When award-winning interior designer Sean Cochrane was commissioned to transform an impressive – yet somewhat in decline – early Victorian-era villa, he was initially overwhelmed.
It was certainly a tall order to convert the historic structure into a modern home, all while preserving its authenticity. So, to ensure the South London abode remained true to its origins, Sean kept the building’s age in mind during the renovations – he even brought in a specialist who hand-tinted all the bricks so that they matched the stock bricks that were originally used.
The impressive space was formerly a gentlemen’s club and had been left unused for three years before developer Shandon Property brought Cochrane Design on board to recreate it as a grand residence. Due to its coveted location near Clapham Common, the property was considered quite a catch – and even more so after its revamp. The home has since been sold to a family with a penchant for entertaining friends and spending quality time with their children.
The project was a veritable playground in the eyes of an interior designer, presenting plenty of opportunity for creativity and drama. The five-storey home comprises nine bedrooms, a personal cinema, a gym, and a kitchen-living-dining room, which was an added extension to the rear of the house.
To create a cohesive flow throughout all of the rooms, Sean utilised a palette of greys and soft neutrals. When it comes to additional touches that add interest, he tends to favour texture over patterns, arguing that it infuses the space with a sense of timelessness. Natural light is key, filling both the living area and bedrooms, and inviting the home’s inhabitants to venture into the surrounding gardens.
The kitchen, living and dining area is the heart of the home in many ways. Orangery-style doors open straight onto the garden, and a 10-metre-long island serves both as the centrepiece and as a divider between the kitchen and dining room. Carra marble and Broderie parquet flooring add a sense of luxury to the space, while vintage industrial pendant lights offset the classic look with a hint of edginess. The sofas are grouped in an L-shape around another statement fixture of the area – the fireplace.
Move from the lower ground floor to the upper floors of the house and you’ll find a similarly elegant master bathroom. Rather than contemporary cool, the predominating aesthetic here is that of an 18th-century Parisian salon.
Designed very much with the lady of the house in mind, the restful refuge features details such as crystal knobs, chandeliers and polished chrome lighting, which are opulent without taking away from the calm, Zen-like ambience. Again keeping in mind the idea of a salon, Sean favoured free-standing furnishings – the beautiful silver vanity, for instance, as well as the bath that faces the window for stunning views of the garden.
The bathroom is ensuite to the master bedroom; this is how the rooms were laid out originally, a facet Sean decided to retain. This room, too, is a sanctuary – but this time it’s thanks to plush velvets, silks, suede, linen and wool.
Boasting a size as grand as the living area, the bedroom’s gravitas is accentuated with a spectacular headboard that extends all the way to the ceiling. Big enough to contain two sofas, an armchair and dressing areas, this room is truly a haven where the masters of the house can lose themselves in relaxation. Lacquered dark timber and polished nickel round off the classical look.
With all the luxurious facilities, fine furnishings and thoughtful aesthetic choices, the most important aspect of the design at the end of the day was Shandon Property’s simple, to-the-point brief: create a home fit for modern living. This spectacular abode is definitely that.
