A terraced family home in Devon has been transformed into an extraordinary lived-in work of art, with vibrant paintings covering every surface from floor to ceiling in every room. The remarkable project is the creation of artist Emily Powell, who spent a decade hand-painting every inch of her Brixham home, including light switches, the refrigerator, and even the toilet.

Powell, known for her vibrant and colorful canvases, said she "suddenly let loose" after beginning the ambitious artwork ten years ago when she and her family moved into their first owned home after years of renting. The comprehensive art installation, titled "The Art of the Living," was recently opened to a small number of ticketholders for public viewing.

The accomplished artist has an impressive resume, having held two solo exhibitions at London's prestigious Portland Gallery and recently giving a presentation about her artistic style at the Royal Academy of Arts, also in London. Her local exhibitions have included works from her artist residency in the Isles of Scilly and paintings created during her time in the Arctic, which were displayed at her studio on Dartmoor at Ullacombe Farm.

Unlike a traditional gallery experience, Powell's open house offers visitors a completely immersive artistic environment. Each room tells a different story through color and imagery designed to evoke specific emotions. The dining room features detailed paintings of Delftware pottery on both the walls and table, reflecting Powell's time in Holland. Her daughter's playroom bursts with a whimsical circus scene complete with animals wearing party hats, while Dutch-influenced cups and plates are painted on the kitchen walls and refrigerator front.

The artistic journey continues throughout the house with a fig tree adorning the hallway ceiling and birds appearing to fly up the staircase walls. "It's all about the color," Powell explained while guiding visitors through her home. "So I chose the color to balance out how I'm feeling and how I want the family to feel in certain rooms." The living room was painted red to create a cozy and warm atmosphere, while the master bedroom features a field of Scottish flowers.

The paintings flow seamlessly from one room to another, creating a continuous narrative as guests move through the house. Visitors experience a dramatic transition from a Parisian apartment building skyline in the hallway to the floral Scottish landscape in the bedroom, demonstrating Powell's ability to transport viewers through different emotional and geographical landscapes.

While the house serves as an antidote to minimalist interior design trends, living in such an artistic environment presents unique challenges for the family. Powell's husband, Jack Powell, admits that the painted floors sometimes make it difficult to spot their daughter's toys scattered around the house. He also mentioned the constant risk of accidentally leaning against freshly painted surfaces. "I don't think there's an item of clothing that doesn't have paint on it," he said with humor. "Someone came in and said, 'You've got paint on your toothbrushes - do you know that?'."

The response to Powell's artistic home has been overwhelming, with hundreds of people booking tickets to experience the unique installation. The open house, which concludes on December 7th, sold out completely and now maintains a waiting list of 500 people. Powell noted that visitors with tickets have traveled from as far as the United States to witness her creative achievement.

Having exhausted every available surface in her current home, Powell faces an interesting dilemma. She plans to sell the house and purchase a new property where she can begin an entirely fresh chapter of her artistic journey, starting the transformative process all over again. This decision reflects her continued passion for pushing the boundaries of traditional art spaces and creating immersive environments that challenge conventional notions of where and how art should be experienced.