Name: Katharine & James Howard (and daughter Amelie, 1 year)
Location: South London, United Kingdom
Size: 1600 square feet
Years lived in: Owned; 2 years
Before I ever set foot in Katharine and James' south London home, I knew that it would be beautifully designed to the last detail. After 13 years spent working for UK design bible The World of Interiors, Katharine certainly knows what she likes: a stylish mix of classic British and French country style, with lots of pattern, sparkle and shine.
James, too, works in the London design industry, having managed sales at several of the city's top furniture makers and upholsterers for years. This was a big help when it came to sourcing and re-upholstering much of the couple's furniture; many of the pieces Katharine gravitates toward are antique or traditionally-styled, but the fabrics she loves are modern. The result is a quirky mix of elegant and fun pieces.
Since buying the four-level house two years ago, Katharine and James have left nothing untouched, completely re-painting their home in Farrow & Ball colors and lovingly filling it with the pieces that mean the most to them. But it wasn't only cosmetic work these two undertook; they also completely gutted the kitchen and both bathrooms, turning them from "frightfully dated" to classic and chic.
Despite the serious work already done to their home, Katharine and James have even more in mind for the future. An eventual kitchen extension is planned for downstairs, as is the creation of a new bedroom next door for a future au pair. The top floor attic room, currently unfinished, will make a charming bedroom for daughter Amelie once she outgrows the nursery.
After Amelie's birth last year, Katharine decided not to return to the publishing rat race and instead put her enviable design and sourcing skills (and serious contacts within the design industry) to use for others. She's just launched Katharine Howard Style, a sourcing, styling and design service for busy London clients. The business covers all her passions: fashion, lifestyle goods, and of course, interiors.
"A lot of my work is just personal shopping for busy people, but there's another element" Katharine tells me. "Sometimes clients just need a cheerleader, someone to hold their hand and reassure them that they do have great taste, that everything will look fab. That's where I come in." With design confidence like Katharine's, I have no doubt.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: British chic, classically modern.
Inspiration: I have been inspired by so many fabulous hotels, restaurants, and the gorgeous shoots in my favorite magazines, as well as interior boutiques in London, NY, Paris, Milan, and LA. Another huge source of inspiration for me is visiting flea markets in France, which is a prerequisite for all summer holidays!
Favorite Element: I love the feeling of space in our bedroom and sitting room. We feel so lucky to be on four floors — it's great for parties!
What Friends Say: I think they like it!
Proudest DIY: I have to confess not to have done too much DIY, but James has plenty of proud stories to tell, I'm sure… and I did paint the kitchen floor.
Biggest Indulgence: The fabrics have to be my biggest indulgence. I just can't resist gorgeous linens and hand-blocked prints. They're an investment that really creates the distinctive look we love, and make every piece of furniture that bit more beautiful!
Best Advice: If you're renovating, it would be to use good builders who are as perfectionist as you are!
Dream Sources: Honestly, the same sort of places where I've actually purchased items: high-end fabric houses, French flea markets, the London shops I love. Interior design is my big indulgence; I love being at home, so I try to make it as beautiful as possible!
Resources of Note:
ENTRY
- • Paint: Farrow & Ball Pavilion Grey
• Rug: Ebay purchase from the USA
• Table: Antique (was my grandmother's)
• Curtain fabric: Bennison
LIVING ROOM
- • Paint: Farrow & Ball Blackened
• Rug: Madeline Weinrib
• Chandelier: French flea market
• Fabrics (on sofas, pouffe and cushions): Raoul Textiles, Nicholas Herbert, Madeline Weinrib and Ralph Lauren
• Sofa: A.T. Cronin
• Armchairs: The French Antique Chair Co.
• Prints: Julian Chichester
• Floor lamp: French flea market
DINING ROOM
- • Table: Paul Glover
• Dining chairs: Arne Jacobson
• Armchairs: The French Antique Chair Co., covered with Raoul Textiles fabric
KITCHEN
- • Paint: Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone
• EAT letters: from a flea market in Provence
• Units: Custom built
• Farmhouse sink: reclaimed
• Floor: original stone, painted in Farrow & Ball Railings
PLAYROOM
- • Chair and Footstool: The French Antique Chair Co., reupholstered by A.T. Cronin in Bennison fabric
• Rug: The Rug Company
• Table lamp: French flea market
BATHROOM
- • Tiles: Fired Earth
• Sink & toilet: Bathstore.com
MASTER BEDROOM
- • Paint: Farrow & Ball Borrowed Light
• Rug: The Rug Company
• Bed: Ebay
• Bedside tables: French flea market
• Lamps: Porta Romana
• Barcelona chair: Ebay
• Cushions: Bennison and Madeline Weinrib
AMELIE'S ROOM
- • Paint: Cornforth White
• Rug: The White Company
• Cot: IKEA, but re-painted in Farrow & Ball All White
• Chair: The French Antique Chair Co., covered in Raoul Textiles fabric
Thanks, Katharine & James!
(Images: Eleanor Busing)
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What a lovely home! I have no idea how they'll keep all the whites clean as their daughter gets older but I love it none the less.
I love it! Is there a reason why curtain was used right by the entry way? I am not critisizing, just curious. =)
Amazing home, very artfully composed while remaining subtle, but I'm writing this to compliment you on a gorgeous bathroom.
The curtain by the doorway helps block drafts in older homes.
Oh, how I love your home. The touches of turquoise (my favorite color) throughout, the birds above the chair in your bedroom and that bathroom (wow!). I couldn't put a curtain in front of my door in sunny CA, but I love how it looks personally. Thank you for sharing.
Very nice.
How lovely! I can just imagine Peter Pan lurking outside of your daughter's window.
