The owner of Creake Abbey, the rural retail destination in north Norfolk, had very specific needs for her London bolthole. ‘It had to be in W1, have parking and be secure so I can lock it and leave.’ After nearly three yearsof searching, she settled on Fitzroy Place, a development started by the Candy brothers and completed by Exemplar, in partnership with Aviva Investors on the site of what had once been Middlesex Hospital.
- See more: World's best homes – our page dedicated to fabulous properties
The property
This apartment has personal resonance for the owner as she purchased it with the proceeds from selling her parents’ apartment in Grosvenor Square and filled it with furniture taken from their former home. Her childhood memories of growing up in the Colefax & Fowler-designed apartment with huge windows and high ceilings, are so strong, her own home could be termed as a modern imitation.
'Soon after I bought this apartment, my mother said to me: ‘I hope you won't make the mistake of not getting a designer to help you.’ I knew she was right. I confess to being a bit square and safe, so I needed someone to push me. Emma Deterding of Kelling Designs was the ideal person to help with that, particularly with color, and, golly, how this apartment sings with color,' she explains.
Hallway
The glossy orange wall and eye-catching blue of the lamp shade make the entrance hall set the scene for the rest of the scheme. ‘I was keen to find a contemporary way of showing off antique pieces that have been given to me, such as the mirror and lamp,’ says the owner.
Living room
The owners white tub chairs were once her mother’s. The stud detailing and shape of the legs inspired designer Emma to incorporate the same details into the chairs she designed for the bespoke dining table.
‘My parents’ apartment in Grosvenor Square was designed by Colefax & Fowler and in the French style of Louis XIV,’ she says.‘My apartment couldn’t accommodate a lot of the furniture we had there, however, as the pieces were too big or overly decorative, but this desk made the grade.’
Kitchen and dining room
‘Emma designed the practical yet creative dining chairs as a response to my need for a dining table,’ says the owner.
Children's bedroom
The curtain fabric is a Kit Kemp design from her favourite hotel, Charlotte Street. ‘Kit’s use of colour has inspired so many people to be bolder in their interior design choices and this pattern contains the accent colours that we’ve used in the apartment,’ says Emma.
Guest bedroom
The wall color was inspired by a picture of a blue sofa in a large windowed, high-rise building that Artemis had shown to Emma. ‘This shade is virtually identical to the corporate colours that I use for Creake Abbey, but I didn’t connect them till afterwards,’ she explains.
Bathroom
The wood panelling, flooring and bathrooms were part of the developers’ standard fit, she recalls. ‘I had no say over it, but I could see that the fittings were of good-quality Italian design without too much bling, soI didn’t worry about it.’
Main bedroom
‘I always dreamed of having a wall lined with a de Gournay print. I fell in love with this one for its texture. It gives me absolute joy to see that pattern,’ she explains.
Although not quite a penthouse, her apartment is on the eighth floor and the lightwell above the window is a welcome extra, throwing additional natural light into the room.
Photography ⁄ Davide Lovatti
Interior Design ⁄ Kelling Designs
-
6 mistakes that prove you’re cleaning in the wrong order – and what to do instead to save time, effort, and moneyThese will double your workload
-
A sweet pea teepee can create the most stunning scented spectacle in a backyard – learn how to make your own in 5 simple stepsThere are few things better than a living, floral tent you can sit under all summer long
-
This jewel box Manhattan apartment is a collage of patterns inspired by antique fabricsThe Manhattan pied-à-terre of textile collector Jill Lasersohn has been transformed with the skillful use of standout fabrics and papers from her collaboration with Schumacher
-
How do you update a heritage NYC apartment without losing the charming original details? Designer Joshua Smith knowsTransitional style was key to ensure this period home maintained its character but was still suited to modern life, here designer Joshua Smith talks us through the project
-
This small London apartment is a jewel box of color and pattern, filled with unexpected design momentsThe London pied-à-terre of a French collector, this apartment is filled with the kind of design that delights the eye
-
10 transitional design lessons we learned from this luxurious penthouse that blends antiques with contemporary decorThis elegant city apartment design started with the antiques and artwork, before adding luxe textiles and wallcoverings
-
Designer Shawn Henderson used wall murals, soothing chalky shades and vintage pieces to fill this newly developed apartment with characterThis timeless apartment in a Roman and Williams-designed building has been enhanced by the unique eclectic tastes of Shawn Henderson
-
This whimsical Manhattan apartment perfectly reflects the free spirit of its artist ownerA house that truly reflects its owner is always a joy to tour, and this one feels as creative and interesting as the artist who lives here
-
10 lessons on how to balance work and life in your interiors from a chic apartment that doubles as an officeMixing business with pleasure – how this New Orleans pied-à-terre became a multi-functional space with style
-
This New York apartment embraces a mix of modern and elegant style into a tiny square footageDesigner-artist Adam Charlap Hyman is someone with boundless imagination and his NY apartment is a playground for his creativity
