Inspiration

As always, I love the photography – mostly the fabulous scenery & the gardens with the drifts of snowdrops & impeccable kitchen garden. Thank you for sharing. I also adore the dishes, which are beautiful in my opinion. And I wish you both the very best with the big jobs ahead. Dusty times.
Regarding white exteriors, this is the tradition in Ireland for buildings overlooking the water (no doubt also in Scotland). It is said that the buildings were whitewashed so that the men at sea could see the buildings by moonlight. This tradition precedes the lighthouses.

Ben, your posts are such a balm! When I see an “Inspiration” email in my inbox, it brings a smile to my face, and I know that I’m in for a delightful and inspiring treat! Thank you so much!

Per usual, love the updates. Following your photos and adventures is truly food for the soul. You and Charlie have built quite a life together. I did not think I would recover from your move from the parsonage and chapel, but your place in Orkney is another stunner. And watching Charlie create another beautiful garden is unreal. He truly has such a gift and, of course, works very hard at growing and creating beauty. Thank you for sharing Ben!

Aww wow, wonderful pictures in the house ( and outside of course) I’ve been looking forward so much to seeing inside the house and all the interesting nooks and crannies and how the house feels with all your things. I so love all your collections and I’ve had great fun searching through everything and saying I have that or one of those. Love your style so much and my daughter whose at Edinburgh uni is styling her flat with your influence too☺️(she just bought the Bible Of British Taste book ).
Keep them coming please , love the interior, exterior the dogs and not to mention the wonderful evolving garden that Charlie clearly works so hard on👌

I do not understand why people should bother you about house colour; whatever you and Charlie choose to do is ALWAYS absolutely lovely, and just perfect..thank you for sharing your little paradise, sooo beautiful, and far away.. like a fairytale🤗

Love that you settled on white. Perfect!
Was the wildish Tulip print behind bar table ever sold in the shop?

Given your “visions” at Christmas. Stunning. Welcome to Argyll beyond Tyviallich – and now the Island. All lifts the spirit in beauty. Big thanks.

Your posts give me instant calm and a feeling of sanctuary and peace. I’ve been following the paint decision for the longest time. White is the perfect choice…if you are patient long enough, a house will reveal itself what needs to be done. Your collections are exquisite and make mine look modest so I’m very thankful. All the best and thank you for the beauty 🕊️

Ahhh… we could all use a Nancy in our lives right now. Thanks for another lovely (and generous) post.

The view of the house from the water proves (if it was ever in doubt) that the right colour is indeed white.

I just love following your journey & I’m so glad the house is going to be white! 😊

Thank you again for your beautiful photos. Always a moment of calm that I look forward to. I also now do not have to feel guilty about my own china collection!

You obviously need a
‘Dish’ Room, a Large one. It’s not hoarding if it’s curated and ‘collected’ right!! 🤩

As you know from your recent trip to Upstate New York, we are still blanketed in snow, so seeing your snowlessness and prepped gardens is a welcome foretaste of the warmer weather to come.

I also appreciated your take on the Rockwell Museum. It has been long on my list (way before I lived within easy striking distance), so I look forward to using your visit as a prompt to finally get myself there.

Very fitting choice of colour. It’s all about the light on the islands!

Your photos are phenomenal, and the light has definitely changed- I’ve noticed it even in London (although I believe it may just be Sahara dust..). Fabulous to see Henry who is not often in your blog. Along with the white of the house, and a question I often ask- but have yet to get a reply- is what colour you plan to paint the doors and window frames? (I’m so invested!). Very much looking forward to seeing how the renovations progress 😀

We have just had a blood moon here in the southern hemisphere. Wonder if thats what you could see? Love the way your dogs sit and sniff the breeze looking out to sea, so lovely.

Ahhh, but how many shades of white are there to peruse?

Ben- Thank you for your generous heart. Sharing your dreamscape in Rousay gives so many of us a deep exhale we need so much these days. Your lovely family makes the home come alive.
All the very best, Diane

I always love the bits and pieces of life you share. Thank you for being a lovely corner of the internet. Also, I love the color choice! I can’t wait to see how it reflects the different light.

