A UK Victorian Full of Art & Vintage Style

Name: Diana and Dominic Pollock
Location: Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
Size: 1,800 square feet
Years lived in: 10 years; Owned

Just a short walk from Guildford’s town centre, this late-Victorian house is home to artist Diana, husband Dominic, who works at Wimbledon, and their now-grown-up children. With the elegant proportions and architectural details of the late 1800s— the lofty ceilings, generous room size, original fireplaces and moulded picture rails — the house has bags of character and a wonderfully spacious feel, which Diana and Dominic have enhanced further by opening up some of the downstairs walls in the ten years since they moved here from London. Today, you can sit on the sofa by the living room windows at the front of the house and enjoy wonderful glimpses of the patio area right through at the back.

Diana and Dominic’s love of art and design is evident everywhere, and it’s this that really gives their home its unique, eclectic character. Landscapes, abstracts, portrait sketches, still life paintings and more line the walls in every room; and a sculpture by Courtney Pollock, Dominic’s paternal grandfather, sits atop a cabinet by the window in the dining room. There are lots of global influences, too, from the Ethiopian painting of Solomon and Sheba commissioned by Diana’s parents in the early 1960s, to the mid-century Scandinavian table and the brightly-coloured woven rug from Chile on the bench in the dining room. There are also some quirky, colourful collections – like the Matryoshka dolls and glass paperweights on the shelf in the hall – and vibrant textiles used as cushions and lampshades. And it’s all carefully (yet apparently effortlessly) put together against the canvas of white walls with the same artist’s skill Diana uses to compose her artworks — and the result, just like her paintings, is beautiful!

Upstairs, the largest bedroom has been turned into Diana’s studio, making the most of the large east-facing windows at the front of the house. Here she creates her still life pastels and watercolours, which will be exhibited along with the work of nine other artists at London’s Menier Gallery from November 17th-29th.

My Style: Nouveau hotchpotch

Inspiration: South American and Scandinavian design

Favorite Element: The woodburner – it makes the kitchen so cosy on winter days.

Biggest Challenge: What else? Money!

What Friends Say: You’ve been busy

Biggest Embarrassment: Lack of flooring

Proudest DIY: Ikea hacked kitchen sink unit (thanks Dom!)

Biggest Indulgence: The flooring, that hasn’t materialised yet

Best Advice: Be confident! Nobody else has to live in the house, as long as you like it …

Dream Sources: British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Britain

• Exterior: Farrow and Ball Smoke Green
• Interior: Farrow and Ball James White; Dulux Trade White

• Small oil paintings by various artists including Jim Woolley, Patrick Haymen
• Sofa: Ikea
• Fabric for cushions and lampshades: Nina Campbell and Sanderson

DINING ROOM

• 1950’s table: Ebay
• Chairs: from a local second-hand store
• Textile rug on bench: from Chile
• Indian cabinet from Lots Road, Chelsea

• Kitchen units: Ikea hacks
• Woodburner: salvaged from a pub
• Small green bowl from Uzes, France
• Silver salt bowls: a gift from an Aunt
• Postcards by Giorgio Morandi
• Candelabra: Selfridges
• French wood-carved shelf: a gift
• Child’s string painting: by their young daughter
• Prints by Anish Kapoor, Eileen Cooper
• Lampshade: Orla Kiely
• Lampshade base: 1960s from Chile
• Mugs: Tove Jansson

Thanks, Diana and Dominic!

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