A perfect blend of glamour and comfort in an interior designer's London house
The transition from the world of fashion to that of interiors seems an increasingly natural one these days, and certainly it was an organic progression for designer Kerri Lipsitz, who left a career in fashion PR ten years ago. The decoration of her own first flat (and the subsequent appeals for help from friends) was what prompted the move, though she continued to value many of the lessons of her former life. “I look at the decoration of a house in a similar way to putting together a capsule wardrobe or commissioning a bespoke suit–I'm looking for the beautiful finishes that will last a lifetime and the key cherished pieces that you can build everything else around." It's an approach that has served her well in her current flat in Primrose Hill, spread over two floors of a Victorian terrace.
Kerri bought the house in 2017, initially drawn by the generous proportions of the living space on the lower ground floor. “I'm a keen cook and I host a lot, and I grew up in a warm, welcoming house where crowds were always gathering, so it was this space that I fell in love with.” Its particular appeal lies in being open plan but not too open plan. The sitting room flows naturally into the dining room, which is mostly open to the kitchen, but there is some sense of division between each space, and concertina doors between the sitting room and everything else help to maintain a sense of cosiness when the house isn't full of people.
Kerri speaks about the kitchen as a “labour of love”, exactingly designed to reflect how she cooks, arranges her supplies, and entertains. It is very much a decorated space, cleverly incorporating a range of different styles that help to create zones. There is a line of simple white built-in cupboards that continues into the under-stairs space beyond; there is the ‘service area’ with a smart AGA, a ceramic sink and lots of glamorous Arabescato marble; the island is wrapped in unlacquered brass; while a bespoke freestanding larder in aged oak, based on an antique original, provides storage on the other side. This variety of finishes helps the kitchen feel warm and inviting, very much not a stark or purely functional space. Kerri's clever addition of a picture shelf above the sink is also key in this respect. “I love art in kitchens and bathrooms, it helps to de-clinicalise them,” she notes.
A similar combination of glamour and comfort characterises the sitting room, where Kerri has reused the original Victorian shutters of the house as panelling. She took the shutters from a window that had previously opened into an unfortunate 1980s conservatory, and used reclaimed pine to fill in the rest of the wall, adding a fireplace also in reclaimed pine and staining the whole to match. The seating was chosen to help maximise space for guests–always a consideration in a Victorian terrace–so the George Smith sofa has narrow arms to allow for the most possible seating room, and the trim little armchairs by the same maker fit neatly under the window. Kerri chose the chandelier for its proportions as well–it is dramatic but relatively shallow, allowing space to walk underneath it.
The raised floor had previously been set up as a self-contained one-bedroom apartment, so Kerri's biggest job was to turn this into two bedrooms. She built an infill extension and rearranged the windows at the back of the house to create a sense of unity with the graceful sash windows at the front. This floor is a distinctly calming space, with the main bedroom painted in a delicate shade of pink. Simplicity reigns in this room, from the elegant panelling based on the Victorian window shutters, to the monochrome artwork and the flowing curtains. “In a room with a high ceiling like this I like to use a full length plain linen curtain," explains Kerri. "It's a nice elongated element that highlights the windows and proportions.”
A simple study with plenty of stylish Vitsoe shelving and a compact bathroom complete this floor. Both rooms are notable for an understated combination of antique and modern pieces; the Vitsoe shelving faces an antique Italian walnut dining table used as a desk, with Farrow & Ball's ‘Slipper Satin’ providing a calming backdrop to the whole room. The bathroom, too often another clinical space, has a 1960s Italian brass mirror to knock back any sense of shiny newness. “I often have the idea of ‘confident contrasts’ in my head when I'm creating a scheme,” Kerri says. “You need antiques paired with contemporary designs; strong silhouettes next to soft ones; masculine elements opposed to feminine ones. It turns into a sort of puzzle in my mind.” If this is the secret to creating such a stylish, timeless interior, it's a puzzle worth solving.
Kerri Lipsitz is a member of The List by House & Garden, our essential directory of design professionals. Visit The List by House & Garden here.
Kerri Lipsitz: kerrilipsitz.com
Simon Brown1/19In the sitting room, the leather armchairs and sofa are by George Smith. The cushions on the former are in ‘Bowood’ by Colefax & Fowler and on the sofa, in Rose Uniacke's ‘Moss’ and ‘Spruce’ green cotton velvets. A custom pendant light by Fiona McDonald hangs above a Julian Chichester coffee table.
Simon Brown2/19The wall lights by the fireplace are by Rose Uniacke.
Simon Brown3/19The sitting room opens into the dining room, where a pendant light by CTO Lighting hangs over a bespoke dining table by Jonathan Field.
Simon Brown4/19A view from the dining room into the kitchen. The limestone floor was already in place when Kerri bought the house.
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Simon Brown6/19The main zone in the kitchen has counters and splashbacks in Arabescato marble. The pendant lights over the island and sink are from Jim Lawrence.
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Simon Brown8/19A bespoke cupboard based on an antique original serves as a larder. The spotlights are also by Jim Lawrence.
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Simon Brown10/19The kitchen cabinets extend into the space under the stairs.
Simon Brown11/19On the raised ground floor, the walls are painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Smoked Trout’. The simple curtains are in Romo's ‘Alana’ fabric in alabaster.
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Simon Brown13/19The wall lights are by Rose Uniacke and the bedside table is a custom design by Julian Chichester.
Simon Brown14/19In the study, Kerri's desk is an antique Italian walnut dining table, while the wall lights are by Rowan & Wren.
Simon Brown15/19Vitsoe shelves provide smart storage at the other end of the study. The baskets are from The White Company.
Simon Brown16/19In the bathroom, taps by Samuel Heath and brass lights by Jim Lawrence lend an antique feel to a clean white space.
Simon Brown17/19The tiles in the bathroom are Emery et Cie's zellige tiles in ‘No. 2 Blanc’.
Simon Brown18/19In the garden, cushions from OKA decorate rattan garden furniture by Sika Design.
Simon Brown19/19Kerri at the front door of her house.
