Inside a Quietly Classy London Townhouse, Transformed With Warm Colors and Calming Curves

A warm, earth-toned living room featuring terracotta walls, a dusty rose sectional sofa, and a large tiered glass chandelier. Two organic-shaped wooden coffee tables sit on a plush beige rug before a marble fireplace.

Today, this elegant townhouse in Islington, north London, exudes a certain serenity that’s perfectly designed for slow mornings and barefoot living. The soft, sculptural palette was inspired by Scandinavian curves, warm colors, and the quiet confidence of the property’s long-term owner – an original Londoner.

It wasn’t always thus. Rewind a few years and the kitchen was a blend of high-gloss cabinets sitting clinically alongside stainless-steel surfaces while other rooms, painted in variations of gray and white, lacked warmth and personality. Inspired by what she spotted online, the owner contacted Lishan Tham, founder of Studio Shan, and asked for help.