The Brain-Watkin's House: Front Parlour

The Front Parlour

The parlour is one of the two front rooms of the Brain-Watkins house, the first on the left as you enter the front door. This is the public room of the house, a place to receive visitors during the day, a formal room, to sit and take tea.

Look at the wonderful assortment of furniture, from the Victorian footstool in the foreground, to the curves of the Art Nouveau style of the bentwood chair, and on into the 1930's and the Art Deco fabric covering the upholstered chairs. Almost 100 years of furniture history in one glance.

The room is screened off from outside with delicate lace curtains.

The fireplace surround looks marble but it is actually a paint finish, painted by someone with a sense of humour, as the little faces show.

The luxury of this embroidered velvet cushion, with its vibrant mustard yellow colour, adds to the mixture of styles in this room.

Flowers are everywhere in the house, embroidered on cushions, bedspreads, runners and doilies.

There are plastic flowers from the 1960's or 70's, and delicate gilt flowers on the Victorian style wallpaper as a backdrop. The eclectic mix of styles from the 1880's through to the 1970's, reflects the 100 years the Brain family lived in the house.