Decorating with a difference

When the two artists moved in they began almost immediately to paint - not just the walls, but on every surface, transforming the house into a living, breathing work of art.

We made it today, with Alice, to a place I have wanted to go to for a while - Charleston House, the home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. Near Lewes and not far from where Vanessa’s sister Virginia Woolf had a house, Charleston was occupied by the Bell family, plus at various times, other friends and relations, from 1916 until each of them died. It still had the furnishings, pictures, books etc that the occupants had left and eventually when it was bought by the descendants, it was restored to what it would have been like in the 1950s. 

We had a very informative conducted tour of the house. Every room is filled with paintings, fabrics, ornaments, pottery etc. all created by one or other of the past occupants. Quite extraordinary. 

After the tour we had a lovely lunch in the spacious cafe with an imaginative range of food. Excellent. The gardens are a joy and it was a bright, sunny afternoon in which to enjoy them. 

Extras - Alice as we waited for our tour, further examples of the painting.