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Mr Doodle house: Look inside artist's mind-boggling Tenterden mansion

By: Chantal Weller cweller@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 14:19, 03 October 2022

Updated: 14:40, 03 October 2022

Many modern paintings and sculptures often provoke the question: Is it really art?

But after visiting Mr Doodle's mind-boggling mansion in Tenterden, I was left in no doubt that this really is masterpiece.

As I approached the huge gates to artist Sam Cox's doodled home, I couldn't help but smile.

To look at pictures of the unique creation is one thing, but to experience it in person is another. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

We began our tour in the kitchen - which, in my opinion, is the most impressive room.

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The attention to detail is incredible, with even the teapot, toaster and plug sockets scrawled over in the former Homewood pupil's unique style.

From the floors and walls, to the plates and cups, the kitchen is covered in doodles of food - including lots of burgers.

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The incredible kitchen in Mr Doodle's house in Tenterden. He is hoping to move in to the unique property in the next couple of weeks
Mr Doodle has even created 'Mr Doodle cookies' and 'Doodle Flakes'

Next we went into the dining room, which displayed an inventive box of 'Doodle Flakes' as well as Mr Doodle-themed shortbread.

The 28-year-old artist bought the house in December 2019 and two months later began renovating it and creating a white space for the canvas. He started his doodling in September 2020.

The outcome of his two-year project, which he described as "great fun", is astonishing.

"A lot of people say the rooms would give them a headache or it would be too much for them," Mr Doodle told KentOnline.

"For me, it's really relaxing looking at a room full of doodles and it's really satisfying.

Sam Cox and his wife Alena Cox in his Mr Doodle house in Tenterden

"My wife, Alena, does all the colouring-in for my doodles, but I wanted the house to be black and white.

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"I feel like it has more of an impact and it's more of my signature style."

Asked about his inspiration behind each room, Mr Doodle says he didn't find it hard to come up with new ideas.

Each room has it's own theme to suit its purpose. For example, the "thinking room", also known as the "cloud room" is filled with doodled clouds with a huge armchair in the centre.

Mr Doodle says it's a perfect place to sit and think.

Mr Doodle calls the hallway Noah's Arcade, with a mix of drawings of animals and Pacman

"In the hallway, there are two of every animal and Pacman characters," he said.

"All of them are chasing coins so I came up with the name Noah's Arcade."

The bedroom was the first room Mr Doodle starting drawing in and is full of what he describes as sleepy characters.

Almost everything in the house is hand-drawn.

"There are only a few things which we had to get printed like the bedsheets, because we had to make sure they were washable, also the shower curtains and the towels," he said.

The artist says while some people may think they would get a headache from the doodles, he finds them calming

"Ninety-nine percent of the stuff is hand-doodled which is really important to me."

Mr Doodle says it's rewarding to have been able to create this home in the town he grew up in.

"It's really cool to be able to do this house in the town where I've lived all my life," he said.

"I've grown up here and my family is from here.

"It's a lovely place to live and a real pleasure to be able to create an art installation in the town I am most happy in.

Mr Doodle has opened the doors of his doodled home in Tenterden

"It's great, and I hope that people enjoy seeing it and maybe one day we can welcome people to look around it, but let's watch this space."

He admits he was worried his designs might not be appreciated by his neighbours - but says they are "really excited" to see the final work.

"I'm really happy about this because I was worried when I moved here that we might fall out with neighbours because they wouldn't want me to be doodling all over the house," he said.

"But, the response has been quite positive which is good."

I was beyond amazed by the detail which Mr Doodle has put into every single room and object.

Everything in the house - including this mouse and keyboard - is hand-doodled, expect for a few items such as the bedsheets and shower curtain

Even the keyboard and mouse was doodled - which the artist says was a somewhat challenging canvas.

It was brilliant to be able to experience what it's like inside the doodle home. It is an impressive sight which anyone would be amazed by.

Mr Doodle says he had years to think about the project and discuss his ideas with his friends and family.

"It wasn't too difficult to think of themes for each room as I'd been thinking about it since I was a teenager," he said.

"I'd had years of looking at houses and thinking what I could do in each room.

Mr Doodle bought the house in December 2019 and work began on the project two months later

"When this house went on the market I was instantly drawn to it and I thought about how I could separate each space and create a theme for each room.

"It was a fun process."

Mr Cox says he got his name Mr Doodle after going to a class at university in a fully doodled outfit.

"My tutor took a photo of me and put it on social media, calling me Doodle Man," he said.

"I used the name for a few years and then shortened it down to Mr Doodle, and have been going by that name since 2017."

Mr Doodle says he is hoping to move into the mansion in the next few weeks and says it will be interesting to see what it is like to live in.

If Mr Doodle does eventually open the gates to his incredible home, it would certainly be worth a vist.

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