osterley park

there are so many national trust houses! here's a tip from me. if you move here, get a membership. it costs £40 and you can see any national trust property for free. i should have done it ages ago...but whatever!

me and laura

i spent the day with my friend laura (for those who can't remember, she's the gal from ontario that i met while flat hunting. she looked at my flat, we got along and thought even though she's not taking the room, we should hang out!) at osterly park.the park has many gardens, farmland, and of course, one large and beautify mansion. the home is one of the last surviving country estates in london. it was created in the late 18th century by Robert Adam, for the Child family, who used the home to impress friends and clients.

osterley park

the Child family owned the child bank,one of the oldest financial institutions in the UK, that can trace its roots back to a London goldsmith business in the late 17th century. sir francis child commissioned adam to renovate the home, a home that he would move into with his new bride. thing is, sir francis died suddenly (from an infection from tonsilitis - amazing) and on the day of his funeral, his brother robert child, married his fiance and took up residence. what cheek!

but my favorite fact is this one - osterley park has been used for Buckingham Palace scenes, including victoria's sitting room and anteroom, in the 2009 film The Young Victoria starring emily blunt and rupert friend. but i digress...

anyhoo, the result is a very beautiful home. my favorite room is actually the entrance hall, painted in white and grey. its a bit cold to look at but stunning in its simplicity. the second was the gigantor kitchen. i can only imagine the feasts that were prepared there!

some people ask me if i get bored touring these old homes and gardens, and my answer is because they all have the long hallways, the artwork, the four (and in this case 8) poster beds, the tapestries, the fine detail in design, and dammit, even the curtains are amazing. plus i think i was a young victorian in a previous life, but that's another conversation!