Zoie’s Central London Sanctuary

Name: Zoie Kingsbery Coe, founder of Kid & Coe
Location: Marylebone, London
Size: 1000 square feet
Years lived in: 6 years; owned

The location of Zoie Kingsbery Coe’s central London home is hard to beat. Situated in a tranquil and beautiful old mansion block, the apartment is tucked away, yet right in the heart of Marylebone with all the buzz of the city just moments away. The flat is the London home of Zoie, her husband and their two kids. The family lived here full time before moving to New York a few years ago and they now use the flat as their London base.

They visit often for work and when they arrive, they want it to instantly feel like home. Clever planning and design (such as the bespoke beds) means that they can slip instantly back into London life.

Using the architectural features of the building itself as inspiration, the family has made the most of the space with simple, stylish and timelessly elegant decoration.The large living and dining area serves as the perfect entertaining and family space. With a fireplace at each end, huge windows overlooking the streets below and original wooden paneled walls it’s a real sanctuary from busy city life.

As well as being a home from home for the family, the apartment is also available for short breaks through Zoie’s company Kid & Coe, which specializes in family-friendly vacation home rentals.

My Style: Classic with a subversive twist. I like to mix high and low, classic and punk. I love the feeling of taking traditional elements, such as the black and white ticking curtains, mixed up with the crazy hot pink Lucite picture frames and a Baroque mirror.

Inspiration: The building itself inspires me – it’s an old mansion block with period details and an ornate cornicing around the ceiling. I’ve used it as a starting point, with things like the Baroque mirror, but reined it in so it’s balanced.

Favorite Element: I love the wallpaper in the hall – it makes me happy every time I see it.

Biggest Challenge: The size. The apartment is quite petite so everything has to have a place. It is our home of course, but because we open our doors to guests through Kid & Coe, it is also a rental flat. Flow and simplicity are important. Organization is key!

What Friends Say: They love it. Friends visit from New York to stay for fashion week and for them its homey and in a great location. The fact that it’s close to Selfridges doesn’t hurt either…

Biggest Embarrassment: I don’t love the master bathroom. There’s nothing really wrong with it, but we haven’t quite got to it yet. When you own a home, there’s always something you haven’t completed!

Proudest DIY: My husband designed our bed – it’s a precise height off the ground so our suitcases fit under it neatly.

Biggest Indulgence: That gorgeous bed again. It’s from Savoir beds and is custom made with a custom headboard and frame.

Best Advice: Try not to do it all at once. It’s hard to know how you’ll live in a flat and where things will go, so you have to work with the nuances of it a little. It’s like a relationship – and it feels less ‘designed’ that way. Also, shop local – we are spoilt with an address off Marylebone High Street where there are fantastic design stores, including the Conran Shop.

Dream Sources:

• Graham & Green
• Mint for eclectic English design
• John Lewis for all things practical
• Little White Company for kids beds, linen and toys
• Designers Guild for sumptuous fabrics

Thanks, Zoie!

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