The beating heart of any Studio Ashby-designed home is the art that fills the spaces and this four-bedroom apartment is no exception. It’s part of Bellworth Developments’s new Lancer Square scheme, designed by Squire & Partners and located moments from High Street Kensington and Kensington Palace.
The mission for Sophie Ashby and her team was to create interiors that would reference the royal borough’s history and elegance, while simultaneously capturing its vibrant, contemporary style and energy.
Sophie turned to some of her favourite artists and local galleries to inject soul into every room. Key pieces include Michael Taylor’s vibrant painting, Goodbye Bacon and Eggs, which sets a playful tone for the breakfast corner, as well as a dynamic work by the artist Jeanne Gaigher which cleverly picks up on the apartment’s key colours, while also helpfully hiding the television in the living room.
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Explaining her chosen palette, Sophie says: ‘Our vision centred around evoking a strong sense of calm so we leaned into a refined earthy palette rooted in nature – embracing sage green, ochre, terracotta, creams, rusts and blues and other joyful sunrise shades throughout.’
Occupying a coveted corner position, the apartment is flooded with light and presented a beautiful blank canvas for Sophie to work with. ‘The bones were a total joy to work with ,’ she explains. ‘There’s a real fluidity between the different spaces, complete with a charming view of London’s skyline.’
To create the impression that the interiors have evolved over time, she skilfully combined antiques with pieces by local craftspeople, as well as designs from her Sister by Studio Ashby collection. ‘There’s a rich eclecticism to the curation and layering of the pieces, and we feel immensely proud to have worked with some of Britain’s finest makers and artisans to bring it all to life,’ she adds.
Noteworthy are the ‘Kudu’ dining chairs and ‘Rhino’ armchairs, as well as, the ‘Patch’ fabric, from the firm’s debut ‘Jocasta’ collection which can be seen on a bench seat in the dining area. A headboard in the guest bedroom is covered in ‘Afua’ fabric, with a Kente cloth motif inspired by Ghanaian heritage.
It’s these characterful touches that bring a warmth and soul to this luxurious home, rooting it firmly in its London neighbourhood, yet giving it an appealingly global outlook. studioashby.com
