Harford Manor, Windsor, Berkshire
Alexander James Interior Design

Harford manor is set in a 40-acre polo estate near Windsor, Berkshire. With views of Windsor Castle, the house features impressive architecture that is uniquely suited to its location and status.

As visitors approach the new-build property, designed by Studio Henley, minimal windows on the front give a notion of fortification and invite exploration. The gated courtyard area furthers this impression, while the vast, dense timber canopy offers a foretaste of the luxurious and balanced nature of the property, where machine crafting and organic elements sit side by side. The characteristic Berkshire brickwork, laid in Flemish bond, provides a soft quality, which pairs with the black coping with brass strips. Moving through to the courtyard, cedar cladding offers a radically different element, providing a softer centre and a sense of warmth and security, which works well with the bold, statement lines of the outer areas.

Rooms with a view, looking at Harford Manor from the exterior

Considerate design allows for different aspects of the house to be revealed to different visitors, affording the homeowner a high degree of privacy. The structure of the gallery reflects this same consideration. The bold statement lines of the architecture and the vast areas of space and light within demanded a reverence of form and texture in the choices made for furnishings and fabrics. Laura Leadbetter, designer at Alexander James Interior Design, says: ‘It was essential to follow the inspiration taken by the architect from demigods such as Lloyd-Wright and Mackintosh and to translate this equally to the avant-garde fabric designs of modern-day heroes such as Lacroix.

‘The neutral palette of the base building, choosing rather to be bold in form, allowed us to be equally bold in juxtaposition of colour and texture within the structure.’ She adds that it was essential to create a cohesive flow around the many facets of the property: ‘Our considered approach created an individual theme to each room that could be transposed to another without offence or question.’

Interior details of the house

From first entrance into the vestibule, it was essential to balance the stature of the external approach so beautifully created by the architect and landscape designers. To this end, the powder room invites the guest to enter a world of intrigue, decadence and secrecy within the choices of rich textiles and indulgent lighting.

The galleria is flooded with light and reflected colour to provide a not-so-private meeting/entertaining area before entering the heart of the home. The drawing room and library find a more neutral palette with subtle accents of colour and texture to balance the strong architectural form without distracting from the magnificent estate views that the generous retracting glass doors afford. The occasional seating and piano provide the perfect entertaining focus while the large, sumptuously upholstered benches either side of the glazed panel dividing the cinema room from this space, create the illusion of endless space and private sojourn.

The dining room looks out through the stylised arcade to the pool room and walled garden beyond.

The proportion of the room is enhanced by the provision of a second, more intimate, dining collection to one end that in turn balances the strong line of the perpendicular aperture returning to the galleria and vestibule. Symmetry is a strong focus in this room with floor lamps punctuating its length and mirroring the silk curtains with defining leading edges in a contrast fabric. Neutral magnolias arranged in highly polished, reflective, deep bronze vases capture the refined qualities of this key entertaining area.

Interior details of the house

The morning room creates a balance to the strong lines and cantilevered island of the client specified kitchen. The metallic and natural timber joinery are complemented by the very tactile alpaca and textured wool-yarn cushions, which in turn strike a contrast to the refined weave of the silk roman blinds.

The understated entrance to the master suite disguises the luxury inside. ‘The quality of the joinery to the dressing rooms flanking either side of the passage through to the main bedroom needed to be matched with equally luxurious and textured fabrics,’ said Leadbetter. ‘The palette was dictated by the endless views of sky through the full-height windows and the rich walnut and brass finishes to the client-specified headboard. This is particularly seen in the feature panel to the headboard designed by AJI to create a feeling of warmth, comfort and individuality.

Interior details of the house

The first guest bedroom – the paddock suite – has a scale and stature almost equal to that of the master suite but is very masculine and monotone in design. The symmetry of the velvet-upholstered bed and headboard flanked by large leather wrapped bedsides is echoed by the formal seating group at its foot. The choice of cohesive fabrics in geometric and organic designs and textures, all within the grey, black and white tonal palette, work well to create a desirable yet established air to the suite with a nod to surrealism. The simplistic forms of each selected or bespoke furniture piece in this room once again enhances the strong angular style of its perimeter.

The terrace suite has an air of yesteryear. The playful textures and formal yet feminine headboard is upholstered with antique brass studding detail that complements the curvaceous form of the triple-mirrored Louis XIV-style dressing table complete with antique-style perfume bottles and upholstered dressing stool.

The pool suite has influences of the elements, taking the cooler tones of water and mixing them with highlights from the warmth of fire, all interpreted with strong references to the Far East. Artwork reflects collected artefacts and paper imagery of volcanoes and tsunamis, each with its own chop of authenticity. The fabric choices, from the silk stitched cushions of the bed to the bamboo inspired short-cut velvet of the occasional chair, sit well with the leather desk and ebonised antique chest to create a pleasing fourth bedroom that delights in the simple, crafted, forms of the wenge and brass bedsides adorned with spun gold lamps and koi carp imagery.