Inside the Oliviers' Love Nest
Today's post comes to us courtesy of Lena Backström, a long-time fan of the Oliviers from Sweden. Over the years I've gotten to know Lena fairly well. When this site first launched she kindly contributed scans from her private collection to the Photo Gallery - many of which I had never seen before. It was a real treat. Since then, we've met in person a couple of times, catching up over lunch and swapping stories whenever she's in London for a visit.
Recently, Lena did some extended research into Durham Cottage, the Oliviers' love nest in Christchurch Street, Chelsea, west London. Laurence Olivier bought the house (the former coach cottage belonging to the larger Durham House next door) as a London base for he and Vivien Leigh. Using quotes from biographies and excerpts and rare photos from vintage Swedish magazines, Lena was able to plot out what the house looked like when the Oliviers lived there from 1937-1956.
Below is Durham Cottage as we've never seen it, but there are some lingering questions: where, exactly, was Laurence Olivier's study? When did they decide to have separate bedrooms (or were there always two)? Can you help us with the answers?
Thanks for the job well done, Lena!
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