RH Announces the Unveiling of RH England, the Gallery at the Historic Aynho Park - Seite 2

“We are both proud and humbled to introduce RH to the U.K. in what we hope will be an inspiring and unforgettable fashion, and to fully open Aynho Park to the public for the first time in its history,” said Mr. Friedman. “We believe RH England represents our greatest work to date and will serve as a symbol of our values and beliefs as we embark on our expansion across Europe.”

Set on an elevated plateau at the southern edge of Aynho Village, the vast estate features historic gardens by iconic English landscape architect Capability Brown and mesmerizing views of Europe’s largest herd of White Hart deer.

Guests will first encounter the entrance hall with its Doric colonnades and chimneypiece of Mexican onyx. Designed by Lady Cartwright, the hand-carved fireplace surround was commissioned by Sir Fairfax Cartwright (1857-1928), then British Minister in Mexico. Here, visitors will be greeted by the Aynho Unicorn – a regal mascot symbolizing fantasy, rarity, purity and protection – and concierges dedicated to dining and design who can assist with RH England’s array of services and experiences.

Directly to the south of the entrance hall, guests will find the Salon, a graceful sitting room. Spanning the southern side of the main house is The Grand Viewing Terrace, defined by a layered composition of parasol trees, sculptural evergreens and monolithic limestone fire tables. Set upon the edge of the great lawn, these intimate lounge spaces frame panoramic views of The Deer Park and bucolic landscape beyond.

Venturing west from the Salon, visitors will arrive to what was once the formal dining room – now The Tea Salon, offering afternoon tea service featuring classic specialty teas accompanied by freshly baked scones, clotted cream and house-made preserves – which leads to an antechamber that hosts The Sir John Soane Exhibition. Created in partnership with Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, the exhibit highlights the architect’s life and works at Aynho and other English country houses with meticulous reproductions of original drawings, architectural models and artifacts.

The westward sequence of spaces comes to a dramatic end in The Architecture & Design Library. To create this spectacular destination, Soane transformed a previous single-story wing into an airy, arch-swept center of knowledge. More than two centuries later, RH honors his legacy with a carefully compiled collection of vintage, contemporary and rare out-of-print books from some of the most influential creators of the last 2,000 years.