British Pathe

Tonbridge, Kent.

L/S of a large country cottage in the winter. Edana Romney (actress, journalist and advisor on personal problems) - is going to realise her childhood dream of having a country cottage by converting two derelict workmen's cottages into one. Edana sits in the garden and admires...

Tonbridge, Kent.

L/S of a large country cottage in the winter. Edana Romney (actress, journalist and advisor on personal problems) - is going to realise her childhood dream of having a country cottage by converting two derelict workmen's cottages into one. Edana sits in the garden and admires her property. Her little poodle is with her. She looks at some plans and an artists impression of what the property will look like. Edana leaves the garden.

C/U of a sign which reads: "Portobello Road, W11." Edana and American actor Zachary Scott (looking old but groovy in a caped coat) look at knick knacks on a stall in Portobello Road Market. They look at various pots. They kiss on each cheek and Edana leaves.

Interior of the cottage. Edana (in yet another outfit) speaks to one of the workmen then gets to work peeling off some wallpaper (she should have some overalls on really!) Edana holds up wallpaper samples to check styles. C/U of her peeling off paper. She pulls off pieces of loose plaster work (luckily she has decided to protect her hair with a headscarf). Edana sits on the stairs with Kewpie the poodle and looks at more wallpaper samples. She asks Kewpie for an opinion.

Exterior of the cottage - it is now summer. Edana's decorating is now complete and she tends to her garden. Idyllic stuff. She looks around her garden in satisfaction. "One doesn't need to be an interior decorator to do some of the novel things Edana has accomplished. Colour schemes were all worked out with the help of articles in some of the glossy magazines, and a bit of individuality" states the narrator.

Interior of cottage. Edana walks through her home admiring her own handiwork. She polishes a copper fruit bowl that she bought from Portobello Market then walks into the kitchen to fill up a water jug. An old spinning wheel has been used as an ornament - an ivy grows around it. Edana waters the plant then walks up the stairs. The poodle Kewpie and her puppy Candy sit on the stairs.

Edana's bedroom is Victorian in style. Edana takes her pet budgie out of its cage and sits down with it sitting on her fingers. She puts the budgie on the edge of a lampshade which she has decorated with a fake flower. It is a converted oil lamp from Portobello Market.

Film ends with a L/S of the cottage.

Note: this story would be excellent to illustrate decoration styles of the late 1950s - Edana is extremely house proud and looks like a super glamorous housewife.