House to home: Dream in flight
Photo © Mark Ashbee
Bedrooms at Lympstone Manor have been artfully designed to reflect the local birds and habitat of England’s Exe estuary.
Lympstone Manor’s dining rooms are warm and inviting, decorated with hand-painted watercolor landscapes.
I am enormously moved by people who have a burning passion and follow their dreams, building bit by bit, until they have accomplished their goals. It could be a love for fine art in its many forms, or mastering the skills it takes to produce glorious cuisine. It might be transforming an ancient property in a historic setting and making it possible for the public to partake of its renewed glory.
These talents, pastimes and hobbies each stand alone as impressive goals. Today’s story is how they were all combined into an awesome achievement for Michael Caines. Big dreams take time to plan, and to execute. The results are worthy of note on a personal level, and even more exciting if they can be gloriously shared.
I had the pleasure of spending a few days at Lympstone Manor (www.lympstonemanor.co.uk), which is located overlooking the Exe estuary in southwestern England. Michael Caines, world-class chef and owner of Lympstone, is the mastermind behind the magnificent conversion of this Georgian manor house into a country house hotel. His goal was to create a sense of escapism while reflecting the poetic beauty of the Devon countryside and the local birds. The guest rooms are named after birds that live in and around the estuary. Each room is named after a particular bird, and the room’s decor reflects its namesake.
The vibrant blue seen on the wings of bullfinches of the estuary is the primary color source for a cozy bedroom suite. The white coffered ceiling and brown and white linens carry through the bird’s markings and bring nature’s contrasting hues to life. Wall trim and moldings produce frames within frames, drawing the eye to the lyrical watercolor renderings by Rachel Toll. The stylish button headboard and matching shams resonate with tangible warmth.
A beautiful green wood warbler inspires a light and airy suite. White and palest gray walls and linens are the gentle backdrop for flashes of green accent pillows and chair upholstery. A high, white padded headboard contributes to the soft allure.
Caines has chosen to make fine art central to the manor’s decor. Partnering with FineArt@, they created FineArt@ Lympstone Manor, which was a year-long artist residency at the hotel in 2017. Paintings and statuary seen throughout the hotel’s private and public rooms were produced to reflect the lush landscape and wildlife. Hand-painted watercolor landscapes by Rachel Toll invite the outdoors in throughout the main spaces, including the dining rooms.
Caines is first and foremost a celebrated chef. His dishes are stunning arrangements of delectable tastes that are presented as art on the plate. He is not an architect, interior decorator or designer, and yet his vision of quiet elegance that champions the surrounding habitat has come alive by focusing on one or two features and taking color and design cues from nature.
We can all do this in our own homes. When you are working out a decorating strategy, think about what drives you personally. Whether it is a theme or a color combination or a style decade or gardening … the list is endless.
That’s your point of liftoff. Follow your passions and enrich your personal spaces with that energy and enthusiasm. It’s powerful stuff.
Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.