More W1

The street, photographed by Alvin Langdon Coburn, as it was at the end of the 19th century. The architecture is predominantly Regency and Vogue Regency (the style prevalent with the smart set of the 1920s).

While one needs to respect the client's wishes one should not disregard the architectural integrity of the space. Above all the client wanted the apartment to be masculine. Unfortunately, this desire often manifests itself with boxy pieces of leather furniture. Here, however, the client was steered towards a restricted palette (Indian jade, black, burnt orange, and a dirty greyish white) and more organically shaped pieces to achieve the desired effect.




The living room is sill awaiting its rug, which needed to be re-coloured. Elephants gestate faster.





The Jansen mirrors were a great find (that is code for the client did not collapse when told the price), as was the bar. The fireplace still awaits its fire bowl.



And this (in terracotta) is sill the perfect piece to help finish the room.




The accent colour changes from burnt orange to yellow as one moves into the private space of the apartment.




Originally the kitchen was a testament to the 80s - white and grey marble tiles and pale blue-grey cabinetry.
The cabinetry now painted black (with whiskey coloured interiors), the marble replaced with cork and oak, and the hardware bronzed. Hopefully more an homage to T. E. Lawrence than a testament to the 2000s.


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Handbags at dawn

Maison21's obsessive compulsive decorating disorder challenge - the objective is to take disparate elements (in this case the tusk dining table base, the cerused oak flooring and the beige colour scheme) and make them work.


Contemporary alabaster ceiling light from Antiquario. Hand carved from a solid block by a Bay Area artisan.



Maison21's tusk dining table base, which would be done with a composite stone top (as I positively loathe glass topped dining tables) to match the base in colour and mirror its profile.



Billy Baldwin dining slipper chair with raffia body.


Lee Jofa's Zephyr in granite for the seat cushions and the curtains.



Pair of French industrial steel cabinets from Briggs House Antiques.



Zoffany's Paper-White for woodwork and ceiling, and Barley for the walls.



Cerused oak flooring.



Spider Diptych, 2004, watercolour on paper (480 x 300cm) by Alf Löhr.


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So very Miss Marple

English Riviera



Blyth Beach

I have always wanted to do one of of these. Though I thought I would have to wait until we got one or our own. Not so, a client has asked for me to do theirs. Practice makes perfect.

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Notting Hill isn't always Notting Hell

Stucco town houses in Stanley Gardens, W11

Long before Notting Hill became synonymous with that godawful movie and the banker-wanker (and their status anxiety riddled wives) it had an association with artists and bohemian culture since the 1820s.

Part of the allure, undoubtedly, is its large light filled Victorian houses; originally designed as single family dwellings with room for some live in help. By the 1950s, the majority had been hacked into bedsits and, later on, flats. The boom of the late 90s saw a great many of them restored to single family dwellings. Some have even had their basements dug lower to accommodate lap pools. Needless to say, the long time residents find this akin to heresy. I tend to look on it much the same as Mrs. Parrish looked on a steak and lobster dinner, so Hollywood.

There are still some pockets of interesting people. It has been my good fortune to work for one of them. Here are some snippets of the late night room I did for him.



Mirrors needn't always go in the most obvious of places. A particularly good Icon of John the Baptist hangs above a woodpecker by Rowland Ward from the Benacre Hall sale.




Two more pieces of taxidermy by Rowland Ward from the Benacre Hall sale.




A Billy Baldwin Nantucket sofa, the body done in leather with the cushions done in mohair. The throw across the back is an antique Sammi quilt. Four versions of Saint Apollonia (patron saint of dentists), purchased to bring the rest of the religious art into a more current context, gaze out from above the sofa.




Early 19th Century Podicherry angels with instruments hang above the fireplace. While the client liked them, they rose even higher in his estimation when he found them far superior to the ones in the Mayfair offices of Air India.




Notting Hell

Hilarious because it is ridiculous yet cringingly real.


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Preview of NW3

One year on, and everything is finally in place. Now, just need to get it photographed. Properly.


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