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A Georgian townhouse in Clerkenwell transformed into a romantic, tactile space for living well

Designer Rachael Gowdridge discusses her holistic approach to design, and taking a house from introverted to extroverted with the help of artisan makers
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Christopher Horwood

The key to this, says Rachael, was to create several nooks or distinct areas that feel cohesive, an approach which suited the narrow house well. One such area is the more formal first floor sitting room, which works perfectly for a quiet moment with a book, or as a space for entertaining at a moment's notice. The snug on the ground floor, on the other hand, is rich with layered fabrics in serene, neutral shades, while artfully placed plinths display a range of beautiful sculptural pieces.

The house's character comes from a wonderful collection of art and furniture, which was collated by the owner and Rachael at auctions and from small galleries and then skilfully married together. This process is second nature to Rachael, whose design experience mainly lies in procuring, sourcing and furnishing beautiful things for stylish hotels like the Hoxton and Gleneagles. “You can spend more time developing relationships with craftsman and artisan makers on residential interiors, though,” she adds, “which is a joy. She adds that "the owner was also happy to wait for the right piece,” which enabled her to turn to makers and creators like Alfred Newall, Atelier Vime, CC Moulton and Mariza Galani.

The main bedroom has a variety of textures in the same serene family of neutral tones. Even the light above the bed from Pinch Design is soft and textured, satisfyingly matching the light linen curtains. The interesting lamp in the corner is a midcentury design with a bespoke shade from A Shade Above. There are several plinths throughout the house, but this one in the bedroom feels more sculptural and less minimalist.

Christopher Horwood

As well as welcoming larger groups, the house remains a peaceful haven for the owner. Like an excellent therapist, Rachael coaxed the house into a new era and gave it a sense of comfort and warmth. Furniture has been a key part of this, from the shearling chairs – sourced from Twenty Twenty One and 1st Dibs – to the cocooning L-shaped sofa in the downstairs nook. Tactile, natural fabrics and drapery add to the inviting feel; some of them also reflect the owner's Irish heritage, like headboards and window treatments from Mourne Textiles in County Down. Even the pendant light, made from a frothy, natural linen, has a gentle feel.

“Whilst we wanted to maintain the serene feeling, I was keen to introduce some colour,” explained Rachael, “which can feel scary if you're not used to it.” Her solution was to do it through art, like the orange and pink figurative painting by Rebecca Sammon sourced at Partnership Editions, which added fiery, feminine tones to the dining room area, or the dramatic abstract oil painting in the snug.

The small dining room hangs somewhere between formal and relaxed. The Zellige tiles on the fireplace add a polished feel, whilst also reflecting the light around the room. The Pinch Design light above the table has a natural finish, adding warm dappled light in the evening.

Christopher Horwood

This townhouse seems to have been a lesson in patience. The owner had plenty of brilliant pieces, just waiting to find their home amongst the rooms. Rachael and the client were both willing to pause and respect the process of small-scale companies. This is a house designed for the owner (and her beloved pug dog) to luxuriate; like an ultra-elegant boutique hotel, it's soft and personal but still has the ability to impress.

Rachael Gowdridge is a member of The List by House & Garden, our essential directory of design professionals. Visit The List by House & Garden here.

Rachael Gowdridge: rachaelgowdridge.com