I was welcomed into an Art Deco inspired hallway- the Anaglypta wallpaper painted in a gloss is a little homage to her Grandma Booty who lived in Gillingham, Kent and had a similar entranceway into her home. In the nearest reflection you can see some of the many robot Xmas decorations that are hanging in her lounge.
Top image is a framed giclée print of a contemporary collage created by artist Anna Spain and bought locally in Deal, it gave me a kind of otherworldly Bjork vibe. Lower photo is one of a few Becky found charity shopping in Canterbury, the lady is unknown but now given pride of place on the portrait wall.
Becky’s treasured Smash robot- I loved the adverts with these robots in- as a child they made me laugh and to be honest television was a bit dreary back then in the 1970’s- these were definitely fun!
Becky mixes her robot genres and displays only her favourite ones. On the far right is her robot handbag, in front are two perfume packages and in the other dome are various genres together; I spotted the Iron Giant as I love the animated film based on the book by Ted Hughes- ‘The Iron Man’.
A contemplative ceramic lamp robot with its one ‘deely-bopper’ standing below some of the many robot Xmas decorations and fairy lights with some images from a book ‘The World in 2030’, which I have just looked up and looks really interesting.
More robots on another shelf, alongside family photos and hand made Xmas cards. You can just see a small part of the wonderful ‘Tigris’ wallpaper by Emma Shipley on the chimney breast. The moon hanging below the shelf is part of another set of fairy lights, this time not robot shape but rocket shapes.
An original Bakelite 1920’s art deco wall light that was hung upstairs in the past- the house was formerly ‘Becky’s partner’s grandparents’ home- (sorry for the probable incorrect use of apostrophes!) Becky has added an Ikea light wrap to soften the piece.
The view back out into the hallway from the lounge, showing some of the female portraits of her growing collection. Becky is finding the correct frames tricky to source.
The remains of Becky’s robot shaped cake in the kitchen- he did originally have longer legs but we ate them with a cup of tea. The new kitchen composite worktop reminds me of the look of nougat or perhaps tutti-frutti ice cream. I love her description of how her favourite recipes can be found easily in a cookbook by their cocoa covered pages.
Many great framed prints by Holly Searle adorn the walls of the reading room.
Amazing original Art Deco light that can be assembled as either a butterfly or a rocket depending on which way the frosted glass is installed. It has been lovingly restored and rewired.
So many books on display and in cupboards in the first floor reading room. I forgot to ask Becky if she has counted them- I was recently told that 1000 books ‘make’ a library!
One section of Becky’s work area, with its many specialist books that she may refer to for her PhD project. Lower right on the shelf is her ‘Bombed Cow’, above are her cats, one hand made by her aunt, the others found in charity shops.
A selection of toilet roll dollies on display and a beautiful sketch of her son Theo.
In her cupboard of curiosity Becky shows me her David Bowie doll, Lemmy and Alan Rickman- as his Snape character- alongside some MA work and elephants.
Star Wars ‘shrine’ in a cupboard. Rogue One is her favourite film at the moment.
Carrie Fisher waiting for her hair, sitting alongside Prince who now has ‘had his hair problem fixed’ and the remains of her dads teddy bear, yet to be mended.
Snoopy ‘team’ on a display cabinet full of Hornsea, Shelley and Wade ‘Whimsies’ ceramics. The mirror above was bought to replace one Becky had when younger but had mislaid- her original one had ‘I don’t like Mondays’ on it- I had the mug.
Carlton Ware decorative wall plaques look great all hung together on the wall.
A couple of vintage coat hanger covers, embroidered from popular transfer patterns.
Becky Robinson is a former design teacher and in her 4th year of part time research for her PhD- ‘Subversive textile production in asylums and workhouse lunatic wards 1837-1912 using two case studies’.
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