The seeming simplicity of this home’s interior belies an eagle eye for detail – something that is shared by both its owner, a Swedish-born entrepreneur, and Angus Reid Projects, responsible for the renovation. ‘We know how much this client cares about design; I think this passion and joy comes across in the spaces,’ notes Angus Reid, founder of the eponymous studio.
The original plan for the slim, five-storey Victorian townhouse, which lies in the centre of bustling Notting Hill, was a decorative renovation to turn the anodyne work of a developer into a more soulful, sensual home.
However, as the contractors began stripping the interiors back, it quickly became apparent that the building wasn’t structurally sound. ‘It was collapsing in on itself,’ recounts Angus. ‘We had to put in new structural columns and steel beams; all that was left of the original building was its façade and staircase.’
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Ever the pragmatist, the owner used this opportunity to have underfloor heating installed on every level, on top of which were laid wide, white-oiled Douglas-fir floorboards that span the full 7.5-metre width of the house. The same timber was used to create exquisitely crafted joinery throughout. ‘The mood was very Scandinavian, to reflect our client’s roots and his love for mid-century furniture and lighting,’ Angus explains.
The owner is also a keen art collector, and he presented the practice with a number of pieces he wished to incorporate into the interiors, including the large oil painting covered in abstract prose by Coco Capitán that now occupies the entire back wall of the dining area.
Along with the fridge, this was craned in through the first-floor window. ‘Having such a tall, narrow house didn’t come without its challenges,’ affirms Angus. ‘All of the large pieces of furniture, such as the sofas and beds, had to be designed so that they could be taken apart to get them through the house.’
On the uppermost level, the client’s study is one of the most inviting rooms in this comforting scheme. ‘Like all the key spaces, it has the most fabulous light, and we emphasised this with wooden Venetian blinds that cast lovely shadows into the room,’ says Angus, adding: ‘We thought the client’s beautiful Cy Twombly photographs, which are explorations of light and shadow, were perfect for this space.’ Just one more example of that exacting eye for detail. angusreidprojects.com
