YOUNG AT HEART
Designer Clare Gaskin’s mix of joyous colour and pattern adds lively personality to a London flat
KITCHEN
The botanical paper offers a lively contrast to sleek cabinetry in an inky blue, with the bar stools introducing a pop of red.
Feu d’artifice in Petit Pois
wallpaper, Edmond Petit at Turnell & Gigon. Indigo Blue cabinets in high gloss and super matt, Eggersmann Design. Island worktop in Steel Grey granite, Stone Age
Take a homeowner keen to push the envelope with her decorative choices and an interior designer known for her spirited use of colour and pattern and you have the perfect recipe for schemes that are brimming with personality.
Such was the case with this two-storey flat, a conversion within a rather grand house located right next to Wimbledon Common.
The owner, an active empty nester, had been living in the property for more than 40 years before she approached interior designer Clare Gaskin. ‘It was after her husband passed away that she started to recognise the shortcomings of the layout,’ recounts Clare. ‘As someone who loves to cook, she was tired of being shut away in a small kitchen when she entertained her friends, while the most beautiful space in the house, the front room, was only ever used for special occasions.’
The relocation of the kitchen was the springboard for the entire project: Clare suggested moving it from a small room into one of the two key reception spaces, knocking through to the front room so that it became the main living and dining space.
‘It overlooks a lovely tree-lined road and has wonderful light, so it made absolute sense to enjoy this room to the full,’ says Clare, who also remodelled the upper level so that each of the three bedrooms now has its own en-suite bathroom.
Accessing the living space entails walking through the kitchen, so it was important that the cook space should create an impact. An arresting botanical wallpaper featuring a predominantly monochromatic design punctuated with pops of green was teamed with contemporary inky-blue cabinetry in a mix of high gloss and matt finishes. ‘A lot of the wallpapers and fabrics used throughout the apartment reflect my client’s love of plants and birds, while blue is her favourite colour, so these factors were the driving force behind many of our choices,’ Clare observes.
Over the years, the owner had amassed a large collection of antiques and art and now a ruthless edit was called for. ‘Quite a lot of what she owned was inherited and it wasn’t necessarily to her taste, so she agreed to part with a lot of pieces. I think that what she has kept is a much better reflection of who she is,’ notes Clare, who had some of the antiques restored, including a set of Regency mahogany dining chairs, which were reinvented with upholstery in an iridescent velvet weave.
It was important that the home should feel as welcoming for one as it does for a crowd and Clare has reflected this with the seating: a slender armchair in the kitchen is one of a pair and can be brought into the sitting room when required, while the two ottomans can be separated to create another perch when the owner hosts her book club. Bespoke cabinetry was designed to house all manner of requests, from folding director’s chairs for bridge evenings to a complete filing system for the client’s administration. ‘She had been using one of the bedrooms as her study but to free up this room for regular visits from her young grandson, we moved the desk into the hallway and created a bespoke cabinet to provide a small home office,’ says Clare.
Peppered throughout the home are objects that tell a very personal tale: a contemporary woven tapestry depicting Wimbledon Common lends colour and texture to the hallway, while a wasp nest – one of many discovered in the roof when the ceilings were taken down – was placed beneath a glass dome to become an intriguing piece in the sitting room. ‘My client’s personality definitely shines through,’ says Clare. ‘This is very much her story.’
Clare Gaskin shares her style inspiration
BIGGEST SUCCESS Reflecting our client’s love of texture, pattern and colour, and achieving a balance of the contemporary and older pieces.
GREATEST INDULGENCE As in many projects, it would have to be the bespoke joinery.
SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Reframing some of the existing artwork. The previous ornate frames weren’t to our client’s taste and simpler, more contemporary, ones have changed the focus when you view them.
WORDS TO LIVE BY Every great dream begins with a dreamer.
NEXT GAME CHANGER IN DESIGN Our homes have become more important this year and I expect us to want them to be more flexible.
SECRET ADDRESS Maison Auclert in Paris. I love jewellery and this tiny boutique is a gem, offering really unusual pieces with a story.