Vibrancy is indeed the underlying theme of the home. Upon entering the abode, guests will be greeted with a visually striking entrance hall that’s painted in a Chinese deep red lacquer. Black and white marble tiles are used for the flooring, arranged in a style inspired by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s iconic interior paintings. A mahogany George III table accompanies the 16th- and 17th-century portraits that line the walls, adding to the home’s historical influences.

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Upstairs, the sitting room’s walls are lined with golden wallpaper featuring baroque motifs that create a sense of grandeur. “We felt gold was very fitting for our main entertaining room and the period of the house,” says Heaton. “The colour works particularly well with the pieces we have chosen for the room, such as the gilded eagle mirror which stands guard over the fireplace.” 

The room is also well decorated with vintage furnishings and collectable trinkets. Together with her husband, Heaton enjoys scouring for a colourful collection of art and antiques.

“We have always had a shopping list of furniture and collectables in our heads that we look for and over time have gradually managed to acquire,” she says. “We love scouring auction catalogues and visiting auction houses—such as Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Bonhams—in central London, for antiques, as well as looking at objects from around the world online. My husband also loves building collections, from Victorian glass lions to Staffordshire dogs and Lusterware mugs.”

The dining room plays host to more artworks and vintage finds from the Regency era. Turquoise walls enhance the home’s vibrance, whilst complementing the mahogany-framed English dining chairs that are upholstered in sunshine yellow leather—another brilliant acquisition from Christie’s. A skylight, which previously featured ‘70s stained glass installed by the home’s previous owner, was reconstructed to allow more light to flood into the dining area.  

Heaton’s favourite area of the home is the kitchen, a cosy space that exudes warmth with its dark walnut joinery. As “the heart of the house”, the inviting room is where the family often gathers for meals and to work in or catch up with each other. The kitchen is also a display area for the family’s extensive tableware, which are lined up in the cabinets as an interesting visual feature. 

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“We like to see things and not put them in cupboards and this has enabled us to bring together all the various plates which we have collected,” Heaton explains. “We love English 18th and 19th century China, particularly Mason’s ironstone plates, and have built up the collection over the years by buying one plate at a time and focusing on a blue, russet and gold colour scheme. The sum of them displayed together creates something different and more powerful than being displayed individually.”

The home’s high ceilings and expansive walls also provided the couple with the perfect opportunity to present their ever-evolving collections. In particular, the stairwell is home to several art pieces that serve as a visual treat as one head up and down the stairs.

“We decided to get some large artworks—British to compliment the architecture and flamboyant to echo the way in which we decorated the house,” Heaton notes. “A huge number of paintings and drawings hang on the staircase from brass picture rails, including a collection of Roland Batchelor’s 20th-century drawings from my mother, who was an art dealer, and other modern artists such as John Piper, Ceri Richards, and Michael Ayrton.”

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For the master bedroom, Heaton similarly selected a stylish mix of antiques and vintage furnishings that are lined against a golden backdrop similar to the sitting room. A large bed with an intricately carved frame takes centre stage in the room. A pair of vintage, mismatched armchairs to the side creates a cosy nook for the couple to lounge or play chess, while a small desk beside the bed provides reading space. The floor is lined with a Persian rug from the couple’s collection, adding depth and a tactile layer to the room. 

Heaton and her husband’s keen interest and constant engagement with art and design contribute to the home’s eclectic look that’s imbued with rich culture and heritage. “My husband and I worked together to bring our vision to reality,” says Heaton. She cites the Georgian era, the grand proportions of the John Nash architecture, and the heightened sense of space and light throughout the property as key influences throughout the design process.

She adds: “We sought to create a home that was unique, embedded with history and not hidebound by current design trends. We love collecting interesting objects, everything from Mason’s ironstone plates and Victorian vernacular to contemporary sculpture and art. We enjoy discovering the history and stories behind the finds and buying pieces from artist friends.”