In Progress: Bayswater, London
Four-Bedroom City Townhouse – A Thoughtful, Tailored Transformation
Brief: To create a cohesive design for the master bedroom and a second reception room/home office—incorporating existing furniture, embracing the home’s period character, and introducing refined modernity throughout.
Style: Modern contemporary with sensitivity to original period features.
Services: Design-only support including lighting and electrical plans, bespoke joinery design, fabric and decorative specifications, itemised furniture and fittings list, and sourcing and supplying all FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment).
Preserving history while embracing modernity
Tucked away in the vibrant heart of Bayswater, this unique four-bedroom townhouse (designed in an upside-down configuration) offered my clients a home full of charm, character, and architectural intrigue. Having recently moved from a more compact flat, this growing family of four were ready to thoughtfully renovate, room by room, beginning with the master bedroom and a dual-purpose office/second reception room.
Bayswater Townhouse
Before: master bedroom
Before: master bedroom
Interior detail
Before
Before: dual-purpose room
Before: dual-purpose room
Before: dual-purpose room
While excited by the potential, my clients were clear on one thing: they wanted to preserve the elegance of the home’s original features while layering in their own modern design sensibilities. It was important to them that the finished rooms felt intentional, balanced, and reflective of their personal style, with just the right dose of high-end comfort and function for daily life.
We began with a deep dive into how each space would be used—what needed to be stored, how the rooms should feel, and which existing furniture should be retained. These early conversations fed into a comprehensive design brief, which guided our visual direction and layout planning.
A space for work and entertaining
The second reception room, now reimagined as a sophisticated office, has become a multifunctional space, with the need for an additional entertaining space, too. This presented a lovely opportunity to create something layered and multifunctional. While the clients required a highly functional workspace, they were equally passionate about the room not feeling “too office-y.” Our solution was to create bespoke joinery that wraps around the architectural lines of the space, offering smart storage, display shelving, and a dedicated desk area that feels seamlessly integrated into the design.
The cabinetry is being finished in a rich wood finish, paired with textural elements and soft metallic details to add a sense of depth and polish. A comfortable sofa and subtle, elegant lighting will allow the space to easily shift between work and relaxation—a retreat just as suited to early-morning emails as to evening reading or casual conversation.
Design: dual-purpose room, floorplan
Design: dual-purpose room
Design: dual-purpose room mood board
Design: joinery for master bedroom
Transforming the master bedroom
The focus in the master bedroom is on serenity, comfort, and cohesion. The room is generous in size but has needed pulling together. Designing bespoke joinery and soft, layered lighting introduces calm and symmetry.
As with the office, we have integrated existing furniture into the scheme, refinishing where needed and pairing it with carefully selected fabrics and finishes to create a cohesive visual flow. A palette of soft neutrals, punctuated by warming tones and subtle texture, sets a tone of understated contemporary elegance. Layered window treatments will offer flexibility for light and privacy, while tactile materials, woven textiles, velvets, and brushed brass accents add richness and softness throughout.
Creating structure and clarity using joinery
Joinery has played a central role in bringing structure and clarity to both rooms. With growing children and busy lives, smart storage was a top priority. Every piece has been designed to feel as beautiful as it is functional, freeing the rooms from visual clutter while enhancing their architectural proportions.
Our collaborative design journey
Our design process is always collaborative, and this project has been no exception. With a shared vision, we have developed moodboards, material palettes, and lighting plans that give life to the ideas we discussed early on. Every element has been crafted with intention, from decorative selections to detailed technical drawings.
Ensuring the vision comes to life
Now in the implementation phase and while my role is design-only, I’m offering guidance and support as requested by my client to ensure the vision comes to life.
This project is a beautiful example of what can be achieved when history and modernity are allowed to coexist. I look forward to sharing more as these thoughtfully redesigned spaces are completed—rooms that reflect not just a style, but a way of living that’s elegant, personal, and deeply comfortable.