Wealden Times | WT180 | February 2017 | Wedding supplement inside

Above: The music room walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s
Cream. Pride of place is given to the ebony Challen baby grand
piano that belonged to Murielle’s mother. Right: The sitting room
piano that belonged to Murielle’s mother, a medallist at the
Royal Academy of Music and who received it as a gift on her
first wedding anniversary in 1934. Arranged across its glossy
surface is a collection of family photographs and a striking gold
lamp, fashioned in the shape of a palm tree, sports a square
black lampshade. Further light can be gained from the Baccarat
crystal candelabra – an obviously treasured gift from a friend.
There are more family photographs on the bookshelves, again
made by Old School Joinery, and on a low table, an arresting
black and white studio shot of Murielle as a young woman
in a beautifully tailored Jackie O style shift dress is set off on
either side by a pair of gold lamps, moulded in the form of
laurel wreaths, but again topped with black linen shades.
The sitting room, further along the hallway is equally
serene, decorated in pale green and ivory. A pair of stone
coloured devore sofas are dressed with striped cushions
and in front of the sash window, a low, oval table displays
a collection of crystal candlesticks and decanters that
belonged to Murielle’s grandmother. The original shutters
are in working order, but are unusually designed, so that
instead of being folded back against the wall either side,
they slide out of it and across the window panes.
Upstairs, the principal bedroom is all hushed calm. The
101 wealdentimes.co.uk