{"id":320567,"date":"2025-11-26T20:56:39","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T20:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/theatrical-interiors-at-knole-charis-white-interiors\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T20:56:39","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T20:56:39","slug":"theatrical-interiors-at-knole-charis-white-interiors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=320567","title":{"rendered":"Theatrical interiors at Knole \u2013 Charis White Interiors"},"content":{"rendered":"


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As you arrive at the 600-year-old estate in Kent, herds of meandering deer create a majestic overture for visitors to Knole. Cleverly theatrical in its presentation, Knole <\/a>offers not only the history of its unique sofa design but also sumptuous \u2018showrooms\u2019 of Jacobean interiors. Originally a Bishop\u2019s palace and then a popular hunting ground for King Henry VIII, this Dutch gabled country house has been owned for the past 400 years by the influential Sackville-West family.<\/p>\n

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A cultural playground for Vita Sackville-West<\/h2>\n

The Sackville-West family gifted Knole to the National Trust in 1946 but still retain apartments with a 200-year lease.<\/p>\n

Knole was the childhood home where author and famous Sissinghurst<\/a> garden designer Vita Sackville-West (1892-1962) grew up. You can only imagine how all of this history and culture fed her imagination. One of Vita\u2019s childhood games was to design and create her own tickets for visitors to the Jacobean \u2018showrooms\u2019, originally grand family rooms that evolved 400 years ago into showrooms<\/a> that were opened to the public even then. Because of the British laws of primogeniture, Vita sadly didn\u2019t inherit Knole, it passed instead to her uncle.<\/p>\n

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The front elevation of Knole with Dutch-style gables <\/strong>gives you just a hint of how huge this country house is. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Entrance to Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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I loved the soft honey-coloured walls in the gatehouse entrance to Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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A pillared cloister with antlers from the wandering herds of deer in the park outside Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Gorgeous 19th century orangery with Dutch gable built in the gothic revival style at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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A delightful planter with mermaid\u2019s tale as handle in Lord Sackville West\u2019s private garden at Knole. The garden is open 11 days in 2026 between April and October. Tickets can be pre-booked online or purchased on the day, subject to availability. Tickets will be available to book in early 2026. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Knole from Lord Sackville\u2019s private garden. The garden is open 11 days in 2026 between April and October. Tickets can be pre-booked online or purchased on the day, subject to availability. Tickets will be available to book in early 2026. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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Decorative plastered ceilings<\/h2>\n

Decorative plaster ceilings and pargetting is something that has fascinated me for a long time. Even from school days in Saffron Walden, Essex, I admired the pretty patterned pargetting on some of the medieval homes in the town. And since then, several ceilings that have thankfully been preserved in National Trust houses.<\/p>\n

There was also occasional discussion of the work of Scottish architect Robert Adam<\/a> in our family, who is known as much for his decorative plaster ceilings as for his Georgian architecture. So to see quite so many beautiful examples of plastered ceilings at Knole is a treat. Until now, decorative plasterwork has always seemed a remote prospect in terms of recreating anything like this for more modest settings.<\/p>\n

Contemporary plaster designer<\/h2>\n

I recently came across the work of Gaches Traditional Plasterers <\/a>in a project commissioned by The Rabbit In the Wall <\/a> for a house renovation in Sandwich. I was so excited to see this and to find out about a book that Philip A Gaches<\/a> has just published on traditional and decorative plastering techniques.<\/p>\n

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Entrance hall at Knole with geometric patterned walls, floors and ceiling. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Decorative staircase and landing with classical paintings, pillars and plastered ceiling at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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The ballroom at Knole where pattern and texture covers every surface from the exquisite ceiling to the 400 year old carpet which you can see is being carefully cleaned by National Trust staff. Portraits in the ballroom are mostly of the Sackville-West family, several of which are still in their original 17th and 18th century frames. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A real highlight for me at Knole was this botanical\/trellis ceiling which is said to have been designed and installed in 1607-8 by the King\u2019s Plasterer, Richard Dungan. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Theatre notes<\/h2>\n

Centuries of theatrical and eye-catching decoration delight visitors at every turn. From jib (camouflaged) doors to cleverly positioned mirrors and rooms with intriguing look-throughs. Long before electric lighting, it must have been key to work out how best to manipulate light for maximum effect.<\/p>\n

There is occasional brightly coloured stained glass, exquisite lanterns and glamorous rococo wall lights in the ballroom. Playful tromp l\u2019oeil decoration creates additional faux texture and decoration.<\/p>\n

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This marble sculpture is at the bottom of the great staircase at Knole and is of the Italian dancer known as La Baccelli who was widely known to be mistress of John Frederick Sackville, the 3rd Duke of Dorset. It was said to have been banished to the attics when Lord Sackville married Arabella Cope in 1790. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Grandeur created at this first floor door with decorative classical columns, tromp l\u2019oeil panelling and a theatrical pediment. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Tromp L\u2019oeil at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Coloured stained glass windows with etched portraits at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Pretty punched metal lantern at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Gib (concealed) door in the panelling at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Theatrical classical wall light with candle shades at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Dramatic plaster cast of Perseus holding severed head of Medusa in the 19th century Orangery at Knole. Photo; Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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A look-through to a staircase landing where light from a window is dramatically lighting up the staircase\u2019s protective trellis. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Highly carved window return in the Cartoon Gallery at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Mirror placed to dramatically highlight some family portraits at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Wall to wall decoration in the Cartoon Gallery at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A who\u2019s who of British history in paintings<\/h2>\n

