‘The interior of this house is calm but has elements of fun,’ says Sophie Eadie of the Grade II–listed, five-story Georgian townhouse in southwest London that she and Fi Crole have evolved into an elegant, timeless, and layered city sanctuary for a family with four children. The founders of Hampshire-based studio Eadie & Crole, Fi and Sophie are renowned for their signature blend of classic and contemporary style that celebrates gentle, muted colors.
‘From the moment you walk in, it feels welcoming. It strikes a balance between formal and relaxed, so you can truly unwind and enjoy yourself. It works just as well for children, with spaces designed especially for them,’ says Fi.
Eadie & Crole had previously worked on the clients’ country home, and the brief for this historic house was, according to Fi, ‘for somewhere that was going to work for the children, but the clients also enjoy entertaining, and they love beautiful things, including art.’ So the design duo were enlisted to craft elegant and alluring schemes that are in keeping with the age of the property and enhance its character.
The property flows seamlessly and harmoniously, with schemes exuding a quiet confidence, so it’s hard to believe that, when the owners purchased it, the house comprised a series of bedsits. The tall, narrow building boasts beautifully proportioned but not oversized rooms. ‘The rooms aren’t enormous,’ explains Sophie, ‘so we had to make sure that they could function well.’
Because it is a listed property, decisions about the fabric of the building were made in consultation with the local planning department’s conservation team. ‘They were very strict, even on the ironmongery that we used, and the way that we painted things had to be discussed,’ says Sophie.
Existing paneling was restored, with new paneling installed to enhance continuity throughout the house. A boarded-up staircase was opened up, and new coffering added that elicits instant character on the ceilings in the children’s bedrooms. ‘We’ve brought the house back to its original form,’ explains Fi.
Eadie & Crole worked on the renovation with architects Dyer Grimes. The most significant part of the project entailed digging down in the basement, where the kitchen is located, to increase the ceiling height, as well as extending out. Roof lights in the dining area and floor-to-ceiling glazed windows ensure the space is washed with light, while horizontal paneling on the walls resonates with the home’s period bones.
Paneled walls lead from the hallway through to the drawing room, with a bold green and gold stair runner providing an element of surprise. ‘Everything was so plain, it needed something unexpected,’ says Fi. The joyful hues are teased through into the sophisticated drawing room, where they feature on sumptuous velvets, silks, and pony hair. ‘There’s a magical view from the house onto the park and we wanted to somehow bring that into the house,’ says Sophie.
Upstairs, a romantic curtained four-poster bed takes center stage in the main bedroom, accommodated by the high ceiling. ‘We made a four-poster in the client’s previous house and they loved it, so we created a different design for them,’ says Sophie.
The four-poster is echoed in one of the daughter’s rooms with a more contemporary design. ‘This is a slightly more grown-up space compared to her bedroom in their country house, and we were thinking more long-term for her.’
Eadie & Crole has succeeded in creating timeless schemes that look to the past but very definitely factor in the future.
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