Cool Britannia
After years of searching, interior designer Louise Bradley found her perfect home in the shape of an elegant Chelsea townhouse
After years of searching, interior designer Louise Bradley found her perfect home in the shape of an elegant Chelsea townhouse
Finding one’s dream home can often be a long and arduous process. For British interior designer Louise Bradley, the search took three years—and renovating the space took another two. “It was one of my key requirements for the property to have the scope to be reconfigured into my perfect space,” she says, having written off plenty of striking homes due to some flaw or other, whether the drawing room was on the “wrong” side, or uninspiring views of the backs of neighbouring homes were visible from some windows—elements that might seem trivial but which Bradley knew she wouldn’t be able to rectify. “The location, architectural style and views were key, as you can’t change these through design and decoration,” she says.
Her search came to fruition in an elegant 2,550sqft Chelsea townhouse that’s a mere 10-minute walk from her design studio and showroom in Knightsbridge. It’s also close to the Victoria and Albert Museum and Hyde Park, two of Bradley’s favourite spots. “The house sits at the end of two parallel terraced streets, so there are wonderful views all over the neighbouring gardens,” she says. “I could see the potential when I walked through the door.”
Upon acquiring the property, Bradley set about transforming the interiors to suit her needs—and those of her dachshunds, Bebe and Ellie. “I wanted the interiors to enhance my well-being and create a positive environment,” says Bradley, “and, for me, connection to nature is paramount for my wellbeing, especially living in London, where nature can be scarce. That’s why I designed my home to offer a close connection to nature in every space, from the basement and drawing room to the garden room and master bedroom.”
With the aim of having a verdant view from every window and filling her home with as much natural light as possible, Bradley introduced a light well into the basement, flooding it with natural light and providing the perfect spot for her much-loved camellia tree. “The tree can be viewed wherever you are,” she says. “At night it’s beautifully lit and adds a lovely statement to the space.” Beside the light well is a cosy, relaxed living area with plenty of natural woods,
“MY STYLE IS A MIX OF CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY. THE COLOUR PALETTE IS REFINED AND MUTED...IT’S ALIVE WITH VIBRANT TONAL DIFFERENCES AND BEAUTIFUL, DELICATE TEXTURES”
leather and wool; Bradley created the extra space—and heightened the ceilings—by digging down and back. The existing kitchen and dining area was opened up, too.
On the ground floor she removed a narrow corridor to create a spacious lateral drawing room, and introduced a glazed indoor-outdoor garden room with bespoke bronze floor-to-ceiling windows that lead into the garden beyond. The room, with its natural finishes and distressed timber furniture, is perfect for dining and entertaining. The floors above are dedicated to the master and guest bedrooms. Bradley’s bedroom fills the first floor, while two guest suites sit on the second and third floors—the third floor suite doubling as a yoga room. Ilex crenata (Japanese holly) trees on the balcony outside the master bedroom satisfy Bradley’s love of greenery while also providing a natural screen from the street.
Bradley calls her sense of style “a mix of classic and contemporary. The colour palette is refined and muted, and while from afar it might look neutral, it’s alive with vibrant tonal differences and beautiful, delicate textures,” she says.
Indeed, while whites, creams and greys abound throughout the house, so do metallic accents, intriguing artworks and plenty of texture. “Designing home interiors in layers— like a good artist—creates a coherent, elegant picture,” she adds. “I also love to use unique finishes, whether silver leaf, shagreen or mother-of-pearl.”
Natural materials such as linen and wood, meanwhile, temper the refined look with a sense of comfort. Bradley is also a staunch advocate for the importance of interior accessories, considering them to be the essential finishing touch in any home. Over the years, she has collected both artworks— pieces by Gino Hollander and Deborah Tarr feature prominently—and fascinating objects during her travels.
A self-taught interior designer, Bradley started out in fashion before being inspired by her father’s interiors boutique. She opened her first showroom in 1991. Since then, she has grown Louise Bradley Interior Design and Interior Architecture into a luxury brand. Given her years of experience, no wonder her own home is such a vision. “I always knew what I would like my London home to look like,” she says. “That’s very much thanks to the fact I have spent over 25 years designing homes for my discerning clients and their families around the world. I have become my most demanding client, as I am a self-confessed perfectionist.”