Playful and Colorful Interiors in a Grand Georgian House in the English Countryside

Tucked away in a small village near London, this remarkable Georgian house brings together history and contemporary art. Built in 1768, the seven-bedroom house spans over 7,500 square feet within 1,5 acres of garden with mature trees, open lawns, and a swimming pool.

The house belongs to artist Robert Montgomery and actor/poet Greta Bellamacina and their three children. A couple of years ago, they decided to leave London and found this historic home that could also serve as Robert’s painting studio and a filming location for Greta.

The house makes an impression from the moment you see it. Its red-brick facade is detailed with stone dressings and crowned by a balustrade, while tall sash windows add the symmetry of Georgian buildings.

The house has had a full history. In the early 19th century, the house was extended with a grand music room, and in the 1920s, additional space was added. During the Second World War, the house was requisitioned as an officers’ garrison. A hand-painted mural in one of the sitting rooms, depicting a Kentish harvest, is believed to be from this period.

In the 1970s, the house was used as a school until it eventually returned to being a private dwelling. The current owners have carefully restored and reimagined the interiors with color, texture, and pattern.

The glass-paneled front door, topped with a delicate fanlight, leads to the grand entrance hall, featuring terracotta-colored Edwardian geometric tiles.

From the hall, you move into the former music room, now the heart of the home and the main living room. Natural light pours in through large windows and French doors, and together with the high ceilings and cornicing, lends a grand atmosphere to the space.

A beautiful piano stands in the corner of the room, a gentle nod to the room’s historic use.

The room is centered around a cast-iron fireplace with a marble surround. The walls are finished in a soft, hand-made blend of paint and limewash, adding depth and an Italian palazzo look to the space.

In the summer months, the room effortlessly connects to the grand outdoor spaces.

The dining room is painted in Edward Bulmer’s “Verdigris.” The embroidered tablecloth is by Loretta Caponi, with shades that return in the Murano glass chandelier.

The kitchen is designed in a rustic, country style, featuring handmade terracotta tiles on the floor and walls painted in the soft “Ballet Shoe” by Earthborn.

A Falcon range cooker stands in the center of the space.

The vintage green cabinets are topped with travertine.

A second sitting room on the ground floor is painted in a playful pink hue, bespoke color from Paint & Paper Library. It contrasts wonderfully with the historic harvest mural, which is thought to have been painted during World War II.

On the first floor landing, they created a wonderful reading nook under the large sash window, with a comfortable chair and bookshelves on either side.

The landing is painted in Pimlico Green by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, crafted by Fenwick & Tilbrook.

The master bedroom features beautiful Georgian elements such as the ornate cornicing, shuttered windows, and an intricately carved fireplace.

The room features bubblegum pink walls (“Peachy Baby” by Earthborn) and a deep red carpet, along with antique furnishings.

The principal bathroom is a grand space with a freestanding bath, paneled walls, and black-painted floorboards.

There are three more bedrooms on the first floor. This charming children’s room is decorated with the Improvisation 1 wallpaper by Ottoline paired with a playfully striped bed and a Caramel canopy.

A second children’s room is decorated with the Emania border wallpaper by House of Hackney.

One of the guest rooms is completely decorated in the Porcelain Garden wallpaper by Sanderson, paired with soft pink joinery.

Another guest room is fully drenched in House of Hackney’s “Hollyhocks” Spring wallpaper and fabric.

Outside, the gardens unfold across 1.5 acres of greenery. Mature trees, including Scots pine, ginkgo, gum, and long-standing cherry trees, create a sense of seclusion.

There are productive vegetable plots, a greenhouse, and a series of outbuildings that offer workshop and storage space.

At the western edge, the swimming pool sits within a stone surround and terracotta terrace, a legacy of the 1970s.

The house is listed for £2.350.000 at Inigo.