ARCHITECTURAL GEM

Renovating a period cottage with a mix of complementary styles was a dream come true for Coco Campbell

Creative ideas made the most of this London terrace’s historical character

Having grown up in West London’s Holland Park, Coco Campbell had always admired the houses in nearby Kensal Rise. ‘I love the historical character of the area so finding this cottage on one of my favourite avenues was quite unbelievable,’ says Coco. ‘The property was in good repair when I bought it so I moved in straightaway, but my plan was to renovate the whole house with an emphasis on lots of natural light and somewhere to display books and artworks.’

Luckily for Coco, her next-door neighbour was interior designer Amelia Mcneil, owner of Amelia Mcneil Interior Design who had recently renovated her own home. ‘When I saw Amelia’s beautiful renovation, which was a combination of industrial, rustic and Scandi styles, I knew we had similar taste,’ says Coco. ‘I could see she had a clever eye for maximising

space. Her suggestion to turn the staircase around in my house to make space for a shower upstairs was inspired because it benefited the whole house and led to the opening up of the entire ground floor.’

Renovation expert All4house was enlisted to help on the project. ‘Amelia had worked with the company before and knew how impressive its attention to detail was,’ says Coco. ‘For me, it’s the finishing touches that make all the difference and I was happy not to rush things in order to get a high-quality result.’

Storage was a key feature in Coco’s design brief and she is delighted with the impressive shelving. ‘The idea of the bookcase as a focal point in the room really appealed to me,’ she says. ‘The dark blue complements the Crittall doors and the artefacts add further interest. I generally favour a neutral palette for creating a calm atmosphere with colour and texture added through soft furnishings and accessories. I also prefer natural products where possible, so Amelia suggested wood and sisal for floors, with wool and tweed fabrics.’

A clever use of lighting is evident throughout the house. ‘The pendants over the dining table were carefully measured from ceiling to table so they hang at the perfect height,’ says Coco. ‘Amelia was adamant that they had to be just the right distance from the table for maximum effect. Towards the end of the project, when my budget was almost spent, Amelia suggested adding garden lighting. I was against it initially but eventually agreed to install three downlighters on the wall and five lights in the flower beds, at a cost of £200. Now when the garden’s lit up in the evening the whole ground floor extends out and it creates a lovely atmosphere. Amelia was right – it’s the best money I spent.’

Coco admits that living next door to your interior designer has its advantages. ‘We’d often have meetings over the garden wall and I could call into her house any time to have a look at something she’d done. Amelia’s expertise and advice have been invaluable and on top of that, we’ve become good friends, so I’m very fortunate.’

KITCHEN Metal-framed doors lend an industrial look, while pale wood adds a Scandi feel. Strong Boy cast-iron shelf brackets, £37.50 each, Mark Lewis Interior Design. Crittall Doors, price on request, Perla Windows. Counter stools, £190 each, Cox & Cox. Try the Tubby two-seater sofa in Saffron Yellow velvet, £349, Made. Baco swing-arm wall light, £545, Julian Chichester

DINING AREA Built-in storage painted in a bold shade of blue makes an eye-catching statement. Unit in Hague Blue estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Timothy Oulten Akel MK2 table, £1,575; Olson pendant lights, from £99 each, all Heal’s. Ercol Quaker chairs, £435 each, Choice Furniture Superstore, are similar

BATHROOM Black, gold and brass finishes bring contrast and drama to this scheme. Petite Millbrook bath, from £925, The Cast Iron Bath Company. Walls in All White estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

LIVING AREA Soft furnishings echo the colours of the painting above the fireplace. Sofia footstool, £595, Soho Home. Pleated velvet cushion, £50, John Lewis & Partners. Perch & Parrow’s Brad linen armchair, £560, would work

MASTER BEDROOM A French-style bed and smart wall lights evoke a sense of hotel-style luxury. Coco kingsize bed, from £1,375; Gaston wall lights, £85 each, both Loaf. Roller blind, price on request, Amelia Mcneil Interior Design