Bloomsbury-inspired interiors: bringing Charleston to the Treasure House Fair

The colourful, unconventional interiors of Charleston farmhouse have inspired generations of artists and decorators. Home to Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Charleston became a place where painting extended beyond the canvas, with furniture, walls and everyday objects transformed through colour and pattern.

When art dealer Philip Mould invited Edward Bulmer to help design his stand at London’s Treasure House Fair, the paintings on display provided the starting point for a scheme inspired by this distinctive Bloomsbury aesthetic.

Working alongside antiques dealer and interior designer Max Rollitt and decorative artists Bloomsbury Revisited, Edward created a series of richly coloured spaces that celebrated art, craftsmanship and the joy of decorating.

A collaboration inspired by art

The Treasure House Fair, held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, brings together leading art and antiques dealers, showcasing works from across centuries and disciplines.

For Philip Mould’s stand, the collection included 20th-century paintings by artists such as Duncan Grant and Harrington Mann.

Rather than treating the paintings as the finishing touches, Edward began with the artworks themselves, choosing colours and furnishings that would complement their subjects, period and character.

It’s an approach central to his decorating philosophy: start with what you already have, whether that’s a favourite painting, a piece of furniture or an architectural detail, and build a scheme around it.

With its distinctive combination of painted furniture, decorative surfaces and collected objects, Charleston offered a natural source of inspiration.

The Bloomsbury colour palette

Colour played an essential role in bringing the scheme together, with Edward selecting four shades from the Edward Bulmer Natural Paint collection.

Aerial Tint: a gentle backdrop for art

Aerial Tint was chosen for the main drawing room.

This subtle grey-blue offered a softer backdrop for the paintings, allowing the artworks and furnishings to remain the focus.

It’s a particularly useful approach when decorating around a collection of art: rather than defaulting to white, a carefully chosen colour can complement the works on display without competing with them.

Royal Grass Green: a colourful sitting room

For the sitting room, Edward selected Royal Grass Green.

Its lively green provided a stronger contrast to the drawing room, creating a distinctive setting for antique furniture and decorative lighting.

Green was an important presence in the decorative world of Charleston, and this shade offered a fresh interpretation of that connection to the natural world.

Tyrian and Wash Stop: decorative finishing touches

Deeper accents of Tyrian introduced a rich plum tone, while Wash Stop was used on the woodwork.

Together, these colours added contrast and definition, demonstrating how painted architectural details can become part of a room’s decorative scheme.

It’s a technique that feels particularly appropriate to Bloomsbury-inspired interiors, where colour often extends beyond the walls to doors, furniture and smaller decorative elements.

Decorative painting with Bloomsbury Revisited

No Charleston-inspired scheme would be complete without decorative painting.

Edward and Philip enlisted Jane McCall of Bloomsbury Revisited, whose work draws inspiration from the painted interiors and furnishings of Charleston farmhouse.

For the stand, Jane created decorative details on imposing architectural elements, incorporating hand-painted motifs inspired by the Bloomsbury style.

The designs included playful animal imagery and freehand patterns, bringing a distinctly artistic quality to the space.

Founded by Jane McCall and Jane Howard, Bloomsbury Revisited celebrates the individuality and creative spirit of Charleston through decorative furniture, lighting and accessories.

Their contribution helped transform the stand from a conventional gallery setting into a series of rooms that felt personal, expressive and full of interest.

Antiques and furniture by Max Rollitt

Antiques dealer and interior designer Max Rollitt brought another important layer to the scheme.

His carefully selected furniture, including upholstered sofas and distinctive occasional chairs, complemented the painted interiors and decorative artwork.

The combination of antique and contemporary pieces reflected the informal, collected quality associated with Charleston, where inherited furniture, practical objects and artistic experimentation existed side by side.

Rather than creating a strictly historical reconstruction, the collaboration drew on the spirit of Bloomsbury decorating to produce something relevant to contemporary interiors.

How to create a Bloomsbury-inspired interior

One of the most appealing aspects of Bloomsbury decorating is its freedom. The interiors at Charleston were shaped by the artistic interests and personalities of the people who lived there, rather than by a strict set of decorative rules.

There are several ways to bring some of that spirit into your own home.

Start with something you love. A favourite painting, patterned textile or antique chair can provide the starting point for an entire colour scheme.

Be confident with colour. Rather than relying exclusively on neutral walls, consider how greens, blues and richer accent colours might complement your furniture and artwork.

Experiment with painted details. Doors, woodwork, furniture and smaller architectural features offer opportunities to introduce contrasting colours or decorative patterns.

Mix old and new. Bloomsbury interiors are celebrated for their individuality. Combining inherited pieces, antiques and contemporary designs can create a similarly personal result.

Embrace the handmade. Decorative painting, patterned fabrics and artisan-made objects can introduce the sense of creativity and craftsmanship that makes Charleston so distinctive.

The Treasure House Fair collaboration was a wonderful opportunity to explore these ideas, bringing together art, colour and decorative craftsmanship in a setting inspired by one of Britain’s most influential artistic circles.

Explore our natural paint colours to begin creating your own palette, or discover more about the Bloomsbury women and their gardens in our feature on the Garden Museum’s Gardening Bohemia exhibition.