One of my favorite Instagram accounts is Amanda Clark @amandaseend who, with her husband Stephen, owns Seend Manor in Wiltshire, England. Last year I had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda and featuring a tour of her beautiful country home, and I was thrilled to see Seend Manor featured in the December issue of Elle Decor, decked for the holidays! I wanted to see more, so when Amanda offered to send me additional images, I was over the moon and am delighted to share today!
The Clarks bought Seend Manor in 1998 and oversaw a substantial renovation of its house and grounds. They divide their time between England and Hong Kong where Amanda is a director of Altfield Gallery, one of Hong Kong’s leading dealers in fine antique Chinese furniture, Southeast Asian sculpture, and decorative works of art. Amanda has exquisite taste, and Seend Manor is truly a masterpiece… You can read my interview with her here. Today’s holiday tour features images from Elle Decor, exclusive images from Amanda, and a few snips from her Instagram. Enjoy!

via Elle Decor: The hand painted Chinoiserie wall covering and the custom pendant and mirror are by Altfield. The dining chairs are reproduction Chippendale, and the curtains are of a Jim Thompson silk.

via Amanda Clark: “In the dining room we have a large tree that over the years has evolved into a food themed tree! It features chefs, cheeses, gingerbreads, cookies, baguettes, you name it! A mass of food-related painted glass ornaments that we have been given by friends or found on travels around the world abound… it’s a great favourite with children,” she said.

via Amanda Clark

via Amanda Clark

via Amanda Clark: “We keep it simple with the food…it’s not the time to experiment. Create traditions and indulge in them as you make memories again and again! Turkey, stuffings and cranberry relish, ham, quiche, roast salmon with green goddess dressing, cheeses and fresh baguettes, potatoes and green salads etc. Clementines and panatone – trifle, chocolate log, mince pies & brandy butter – all homemade but simple. People like traditional tastes at Christmas. We live in a wonderful village and love throwing open our doors to the terrific people who make it such a lovely community… the joy of the new technology revolution is that country villages such as ours are now filled with young families able to create a living outside of large cities. Being connected means you can run a business even in deep Rural Wiltshire,” she said.

via Amanda Clark

via Instagram

via Elle Decor: The drawing room’s custom sofa in a Colony fabric “was inspired by ones seen in old Italian palazzos,” said Amanda. The armchairs are in an Altfield velvet, the 19th-century Osler & Co. chandelier and glass sconces are from Denton Antiques, the custom rug is by Braquenié, and the still-life artwork over the mantel is by Anne Vallayer-Coster.

via Amanda Clark: Twelve-foot long fresh garlands are handmade to fit the large old Georgian mantle pieces. The drawing room garland features a woodland theme.

via Amanda Clark: In the green painted wood paneled study, jasmine from Seend’s greenhouse is planted in antique pots, scenting the room.

via Instagram

via Amanda Clark: Amanda decided on a strong but simple floral display through the house, playing on one theme to keep it manageable and long lasting. She arranged them all in one afternoon, and they have just gotten better and better as the amaryllis opened up. It’s now day 8 and they all still look fabulous! Her advice is to keep it simple, use fresh green foliage, berries, and seasonal flowers.

via Amanda Clark: “Long lasting, simple, and perfect Christmas colours… For New Year I will just freshen up with some white freesias for scent and some fresh flowers, but the greenery and berries will last,” says Amanda.

via Elle Decor: In the library, a fir garland—embellished with glass miniature woodland animals, acorns, and fir cones—is draped over the original 1760s Sienna marble mantel. The walls are upholstered in a Scalamandré silk brocade. The portrait is by Sir Peter Lely.

via Instagram

via Amanda Clark: Another woodland-theme handmade garland graces the library.

via Amanda Clark

via Amanda Clark: Seend’s attic bedroom in Scalamandré red and white toile is always fabulous at Christmas!

via Elle Decor: In the master bedroom, the walls and bedspread are in a Braquenié fabric, and the carved Italian giltwood headboard is covered in a Pollack velvet. The vintage armchairs have cushions in a Braquenié cut velvet and the 18th-century Chinese coffer at the foot of the bed is from Altfield.

via Amanda Clark: Festive felt mice adorn the garland in the master bedroom.

via Amanda Clark

via Amanda Clark: Amanda says her writing room with the Chinoiserie paper is the best place to wrap presents while listening to the Festival of Carols from Kings College Cambridge on the afternoon of Christmas eve.

via Amanda Clark

via Elle Decor: The custom four-poster Beaudesert bed in a guest room has a canopy in an Altfield fabric. The lamp, giltwood mirror, and nightstand are also by Altfield. The antique rug is Chinese, and the walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Rectory Red.

via Instagram

via Amanda Clark

via Amanda Clark

via Amanda Clark: Dreaming of a White Christmas… the Manor House is beautiful in the snow!
Thank you so much Amanda for inviting us inside your exquisite and inspirational home! To see more of Seend Manor, please click here for my interview with Amanda and visit Elle Decor. You can follow @amandaseend and @altfield_gallery on Instagram for ongoing inspiration. Merry Christmas!

Quintessential. Hristmas!
Spectacular!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Andrea, for bringing such beauty into our homes! What a wonderful Christmas present this post is! Thank you so much and Merry Christmas! Xo Elizabeth
I am amazed how cozy this manor is! Even with high ceilings and large rooms the owners made each room comfortable and warm. Love the home! Thank you for posting.
One word …… GORGEOUS !!
Wow, I enjoyed that! Merry Christmas and thank you for your blog posts this year!