Given the footprint of the property, the main living space needed to accommodate eating, relaxing and entertaining. ‘The room had to work really hard,’ says Lonika, ‘so we had to be quite clever with the layout.’ And clever they were: the sofa is tucked into built-in joinery to maximise the available space and create a pretty display, and much of the furniture serves a dual-purpose. Perhaps the finest example of Lonika’s ingenuity in this project is the fireside chairs, which were custom made at the perfect height for pulling up at the banquette to create extra seating, and set on castors for added manoeuvrability.
‘We also did a lot of opening up. We took down the wall between the sitting room and the kitchen, which meant both rooms got a lot more light thanks to the dual aspect,’ Lonika notes. In fact, it is the banquette that creates the perfect through-thread between the comfortable living space and the practical kitchen area, gently bending the eye around the corner. ‘The curved banquette was a non negotiable for the client. He’d found inspiration at Loulou’s (the Mayfair members’ club), and wanted to do something similar in a fresh, relaxed way.’
The kitchen was custom made by Apron Kitchens and painted in a custom colour by Papers and Paints – ‘the “perfect sludgy colour to complement the banquette’, says Lonika. The roman blind is made from Flora Soames’ ‘Plain Stripe’ in emerald.
Milo Brown
The theme of charming practicality continues upstairs in the spare bedroom, which houses a pretty box bed. ‘We positioned the bed underneath the sash window to maximise floor space, because we couldn’t afford to lose any space around the bed. We also created a shelf behind the headboard which actually lifts up to reveal storage for clutter or extra books.’ In the same room, Lonika designed a wardrobe that ‘appears to be freestanding, but has decent drawers and the depth of something built-in’.
The ebonised oak pedestal table in the kitchen is custom from Galvin Brothers. The striped banquette upholstery is Penny Morrison’s multicolour ‘Rustic Stripe’.
Milo Brown
As Lonika notes, there was a real synergy between designer and client in this project, and it is palpable in the project’s outcome. ‘We’ve both shared things and opened each others’ eyes to new ideas during this project. The clients love bold textiles and pairing unexpected colours, and really trusted us to tackle this project.’
Lonika Chande: Lonikachande.com
Lonika Chande is a member of The List by House & Garden, our essential directory of design professionals. Visit The List by House & Garden here.