The dream family home on Old Brompton Road

Walk west from South Kensington station along the Old Brompton Road and you will pass tall mansion blocks, grand Victorian villas and the gardens of Onslow Square. Opposite these gardens lies a charming terrace of stucco-trimmed houses.

At one end of this terrace stands the headquarters of the Royal Society of Sculptors. It occupies a beautiful red-brick townhouse with decorative Flemish details and regularly hosts exhibitions of contemporary work. Meanwhile, the neighbouring houses are set back from the street, with planted front gardens giving added privacy.

When OWN London started work on one of these properties, it consisted of two previously tenanted flats in a basic condition. In 2022, they began renovating the properties, spending eleven months turning them into the dream family home.

The rooms were laid out inefficiently, which meant the new design had to maximise space while bringing in light. So, the design team moved the living spaces, creating a double reception room on the ground floor that could be used for both formal and everyday events, while the lower ground was turned into a kitchen with direct garden access.

The outdoor spaces were also updated. The garden shed became an attractive home office with a terrazzo-topped coffee table, a Rowen and Wren armchair and Soane Britain wallpaper. Even more impressive is the renovated roof terrace, which features outdoor seating, a wooden hot tub and glorious views of the London skyline.

Guidance on the design came from the American clients, who hoped to embrace a traditional London home, while adding more vitality. At the same time, OWN London wanted to make sure the house was a functional living space, which ‘enabled everyday living but masked the messiness,’ as Alex summarises.

For instance, the ground floor bar offers an ideal space for relaxing or entertaining. However, it also contains valuable storage space and a utility cupboard, the units are given an artistic finish in antique brass to disguise their practical purpose. The television is similarly hidden behind decorative joinery.

Although not a large property, the variety of spaces makes the house feel much bigger. Each room has its own identity, answering every need from ‘a quiet drink on the roof terrace to a vibrant party in the garden or retreating into a private master suite.’

That suite offers an elegant bedroom, a dressing room that combines cosy joinery with a fresh mint green colour scheme, and a marble bathroom with a large bath beside the window. Every detail is carefully considered, from the rug choices and art objects to the decorative Maison Sarah Lavoine bedside tables.

The same attention to detail can be found on the first floor, where the team managed to fit three bedrooms into a compact space. Two of the bedrooms are separated by sliding pocket doors, which can be drawn back to create a shared play area. Meanwhile, the fabrics add texture and vibrancy to the space, with upholstered headboards, trimmed alcoves and patterned rugs.

The furniture was also chosen with care. For example, the ground-floor drawing room is filled with hand-crafted items, including a sofa upholstered in George Spencer fabrics, side tables from Moroccan brand LRNCE and a console table in the hallway sourced from Porto. Furthermore, the fireplace in the dining area has a bespoke marble surround and handmade glazed terracotta tiles from Sugaroni.

The team at OWN hopes that future owners will appreciate this unseen effort, whether the inbuilt speakers and security, or the air conditioning with fan heating throughout.

‘I think it ticks all the boxes in terms of what you would need for living in London,’ Alex concludes. 'Outside space, entertainment space, quiet office space, comfortable bedroom space, as well as the roof terrace. This home has everything you could want.’