Designer Emma Sims-Hilditch opens the doors to her London townhouse exclusively for The Calico Club

Designer Emma Sims-Hilditch’s house is nestled between a row of identical townhouses just off the neighbourhood park. Set behind a small façade, the entrance hallway leads to a warm reception room, where the shelves are lined with books, old and new. Emma and her lovely team greeted the Calico Club here; plenty of generous rounds of freshly brewed tea and coffee were served to members who were keen to learn about the design journey behind Emma’s own house.

For many years, we’ve been fascinated by the houses artists inhabit — and for good reason. After all, one of the most telling aspects of a designer’s journey is the houses they live in. Emma's house is a thoughtful mix of English elements with Swedish finds from her travels that blend seamlessly to attain a soothing character. 

Emma, who started her studio Sims Hilditch in a derelict coaching house in the Cotswolds, had an unconventional start. Beginning her career in film production for Ridley Scott, Emma learned how to skilfully manage large-scale projects. About 20 years ago, she moved to Wiltshire, where she renovated a dilapidated school house, transforming it into her family home. The house also formed the location of her first business: making curtains from her kitchen table. One thing led to another and soon Emma was being asked to assist with other parts of her clients’ homes. Ever since, she has been designing houses in her own distinctive English style.

On the morning we visited, for the first Calico Club event of autumn, members gathered in the dining room, catching up on each other's summer news. The room – which often doubles as a studio space for the team during meetings in London – made for a welcome start in explaining the house’s evolution. Emma took members through the process of designing the space, which centred around a large island counter (and my personal favourite piece: an elegant Stockholm Mora clock which commands the space, and which the designer fondly referred to as a “grandmother, rather than grandfather clock”).

Following breakfast, members were led to the uppermost level — a cosy bedroom — to hear more about the process of renovation. Emma spoke about how structural elements were altered to make the most of the space, while also bringing in a sense of the rustic with sloped wooden ceilings. With the help of her design team, Emma has achieved a sense of minimalism without her home feeling scarce. Determined not to lose any space to radiators, for example, Emma and her team ensured that the house had under floor heating all throughout. Not one for bold patterns and prints, she embraces elegant lightness through contrasting solid undertones, only experimenting with playfulness by introducing Christopher Farr Cloth’s ‘Carnival’ wallpaper on the bedroom walls.

Making our way downstairs to the family room, a basement conversion, Emma revealed her fireplace design secrets, and how she achieved versatility with the house through attention to detail. At the end, members got a first glance of Emma’s soon-to-be launched book The Evolution of Home: English Interiors for a New Era, before sipping on their Nth cup of tea under summer’s last rays of sunshine.

Membership of The Calico Club starts from as little as £75 a month, and gives instant access to events like this and many more. Membership also includes access to the full catalogue of online talks Conversations with The Calico Club, access to House & Garden’s online masterclasses How To with House & Garden, an annual subscription to the magazine, and exclusive offers and discounts from your favourite interior shops.

Keep an eye on the calendar for exciting new events and experiences announced weekly.