The Saloon

Robert Adam designed many wonderful rooms but this one is surely unique, for nowhere else did he have the opportunity to contrast all the characteristics of 18th-century elegance with the wild, untamed scenery of sea, sky and mountain. Immediately below the windows, 150 feet down, are the rocks and breakers of the Firth of Clyde, and far across the water, the low line of the Mull of Kintyre, Goatfell on Arran, and away to the North, the hills around the entrance to Loch Fyne.

The ceiling was white for many years until in 1968 the Trust acquired an original watercolour drawing, signed by Robert Adam, of a proposed colour scheme, which can be seen on the landing outside the principal door. In 1974, tests were taken of all the paintwork and the original 18th-century colour scheme has now been fully restored. The overdoors, hitherto blank, have been painted in trompe 1' oeil copying the frieze. The carpet is a copy of the one Adam designed for the room. It was made locally at Irvine. The original was woven with a large, flat loop pile which is unrepeatable today A cut pile was chosen in preference to the fine Brussels loop seen in the bedrooms at Culzean because it can withstand much harder wear - it does however sacrifice authenticity for practicality.

The room has been arranged as a formal 18th-century saloon with the chairs arranged on the perimeter. Those with oval backs are by Robert Adam, but those with square backs, covered in Beauvais tapestry, are French and date from the reign of Louis XVI (1774-1792). The delicate gilt wood pair of chairs are Sheraton. Such a room would not have had furniture in the centre or grouped round the fireplace as it was essentially for promenade and entertaining.

Small tables, known as 'fly tables' would have been brought in from an anteroom as and when required. It was not until the 19th century that a room like this was 'lived in', when more furniture together with a mass of decorative items was introduced.

The picture over the fireplace is by Deschamps. The one depicting Ducks on a Stream with a woodcock is by Hondecoeter (1636-1695), that over the other side door depicts Ducks with a Kingfisher and is byJan Spruyt ( 1627-1657). The picture over the principal doorway of Peasants at a Meal outside an Inn is by Droochsloot.