Rhoda Garrett (British 1841 - 1882) and her cousin Agnes Garrett (British 1845-1935) were trailblazers in British interior design, becoming the first women to establish their own firm, R. & A. Garrett House Decorators, in 1874.
Originally working as a governess and housekeeper, they began their careers with apprenticeships under Jean McKean Brydon in the London office of Cottier & Co. After completing their three-year training, they embarked on a tour of English country houses, which informed their design aesthetic, giving them the confidence to start their own business in London.
The Garretts’ firm offered interior design services and created furniture, wallpapers, and textiles. Their designs reflected principles of the Arts & Crafts Movement, emphasising the use of authentic materials and craftsmanship. Their 1876 book Suggestions for House Decoration in Painting, Woodwork, and Furniture was aimed at middle-class households, promoting the idea that “every material has in itself a beauty,” encouraging natural aesthetics rather than imitation.
Their most notable clients included James and Margaret Beale, for whom they designed pieces for their home at 32 Holland Park. These pieces were later moved to the Beales’ country house Standen, which remains a National Trust property.
The Garretts also worked on the homes of notable family members, including Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Millicent Garrett Fawcett, pioneers in medicine and suffrage, respectively.
The sisters were committed to advancing women’s rights, particularly through their involvement in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Agnes served as the joint honorary secretary of the Central Committee of the National Society for Women’s Suffrage in 1872, actively advocating for women’s right to vote.
Rhoda was also a powerful public speaker, delivering speeches at meetings and rallies. In one of her speeches in 1876, she emphasised the role of women in improving household art, arguing that through their contributions to home design, women could positively impact society.
Their activism extended beyond suffrage; Agnes trained female apprentices in her design firm, providing women with professional opportunities in a field that had traditionally excluded them.
Through their work and activism, the Garrett cousins played a pivotal role in promoting both gender equality and women’s rights in the professional and domestic spheres. After Rhoda’s death in 1882, Agnes continued the firm, managing a skilled team of workers and training apprentices, including women, which was uncommon at the time. She exhibited her designs at major events like the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1888, further cementing the Garretts’ influence.
MAIN IMAGE: Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Agnes Garrett, Miss Fawcett and Ray Strachey, after Royal Assent to the Equal Franchise Act, 1928, seated in a car parked on the road
