Birdie Fortescue’s north Norfolk home is rooted in tradition, yet enlivened by colour, craft and personality. Here, she reflects on the atmosphere she hopes to create there and shares the stories behind the treasured pieces she’s gathered over the years. By Rosalind Sack
BRITISH DESIGNER BIRDIE FORTESCUE (AND NANCY THE PUG) AT HOME IN NORFOLK
Long before Birdie Fortescue became synonymous with timeless homeware, she was perfecting her craft as principal decorator at Colefax & Fowler, immersed in the subtleties of English interiors. After five years she left to set up her own antiques business specialising in 18th- to 20th-century European furniture, which soon found a home in a Victorian warehouse in Burnham Market, Norfolk – now an interiors destination in its own right.
In 2016, Birdie launched her first collection of block-printed soft furnishings inspired by her travels alongside her antiques and twice yearly collections have endured ever since; cementing Birdie’s reputation for clean, classic, comfortable pieces with a contemporary edge.
That same instinct defines Birdie’s own family home, a late-Georgian house near the north Norfolk coast, bought in 2005 as a holiday retreat and made permanent five years later. Here, classical proportions meet with a gentle layering of colour and print, creating a home that feels both characterful and harmonious – the perfect setting for a conversation about the objects that tell its story…
(LEFT) A COMFORTABLE CORNER IN BIRDIE’S OPEN-PLAN LIVING ROOM – ONE OF HER FAVOURITE PLACES TO RELAX AND UNWIND; (RIGHT) BIRDIE’S BEDROOM FILLED WITH ANTIQUES, SENTIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND PIECES FROM HER OWN COLLECTIONS
Who do you share your home with?
My husband Frank, our children Lydia and Theodore and pugs, Nancy and Bluey.
When did you move into your home, and how would you describe it then and now?
We bought the house about 20 years ago but only moved in full-time five years later. It’s evolved quite naturally over time transitioning from a holiday house to a permanent home. Subsequently, there is a diverse mix of furniture from relaxed painted furniture to continental antiques and traditional inherited pieces. This varied collection adds to the general interest and charm and gives the house an eclectic and characterful feel.
What small detail or corner of your home brings you the most daily pleasure?
The seating area of our large open plan room is where I love to relax and unwind. There is a mixture of French furniture and painted rattan which creates a really interesting but tailored look. An abundant mix of cushions on an already comfortable sofa is always welcoming to both family and dogs! We have grouped a variety of block printed and embroidered textiles from past and present collections that all blend together in a charming, cohesive way. The room is centred around a patterned flatweave accompanied lamps and lampshades of different materials and textures which provide a lovely, layered look.
What’s on your bedside table?
On my bedside table, a small French writing table, there’s a large blue and white ceramic lamp with an embroidered shade, family photographs and a collection of books.
If the objects in your home could speak, which would have the best story to tell?
I think it is the furniture in the house which has the most personal history for me. Each piece has either been passed down by Frank’s or my family and therefore has special childhood memories or has been sourced by me on one of my antique buying trips. Memories of where I found each piece in France or Italy and who I bought them from are still very clear and hold special thoughts.
What’s the most sentimental object in your home that guests might overlook?
Just inside the main hall sits a very special piece my husband gave me, a late 19th-century console decorated with white and vividly coloured feathers. It’s something I treasure, but I think it’s often overlooked, perhaps because it’s positioned in the entryway, where people are usually arriving or saying their goodbyes.
(LEFT) THE CHARACTERFUL AND WELCOMING ENTRANCE HALL AT BIRDIE’S HOME; (RIGHT) BOARD GAMES AND TEA IN THE LIVING ROOM ON A RAINY DAY
What might some be surprised to learn you have in your home?
Friends always love the French walnut ‘tric trac’ table we have in our drawing room. This elegant piece of furniture is multi-functional not only serving as a writing table but conceals a collection of games providing endless fun for family and friends.
What can be found at the bottom of your garden?
The garden feels very much part of the surrounding landscape. George Carter, who advised on the design, levelled the areas to create a series of seating areas and steps lead down to a wide lawn, framed by lollipop trees and a ha-ha overlooking the field and country ahead.
What’s always on your table when you’re hosting?
I always want friends to feel welcome and relaxed and candlelight on a dining table is the quickest way to create that instant atmosphere. I tend to fill the centre of the table with flowers and candlesticks arranged in different heights in a mixture of cohesive colours. Coordinating pattern and colour is very important and rather than matching table linens, I like using different designs and tones to create interest and character. Equally it is fun to use different sets of tableware for the different courses.
What are some of the most memorable things that have happened in your home?
The most memorable times are those with the children at Christmas and Easter where we have a house full of family and friends of all ages.
What was your childhood home like?
It was a charming 18th Century farmhouse in the Cotswolds which was fairly big and rambling – it was a long way from our playroom to get to the kitchen I remember! It had lots of character with a fabulous garden.
Has your home ever directly inspired a collection or specific product?
The furniture has always been an inspiration. We bought a pair of lovely French rattan chairs in the flea market in Paris when we were first married. I recently used these as an inspiration for a current design.
https://birdiefortescue.co.uk/
(LEFT) NANCY THE PUG ON THE COMFIEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE; (RIGHT) BEAUTIFUL GEORGIAN PROPORTIONS IN THE LIGHT-FILLED HALLWAY
(LEFT) COLOUR AND CHARACTER DEFINES THIS JOYFUL BEDROOM; (RIGHT) A BATHTUB WITH A VIEW
(LEFT) LAYERS OF COLOUR, ANTIQUES AND PRINT CREATE A HARMONIOUS CORNER OF THE BEDROOM; (RIGHT) CANDLELIT SUPPERS AT BIRDIE’S ARLES CIRCULAR DINING TABLE WITH OGEE EMBROIDERED NAPKINS AND VERG CANDLEHOLDERS FROM HER NEW COLLECTION
(LEFT) BIRDIE’S CURATO GARDEN DINING SET; (RIGHT) UPHOLSTERED THREE-SEATER SOFA AND HAVANA BONE INLAY COFFEE TABLE AMONG OTHER PIECES FROM BIRDIE’S NEW COLLECTION
From Anya Hindmarch to Edward Bulmer, read more Home Truths interviews here. And discover more from The Home Page below and here.
