The showstopping interior of this period apartment is perfect for work and play

This London apartment needed to cater for business and leisure, and Elicyon obliged with a decor that's versatile, sumptuous and elegant

neutral living room with curved chestnut sofa, white curved chair, statement pendant and arched win
(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

Originally designed and built by architect John Nash, this iconic Grade I listed Regency apartment in London has a stunning exterior that is matched by an equally beautiful interior, ensuring it is one of the world's best homes.

'The client is a fan of London. They love the city, the history, and the architecture,' says interior designer Charu Gandhi, founder of  interior design studio Elicyon.

'The client spends a substantial amount of time in this home, sometimes on their own and often as a family with their partner and children. Our client wanted us to create a highly tailored, very liveable space that caters to their lifestyle. They wanted a home that was a social space for entertaining and hosting business meetings, as well as a peaceful refuge.' 

Charu and her team set to work and the result is an apartment that showcases an elegant and sculptural aesthetic with British influences and European accents.

Kitchen

kitchen with green marble breakfast bar, leather and fabric dining chairs, dark wood cabinetry and smoked glass pendants

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

Earthy colors prevail in this dramatic space. Kitchen ideas include a green marble breakfast bar as a striking and tactile focal point. Leather dining chairs wrap around the extended bar, providing a luxe informal eating area.

Snug

neutral living room with neutral modular sofa, large shaped coffee table, artwork and statement pendant

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

Charu opted for a cosy scheme comprising warm earthy neutrals. A vast modular sofa fills the space and provides plenty of comfy seating for watching TV.

neutral living area with marble fireplace, fluted TV surround, white chair and large white shaped coffee table

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

The focal point of the snug is the opulent marble fireplace and eyecatching floor-length fluted TV surround. 

Dining room

neutral dining room with dark wood table, curved mid century style off white chairs and statement artwork

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

The client planned on entertaining both socially and for business meetings, so the layout of the showstopping reception room with its triple height windows became a focal point to allow this pivot between the different uses. 

This space is split into a dining room, living area and open plan office space, and zoning is central to the design of the home.

'The interesting trend of quite fluid multi-functional spaces that we are seeing has particularly burgeoned during Covid,' says Charu. 'We really encouraged the client to think of their large reception room as the main space of the property, rather than a formal room that is hardly used.'

One of Charu's dining room ideas was to create a versatile space with a modern streamlined table that is large enough to cater for both entertaining and meetings. She then softened the scheme with curved textural chairs.

One of three artistic Giopato Coombes pendants makes a statement over the dining table.

Dark blue geometric themed bespoke rugs by Colbourns separate the zones.

Living room

neutral living room with curved chestnut sofa, white curved chair, statement pendant and arched windows

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

'The height of the ceiling is rather spectacular but it also posed a challenge in ensuring we retained the drama while also bringing a domestic scale,' says Charu. Her living room ideas included incorporating a striking ombre paint finish into the paneling on the walls to break up the expanse of the room and draw the eye up to the polished marble ceiling.

To reinforce the homey feel of the room, Charu integrated double trimmed curtains that frame the four floor-to-ceiling windows. Curved furniture with rounded corners and soft edges evokes a soothing aesthetic.

neutral living room with marble fireplace, arched windows, statement artwork, floorlamp and chairs with burnt orange cushions

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

A variation of low-level lighting, large Utopia wall sconces, Giopato Coombes pendants and picture lighting creates distinct moments within each zone at any given time.

neutral living room with patterned chair, marble fireplace, large mirror and statement artwork

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

A statement geometric chair injects a contemporary touch.

Home office

office with black marble desk, black and white patterned office chair and a customised bookcase

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

'The client wanted to consider placing their study in one of the secondary bedrooms, but instead, we feel that its incorporation into the reception has been very successful,' says Charu. 'In the end, their favorite spot was their study in the living room.'

Home office ideas for this monochrome scheme include a bespoke moulded office chair by Bray in patterned jacquard velvet fabric and a black marble desk. Behind is a full-length customised bookcase with woven silk mesh sandwiched between glass screens and matte gray leather back paneling.

Main bedroom

neutral bedroom with bed with oversized leather headboard, colorful statement artwork and neutral patterned rug

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

The impressive main suite features a leather padded freestanding headboard with a hammered liquid metal trim, one of Charu's bedroom ideas to make a focal point of the bed. Above hangs an eyecatching, colorful artwork.

neutral bedroom with bed with oversized headboard, colorful statement artwork and living area with curved sofa and olive chairs

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

Charu has created a cocooning feel in the main bedroom by using a hand-applied finish on the ceiling in the same tone as the wallpaper.

A living area comprising curved seating and olive green sculptural chairs by José Leite de Castro sit upon a circular rug crafted by Tai Ping.

Bedroom

neutral twin bedroom with monochrome artwork and colorful fringed bed throws

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

In the bedroom, interest is injected with artwork and colorful patterned throws.

Bathroom

marble bathroom with metal doors, large mirror and small black occasional table

(Image credit: Patrick Williamson Photography)

The bathroom has an airy, spa-like quality. Bathroom ideas include copious use of marble to create a sumptuous and cohesive feel and a diaphanous blind to filter the light and provide privacy. Metal framed doors and windows ground the scheme.

Interior design/ Elicyon

Photographs/ Patrick Williamson Photography

Vivienne Ayers
Houses Editor

Interiors have always been Vivienne's passion – from bold and bright to Scandi white. After studying at Leeds University, she worked at the Financial Times, before moving to Radio Times. She did an interior design course and then worked for Homes & Gardens, Country Living and House Beautiful. Vivienne’s always enjoyed reader homes and loves to spot a house she knows is perfect for a magazine (she has even knocked on the doors of houses with curb appeal!), so she became a houses editor, commissioning reader homes, writing features and styling and art directing photo shoots. She worked on Country Homes & Interiors for 15 years, before returning to Homes & Gardens as houses editor four years ago.