Mansion in London: interior in English style

19th century mansion in Hampstead

For the Studio Peregalli decorator duo, epochs and styles have become a kind of artistic palette when creating a historical interior in a 19th-century mansion in Hampstead. Their project is a guide to creating an interior design in the English style.

Living room. The sofa of the XIX century is upholstered in fabric, Madeleine Castaing, behind it is an office of the XVII century, Holland. On the right is a chair of the era of Napoleon III in the original upholstery, on the ceiling is an old Russian chandelier. The antique parquet was removed and transported here from the previous owners' house, the doors are made to order from walnut.

Photo

Simon Upton

The title of the monograph dedicated to the work of decorators Roberto Peregalli and Laura Sartori Rimini brilliantly reflects their approach to interiors and, in particular, interiors in the English style: "The Invention of the past". The works of this Milanese duo always address history with unsurpassed grace, but never directly repeat the styles of the past.

"Nothing is copied verbatim, our projects are always a reinterpretation, a dream of the past," says Roberto, and Laura adds: "The purpose of our work is to create the impression that these interiors have always been there." An old mansion in London's Hampstead, built in the style of the Arts and Crafts movement, has become an ideal place to demonstrate this creative approach.

Library with an oval dome. The boiseries on the walls are decorated with painted panels from the Milanese house of Renzo Mongardino. The ceiling is covered with stucco. Red sofas upholstered in silk velvet, with carvings and gilding (one of the XIX century, the second is a new copy of it). The sofa, upholstered in green corduroy, is made to order. The Victorian ottoman in the role of a coffee table is covered with fabric, Madeleine Castaing. Chandelier of the XIX century from Russia, leather armchair and desk, XIX century, originally from England, curtains made to order in patchwork style, Turkish ushak carpet, XVIII century

Photo

Simon Upton

The majestic brick mansion was built for himself in 1881 by architect Basil Champ. Among his acquaintances were Robert Louis Stevenson and the essayist Walter Pater, and his main works include the John Rylands Library in Manchester, resembling a Gothic temple, and the first English women's college, Newnham in Cambridge. The facade of the house has changed little over the years. It boasts Flemish gables, four central chimney chimneys and beautiful windows with transoms, which cannot be said about the interiors.

The house has elegant proportions and a rich past. The only thing he needed was a new environment

A series of alterations in the twentieth century almost completely deprived them of any architectural advantages. In the late 1950s, the house was converted into apartments for artists. "Most of all it was like a hippie commune," says Sartori Rimini. Then in 1984, the building again turned into a private house, an indoor swimming pool was attached to it. "The interior looked pretty flashy and was completely devoid of any charm," complains Peregalli.

The facade of the house facing the garden.

Photo

Simon Upton

All that was there were marble floors, plain white walls and slides of artificial stone that descended to the pool. However, this did not prevent the new owners, an Italian couple with three children, from falling in love with the mansion at first sight. "The house has a rich past, elegant proportions.

The only thing he needed to shine again in all its splendor was in a new beautiful environment," says the hostess. — Besides, after 20 years of living in Chelsea, I dreamed of a garden and a dog. There's an acre of real treasures here, from the rose garden to the vegetable garden. We call this place our London country house." The biggest change affected the extension with a swimming pool.

View from the dining room to the library. The old parquet was transported from the previous owners' house.

Photo

Simon Upton

He himself was moved to the ground floor, and in his place on the ground floor Peregalli and Sartori Rimini created a luxurious library, the interior of which is built around Ottoman portraits of the XVIII century. These images on wooden panels once decorated the Milan house of the legendary Italian decorator Renzo Mongiardino, who was a friend of Peregalli's parents.

Canteen. Dining table and chairs of the XIX century, cushions on chairs made of Italian fabric, Bennison. Consoles and lamps, XIX century, wooden door frames painted in marble. Vintage Chinoiserie-style wallpaper has been restored. Persian carpet, XIX century.

Photo

Simon Upton

"He often came to our house," recalls Roberto, "for me he was the Socrates of our days, his influence is immeasurable." The library is crowned by an oval glass dome, a kind of reminiscence of British domed buildings of the XIX century, such as the Crystal Palace, erected for the First World Exhibition in London. "We wanted to add an architectural element typical of England of those years," says Sartori Rimini.

Breakfast room. The walls are decorated with fragments of hand-painted wallpaper of the XVIII century. A Moroccan lamp, XIX century, hangs over a table covered with Persian cloth. English chairs, XIX century.

Photo

Simon Upton

Another change that the decorators planned — to increase the staircase between the first and second floors — could not be done. Although this architectural element from the time of the construction of the house did not preserve the original railing, the Commission for the Protection of Monuments still did not give permission for its reconstruction. However, the designers did not want to abandon their idea and added a scale to the staircase due to the wooden balustrade.

A fragment of wallpaper from the XVIII century became the starting point of the interior of the breakfast room

The old parquet moved from the former house of the customers, and the stucco on the ceiling brought genuine grandeur to the interiors of the mansion. The designers decided to beat the image of England as a country of travelers bringing goods from all over the world. The doors of the men's dressing room are covered with Spanish tiles of the XIX century, a fragment of hand-painted wallpaper of the XVIII century in the Chinoiserie style became the starting point for the interior of the breakfast room, and the murals on the walls of the living room are inspired by the Deer Gallery in Fontainebleau, which depicts the royal forest lands from a bird's-eye view.

Kitchen. The kitchen island is made of an antique plate of the XIX century, topped with a countertop of Carrara marble. Lamp, the beginning of the XX century, France. The walls are lined with ceramic tiles, XIX century, Portugal.

Photo

Simon Upton

"It's like an English owner visited there and then wanted to create something similar at home," explains Peregalli. It was not easy to find high-class craftsmen to implement the project. So, the decorators found a manufactory capable of creating the conceived carpet for the master bedroom in France, and the search for a master who could make green tiles for the pool took several months.

View from the dressing room to the bathroom. The doors in the dressing room are covered with Spanish tiles of the XVII (right) and XIX century (left), as well as custom-made walnut panels. The sinks in the bathroom are made of Carrara marble, the floor and walls are lined with green Carrara marble.

Photo

Simon Upton

"We have ideas, but there are not always people who are able to implement them, and this is a big problem," Laura regrets. However, you can't do without the talent to invent the past at all.

Guest bedroom. The walls, headboard and bedspread are made of the same cotton, Braquenie, pillows are decorated with embroidery of the XIX century, bedside tables, Italy, XIX century, striped rug, England.

Photo

Simon Upton

Ian Phillips
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