Last week, to coincide with Design Week in Chelsea Harbour, Sanderson Design Group opened the door of Voysey House and we were privileged to be invited along to visit and explore the historic building. Set among the natural beauty of Chiswick, Sanderson’s new ‘old’ home, Voysey House, is magnificent and humble in equal measure. Their archive, design studio and 164 years of history have been moved back to their original home for the next chapter of design.
This Grade II* listed building, designed by C.F.A. Voysey in 1902, served as an extension to Arthur Sanderson & Sons’ wallpaper factory. A 1928 fire damaged the main factory but left this building intact.
Nearly 100 years later, owner Dorrington collaborated with dMFK Architects and Sanderson Design Group to restore the building to its original glory. This restoration highlights its unique design and historical significance, preserving its architectural history for future use.
Design in the details
The architectural and design teams have preserved the building’s original details, like the ‘Voysey Green’ colour found on the metal windows beneath black paint, which is reflected throughout. Additionally, the original pitch pine flooring has been carefully restored, showcasing its unique soft, pale tones from 1902.
Treasured archive
The building now contains a large archive of original documents, featuring original porthole windows that allow dappled light in. Its unique structure, originally a wallpaper factory, was designed to support significant weight.
We love adding more high quality fabric books to our collections.
Discover Sanderson Country House Fabrics – pattern book in the Showroom now.
Discover Sanderson Country House Fabrics – pattern book in the Showroom now.
“Country House is a testament to the enduring charm and captivating beauty of classic decorating. This timeless fabric collection features beloved designs and iconic prints, celebrating Sanderson’s unique history.
Sanderson’s Country House collection by British fabric designers is a testament to the enduring charm and captivating beauty of classic decorating. This timeless collection features beloved fabric designs and iconic prints, each with a unique story. Hand-selected designs from the illustrious Sanderson archive make a statement of elegance in a story of texture that pairs iconic florals with plaids. Many of the prints that form the Country House collection were originally block printed, adding to the authentic look and the layers of legacy that can be built into design schemes. A rich colour palette blended with neutral tones, decorative embroideries and archival prints, including Jacobean and blockprinted chinoiseries, lends a nod to the Arts & Crafts movement. At the same time, Baroque trellises and robust plaids juxtapose recognisable florals for an exuberant range of designs.
Presenting wools, linens, and cotton, this collection celebrates Sanderson’s history and the provenance of the designs through texture and design, layering designs for the ultimate country house feel. Inspired by a late 19th-century block printed document from the archive, the archival Abbeville takes its place in Country House as a fine example of the engagement with flora and fauna and a touch of the exotic of the time. Josette and Aesop’s Fables delight as pastoral toiles on linen, offer a soft, relaxed and comforting design. Not forgetting the smart geometric of the Baroque Trellis, inspired by the ceilings of the early 17th-century Baroque period.
Comprising 24 iconic Sanderson designs, the country house is restored to glory in layers of embroideries, chintzes and archival prints, with various scales and colours coming together to create timeless, textural designs in Country House.”
If you would like to keep up on the Showroom’s latest interior design services, Christmas gift ideas, pattern books, competitions, news, Saturday openings, local events, ways to upgrade your home interior design and just some glorious pictures of our proudest projects, come by and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We would love you to join us!
Our Coffee Morning is on tomorrow Friday 27th September (10.30am-2pm, or until the cake runs out!) at the Showroom.
We look forward to welcoming you for coffee and a selection of delicious home-made cakes in the Showroom and The Remnant Room. All donations will go directly to Macmillan Cancer Support. Audrey Johns Ltd has also very generously offered to donate the proceeds of any Remnant Room sales made that day to the charity.
Last year we all jointly raised over £1000 for this worthwhile cause – perhaps we could match that, or even beat it?
And as it’s the beginning of the slow run up to Christmas, it might be a good time to take a look around the Showroom for some gift list inspiration too. The countdown is on!