Beauty with usefulness was the aim of the Arts and Crafts movement’s followers, and their homes made a striking contrast with the crowded rooms of the same time furnished in mainstream taste. Although seen as progressive in its day, the Arts and Crafts style, developed largely by William Morris, showed a nostalgic yearning for the simple pre-industrial cottage. This living room combines dining and sitting room, echoing cottage life. Progressive people were furnishing their rooms like this as early as the 1870s but, as more designers worked in Arts and Crafts style, similar rooms were more common in the 1880s and 90s, and the momentum continued into Edwardian days.

The room, down one step and with a beamed ceiling, has as its focus the vast fireplace. The stained floorboards are softened with a rug at the hearth and saved from spartan severity by the warm colours of the hand-knotted carpet. An oak settle at the fireside, blocking draughts from the door, was a popular feature of Arts and Crafts and `Queen Anne’ living rooms. The furniture is in plain, upright style with a pleasing light, unfussy look. The dining table is handmade of oak. The flared, square shape of its feet is a typical feature, seen also at the top of the dresser, games table and armchair.

Antique Collector MagazineThe handmade theme continues in the hammer marks left showing as a design feature on the metalware, including the long hinges on the dresser and overmantel cupboards.

A variety of rush-seated chairs were among the most popular Arts and Crafts designs. There is no plump upholstery. Serviceable leather is used on the armchair and thin pads on the dining chairs. At the small casement window there are thin, plain curtains.

Among the colourful highlights in the room are the striking pottery, the glass and silver cruet displayed on the sideboard along with the muffin dish, and a silver mustard pot set with amethysts. There is also glowing beaten copper— the jugs and wall mirror, the charger on the mantelshelf and the candle sconces beside the mantel. Candlelight was deemed appropriate lighting to eat by, although this room also has electric lighting. Despite the pared-down simplicity (which entered the spirit of much 20th-century Modernist design), this room must have been a snug spot to spend a winter afternoon. Friends could sit near a blazing fire to play cards, and swiftly empty a dish of hot muffins.

1 Turned ash ladder-back chair with rush seat

2 Oak sideboard with brass-hinged cupboards

3 Electroplate muffin dish with hammered finish and mother-of-pearl lid finial

4 Oak settle with hinged seat and ebonised wood and pewter inlay

5 Oak mantel clock with pewter face

6 Two Eltonware stipware vases with luster highlights, flanking a Minton ewer

7 Oak games table inlaid with copper motifs of the four suits of cards

8 Stained oak ‘Thebes’ stool with D-shaped seat

9 Brass-studded leather-upholstered oak chair

10 Oak extending dining table, and chairs with characteristic heart-shaped piercing

11 Ruskin flambe-glaze stoneware vase

12 Electric lamp with brass base and beaten copper shade

13 Floral-patterned Della Robbia pottery plaque

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