Love it. Love the wide plank hardwood floors, the rugs, everything. Well done.
We have what seems to be a twin of the hall table, which belonged to my in-laws, though in New England. Curious!
The sweet girl and bunny motifs in Amelie's room -- are those decals? If so, does anyone know where I could find them?
OMG, this place is absolutely stunning. I LOVE the cool blues and whites in various patterns with the gold accents. I think this may be my favorite AT post ever!
And I am considering buying some modern white chairs to go with my farmhouse table. Wasn't sure how they would look, but seeing it here seals the deal for me! LOVE!
Love love LOVE this place. It strikes the right balance between comfy traditional and youthful ambience. Lots of unique furniture and furnishings keep it fun. Color palate is soothing but not dull.
Beautiful home! I love the floor on the main level and that master bedroom is divine. Kitchen seems a little sparse, maybe an island or table?
Favorite house tour to date! Simply beautiful! I love all the pops of patterns and the gold frames with the gray walls. So lovely.
What a lovely home. I love the country "feel" of the kitchen.
wow that bedroom is amazing...
I love everything about this home. Beautiful!
LOVE this house! love the entryway runner (wish it wasn't eBay so i could find my own!). really like the neutral palette with all the beautiful fabrics. love the gold frames/mirrors throughout and the bathroom is divine. beautiful!!
My oh my,those Brits sure have that ethereal beauty thing down pat,dont they? Love it.
Truly Lovely...
So beautiful.
Such a lovely home, beautiful fabrics & plenty of thought has delivered the goods. My only concern is the kitchen, the vast space where the wall oven resides has a past which likely involved a large combustion type stove. Why fill in & board over such awesomeness?
I love the crown molding.
Love, Love Love it! The windows the furniture and the nursery was too cute.
This seems lovely, but the pictures drove me mad. I don't want a close up of a detail of the sink unless I've already seen a wider picture showing how the sink integrates into the rest of the kitchen. I don't want a picture of half a chair and a basket. I don't want to just see corners and bits and bobs. I want a sense of how all of those corners and stuff relate to one another.
An absolutely beautiful home! I love the colors; it projects a feeling of calmness, yet it's not at all dull. I also love how the color flow through the entire home, that is something that I am working on myself and just seeing these pictures greatly inspired me. Just love it all. Very well done!
I've often seen this in in houses in the UK. They don't use storm doors (esp. in the city) the way we do in the US, and the older doors are often very drafty.
What a beautiful home! I love all the fabrics and that Madeleine Weinrib rug is gorgeous.
Love love love your home .... That bed is fantastic and must be hard to leave!
Its very...blue gray and gold. Its a lot to change when you get bored. I got bored pretty quick.
Does anyone know where the sky blue bird print is from?
The nursery decals are from Belle and Boo, a UK company selling their own illustrated children's items. Very cute and nostalgic.
I love your portiere curtain. I'm in the process of fashioning one for my back door.
With regard to the comments on color, photos really do not convey the richness and depth of Farrow & Ball paint. The grays are not 'drafty and chilly' in person.
This is so great and SO MUCH BETTER than the other London home.
I love this home! I want to paint my kitchen floor too. I’m looking for some ideas on internet and I don’t see a lot to inspire me.
I would like to know what type of paint you used for the floor (finish, primer?).
Love it, I could certainly move right in a be perfectly happy there. Great job!
This might be one of my favourite tours to date. I love the elegant greys and blues; the modern mixed with the traditional.
uhm, so i am super in love with your whole house.
AND I AM CRAZY JEALOUS OF YOUR BED. do you mind saying roughly how much you paid for it? i've been on the hunt for a similar one - but in a smaller size (full). haven't had much luck on ebay.
I love your bedroom. I am worried by the distance your oven is from a work top. Thanks for the tour lovely home.
I was struck by the "sameness" of it all. Oh look - more letters. Oh look, more blue-gray paint. Oh look, more hand blocked patterned textiles. Somewhat boring to me.
Stunning. I tend to love modern stuff, but this is really beautifully done. So peaceful and restful--like an oasis in the city.
That entryway is gorgeous!! I happen to love all the blue-gray and find it very comforting; I think all the natural light and wood touches here and there keep it warm.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home. I really enjoyed The tour!
Love it!
The architecture and trim work in this place are lovely. May I suggest putting a shelf under the bum of the wall decal so she doesn't look like she's sitting on nothing?
Lovely use of stark white with blue and gold. Smart touches of gray. I wish I could trade places with the young one - it seems like a great home to grow up in!
You bed is disgustingly beautiful!
Okay...I have seen the house tour...now I am just DISGUSTED! You house is loverly from beginning to the end!
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Therefore most luxury home builders have their own in-house architect that design energy-efficient yet still comfortable houses for sale as well as houses for rent in London. They also offer extensive warranties for each property they build. They will conduct repairs for free during the first year, fix mechanical systems such as electrical wiring and plumbing the next, and offer warranty for structural elements as well.
This exclusive, luxurious and historical vacation home offers the best of both, the old and the new world. These new luxury homes for sale may not be for everyone, but many people continue to strive for more spacious and more lavish homes.
Therefore most luxury home builders have their own in-house architect that design energy-efficient yet still comfortable houses for sale as well as houses for rent in London. They also offer extensive warranties for each property they build. They will conduct repairs for free during the first year, fix mechanical systems such as electrical wiring and plumbing the next, and offer warranty for structural elements as well.
Hello! Im in looove with the living room color paint.. I noticed it said Farrow & Ball blackened but when I google that color it looks more like a peach instead of the grey blue it looks to be in this living room.. is that just the light playing tricks or is the color mislabeled. pls lmk i love love love it!