Happy Birthday, Your Majesty: 9 Ways to Make Your Home Fit for a Queen
Introducing some regal style is bound to give one's interiors the Royal nod
It’s Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday this weekend (thanks for the holiday, ma’am). We’ll admit up front that we haven’t personally seen inside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham or Balmoral, but we won’t let that stop us adopting royal style. If we can’t rule the British Empire, we can at least make our homes feel positively regal.
2. Be true to Royal blue
For too long this patrician colour has been left out in the cold. But with the surging popularity of navy blue and of muddy petrol blues, then a true, rich, royal blue is surely coming. Pair it with gobs of gilt (the gilded doors, woodwork and ceilings are a work of art in this room) and this is the chamber to beat all chambers.
For too long this patrician colour has been left out in the cold. But with the surging popularity of navy blue and of muddy petrol blues, then a true, rich, royal blue is surely coming. Pair it with gobs of gilt (the gilded doors, woodwork and ceilings are a work of art in this room) and this is the chamber to beat all chambers.
But seriously, a rich royal blue can be styled in a fresh, modern way. Ditch the gilt and add earthy timber tones for a stunning office/library.
Or relieve your bathroom of its all-white boredom with a dose of royalty. It’s no use pretending that you’ll make a tiny room look ‘bigger’ by painting it all white: a rich colour helps the walls recede. Go all-out with living room touches – vignettes on open shelves, pictures on the walls, a shower curtain that looks like real drapery – and the tiniest room has turned into a jewel box. Ahem, we’ll spare the bad puns on throne rooms or royal flushes.
3. Modernise the throne
Don’t worry, we’re not going republican on the royals. But we do like this modern update on a throne chair. Popularised by the coolest hotels, these hooded or canopy thrones were originally used to keep out the breezes in the great hall. Today, they’re more likely to be used as privacy ‘pods’ in the open-plan office. We love how interior designer Thom Filicia has used these to create a quiet reading nook in an open-plan living space.
See more of this stately home
Don’t worry, we’re not going republican on the royals. But we do like this modern update on a throne chair. Popularised by the coolest hotels, these hooded or canopy thrones were originally used to keep out the breezes in the great hall. Today, they’re more likely to be used as privacy ‘pods’ in the open-plan office. We love how interior designer Thom Filicia has used these to create a quiet reading nook in an open-plan living space.
See more of this stately home
4. Layer on the chintz
Three years ago, the world was treated to a rare glimpse inside Her Majesty’s private sitting room at Balmoral, when she was photographed with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. It was everything one would hope from a well-to-do country woman’s private quarters: lashings of chintz, lovely informal portraits of one’s ancestors, photos of the grandchildren, dog beds. And a rather startling tartan carpet that matches one’s own family tartan, of course.
Three years ago, the world was treated to a rare glimpse inside Her Majesty’s private sitting room at Balmoral, when she was photographed with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. It was everything one would hope from a well-to-do country woman’s private quarters: lashings of chintz, lovely informal portraits of one’s ancestors, photos of the grandchildren, dog beds. And a rather startling tartan carpet that matches one’s own family tartan, of course.
5. Make room for the corgies
Her Majesty has probably single-handedly ensured the popularity of these cute canines since she got her first, Dookie, in 1933.
Her Majesty has probably single-handedly ensured the popularity of these cute canines since she got her first, Dookie, in 1933.
A dog-friendly house is a happy house, but you do need to pup-proof your palace so you can live happily together? Only one of you is in charge.
10 home truths for those who live with dogs
10 home truths for those who live with dogs
6. Deal with those red boxes in style
Running an empire (and dealing with 12 different prime ministers, not to mention 12 United States presidents, seven archbishops of Canterbury, and the same number of popes during her reign) runs up a lot of paperwork. Every day (except Christmas and Easter) Her Majesty’s Page of the Presence delivers the red boxes from cabinet and the Commonwealth office with documents requiring the Royal Assent.
Running an empire (and dealing with 12 different prime ministers, not to mention 12 United States presidents, seven archbishops of Canterbury, and the same number of popes during her reign) runs up a lot of paperwork. Every day (except Christmas and Easter) Her Majesty’s Page of the Presence delivers the red boxes from cabinet and the Commonwealth office with documents requiring the Royal Assent.
Not quite Buckingham Palace, but a study as organised as this would certainly help keep one’s kingdom running smoothly.
7. Keep a special place for your little princesses
Forget the garish pinks and flouro embellishments of the Disney princesses; the royal babies have a lot more class. This year’s Pantone colours are perfect for nurseries: the soft purplish-blue shade, Serenity (the ‘boy’ shade) and the blush-pink Rose Quartz (the ‘girl’ shade).
How to work with Pantone’s colours of 2016
Forget the garish pinks and flouro embellishments of the Disney princesses; the royal babies have a lot more class. This year’s Pantone colours are perfect for nurseries: the soft purplish-blue shade, Serenity (the ‘boy’ shade) and the blush-pink Rose Quartz (the ‘girl’ shade).
How to work with Pantone’s colours of 2016
And the rooms of young princes and princesses can, of course, be festooned with gilt, silk and hand-painted wallpaper. Somehow we don’t see rambunctious young Prince George settling into this princeling bed, but perhaps his mama would love this as her retreat.
8. Look after One’s jewels
Ok, so Her Majesty may have one or two more pieces in her jewellery collection than you do, and an entire tower to keep them in, but if finding a place for all your necklaces, bracelets and trinkets is bothering you (or you can’t find your favourite earrings as you rush out the door in the mornings) it’s time to bring order to your jewellery. Look for baize-lined drawers, keep the boxes from jewellery stores, and make sure you have a lockable drawer or safe for the really precious pieces.
Ok, so Her Majesty may have one or two more pieces in her jewellery collection than you do, and an entire tower to keep them in, but if finding a place for all your necklaces, bracelets and trinkets is bothering you (or you can’t find your favourite earrings as you rush out the door in the mornings) it’s time to bring order to your jewellery. Look for baize-lined drawers, keep the boxes from jewellery stores, and make sure you have a lockable drawer or safe for the really precious pieces.
Or, for a more casual rich-person collection, raid the fine china and create a pretty display for your treasures.
Jewellery storage solutions
Jewellery storage solutions
9. Have a balcony for waving at one’s subjects
A good, deep balcony is a terrific spot for taking tea of a morning, supervising the gardeners, accepting a fly-by from one’s air force or waving to the crowds. You may or may not like to add a bagpiper to the morning mix.
A good, deep balcony is a terrific spot for taking tea of a morning, supervising the gardeners, accepting a fly-by from one’s air force or waving to the crowds. You may or may not like to add a bagpiper to the morning mix.
One would also have the handsomely uniformed Chelsea Pensioners from the Royal Hospital to support, and host a Flower Show that is the envy of the rest of the world.
TELL US
How will you be celebrating the queen’s birthday? In royal style? Tell us in the Comments.
MORE
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A Gold-Medal-Winning Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show
TELL US
How will you be celebrating the queen’s birthday? In royal style? Tell us in the Comments.
MORE
A Brief History of British Eccentricity
Wolf Hall Style: the Secrets of Tudor Architecture
A Gold-Medal-Winning Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show
A room, any room, that takes itself too seriously is not the room for us. Even if your house is dripping with fine antiques, crystal chandeliers and priceless paintings (it is, isn’t it?), find a spot for a quirky touch that could be only in your house and nobody else’s.