The young Pablo Bronstein, at age seven, earned praise from his teacher for a drawing of Laertes Castle, a detailed structure of patterned bricks and onion domes. The teacher’s subsequent commission for a second version, however, introduced Bronstein to the art world’s cruelties when the teacher disliked the added feathered plumes.
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Today, Bronstein’s passion for architecture and ornament is evident in both his professional work—known for witty pen-and-ink drawings and architectural installations—and his personal life. He and his partner, poet and journalist Leo Boix, have spent the past five years transforming a 17th-century terraced house in a Kent seaside town into a richly ornamented home, far removed from the bland holiday let they initially found.
From Neutral to Baroque Extravagance
The house, one street back from the beach, has become an “ongoing conversation” between Bronstein and Boix. Unlike their spare, white London home, this property is filled with dark panelling, oil paintings, early Georgian furnishings, and a blazing fire in the living room. Until the 1980s, it had remained largely unrestored, dressed in old-fashioned brown and arsenic green. By the time they bought it, the property had been modernised as a holiday let, featuring magnolia paint, plasterboard, and beige carpet.
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Despite these changes, enough original features—such as a wall of panelling, a late Georgian staircase, a casement window, stone flags, and the kitchen range—persuaded the couple that the house could be revived. Boix played a significant role in the transformation, painting the hall gloss black and serving as an editor, curbing Bronstein’s “shopaholic tendencies.” Bronstein admits to repainting rooms repeatedly, including the Chinese room, now finished in a lively combination of turquoise and green.
The Artist as Control Freak and Hands-On Renovator
Bronstein, with local beekeeper and carpenter Elvin Roberts, undertook much of the physical work. He also delegated tasks to trusted craftspeople, such as Pure and Applied for frame-making and Steven Marfurt for cabinetry. Bronstein’s involvement was extensive: he built a fitted dresser in the basement kitchen, restored the dining room’s double boarding and fire surround, and stripped, stained, and waxed the stair rail. The house, though feeling authentically historic, is largely new—designed, made, or reconstructed by Bronstein.
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The transformation has taken months and years, with Bronstein still involved in ongoing projects. Despite the challenges, the house now feels like a single, coherent work—rich and inviting, a stark contrast to its former state. Each room tells a story, reflecting Bronstein’s dedication and creativity.
