Townhouse London

The London district of South Kensington, still known today as “Little Paris”, is famous for its parks and its many museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design. This chic neighbourhood filled with shops, restaurants, theatres, and art galleries, is where a young art-loving couple tasked Stéphanie Coutas with breathing life back into a Victorian house, while conserving its original charm.

A lot of thought was put into staging the interior spaces: the use of darker tones in the living room highlights the mouldings and the furniture, while the use of brighter colours in the dining room and bedrooms contributes to a softer atmosphere. Tall windows bathe the rooms in natural light and offer a view over the garden.

While the owners called upon Stéphanie for the refurbishment of their home, they also sought her expertise in objets d’art. To help them establish a collection, she suggested the living room feature a monumental sculpture by the major American artist Wendell Castle, around which one could circulate as if visiting a museum.

The room was subtly arranged to optimize the lighting and the view of a painting by Daniel Buren. The two rugs, one black and one white, like two poles, were designed to spotlight the work of art on one side and the Bronze Cambium table signed by SC Édition on the other.

With this philosophy in mind, the rest of the house is punctuated with a selection of original objects, furniture, and designer art. And to achieve her vision, the interior designer brought in a team of exceptional artisans to custom make pieces such as the closet, in brass and wood with a high-gloss finish, or the dining room table, dubbed The Knight, with its marble top, brass corner brackets and asymmetrical legs. She commissioned from artist Cécile Gauneau a set of painted curtains inspired by one of the

agency’s bespoke motifs. Art has undoubtedly given this charming Victorian home an extra bit of soul.