Name: Lauren and Tyler Knight (and their two daughters, due in March)
Location: Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 8 months; rented
Lauren and Tyler's small-but-perfectly-arranged flat in Notting Hill, West London is a testament to their love of travelling, the small pleasures of life, and most of all, each other. It might sound corny to say so (the fact that this tour was shot on Valentine's Day makes it more so), but as anyone who's a fan of Lauren's infinitely readable blog Aspiring Kennedy knows, this is a girl to whom personal relationships with her nearest and dearest are paramount, and nowhere is that more evident than in her home.
When I arrive for the shoot, Tyler is busy dusting (the definition of romance, right?), so Lauren gives me the grand tour, filling me in on the journey that led the couple to this light-filled flat. Having originally moved to the UK so that Tyler could study for his MA at Oxford University three years ago, these two American expats later made their home in London, although their shared love of travelling means they're never in the same spot for too long.
Lauren, who directs study abroad programs for an American university in the UK and France, is a world-class tourist. She travels frequently for work and play, and brings husband Tyler, who has a London-based tech startup, along for the ride whenever possible. This wanderlust definitely influences the way Lauren and Tyler decorate their home: every souvenir tells a story, and the walls and bookshelves are scattered with photos of the couple, living it up (and yes, kissing) in locations all over the globe.
Come next month, however, these two will be hunkering down in Notting Hill for a new adventure: the arrival of their twin daughters. True to form, Lauren prepared for motherhood by creating a cozy and love-filled nursery, aided in part by her good friend Beth Dotolo of Pulp Design Studios. With the shelves filled with children's books Lauren and Tyler have collected together and the walls covered with personal, carefully-chosen artwork, this room already feels like the most welcoming nursery in town.
In fact, the entire home has an effortless, comfortable ambiance, with its mix of antiques, big-boxstore basics and flea market finds. An expat myself, I know how difficult grappling with London's pre-furnished apartments can be, creating your own style while avoiding the pitfall of buying too much filler. Lauren and Tyler have done an admirable job of striking the right balance, and with teamwork like this, it's no wonder.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: I love clean, bright spaces with elements of color added into them.
Inspiration: While I may have worked alongside some amazingly talented interior designers, I've never had to the budget to outfit my home in Missoni rugs with custom pillows and nickel hardware. Instead our flat is full of pieces of our life from around the world: our roots in Texas, our time studying in Oxford, summers spent driving through Italy… and all the places budget airlines have taken us in between. Everything has a story of a special person or place tied to it, and somehow when it's all in one place, our life comes together.
Favorite Element: Finding a space with natural light almost seems far-fetched when looking for a place to live in London. When we stumbled into this flat, we immediately felt like we were home.
Biggest Challenge: The flat came pre-furnished with several pieces we wouldn't necessarily have chosen for ourselves. Working those pieces into our style wasn't easy, but we were fortunate they were relatively neutral. We are also living out of a dorm-sized refrigerator, which, even after living in the UK for three years, seems slightly absurd to me.
What Friends Say: "This place feels like what an apartment in Notting Hill should feel like." We agree.
Biggest Embarrassment: Our couch came with the flat. It's made up of two separate pieces that magically drift at the exact moment you start to get comfortable on it. I would love nothing more than to toss it out the kitchen window.
Proudest DIY: Putting up the Tempaper Wallpaper in the Nursery. I can't even take full credit since my mom stayed up till 3 am hanging it for me while I was seven months pregnant. But man, every time I walk by the nursery, I get a little giddy that my home has something so pretty in it.
Biggest Indulgence: Honestly — nothing! We splurge on traveling; everything else we find in random flea markets or put together with cartoon instructions and an allen wrench.
Best Advice: Buy what you like and buy what you can afford. When I worked in luxury markets, I felt pressured to spend money above my pay grade to buy what was deemed "acceptable." I would disproportionately spend money on things that I thought we had to have in order to create an acceptable home. Fortunately, I became friends with an amazingly talented interior designer who taught me to laugh at the nonsense of "designer" and, instead, showed me the value in making a home that was livable, affordable and filled with things that told our story. Who knew that the secret to creating a home you love came with gaining some self-confidence?
Dream Sources: I would love for Pulp Design to take over my home. We lucked out when they designed our nursery for us. Working with pieces we already had and a really honest budget, they created a space that makes me happy every time I see it. I can only imagine what the rest of our flat would look like if they waved their magic wand over it.
Resources of Note:
ENTRY
- • Console Table: Fashion For Home
• Mirror: Left by previous tenant
• Tray: John Derian
• Rug: IKEA
LIVING ROOM
- • Rug: John Lewis
• Coffee Table: IKEA
• Rose pillow: Inherited from my grandmother
• Blue quilted pillows: Pottery Barn
• TV Stand: Portobello Road Market
KITCHEN
- • Table: IKEA
• Chairs: IKEA
• Corner Cabinet: Antique Market
• Salt & Pepper Stand: Portobello Road Market
BEDROOM
- • Bedding: Restoration Hardware
• Hardware on chest of drawers: Anthropologie
• Chair: Antique
• Gold Mirror: Charity Shop in Oxford
• Tray: Liberty of London
• Glass Bottle: Antique Store in Avignon, France
NURSERY
- • Wallpaper: Tempaper
• Couch: IKEA
• Crib: IKEA
• Chest of drawers: Previous tenant left it here upon move out, we repainted it
• Chest Hardware: Anthropologie
• Lamp: John Lewis
• Gold Animals: Pulp Home
• Rug: IKEA
• Date Print: Ruka Ruka
• Family Illustration: Hue & Hum
Thanks, Lauren and Tyler!
