Beautiful Details From The Home Of Charles Darwin

One of my favourite pastimes is getting lost within the old walls of an historical house or home, imagining the former owners going about their daily lives and, just for a few moments, imaging that I too lived there. I've been doing it since early childhood and we encourage our two children, about to turn one and four within two weeks of each other, to do the same. It's magical, don't you think?Last weekend we made a break for freedom with the kids to Down House, the home of Charles Darwin, not far from us in Kent. I love this house for the way that Darwin used it as an integral part of his life's work-from studying his own family, his years of relentless research and cataloguing in his beautiful study, to the gardens, greenhouse, fields and beyond. It was a house to be lived in. So I captured some of my favourite details from inside the house to share with you. I took so many of the gardens as well but thought I should keep it sweet for the purpose of your sanity. Ha!If you read my recent post about styling oil portraits in your home, you'll understand why I loved these two portly gentlemen hanging with an air of self importance in the dining room. And if I'd bothered to wander around like a numpty with an electronic guide in my ear I could've told you who they were. Sorry.The living room or parlour. Glorious wall to wall blue floral paper, dark wood furniture key to the Victorian era and touches of blue crockery and seating to tie it all in. I think the peacock feathers make it.Couldn't resist adding in this shot of the conservatory, with its wicker seating, lush tropical planting and mosaic tile flooring. Oh, and the coral pink window frames. I'd be content to potter around here once or twice a day, tending to my plants and soaking up the warm sun. Wouldn't you?