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Houzz Tour: Warm Tones and Luxurious Surfaces in a City Townhouse
An earthy colour palette, hidden storage and well-placed texture add character and practicality to this London home
When the owner of this Chelsea townhouse moved into his home, the place was a blank canvas. He wanted to create a space that felt cosy and sociable with an added touch of luxury. He found Sacha Berger of Honeybee Interiors and Joinery on Houzz and she set about fulfilling his brief.
Sacha incorporated panelling, plenty of storage and a warm mix of earthy shades to design a series of rooms that all feel different while maintaining a calming, cohesive thread.
Sacha incorporated panelling, plenty of storage and a warm mix of earthy shades to design a series of rooms that all feel different while maintaining a calming, cohesive thread.
The L-shaped ground floor dictated how Sacha laid out the space for her client. She used Houzz Pro’s 3D Floor Planner, which she says is a game-changer.
“I can really quickly mock up a plan and show it to the client,” she says. This plan, for instance, would also be available to the client in much more detailed Dollhouse and Walkthrough modes.
“I can really quickly mock up a plan and show it to the client,” she says. This plan, for instance, would also be available to the client in much more detailed Dollhouse and Walkthrough modes.
The owner wanted the kitchen and dining space to feel inviting for when friends come over, so Sacha designed a practical banquette dining area in the corner. “It utilises dead space and is the best place to view the whole room,” she says.
Soft velvet upholstery with hidden storage below surrounds a circular table, which can be extended for guests. The seating fits within the panelling to create a bistro feel, while brass, wood and glass elements add a luxurious mood.
Chandelier, Soho Home. Bench upholstered in Omega fabric in Brass, Linwood. Table, BoConcept. Chairs, Pure White Lines.
Soft velvet upholstery with hidden storage below surrounds a circular table, which can be extended for guests. The seating fits within the panelling to create a bistro feel, while brass, wood and glass elements add a luxurious mood.
Chandelier, Soho Home. Bench upholstered in Omega fabric in Brass, Linwood. Table, BoConcept. Chairs, Pure White Lines.
In the opposite corner, next to the kitchen doors, Sacha created a reading nook. The gallery wall gives the space some cosy character and includes a picture of a car the owner loves (see next photo).
Swoon Lounge chair, Fredericia. Floor lamp, Soho Home.
Swoon Lounge chair, Fredericia. Floor lamp, Soho Home.
Sacha also decided to change the flooring in this space, opting for a beautiful mocha herringbone with a gold inlay around the edge to frame the room.
Planning a revamp? It’s easy to find and hire interior designers through Houzz.
Planning a revamp? It’s easy to find and hire interior designers through Houzz.
On the first floor, Sacha made the most of the L-shaped layout by creating two living areas.
The casual seating area is where the owner can relax. A cosy sofa faces a media wall with slats that have been stained to complement the dark wood floor.
The central slatted panels push open to reveal storage and are flanked by open shelves. LED strip lighting along the shelves reflects the mirrored backs to give a luxurious glow to the room.
Sofa, Camerich. Walls painted in Rolling Fog Pale, Little Greene.
The central slatted panels push open to reveal storage and are flanked by open shelves. LED strip lighting along the shelves reflects the mirrored backs to give a luxurious glow to the room.
Sofa, Camerich. Walls painted in Rolling Fog Pale, Little Greene.
On the other side of the L-shape is a more formal seating area. The sofa is the same type as that in the TV zone, but in a smaller size.
Armchairs, Soho Home.
Armchairs, Soho Home.
The panelling in this room consists of beaded squares, which help to break up the long wall. A couple of large artworks (one out of shot in the TV area) sit perfectly within the squares.
Attention to detail is key for interior designers such as Sacha, which is reflected in the choice of rugs. A lighter rug in the formal space contrasts with a terracotta version in the casual area, which Sacha says helps to make the room feel balanced and harmonious.
Floor lamp; marble coffee table, both Soho Home.
Attention to detail is key for interior designers such as Sacha, which is reflected in the choice of rugs. A lighter rug in the formal space contrasts with a terracotta version in the casual area, which Sacha says helps to make the room feel balanced and harmonious.
Floor lamp; marble coffee table, both Soho Home.
“We changed the fireplace and replaced it with this gorgeous viola marble design,” Sacha says. “We also incorporated different metal finishes within the room and added varying textures and patterns.”
Fireplace, Chesneys.
Fireplace, Chesneys.
The staircases in the house feature mocha-coloured runners with darker edging. This design is repeated on the Roman blinds around the house.
Stair runner, Chelsea Flooring Company.
Stair runner, Chelsea Flooring Company.
Panelling in the main bedroom adds character to the plain room and complements the wardrobes that were already in place.
A custom-made bed is upholstered in a soft blue velvet. Sacha bought a cost-friendly ottoman and covered it to complement the bed.
“For me, it’s important to be strategic about budget,” Sacha says. “I want my clients to know they’re getting value for money, even when the budget is high. It’s better to spend money on certain good-quality pieces and thoughtful design.”
Bed, Loaf. Lamps, Soho Home. Walls painted in Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball.
A custom-made bed is upholstered in a soft blue velvet. Sacha bought a cost-friendly ottoman and covered it to complement the bed.
“For me, it’s important to be strategic about budget,” Sacha says. “I want my clients to know they’re getting value for money, even when the budget is high. It’s better to spend money on certain good-quality pieces and thoughtful design.”
Bed, Loaf. Lamps, Soho Home. Walls painted in Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball.
A sumptuous rug below the bed adds pattern and texture to the room.
Rug, Morris & Co.
Rug, Morris & Co.
On the top floor, there’s a guest bedroom. “It’s a small room with a lower ceiling, but we wanted it to be a cute place for guests to sleep,” Sacha says. She chose a striking wallpaper to create a feature wall behind the bed, and picked out the colours for the rest of the room.
Sacha’s client loves his new home and has left a detailed review on her Houzz profile, pointing out her attention to detail, fantastic project management skills and creative design talent.
Wallpaper, House of Hackney.
Tell us…
What do you like about this cosy townhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Sacha’s client loves his new home and has left a detailed review on her Houzz profile, pointing out her attention to detail, fantastic project management skills and creative design talent.
Wallpaper, House of Hackney.
Tell us…
What do you like about this cosy townhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A professional man
Location Chelsea, London
Property A Georgian townhouse
Size Three bedrooms and one bathroom
Designer Sacha Berger of Honeybee Interiors and Joinery
Photos by Elina Päsok
The owner wanted his home to feel warm and welcoming, and panelling was one of the ways Sacha achieved this. Each floor has a slightly different style of panelling and on the ground floor, the Shaker design also helps to conceal practical hallway and kitchen-diner storage.
The kitchen, seen on the left in this photo, was already in place, and all Sacha had to do in there was paint the walls. She then chose a similar taupe colour for the joinery in the rest of the space to reflect the shade on the kitchen cabinets.
Flooring, Havwoods. Walls and joinery painted in Elephant’s Breath, Farrow & Ball.