In the heart of north London, a vibrant and colorful home awaits, where art and aesthetics intertwine to create a sanctuary of joy and inspiration. This is the residence of Ruth Evans, an art collector and author who has transformed her Victorian terrace into a living masterpiece over the past three decades. With each refurbishment, Evans has woven her unique style and personality into the very fabric of her home, making it a testament to the power of self-expression and the beauty of color.
What makes Evans' home so captivating is her unwavering love for color and art. She believes that a house should be a place of harmony and inspiration, where every room tells a story and evokes emotion. Her friend, interior designer Mika Burdett, shares this vision, and together they have crafted a space that is both aesthetically pleasing and deeply personal.
One of the key aspects of Evans' home is the way she embraces color. She challenges the notion that using color requires courage, arguing that it is a way to bring joy and life into a space. Her bedroom, for instance, is painted in a warm shade of yellow, a color she finds uplifting and energizing. She believes that sleeping in a white bedroom is like sleeping in a tomb, while a yellow room is a celebration of life.
Evans' love for color is not limited to her walls. She has embraced colorful Venetian blinds, inexpensive lights from IKEA and Habitat, and a paint color-matching service to create a cohesive and vibrant atmosphere throughout her home. These small touches add up to create a space that is both functional and beautiful, where every corner tells a story and every artwork is a cherished treasure.
At the heart of Evans' home is her art collection, which has grown over the years from a single Warhol screenprint to a diverse array of works by artists such as Julian Opie, Howard Hodgkin, Joan Miró, Andy Warhol, and Maggi Hambling. Her collection is a reflection of her personality and interests, and she takes great pride in curating it with care and attention.
Evans' journey into the art world began with a Warhol screenprint of Ingrid Bergman, which she purchased with the inheritance from her mother. While she initially paid almost twice as much as she should have, this experience taught her the value of negotiation and the importance of doing her research. She now knows her way around the art market and has built a collection of valuable paintings and prints, many of which are affordable for art-curious beginners.
But Evans' home is not just about art and aesthetics. It is also about creating a cozy and inviting space where loved ones can gather and share meals. The kitchen, for instance, is a hub of activity, with a pet feeding area, low-level TV and sofa, display cases and shelves, and a walk-in pantry. These features make the kitchen a place where people can relax and connect, surrounded by warmth and good will.
In the end, Evans' home is a testament to the power of self-expression and the beauty of color. It is a place where art and aesthetics intertwine to create a sanctuary of joy and inspiration, where every room tells a story and every artwork is a cherished treasure. As she looks back on her journey, Evans believes that having a cozy home that is shared with loved ones is key to happiness, and that color just makes the experience all the richer.