I’m so happy you’re painting the house white…but now the hard part…which white?! There are so many!! Looking forward to seeing what you choose 🤍🤍

Always a nice meander around your lovely island and home with those lovely doggos! Nancy certainly suits her chosen chair. As for the collectables I am impressed, but worry about all the moving you will have to do. I moved house, downsizing, two years ago and was forced to do some culling, it is hard work. I am not a minimalist though, so still plenty to admire and enjoy. Will look forward to seeing the white exterior, as you say, it is meant to be! Cheers from an occasionally autumnal Hawkes Bay, New Zealand…

Wondering what colour you have chosen for the front door?

Ok, you had me at the little chairs on the shelf! Joanna is painting her house white too. Linen it is.

Just love everything about this, thanks for sharing.

Love your images and house and collections and DOGS!!
But however do you travel so much with FOUR DOGS???

I love seeing all of the photos and having a good look at your wonderful ‘bits and bobs’. I covet that incredible framed tapestry by I think Jasper Conran. What a colour! Nancy steals the show though. X

Hello, you were thinking of a white facade.
Observing the light and colors of Île de Rousay, I would be more inclined to choose the warmer color to the right of the door, the third one from the top down.
Thank you for your very inspiring posts. Kind regards, Sabine de Tauriac

Great photos, those clouds too!
Please don’t go over to Substack and make us all pay! 😊

Love the pics. Amazing collections of China. White looks good. NZ cruising into autumn mode now.

Ben and Charlie!
Thank you for bring us along on your beautiful inspiring journeys!
With great love…Thank You!

In these troubled times, visiting your beautiful life in Scotland – even if via pictures – is a true delight. Thank you for allowing all of us who follow your reviews, to escape and live for a few moments in a bucolic state.
Should you ever think of reviewing your vast collection of objects the charity shops in Rousay will do very well indeed! Poor Charlie and his duster!
Enjoy your wonderful home.

My husband keeps telling me I have too much “stuff”. That I must not buy another piece of china…..I MUST show him these photos to put things into perspective for him……. THANK YOU:).

OMG! You win ! You collected the most. Do you own ever issue of WOI magazine ? Thank you for the photos of your collections!!!

Thanks Ben, lovely photos as always, I especially loved seeing the inside pictures…. Aren’t the little mini Orkney chairs just gorgeous!

I just love reading your blog, it’s such a welcomed inspiring escape

Thank goodness for some moments of sanity away from the madness of the world. Thanks Ben!

OMG Ben it all looks so wonderful, the light, the colours.. And fantastic weather. Why do you need a film crew…you should do it yourself… I know you the busiest man on earth !
Charlie is a miracle worker..if he ever feels like coming down to the S of F, he has a commission, I never know what to do with my garden ! x

I turn to your beautiful blog for peace and sanity, and those pups. Thank you so much!

🤍🤍🤍

That was another beautifully written blog post… I continue to enjoy your stunning photos. A request I already sent on Instagram: We, the blog’s readers, have… At least I’ve gotten so used to the pretty color scheme of your back entrance door 😉 Could you maybe keep it? Just paint it white all around? 🥰 Trudy

I’ve been landlocked for decades, but I still remember the sound of the Sea. That’s what I miss the most…the breakers!

A white house. A blood moon. And I thought I had a lot of stuff! Wonderful photos and wish for peace.

White is right! No other colour will have the same impact from near or afar! Love this set of photographs the sky and landscape are stunning x

Heaven (and those collections!) x

Fabulous to see these photos and your wonderful collections etc.
Where are your red out door chairs and table from? They look a great colour!
Thank you

The beauty and peace – and riotous/copious collections! – of your marvellous blogs are always happily anticipated and now much needed . . . more than ever . . Thank you

Beautiful, as always!
May I ask where your outside table and chairs are from?

Just beautiful as usual, though I have to say that those beautiful collections give me a panic attack!!!!

So enjoy sharing; a real comfort in turbulent conditions. Warm thanks.

I sit enthralled always when I look at all your photos – your Tartan Ware, the Wemyss and I have just espied your miniature Orkney chairs – how wonderful! Thank you, Ben. with fondest wishes, Sylvia.
P.S. My, how Nancy has grown.