It must have been so exciting three or four hundred years ago to visit Knole and its illustrious galleries of furniture and art. These Who\u2019s Who of paintings were commissioned by the Sackvilles of the great and the good alongside members of their own family.<\/p>\n

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Loved this section of a portrait of Lionel Granfield Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset at Knole, putting his best foot forward! Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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16th and 17th century portraits of the great and the good in The Brown Gallery at Knole.
Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Mary Queen of Scot\u2019s portrait in the Brown Gallery who\u2019s who of British history including Henry VIII who used to hunt at Knole in the deer park, Cardinal Wolsey, and Thomas More amongst others. These frames, neatly named and with bows, hang in the Brown Gallery at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Furniture at Knole<\/h2>\n

Knole is said by the National Trust to have \u201cThe finest collection of 17th-century English upholstered furniture in the world. Much of it was made for the royal palaces of the ruling Stuart dynasty and is of the highest quality. The objects on display are the combination of several separate collections.\u201d<\/p>\n

The original design for the Knole sofa is behind glass in the Leicester Gallery and wasn\u2019t easy for me to photograph. This is an example of the iconic design that several furniture companies including George Smith<\/a> still produce.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuilt c.1635\u201340, the original Knole sofa, which launched a thousand imitations across the world, is covered in its original red velvet. This, too, would have been used almost like a chair of state, and it\u2019s possible that a post-restoration queen would have received guests on the sofa, sitting beneath a canopy in a state dressing room.\u201d<\/p>\n

These are some pieces of furniture and upholstery that caught my eye.<\/p>\n

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A beautiful marquetry inlaid table with barley twist legs at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Striking Stuart sofa with its original richly embroidered, velvet trimmed silk upholstery at Knole. You can see how the existing colour has survived on part of the cushion. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Close-up of sumptuous silk, embroidered and trimmed upholstery at Knole. Photo; Charis White <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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An antique Anglo-Indian chair and footstool at Knole. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Striking chairs that look almost Spanish in style? Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

National Trust conservation studios at Knole<\/h2>\n

The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio <\/a>is the first of its kind in the National Trust, allowing visitors the unique opportunity to watch conservators at work, working on objects from collections across the Trust.<\/p>\n

Christmas at Knole 2025<\/h2>\n

If you are able to book and make a visit, the \u2018showrooms\u2019 and tower at Knole will be decorated for Christmas <\/a>from 22 November to 23 December 2025 and on certain days, carols will be sung in the couryards by local choirs. <\/p>\n

Cartier exhibition V&A museum<\/h2>\n

I was excited to see this carved rock crystal and jade pendant with decorative diamond edge in the Cartier exhibition at the V&A museum in London (on until 16th November 2025). It was originally given to Vita Sackville-West by her mother Victoria, the Baroness Sackville in 2012.<\/p>\n

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Vita Sackville-West\u2019s pendant given to her by her mother Victoria, the Baroness Sackville in 2012. As seen at the Cartier exhibition at the V&A Museum \u2013 on until 16th November 2025. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Shop the blog<\/h2>\n

Finally, I have chosen these Christmas gift ideas as they offer more than a little in the spirit of Knole. They are available from two brilliant independent designers, Cherry Harrison<\/a> who makes and sells exquisite decorative interiors accessories from antique textiles and then from wallpaper designer Polly Fern<\/a> who has created a Dutch gabled Festive Advent calendar this year. Its interiors are a decorator\u2019s dream and comes complete with pop-up tables and a Brindle whippet.<\/p>\n

Please note to order direct from each designer, these items aren\u2019t available in the National Trust shop.<\/p>\n

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Cherry Harrison creates decorative rosettes, pomanders and cushions from antique textiles. Photo: courtesy of Cherry Harrison.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Festive Dutch gable advent calendar designed with very cute pop-up tables and Brindle Whippet by wallpaper designer Polly Fern<\/a>. The decorative interior detail inside is so pretty and great value at \u00a312.60 plus shipping. It comes complete with an envelope for sending to someone as a gift. Look out for Polly\u2019s other gift ideas in her online shop. Photo and styling: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Thank you<\/h2>\n

Thank you so much for reading this! There is so much more to discover at Knole<\/a> including, the attics, the tower and some of the most sumptuous state bedrooms and four-posters I have ever seen \u2013 now environmentally preserved behind glass.<\/p>\n

If you would like to subscribe for no cost, advert free posts, then please use the blue subscribe button at the end of a post. You will then receive an email alert, usually once a month for the next (non-AI generated!) post which will mostly be on interior style (including plenty of antiques and vintage), to garden or heritage themes.<\/p>\n

Visual storytelling for newspapers, magazines and brands<\/a> has been my trade as an interior stylist and journalist. The blog offers a little more of this life-long passion.<\/p>\n

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Charis White, interiors writer\/stylist (freelance)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n