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A Georgian townhouse in Clerkenwell transformed into a romantic, tactile space for living well
“The aim was to create a comforting, desirable and soft space that the client could be proud of,” says designer Rachael Gowdridge of the Georgian townhouse project she undertook last year. The tall, smokey-bricked facade is synonymous with great London architecture, but the proportions of these houses can be intimidating, and it wasn't immediately clear to the owner how to make this into an elegant home and an inviting place to host.
When Rachael joined the project, the client was struggling to make sense of the geography of her house. Overwhelmed by the unorthodox configuration laid out over several floors, she found it easier to nest in just a few rooms. “She had an amazing existing collection of furniture,” comments Rachael, “she just needed some guidance about how to marry different eras and make it sing together.”
The house wasn't lacking in charm, acknowledges Rachael, but its previous renovation hadn't been entirely sympathetic. “The previous owners had modernised it somewhat,” she explains, “so we needed to bring back some of the Georgian foundations by replacing ceiling roses and cornicing." Rachael's holistic approach means she takes inspiration from the area, period and personality of the building, rather than imposing her own style.
There were challenges to the centuries-old architecture, including some narrow spaces, wonky walls and dark-stained floorboards, but both designer and client were determined to work with and enhance the bones of the building, and avoid smoothing all the crookedness out. And so the pair set about collaborating on a transformation that would make the house feel complete and comfortable, whether there was just one person in it or a whole houseful.
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.
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.
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