Style File: Ben Pentreath

Ben Pentreath lives an exceptionally varied life. He has an architectural and interior design practice and a shop and divides his time between a former parsonage in Dorset and a flat in the heart of London's Bloomsbury. Ben champions traditional English interiors - lived in, eclectic and sometimes eccentric spaces which reflect the interests of their owners (including those belonging to the late Queen). He creates homes which are at once traditional and modern, unbending in the face of fads or fashions yet full of joyous colour and character (and, on a more macro-scale, a new coastal town close to the impressive Cadland House on the Isle of Wight, in collaboration with architect Léon Krier) .

Ben at his former parsonage in Dorset.
Simon Bevan"Timelessness interests me; it's important in both architecture and decoration. I think about longevity and am interested in looking outside what is completely current." - Ben Pentreath
The best of Ben Pentreath's modern English style
Catherine Gratwicke1/19Ben Pentreath has created a masterclass in mixing colour and pattern at this diminutive early Georgian cottage in Highgate. The entrance hall is painted in British Standard's 12E 53, while a brass lantern from Hector Finch hangs above.
Catherine Gratwicke2/19Ben and his team retained the original Georgian shutters in several rooms, including this cosy sitting room. On choosing seating, Ben offers the following advice: ‘time-tested shapes and styles are still often the best. Remember that comfort is distinct from luxury, and can paradoxically be found more often in simplicity than excess. We British like an absence of fuss, and in its place a light harmonious language in which everything relates to each other just enough, but not too much.'
Catherine Gratwicke3/19In the kitchen, a Welsh Stick Chair by Chris Williams stands out against the orange curtains in a Jane Churchill fabric.
Paul Massey4/19The search for a London pied-à-terre brought Ben Pentreath’s clients unexpectedly to this Georgian house, which he has reconfigured and decorated in his signature layered style. In the living room, an ‘Ivor’ sofa by Howard & Sons in Soane’s ‘Old Flax’ in kiwi sits under a painting by Ivon Hitchins from Jenna Burlingham and is paired with an antique Sussex chair and a Gainsborough chair. A black lacquered coffee table from Shimu stands on a ‘Berber Hex’ wool rug by Luke Irwin.
Paul Massey5/19Rattan ‘Wengler’ chairs from Sika-Design and a vintage linen table runner bring rustic character to the steel-framed conservatory by Serres d’Antan. A large Georgian cupboard from Alexander von Westenholz holds gardening equipment.
Paul Massey6/19A cast-iron Aston Matthews ‘Epoca’ bath, its sides painted in Emente’s ‘Orpiment’, provides a colourful contrast with Robert Kime’s ‘Grille Sage’ wallpaper and muted panelling.
Dylan Thomas7/19With every room singing with vivid colour and pattern, the decoration of this Regency villa in the Hampshire countryside is far from the standard country house revival thanks to the shared vision of its new owners and their designer of choice, Ben Pentreath.
Facing south, with views over the park, this room is a homage to the classic Sixties style of John Fowler. The scheme features a combination of soft, sugary tones with walls lined in a de Gournay silk in a delicate duck-egg blue, and sofas upholstered in a Pierre Frey yellow linen and a pale blue Lelièvre velvet. The ottoman was re-covered in ‘Malabar’ velvet in leaf by Colefax and Fowler. Two floral ceramic lamps are topped with bespoke shades in a Veraseta coral silk.
Ben Pentreath8/19A ceiling in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Broad Stripe’ sets off walls in Dorothy Draper’s ‘Les Fleures de Toulon’.
Ben Pentreath9/19Created as part of Philip Webb’s remodelling, the oak panelled room has an celestial ceiling by Frederick Wimsett.
10/19In collaboration with William Smalley, Ben designed the one-of-a-kind mews house, Eight Mulberry Square in the Chelsea Barracks.
11/19In the sitting room of his former parsonage in Dorset, Ben has used the ‘Willow’ wallpaper in 'Yellow'. Cushions (left to right) are in 'Kennett' fabric in the colourways 'Olive/Turquoise, 'Daffodil' and 'Dark Olive'.
12/19In the kitchen Ben has used 'Willow Bough' wallpaper in 'Tomato/Olive' on the walls. Chair seat fabrics (left to right) are in 'Bachelor’s Button' in 'Olive/Turquoise', 'Marigold', 'Navy/ Burnt Orange' and 'Honeysuckle' in 'Autumn'.
13/19In Ben's dining room, the wallpaper is 'Willow Bough' in the colourway 'Olive/Turquoise'. The curtains are in 'Brer Rabbit' in the colour 'Burnt Orange'. Napkins in foreground (left to right) are in 'Marigold' fabric in 'Orange/ Pink' and 'Olive/Pink'.
Jake Curtis14/19For Ben, designing his own flat in Bloomsbury was more of a challenge than doing so for his impressive client list, which includes Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales. Nevertheless, Ben persevered, his work resulting in a space that combines traditional elements with modern and individual touches. In the spare room, which leads out to a small terrace, Ben has used several pieces of traditional brown furniture. Vintage Wedgwood Jasperware can be seen in the cabinet on the left. The walls are papered in the timeless 'Willow Boughs' by William Morris, one of Ben's favourite designers.
Jake Curtis15/19In the tiny bathroom of his flat, a collection of monochrome prints are hung on a wall lined in 'Richmond Park' from Zoffany - a grisaille foliage wallpaper.
Jake Curtis16/19Ben's sitting room is anchored, at one end, by a print of John Rocque's eighteenth-century map of the cities of London and Westminster. Bright cushions, including a cross design from Lindell & Co, decorate the mid-century Danish sofa.
Paul Massey17/19Giving each room of this Arts and Crafts house its own personality, combining colour and texture with interesting pieces from different periods. In the hallway, ‘Sussex’ bench by William Morris and a linocut by Edward Bawden stand out against the panelling, which is painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Shaded White’.
Paul Massey18/19In the living room, a ‘Nureyev’ brass bar cart from Soane contrasts with a nineteenth-century library table from Max Rollitt, the top of which is covered in a hand-dyed linen by Polly Lyster. A ‘Wardour’ sofa from The Conran Shop is covered in Soane’s ‘Old Flax’ in grey, while the pink sofa is Howard Chairs’ ‘Ivor’. Ben designed the ottoman, which is upholstered in a fabric by Claremont Furnishing. It sits on a Luke Irwin rug. Decorative mochaware cups are displayed in a line on the mantelpiece. Traditional mochaware – pottery decorated with coloured slip bands and tree-like markings – dates back to the late eighteenth century. Specialist dealer Martyn Edgell provided the mugs in this house.
Paul Massey19/19In a spare bedroom of the house, the bedside table is from Christopher Hodsoll. Ben has used the William Morris wallpaper ‘Fruit’ (lime green/tan). It is sold in 10-metre rolls and costs £73 from Style Library.
