“I didn’t worry too much about pleasing everyone,” says Linda Boronkay, the creative vision behind The Sessile — a new rental proposition that is sure to put Tottenham Hale on the map for more than just a handy interchange from the Victoria line to the Stansted Express.
That’s clear as you enter the 310-apartment block; with terrazzo tile flooring, limewashed walls and glossy red wall lamps, there is not a whiff of the predictably soulless decor which developers tend to play it safe with in order to appeal to the masses. “I approached this project very much from a hospitality point of view, creating a place where people would get excited about going to,” explains Boronkay.
As the former design director of Soho House, the Hungarian native has an innate understanding of not only what looks good, but what fosters connection. And having shaped the famed members’ club design DNA, there are parallels between the look and feel of The Sessile and her former employer’s houses (her predilection for statement seating being just one shared theme).
But then the demographics are similar, too: “It’s young creatives, artists, designers and an aspirational layer of people who like to belong, who want the community around them,” she says of the audience.
The project was over three years in the making, with The Sessile’s parent company, Way of Life, enlisting Boronkay to design all the amenities and communal areas.
Highlights include the verdant, tile-clad orangery and a chic post room which wouldn’t look out of place in a Wes Anderson film. Here, Boronaky shares her top tips for bringing considered touches to your own space, no matter how temporary.
Invest in ‘takeaways’
Boronkay owns a flat in Budapest but has embraced living in rentals including in London, Paris, Milan, Australia, New York and Tokyo. “I take my objects with me, put them into a new rental, and I instantly feel at home,” she says.
Home is currently Belsize Park, where said objects include wall art and vintage finds: “I’m a terrible hoarder — I get attached so easily,” she laughs.
Having just returned from a buying trip at flea markets in the south of France, she shops straight from the source (albeit this time for a client). “It’s much cheaper and it’s such an amazing experience meeting the people who actually collect these things, they’re so passionate.” (If the cross-country travel is off-putting, set an alarm and make a morning of it like a bonafide antiques dealer and check out Ardingly in West Sussex or Kempton near Twickenham.
Failing that, scroll-and-shop by following Instagram accounts such as The Antik Store and Folie Chambre).
Pieces you can “carry around for decades” such as lamps and artworks, are what she advises investing in, whatever your home ownership status. Her money is also on mid-century sideboards: “especially mid-century or French. If you buy well, you might even sell it for more than you bought it for.”
She’s also partial to a bar cart — on hers rests a TV. “I mean why not? They are such a fun piece to have in a corner of a room.”
Adding character to blank newbuilds
Boronkay is more used to working with heritage buildings (White City House, which she oversaw, was the BBC’s former headquarters), but at The Sessile she had to establish the design language from scratch. Exaggerated shapes and bold colours formed part of her codes; to transform a characterless setting, she recommends a lick of paint.
“Colour is something that a lot of people shy away from, but it’s a relatively inexpensive way to jazz up your own home,” she muses. Her go-to trick is a dark corridor: “not everyone is a fan, but I love the contrast of arriving in a dark space and then another space opens up. It’s about creating drama.”
Zoning an open-plan apartment
“The open-plan layout is really something that’s very ‘in’ and is probably going to stay because of space restrictions,” says Boronkay. But as a self-confessed “messy cook”, she has landed on room dividers to help segregate the food prep from the sofa. She scours eBay and antiques fairs for fold-out gems, gravitating to decorative styles which are as beautiful to look at as they are functional.
But making the kitchen feel just as considered as the adjoining lounge is what’s really key: “Treat it in the same way, so that it doesn’t feel too cold or stark. Add flowers and art to your worktop, and choose tea towels with a pop of colour or texture.”
Elevating outside space
Boronkay doesn’t turn her nose up at the suggestion of an Ikea dining set. “For me, so long as it’s coloured, it doesn’t really matter what the brand is.”
What takes even the smallest outdoor space up a level, she thinks, is personality-rich finds like giant shell bowls piled high in citrus fruits or decorated with moss. Plants in pots — again, another “takeaway” — are an easy win: look for different heights and mix in vintage planters.
Recreating restaurant dining at home
Atmospheric and easy, candles are an easy win. “I love candelabras and fresh flowers,” says Boronkay.
If you’re hosting at home and the guest list suddenly swells, her advice is not to get hung up on everything matching. “I quite like a mix of dinner and glassware, especially if the cutlery has a patina, or a nice level of detail. If it’s not too formal, then people feel more relaxed too.”
Sweat the small stuff
Reupholstering an armchair or having curtains made can create a big impact, but the costs quickly mount up and “a lot of people don’t necessarily want to commit to reupholstering something,” acknowledges Boronkay.
Instead, she suggests small styling touches to freshen up a space, such as scatter cushions in bold colours or unusual patterns to update a tired sofa. Rugs are also a go-to: “They can be quite cheap, and you can source vintage ones on eBay which look absolutely incredible.”
Get the lighting right
Nothing kills the mood like a ceiling of spotlights which could rival the runway at Gatwick. Boronkay is team ‘loose lighting’, with side and floor lamps positioned at low level.
“A few years ago, there weren’t a lot of options, but now there are portable styles which you can dot on shelves, or take outside,” she says. Look up Pooky for rechargeable models with a more traditional aesthetic, while Heal’s and Holloways of Ludlow has a healthy supply of contemporary classics.
Linda Boronkay's Little Black Book
⬤ Kate Anniss of Mylo Art sourced much of the artwork for The Sessile, with captivating pieces by Becky Blair, Claire Oxley and Ed Burkes. You can browse Anniss’ summer curation online, with prices for screen prints from £65. myloart.co.uk
⬤ Camberwell-based studio Jay Achilles produced the delectable side tables which are dotted around the communal areas (look up the Mae style, which also serves as a bedside). jayachilles.co.uk
⬤ Look up Yorkshire-based Galvin Brothers when you’re ready to invest in quality-made, heirloom-worthy furniture. The brand’s Parlour chair is seen in The Sessile’s orangery. galvinbrothers.co.uk
⬤ Milk bottle tops from the Way of Life HQ were saved and sent to Spared in Brighton, which then turned them into an oval table which welcomes you as you enter the yoga studio. spared.eco
