Is there any dreamier city living scenario than a beautifully decorated pied-à-terre in the stylish heart of London, Mayfair? We don't think so, and this example by Salvesen Graham demonstrates just why it's so desirable. As the clients have a main house in the US, this apartment needed to be smart and straightforward. "They just want to be able to relax here and walk in and feel comfortable,” says Nicole Salvesen. Mission accomplished, we'd say. The rooms of the apartment aren't huge, but they have been cleverly decorated with furniture, art and accessories that make them feel hugely welcoming. Want to get a bit of the look for your own house? We've gathered our favourite pieces.
In the sitting room
The sitting room and kitchen comprise one long and narrow space, divided up into zones for sitting, dining and cooking. As the clients weren't particularly confident with colour, Mary and Nicole chose a grasscloth wallcovering and then enlivened it with punchier accessories, including ceramics from Henry Holland, gently patterned cushions, and large-scale artworks.
In the kitchen
While this apartment is mainly a base for a life of eating out and exploring what London has to offer, the neat kitchen and dining area is enough to make us want to stay in. Mary and Nicole have used chairs they designed for their own line at Salvesen Graham, covered in Soane Britain's charming ‘Tulips and Butterflies’ pattern, which brings colour and life to the scheme.
In the bedroom
Half-tester beds are something of a signature for Salvesen Graham, and this lovely example jumps out against a classic chinoiserie wallcovering. Crisp white bedding is given a subtly pretty and feminine touch with a grey frilled trim, and as luck would have it, it's reasonably affordable at one of our favourite shops, Cologne & Cotton.
In the daughter's bedroom
This pretty bedroom doubles as spare room when the family have guests to stay, so it needed to be a welcoming environment for a number of different people. To create such an effect, Salvesen Graham used another half tester bed – this time in pale pink. Cushions in Antoinette Poisson's ‘Marcel’ have been layered on top, as well as edgier objects like Tom Dixon's bookends.
In the daughter's bathroom
The same Antoinette Poisson print is repeated in the en suite bathroom, linking the two spaces harmoniously. Rebecca Udall's scalloped towels are the perfect finishing touch to this ultra pretty bathroom scheme.
In the sun room
One of the most wonderful things about this space is the large terrace that leads out from the apartment. To make the most of the transitional area between out and inside, Salvesen Graham have placed a comfortable armchair from Lorfords, and a bar that services both sections, crafted from the same wood as the floor itself to bring further harmony and not distract the eye from the outside views.
On the terrace
Out on the terrace, the design duo have created different zones within the large rectangular space, delineating an area for relaxing and an area for entertaining or dining. Here, they've set the table with a bright cloth from Summerill and Bishop, whilst the sofa is decorated with jumbo checked cushions from Salvesen Graham's shop.
In the spare room
This narrow room presents a challenge in its awkward sizing. However, instead of working against that fact, the duo leant into it, covering the walls and blinds in the same green stripe. The effect is enveloping and cocooning, and ultimately distracts from the room's small square footage.
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In the bathroom
In this bathroom, Salvesen Graham have kept things simple, opting for a pared back scheme with a simple colour scheme that lets the fittings and fixtures do the talking. Intaglio Cases hang from the walls by smart ribbons, and a cane mirror from the team's shop hangs above the sink.
