shades of grey
Using the same colour palette throughout, along with rich velvets and vintage furniture, Katherine Cook has created a timeless, stylish residence
decorating tip
‘Get yourself a set of paint samples in a selection of shades, so you can experiment and compare colours. Try them out in different rooms to see how they change with the light at various times of day’
Sophisticated spaces that feel cohesive and grown-up – that was what Katherine Cook wanted to achieve in the east London home she shares with her boyfriend, Alan Anderson. ‘Having been impulsive with colour in my last place, I pared back my palette to three key shades here,’ she says.
‘Down Pipe, Pavilion Gray and Skylight, all by Farrow & Ball, lend cohesion throughout,’ explains Katherine. ‘Down Pipe is used in the sitting room, bathroom and on the kitchen cabinetry. But, as the light changes in each room, the shade looks subtly different in those spaces.’ With these serene colours as a base, Katherine then added shapely furniture and soft fabrics. Rich velvets and woven rugs are set against smooth, dark-stained floors, while classic furniture contributes timeless, cool design silhouettes.
Originally a two-storey building, the property’s basement had been converted by the previous owners to create a guest bedroom, bathroom and a large kitchen-diner with a seating area. The couple made some additions of their own to help this space blend in with the new style of interiors. The doorway leading into the garden was widened and bifold doors, colour-matched to the kitchen units, were installed. They
also added faux wall panelling in the seating area, as a subtle reference to the property’s Georgian origins. The couple’s Mid-century furniture brings further balance to this lower floor.
In the dining area, a vintage sideboard is in keeping with the dining table and chairs, which were a wise ebay buy. ‘They’re made by the Danish company Frem Rojle, but I bought the set several years ago, before prices for pieces from this period went crazy,’ says Katherine.
On the first floor, the choice of bedroom furniture was limited to what could fit up the staircase, which is narrow and has a tight turn. Katherine and Alan opted for metal bed frames as they could be put together in the rooms, although they did manage to manoeuvre a vintage oak chest of drawers up the stairs.
The couple tend to spend most of their time in the practical but stylish basement, especially on warm days when they can relax in the seating area with the bifold doors thrown open to the garden. ‘This is such a quiet, calm space that Alan and I often forget that we live in a busy city,’ says Katherine. ‘It’s perfect for us.’
design advice‘ If a room is decorated in a neutral palette, it’s important to use colour to stop it feeling cold and unwelcoming. We did this by adding a patterned rug, vibrant cushions and a dusty-pink throw’