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Known for its eclectic style and splashes of dynamic colour, Gaulden Manor is a historic property packed with period features set against the rolling Somerset countryside. Its spaces are filled with character-filled flourishes and gorgeous light, making it the ideal backdrop for the new Sofas & Stuff collection, which features bold hues and tactile materials throughout.
Sofas & Stuff began as a small showroom in rural Fittleworth, West Sussex in 2009. Its founder, Andrew Cussins and his wife Julia, have a family history rooted in furniture retail, extending back to before the Second World War. Through three generations, the family has owned prestigious companies such as Waring & Gillow, Maple & Co and Sofa Workshop, all renowned for furnishing millions of homes across the UK.
Today, Sofas & Stuff has a total of 24 showrooms and strives to uphold the long held core values of heritage, traditional craftsmanship and longevity. Their sofas and chairs are all made in their own factory in Lancashire, allowing them to craft top quality pieces in a dazzling varietyof unique fabrics and customisation options. With hundreds of patterns and tones to choose from, Sofas & Stuff helps its customers express their personal style and individuality through their pieces, creating spaces with deep emotional connections and sparking long-lasting joy.
Following its preview at Decorex 24 last October, the fourth edition of Sofa & Stuff’s ongoing collaboration with V&A has just launched online and in their showrooms. The collection is titled Threads of India Opulent Velvets, and draws on the rich textile heritage of South Asia that are held in the V&A archives. It combines intricate Mughal and Indian artistry with the sumptuous texture of velvet, creating colourful depth and warmth that sits beautifully in modern interiors.
Each design carries its own story, with fabrics inspired by historic artifacts such as 19th century Kashmir shawls, 18th century bed hangings and classic Bengali embroidery that once adorned the beds of Portuguese and English nobility. With each design available in multiple colourways, it’s a collection that’s made for bespoke interiors and looks wonderful whether displayed as upholstery on a sofa or as smaller soft furnishing pieces. This is the collection shot at GauldenManor, its blend of historic details and modern tones working perfectly in a location that also mixes past and present so effortlessly.
The Sofas & Stuff crew arrived at Gaulden Manor to shoot the collection in early September. The shots were styled by Sally Denning and photographed by Emma Lee, the owner of the rustic Forest House. The result is a rich and inviting image set, filled with atmospheric golden light and an abundance of personality in each and every frame.
Gaulden Manor’s varied colour palette lends itself brilliantly to such a diverse collection of patterns, with the ‘Paisley Splendour’ in Rouge almost perfectly matching to pink bedroom walls. The ‘Regal Poppy’ sits beautifully beneath a classic stone window, illuminated by the afternoon glow and accented by tumbling botanicals on a shabby chic desk.
Despite the Autumn shoot date, the images feel fresh and spring-like. Vibrant greenery and overflowing blooms give the hopeful sense of warmer seasons ahead, bursting from vases likenew shoots clambering from the earth. It’s a lovely thought, and looking through these images evokes a tentative feeling of hope for a rich, warm summer showered in dappled sunshine.
For a slightly different shoot in the same remarkable location, take a look at our post going On Location with Graham & Green at Gaulden Manor.
We also loved this stylish shoot On Location with Oliver Bonas at the creative and colourful Moon Cottage.
Want to know more about what happens on a shoot day? Take a look at our journal post Behind the Scenes: Run up to Shoot Day to find out more.
To browse more amazing country house locations, take a look at our collection here.
