Presented by
Homegrown heroes: The British stone from Artorius Faber which transformed Country Life's RHS Chelsea Flower Show stand
George Saumarez Smith’s design for the floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been brought to life by Artorius Faber.
When the architect George Saumarez Smith designed the Garden Lover’s Library at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, he enlisted the help of Artorius Faber, the West Country specialist in British stone, to bring it to life.
Inspired by an early-Georgian hallway, Mr Saumarez Smith designed a striking-looking floor in stones that were sourced exclusively from the British Isles, including a blue-black Crawford limestone from southern Ireland, interspersed with triangles of grey-cream Taddington limestone from Derbyshire.
George Saumarez Smith’s plans of the Palladian-style fireplace were followed precisely by Artorius Faber’s stonemasons.
The result was a geometric pattern that added significant glamour to the overall design.
The obelisk design was enhanced by the mix of stones in Cloam agglomerate.
The Palladian-style fireplace is hewn in a beautiful, fossil-rich mid-grey Morley limestone carved by Artorius Faber’s team of highly skilled stonemasons at the com- pany’s workshops in Yeovil, Somerset.
Complementing it is a pair of obelisks made in Cloam agglomerate, an eclectic mix of stones formed naturally together. In the Georgian era, obelisks were a popular device employed in both the interior and exterior of a house to create a focal point and a sense of symmetry. Here, it demonstrates the possibilities of stone that is as beautiful as it is rare.
This is the second year that Artorius Faber has collaborated on Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The company has built a reputation for sourcing stone — much of it from its own quarries — and crafting it into floor- ing, paving and inter- nal architecture.
Once again, Artorius Faber has offered an opportunity to demonstrate not just its depth and breadth of experience and knowledge, but also the possibilities of Britain’s own indigenous stones that create timelessness and a distinctive sense of place. It is one of the greatest investments that can be made in a house, both new and old.
Visit www.artoriusfaber.com to find out more.
-
Country Life July 15, 2026Country Life 15 July 2026 looks at the magic, power and beauty of water, pays tribute to the king of British powerboating and enjoys the Victorian splendour of Scarborough.
-
'It may be an anachronism, but it is a glorious one': Aston Martin V8 Vantage VolanteDavid Tomlinson took the 'world's fastest production car' for a spin back in 1986.
-
Star of the show: How George Saumarez Smith's design for Country Life wowed visitors at the Chelsea Flower ShowThe Garden Lover’s Library, created by George Saumarez Smith for Country Life, dazzled visitors at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
-
Inspired by the past: How Munder Skiles blended old and new for Country Life's stand at the Chelsea Flower ShowOn Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, two striking designs by Munder Skiles demonstrated the exciting possibilities of combining inspiration from the past, artisanal skills, high-quality materials and cutting-edge engineering to create furniture suited to inside and out.
-
Reader event: The art of the country house garden at DaylesfordWhat are the ingredients of the perfect country garden in the 21st century? At this Country Life event, five leading experts will share their wisdom on achieving pleasing good looks, creating comfortable spaces for relaxation, manageable maintenance and how to make a garden your own.
-
Has ‘gravel gardening’ ever been as perfectly presented? What we really thought about the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower ShowRomantic planting, running water and an abundance of trees in all their glorious forms reigned supreme in SW3 this year, reports Kathryn Bradley-Hole.
-
Famous faces and moments you might've missed at the Chelsea Flower Show so farWe're halfway through the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, so it's probably as good a time as any for a recap.
-
Art underfoot: How Artorius Faber brought to life the stone floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower ShowGeorge Saumarez Smith’s design for the floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been brought to life by Artorius Faber.
-
What not to miss at the Chelsea Flower Show: Clive Nichols and Kathryn Bradley-Hole on the Country Life PodcastClive Nichols and Kathryn Bradley-Hole join the Country Life Podcast live from the Chelsea Flower Show.
-
'It would be very odd to be in a room without a plant, wouldn't it?': How to decorate with houseplants, inspired by our Chelsea Flower Show standAmy Merricks talks to Jane Kennerley about the importance and nostalgia of bringing the garden inside.
