Artist Hilary Dunne has furnished her B&B with paintings of glossy-skinned, doe-eyed women inspired by her travels in the West Indies, as well as the spoils from her former life as a textiles importer. The ground-floor room with its large en suite bathroom contains some of the Caribbean collection; the smaller, more colourful second room, with shared bathroom, is bright with wall hangings and cushions from India.
The overall effect is of a much-loved, warm and lived-in family home. Breakfast is taken in a busy little space next to the galley kitchen, with French windows opening on to a tiny, ivy-clad courtyard. A slightly larger patio upstairs, home to Hilary’s extensive plant collection, looks out over the gardens of Hillgate Place.