One of the really spectacular aspects of Red House are the ceilings, many of which were hand-painted by Morris and his friends. Some have since been repainted by subsequent owners but the main stairwell ceiling is still original (and smoke stained).
On many of the ceilings you can see the patterns punched with small holes on the ceiling board. The docent said that Morris did this to guide the later painting (after the ceiling boards were installed). In some rooms the ceilings were never painted but the pattern was punched.
Up the stairs and through this archway you find the hall with the ceiling below....
To the left is this bedroom.....
In the main living room the small window seat alcove sports the ceiling pattern below.....if the historians hadn't confirmed it was a pattern and color original to the house, I would have guessed this was painted in the sixties!
Love the castle turrets on the stair posts!
A beautiful three-quarter arch...
In the Morris bedroom is this reproduction of the famous blue serge bed-curtain embroidered by Janey. I have always loved this pattern (daisy)----if I was ever stranded for a year on a desert island with nothing but yarn, fabric and a needle, this would be a great project!
I hope everybody was inspired by these pictures of Red House! I want to go home and paint white rooms with fabulous ceilings and doors. Next, the Ducal Palace in Urbino, Italy....
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