Literary tourism is flourishing. From Bath’s Regency Festival to Paris’s literary walking tours, travelers are following in the footsteps of beloved characters, seeking to inhabit — if only for a few hours — the worlds they’ve cherished on the page. The recent resurgence, fueled in part by the conversational intimacy of #BookTok, has introduced a younger generation to the romance of these settings.
But you don’t need a plane ticket to step inside these worlds. Homes, like novels, can hold entire worlds within their walls. And through antiques — pieces that have lived other lives before they find their way to us — it’s possible to invite the atmosphere of a favorite story into daily life. This versatility empowers you to create a space that truly reflects your style and interests.
In the pages of Austen, Brontë, Scott, Flaubert, and Hugo, we find more than just plot. We discover moods, textures, and patterns of living that translate seamlessly into interiors. Here, we explore five classics — three British, two French — and the interiors they inspire.
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Pride & Prejudice — Jane Austen’s Regency Refinement (England)
“The room in which the ladies sat was large and handsome, with a fireplace fitted up with modern grate, and ornamented with flowers in summer.”
— Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
There is an unhurried elegance to Austen’s world. Her settings are often sunlit parlors and gracious dining rooms, where symmetry reigns and nature is quietly invited indoors through botanical patterns and fresh arrangements.
Design DNA: Elegant proportions, botanical motifs, and furnishings that balance refinement with comfort.
Bringing it home: Bring a sense of Regency elegance into your home with pieces that convey poise and proportion: a reproduction side chair with delicate turned legs, a slim satinwood console table, or a set of botanical prints in gilt frames. Incorporate Wedgwood-style ceramics and painted accent furniture in soft greens, creams, or pale blues. Layer in polished yet inviting textiles — silk or cotton damask cushions, crisp linen curtains, or a neatly tailored floral chintz — to capture the refinement and grace of Austen’s drawing rooms without the need for grand architectural features.
Note:Georgian dining chairs, refined writing tables, and period porcelain serve as graceful anchors for a room that invites conversation.
For the traveler: Visit Bath for the annual Jane Austen Festival, or tour Chawton Cottage in Hampshire, where Austen lived and wrote some of her most beloved works.
Jane Eyre — Charlotte Brontë’s Romantic Gothic (England)
“The chamber looked solemn, as a room in a vault: the curtains were of deep red damask; the two large windows, with their blinds drawn down, admitted only a dim, religious light; the pillars of mahogany stood out massy and dark.”
— Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
If Austen is morning light, Brontë is the shadow at dusk — no less beautiful, but full of depth and quiet drama. Jane Eyre’s interiors are lit by candle and hearth, layered with the patina of time and the richness of deep jewel tones.
Design DNA: Candlelight, moody colors, intricate woodwork, and a sense of the past that is both comforting and a little mysterious.
Bringing it home: Introduce depth and drama with a single velvet-upholstered armchair, a small mahogany writing desk, or a pair of brass candlesticks on a console table. Swap heavy drapes for lined curtains in rich tones, or add moody artwork and ornate mirrors to channel the Gothic atmosphere without structural changes.
Note:Seek Gothic Revival mirrors, Victorian bookcases, and richly carved side tables to anchor a reading room or study.
For the traveler: Explore the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, Yorkshire, and walk the surrounding moors that inspired the novel’s windswept setting.
The Waverley Novels — Sir Walter Scott’s Scottish Baronial Grandeur (Scotland)
“The walls were hung with ancient tapestry, representing the memorable exploits of the Douglases; the floor was of polished oak; and the chairs and tables were of the same dark wood, massive, and curiously carved.”
— Sir Walter Scott, Waverley
Sir Walter Scott’s works — from Waverley to The Heart of Midlothian — are steeped in the romance of Scotland’s history and landscape. His own home, Abbotsford, remains a masterclass in the Scottish Baronial style: richly carved wood, heraldic crests, and rooms that feel as if they have grown from the very stone of the land.
Design DNA: Carved oak paneling, tartan upholstery, antler or wrought-iron chandeliers, towering bookcases, and plasterwork ceilings adorned with coats of arms. Collections of curiosities — from antique weaponry to silver serving pieces — are displayed with pride.
