Walking on Clouds

This duplex apartment in London features an ethereal interior that soothes the spirit and makes worries drift away

A London abode with a dreamy interior crafted by Rebecca James Studio

“My intention was for the entire home to feel like a cloud when you step into it,” says interior designer Rebecca James and the founder of her eponymous studio.

Indeed, looking at the 4,000sqft duplex apartment in its present state, it’s hard to imagine that this enchanting abode was once a dark and cluttered office. Left untouched for over two decades, it has a narrow, elongated layout, with a pitched roof vaguely reminiscent of Parisianstyle Haussmann apartments. Instead of seeing these features as design limitations, the studio cleverly used these French cadences as a source of inspiration.

“Our vision was to create a contemporary Parisian-style apartment with reined-back luxury, layered with textures all working together in harmony,” says James.

“Our clients tasked us with designing a family apartment with a contemporary and timeless feel. They wanted a home that was pretty and feminine with soft colours, and to fit in as many beds as possible for their grandchildren.”

STARTING AFRESH

Being located on the fourth storey, the apartment also presented many practical challenges. Most of the furniture and heavy items such as the marble slabs had to be manually carried up the narrow stairwell, as they could not fit into the petite elevator. The windows on the frontfacing facade were also too small for the team to crane-lift furniture through them.

“The project was a bit of a logistical nightmare,” admits the designer. “Each piece we proposed had to be carefully considered before ordering as it risked not making it up the stairs (if it was too large).”

Gone are the heavy furniture and draperies of the old interior—the team replaced these with furnishings in creamy shades and pastel tones. The ethereal effect is most apparent in the monochromatic living room, which features bespoke sofas and a sectional upholstered in off-white fabric. Crafted from Cordova shell limestone and white oiled oak, the round Concho coffee table by Yucca

Stuff and a dappled rug from Tai Ping ground the look of the living area.

The neutral palette continues further into the home, with each area differentiated by its accent colours. In the formal dining room, grey tones on the curtains and Ruby dining chairs by

Fiona Mcdonald echo the colour scheme of the cloud wallpaper from Zoffany.

This area is among the designer’s favourite rooms in the apartment. “I love the wallpaper as it gives the room a cloud-like appearance,” says James. “The Hans-agne Jakobsson chandeliers were sourced quite late (in the renovation process), but they really elevated the overall vibe of the room.”

The kitchen sports an earthy scheme with marble f looring, peppered with a hint of green on the accent cushions and upholstered banquette seating. Woven

“My intention was for the entire home to feel like a cloud when you step into it”

Left to right: A gold-leaf side table by Clotilde Ancarani adds a glamorous touch to the monochromatic living room; the colour scheme of the dining area references the grey tones of the cloud wallpaper from Zoffany; British interior designer Rebecca James; an abstract work by UK artist J R Swaby livens up a corner of the living room Previous spread: Beige, cream and off-white tones contribute to the lofty look of the living room

Left to right: Hints of soft green and pink lend a welcoming air to this cosy nook; a herringbone-patterned backsplash and Grigio Tunisi marble flooring contribute to the layered look of the kitchen’s neutral scheme