Last week, I visited Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge, a “home” that surpasses most galleries and museums in warmth and charm.

Created by Jim and Helen Ede, devoted art and music enthusiasts, the house reflects their lifelong passion. Jim, who studied at the Slade and worked at the Tate, was deeply inspired by modern art despite its unpopularity in early 20th-century Britain. This inspiration led him to abandon painting and focus on art research.

The Edes formed friendships with now-famous artists like Ben Nicholson and Henry Moore, acquiring their works at modest prices when they were relatively unknown. Their collection wasn’t about profit but about supporting talent, including the French artist Gaudier-Brzeska, whose works Jim championed after his untimely death in WWI.

In the 1950s, the couple transformed four derelict cottages in Cambridge into Kettle’s Yard, a harmonious blend of art and home. Over 1,000 pieces were arranged with a natural, unpretentious elegance, making them feel like part of the household.

For 20 years, the Edes welcomed students, offering not only art discussions but also a place for reflection and connection. Their home became a hub of artistic inspiration.

Donated to the University of Cambridge in the 1960s, Kettle’s Yard remains largely unchanged. Visitors still ring a doorbell to enter, stepping back into the tranquillity of the 1960s and experiencing the unique vision of a home where art and life coexist seamlessly.