This coexistence of styles reflects the approach of its owners, Sir William and Lady Ali Hanham, who manage to celebrate the house\u2019s past while also making it a welcoming family home.<\/p>\n
![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149275-KL-59ad75d.jpg?quality=90&resize=551%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Deans Court in Wimborne, Dorset has been in the Hanham family since 1548, although the core dates back to the 8th century, when it was part of the town\u2019s Saxon monastery.<\/p>\n
Notable later additions include 16th-century stained- glass windows, Georgian panelling, a Victorian wing and vestiges of immaculate 1930s style. \u2018This is a house that has been formed by layers of history and each generation has left its mark,\u2019 says Ali.<\/p>\n
![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149259v1-KL-8308f71.jpg?quality=90&resize=551%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The couple moved to this house 11 years ago, when William inherited the estate from his father who, in turn, was bequeathed it by a cousin in the 1970s. \u2018Although William had often visited the house, he didn\u2019t grow up here,\u2019 explains Ali.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> In many ways, this meant that both Ali and William could approach reviving the house and estate with their own vision. And they\u2019ve been busy: innovations include nurturing the organic kitchen garden founded by William\u2019s mother, establishing a cafe, opening a homewares shop and converting and decorating several holiday cottages within the grounds. During the summer months, the lawns of Deans Court become the setting for marquee weddings.<\/p>\n But when it came to redecorating the house, Ali took a softly-softly approach. What was once a gentleman\u2019s library \u2018with a rather dull green colour scheme and nondescript Victorian furniture\u2019 now functions as the couple\u2019s living room and has been given a subtle refresh.<\/p>\n Oil portraits and marble busts now mix with ikat cushions in jewel colours, linen stripes and more modern paintings, all set against walls painted in Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball. Meanwhile, the dining room is painted in Blazer, another Farrow & Ball shade.<\/p>\n Hague Blue, from \u00a352, Farrow & Ball Buy it now<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Ali and William have established a good relationship with Farrow & Ball, which is a local company. In fact, they are such close neighbours that the paint brand sometimes brings clients here to view its heritage colours in a quintessentially English setting.<\/p>\n Ali has an expert eye for fabrics, colour and vintage pieces (before moving to Dorset she co-ran the Cotswolds vintage and antique interiors shop Sharland & Lewis), while William was a dealer in Old Master paintings. So each, in their own way, was well placed to bring out different aspects of the property\u2019s distinctive character.<\/p>\n However, the decorative style of Deans Court also dates from William\u2019s great-aunt, Cordelia Hanham, who lived here in the 1930s. \u2018She was the last person to devote a great deal of time and money to decorating the house before we arrived,\u2019 says Ali. Cordelia was the widow of Sir John Hanham, 9th baronet, and was by all accounts an indomitable woman. \u2018A local lady remembers Cordelia as a \u2018stern presence\u2019,\u2019 smiles Ali.<\/p>\n A fat folder full of papers relating to the decor of a twin bedroom demonstrates how Cordelia took decorating very seriously. It is crammed with handwritten bills of sale from Liberty in 1938, plus sketches of mahogany furniture and fabric swatches. \u2018War was about to break out, but Cordelia was undaunted and commissioned Liberty to come down and design this bedroom in apricot shades,\u2019 reflects Ali. A second bedroom was decorated by Cordelia with a chinoiserie theme.<\/p>\n Arsenic, from \u00a352, Farrow & Ball Buy it now<\/a><\/p>\n Shaded White, from \u00a352, Farrow & Ball Buy it now<\/a><\/p>\nYou might also enjoy:<\/h4>\n
The living room<\/h2>\n
![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149313v2-KL-7d4f3ca-1.jpg?quality=90&resize=551%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Get the look:<\/h4>\n
The decoration<\/h2>\n
![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149550-1-KL-a006389.jpg?quality=90&resize=309%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The bedrooms<\/h2>\n
![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149539v1-KL-020411f.jpg?quality=90&resize=551%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149503-KL-75c88bb.jpg?quality=90&resize=309%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149525-KL-6dd0ae7.jpg?quality=90&resize=309%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The bathrooms<\/h2>\n
![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149461v2-KL-516353d.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149467v1-KL-e49451e.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Get the look:<\/h4>\n
![\""Deans\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2021\/11\/Deans-court149154-v2-KL-6072fe7.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C413"\" "\\"\"Deans\\"")
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