VICTORIAN TERRACE
Milly O’sullivan’s period terrace has a year-round holiday vibe going on courtesy of its centrepiece conservatory
A striking light-filled conservatory is the focal point of Milly O’sullivan’s glamorous period London property
home profile THE OWNER
Milly O’sullivan, a fashion commercial director.
THE PROPERTY
A Victorian terraced house in north-west London. The lower ground floor has an open-plan kitchen and den and a WC. The raised ground floor has a living room and conservatory, and on the first floor there is the master bedroom and bathroom. On the second floor there is a WC, a guest bedroom and dressing room. Finally, on the third floor there is another guest bedroom and bathroom.
LIVING ROOM
Shape has a distinctive role here – note the curves in the ceiling lamp, on the tapestry chair, in the circular pouffes and the table.
Table designed by Studio MILO. Pouffes, Lorenza Bozzoli Design. Pendant light, MM Lampadari. Tapestry chair, vintage find
CONSERVATORY
‘This is my favourite room,’ says Milly. ‘I’m surrounded by plants, the big sky and endless light.’
Sofa, Sika-design. Coffee tables,
Classicon. Pendant light, Petite Friture. Floor tiles, Lithos Design
ireached the point where I thought enough is enough,’ laughs Milly O’sullivan. ‘It’s time to give this house some attention!’ And so a substantial makeover was put into place and this much-loved Victorian terrace in north-west London was reincarnated as the stylish home it is today.
Even though Milly dabbled with making the odd improvement over the years, she lived in this house for more than a decade before deciding to give it some serious design TLC. A busy career in fashion, which took her abroad, meant she often left her home in the hands of friends and family to house-sit. ‘I was living a transient lifestyle,’ Milly says. ‘And so there was no time for interiors shopping. I’d come back from places like the Middle East with knick-knacks and rugs, but it was all a mishmash of styles and thrown together. After the renovation, I ended up keeping about 15 per cent of my original stuff. It was a strict edit.’
Revamping a whole house can be a daunting prospect and as Milly wanted to get it right, she got in touch with interior designer Federica Gosio and architect Arianna Crosetta, both Italian and the co-founders of Studio MILO. The trio had met a few years earlier through a mutual friend and Milly felt confident they understood what she was all about. Her brief was to keep the traditional feel to the house, honouring its history. ‘HG Wells lived here at one point, and even started writing War of the Worlds here,’ she says. ‘I’ve recently had the deeds to the house, starting from 1869, framed and hung on the wall going up the stairs. It seemed important to celebrate such a significant past.’
Even so, Milly acknowledges that her home was crying out for a more modern slant. And while the conservatory – her favourite room – was destined to stay, it was in dire need of an upcycle. ‘It’s a unique space, but it had its faults so we gave it an upgrade: the frames were painted black, the glass was replaced, the unpredictable temperature was sorted out with underfloor heating and the amazing tiled floor was added,’ says Milly. ‘Now I sit in here all the time because the light is so lovely and I feel like I am outdoors. We had an incredible birthday party in here recently, with a DJ in the far corner. As the sun went down and the stars came out, it was completely magical.’
Overall, the structure of the house was sound but Milly still had to move out for over a year as the work touched every room and fundamentals like the plumbing and electrics had to be addressed. ‘I was keen to keep the original staircase and floorboards, but they were pretty damaged and the wood was a horrible orangey colour,’ says Milly. ‘Federica and Arianna convinced me to paint them black, but when I walked in one day during the renovation, I thought, “Oh no! What have I done?” But I have to admit they were right because as soon as the furnishings arrived – and many of them are bright and patterned – the dark backdrop really worked. Sometimes you just have to trust the experts!’
And while the end result looks effortless, none of this design happened by accident. Federica and Arianna meticulously sourced all the furniture and the accessories, with particular niche designers in mind, to reflect Milly’s personality. ‘There is a bold side to me,’ Milly laughs. ‘I like to be a bit out there.’
Studio MILO have interpreted Milly’s quintessential Britishness, while adding Italian sophistication. There are clever touches everywhere: accents of the same colour in different rooms link the overall concept, while bespoke furnishings and statement lighting turn heads. There’s no denying that the ultimate effect is glamorous, striking and, yes, rather bold.
‘It’s been amazing to shake this house up,’ smiles Milly, ‘I used to make excuses about it when it was looking a bit tired and forlorn, but now it’s so beautiful. And because I am not travelling as much with my job, I have more time to enjoy it. I love having people to stay and these days my guests have the benefit of kicking back in this fantastic new creation. How brilliant is that!’
LIVING ROOM
Carefully selected key pieces accentuate the sophisticated design ethos. ‘We wanted the feel to be relaxed but also elegant,’ says Milly.
Sofa, Pinch Design. Lady armchair, Cassina. Coffee table designed by Studio MILO. Rug, cc-tapis. Pendant light, MM Lampadari
home truths BEST BIT ABOUT THE LIGHTER EVENINGS?
Walking back from work in the sunlight.
ANNOYING HABIT?
I have a slight obsession with clothes – so I’m trying to be more sustainable with my choices.
HOW DO YOU RELAX?
I love catching up with friends, preferably over a bottle of wine or two!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO THE MOON?
Yes, but I’d prefer to go to Mauritius.
NATURE-LOVER?
Definitely – and I am lucky enough to live near one of London’s finest parks.
YOUR BEST TRAITS?
MASTER BATHROOM
A claw-foot bath indulges Milly’s more traditional side. ‘I love soaking in the tub,’ she says. ‘I was adamant I wanted a chilled-out bathroom.’
Similar bath, The Cast Iron Bath Company. Marble tiles, Lithos Design
MASTER BEDROOM
The emphasis is on glamour with a standout bespoke headboard and Italian lamp.
Headboard designed by Studio MILO. Pipistrello lamp, Martinelli Luce. Rug, cc-tapis. Chair (opposite page), Cassina. Table, Made. Chandelier,
MM Lampadari