"For almost 40 years now I have spent every weekend that I can in The Temple. It's been a place of celebration, but also meditation, retreat and appreciation. The collection, from the carefully chosen furniture to the treasured artworks and decorative objects, is a deeply personal one that I have lived alongside for many years. When I think back on my life, I don't think I could have had the career I have unless I had this sanctuary to return to."

Veere Grenney

This is the first time the collection from The Temple will be offered at auction, comprising of nearly 150 lots. From elegantly upholstered furniture and decorative lighting to artworks by Maggi Hambling and Peter Coker, each piece comes from Grenney’s personal collection - objects he has cherished and lived alongside, a reflection of a life beautifully lived and artfully arranged.

Grenney’s connection to The Temple is a story shaped by chance and opportunity. As a teenager growing up in New Zealand, Grenney first discovered the Palladian folly in a magazine, then owned by David Hicks, his design hero. Years later, Grenney began working with Mary Fox Linton, then in partnership with Hicks, and eventually became a director at the legendary firm Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, before founding Veere Grenney Associates in 1996.

When he was offered the position at Colefax & Fowler, Grenney sold his London flat and invested almost all the proceeds into taking on the lease of The Temple which had serendipitously come onto the market. He called the decision “utter madness,” but one he has never regretted. Over the years, he has transformed The Temple into a sanctuary of quiet elegance and modern comfort, blending classical architecture with contemporary living.

Grenney now divides his time between homes in Tangier, London, and Suffolk but The Temple remains his creative refuge and weekend retreat. His enduring connection to the home speaks not only to a deep personal bond but also to the remarkable full-circle journey that took him from a design-obsessed teenager in New Zealand to one of the leading voices in international interior design.

Joe Robinson, Head of House Sales and Private Collections at Dreweatts, commented: "Veere’s vision of harmonious, uplifting and beautiful interiors is on full display in the sale, offering collectors a unique chance to buy into his legendary ‘eye’. This sale marks a rare opportunity to acquire cherished pieces from The Temple, which are coming to market for the first time. For Veere, The Temple has been a source of constant inspiration throughout his career and this collection offers collectors a unique opportunity to be part of a defining chapter of his journey as one of the country’s leading interior designers."

Auction Highlights

Auction Details

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Auction:
Wednesday 3 September 2025
Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE, UK
Bidding is available in person at our salerooms, online, by telephone or you can leave commission (absentee) bids. 

Viewing:
Dreweatts, 16-17 Pall Mall, St James’s, London SW1Y 5LU, UK

• Friday 29 August: 10am - 4pm
• Monday 1 September: 10am - 4pm
• Tuesday: 2 September: 10am - 4pm

Further information:
General enquiries: + 44 (0) 1635 553 553 | housesales@dreweatts.com
Press enquiries: press@dreweatts.com