Designer Irene Gunter recalls, 'Our clients reached out after discovering our work in a newspaper article. They appreciated our aesthetics and we arranged a consultation.' Their vision for a new family home resonated with Gunter & Co's playful use of color and materials.
Dining Area: Emphasizing texture, this space features flowing curtains and a tablecloth, complemented by a fabric pendant and cushioned dining chairs. Aldwin fabric pendant, Soho Home. Astoria chairs, Studio Sam; upholstered in Karakorum, Dedar. Curtains in Satiro Oat, C & C Milano; with Honeycomb trim, Schumacher. Art by Larry Poons.
This Grade II-listed apartment originally featured an awkward layout with uninspired, enclosed rooms that neglected the beautiful park views.
Irene notes, 'Despite its ornate exterior, the interior lacked imagination and felt dreary. The objective was clear: to enhance the interior flow and let the park views shine.'
Home Office: The warm pink walls enhance the artwork's vibrancy in this sitting room corner, featuring a custom desk that nods to vintage design. Artwork by Erin O'Keefe, courtesy of London art gallery Seventeen. Artwork (left) by Guo Wei. Desk, Gunter & Co. Chair, Anthropologie. Lamp, Studio Atkinson.
Irene describes her design philosophy as intuitive. Alongside lead designer George Gardner, they chose to eliminate basic baseboards while retaining the elegant coving. 'We updated the architraves to be more period-appropriate and replaced the flat, uninspiring doors,' she adds.
'The layout felt fragmented,' she explains. 'We introduced key architectural elements to create continuity while removing others to balance classical and modern styles.'
Dining Space: A lit vitrine showcases rich red tiles, contrasting with pale pink cabinetry. 'Metal doors in powder-coated green evoke a 1910 Paris apartment,' says designer Irene Gunter. Earth zellige tiles, Terra Bella Interiors. Joinery, Gunter & Co. Handles, SDS London.
Irene and George meticulously redesigned the space to enhance light and flow. They merged the original kitchen and dining room while repositioning the sitting room to optimize views.
'Our significant structural change involved removing a wall between the kitchen, dining, and sitting rooms, installing soft-green framed glazed doors,' George explains.
'This transformation created a spacious, open-plan look that connects all areas and showcases the park's greenery.'
Sitting Room: Starting with a white chair, furnishings were chosen to complement its curves, including a modern sofa. A wall unit uses a sliding mechanism to conceal the TV behind a large artwork. Hamilton sofa, Minotti. Art by Anna Genger. Chair cushion in Talmont, Pierre Frey. Joinery, Gunter & Co. Floor lamp, Soho Home.
The rooms exude a personalized charm, blending new pieces with antiques. Color choices draw inspiration from the clients' contemporary art, featuring blush pinks on cabinetry and deep greens on the walls, enhanced by warm woods and vibrant reds.
The design in the sitting room is strikingly modern, where a large painting doubles as a sliding cover for a TV and shelving unit that spans the wall.
'We had to consider the artwork's scale to ensure the joinery complemented its presence,' George notes.
This piece includes bespoke travertine stone dividers between shelves, providing elegant support for the design.
Kitchen: Attention to detail defines the polished finish that Gunter & Co aims for. Decorative artist Henry van der Vijver custom-painted power sockets to blend with the marble walls. Kitchen features Fior Di Pesco marble and stainless-steel worktops, all designed by Gunter & Co. Units in Desert Rose, Paint & Paper Library. Antique pendants, Galerie Glustin.
Curves take center stage with carefully crafted sofas and rugs that align with the room's contours, establishing inviting seating areas of various forms.
'From the entryway, the curved rug leads you through the sitting space into the dining area,' George explains.
In the kitchen, a custom curved marble island serves as a stunning focal point, paired with practical stainless-steel worktops.
'The stainless steel is pre-scratched, allowing for a naturally aged appearance. Coupled with a seamless welded sink, it exudes effortless style without an industrial vibe,' Irene adds.
Main Bedroom: 'The back wall features luxurious green fabric paneled with vertical leather accents. The detailing is exquisite,' remarks George. Headboard in Vuk with Marabou border, Dedar. Cushion in Adagio, Nobilis. Bedspread in Odessa, Sister by Studio Ashby. Abaca Harvest wallpaper with leather elements, Phillip Jeffries. Art by Joshua Armitage. Lamp, Birdie Fortescue.
The bedrooms showcase refined comfort. Irene explains, 'In spaces without direct park views, like the west-facing main bedroom that lacks abundant light, we aimed for a cocooning atmosphere, incorporating crafted details like textured wall coverings and leather-wrapped moldings. The dressing room features rope-carved cornices and verre églomisé mirrors on the wardrobes, ensuring each area has its own character.'
This is also true in the guest bedroom, adorned with chinoiserie wallpaper that creates a mural-like effect. 'It's often a more economical choice than hiring an artist,' George notes.
These clever design touches guarantee this apartment will never again be seen as lacking in character.
