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Inside Artist Emily Powell's Beautifully Hand-Painted Home in Devon

  • Aug 5
  • 4 min read

Artist Emily Powell's home in Devon is unlike any other. Every wall, ceiling, and architectural detail has become part of a continually evolving artwork. Inspired by family memories, favourite places and the changing landscapes around her, Emily has transformed her home into a personal expression of creativity, blurring the line between interior design and fine art. From colourful living spaces to painted bedrooms and a kitchen filled with handcrafted details, each room tells its own story while contributing to a home that is, in Emily's words, "one giant artwork."


DESIGNER

Emily Powell

TYPE

Family Residence

LOCATION

Devon, England

SERVICES

Full feature on YouTube, IG, FB & TikTok

PRESENTED BY

Emily Powell

Colorful painted hallway with floral murals, patterned stairs, hanging globe lights, and a large mirror in a whimsical interior.
Colorful mural along a staircase, with blue bird sketches, flower paintings, and a teal banister in a bright studio-like space.
Colorful room interior with hand-painted green vines and flowers on ceiling and walls, brass lights, and open doorway, lively mood

A Hallway That Tells a Life Story


Originally intended to be minimalist, the home instead became an immersive painted landscape inspired by the fig tree outside, alongside memories of art school, family and places that have shaped her life. Birds appear throughout the walls and ceilings as a tribute to her late father, making the entrance filled with personal significance. "It's so much more than decoration now" Emily says. "It's memories. It's emotion. It's a way of living."


Colorful living room with red floral-painted walls, green sofa, fireplace, lamps, and mirror; cozy, eclectic mood.

A Living Room Wrapped in Colour


Rich reds, layered florals and hand-painted details transform the living room into what Emily describes as a "womblike and comforting" retreat. The fireplace, doors and furniture become part of one continuous artwork, creating what she calls "a real patchwork of joy." Instead of treating each room separately, Emily sees the entire house as a single composition. "The whole house is one giant artwork" she explains.


Bright red art studio with painted animal murals, pink sofa, chair, bookshelf, and sign reading Beatrix's Art Studio 2023.

A Playroom That Grew with the Family


Designed for creativity, the playroom is filled with painted circus tents, storybook animals and details suggested by Emily's daughter over the years. The artwork is intentionally unfinished, evolving with birthdays, new stories and family memories. "This wasn't a one painting and done" Emily says. "It keeps changing all the time."

Colorfully painted staircase and hallway in a vibrant home interior, with blue, red, yellow, and green abstract patterns.
Colorful painted wooden boat hull with abstract wave patterns and bright pink, blue, and orange designs, viewed close up.

Hallways Filled with Memories


The connecting spaces become painted journeys through Emily's life, from a beloved Devon cottage to the icy blues of an Arctic expedition and a playful tribute to David Hockney. More than linking rooms, these hallways weave together places, experiences and artistic influences.


Bright kitchen with blue sketchy wall art and pink cabinet panels, teal cabinets, wooden counters, and a cozy, playful mood

Bright, colorful dining room-kitchen with painted walls, a wooden table with cake and flowers, and a cozy lamp-lit background

 A Kitchen Full of Colour and Character


The kitchen diner is the family's gathering place, brought to life with warm pinks, oranges and yellows alongside hand-painted blue-and-white crockery that extends across cupboards, appliances and walls. Some plates are real, others painted, blurring the line between decoration and function. "It's a really integral part of my process" Emily says, showing how the kitchen nurtures both family connections and her artistic practice.


Bright kitchen with blue hand-painted floral and dish motifs, wooden shelves, green cabinets, and a sunlit window.

Thoughtful Details with Meaning


Even practical features become opportunities for storytelling. A simple cupboard concealing the boiler has been transformed into a painted tribute to Emily's and her husband's late fathers, ensuring their memories remain part of everyday life. It is a small but powerful example of how sentiment shapes every corner of this home.


Colorful child’s bedroom with hand-painted pink walls and ceiling, a small bed, desk, toys, and bright patterned rug.

A Bedroom Inspired by Imagination


Emily's daughter's bedroom is filled with colourful animals, playful murals and painted keepsakes celebrating childhood. Together they invent stories inspired by the artwork above them, while familiar characters help make the room feel comforting at night. "It's so lovely in the evenings because we lie down together and talk about the ceiling above us" Emily says.


Colorful art studio with painted walls, canvases on easels, a cluttered worktable, and a cozy chair by the window

A Studio for Everyday Creativity


Reached through a painted interpretation of Paris, Emily's home studio is where she paints during the quiet hours of the morning and evening. Easels, painted desk lamps and views across Devon create an inspiring workspace that naturally complements family life. "I can just come here and let loose" she says.


Colorful hand-painted bedroom with striped green bedspread, floral walls and ceiling, lamps, chair, and painted door, cozy and whimsical

Colorful bedroom with floral murals, pink headboard, striped bed, painted wardrobe, and a cozy lamp-lit, whimsical feel.

A Restful Master Bedroom


The main bedroom introduces softer creams and yellows inspired by the Scottish island of Tiree. Landscapes extend across wardrobes and ceilings, replacing conventional wallpaper with expressive brushwork. "It had to breathe. It had to flow out completely" Emily says of allowing the artwork to spread throughout the room.


Bright bathroom with blue bird murals, striped ceiling, sink, shower, window, and a red towel on a radiator.

A Bathroom with Artistic Character


Even the bathroom reflects Emily Powell's belief that no space should feel ordinary. Decorative details continue onto the walls and surrounding surfaces, ensuring the room feels connected to the rest of the home. Like every other interior, it balances function with storytelling, proving that practical spaces can still be expressive and full of personality. The continuity of colour, hand-painted elements and thoughtful details emphasises Emily's philosophy that every room deserves the same level of creativity, making even the most everyday moments feel part of the home's larger artistic narrative.


Colorful painted stairwell with mural-covered walls, teal railings, woven pendant light, and bright pink, green, and blue accents.

A Living Work of Art


Emily Powell's Devon home is more than an extraordinary example of expressive interior design. It is a living artwork that continues to evolve, with every room capturing moments of family life, treasured memories and artistic exploration. Presented as both a property and a fine art acquisition, the sale includes 20 pieces of hand-painted furniture and 65 private artworks that document the first decade of Emily's career. Even more remarkably, Emily has committed to returning every ten years to refresh and hand-paint the home throughout her lifetime, ensuring the artwork continues to grow with its future owners. It is a rare opportunity to own a complete domestic-scale work of art unlike anything we have featured before.

 

Listed for sale with Chestertons

Phone: +44 (0)20 3040 8502

 

Find out more about Emily Powell




 
 
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