Unveiling the spectacle: A sneak peek at our exhibition stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
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Experience the Charm of Amelia Thorpe's Italian-Inspired 'Outdoor Drawing Room'
Step into a captivating blend of Italianate architecture and English country house style with Amelia Thorpe's enchanting loggia design. This alluring indoor-outdoor space offers a picturesque retreat where you can bask in the beauty of the garden views, from spring through to the brisk autumn days.
The loggia is an homage to classically proportioned and symmetrical design, with pilasters framing a central stone trough that serves as an elegant water feature. The structure boasts tall windows, stone architraves, and sills that accentuate its robust architectural bones, while a timber ceiling further accentuates the indoor-outdoor feel of the space.
The front of the loggia invites you to immerse yourself in an open, sunlit haven. A cozy central seating arrangement revolves around a vintage sofa table, with an antique enfilade setting a charming tone to one side. Front and center, a sensual burst of lemon trees sprout from pots reminiscent of Italy's historic Boboli Gardens, filling the air with a delightful fragrance.
As the sun sets and temperatures cool, the open fireplace ensures warmth and coziness, extending the use of this versatile area. The walls are painted with a custom-mixed Chalk Wash paint in a captivating golden turmeric hue. The color evolves throughout the day, looking bright and joyful during sunlight hours and casting a warm, welcoming glow by evening.
As you stroll through the loggia, vines creeping up the windows and aged finishes evoke a sense of long-lost elegance. With its enticing blend of indoor and outdoor elements, Amelia Thorpe's loggia invites you to explore a magical, enchanted haven.
To learn more about this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show, click here. For more information on Amelia Thorpe's loggia, additional resources and direct references from the Chelsea Flower Show are recommended.
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Stone:Edward Smith, director, Artorius Faber
"We needed a resilient, yet sophisticated stone floor to complement the indoor-outdoor nature of the loggia, so we selected hardwearing Beckford Drift English limestone flags. With a beautiful cream-to-taupe color and rich shell and fossil content, these flags hail from our Dorset quarry and have been employed since Roman times. In the loggia, they are cut into coursed, random format to create a traditional look and are hand-finished for an aged appearance.
"The fireplace is exquisitely hand-carved by craftspeople in our Somerset workshop, adhering to Isabella Worsley's Italianate design. Made from Lansdown limestone, another English stone with a soft cream hue, the limestone lends exceptional durability to the intricately carved details."
Visit Artorius Faber for more information
Furniture:John Danzer, founder, Munder Skiles
"Equipping an outdoor space requires careful consideration, bearing in mind the space's intended use, size, and style preferences, alongside the architectural design of the house. In this instance, an outdoor room should serve as a haven for relaxation, socializing, and enjoying the garden. To achieve this, I would suggest a furniture mix combining our three materials – teak, metal, and all-weather wicker – to create an evolved look that offers comfort, adaptability, and timeless appeal.
"Classic Belmont chairs in weather-resistant wicker create a sense of effortless lounging, ideal for the loggia's traditional ambiance. Coupled with the functional Xylo teak bench, the space harmonizes beautifully with the garden. A distinctive statement chair, such as our historic metal Windsor, adds visual interest and caters to quiet reading or contemplation. A foldable Kelso Square table makes for a stylish dining area for occasional use. The folding mechanism is simple to manipulate, and the piece is conveniently storable."
Visit Munder Skiles for more information
Paint:Tom Balch, director of Rose of Jericho
"For the loggia's walls, we have chosen a captivating, tonal finish, Chalk Wash. This finish resembles historic limewash but can be applied to various substrates, making it versatile. Unlike other chalk-wash formulations which typically employ synthetic binders, our product consists of natural ingredients: chalk, water, and gelatine-based glue size binder that sets at most temperatures, unlike traditional rabbit-skin glue, which does not set well in summer heat.
"We use premium powdered pigments of artists' quality, ensuring even pigment distribution and a natural appearance that subtly changes with the light. Chalk Wash is optimal for sheltered areas but needs to be replaced with limewash – made from quick lime and water – for outdoor use, as it is weather-resistant and highly permeable, preventing moisture buildup. "
Visit Rose of Jericho for more information
Planting:Hugo Elwes, director, Studio Elwes
"The planting scheme for the loggia evokes an Italianate aesthetic, albeit with an English twist. A pair of vibrant lemon trees in terracotta pots set a lively color contrast against the painted walls, with herbs like rosemary and lime-green Euphorbia myrsinites growing beneath. I also plan to incorporate Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve' wallflowers for a pop of purple.
"Climbing jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) will flourish up each side of the windows, providing a striking contrast against the golden walls. The loggia's planters beneath the windows will brim with wiry Muehlenbeckia complexa and white Allium cowanii.
"Above the central water feature, fragrant pelargonium in shades of soft pink will be nestled in wall-hung shell ornaments. Hand-thrown terracotta pots filled with blush-toned poppies will be artfully arranged across the chimneypiece above the fireplace."
Visit Studio Elwes for more information
Fabrics, Rugs & Lighting:Isabella Worsley
"Designing an indoor-outdoor space demands balance, equally considering practicality and aesthetics. In this instance, I would advocate for durable fabrics that resist the effects of sun and moisture. Outdoor fabrics by companies like Perennials make excellent choices, especially for a covered space like the loggia. For the loggia, I have opted for resilient interior fabrics, including our Paris weave in Mustard for the chair cushions and Ionic Stripe silk-linen mix in Copper for the blinds at the front of the loggia. The windows feature Tatiana Tafur Magnolia blinds, handwoven from tough abaca fiber, and the bench is upholstered in Schumacher's Weaved Basketry fabric, resembling handwoven raffia. I have incorporated a plaited jute rug from Peter Page in this design, as a rug is an excellent means of anchoring a space and delineating seating areas in large spaces. Lanterns by Jamb complete the design, their antique style and handsome, weathered finishes adding to the aged appeal of the loggia."
Visit Isabella Worsley for more information
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[1] It is unconfirmed whether Amelia Thorpe was the designer behind the Country Life stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025.
- Embrace the allure of rural life with our platform's weekly newsletters, offering a blend of exquisite houses, captivating nature, and practical life tips inspired by the Amelia Thorpe's loggia, a magical fusion of 'food-and-drink' moments around the open fireplace, and 'home-and-garden' ideas with vibrant lemon trees and herbs.
- Ensure a stylish fashion-and-beauty aesthetic for your outdoor spaces with resilient fabrics like Perennials, considered by Isabella Worsley, and hand-thrown terracotta pots filled with blush-toned poppies for an Italianate garden look in your 'travel' destinations.
- Elevate your daily routine with premium stone like Beckford Drift English limestone flags, chosen for their hardwearing properties and classic appeal, or Lansdown limestone, used for Craftspeople's exquisite hand-carved fireplaces, bringing 'lifestyle' sophistication to your outdoor 'drawing room'.
