Jaz Rosten-Edwards had always wanted to have an art gallery – so she turned her house into one.

Houses on a residential street can blend into one. Especially if there is a row of them built as a set at the same time – but things can be very different within. As I discovered on a quiet road, where a fairly modest-looking Victorian artisan’s cottage on the outside turns out to be a wonderland within – and you’re right in it the moment the front door opens.

TEST The almost black walls of the sitting room provide the perfect backdrop for Jaz’s collection of artworks

The almost black walls of the sitting room provide the perfect backdrop for Jaz’s collection of artworks

TEST In the kitchen, Jaz has painted every surface – including cupboard doors, drawer fronts and tiles – a striking ultra-dark grey and changed the handles on the units. A lovely painting of a hare dressed in a velvet frock coat and ruff (above right) turns out to be a water and heat resistant Ibride tray which she attached to the ugly white front of the boiler with Command strips

In the kitchen, Jaz has painted every surface – including cupboard doors, drawer fronts and tiles – a striking ultra-dark grey and changed the handles on the units

TEST In the kitchen, Jaz has painted every surface – including cupboard doors, drawer fronts and tiles – a striking ultra-dark grey and changed the handles on the units. A lovely painting of a hare dressed in a velvet frock coat and ruff (above right) turns out to be a water and heat resistant Ibride tray which she attached to the ugly white front of the boiler with Command strips

A lovely painting of a hare dressed in a velvet frock coat and ruff (above right) turns out to be a water and heat resistant Ibride tray which she attached to the ugly white front of the boiler with Command strips

TEST Hands appear quite often throughout the house, the pair on the dining table, cast in plaster, are from Abigail Ahern. A large-scale painting of a girl over the fireplace is by Janet Stocker, a young artist who Jaz represents, whilst on the opposite wall is another large painting of a girl, more close up, by Juby Page, an artist Jaz stumbled upon by chance at an art fair in Chelsea

Hands appear quite often throughout the house, the pair on the dining table, cast in plaster, are from Abigail Ahern

TEST The majority of the furniture and lighting in Jaz’s home are vintage finds, but the new pieces she has chosen are of very good quality. A bright blue velvet-covered sofa on the opposite side of the dining room is by Designers Guild

The majority of the furniture and lighting in Jaz’s home are vintage finds, but the new pieces she has chosen are of very good quality. A bright blue velvet-covered sofa on the opposite side of the dining room is by Designers Guild

TEST “There is always a colour link when I hang pictures,” Jaz explains. “I colour block, to create a link through the room.” She has had plenty of practise, with the arrangements constantly changing and evolving as new pieces – to sell, or to add to her own collection – come into the house and go out again

“There is always a colour link when I hang pictures,” Jaz explains. “I colour block, to create a link through the room.” She has had plenty of practise, with the arrangements constantly changing and evolving as new pieces – to sell, or to add to her own collection – come into the house and go out again

TEST Hands appear quite often throughout the house, the pair on the dining table, cast in plaster, are from Abigail Ahern. A large-scale painting of a girl over the fireplace is by Janet Stocker, a young artist who Jaz represents, whilst on the opposite wall is another large painting of a girl, more close up, by Juby Page, an artist Jaz stumbled upon by chance at an art fair in Chelsea

A large-scale painting of a girl over the fireplace is by Janet Stocker, a young artist who Jaz represents, whilst on the opposite wall is another large painting of a girl, more close up, by Juby Page, an artist Jaz stumbled upon by chance at an art fair in Chelsea

TEST Prints, paintings and sculptures of assorted sizes cover the walls on either side of the staircase

Prints, paintings and sculptures of assorted sizes cover the walls on either side of the staircase

TEST The zebra head pot, sourced from a shop called Hilary and Flo, is arranged with other pieces that Jaz has added to her collection over the years

The zebra head pot, sourced from a shop called Hilary and Flo, is arranged with other pieces that Jaz has added to her collection over the years

TEST Although painted in deep, rich tones, the bedrooms are surprisingly airy, with light flooding in from large windows, reflected in touches of gilding and with greenery bringing a bit of the outdoors in

Although painted in deep, rich tones, the bedrooms are surprisingly airy, with light flooding in from large windows, reflected in touches of gilding and with greenery bringing a bit of the outdoors in

TEST “Hanging artworks depends on their weight. For lighter pieces you can use Command strips, which are removable, but I tend to use nails, screws and wall plugs. I do it all by eye, I never use a tape measure. I don’t want it to look perfect – I want it to look lived in, not precious.”

