A Historic 1868 English Home and Garden Filled With Books, Antiques, and History

Rebeka Russell, publisher of Manderley Press, welcomes us inside her beautiful London family home, where literary history, Victorian Arts and Crafts design, and an enchanting English garden come together.

Built in 1868 by architect Philip Webb—best known for designing William Morris’s Red House—the home has long been a sanctuary for writers, artists, and creatives. It was once the residence of author William Hale White, who would take tea in the downstairs music room with the iconoclastic British textile designer William Morris.

In conversation with the home’s storied history, Rebeka and her family—with the help of designer Ben Pentreath—have thoughtfully restored this house with William Morris wallpapers, antique furnishings, and collected pieces that reflect their shared love of literature, design, and craftsmanship.

Rebeka has also transformed the former scullery—complete with its original 19th-century floor—into the headquarters of her publishing company, where she produces beautifully crafted editions of forgotten literary classics inspired by houses, buildings, or landmarks.

The result is a richly layered home that feels both deeply rooted in the past and fully alive with modern family life.