very clear idea of what I wanted but a tiny budget,’ she says. ‘The kitchen had to be simple and cheap, and the decorative pieces had to speak out. I wanted to combine antiques and modern pieces throughout.’

The modern element was largely covered by the textiles, which provided the starting point for each room. ‘I bought all of the fabrics for the windows in one job lot from a Designers Guild and Ralph Lauren trade sale. The quantities of each fabric dictated which room they would be placed in – if it fit the window, that’s where it would go and everything else had to work around them.’

As for the antiques, these are a mix of pieces found at the local auctioneer, items brought with Henriette from previous homes or – as is the case with her favourite pieces – belongings that were once owned by her mother or grandmother. ‘Anything that has a personal connection and brings back childhood memories is even better. They just mean that little bit more,’ she says.

The generous rooms have allowed Henriette to be adventurous and play with heavily patterned wallpapers, opulent antique mirrors and oversized light fittings. ‘Decorating was great fun,’ she says, ‘and I’m not finished yet. I’m slowly adding to the interior. I recently commissioned my friend Adrian Everitt, a decorative painter, to antique the wallpaper in the drawing room, and I have plans to complete the circus-inspired upstairs hallway with a hand-painted tent-effect ceiling. Letting a home evolve gradually keeps it looking natural. If you throw everything at it in one go it can look manufactured.’

Another plan that she’s hatching is the addition of an apothecary-style cabinet in the kitchen. This will showcase her vast collection of glass, including the colourful bohemian examples sought out all those years ago. You can imagine that the 10-year-old Henriette would be very pleased indeed.

"A
The antique silver fretwork urn on the fireplace in the drawing room was a wedding gift.
"A
Henriette with husband Mark, their youngest children, Henry and Lilly, and Shambles the dog. The front door to their 18th-century home is decorated with a wreath from The Poundbury Florist.
"A
The cabinet in the drawing room is one of Henriette’s favourite pieces – it belonged to her parents and is around 200 years old – while the side tables are Georgian and the red tables Victorian. Henriette loves making cocktails – the 1920s shaker was a gift from her husband Mark. The room is papered in Zoffany’s ‘Verdure’. Henriette recently commissioned her friend Adrian Everitt from Bone Black to create an antique effect on it with several lime washes.
"A
The family eat most of their meals in the kitchen. The wall tapestry is from Hines of Oxford and is based on an 18th-century Aubusson design. The two industrial-style lights from Maisons du Monde create a quirky juxtaposition. Henriette’s grandmother’s antique Limoges porcelain is brought out for special occasions.
"A
Henriette has added interest to the sleek Magnet kitchen with reclaimed Spanish tiles from the Reclaimed Tile Company, pendant lights from Italian company Catellani & Smith, and her collection of old and new glassware. The floral tray on the wall is an antique and belonged to her grandmother, while the box tree star is from Crocus and was designed by Kristy Ramage.
"A
The tree in the formal dining room is from Trinity St Christmas Trees in Dorchester and has been decorated in mercury decorations from The White Company and Not on the High Street, dog and robin decorations from Sew Heart Felt via Not on The High Street, and natural pieces from The Pink Monkey Company. The tree topper is from Rowen & Wren. The portrait is of one of Henriette’s ancestors and dates from 1658 and the 18th-century Austrian chandelier belonged to Henriette’s grandmother.
"A
The urn was bought from a props shop and the dining chair is from Massant and was based on an antique design.
"A
Displayed on the dining room wall is Henriette’s collection of vintage and antique cabbage plates, bought from Portugal, Austria, Germany, Italy and Morocco. The mirror, from Jonathan Sainsbury, reflects the staircase, draped with a box tree chain garland from Crocus. Henriette’s grandmother bought the hemstitch tablecloth in the 1900s, while the backs of the chairs have been upholstered in Indian kantha silk. The fireplace is from Wharton Antiques.
"A
Vibrant colours create a well-travelled feel in the master bedroom. The bedspread is from Ralph Lauren Home, while the plan chest, used as a bedside table, is from Rockett St George.
"A
The framed equestrian prints were taken from an antique French book that Henriette’s parents gave her. The sofa was bought in a local antiques shop.
"A
The antique canopy was found at Lawrences Auctioneers in Somerset. The mirror is Victorian, the chair is from the Biedermeier period and the lamps are from Besselink & Jones. The walls are painted in ‘Trilogy’ by Paint & Paper Library.
"A
The armoire in the guest bedroom belonged to Henriette’s grandmother and the chair is a pre-1815 Austrian piece. The lamp on the hallway table is from Vaughan.