Our latest guide shows you how to add architectural drama to a period property by decorating the garden with antiques.
When we look at the great period properties of England such as Chatsworth House, Highclere Castle (of Downton Abbey fame) and Stowe, the Georgian estate featured in Bridgerton, we are drawn into the grounds and gardens as much as we are the interiors. Whether you live in a period home or a contemporary setting, it is simple to add a period feel to your outside space, without having to resort to your local garden centre. By adding a vintage or antique piece, you can instantly create a feature or focal point and add period character with new points of interest. We give you some ideas that don’t involve life size classical statues, unless of course that’s what you want!
Antique garden statues
Nothing says period property louder than an antique garden statue. Ideal as an inconspicuous feature in a quiet corner or as a focal point surrounded by an impactful planting scheme, statues can be influenced from every period in time from the Romans to Shakespeare.
Antique garden urns and planters
Strategically placed to highlight an imposing stone stairway or mounted atop a stone pedestal or plinth, antique and vintage garden urns and planters definitely reflect a period property. Ideal for architecturally interesting shrubs and plants like topiary, these have adorned the gardens of stately homes and palaces for centuries.
Antique garden fountains
From Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Versailles, practically every palace, stately home or period property boasts an antique garden fountain. From a modest water-filled trough befitting a humble estate worker’s property, to the detailed and ornate examples found in the formal gardens of great houses, a fountain or water feature is the ideal way to add depth to a garden.
Antique garden ornaments
Smaller, decorative garden antiques are a great way to add character and period charm in a smaller space, for example an antique boot scraper by a door, or smaller statues by a gateway. Antique lanterns also add that feeling of character on a patio area.
Where to find garden antiques to buy
For those with a keen eye, car boot sales can be a treasure trove of garden antiques from gardening tools to wrought iron furniture but it really is buyer beware, as there are no guarantees that the pieces you find are authentic. Architectural salvage yards too can yield great results, but the onus will be on the buyer’s knowledge. For clients buying several pieces, for example when props buying for film and television productions, Hemswell Antique Centres, have a large selection of architectural and garden antiques online with many more on display for visitors to our centres. Our recently extended outdoor area now also features garden furniture for sale. With over 300 expert dealers, many of whom have a particular interest in garden antiques, we have something for every style of home and garden and are happy to offer virtual tours for commercial clients unable to visit us in person. We will take you on a tour of particular pieces of interest, showcasing them in detail for you and we are able to arrange transportation and shipment for your items too. For more details, call us on 01427 668389.