Writer Damian Dibben lives in London’s South Bank with his partner Ali and their three dogs Dudley, Daphne, and Velvet. Damian bought this flat two decades ago, before it became the fashionable area that it is today. Maybe it was the floor-to-ceiling windows or the unusual layout, but Damian fell for this flat and has been lovingly renovating ever since, using it as a creative outlet in all sorts of ways. “The apartment is in constant evolution. I also make, or have made, a good deal of my furniture: tables, cupboards, cabinets,” Damian tells me.

From building his own asymmetric dining table that is edged with brass, to creating a bookshelf that doubles up as sliding doors to the bedroom, to reconstructing walls to create a second bedroom mezzanine to make the most of the high ceiling, Damian has really added his own quirky personality in his home and created something that is truly one of a kind.

My Style: Eclectic, classical, modern, dramatic, mid-century, exotic.

Inspiration: Everything! From NASA images of space, to 18th century Chinoiserie.

Favorite Element: A hand-painted mural of a Brazilian landscape, on which I hand painted further elements. Or an 18th century screen, which I restored and covered in Rubelli silk brocade.

Biggest Challenge: Trying to make myself stop new projects. The apartment is in constant evolution. I also make, or have made, a good deal of my furniture: tables, cupboards, cabinets.

What Friends Say: Seems to go down well.

Biggest Embarrassment: Once painting a bathroom dark purple (though the color can look nice elsewhere).

Proudest DIY: I made an asymmetric dining table, edged with brass. It looks modern and classic at the same time.

Biggest Indulgence: A giant blue and gold lamp by Barbier.

Best Advice: Very obvious I suppose, but have nothing but the things you love—and lots of lamps.

Dream Sources: De Gournay, Zuber, B&B Italia, Paul McCobb, Barbier, Hans Wegner, Maloof, Rubelli.

PAINT & COLORS
Farrow & Ball — Pavilion Grey, Cornforth White, Strong White
Paint and Paper Library — Artichoke, Scallion, Pale Georgian

ENTRY
Light box by Hiroyuki Masuyama, after Caspar Friedrich

LIVING ROOM
Sofa — Classic Ligne Rosset
Cushions — Conran, Designer’s Guild, Habitat
Velvet bench — Made.com
Handmade cabinets, table in birch ply and oak.
Persian rugs
Chandelier — Flos

DINING ROOM
Adjustable table – Ligne Roset
Handmade asymmetric table
Rug — Designer’s Guild

KITCHEN
Miele washing machine, dryer, dishwasher
John Lewis hob and oven
Handmade birch ply cupboards
Hand-cut oak worktop

BEDROOM
Hypnos mattress on handmade base.
Headboard custom made, J Lewis.

BATHROOM
Hudson Reed appliances – Taps, bath

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