Court of Noke: Edward Bulmer’s historic Herefordshire home

Edward and Emma Bulmer welcomed Lou Willocks, Managing Director of Inigo, into their Herefordshire home, Court of Noke, to share the story of the house and its gradual transformation over more than 30 years.

Dating back to the 18th century, Court of Noke is both Edward and Emma’s family home and the headquarters of Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. During her visit, Lou explores the story of the house with Edward and Emma, from Edward’s childhood memories of passing it in the Herefordshire countryside to the couple’s decision to buy it in 1994, and the restoration that has followed.

Discovering Court of Noke

Edward first remembers Court of Noke from childhood. His family would picnic by the river nearby and, as they passed the house, he would catch glimpses of its façade. In spring, the house was surrounded by a carpet of daffodils – an image that stayed with him for many years.

It was not until much later that Court of Noke became a possibility as a family home. After an unsuccessful search for a large period house that had not already been divided up, Edward and Emma decided to approach the owner, despite the house not being on the market. In 1994, they became its new owners.

What they inherited was very different from the house we see today. There was no running water and only one radiator; Virginia creeper covered the façade, and many of the original sash windows had been removed and bricked up.

Restoring an 18th-century house

The restoration of Court of Noke has been a gradual process rather than a single renovation. Over three decades, Edward and Emma have worked with the character of the house, reinstating windows, reconfiguring parts of the building and introducing colours, patterns and materials that complement its architecture.

For Edward, restoring a historic house is not about returning it to an imagined moment in the past. Instead, it means understanding the building – its architecture, materials and the changes it has undergone – and allowing that knowledge to inform how it is used and decorated today.

This approach is central to Edward’s work as an interior designer and to the thinking behind Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Historic buildings need to continue to function as homes, respecting what has come before while remaining comfortable and relevant to the people who live in them.

Colour and pattern at Court of Noke

Colour has always played an important role in the evolution of Court of Noke.

The interiors are varied and characterful, with each room given its own atmosphere while still feeling part of the wider house. A soft green creates a calm backdrop in the music room, while one bedroom is layered with an ornate 19th-century Chinese wallpaper.

The colours throughout the house respond to the proportions, natural light and character of each room. Rather than being treated simply as decoration, colour becomes part of the architecture itself.

Edward Bulmer’s approach to historic colour

Edward’s understanding of historic interiors has developed through decades of working with period houses and studying the relationship between architecture, decoration and colour.

At Court of Noke, quieter shades are used through transitional spaces, while stronger colours make more of an impact in the rooms where people spend time.

As Edward explains in the film, a historic house can provide a kind of canvas: calmer palettes carry you through the house, while richer areas of colour bring life to the rooms in which you stop and live.

This thinking also informs the Edward Bulmer Natural Paint collection, developed from Edward’s experience of working with historic buildings and his belief that colour should respond to architecture, materials, light and the way a room is used.

Colour beyond the house

The relationship between Court of Noke and its surroundings continues into the garden.

The grounds are rich in planting and wildlife, with ornamental waterways and a pond forming part of the landscape around the house. The existing waterways are thought to have formed part of an earlier Dutch-designed water garden.

As inside the house, colour here is shaped by its surroundings. The garden provides an ever-changing backdrop through the seasons, connecting the architecture of Court of Noke with the Herefordshire landscape beyond.

Thirty years at Court of Noke

More than 30 years after Edward and Emma first arrived, Court of Noke continues to evolve.

What began as an inhospitable old house has become a family home shaped by careful restoration, colour, pattern and an appreciation of its past. The process has been gradual, allowing the building to retain its character while adapting to family life and the work of Edward Bulmer Natural Paint.

Court of Noke is also closely connected to the story of the paint company. Edward’s experience of working with historic houses, and the need for paints and colours that could sit naturally within them, helped inform the development of Edward Bulmer Natural Paint.

Today, it is a home in which old and new sit comfortably together, and where colour is used to respond to and enhance the architecture.

Find your colour

Inspired by the colours and interiors of Court of Noke? Explore Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, or speak to our Colour Consultancy team for considered advice on choosing colours that work beautifully with your home, its architecture and natural light.

Film by Inigo
With thanks to Lou Willocks and the Inigo team for visiting Court of Noke and creating this film.