A famous food blogger from China reached out to interior designer Olga Ashby to craft the interiors of her new home in London. This 180-square-metre apartment is located in a mansion near Regent’s Park known as Regents Crescent. This building, conceptualised by renowned architect John Nash, was originally constructed in 1820 for the later George IV.
“The apartment was sold with a fine finish—white walls and beautifully bespoke kitchen and bathrooms. Traditionally for London, the living room is gorgeous, the ceilings are more than four metres high and light streams in from the huge French windows. At the same time, the bedrooms—and there are three of them in the apartment—are intimate and cosy,” states Ashby.
The client—Jo, admired the design aesthetic of Parisian boutiques and wanted her London apartment to have the same feel. The home reflects the client’s positive personality and exhibits her love for antique furniture and modern art.
Living Room
As Josephine loves to entertain, the living room takes centre stage in the apartment. This vibrant space has a vintage sofa set covered in white fabric from Pierre Frey that contrasts with the black antique coffee tables. The chandelier with natural crystal is from Wired Custom Lighting and the carpet is made-to-order from Riviere Rugs. Artist Marc Quinn’s ‘Chromosphere’ exhibiting the human eye that hangs above the fireplace, adds a pop of colour to the off-white colour palette of the room.
Dining Area and Kitchen
The living room opens into a trendy dining area and kitchen in an open layout. “Josephine is a passionate cook and a great host, so we invested in a beautiful Carlo Scarpa marble dining table bought on auction, and used probably not the most practical, but definitely stunning fabric from Dedar for the dining chairs from Gallotti & Radice. We added three bar stools to the kitchen counter for less formal gatherings,” adds Olga.
Alongside the dining table is an antique gold credenza with vintage table lamps from Alfies Antique Market. A black and white photograph from photographer David Yarrow hangs above the credenza.
Master Bedroom
The master bedroom features a neutral palette with subtle yet quaint brown undertones and modern furniture. “In the bedroom, the bed is from SM London, which is paired with bedside tables in antique natural shagreen by R&Y Augosti and lamps by Tyson London. In addition, we got a lovely straw marquetry box from Bonadea. All these elegant and sophisticated pieces work together perfectly, catching the eye but not overloading the room,” says Ashby.
Another arresting feature of the bedroom is a portrait of Josephine by artist Bianca Smith titled ‘Josephine Dancing with Feather Fans on the Hills with a Glass of Champagne,’ placed above a white armchair by Liang & Eimil.
Powder Room and Master Bathroom
The guest powder room has striking black marble tiles and luxuruious fittings.
