‘It was basically a white box,’ says Penelope, of the flat when she first took ownership, ‘For the most part, I kept it as it was. I never really spent any proper money on it, it’s just a lovely place that I can go and unwind. I didn’t want to be extravagant, I wanted to make do with what I’ve already got. I think that’s how you make a house feel very welcoming.’
‘I love to tap into whatever feels right for the area,’ she says, explaining her choice of colour palette. ‘At my house in Gloucestershire, I chose colours that would work with the garden as the seasons changed. In Begur, I wanted it to feel as authentic as possible, so I used classic paint colours and all the ceramics are as local as possible.’ The kitchen is painted in what is locally referred to as ‘Montserrat Blue’ (for the nearby mountain range), and has been used in ecclesiastical buildings for centuries. A former specialist painter, Penelope mixed the shade herself, and instead of noting down a formula, accepted that the shade ‘probably changes year to year as I repaint’. It is also Penelope’s own recipe that makes up the pale green of the tiny twin bedroom. Referred to as ‘Begurian Green’, it is another typical colour of the area.
On the terrace, cushions made using kilims bought by Penelope’s mother sit atop a bench seat upholstered in a local fabric to match the awning.
Simon Brown
The ceramics dotted throughout the house are all made by local potters. Often considered the epicentre of Catalan slipware is La Bisbal, a nearby town from where Penelope bought a number of her favourite pieces. Others were handed down by her parents when they sold their house nearby. The walls are hung with a mixture of textiles and paintings bought by Penelope’s mother or works painted by Penelope herself. Outside, a terrace the same size as the flat is adorned with bold, bright fabrics collected by Penelope’s mother.
There is a sentimentality to the way Penelope talks about the flat. ‘I am probably very strict. I don’t change anything until it desperately needs to be made good,’ she says. ‘I love it as it is, it’s so full of memories.’
Penelope Chilvers: penelopechilvers.com