At the end of a typical row of Victorian houses in the heart of the Kensington and Chelsea conservation area stands an unexpected piece of Positano. This home belongs to an Italian-Argentinian couple who have been based in London for 20 years. After deciding to renovate, they turned to design firm Kallos Turin to create a place that would comfortably accommodate multiple generations of their family at once, as well as reflect the distinctive colours and character of their home countries.
‘A corner house with a sunny garden in London is always a rare find, offering a greater sense of openness in the heart of the city,’ says co-founder Stephania Kallos. Along with her business partner Abigail Turin, she had to find a way to incorporate those exotic design languages while keeping the house rooted in its setting.
Their clients’ ties to the Amalfi Coast became key to unlocking this puzzle, Stephania says, explaining how they began to study the nuances of the building’s yellow-brick exterior alongside a selection of handmade tiles from Amalfi. ‘We arrived at a muted, muddy pink, which unexpectedly picked up on an undertone within the otherwise quite mustard-toned brick,’ she says. ‘That pink became a subtle thread running throughout the house.’
The pair created a series of relaxed, interconnected spaces oriented towards the garden, to make something that felt closer to a holiday home than a typical London house. A lower-ground-floor extension was built in pink-pigmented concrete. Here, the kitchen and family dining space is visually linked to the outside by the custom floor. Created with Morseletto – an eminent Italian terrazzo company based in Vicenza – the unique mix of stones blends the yellow of the London brick with Amalfi pink tones and a green aggregate that references the garden. The marbles in the terrazzo were then used throughout the rest of the house.
The garden is the work of London-based landscape designer Alexander Hoyle, a longtime collaborator of the studio. ‘We trust his instinct and were excited to develop something that felt wild and free,’ says Abigail. Rather than the structured landscaping typical of the neighbourhood, they sought something that felt as though it had evolved naturally over time – layered and responsive to the light and the textures of the architecture. ‘Alexander’s spontaneous planting style was the perfect match,’ she says.
Inside, the focus is on atmosphere, with furniture that reflects the clients’ passion for Italian collectable design – a love shared by Stephania and Abigail. Vintage pieces by Gio Ponti, Franco Albini, Ico Parisi and Luciano Vistosi have been sourced from Milan and the ArtParma Fair, and sit alongside contemporary designs by Allegra Hicks and Marta Sala.
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Argentinian influences are woven in through the client’s art collection, which features works by artists including Tomás Saraceno, Roberto Aizenberg and Rogelio Polesello. ‘These references create a dialogue between their home countries and the London context, adding depth and personal resonance to the scheme,’ says Stephania.
Through its strong connection to its naturalistic garden and a palette that emphasises warmth and tactility, this home’s sense of ease feels like a long, slow exhale. Spaces flow into one another, allowing for openness and intimacy and encouraging a more informal way of living. As Stephania explains: ‘Ultimately, we wanted it to be a house that people arrive at and never quite want to leave.’ kallosturin.com
