Elizabeth Wilhide is the author of two novels, If I CouldTell You ( published by Fig Tree Penguin 2016 and Penguin US 2017) and Ashenden (Fig Tree Penguin, Simon & Schuster and Lumen).
She has also published many books on design and interiors, including William Morris: Décor and Design, Sir Edwin Lutyens: Designing in the English Tradition, The Mackintosh Style and Scandinavian Home.
She has two children and lives in south London.
Photo: David Collingwood
elizabethwilhide.com 
December 5, 2013 at 9:04 am
Iam from saudia arabia ….Ishow your book (lighting your home ) so Ilike it
So I like to help me in my plan for our house to arrange the light
thank you
June 18, 2015 at 9:44 am
I wanted to be able to contact Ms Wilhide directly but this will have to do –
Dear Elizabeth, may I draw your attention (if you haven’t already seen it) to a book of water colours by Alexander Cresswell called ‘Silent Houses of Britain’ It depicts in pictures a great deal of what you portray in words and is one of my favourite possessions. As I read your glorious book I am reminded time and again of the illustrations. Growing up in England just after the war we had a steady supply of ‘big house’ films by the Rank organisation and came to love the notion of sweeping staircases and glamorous clothes and Margaret Lockwood, Stewart Granger, James Mason etc. provided some exotica in our dreary, post war world. Do get a glimpse of the book if you don’t already know it, I feel certain you will love it as I do. With best wishes, Megan Walden
June 28, 2015 at 10:41 pm
Dear Megan,
Thank you so much for getting in touch and recommending ‘Silent Houses of Britain’. I will certainly look out for it. It sounds right up my street. I’m so glad that you enjoyed Ashenden and that it struck a chord.
I moved to this country when I was 14, after growing up mainly in Canada, and was immediately struck by a sense of the past. Until then, I hadn’t really known any houses that dated back much before the nineteenth century.
Thanks again for writing. I really appreciate it.
all the best, Elizabeth
May 26, 2017 at 7:21 pm
I simply would like to gush about If I Could Tell You. Loved it and rushed out to get Ashenden, which I have just begun. I hope you write many, many more books. Thank you for giving so many people so much through your writing. Am now intrigued to read your non fiction works, too.
May 26, 2017 at 7:26 pm
Thank you so much Susi! That has really made my day.
October 9, 2017 at 3:23 pm
Yes, Ms. Wilhide, I expect Julia survives quite well — as an advocate for women’s issues in the ’60’s, and possibly a member of parliament as well as a proud grandmother. And I can indeed see Peter as an engineer.
I wish you success on your new novel.
February 9, 2019 at 11:56 am
I’ve just bought your book “Pattern Design” which is incredibly beautiful and such feast for the eyes. I was struck by the omission of Laura Ashley though. Is this because you don’t rate her as a designer or weren’t given permission to use her designs? Just interested – thanks Cathi Young
February 9, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Thanks so much — I’m so glad you’re enjoying the book. I do very much rate Laura Ashley and we planned to include her in the book but the company refused permission, which is a great shame.
May 26, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Hi Elizabeth, I love your book on fireplaces, but when I bought it many moons ago I noticed that the front cover displayed a fireplace with the exact same vase on it that my grandma had. I was wondering where that fireplace was located, I haven’t been able to identify my Grandma’s vase despite rigourous searching on the internet. It Is the one on the right hand side. Are you able to help, or is this too long ago – I think your book was published in 1998. I still have it but it doesn’t identify the fireplace. Thank you, Sarah.
May 26, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Hi Sarah, I’m so pleased you like the book! The fireplace on the front cover was at 14 Fournier Street, Eric Elstob’s house in Spitalfields, London. Elstob died in 2003 — there are obituaries of him online. I don’t have any information on the vase, I’m afraid, but given Elstob’s conservation efforts and interest in 18th century buildings, it might well have dated from that time. Hope that helps a bit and good luck with your research! best, Elizabeth
May 26, 2020 at 1:15 pm
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, I will investigate further, it may be somewhere I can visit next time I’m down in London.
July 1, 2020 at 11:42 am
Dear Elizabeth, I’m delighted finding your works about design! I search Internet bookstores for the papercopies. I wanted to share with you patterns I make: https://www.instagram.com/gorkatile/
Possibly, if it is in any way interesting for you, I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you in advance. Mac Gorka
September 15, 2020 at 5:53 pm
Hello Elisabeth,
I have ordered a copy of your book online, The Millenium Dome, which is yet to arrive. Although I’ve seen a copy of it in our local University library. Looks like a great read with wonderful photos throughout.
One question, the first photo inside the front of the book features a piece of paper relating to the Town Planning Act and the Highways Act. This document possibly relates to land being used to build the Millenium Dome on.
Why is there not a much clearer easy to read image of this document? Sure it may quite boring, but it all relates to the project, which surely would’ve needed planning permission to go ahead. Would’ve been interesting to read.
Kind regards,
Bernard Kinney.
From: bernardwhistle@yahoo.co.nz
September 15, 2020 at 9:09 pm
So glad you have ordered a copy of the book.! It was written and put together in a whirlwind, and I’m afraid I can’t remember what the thinking was with respect to the image on the half title that you are asking about. Pretty much everything about the project was controversial, although I don’t think the pic of the planning submission/permission fell into that category. How long ago it seems now. all best, Liz