House Interior

The interior of Bentley house was given as much consideration as everything else and it contains some wonderful antique pieces and furnishings.

Between the two Palladian rooms runs the enfilade. The little oval ante-room beside the Chinese Drawing Room was created to mark the junction of old and new and is mirrored at the other end. Through the door is a pretty sitting room with a corner fireplace and a wave-topped bookcase designed by Erith.

This wonderful mid 18th century wallpaper determined the theme for the Chinese Drawing Room. There was not quite enough for the room, so smoked mirrors were made for between the windows and Jean Hornak cleverly continued the wallpaper in paint. The luxuriant colour called for gilt furniture, however the first pieces bought for the room were the pair of handsome garden urns that now stand in the corners. The ornate ceiling plasterwork with its fruit swags and medallions accords with the original idea of the room being essentially Kent.

The Bird Room is the mirror image of the Chinese Drawing Room, but is cooler and more restrained. The mood is set by the chimney piece, which was derived from one at Palladio's Villa Maser.

The dining room exemplifies the eye for colour and decorative, painted furniture throughout the house. It is one of the old rooms as the low beams show. The table is a 17th century oak farmhouse piece, whilst the chairs are 18th century Venetian. The subtle grey green of the chairs is picked up in the handsome bird screen.

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Click here to read about the restoration project