Balmoralised Interior Design

A look into the history and interior design inspired by this royal residence

THE HISTORY OF BALMORAL CASTLE

Hidden away, nestled in the remote Scottish Highlands, Balmoral Castle has been a private residence and summer retreat for members of the Royal family for many years. Scottish Baronial in Gothic Revival style, the castle was bought by Prince Albert for his wife Queen Victoria in 1852, as it was widely known that the Queen loved the Aberdeenshire countryside, calling it “this dear paradise.”

The castle along with a series of royal cottages on 50,000 acres of lush green land were the location for Queen Elizabeth’s annual escapism vacation where she could enjoy time away from public gaze and the intense media limelight. Instead, she was able to live an ‘ordinary’ life playing games, hosting barbeques and appreciating the solace and serene nature with mountains, lochs and valleys on her doorstep. Described as her ‘happy place’, Queen Elizabeth spent 3 months each summer at Balmoral every year from 1926 until her peaceful death in 2022.

The highland estate, with its wild encircling hills, is literally its own world – Tina Brown

Balmoral has been the location for many special occurrences including audiences with prime ministers, it was where Prince Philip proposed to Queen Elizabeth, where Prince Charles and Princess Diana returned from their honeymoon, and it seems as though King Charles and Queen Camilla will continue the traditon of visiting the Scottish Highlands as they spent time at Balmoral Castle last summer.

For the very first time the public will be allowed access into this private royal residence, as tickets for a tour around several of the rooms within the castle were released and subsequently sold out within 24 hours, earlier this year. I was lucky enough to snag a ticket, so stayed tuned for all the titbits and exclusive details about the interior design within Balmoral in a future article!

THE INTERIOR OF BALMORAL CASTLE

There is rugged romanticism with the exterior of Balmoral Castle, built from local granite featuring eye catching classic details such as turrets, spires and a clocktower. Within the robust castle walls, the interior décor acts as a time warp, with traditional tartans, chintz inspired floral wallpaper and pine coloured woodwork. As Tina Brown states in her book The Palace Papers you might even imagine you have ‘stumbled into a period piece’. Although contemporary touches have been added, there is a timelessness to the Balmoral imagery and interior design, with box pleated upholstered furnishings, grandfather clocks, leather bound books and crackling fireplaces.

Prince Albert believed that the interiors of Balmoral should be filled with Highland details such as tartans and chintzes, with trophies and weapons adorning the walls – Architectural Digest

The colour palette, steeped with Scottish tradition, stirred by the wild loveliness of the landscape with whiskey coloured oak, crimson reds and the iconic mint green carpet. Balmoral culture and its vision of Scotland is embraced with a passion through the design, as tartan extends from carpet to royal attire. There are 52 bedrooms traditionally decorated with wooden furniture, reception rooms and the study which has hosted important guests throughout the years, with an impressive bookshelf known to be a talking point amongst visitors. Wallpaper in cosy creams with a pattern of gold flock, raised like braille, and spaces decorated for a keen purpose, such as corridors adorned with hooks for fishing rods, a selection of walking sticks and rubber waders ready for typical Scottish wet weather. The personal touch is achieved with surfaces full of family photos and there is reportedly even an embroidered cushion with the amusing quote “it’s good to be queen”.

‘BALMORALISED’ INSPIRED INTERIOR DESIGN

Not far from Balmoral Castle, The Fife Arms in Braemar features a drawing room with deep green bespoke tartan covering the walls. This mirrors the painted ceiling by Zhang Enli, which is said to replicate a slice of stratified Cairngorm rock.

An alcove bed with green check curtains and soft green painted walls adds an intimate touch to the space.

This wallpaper feels like it’s bursting and blooming into the bedroom, thanks to the matching monogrammed bedding and mint green table lamp.

Fraser tartan from Lochcarron brings punk inspired regal drama to this seating area.

A vibrant red wall teamed with modern furnishings push the definition of plaid into new territory.

Taking inspiration directly from Queen Victoria’s Balmoral bedroom, The Fife Arms recreates an idealized and romantic version of regal Victoriana.

READ MORE ABOUT THE QUEEN VICTORIA SUITE AT THE FIFE ARMS HERE