A playful and colorful scheme was top of the client’s wish list when they engaged interior designer Peter Mikic to refresh this Grade II-listed five-bedroom Victorian home in west London, but beyond that, Peter virtually had carte blanche with this house design. ‘The client was open to any ideas,’ he says.
The animated design is notable for its pops of color and use of beautifully shaped furniture. The house’s exquisite architectural features – including the stone staircase, ceiling roses, cornicing, skirting, wall paneling, and large sash and stained-glass windows – provided an elegant backdrop against which Peter, who is renowned for blending historical and contemporary influences, was able to weave his magic.
Although this house is a riot of color, Peter has a skilful approach to decorating with white to ensure nothing ever feels overpowering. White walls in the hallway maximize the bright, airy feel, with a beautiful Murano glass pendant adding a touch of glamor. In the sitting room, a capacious white sofa balances the expressive artwork. ‘White is quite a statement colour on its own,’ says Peter. ‘It’s about using color sparingly and ensuring there isn’t too much of one color.’
‘The original features bring lots of charm to this house,’ he says. ‘What was important for me was to keep as many of these details as possible because they give the house so much character. Anything else that we did was to enhance this.’
Peter worked in fashion before transitioning to interior design, so his appreciation of color and form is a given. ‘I love color,’ he says. ‘For me, color brings out emotions. It’s about making you feel a particular way, and I think color does that, and the styles of furniture do, too.’
Peter has a soft spot for mid-century pieces. ‘We have some antique coffee tables and Gio Ponti sideboards here. A nice mix of antiques and contemporary pieces brings in old-world charm as well as something that is of the moment.
Paving the way for color and carefully considered furniture is the arresting sitting room on the first floor. This was the first space in the house to be tackled ‘because it’s the grandest room’, Peter says. The client loved the emerald green curved sofa, which was the starting point for the scheme, along with the shades in the rug. Warm white textural wallpaper was chosen to provide a soothing backdrop and evoke an airy aura.
The other punchy hues in the sitting room were meticulously judged. ‘We played with the greens, yellows, and reds all together,’ says Peter. An inviting array of seating, including the green sofa and a generous white sofa, mustard-toned armchairs, and beautiful multi-hued stools, ensures the space is a magnet for guests.
‘The client was keen for each room to be usable, as she has three children. She often finds her teenagers in there, reading books and chatting to their friends, so it’s been very successful because it’s not a shut-off space. It isn’t too formal, and it’s suitable for any age group – for kids’ parties and cocktail evenings.'
The breakfast nook adjoining the kitchen is conspicuous, too, for its functionality as well as its joyful touches. A large orange leather banquette sits under a statement artwork and is teamed with eye-catching wavy chairs and a neat wooden table. ‘There’s a very playful element to this space, and it’s bright and uplifting, so it’s perfect for breakfast time and lunch,’ Peter says.
‘The neutral walls helped the palette, building up the colors. It really is a good idea to start with a base, and once that base is correct, it’s easy to add or remove colours and textures for each room. We made sure that all the wall shades were painted the same as the cornices and the ceiling, too.’
The designer went against the grain in the dining room, where an intimate ambience is created with smoky green textured wallpaper. ‘This room comes off the sitting room and has the same style of wallpaper, just in a different color, but at night it creates a completely different mood and is much cozier,’ he says. The statement rug is a strong, defining feature that serves to lift the scheme.
Peter was keen for the interior to please all the senses, so he wove in layers of texture, too. ‘This house does have a lot of texture, and I think it’s interesting because everything is rather tactile. You want to be able to run your fingers along pieces of furniture,’ he says. ‘I think there’s something warm about your senses. You want to be able to touch things. You want to be stimulated visually, but you also want to be able to feel different in each room. And this house really does appeal to all of those senses.’
‘Each room has its own mood,' says Peter, and, indeed, he has expertly executed a cozy modern style that brings a distinct atmosphere to every space. Peter has taken all of the best parts of modern decorating – and the house feels decidedly contemporary as a result – and has swaddled it with warmth, texture, and comfort.
