A London villa of grand spaces executed with confident, imaginative strokes

Walking along the west London street on which this house is located, I am so agog at the rows of enormous, immaculately kept double-fronted Victorian villas that I fail to notice a raised kerb. After the resulting fall, I am able to preserve my dignity as, happily, the street is also astonishingly quiet – a bonus of wandering one of the capital’s most exclusive areas.

When this particular villa was bought by its current residents – a couple with young children – it had been divided into six flats and was in a terrible state. ‘People tried to put us off, but we could see it could be a great family home,’ says the owner.

The team they entrusted with the task comprised architect Alain Bouvier, who was recommended by friends, and interior designers Bunny Turner and Emma Pocock. ‘I fell in love with Bunny and Emma after a long search. As soon as I saw their website I thought, “That is exactly what I want”,’ explains the owner. ‘Their style is very designed, but also colourful and comfortable. They’re young and vibrant, with artistic backgrounds. That was key because art is hugely important to me.’

For Bunny and Emma the project was an especially creative opportunity. ‘It is incredibly rare to design the interior of a period house of this size in London from scratch,’ says Bunny. It is not just the number of floors and square metres that sets it apart, but also the height of the ceilings and grandeur of the windows. Everything here is super-size. ‘It allowed us to commission big pieces, such as the magnificent Luke Irwin rug in the living room,’ she enthuses.

However, this freedom was not without its challenges. ‘It is easy to become rudderless,’ explains Bunny. Alain’s concept of a central, cantilevered stone staircase gave the design a crucial anchor. It was then a matter of arranging the rooms around this feature. ‘Everything was up for grabs – the three of us spent a long time playing with the spaces,’ she recalls. Broadly, they have adhered to a traditional configuration: major living areas on the raised ground floor; main bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor; children’s rooms on the second; a spare room on the third; and snugs and playrooms on the lower-ground floor. ‘A blank canvas is all well and good, but it is nice to have some rules,’ Bunny notes.

A similarly traditional approach has been taken with the architectural detailing. The most lavish cornices, skirting boards and door panels are on the raised ground floor. Moving up the house they become progressively simpler. All the details are correct for the Victorian period of the building. ‘Clients often don’t appreciate the importance of this element of the design, but it is critical to the mood,’ says Bunny. In this case, reverting to the original style of the building – not strictly, but in spirit – gives it integrity and adds gravitas.

It is also an excellent foil for the more adventurous and sometimes playful decoration. ‘The owners asked for something European and glamorous, but also comfortable and inviting,’ says Bunny. ‘I didn’t want a show home,’ says the owner. ‘I wanted a space the children could enjoy – a light, bright and colourful contrast to the grey London weather that was also chic and beautiful.’

Although they brought nothing from their previous home, bar a mirror and one small sofa, they did have a sizeable art collection to be placed. The owner also had specific requests for many of the rooms – for example, she asked for a blue and white scheme for the living room, inspired by American houses in the Hamptons. Likewise, for the entrance hall she was set on a dramatic black and white floor. ‘It was the only part of the house where I requested all-out glamour,’ she explains. She wanted the kitchen to be the biggest room and to include a large wooden table at which the children could do their homework. ‘These were useful starting points,’ recalls Bunny. Nevertheless, it took six months of full-time work to complete the proposed designs.

It was worth the wait. Bunny and Emma’s ideas exploit the grand spaces in confident, imaginative strokes. As with all Turner Pocock interiors, the details are impeccable and give the house a very finished decorative look. However, they have not overfilled the rooms but, rather, focused on getting the proportions of the pieces perfect. This enhances the architecture and creates a sense of harmony, making the house feel welcoming and liveable.

‘I was worried we would all end up in our different quarters and not come together as a family,’ says the owner. It has not proved so and the generous kitchen has become the place where people gather. ‘This room is exactly the happy space I wanted. When we have visitors, they like to linger there all day.’

Turner Pocock: turnerpocock.co.uk
Alain Bouvier Associates: 020-7928 1288