'Color does not add a pleasant quality to design – it reinforces it.' So said the French painter and lover of bold color, Pierre Bonnard. It’s a sentiment that might have resonated with the owner of this west London home, as she considered its spacious, but somewhat characterless interior.
Built in the 1980s, it had worn – bar the occasional pop of color – an almost entirely gray scheme for some decades. 'Color, pattern and flow were my client’s priorities for her redesign,' explains interior designer Laura Stephens. 'She was yearning for some vibrancy.'
Dining Room: A huge skylight floods the area with natural light. The Moroccan painting inspired the color scheme. Sideboard, Alfred Newall. Lamps, Studio Hám. Table and chairs, Pinch. Artwork, homeowner’s own
Laura’s client found her on Instagram and she was drawn to her use of color to create warmth, an element she felt was missing from the house design at the time.
'Her children had left home and she was ready to give the place a thorough revivify – one that would bring cohesion to her treasured collection of furniture and art, while injecting bold hues, pattern and character into every room,' says Laura.
Kitchen: Burgundy, purple and green are unlikely bedfellows, but the similar intensities of their tones work exceptionally well together.
The house had good proportions, generous lateral space and an abundance of natural light.
'The ground floor is essentially open plan, with hall, kitchen, dining and living spaces flowing into and out of each other,' says Laura. 'But it was all a bit muddled. We rejigged the layout and introduced some smart zoning to help better demarcate the different areas.'
Kitchen: Cabinetry, Plain English. Base units in Scarlet ’n’ Rust, Paint & Paper Library. Pendants over the island, Ochre. Bar stools, Zara Home. Wall tiles, Balineum
The most dramatic upgrade was to the kitchen, which dominates the space and needed to look attractive and to feel integrated with its surroundings.
'It featured a beautiful Plain English cabinetry design and needed nothing more than a considered refresh,' says Laura. 'A Moroccan painting in the dining area, of running horses, was my starting point. It’s full of lovely purples and pinks. We added a burgundy shade – just for the lower cabinets – to the existing green and purple cabinetry, replaced the handles for a more tactile experience and fitted a bespoke backsplash to bring depth and focus.'
Laura’s client was skeptical at first about the additional deep red color, but ultimately trusted in her that all would be well. 'And it was! We’ve scattered burgundy accents elsewhere, so that the new jewel tones all work together.'
Living Room: Existing sofas and armchairs were reupholstered with a mix of striped and textured weave linens. Sideboard, Alfred Newall. Upholstery fabric, Filling Spaces at Turnell & Gigon
The living area has benefited from a fresh layout that sees sofas and rug moved to create a more convivial function around a new, centrally placed ottoman, while artworks featuring mountain scenes were rehung as a themed gallery.
'We softened the overall feel with a richly saturated, cinnamon-hued base, layering in color and texture through window treatments, upholstery and decorative lighting,' explains Laura. 'This created a warm, welcoming backdrop that tied together both the existing pieces and the new design elements.'
Basement: A utility room, cloakroom and office in the lower ground floor connect via a formerly bland transitional space, now decorated with a gallery of animal artworks, striped rug and bold red lamps. Red lamp bases, Montes & Clark. Blue shades, Birdie Fortescue. Tessa rug, Bombay Sprout x Laura Stephens. Artwork, homeowner’s own
One of the most important aspects of the project was the lighting. Recessed ceiling spotlights had been fitted throughout, which did nothing to show off the owner’s art. Laura did away with the spots, fitting surface-mounted directional lights instead, which instantly brought the pictures to life.
The middle floor opens to a spacious landing that’s been painted a delightful pinkish-leather shade – it is almost Mediterranean in feel.
Powder Room: 'We wanted a smart, cohesive look,' says Laura. 'To that end we broke up the walls using narrow paneling, a striped wallpaper and a playful mirror.' Stitched Stripe wallpaper, Långelid von Brömssen. Mirror, Anthropologie. Paneling in Grey Stone, Little Greene. Artworks, homeowner’s own
'You don’t generally get large landings in London houses, but that’s one of the plus sides of a more recently built property. Here, there was enough room for a beautiful armoire and a reupholstered antique chair to happily rub shoulders without the space ever feeling cramped.'
In the bedrooms and bathrooms, bold palettes were fully embraced and balanced with soft, tonal accents to ensure each room felt harmonious, yet full of individual personality.
Primary Bedroom: The shapely headboard sits perfectly within the sloping proportions of the space. Laura has layered patterns, antiques and bespoke elements to create a sumptuous retreat. Headboard, The Headboard Workshop; with Colefax and Fowler braid. Wallpaper , Colefax and Fowler. Mustard ceramic lamp, Agata Treasures
The main bedroom, which is tucked into the loft, was more of a challenge. It was an awkward space to decorate due to its sloping eaves so Laura’s solution was to celebrate these, rather than try to disguise them.
A shapely headboard replaced the existing low-level one, instantly dealing with the unattractive void above it. 'Immediately the proportions became just right,' she says.
Primary Bedroom: 'This was the first room to be completed and it sets the tone for the rest of the schemes,' says Laura. A built-in vanity makes the most of a bright window position. Pouffe, bespoke by Laura Stephens in Manuel Canovas fabric with Samuel & Sons trim. Lamp, Pooky. Chair, Love Your Home
Design details such as these, alongside considered layering and careful zoning, genuinely work to enhance the bones of a modern build and have resulted in a home that feels deeply personal, richly textured and perfectly in tune with the family’s evolving needs.
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