Cover The living room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
The living room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
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Blending timeless elegance with a sustainable eye, Sophie Paterson Interiors has transformed this London, England home into a modern Georgian masterpiece
It takes a particular kind of confidence to brief your interior designer with merely six words: “We want the best house in London.” But for Sophie Paterson Interiors’ clients, this approach represented an undeniable faith in the designer’s critical eye. The clients knew precisely what they wanted: layers, texture, luxurious materials and a home that would feel timelessly relevant.
What Sophie Paterson and her team delivered within this generously proportioned Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse is nothing short of magnificent. Instead of pushing for an entirely modern approach, this London home honours its distinguished history whilst creating an atmosphere of warmth and effortless livability for generations to come.
“We are always led by how a house will be lived in, rather than by a fixed aesthetic,” Paterson mused, establishing a philosophy that permeates every design decision. The result is a home that moves between formality and ease with natural grace. All at once, it is grand enough for large gatherings, relaxed enough for daily family life and permeated with small details that make this home truly distinctive.
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Above The living room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
The living room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
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The London property’s first gift was immediately apparent on the designer’s initial visit: scale. London townhouses are often characterised by their narrowness, each room compressed by the constraints of an urban plot. In contrast, this house defied that expectation entirely. As Paterson recalls, “it had real generosity of proportion, alongside the benefit of an exceptional location.” That unusual width expanded her ideas for the home, allowing each room to unfold at its own pace.
Upon stepping through the front door, the entrance hall establishes the home’s ambitions. Two large columns frame a central circulation space, whilst walls finished in textured paint create a luminous, airy backdrop. An antique 19th-century pedestal from Lorfords is a nod to the home’s Georgian origins, its patinated presence anchoring the space. For Paterson, “the pedestal provides a grounding for the design of what is to be expected throughout the house.” Above it, a lantern from Jamb casts warm light across the space, establishing the home as one of substance and considered taste.
Above The entertainment room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
Above The living room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
The entertainment room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
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Beyond the hall, the vast double reception room reveals itself as the home’s most versatile, defining space. Here, Paterson deployed rich silk wallcoverings across the full expanse of walls, the fabric’s lustre shifting with changing light throughout the day. Bespoke chandeliers from SWD Bespoke take centre stage, drawing the eye upward into the ceiling. “The ceiling heights did not quite match the scale of the spaces, so a bespoke solution felt necessary,” Paterson explained. “The chandeliers take centre stage, drawing the eye upward and bringing a sense of balance and presence to the rooms.”
The space features thoughtful zoning, creating different pockets in the room for a variety of purposes. For instance, a dedicated area for afternoon tea creates an intimate gathering point within the larger space. Most ingeniously, a bespoke framed television from Porta Romana conceals its true identity behind custom artwork. The blend of technology and artistic elegance maintains the home’s timeless Georgian identity, paired with an extensive collection of artworks spanning periods and styles, whilst maintaining a sense of cohesion.
The dining arrangement reflects the family’s approach to entertaining with equal thoughtfulness. Separate dining areas for adults and children allow gatherings of any configuration, from intimate adult dinners, boisterous family celebrations and everything in between, to unfold simultaneously.
Above The living room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
The living room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
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Stepping down into the basement, the home’s character shifts decisively. Conceived with an almost entirely open plan, this family space stretches across the full footprint of the property. Large doors open directly onto the garden, transforming the basement into an extension of the outdoor living areas beyond. For a central London home, this connection feels extraordinarily generous. “It changes how the home is used,” Paterson reflected, “and brings a softness to what is otherwise a very architectural property.”
The garden itself rewards the attention lavished upon it. Substantial by any measure and remarkable by London standards, it has been organised into distinct areas for sitting, dining and an outdoor kitchen, creating a landscape anchored on the family’s love of entertaining and spending time together.
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The bedroom in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
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Returning inside and entering the private quarters, one uncovers the two principal suites, both of which command an entire floor each. Both offer large bedrooms, sitting areas, dressing rooms and generous ensuite bathrooms with dual-aspect views running from front to back of the house. “There is a sense of privacy and calm to these floors that feels rare in central London,” Paterson mused, and one understands immediately what she means.
The suites’ defining feature is their Fromental wallcoverings, designed in collaboration with Sophie Paterson Interiors and hand-painted to the project’s specification. The lighter suite features blossom branches in pale tones, in reference to views across to Kensington Gardens beyond the windows.
The darker suite adopts magnolia branches in a deeper, more dramatic register, creating what Paterson described as “contrast, and perhaps a little drama, while still remaining calm and considered.” She also noted that dark spaces are not her studio's usual territory, but here the decision feels entirely right: a confident departure that rewards the risk taken.
The upper floors house the children's bedrooms, each designed specifically for its individual inhabitant, whilst sitting comfortably within the wider scheme. This personalisation of children’s spaces reflects the project’s broader commitment to an elegance that will grow with the children over time, accommodating their unique personalities over following trends.
Above The living room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
The living room in a renovated Georgian home in London, England designed by Sophie Paterson Interiors
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Throughout the entire house, antiques sourced from Lorfords provide both aesthetic depth and philosophical grounding. Their presence acknowledges the building’s rich history as a Grade II listed property as they add layers of personality and longevity to the interiors. “These objects have already stood the test of time,” Paterson explained of these pieces. “Incorporating them into the schemes reduces the need for newly produced items while adding depth and authenticity to the interiors.” Beyond their nod to sustainability, they ensure the house never feels newly finished, lending instead that quality of being settled and considered that distinguishes truly great interiors from merely accomplished ones.
What Sophie Paterson has achieved in this exceptional London townhouse is the realisation of an ambitious brief through a balance of restraint and intuitive design. When the clients wanted the best house in London, this might have encouraged excess and maximalism. Instead, Paterson responded with something far more sophisticated: a home of genuine depth and lasting character, where luxurious materials create a warmth that softens the Georgian home’s generous proportions. “The house was never meant to feel of the moment,” Paterson explained. “Instead, it was designed to settle over time, to grow with the family, and to feel as relevant in years to come as it does now.”
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
