The fireplace between the two buffets is by Sue Cook, bought at the ‘Poppenhuismuseum’ in Heesch. I so loved the marbling on it, that I continued to marble all the skirting-boards and the door to the hall in the same manner. Above the door I painted an ornament after a design by Jacques Etienne Benoist, a famous interior designer in those days.
The wallpaper is an 18th century design, found on some wrapping paper, reduced in size, photocopied and then aged with a little paint and wax. The curtains have been made of silk fabric from an antique Indian sari.
The panelling on both side walls was made from card and wooden moulding, on top there is a small plinth with special sections for the candlesticks. The panelling is held in place by ‘grip wax’, so I can always get to the wiring behind it. The side wall can easily be pulled forward (photo below from 2006), after which the back wall with the fireplace and the recessed buffets can be taken out completely.