Despite the grey clouds below we stopped off at Belton House when we were staying close by last August - not quite the day we hoped for, but visiting somewhere with space indoors was a popular choice. It’s not a house I was familiar with, and we hadn’t visited before but it was clear that it was a popular place.

It’s a pretty impressive house, and the family - generations of Brownlows - commissioned the finest designers and craftsmen to deliver what is now a National Trust property. The house and gardens showcase cutting edge design and innovation including 17th century sash windows and a glorious cast iron-framed orangery which I’ll share in a future post.

Our visit started in the large and grand hall, with a vibrant carpet up the stairs and the classic chequerboard patterned floor. The suitcases discarded on the stairs gave an indication of the character of the place, and under the stairs - and not quite like the under the stairs storage that we’re more familiar with - was one of the first stunning pieces of furniture, an ornate laquered chest.

red patterned stair carpet, wooden stairs and wooden half panelling with cream and gold edged panelling above

chequerboard floor in the hall, with stairs diagonally in the background with a gold wave pattern a bust on a marble plinth in the corner of where the stairs turned with a black and gold ornate chest under the stairs

I was also rather taken with this very ornate writing desk, and I know it’s the many compartments and sections that are part of the appeal. But also it’s the scale and how it fits with its surroundings. Clearly it’s larger than standard furniture, but oh so stunning.

An ornate mahogany writing desk with a green striped upholstered chair in a half panelled room - wood and majority green flower patterned wallpaper

But it wasn’t the only jewel in the room, this restored lapis lazuli cabinet which was brought back from a Grand Tour over 300 years ago. Isn’t it stunning?

A vivid blue ornate chest on a gilt table against a wall with panelling and green ornate flowered wallpaper

It wasn’t the only cabinet, or fireplace, or collection of vases that caught my eye and intrigued me.

On the left of the image a dark wood piece of furniture inlaid with vivid red detail, on the right handside an ornate marble fireplace with brass grate and brushed metal surround

A marble fireplace with lamps either side and blue/white vases on the mantelpiece. Wood panelling on the lower section with vibrant red patterned wallpaper in the panels above.

A chequerboard floor with a gilt table, the 'legs' are greyhounds. The table top is green possibly onyx, on the top 3 large blue/white urns, a partial portrait hangs behind the table. On either side there are brown marble plinths with blue vases

And it seems that greyhounds were a bit of a thing for the family too - the table above, the doorplate below and outside on the weather vane.

A brass door plate with keyhole and handle depicting a greyhound and swirls on a wooden door.

A tapestry hanging on the wall in the background. In the foreground an ornate lamp with a cream shade

Like many National Trust properties the rooms are vibrantly decorated, these rooms though remain vibrant I’m sure through recent restoration - the reds, golds and greens are very rich and point to a lavish and indulgent lifestyle.

red wallpapered panelled sections with portraits in the drawing room, with wallpapers and curtains i nthe same pattern and an ornate (and large) carpet

a mahogany dining table (seating 12) with a vibrant green and gold decor in the background - a gold light fitting hangs and a portrait with a gold phoenix above the marble fireplace

in the green & gold dining room looking at the otherside of the table, with a rug and route through to the next room

Definitely ornate, and quite over the top - but I guess if you had money, and this family did, it was the done thing to show that for your standing in society. In some ways that’s not so different from today, whether we agree with it or not. The house, and its gardens, are definitely worth a visit - there’s so much to do, and so much to see.