Inspiration

T H U R S D A Y :  A   C H I S W I C K   V I S I T

Thursday last week saw Ben Pentreath towers on our annual studio day out. We started with a wonderful, informed and insightful tour of the world's first Garden Suburb, Bedford Park, in Chiswick, led by retired architect John Scott, who lived and worked locally.  There was nothing that John didn't know.

These houses, the first in the estate, were designed by the architect E. W. Godwin, perhaps more famous for his aesthetic movement furniture - which we use a lot in our decorating projects.

More houses by Godwin.

But the houses were highly criticised for being impractical when built - and the developer dropped Godwin in favour of another leading proponent of the so-called 'Queen Anne Revival' movement - which led, step by step, to the Arts & Crafts, Richard Norman Shaw.  He, and his office, went on to design the majority of the houses in Bedford Park.

The streets are completely inspirational - simple but fascinating houses; the complete opposite of the standard late 19th century terraced houses that were being built in their hundreds of thousands across the country.

This was an altogether different world. John cleverly steered the office through the various streets.

And then we were on our way to Voysey House, the wonderful headquarters of Sanderson - but stopping to admire this amazing house also by Voysey, right on the edge of Bedford Park.

Here we all are outside Voysey House - thank you to John for the tour and for delivering us to the door on time!

Voysey House is an amazing building, and now home once again to Sanderson - and their sister brands Morris & Co and Zoffany.  If you are an interior decorator in or visiting London, make sure you make the journey to Chiswick to see this incredible building and collections.

We had tours of the archive (no photos) and discussions with the factory managers on printing methods and techniques... fascinating, although I felt I was dipping my toe in the water rather than really understanding all the possibilities.

Lunch and more tours of the recent collections....

And then we were off to Chiswick House, Lord Burlington's amazing early 18th century Palladian villa down by the River Thames.  By this stage of the afternoon the temperature was sweltering.  It felt like we were arriving in Italy.

Cool and leafy gardens....

In contrast to the modern garden surrounding the cafe, which again fits into the 'abandoned car park in Portugal' genre which I referred to in last week's blog.

We all found shade.

Team photo!

Beautiful Chiswick - a tiny but jewel-like gem!

We split into two groups; house and garden.

The gardens really were like being in Tuscany on the hottest afternoon of the year.

Then inside - to the beautiful, rather strange, overwhelmingly classical interiors.

Cool on a hot day, with their tall ceilings, small windows, stone floors. This house must be a different place in the middle of a damp cold London winter.

An astonishing architectural set piece.

Our brilliant guide, Sarah.

And then we were gone...

Away to the pub!  The perfect end to a happy day which somehow encompassed every aspect of the studio, looking, as we do, at town planning (with trees), architecture, and decoration.

F R I D A Y :  A N D   H O M E

The next morning I was back up to Rousay, escaping the heat. It was wonderful to be back in the green grey world.  One of my favourite roads in Orkney, on the 'long' way home, at Rendall.

I got home and Charlie and I went for a walk.  Silage has been cut in the fields since I was away.

I always love the graphic quality the straight lines give to the landscape for this brief moment.  A bit like a Hockney drawing.

The verges are filled with a huge variety of wild flowers at this moment.

Starlings having a natter on the roof of the abandoned cottage!

On the road to Westness.  The sea was flat calm by now - not a breath of wind.

Katherine and Russell's coos are out.

Back home it was warming up. We could have drinks on the terrace.

The sun was burning through.

The chef at work!

With his ever-present companion.

It was a beautiful evening.

S A T U R D A Y

Flat calm overnight, and mirror seas the next morning. Sibyl, Nancy and I went down for our morning swim.

The water was better than it looked!

Another walk - common blue butterflies everywhere in the verges.

Orchids everywhere too.

Down to the cliffs. We sometimes joke - compare this to the coastline in Dorset - and say to each other, the only problem with this place is that it's so crowded every summer!

The archeologists from the University of the Highlands and Islands are out again at Skaill Farm, for their summer dig. The bell tents are next level!

They are doing further work on what they think is the discovery of the old Viking Hall of Sigurd of Westness, underneath the 18th century farm buildings.

They are all coming over for a drink on Friday so I will give you a more detailed update then!

We got back in time for an afternoon drink too.

It was the football that night so Charlie decorated the house with his amazing old English flag. Obviously we are aware that we live on a Scottish Island rather close to Norway, but even so - the occasion must be met!

It was seriously hot by now - time for another cooling dip!

In Charlie's amazing veg garden that evening.

Then the match...

Although, if you are a regular reader of the blog, you'll understand I had to pop out to take a couple of photos of the sunset shortly after play got going.

It was obviously a late game - so by the time it had finished, it was well after 1am that we went to bed. We took the dogs out. The night was flat calm. The water has never been more still than that night.  1am and the white nights are still with us for a while longer....

S U N D A Y

Perfect swimming the next morning.

Then we were on the ferry over to mainland.  Look at the incredible water!

We were meeting our friend Sue and looking around Kierfiold House with its beautiful gardens...

It's a magical place - and it's for sale - if you are interested!

We had a lovely visit to Fiona's garden for the Scottish Garden scheme.... and lunch with Sue, at her beautiful house, then home.

We started watching Wimbledon but we didn't quite have the energy.

Time for more swims to cool off.

We met our neighbour Katherine who took us both out on the kayaks. That was fun! And our canoe arrives soon... watch this space.

This was basically the rest of the afternoon.

Followed by...

Followed by....

You get the picture!

Supper on the terrace.  It felt so good to be out. While the rest of Britain has been sweltering under the heatwaves, even most places in Scotland reaching balmy temperatures, Orkney has been trapped under a cold grey mist and rain for most of the summer.  It was nice to feel warm and not need our jerseys.

M O N D A Y

Another perfect sunset; another beautiful morning.  I had my best swim of the year this morning - maybe 25 minutes or more. Heaven.

Charlie was picking veg that morning...

Amazing to think that one day this will be the restored Victorian walled garden too.  Watch this space - work is slowly beginning to happen now, which is very exciting!  For all those that wonder when we are painting the house, it will be really right at the end of all the building works, so maybe not for another couple of years at least.  But we are making a start now, which feels fantastic.

Then I was off - down south, as I've got another week of meetings and site visits.  This was the view from the ferry this morning, the little Rousay pier bustling with summer activity.

Looking over to Eynhallow Sound - that's us just around the corner.

Goodbye to Rousay for a few days.

And off to London.  It's hard to leave, of course, but nice to still have the feeling of salt on my skin!