(Images: Eleanor Busing)
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I'm so jealous! Your flat is beautiful, and it does look perfect for Notting Hill, one of my favorite London neighborhoods. Good luck with your new daughters; they'll love being pram pushed around Kensington Gardens!
I really like this. Every room looks so calm and clean.
First of all congrats on your upcoming family additions. I think its so lovely to read about couples that are passionately enjoying life. There are too many people who put this off and then it never happens. Your flat is fantastic, those wide plank floors are amazing. I am also jealous that you live in Notting Hill. My husband and I spent a couple years living in Covent Garden and while that was amazing if I moved back I think I would pick Notting Hill for the charm and neighborhood vibe. Your mirrors are wonderful, add elegance and bounce light around wonderfully. I was itching to add something like a tall vase in your foyer to connect the high and low visual lines. Also I want to move your Bienvenue sign in the kitchen to over the table to tie to your lovely pop of yellow chairs. Very warm, happy apartment; thanks for sharing with AT readers!
Is that a butsudan, in the corner, above the sofa? If so, nice!
How I miss living in Notting Hill! The degree of restraint here is amazing because I could never walk down Portobello Road without coming away with a teapot, cordial glasses, random pieces of porcelain and a bowler hat or something. And is that a dishwasher?! Jealous! Really gorgeous place.
Lovely! light, clean cozy, yes the floors are awesome.
agreed I would not be able to exercise restraint.
thanks AT for including tours from across the pond, though again a floorplan & more wide angle shots is preferable to lots of close ups. Especially of the sink, not sure why that one is here.
It's lovely. My favorite are all of the built-ins (the shelves in the livingroom, and the cabinets in the bedroom...gorgeous!). I love the material and lightness of the floor-length curtains.
But, and this is just a personal peeve, I never understand when people have huge framed photos of themselves in common areas (like the hallway). It seems personal photos like that, and self-portraits make more sense in the bedroom or photo album.
I just love the built ins!! Even though the house is a bit too "white" for me, the colors in the nursery make up for it. I would have liked more shots of the kitchen because I like the idea of seeing a kitchen without a refrigerator the size of a Lincoln Navigator.
Pretty wall paper. Nice built ins.
Since this couple is expecting twins, I imagine they have other priorities than furniture shopping for antiques at flea markets just so they can fill their flat with more interesting furniture than Ikea (I think a mix of Ikea and traditional is fine, myself).
Lauren and Tyler, thank you for showing your home. It's lovely. Those floors make me drool as does the mirror in your bedroom. I'm also struck by how peaceful your home feels - perfect for your little wee ones on the way. Best of luck to the both of you in starting your new family.
If you took the time to read the write up you would have seen the following:
"The flat came pre-furnished with several pieces we wouldn't necessarily have chosen for ourselves. Working those pieces into our style wasn't easy, but we were fortunate they were relatively neutral."
If you are going to take the time to write a negative comment, read the entire post.
I think it is great what they have done with the furniture that was already in their flat!
Where did you get the curtains in the first picture? Love the lightness!
ohh i love how cozy the bed is, especially since it's in a nook - sorry not sure how to put it correctly :p and the red rug! and the kitchen! oh i love everything :)
Seems kind of minimalist to me,but cozy and homey. I love it.
Well done! I just read this post after having dinner at Electric Diner in Notting Hill :) Always nice to see fellow American expats making it work in London.
Charming! Particularly the nursery. I'm completely fine with a mix of Ikea and other higher-end or thrifted/gifted pieces. Give them a break, sheesh, they are a young couple. My own home has such a mix and probably will for a while yet (young family, as well). And, as someone previously mentioned, the flat came partially furnished. Ikea isn't the worst thing in the world. Actually it's pretty awesome. So there.
I love Lauren's nursery! So cute. Especially the wallpaper.
Bonnie Rose | The Compass Rose
You gotta tell me about those book shelves in the living room! Are they built in/did they come with the flat? Or did you do an IKEA hack? Loving your bright, airy space!
@ roberto: As an American who has lived in London, I find this apartment to be beautiful. But exotic just because I am an American? Let's not get carried away.
The apartment is gorgeous! Very bright & simple and I love the nursery! And I disagree with the comment about the photos of the couple- that's what makes a home personal & I think in a small space this is key!
I realy love the way this couple has decorate this appartment. It makes it especial and cozy. I completely agree with the idea of buying things that you can afford and reflect the personality of the owners. Love the photos. Thanks for sharing
did the sofa come with the apartment, or did you purchase it? and if so, from where? i think it's great - looks like two single ones put together.
your place seems cozy and well lived in. congrats!
I love all of your mirrors! Beautiful.
Not sure if anyone went to Lauren's site, but only one of the twins survived. So sad. Hope they recover soon from the loss.
I am very sorry to hear about the loss of "Baby B". Viola is absolutely beautiful. Good luck to Lauren and Tyler....can't imagine.
Hi Lauren! YOU, are a marvelous decorator...with exceptional taste! I am simply convinced that you have created a comfortable home that is not cluttered yet cozy; and with limited space you did this with exquisite flair. I would also like to congratulate you on your list of accomplishments...and hey, I think having Tina Fey as a best friend would be fabulous. I am also very, very sorry for your loss...there are no words in the universe that could ever provide even the slightest measure of comfort for this but I do hope that in time you will be comforted in many ways. Thanks for sharing your life...and your adorable home with us : ) Michael