A Gorgeous Georgian Home in Bristol

The decorative antique dealers and interior stylists behind Dig Haüshizzle, a Bristol, UK-based vintage decor store, have a burning love for art and oddities. “It’s fair to say we bring our work home,” joke Cassandra and Edward Nicholas, the proprietors of the business. When looking for a place together five years ago, the main criteria were the period of the building, big windows, high ceilings, and history. They found their 1725 Georgian Grade II star-listed parlor floor flat, and have been working on updating it slowly as they understand how to best use the space and highlight its unique features. For example, after stripping the living room alcove finish, the couple was excited to find original Georgian paint beneath in beautiful patterns. Looking for just the right fixtures has also turned into an overabundance of options. “As people who generally buy for a living, we have seen a lot of lights,” the homeowners admit, “But after five years of waiting, they now have to be perfect.” For the time being, lamps made from old science lab clamps make many appearances both at home and in the shop.

An experiment of their style together, the flat changes when Cassandra and Edd have new ideas. It allows them to grow their interior tastes. Luckily for the couple, they usually want to try the same things and tend to come to the same conclusions about their decor. The backdrop of original Georgian features, like the elegant marble fireplaces, make it an ideal setting for their particular type of research. And, to be brief custodians of a historic home makes all the work worthwhile. —Annie

Photography by Matt Somerville