“Hanging artworks depends on their weight. For lighter pieces you can use Command strips, which are removable, but I tend to use nails, screws and wall plugs. I do it all by eye, I never use a tape measure. I don’t want it to look perfect – I want it to look lived in, not precious.”

TEST “Hanging artworks depends on their weight. For lighter pieces you can use Command strips, which are removable, but I tend to use nails, screws and wall plugs. I do it all by eye, I never use a tape measure. I don’t want it to look perfect – I want it to look lived in, not precious.”

“Hanging artworks depends on their weight. For lighter pieces you can use Command strips, which are removable, but I tend to use nails, screws and wall plugs. I do it all by eye, I never use a tape measure. I don’t want it to look perfect – I want it to look lived in, not precious.”

TEST “Hanging artworks depends on their weight. For lighter pieces you can use Command strips, which are removable, but I tend to use nails, screws and wall plugs. I do it all by eye, I never use a tape measure. I don’t want it to look perfect – I want it to look lived in, not precious.”

“Hanging artworks depends on their weight. For lighter pieces you can use Command strips, which are removable, but I tend to use nails, screws and wall plugs. I do it all by eye, I never use a tape measure. I don’t want it to look perfect – I want it to look lived in, not precious.”

TEST Jaz mixes real pot plants with faux ones. A very clever way to fill your house with greenery, without creating a plant-care overload. Textures throughout this bedroom, and the chandelier above the bed, add to its luxurious and inviting feel

Jaz mixes real pot plants with faux ones. A very clever way to fill your house with greenery, without creating a plant-care overload. Textures throughout this bedroom, and the chandelier above the bed, add to its luxurious and inviting feel

TEST Jaz mixes real pot plants with faux ones. A very clever way to fill your house with greenery, without creating a plant-care overload. Textures throughout this bedroom, and the chandelier above the bed, add to its luxurious and inviting feel

Jaz mixes real pot plants with faux ones. A very clever way to fill your house with greenery, without creating a plant-care overload. Textures throughout this bedroom, and the chandelier above the bed, add to its luxurious and inviting feel

TEST “People ask, ‘what should I invest in?’ and I always say, ‘buy it because you love it’. It has to be a gut reaction. A sacrifice might be needed to buy it, but it’s worth it. I don’t think it’s necessarily good practice to buy everything you want.”

“People ask, ‘what should I invest in?’ and I always say, ‘buy it because you love it’. It has to be a gut reaction. A sacrifice might be needed to buy it, but it’s worth it. I don’t think it’s necessarily good practice to buy everything you want.”

TEST Pinks, greens and blues picked out in the artworks are matched by soft furnishings. Wallpaper printed with ornate panelling on one wall by Rockett St George breaks up the deep grey used to paint the walls, ceiling, wardrobe and door giving an illusion of ‘relief’

Pinks, greens and blues picked out in the artworks are matched by soft furnishings. Wallpaper printed with ornate panelling on one wall by Rockett St George breaks up the deep grey used to paint the walls, ceiling, wardrobe and door giving an illusion of ‘relief’

TEST “I like faces,” says Jaz, “because I’m interested in people.”

“I like faces,” says Jaz, “because I’m interested in people.”

TEST

TEST No wonder she’s got nearly 25,000 followers on the app. Like her home, it’s full of interest and inspiration, curated by an expert eye

No wonder she’s got nearly 25,000 followers on the app. Like her home, it’s full of interest and inspiration, curated by an expert eye

TEST “I post shots of works by the artists I represent in the house on Instagram, because it shows the art in its natural habitat and people can see them to scale”

“I post shots of works by the artists I represent in the house on Instagram, because it shows the art in its natural habitat and people can see them to scale”

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Kimberley Watson

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