Denmark House, Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire

Exuberant and detail-oriented, this exquisite Grade II-listed townhouse lies in the centre of picturesque Henley-on-Thames. It was reimagined by Joanne Burgess of The Curious House and has been featured in House & Garden and Vogue. Outside, a resplendent garden is home to a dining terrace, Corten planters teeming with colourful flowers, and an idyllic saltwater swimming pool. Spanning just shy of 4,300 sq ft, the internal plan is a masterclass in materiality: modern textures and patterns sit alongside stately Georgian features, creating a home with a timeless yet playfully contemporary feel.



Setting the Scene



Denmark House has lived many lives: it has served as a B&B, an architect's office and a finishing school for girls. Named after a rumoured short stay by the King of Denmark, the house is grand and impressive, its towering ceilings and sash windows creating an amplified sense of volume and airiness.



In its most recent iteration, the house employs the work of well-loved artisans and designers to create a feeling of drama and surprise without compromising on comfort. Modern interventions include artfully suspended plaster ceilings by the previous architect-owner and a Control4 smart automation system for the house and garden. Retained original features include wide Georgian floorboards, invigorated by geometric painted patterns on the stairs and in the principal bedroom.



The Grand Tour



Occupying a generous corner plot, the house sits back from the street behind a whimsical front garden with a pebbled path leading to the front door. There is also a gated parking area for up to three cars and an EV charging point.



On the right of the entrance hall is the drawing room. Here, the home’s design ethos is clearly stated: organically curved steps descend to fine birch ply floorboards laid in an exaggerated parquet pattern, while the walls are doused in Edward Bulmer’s Jonquil. Sash windows draw in light from two aspects, and sophisticated mirrored shelving provides space for art and books. A bespoke marble fireplace has been added, along with a fabulous built-in upholstered seating nook for reading and relaxing.



A cocooning second sitting room sits behind the drawing room, currently used as a cinema room with surround sound. Upholstered window seats add interest along the elegant hallway, which is also lined in paper ('The Enchanted Woodland' from Mind The Gap).



The hallway continues to the kitchen at the rear: Marmoreal terrazzo grounds the space, pairing perfectly with bamboo cabinetry and a Dtile green sink with Quooker boiling water tap and cube for sparkling water. More terrazzo in a contrasting colourway has been used to create a bespoke countertop on a wheeled island. The room also has a Lincat range cooker, upholstered seating, and a large space for a dining table and chairs. Minima sliding doors open directly to the garden.



Adjacent to the kitchen is a well-composed utility room with another sink in the same Dtile design, underfloor heating, and a white goods cupboard. A smart WC sits just off the kitchen, and a large cellar provides plenty of longer-term storage space.



Almost ship-like, a marvellous staircase wrapped in birch ply and grounded with Sinclair Till carpet winds up to the first floor, opening into a library area. As was typical in the Georgian period, the room at the front of the first floor, the piano nobile, serves as an additional reception room. Green-painted sash windows with matching seats lie at one end, and soft-blue waist-height panelling traces the perimeter. A large study, which could equally serve as a bedroom, sits behind the first-floor living room, entered dramatically via a reclaimed sliding dojo-style door.



All four bedrooms are remarkably well-composed spaces. Accessed via a second grass-green painted staircase, the principal suite occupies the rear of the first floor and is framed by high ceilings with an exposed truss. Pink and green paints have been used here on the walls and waist-height panelling respectively, while exaggerated parquet runs underfoot. Blue and yellow reign in the en suite bathroom, which has sanitaryware by Water Monopoly, including a freestanding tub, matching twin sinks and a tiled walk-in shower. A 17th-century fireplace is decorated with original Delft tiles.



The remaining bedrooms are on the uppermost floor. One has a salon feel, with a bookcase that reveals the bedroom via a hidden door and a blue-and-white-themed en suite. The other bedrooms share superb shower rooms, all with Burlington fittings and Bert & May tiles. Rich and distinct paint schemes lend each room a unique character.



The Great Outdoors



Inspired by West Coast style, the garden has been treated with the same exacting approach as the house itself. Millboard decking provides plenty of space to relax or dine outside, and the saltwater pool offers a wonderful way to cool off during the warmer summer months. The pool is heated via an air-source heat pump. There is also an enclosed outdoor shower and a variety of trees, including silver birch and Indian bean.



A shed with a power supply provides garden storage and space for electric bicycles.



Out and About



Set among some of the loveliest reaches of the Thames, Henley-on-Thames is a handsome town filled with independent boutiques, galleries and bookshops. The much-loved Bell Bookshop sits alongside a thoughtful collection of antiques dealers, interior stores and cafés, while the independent Picturehouse cinema and nearby Everyman show arthouse films and blockbusters alike.



Closer to home, Imma Bakery, McQueen’s Deli, Luscombes and Arbequina are popular fixtures for coffee, lunch and relaxed suppers. During the Henley Royal Regatta and the Henley Festival, the riverbanks fill with rowing boats and music.



Beyond the town, the surrounding Chiltern countryside offers wooded walks, rolling hills and several notable landmarks, including the National Trust’s Grey’s Court with its Tudor manor house and beautifully kept gardens.



Henley and the neighbouring villages are particularly well regarded for their culinary scene. There are several excellent pubs and restaurants within a short drive, among them The Hand & Flowers and The Coach in Marlow, both by Tom Kerridge, as well as The Dew Drop Inn and Hurley House Hotel in Hurley, The Dog & Badger in Medmenham and Orwells on Shiplake Row.



The area is particularly well regarded for its excellent schools, including Shiplake College, Queen Anne’s School in nearby Caversham, Gillotts School and The Henley College. Henley is also well served by respected preparatory schools, including Rupert House School, St Mary’s Preparatory School and Moulsford Prep.



Henley station is around a 10-minute walk from the house and provides direct services to London Paddington in approximately 45 minutes. The M4 is readily accessible for Heathrow, central London and the West Country.



Council Band: G