Notting Hill: A magical transformation of the 19th century house into a cosy family home

 Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom

Architecture: Michaelis Boyd

Interior Design: Olivia Williams Studio

Gardens: Butter Wakefield

Photography © Henry Bourne

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An expansive, seven-story Grade II listed historic property located in Central London. Spectacular original features have been allowed to shine in this updated elegant family home, while every detail from custom wallpaper to reupholstered vintage furniture was deeply considered to create a lasting and personal impression.

Olivia Williams Studio: There is so much romance in this era of architecture. All of the original architraves and detailing within the house remains, which gives it such wonderful character. We updated and modernized the house to make it a contemporary home that is respectful of its original history.

Structural changes were limited to maintaining the original features like cornicing, baseboards, and the dado rail, highlighting a dedication to reinstating relevant historical elements.

Olivia Williams Studio: I believe that we have a relationship to the things we surround ourselves with, not in a materialistic way, but in the sense that objects have stories to tell. Antiques and furnishings have their own history: there is the person or people that made it, the artistry that goes into it, the hands it has passed through, and the lives it has seen.

Olivia Williams Studio: A home must be comfortable as well as functional. Over time, it will endure love and wear. Using high quality materials and textiles throughout a home, especially in children’s rooms, means they last the distance and age beautifully, even with happy accidents.

Rather than directly beneath the house, the strategic placement of a pool beneath the garden exemplifies the commitment to preserving the building’s historical integrity.