The old curiosity shop

Inspired by England’s !nest historic houses, William Emme" has created something magical above the antiques shop he shares with partner Nicholas in medieval Alfriston

William Emme! ’s love of antiques started when he was just a li! le boy. He recalls si! ing in his mother’s embroidery shop in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, during the summer holidays and, to pass the time, he’d nip out and browse all of the local antiques shops. ‘ I’d buy the odd piece and, before I knew it, I’d "lled my bedroom with pocket-money "nds. I had a large, iron-framed bed, used Victorian oil lamps instead of electric lights, and I hand-painted the walls to look like wallpaper. Eventually, it was a near perfect replica of a c1880s bedroom,’ he says.

This passion for antiques has stayed with William throughout his life – so much so that three years ago he and his partner Nicholas (who was brought up surrounded by antiques) decided to open an antiques shop in Alfriston. ‘Our previous home was bursting at the seams with our antiques, so opening

the shop meant that we could continue collecting, as well as being able to share our ! nds with others,’ says William.

The shop is located beneath their home in a Georgian building within the medieval town of Alfriston. As William explains, it’s elegantly simple from the outside, while the interior is opulent and almost theatrical. Walls are painted in rich hues punctuated by oils in gilt frames, "oors overlaid with Persian rugs and antique table tops ! lled with curiosities. It’s hard to imagine now, but when the couple moved here, the walls were pure 90s magnolia. ‘ Before deciding how to decorate, I sat in each empty room and thought about how I wanted them to feel. Then I came up with colour schemes that reflected the Georgian origins of the house and its different incarnations. The palettes I chose are taken from grander buildings than this one – inspired by the Duchess of Devonshire’s house on the Chatsworth estate, Sta #ord Terrace, The Yellow Room at Colefax & Fowler’s previous showroom and Charleston Farmhouse, although I also take ideas from more

Walls are painted in rich hues punctuated by oils in gilt frames, !oors overlaid with Persian rugs and antique table tops "lled with curiosities.

humble homes, too,’ he says. In terms of favourite eras, William has de! nite preferences and it’s this mix of styles that keeps their home exciting. ‘ I love the Renaissance, Empire and Arts and Cra "s periods, and I’m inspired by the Bloomsbury Set,’ he says.

The interior of this home reflects the owners’ varied tastes. ‘ For the kitchen, we decided to keep things simple and fresh, while for the drawing room I went for Regency splendour,’ says William. It wasn’t easy ge$ ing exactly the right shade for the walls, though – in the end they needed six coats of paint. ‘ In the evening, the room comes to life with the candles and table lamps, and it feels as if you’ve stepped back in time,’ he says.

This room is also home to Nicholas’s favourite item in the house: the 18th- century marquetry William Speakman longcase clock. Other treasured pieces include the 16thcentury Elizabethan Brussels tapestry depicting a nobleman in a country landscape c1580 and William’s beloved series of Buccellati table lighters. ‘ They’re so over the top and the cra "smanship is fabulous,’ he says. Other favourite collections include pug-related pieces, Fornasetti designs,

‘We aren’t scared to be bold and eccentric with our interiors. When we have visitors, there’s always so much for them to look at that we don’t get much a ention.’

stone specimens, Chinese porcelain and vintage clothing.

And is there anything that they absolutely wouldn’t part with? For William, it’s a portrait of Lord Byron and his grandmother’s hairbrush. ‘ I adored her and she was the inspiration for so many things I’ve done in my life,’ he says. For Nicholas, it’s a 19th- century cuckoo and quail clock, and a miniature pair of stepladders. ‘ They were made by my grandfather in his woodworking class at school. The cra ! smanship isn’t great and the steps are a bit wonky but, to me, they’re beyond priceless.’

The house is constantly changing, as William and Nicholas "nd new pieces to incorporate into their schemes – something visitors find fascinating. ‘ It’s an over-the-top country house look. We aren’t scared to be bold and eccentric with our interiors. When we have visitors, there’s always so much for them to look at that we don’t get much attention. My sister, Rebecca, is always nervous, as her children like to pick things up. Once my niece, Ella, was running around with a bowl on her head. My sister asked if it was old and I calmly said, “It’s OK, it’s only 17thcentury”. The bowl was put back!’

The Property The house is Georgian (early 18th-century George II). Above the shop, the living space includes a kitchen, dining room, drawing room, two bathrooms, master bedroom and dressing room.

The Owners William Emmett and Nicholas White (right) own Emmett & White Antiques and Interiors (emmettandwhite. com). They live here with their pugs, Jimmy and Duke, and Fran, a spaniel.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE The walnut bergère sofa in the living room is early 20th-century. The wooden statue is a 17thcentury carved pine figure of Saint Roch, bought at Ardingly Antiques & Collectors Fair. The Elizabethan Brussels tapestry dates from c1580; the clock is a 19th-century French ormolu; the shelving unit above the sink is a mid 19th-century gothic revival design, bought at Mallams.RIGHT The 17th-century oak dining table has a secret – there’s a dough bin hidden under the plank top. The 1930s oil-oncanvas harbour scene is a family piece and the watercolour of the Swiss Alps was commissioned by William’s grandparents.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The 19th-century leather-cased ivory opera glasses are a family heirloom; the 1950s Piero Fornasetti wall plates were bought from Greenslade Taylor Hunt; William and Nicholas believe the 19th-century gilt-framed oil-on-board marine picture was probably painted by a member of the crew of the –a passenger liner that sank in 1866 near Mumbai. Thankfully her crew and passengers were all accounted for and rescued. Both the 19th-century mahogany vitrine filled with curios and mid 20th-century Persian hand-knotted rug were bought at Ardingly Antiques & Collectors Fair.

LEFT The 1920s cupboard in the bathroom was bought at Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair. The glass jars are Guerlain Mitsouko perfume bottles, bought on eBay. RIGHT The bed is from Laura Ashley and the picture above is an early 20th-century oil on canvas. William made shades from Cole & Son wallpaper to give the bedside lamps a vintage feel.