A patron of the arts, Cutsem acquired two family mansions located on the Avenue des Arts following efforts to accommodate his treasures. The buildings were converted into a single house thanks to Horta. Mr and Mrs Charlier, along with their benefactor, spent the better part of their last years in the house surrounded by the art they had gathered. The museum particularly focus's on elements of the Decorative Arts from the 18th to 20th Century, such as Louis XV, Louis XVI and Empire-style furniture and objects. Apart from the work of the Brussels master of Art Nouveau, the site also offers paintings and sculptures produced in the late 19th and early 20th Century by well-known Belgian artists, including portraits, realistic and impressionist landscapes, as well as pieces by innovative movements.