Eaton House Studio — what was once a standard six bedroom family home has been converted into a pink palace that offers an overwhelmingly unique atmospheric environment and visionary experience. Located on the outskirts of Tiptree in the Essex Countryside, its aesthetic is on par with that of a Wes Anderson film for its visual and narrative style, while its opulence would be fit for queens of extravagance, like Liberace, Gianni Versace or Gemma Collins.
The sitting room looks like the set of a 1980s Playboy magazine feature — just missing the bunnies. Paris Hilton has been shot in The Pink Room, probably the most famous in the house. International publications including Vanity Fair Italia and Vogue Arabia have also used the house for editorials.
California born artist Amy Griffith is responsible for creating Eaton House along with her friend and business partner James Lloyd-Roberts — a fireman and photographer. Griffith credits growing up in California during the 70s for her distinct vision. Her childhood was filled with glamorous people who loved to create an atmosphere in their stylish homes where everyone came to together on special occasions to party and enjoy life — a magical sentiment now echoed in her own home.
Griffith first moved to London in 1997 to be an artist and quickly found herself working for the (then) small lingerie company Agent Provocateur. By the age of 25, Griffith had worked her way to the top as one of the lingerie brand’s first buyers, working alongside businessman and co-founder Joe Corré. Griffith then worked as a fashion consultant before she made the move to Eaton House in 2010, where she has been for the last eight and a half years creating what she calls her art piece.
She’s right to call it that. While people often use the house for location shoots and events, the house is primarily a work of art. She painted the inside of the house herself. The first three years she practically did nothing but paint. The house offers a multi sensory experience where bathroom tiles light up, the backyard saloon bar offers the experience of being in a Clint Eastwood Western, where guests can enjoy a drink in the bar, surrounded by photographs of firemen. Everything looks different depending on what time of day it is and what the weather is like.
Everything in Eaton House has been curated and strategically placed. There is not one object, piece of art, one stick of furniture, one nicknack or one shred of wallpaper that does not have a story behind it. Ever resourceful, she often recycles pieces from events she’s worked on, or sources special items when thrifting. She also sources works from different artists that she admires. Take for instance the framed artwork that hangs in the entrance hall, by Lewis Bannister, whose Disney Dollars were included in Banksy’s Dismaland exhibition. Griffith wrote to Lewis and asked him if he could create a personalised one that included the postcode of where she grew up, alongside the existing image of Cinderella.
Both glamorous and kitsch, Eaton House reflects the hard work and commitment of two individuals who have managed to transfer their ideas into a dreamworld reality, where it is possible to connect with your inner Playboy Bunny or James Bond — and experience the “magic” for yourself.
Credits
Courtesy of Eaton House Studio & Nikki Lipstick