Inspiration of the Week: a tale of the unexpected in Carlisle, Cumbria

Perhaps, looking at this five-bedroom Regency house on Carlisle’s Abbey Street, you might not guess at the exquisite eccentricities inside. But, then again… It is yellow.

That custard-coloured façade is merely a harbinger of the vibrancy that lies within this house, which has recently come on the market. Step through its panelled and pedimented front door – topped by a large fanlight – and into a baby-blue reception room with its crisp Palladian plasterwork. So far, so conventional. You’ll have to keep exploring to find this home’s decorative treasure…

To the music room, painted warm dun. It’s smart and tasteful and not at all startling. But turn to walk into the dining room and things get interesting. A huge alcove mural of an autumnal riverscape, fiery and almost Fauvist, conceals a jib door to the dining room. This space is also astonishing, painted brilliant chartreuse to complement the pink-marble fireplace.

The nearby kitchen – simple in design, dazzling in décor – competes in a brilliant blaze of orange, while upstairs, the turquoise drawing room, and the corridor’s palm-patterned wallpaper both manage to feel simultaneously outré and opulent. Crucially, however, sensitively preserved details – from sash windows to original mouldings – work with tandem with the schemes, making the rooms all the more breathtaking.

That said, for every fearlessly finished space, there’s a ravishingly muted one. The pamment-floored studio, for instance, is stunning in its simplicity, while the blue utility room is a perfect blend of prettiness and practicality. All this goes to show that, when it comes to boldness, beauty lies in balance.