Tatty/Divine

Tatty Devine is actually the name of a jewellery company in the UK, but it’s an expression that I like to use when something’s both kind of ragged, but fabulous. Sort of like rough-luxe. I saw a house on-line which exemplified the expression perfectly.

The house is actually pretty divine – an old Georgian outside the terrific city of Bristol, England.

Here’s what the listing says about it: Classic Georgian symmetrical front with rusticated quoins, sill bands, modillion cornice and parapet with open lattice sections as well as a central porch with Ionic ¾ columns. That’s some kind of architect-speak.

Now here’s the tatty part:It doesn’t even look like the same house. It’s sort of like a mullet haircut – business in the front, party in the back.

On to the inside…Divine, except for the tatty light fixture. Oh, and the serious need for plaster and paint work. The listing says: elaborate paneled plaster ceiling in the Drawing Room with deeply undercut fruit and flowers. It is a pretty amazing ceiling, isn’t it?

And then there’s this:Brrrr…. that just makes me shiver.

This staircase could be amazing, especially with the barley-twist balusters. Here’s what the listing says about the stairs: open-well stair with quarter landings at the back of the house, with fluted newel posts rising between floors and pyramid pendants below, barley sugar balusters.

I am truly fascinated with the pieces that keep the stair-runner in place.

The house is listed for £425,000 - £475,000, which isn’t bad,considering that it’s got three reception rooms and six bathrooms. It’s just off the M32, which leads into the M4 to London in one direction and Cardiff in the other. It’s a road I am well familiar with. And it’s just off the same road as this beauty.