Surrey Homes | SH16 | February 2016 | Wedding supplement inside

Above: An Ann Carrington original, this time of a Union Jack, hangs above the bed. The embroidered cushions were made by Jilly’s friend, Charlene Mullen
“At one point, I was at rock bottom financially but due to open in
a matter of weeks. A huge parcel arrived and it was full of beautiful
embroidered cushions made by my friend Charlene Mullen”
comfy chairs and a distinctive ‘foosball’ or ‘babyfoot’
table – which, apparently, is often a focal point at
parties. Jilly bought it on Columbia Road in London.
“It could tell a few stories!” says Jilly, though that is as
much as she will say. I can’t help imagining Dame Maggie
Smith – who plays Miss Shepherd in the film adaptation
of Alan Bennett’s play – playing a game or two of table
football. (I am informed, sadly for me at least, that Dame
Maggie has never in fact stayed at Belvidere Place.)
The living room has bare floorboards, blackboard paint
on the chimney breast and, on closer inspection, brown
wrapping paper on the walls – a surprisingly effective
look. Against the wall is a large, glass-fronted ‘cupboard of
curiosities’ which in a way reflects the eclectic contents of
the building itself: in the breakfast room a vast mirror is in
fact an old TV prop, there is an armchair from Claridge’s in
one of the bedrooms and a stunning Japanese-style cabinet
– which contains a kettle and other B&B goodies – in
another. “There was no grand plan or design,” says Jilly.
It’s hard to imagine that the interior wasn’t carefully
planned and curated, especially as the dark-grey
walls and woodwork downstairs make such a bold
45 www.wealdentimes.co.uk