11 Rugby Road

On a quiet residential road in Brighton, the door of 11 Rugby Road is wide open, and the warm light is welcoming after a chilly walk. A garland of pine leaves, red berries and fairy lights surround the entrance.

Ascending the steps to the flat, I am swiftly enveloped in the spirit of Christmas. Twinkling tea lights guide visitors up the stairs, holly is wound around the bannister and festive aromas drift through the house.

Mini terrariums hang from a wooden bookshelf; each holds a tiny cactus resting on a bed of glittering snow - gift tags wishing a "Merry Cactmas" are delicately tied to each.

I am greeted by a friendly seven-month-old pug, who I later find out is named Eggbert – Egg for short – as he was born at Easter.

This Open House is run by young couple Adam Johnson and Dan Mackey. They are both artists working in Brighton; Dan is a graphic designer and Adam works with ceramics and glass. “Everything you see is a little bit of both of us,” Adam tells me.

The flat has four rooms, and each has been transformed into a winter wonderland. A specially-built bed has been folded into the wall to open up the bedroom. “Sometimes it can be a bit scary to to walk into someone’s bedroom when the bed is actually there,” Adam laughs. Paper and handmade knitted snowflakes hang from the ceiling above my head.

Most Open Houses do not use their bathrooms, but Dan and Adam have transformed theirs into a glowing grotto. Adam’s distinctively designed ceramic crunckles (balls), each holding a flickering candle, fill the room. The patterned light from the crunkles dapples the tiled walls, and is a decoration in itself.

The kitchen is adorned with oversized cake stands hosting piles of pink and red baked goods, candy canes and popcorn. Dan identifies the charming nature of the room: “It makes you feel like you’re little again.”

For a sweet treat there is a suggested donation of £1, all proceeds going to Superstar Arts, a local company who run creative projects for adults with learning disabilities.

Dan’s prints and greetings cards decorate the walls and shelves of the flat – his intricate pieces include both witty and heart-warming quotes: “Be Happy, Be Brighton, Be You.”

The final room is filled with Christmas trees trimmed with home-made decorations - Eggbert is curled up and fast asleep among the visitors.

It was amazing to see how much could be done in the small Rugby Road flat, and proved that size isn’t a limiting factor in designing Open Houses. As the sky darkened outside, I took my leave, but not without a last minute Christmas tip from the friendly hosts: “a candy cane is great in a gin and tonic!”

Milton House

Here is an Open House with a great story.

It starts with Milton, a ten-year-old Orange Tabby Cat whose owner, artist Sarah Jones, has been involved in the twice-yearly festival for a decade. She has been based in a few different Brighton and Hove locations, united under the name of the curious feline who surveys visitors as they take in the work.

Sarah and her partner Adam Bracey are now based in Dyke Road, Hove. Sarah’s prints and Adam’s paintings are displayed throughout the lower floor of their new home, which they bought together in February. The couple met at the first Open House Sarah hosted; they now live with their five children, who range from ages 6 to 18.

Renovating the 1914 house has been part of the creative process of building the venue, and is still going on: “We bought it with Open Houses in mind, it needed work from top to bottom. Each time visitors come, hopefully they’ll notice change,” Sarah says.

The entrance hall of the semi-detached house introduces the cosy Milton atmosphere. A vintage piano is decorated with fairy lights and the ceramics of Mike Moran. Sprouting out of silver flower pots are metal sculptures by Paul Cox. Milton House hosts twenty local artists, aiming to support Brighton’s thriving creative culture.

A sign invites visitors to come inside. Sarah and Adam have created an instantly cosy and comfortable atmosphere – no one would guess this house was in the midst of a huge renovation job.

Stepping in, I see Milton gliding elegantly down the stairs and into the kitchen, and decide to follow him. There I meet the Sarah and Adam, who are chatting to a group of visitors as mulled wine steams on the stove.

There are five large open rooms in the house, and each hosts a huge variety of art. A dresser in the dining room holds elegant trinkets, including miniature clocks fashioned out of old tin boxes.

One mantelpiece displays the beautiful works of Kate Iles, a Hastings box maker who’s intricately detailed art is well worth seeing.

Plush family sofas are scattered with cushions made by different artists; there’s even a collection of knitted teddy bears made by Sarah’s daughter.

Through the varied art at Milton House the family who live there shine through – they are all on board with the mission of the house.

As well as uniting their families, Milton has helped Adam and Sarah to settle into the local area: “it brings the neighbours in,” they tell me.

This house aims to create a space for all to come and enjoy art – it will be exciting to see how the Milton story continues to unfold.

Art Across the Line

This Open House is tucked away on a narrow street of terraced houses typical to Brighton. Hanging from a tree in the front garden are various circular sculptures fashioned from disposable plastic cups.

Host Kate Strachan later told me that the unique sculptures were this year’s annual Christmas decoration display, a distinct feature of Art Across the Line.

“Last year we made Christmas trees out of surgical gloves and paper mâché pears. We cook up an idea each year for an outside display, it draws people in” Kate says.

Collaboration is key to Art Across the Line. Kate hosts the house along with her fellow artist and friend Shyama Ruffell. The pair have known each other for 25 years and take it in turns to hold the Open House in their homes.

This year Art Across the Line is at Shyama’s, where she lives with her family. Across the railway line is Sarah’s family home, hence the name.

“We set up our exhibition as a partnership, it takes the pressure off,” Kate says.

The house has two open rooms and the art is of impressive variation. The noticeable theme is one of nature; paintings, prints and box works of plants and insects fill the walls and shelves.

Sitting at her kitchen table, Shyama tells me that inspiration for creating this kind of work has come from her new studio, which is visible through the window in her garden: “it’s changed my work over the past few years, being amongst the eclectic plants and flowers.”

Kate’s work is also varied; my eyes are drawn in particular to her beautiful still life pieces, painted in striking acrylic colour.

It’s the pair’s fifth year of opening as Art Across the Line, but as with many Open House hosts, their connections to the tradition go back much further than this.

Shyama’s artist parents were some of the Open House tradition’s original pioneers. Along with Ned Hoskins –the first artist to open his house – they’re members of the Fiveways Artists group, and have been for decades.

“I’d been a visiting artist in my parents’ house for fifteen years, and that’s when told me it was my turn,” Shyama says.

With family and community connections thriving across Brighton and Hove, it seems the wonderful Open Houses tradition is here to stay.