Style File: VSP Interiors
“We don’t design houses for the benefit of people looking in from the outside: our role is to make them exceptionally comfortable and personal—a perfect fit for those who live within,” says VSP Interiors, a prestigious design company based in Dorset. Founded by Henriette von Stockhausen, the team specialise in sympathetic redesigns of country houses. ”We work with the finest craftsmen and artisans they create interiors that feel as though they have naturally evolved over time, providing family homes that will be passed down through generations to come."
Whilst their work is rooted in the history of the property, Henriette has a lively sense of theatre too and her schemes could never be described as mundane. Henriette is unsurprisingly much in demand; her ability to juxtapose new and old, period features and drama is has global reach. Despite the strong narrative thread of her work, each property – in fact each room – has a distinctly unique feel, no doubt thanks to VSP's focus on antique furniture, art and vintage textiles. We take a look through Henriette's projects.
Paul Massey1/16This family home in the Home Counties might seem infused with history, but it is in fact a new build, which Henriette was tasked with breathing life into. Henriette used Watts 1874’s ‘Wolterton Verdure’ Tableaux Scéniques wallcovering as the backdrop for a collection of paintings and a Holloways of Ludlow lantern in the grand entrance hall, hanging above ‘Muston’ armchairs from Jamb, covered in Watts 1874’s ‘Zardozi Bargello’ in danube daub.
Paul Massey2/16Walls in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Lamp Room Gray’ and curtains in a Claremont silk damask provide the perfect foil for gilt-framed mirrors by Nicholas Walton Design and antique glass lamps with Nushka shades. ‘Oakley’ armchairs by David Seyfried in Soane’s ‘Old Flax’ in russet and a Jamb ‘Augusta’ sofa in Robert Kime’s ‘Tashkent’ are teamed with an ottoman covered in ‘Mali Stripe’ in sage, by Jasper Fabrics, with sides in George Spencer Designs’ teal velvet and vintage borders. The Jamb chimneypiece is flanked by David Seyfried’s ‘Elystan’ chairs in ‘Perpignan’ velvet in emerald by Watts 1874. A painting bought at auction hangs from the Robert Kime picture rail above.
Paul Massey3/16Howe London’s ‘Den’ armchairs in a striped velvet and a sofa in ‘Alizarine’ by Le Manach from Pierre Frey pick up on a 19th-century Harshang rug from a Woolley & Wallis auction. Their rich tones are balanced by an ottoman in Claremont’s ‘Straub Twill’ in celery, a club fender in ‘Hampstead Verdure’ by Watts 1874 and walls in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Ball Green’.
Paul Massey4/16Soane’s ‘Simplified Klismos’ chairs in bottle-green cow-hide leather partner an antique table. Walls in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Stiffkey Blue’ complement a painting by Claudia’s mother above the chimneypiece.
Paul Massey5/16In the main bedroom, an early-20th-century kilim-covered bench from Howe London and an oblong cushion from Francesca Gentilli set off the bed curtains in James Hare’s ‘Regal’ silk in sea spray, the headboard in Guy Goodfellow Collection’s ‘Fez Weave’ in peacock and ceramic bedside lamps from Vaughan with Nushka shades.
- house in Hampshire</a> tasked Henriette with creating elegant and versatile interiors that help to tie together the original Georgian rooms and a recent extension. In the sitting room Pippa Ridley’s painting 'A Day at the Beach' inspired the scheme – from the curtains in Soane’s ‘Pineapple Frond’ linen to the carpet by Robert Stephenson.","brand":{"name":""},"id":"61893d30a4c7bfe01adff0ab","index":5,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
Simon Brown6/16The owners of this house in Hampshire tasked Henriette with creating elegant and versatile interiors that help to tie together the original Georgian rooms and a recent extension. In the sitting room Pippa Ridley’s painting 'A Day at the Beach' inspired the scheme – from the curtains in Soane’s ‘Pineapple Frond’ linen to the carpet by Robert Stephenson.
Simon Brown7/16With bespoke units by Artichoke, the kitchen includes a larder and butler’s pantry, with a passage lit by Vaughan’s ‘Frogmore Glass Bowl Lights’.
Simon Brown8/16A 17th-century Aubusson verdure tapestry hangs above twin chairs in Le Manach’s linen mix ‘Cavaillon’ from Pierre Frey. The ottoman is covered in an antique suzani and the armchairs are in Soane's 'Pineapple Silhouette' linen.
Simon Brown9/16A Gainsborough chair in Soane’s ‘Celestial Square’ sits on a Ziegler carpet from Farnham Antique Carpets. Antique jars from Tradchap flank the curtains made from antique suzanis.
Simon Upton10/16This 18th-century dairy on the Dorset coast became an enchanting weekend retreat at the hands of Henriette. In the former dairy, a long and narrow space with the drainage channels for whey on each side, Henriette used a set of 24 hand-coloured bird prints, hanging them above the picture rail as well as below. “When you’re standing in that room it just looks incredible. They really lift the ceiling up because we hung them all the way to the top.” The room is now an elegant summer sitting room, with the old dairy work counter now serving as a bar, and french doors opening onto the terrace and fire pit outside. The curtains are in Robert Kime's ‘Arles Linen’. The pair of lamps on the antique tables are from Jamb, with shades from Robert Kime. An antique console table also from Jamb stands in the foreground.
Simon Brown11/16The table here on the other side of the room is an antique from Jamb, and an antique rug covers the floor.
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Simon Brown12/16The paint colour in the sitting room is Edward Bulmer's ‘Rose Tinted White’ mixed to 40%. The sofa is from Lorfords, adorned with cushions in a mixture of antique fabrics and Robert Kime patterns; the side table is also from Robert Kime, with a lamp by Max Rollitt on top.
Simon Brown13/16A small-scale wallpaper adds interest to this bedroom. The bed is covered in an antique quilt from Brigitte Singh. The blind is in Robert Kime's ‘Ardagh.’
Simon Brown14/16The daughter's bedroom has wallpaper and headboards in Marthe Armitage's ‘Chestnut’ pattern. Quilts from Aleta and an antique table add depth to the scheme.
Paul Massey15/16In the kitchen of a sensitively restored Regency house by VSP Interiors, the pale blue Aga blends with ‘Willow’ wallpaper by Marthe Armitage.
Paul Massey16/16The ‘Beeching Stripe’ wallpaper in the main bedroom is from Colefax and Fowler, whilst the painting above the fireplace provides the palette for the main bedroom. Muted and natural tones keep the room feminine, whilst the dark wood furniture is classic and sturdy.
