Welcome Home

To our friends, new and old,

We are proud to say that after 30 years in the design business, that’s still what we’re all about—home. We’re about putting a little bit of soul back into decorating. We’re about making it fun and less intimidating, and we love the modern appeal of eclectic style.

English Country Home is more than a furniture store, it’s a design destination. A visit to our Hamptons shop is an adventure. You’ll find 20-foot ceilings peppered with stunning pendants and chandeliers, an array of sofa and chair styles, and the largest textile library on the East End. You’ll get to know us by name—and we want to know yours. We will always answer your call. 

And our look? Contemporary and casual with a fresh, curated mix of vintage and modern pieces. We find great design everywhere we travel—throughout the UK, Europe and Asia.

Now, with our new blog, our team will show you the best new product designs on the market as we source far and wide for our shop. We’ll feature how-to’s on everything from arranging pillows to setting the perfect table. We’ll even take you “on the road” with us and show you our favorite hotels and restaurants.

But first, we’d like to quickly (re)introduce ourselves with a who’s who at English Country Home.

Chris Mead: Our own English import! The store’s founder, buyer, and curator. Chris is a former interiors photographer and best-selling author with a tastemaker’s eye for decorating.

Zoe Hoare-Mead: Our ever-joyful client liaison, marketing director and design aficionado. Zoe was raised in Australia by famed decorating editor, Appley Hoare, and is now a devoted “mother” to her sprightly pup, Athena.

(left to right) Barbara Santonastasi, Chris Mead, Margaret Perlinska, Allison Mager, Zoe Hoare-Mead

Margaret Perlinska: After 20 years as our store manager and senior interior designer, Margaret has hundreds of happy clients to show for it (and an enviable, stylist’s knack for coordinating fabrics and furniture!). 

Allison Mager: Head of our esteemed interior design department. After 16 years with English Country Home, Allison is an expert in all things textiles—from window treatments to fabrics to rugs. She has a magic ability to find the perfect fabric.

Barbara Santonastasi: Our “behind-the-scenes” manager. After 21 years with us, Barbara has had her share of ubercool customer exchanges, from Billy Joel to Madonna to Fallon. And thanks to her meticulous record-keeping, she can locate your purchase from even a decade ago.

Athena: Our beloved canine shop mascot with a loyal Hamptons fan club (and our official sofa-tester!).

We’ll see you all soon! Stay tuned for our next post when we’ll share some ideas for a Hamptons summer refresh—fabulous new throw pillows, tabletop items and upholstery options.

In the meantime, please stay safe and be well! 

Cheers, 

The team at English Country Home