Big on style and comfort, this peaceful London apartment has an atmosphere that exudes elegant indulgence.
This chic home looks like it belongs to a glamorous young London couple with a thriving social life. While that may be an apt description, the stylish duo also have three young children – and a puppy. That the apartment so successfully marries durability with elegance is down to the pair’s design aesthetic and the skill of their interior designer Cherie Lee.
Years ago, the couple converted two apartments in a four-storey Victorian house into one home and, more recently, added a third floor. That’s where Cherie came in. When she arrived, she had just a shell and a couple of pieces of furniture to work with. Even with the extra floor space, the layout was disjointed and didn’t flow properly, comments Cherie.
TIMELESS TEXTURE
Only one half of the room had original ceiling mouldings. But the couple was so eager to carry this motif through to the rest of the space that they had exact replicas made.
DINING AREA
A mix of natural materials was used to ensure that the space felt calm and part of the rest of the home, rather than too formal and stiff.
FAMILY MATTERS
This corner may be the height of beauty but it also goes with the flow of family life – a place for a coffee, to play a family board game or do homework.
PLUSH PAD
Although the four bedrooms are decorated differently, they all share a neutral palette with a touch of marble and soft materials.
SUBTLE STATEMENT
A new staircase was needed to connect the two separate apartments that are now one home. The combination of floating steps, glass and raw concrete is in keeping with the inherent grandeur of the house.
MAIN BEDROOM
A headboard that stretches the length of the entire wall helps to frame the bed.
SECOND BEDROOM
The teenage daughter’s bedroom is a transitional space, designed to evolve into adulthood. Fun and sophistication are balanced in just the right amounts.
FAMILY BATHROOM
Deeply-veined marble creates a dramatic effect from the floor to the ceiling.
TRACES OF THE PAST
The faded patina of the limed walls was kept. ‘I love everything that exudes history,’ says owner Silvia. ‘I’ve always lived in antique houses.’ Design classics fit in with the historical nature of the apartment.
CHERIE’S HOME TRUTHS DESIGN HERO?
I love the elegance of British interior designer Rose Uniacke’s work. The effortless grandeur that she creates really captures me.
FAVOURITE COLOUR COMBINATION?
I am really enjoying the draw of earthy tones, particularly deep rusts and chocolate browns.
DESIGN CLASSIC YOU’D LOVE TO OWN?
A set of 1940s sheepskin Danish Cabinetmaker lounge chairs, similar to those in Jessica Alba’s living room.
YOUR INSPIRATION?
I am passionate about natural materials and the feeling that they inspire in a home. A whole scheme can be developed around a slab of stone or marble in our studio.
LESSONS LEARNT FROM THIS RENOVATION?
We were really pleased with the large scale use of dark timber on this project, from floor to cabinetry – a reminder that there is no such thing as too much wood!
