The Arts and Crafts Joinery of Architect Lutyens

We consider ourselves fortunate to have designed furniture and architectural joinery into some of Britain’s finest period and listed houses, including two homes designed by the great English Edwardian architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Lutyens was a master of his craft. He is one of the few Arts and Crafts architects revered for the quality of his English country house interiors as much as the quality of his exteriors. He was as much of a furniture designer as he was an architect.

At Artichoke we place as much importance on creative design as we do on making; a great kitchen or library designed poorly is a total waste of money, no matter how well it is made. To us, everything starts with great design.

Research forms a key part of our design process; we hold a large database of Lutyens mouldings and we have an extensive library of period architectural detail to refer back to, including a back catalogue from the archives of Country Life Magazine. The magazine has been kind enough to provide us with images from some of our favourite Lutyens architectural Arts and Crafts joinery and furniture designs for this study into his work.

Folly Farm, Berkshire

The original 17th century Arts and Crafts style house was enlarged by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1906 and again in 1912-16. Artichoke designed the kitchen for the house in 2009 and our kitchen design was influenced partly by elements of the Arts and Crafts joinery detail in the cabinet below, in particular the mitred joins on the cabinet doors.

533189 — A built in cabinet at Folly Farm

View of the interior at Folly Farm. The original 17th century house was enlarged by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1906 and again in 1912-16. Not Used 04/02/1922 — An interior panelled passage – note the door handles

The Viceroy’s House, Delhi, India

Sir Edwin Lutyens joined the Delhi Planning Commission in 1912 and was responsible for designing the Viceroy’s House. The new capital of British India, New Delhi was officially opened in 1931.

950364 — A fireplace at the Viceroy’s House

Castle Drogo, Devon

Castle Drogo was designed by Lutyens between 1910 and 1932 and was the last castle to have been built in England. The kitchen, with the circular beechwood table, showcases Arts and Crafts joinery designed by Lutyens.

535195 — All the light in the room comes from the circular lantern window above the table

885102 — A doorway at Drogo with Jacobean style panelling

The latch on the entrance door at Castle Drogo. The castle was begun in 1911 and completed in 1930 to designs by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Julius Drewe. Not Used CL 10/08/1945 — The latch on the entrance door. Every detail was considered

885934 — A stunning door at Drogo. Note the book-matched pair of central panels at the base if the door. The door is hinged on a pivot

886110 — Carved pilasters on either side of a door at Castle Drogo

Marsh Court, Hampshire

Marsh Court was the last of the houses that Lutyens built in the Tudor style. It was from local materials that Lutyens revived a 17th Century practice and built the house from ‘clunch’ chalk blocks with occasional inlays of flint.

Screen shot 2015-05-29 at 10_49_01 — The frieze panel was carved in local chalk

603522 — A door in the dining room. Of particular note is the stepped door reveal lined in Walnut and the quartered veneer door panels

Screen shot 2015-05-29 at 11_00_14 — The log store. Lutyens invested as much effort in back of house as he did on front of house rooms

Les Boit des Moutiers, France

The Arts and Crafts styled staircase and first floor landing at Le Boit des Moutiers. The house was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Guillaume Mallet in 1898 and was one of the few built in mainland Europe.

657766 — Medieval styling is in abundance here, in particular the portcullis detail below the banister rail

Heathcote House, West Yorkshire

Heathcote House was designed in the Baroque style by Lutyens in 1906. Lutyens came to call this style “Wrenaissance” after Christopher Wren.

840143 — The Arts and Crafts joinery on the glazed cabinet at the back (and in the one below) has inspired many Artichoke designs

841114(1) — The fireplace at Heathcote. Note the ball feet below the furniture in the recesses, the clever desk and the bevelled mirror glass

Middleton Park, Oxfordshire

The kitchen at Middleton Park. The house was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and his son Robert Lutyens in 1938 for the 9th Earl of Jersey.

The butler's pantry at Middleton Park. The house was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and his son Robert Lutyens in 1938 for the 9th Earl of Jersey. Pub Orig CL 12/07/1946 — The fantastic and beautifully proportioned Butler’s pantry showcases Lutyens kitchen design and Arts and Crafts joinery skill, with more sophisticated application. Note the raised table island and zinc worktop.

892743 — A pedimented door. Note the inset mould in the architrave

A panelled room at Middleton Park. The house was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and his son Robert Lutyens in 1938 for the 9th Earl of Jersey. Not Used CL 12/07/1946 — Fitted dressing room

Crooksbury, Surry

The house was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1890 for Arthur Chapman.

912672 — This fantastic crockery display cabinet was designed by Lutyens

Deanery Garden, Berkshire

Deanery Garden was built in 1901 for Edward Hudson, the creator of Country Life, to designs by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The garden was designed in collaboration with Gertrude Jekyll.

Lutyens’ Architectural Joinery