Design house: See inside an imaginative Chelsea townhouse with unique design flourishes
Discover the trompe l'oeil hallway mural and faux marble bath...

This stunning Chelsea townhouse project showcases how a clever mix of print, pattern, bespoke furniture and artwork can bring a property to life.
See: World's best homes – tour the globe’s most beautiful houses
The house’s New York-based owner tapped interior design studio Violet & George to create the high-style yet homely London pad.
The house perfectly blends formal and informal spaces, with a cosy study and a chic library offering stylish reading retreats. Design-wise, the spaces are traditional yet kept modern with colorful contemporary prints on soft furnishings.
Many rooms in the house exhibit this masterful mix of old and new style, with the master bedroom pairing floral vallances with a faux marble backdrop.
The sociable, warm kitchen/dining space boasts cottagecore sage green walls and is given a luxe feel with the addition of a marble-topped kitchen island. Statement artwork, meanwhile, adds a sense of grandeur to the room.
- See: Kitchen ideas – decor and decorating ideas for all kitchens
The Georgian townhouse is reasonably small in stature but sizeable in design savvy.
Explaining the process, Violet & George said: ‘Conceptualized, created and installed before actually meeting the client face-to-face, this was a project managed and approved via email and Skype.
'Our client was based in New York and the only definite direction we had from her was to stay "traditional". The rest was up to us.
‘With such latitude and creative generosity, it’s easy to indulge your own individual taste, but we roamed within reason and nailed her brief with every suggestion. The result is a comfortable, exquisitely detailed bolt hole in one of London’s most desirable locations.'
The design house continued: ‘Our work was essentially an entire fit-out that included designing and installing joinery, new lighting, furniture, rugs, and soft furnishings. We also explored a variety of window treatments and a range of different paint effects including trompe l’oeil, faux marble and textured lacquering.'
- See: Bathroom ideas – stylish decor ideas for all bathrooms
‘We commissioned bespoke furniture, replaced the bathrooms and after the work was completed, accompanied the owner to select complementary works of art.’
- See: Courtyard garden ideas – tips to transform a small or awkwardly shaped outdoor space
Visit Violet and George for a luxury interior design service.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Decor Ideas. Project Inspiration. Expert Advice. Delivered to your inbox.
Ruth Doherty is an experienced digital writer and editor specializing in interiors, travel and lifestyle. With 20 years of writing for national sites under her belt, she’s worked for the likes of Livingetc.com, Standard, Ideal Home, Stylist and Marie Claire as well as Homes & Gardens.
-
5 easy steps to create the perfect holiday table, according to Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage
H&G spoke with Paula Sutton, the stylist, author and creator behind Hill House Vintage to get all her tips on hosting for the holidays
By Hebe Hatton Published
-
12 ways to modernize an outdated kitchen without totally replacing it
How do you update a kitchen without changing everything in one go? Designers share some budget-friendly quick fixes
By Karen Darlow Published