Cover Hand-painted walls resembling chevron marquetry in the double-height living room
Hand-painted walls resembling chevron marquetry in the double-height living room
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How Studio Vero injects bespoke personality into a period property in Chelsea, London with a turnkey makeover
An international businessman has recently obtained a Victorian-style duplex apartment in the affluent Chelsea neighbourhood of Southwest London, serving as his home whenever he is in London.
Dating back to the late 19th century, and hidden behind the traditional brickwork façade of the old King’s College, the apartment spans over 7,500 sq ft, comprising six bedrooms, numerous reception rooms, an open-plan kitchen and dining space, and a formal dining room.
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Above The traditional brickwork façade of the old King’s College dating back to the late 19th century
The traditional brickwork façade of the old King’s College dating back to the late 19th century
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The homeowner, who is also a collector and philanthropist, appointed London-based interior design studio, Studio Vero, to carry out a full turnkey makeover, making sure to inject personality with an underlying universal appeal, without looking like a typical staged property.
“The scale and volume of the property were immense, a true one-off, as it’s rare to be tasked with providing a full turnkey service for a property of this size,” says Romanos Brihi, partner and co-founder at Studio Vero. “Not one personal item was sent over to be included [in the home], and every item, down to the cutlery and napkins, was meticulously procured by Studio Vero.”
Above The hand-painted monochrome chequered walls at the entrance
Above The rich raspberry textured wall covering in the hallway
The hand-painted monochrome chequered walls at the entrance
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“It was the most wonderful opportunity and the sky was certainly the limit,” adds the interior designer, who has built a great rapport with the client, and is now working with him on a purchase in Italy.
“We aimed to be as inventive and creative as possible, and with a generous budget, we spent time hopping from gallery to gallery and visiting so many antique dealers and suppliers all over the world.”
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Above Hand-painted walls resembling chevron marquetry in the double-height living room
Hand-painted walls resembling chevron marquetry in the double-height living room
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Above An Antony Gormley art piece above the marble fireplace
Above An extensive layering of patterns, textures, and finishes
An Antony Gormley art piece above the marble fireplace
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Likening the project to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, Studio Vero drew significant inspiration from interior design aesthetics in Paris and Los Angeles, and the design styles of Jean-Louis Deniot and Kelly Wearstler.
While many of the textures and finishes lean towards the traditional style, the design narrative also balances extensive layering of materials–from exquisite timbers to intricate metalwork, complemented by the finest selection of fabrics.
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A soothing palette of dreamy blue, teal, and off-white in the formal dining area
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“We really wanted to create a place of wonder, with surprises and delights at every turn,” explains Brihi. “We created themes and played around with patterns, textures, and finishes, resulting in truly joyful outcomes that merged Parisian elegance with bold and eclectic accents from a combination of antiques and bespoke pieces in collaboration with the finest artisans and craftsmen.”
From the hand-painted, black-and-white chequered walls in the entrance lobby, to the rich raspberry textured wall covering in the hallway; the home expands into different rooms, each with its own unique style and “talking point,” coming together in harmony as a genuine display of passion and artistry.
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Above The tastefully designed kitchen area
The tastefully designed kitchen area
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Above Honed marble, dark blue veneered cabinetry and antiqued brass details
Above Bespoke verre églomisé mirrored panels decorate the back of the pantry
Honed marble, dark blue veneered cabinetry and antiqued brass details
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In the double-height living room bathed in a soothing palette of dreamy blue, teal, and off-white are hand-painted walls by bespoke surface artisan Henry Van Der Vijver, whose minute detailing that resembles chevron marquetry took around 16 weeks to complete.
Here, an art piece by British sculptor Antony Gormley, previously seen in the Royal Academy, now sits above the marble fireplace.
“We definitely went to town on British artists and ended up purchasing pieces from 25 different galleries–a huge privilege for me given my passion for art and as a patron of the Serpentine Gallery and Design Museum in London,” Brihi shares.
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Above Some of the art pieces purchased from 25 different galleries
Some of the art pieces purchased from 25 different galleries
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Juxtaposing the silvery tone of the formal dining room, mustard yellow chairs anchor the more intimate breakfast room, as the open-plan space flows into the kitchen with dark blue veneered cabinetry and antiqued brass details.
The same honed Calacatta Oro marble is used for the flooring, work surfaces, and backsplash for a cream-toned cohesiveness, whereas bespoke verre églomisé mirrored panels by fine art and specialist finish studio Rima & McRae decorate the back of the pantry.
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The master suite in rich bronze
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Above The bedrooms are individual punches of personalities
Above Layered with vibrant patterns, colours, and textures
The bedrooms are individual punches of personalities
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The bedrooms are individual punches of personalities, ranging from rich bronze to pink to duck egg blue, and each brimming with vibrant patterns, colours, and textures.
“Designing the bedrooms brought us immense joy,” Brihi says in conclusion. “One of the guest bedrooms stands out as one of my favourites, with its bright pink walls and curved headboard that transport you back in time to the 1970s Palm Springs era.”
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Credits
Photography: Studio Vero / Paul Massey
Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
