Carefully curated
Emily Wilton’s minimalist scheme blends hotel chic, Art Deco and Eastern influences while brass and velvet add warmth and texture
Brass and velvet add smart contrast to this hotel-chic scheme
Living room
‘It took a year to get this room how I wanted. The starting point was the coffee table for displaying photography books.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Liang & Eimil Mayfair coffee table, £1,325; chest of drawers, £1,411, both Shropshire Design. Walls painted in French Grey Dark, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene
RTHE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in Ashbrooke, Sunderland.
“The Victorians really knew how to make a statement with their architecture and it was those beautiful period details that drew us to the house”
egardless of outside influences and trends, I’ve always had a strong idea of what my taste is,’ says Emily Wilton. ‘I’m not a fully committed minimalist but I like a neutral palette with Eastern influences inspired by my travels, monochrome fashion photography and lots of texture.’
Emily was able to unleash her creative vision on her new home with husband Matt in Sunderland. ‘I’d made up my mind before we viewed it,’ says Emily. ‘My childhood home was Victorian so I felt that connection straight away. I was blown away by the grandeur, so I could see past the dreary decor and old-fashioned wallpaper.’
While the show-stopping living room is Emily’s favourite space, the room that’s seen the biggest transformation is the kitchen. ‘Before it had country cottage style units, beige travertine tiles and black granite worktops that sucked out all the light,’ says Emily. ‘We’d intended to wait five years, but replaced it after a year as we hated being in there.’ After removing the faux chimney breast and installing black aluminium windows, a new kitchen was created by Matthew Mccrossan (matthewmccrossan.co.uk). ‘I thought we couldn’t afford a bespoke kitchen but Matthew explained it’s just a series of boxes. I’d wanted simple dark units with marble worktops since I was 21, and he totally nailed my vision.’
Having spent three years creating a cohesive look throughout the house (@ number _4_ on_ the_ park ), a bathroom makeover is next on the cards. ‘My ideas range from minimal to Art Deco so I’m excited to finalise my plans,’ says Emily. The house is unlikely to be their last, however. ‘We have the perfect location, the perfect house and the perfect neighbours,’ says Emily. ‘But we don’t have a garden so that’ll be the reason we eventually move.’
‘Lighting is difficult to get right. The first light we tried – which is now in our guest bedroom – just didn’t work. As soon as I saw this striking 80cm wide design, I knew it would do the room justice.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES
Orion 6 bubble pendant, £259, Barker and Stonehouse
This is now a multi-functional space where Emily works in the daytime and the couple also eat, read and listen to music. ‘I wanted a table with a central pedestal so there are no legs to get in the way,’ she says. ‘The dark wood really grounds the scheme.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Dorset dining table, £1,704, Liang & Eimil. Skogsta bench, £40, Ikea
“If you stay true to the core of what you love and only buy things you feel a true connection with, that’s how you’ll get a cohesive scheme”
‘All those textures like wood, marble and rattan webbing on the chairs are important.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES
Pedestal dining table, £480, House of Wabi. Iben dining chair, £119, Barker and Stonehouse. Jean Arp Maskenspiel print, from £130, King & Mcgaw
‘The kitchen is all about minimal clean lines. Even the handles on the two ovens are retractable,’ she says.
BUY THE KEY PIECES Smeg Dolce Stil Novo oven, £1,319, The Appliance Depot
Kitchen
‘All the thoughtful little details we’ve included, such as pull-out shelves and deep pan drawers, make the kitchen so easy to use,’ says Emily.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Lusso Flow matte black kitchen mixer tap, £145, Lusso Stone, has this look. Try Kian set of three metal plant pots, £39.99, Hortology
“For the level of craftsmanship and love that went into the kitchen, it was an absolute bargain”
‘We originally painted this room black but it looked hideous. Now it’s a very simple, calm sanctuary, with sharp clean Art Deco lines that really appeals to me.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Ezra bed, from £1,044, Living It Up. Jaipur throw, £112, Christy. Velvet cushion, £25, John Lewis & Partners, is similar. Walls in Mole’s Breath, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
WHAT I’VE LEARNED “I’m a big believer that your house should evolve organically, so don’t do everything at once. You don’t need to be an interior designer – you just need to love every single thing you buy so your home reflects you rather than a specific look”
‘The second-hand cabinets were originally a red mahogany colour. I painted them black and used Rub ’n Buff to bring out the gold.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES
Hanna mini black chest, £95, Dunelm, is similar. Liang & Eimil ceiling light, £560, Uber Interiors