Grace & Holmes undertakes advisory work relating to historic interiors, material judgement, and contextual integrity. This work focuses on environments where evidence is partial, decisions are sensitive, and responsibility extends beyond aesthetics.

The practice offers guidance on decorative restraint, interpretation, and decision-making in historic settings, supporting institutions, private owners, and heritage bodies in navigating questions of authenticity, material truth, and long-term stewardship.

This advisory role is distinct from interior design or decoration. It operates at the point where judgement, evidence, and accountability intersect — particularly in situations where visual completion may risk over-interpretation or historical distortion.

 

Areas of focus

• Advisory work on historic interiors

• Decorative judgement and restraint

• Interpretation where evidence is incomplete

• Antiques and collections context

• Material assessment and authenticity

• Support for heritage institutions and private historic properties

 

Selected advisory work

An independent advisory study exploring decorative judgement in a historic interior is available below.

Decorative Judgement in a Gründerzeit Interior
A study in restraint, evidence, and responsibility

 

View advisory study (PDF) → Decorative_Judgement_Historic_Interiors_Bianca_Demsa_2026