treasure trove

Catherine Henderson opted for a crisp white backdrop as the perfect setting for her exquisite collection of art, curios and travel souvenirs

Catherine Henderson, an established interior designer in London and Glasgow, originally bought this flat as her design studio. ‘It was around the corner from my showroom and was a great space to showcase fabrics, wallpapers and furniture,’ she explains. ‘ When I moved to our previous home, I used a couple of rooms there as my workspace instead and rented the flat out for a number of years. However, my son has settled in London now and as I travel a lot for work, keeping a large house no longer made sense. I realised that this smaller flat would be a perfect home and gave myself six weeks to renovate it.’

With a team of tradesmen on speed dial, Catherine was able to complete the project in a mere six weeks. ‘ Working to tight schedules is one of my biggest selling points as a designer,’ she explains. ‘I planned every last detail in advance, so that when the flat was vacated, the team was ready to move in.’

The apartment was in reasonable condition but tired from being rented for five years. Catherine wanted a clean slate and decided to paint the whole flat in a selection of fresh whites. She also installed a luxury bathroom and a bespoke kitchen. ‘I love to entertain, so a highly functional kitchen was important,’ she says. The kitchen has a flexible layout, which means 12 can sit around the extendable table, which then returns to a smaller layout for everyday use.

Craftsman Sam Paton created the kitchen and undertook all the other joinery work. ‘He makes my fitted furniture designs for our clients,’ says Catherine. ‘The finish is always so perfect.’ Catherine is drawn to French and Swedish antiques, too, as she feels that their quiet style complements her richly coloured fabric choices. ‘Layered with a collection of paintings, the result is like a piece of dazzling embroidery against a stark neutral backdrop,’ she adds.

The flat is in an elegant terraced house that in the past would have been a pied-à-terre for a wealthy businessman. Many of the details have an Arts and Crafts feel and, being in Glasgow, there are Charles Rennie Mackintosh influences everywhere, evidenced in the height of the panelling and the horizontal and vertical lines.

‘I love this apartment,’ says Catherine. ‘I have everything I need here – as long as I have an Aga and a real fire, I am happy!’

Sitting room ‘the Art Deco-style fireplace may not be strictly correct for the period of the house,’ says Catherine, ‘but i chose it because i like it.’ Walls painted in perfect White flat emulsion, £ 45 per 2.5 litres, Zoffany. rug from a selection,...

MASTER BEDROOM The fabrics, bedding and stunning landscape paintings add splashes of colour. ottoman, £ 450, Flamant throw, £250, willow Cashmere. silvy’s dressing table, £1,654, Julian Chichester

GUEST BEDROOM These framed Kuba cloths are from Catherine’s travels in Africa. bespoke wardrobe by sam paton, £2,600, Catherine henderson Design

BATHROOM This spa-style room is decorated in soothing tones of grey and white. bath, £2,400; floor tiles, £100sq m; wall tiles, £ 40sq m, all porcelanosa