Saturday 19 September 2015


It is Open House weekend. Forward planning not being my strong point, it was lunchtime before I looked at the brochure - so that's why I had to stay local and visit this suburban Versailles. It's six years old, built by a Polish millionaire as a tribute to his grandmother who was inconsolable after the loss of the family palace back home.
What can you say ... if you've got it, flaunt it. There's some pictures here. (Poky kitchen - but look at that fridge!) Somewhere underneath the bling there is what I imagine must have been a perfectly nice Arts and Crafts house in keeping with the rest of the street.
The owner is a balletomane and recently took up ballet in his 60s. He has danced excerpts from Swan Lake in his gilded salon, we were told on the tour - by a member of staff who has mastered the art of keeping a straight-ish face - clad in white tights, and partnered by a prima ballerina. (Cue: distressed looks from British visitors, especially the men, as it will take some time to expunge this image.)
It did make me think of Hyacinth Bucket's candlelit soirées.

4 comments:

Toffeeapple said...

Not to my taste!

mary said...

Dreadful, isn't it! But the owner must be having fun with it.

Katharine A said...

From one extreme to another. We went to the London Fire Brigade Museum for Open House London. Real men! Not to mention real fire engines, real ladders, real water pumps...

mary said...

I've never been to the museum - but I once had a ride on a fire-engine! Real men, indeed - and for some reason, they're often excellent cooks!