‘I find minimalism fascistic’ – Celebrity Traitors star Richard E. Grant takes us inside his Surrey home

Currently causing chaos at Ardross Castle on Celebrity Traitors, Richard E. Grant has been a fixture of British screen culture since his breakout in Withnail and I. From Downton Abbey to his Oscar-nominated turn in Can You Ever Forgive Me? and recent roles in Saltburn and The Thursday Murder Club, his career spans iconic comedy and grand drama alike.

Off-screen, his 1830s Georgian Rectory in Petersham, shared with his late wife, Joan, is an extension of that vibrant life. In this revisited archival interview for My English Home, he opens up about his maximalist philosophy, his hatred of minimalism, and why he salvaged set props from film studio skips to fill his garden.

Below, he takes us inside his ‘crammed to the gunnels’ home, sharing his favourite rooms, his collecting habits, and why his home smells of his signature Jack Candle, available from The Fragrance Shop.

My English Home with Richard E. Grant

Can you describe your home?

It’s a Georgian Rectory in Petersham, Richmond, built in 1830 and with a walled garden. It looks like a classic child’s drawing of a square-shaped house with chimneys.

Does your home smell of JACK?

I’ve been obsessed with putting my nose to everything ever since I can remember, so creating my own perfume has been a lifelong dream. I’ve produced a scented JACK candle recently, and every room in my house has one.

How would you describe the interior of your home?

Crammed to the gunnels sums it up. It’s maximalist from top to bottom and everything sideways and in between. Every room is a different colour and is jam-packed with ‘loot’.

The drawing rooms have very high ceilings and long sash windows with shutters, wooden floors and a sense of space and intimacy. I find minimalism fascistic, cold and utterly boring. Taupe walls, a single piece of stick furniture and four anorexic vases with a flower angled in each one is my idea of ‘interiors-hell’.

Do you and your wife have an equal say when it comes to buying for the interior?

We are both lifelong collectors and have exactly the same taste. If either of us scours a shop or antique fair, I know precisely what she will be drawn to, and likewise.

If we didn’t know what you did for a living and we came to your house, would it be immediately obvious?

Only in my study, which is my favourite room in the house. It’s lined wall to wall with books, CD’s, memorabilia, flags, vintage Union Jack bunting, photographs, Pelham puppets, toys, and props from various jobs.

It has a beautiful view of Star and Garter Hill and the garden below, and is where I wrote the screenplay for my autobiographical film Wah-Wah. I like playing music very loudly, so it’s the perfect retreat to do so without disturbing my wife.

Do you ever bring anything back from set for the home?

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to buy props or costumes from films as they are mostly on hire… but that hasn’t stopped me from ceaselessly trying.

Whilst filming at Shepperton Studios some years ago, I salvaged two giant plinths used on that set that had been dumped in a skip, which are now in my garden.

What would we never find in a home belonging to you?

Any furniture from the 1950s or 60s, Chinoiserie, stuffed animal heads, fluorescent lighting, or large blank spaces.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would that be?

London, London, London – every time. Any part of it, just so long as it’s London. After all my travels around the globe, nothing compares to it.

Finally, what should no English home be without?

A gate or door that affords total privacy and refuge from the world, working fireplaces and an Aga in the kitchen to keep warm in the middle of the night in winter when the heating is off, to toast your bum against. And of course, the person you love most in the world to share it all with.

Whether you are drawn to his vibrant maximalist aesthetic or his commitment to creating a sanctuary full of personal stories, his home offers endless inspiration for bringing warm, individualistic interior design styles into your own space. From his signature collection of vintage finds to the rich, dramatic tones in Richard E. Grant’s dining room, his layered approach proves that homes should be lived in, loved, and filled with character rather than sterile trends.

To infuse your home with his timeless decorating ideas, start by layering textures, mixing inherited treasures with studio salvage, and setting the mood with scent. Discerning home lovers often turn to the best scented candles and niche fragrances to ground a room’s atmosphere – a passion Grant has turned into a craft. You can experience his olfactory world firsthand with his signature Jack perfume from Fortnum & Mason. For a deeper look into his extraordinary life, love story, and creative journey, discover his moving memoir, A Pocketful of Happiness, on Amazon.