Bringing it home: Create a focal point with a substantial piece of furniture — a carved oak sideboard, an antique writing desk, or a bookcase filled with leather-bound volumes — to echo the weight and permanence of a great hall—layer in tartan through upholstered chairs, wool throws, or framed textile panels. Introduce dark, polished woods in occasional tables or picture frames, and display a small but considered collection — antique maps, botanical engravings, or pieces of family silver — somewhere they invite conversation.
Note:Look for Scottish mahogany chests, 19th-century armchairs with plaid upholstery, and carved oak sideboards to capture this storied style.
For the traveler: Tour Abbotsford House in the Scottish Borders, Scott’s own home and a living showcase of the Baronial style.
Madame Bovary — Gustave Flaubert’s Provincial Elegance (France)
“The salon was fitted up with a marble-topped pier table between the windows, a rosewood étagère, and chairs covered in yellow Utrecht velvet.”
— Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary
In Madame Bovary, rural French interiors are romantic and ornate, yet rooted in the rhythm of everyday life. They possess a softness that feels attainable — refinement tempered by the warmth of the countryside.
Design DNA: Provincial antiques, gilt mirrors, embroidered linens, and floral-patterned china, all arranged with a natural sense of grace.
Bringing it home: Choose one or two standout pieces — a Louis XV-style side table, a gilt-framed mirror, or a vintage armoire if space allows. Mix in smaller elements like embroidered cushions, floral-patterned china displayed on open shelving, or a single faience platter on a wall to bring in the provincial romance without overcrowding.
Note:Provincial dining tables, rush-seated chairs, and embroidered table linens instantly evoke the romance of the French countryside.
For the traveler: Visit Rouen, where Flaubert was born, and the surrounding Normandy countryside that inspired his depiction of rural life.
Les Misérables — Victor Hugo’s Parisian Grandeur (France)
“A salon with carved wainscoting, hung with old portraits, and furnished with armchairs covered in tapestry.”
— Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
Hugo’s Paris is a city of contrasts — the grandeur of the salons alongside the humble rooms of the working class. The interiors that emerge from Les Misérables are those of history and resilience, marked by craftsmanship and a certain gravitas.
Design DNA: Tall French windows with linen drapes, wrought iron balconies, patinated wood, candlelight, and a balance of elegance and simplicity.
Bringing it home: Add a touch of Parisian refinement with a small marble-topped side table, an upholstered accent chair, or silver-plated candlesticks arranged on a sideboard. Layer in a handwoven rug and lightweight linen curtains to capture the airy elegance of a Paris apartment, even in a modest space.
Note:Parisian market finds — from gilt-framed mirrors to antique brassware — bring an instant sense of French history and style.
For the traveler: Step inside Maison de Victor Hugo on Place des Vosges in Paris, or browse the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen for antiques worthy of a Parisian salon.
The Shared Language of English & French Interiors
Though shaped by different histories, British and French interiors of the 19th century often influenced one another. Trade, travel, and shared ideals of craftsmanship meant that a Regency drawing room might contain a French commode, or a Parisian salon might feature English porcelain.
For the modern collector, this makes blending the two traditions effortless. A Regency writing desk feels at home beside a Louis Philippe mirror. French faience sits beautifully alongside English transferware. The key lies in choosing pieces that share a commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and a life well-lived.
The Legacy of British Heritage Interiors
Begin with one literary mood — the light-filled refinement of Austen, the moody romance of Brontë, the baronial gravitas of Scott, the provincial charm of Flaubert — and let it guide your choices. Then layer complementary elements from another world, weaving together a home that feels as storied as the novels themselves.
Choose pieces with provenance and patina. Seek textiles with history. Let your rooms evolve naturally, as a beloved library might grow over a lifetime.
Like the novels that inspired them, these interiors endure — layered with history, shaped by time, and always open to new chapters. To begin your own, explore our curated British Heritage Interiors and European Elegance collections.
Elizabeth Evans
As the Founder of Lineage Design Co., I curate British heritage interiors and French country style rooted in tradition, nature, and craftsmanship. With a background in art and garden design, I specialize in 18th- and 19th-century nature-inspired antiques, from carved furniture to European floral textiles. My husband and I are restoring a French-inspired cottage and garden in Salt Lake City, where we live with our two pointers, a Maine Coon, and a small flock of chickens.
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