Houzz Tour: A West London Home Inspired by Travels to Hot Climes
A fresh start, far-flung holidays and a few beautiful heirlooms were the stylistic foundation for this colourful, creatively decorated home
Unless you’re moving into your first-ever home, it’s unusual to come to a new house and need to start, pretty much, from scratch. But that’s exactly how it was for interior designer Juliette Byrne when she and her two daughters moved into their four-bedroom townhouse in Fulham six years ago.
It was by no means Juliette’s first home, but the family’s previous property had been a barge on the River Thames in Chelsea. ‘As the children were growing up, I decided it was time for a return to land,’ she says. ‘And I’d always loved the area, which has a nice community atmosphere and is full of little bistros and parks,’ – handy for walking the family’s ‘very barky’ Jack Russell, Minty.
‘I had very little on the boat, so most of the furniture is new to the house,’ Juliette explains, ‘though I did bring a few pieces left to me by my parents, such as my mother’s ladder-backed Hungarian desk chair and a pair of 1950s blue Italian armchairs.’ Other pieces have largely been sourced locally, from a mix of the independent interiors shops, bigger-name design stores and antiques shops all virtually the doorstep of Juliette’s home or Chelsea studio – which also makes shopping for her job easier, too. ‘I’m always out sourcing for clients and often see things for myself,’ she says with a laugh, ‘but unfortunately my budget is not always so generous.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Designer Juliette Byrne, her daughters, aged 18 and 21, and Minty the Jack Russell
Location Fulham, London
Period Victorian
Designer Juliette Byrne
Size 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 en suite)
It was by no means Juliette’s first home, but the family’s previous property had been a barge on the River Thames in Chelsea. ‘As the children were growing up, I decided it was time for a return to land,’ she says. ‘And I’d always loved the area, which has a nice community atmosphere and is full of little bistros and parks,’ – handy for walking the family’s ‘very barky’ Jack Russell, Minty.
‘I had very little on the boat, so most of the furniture is new to the house,’ Juliette explains, ‘though I did bring a few pieces left to me by my parents, such as my mother’s ladder-backed Hungarian desk chair and a pair of 1950s blue Italian armchairs.’ Other pieces have largely been sourced locally, from a mix of the independent interiors shops, bigger-name design stores and antiques shops all virtually the doorstep of Juliette’s home or Chelsea studio – which also makes shopping for her job easier, too. ‘I’m always out sourcing for clients and often see things for myself,’ she says with a laugh, ‘but unfortunately my budget is not always so generous.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Designer Juliette Byrne, her daughters, aged 18 and 21, and Minty the Jack Russell
Location Fulham, London
Period Victorian
Designer Juliette Byrne
Size 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 en suite)
Colour is also important to Juliette and she doesn’t shy away from strong shades. ‘I wanted to create a home that was full of colour and had a very positive feel,’ she says, reflecting on a palette inspired by trips to the Far East and the Caribbean.
Black table lamp, Andrew Martin. Coffee table, Zimmer + Rohde. Peggy floor lamp, Gong.
Black table lamp, Andrew Martin. Coffee table, Zimmer + Rohde. Peggy floor lamp, Gong.
The images above the sofa were designed by Juliette’s late mother, who was Hungarian. ‘They were from her portfolio,’ she explains. ‘She originally worked for the Hungarian opera, designing costumes, and then went on to do artwork for advertising and film. I inherited all these and had them framed when we moved. They add lots of colour and were the starting point for the house, really. I got a professional picture hanger to arrange them – it took an entire morning. Getting the heights and proportions just right is quite an art.’
Mushroom sofa, Robert Langford.
Be inspired to create a different type of colourful gallery on your wall
Mushroom sofa, Robert Langford.
Be inspired to create a different type of colourful gallery on your wall
Doing up her own home, says Juliette, has been quite different to working for her clients. ‘My “working look” is very much classic and muted,’ she says, ‘so for home I wanted to mix it up.’
Moon Disk Drum table, Valerie Wade. Sofa, vintage, but the Deep Dream velvet two-seater from Graham & Green is similar.
Moon Disk Drum table, Valerie Wade. Sofa, vintage, but the Deep Dream velvet two-seater from Graham & Green is similar.
Juliette describes her interiors style as ‘quite eclectic’. ‘A bit of vintage, a bit of Habitat, a bit of Conran,’ she says. The trick to tying it all together into a coherent look, she suggests, is to stick to one era’s aesthetic for furniture, even when mixing old and new – and Juliette’s preferred period for the house is midcentury.
Mirror; chair; lamp, all vintage. Trestle desk legs, Habitat (glass top was added and is bespoke). Textured Grass wallpaper, Altfield. Walnut flooring, Solid Floors.
Mirror; chair; lamp, all vintage. Trestle desk legs, Habitat (glass top was added and is bespoke). Textured Grass wallpaper, Altfield. Walnut flooring, Solid Floors.
The house had already been extended at the back when Juliette bought it, ‘but it had some strange gothic doors to the garden, which we replaced with bifolds,’ she says.
She also had the place rewired, put in new walnut floors, and did the garden and kitchen. The cherry blossom branches in the vase on the table are from the tree in Juliette’s garden.
Walls painted in Jaipur Dusk, Designer’s Guild. Dining table, Dwell. Floor lamp, Michael Reeves. Eames DSW chairs, The Conran Shop. Romeo Moon pendant lights, Flos.
She also had the place rewired, put in new walnut floors, and did the garden and kitchen. The cherry blossom branches in the vase on the table are from the tree in Juliette’s garden.
Walls painted in Jaipur Dusk, Designer’s Guild. Dining table, Dwell. Floor lamp, Michael Reeves. Eames DSW chairs, The Conran Shop. Romeo Moon pendant lights, Flos.
‘We always have the doors open in the summer,’ says Juliette. The garden was previously ‘a wasteland’, but she has transformed it into a neat and welcoming green space.
‘The wooden strips at the end are a nice focal point, but also good for climbers, and I have planted Clematis montana and wisteria, which are both sweet smelling in the spring and summer.’ The cherry tree is just out of shot on the right of the photograph.
Got your own small urban garden? Check out these clever design ideas
‘The wooden strips at the end are a nice focal point, but also good for climbers, and I have planted Clematis montana and wisteria, which are both sweet smelling in the spring and summer.’ The cherry tree is just out of shot on the right of the photograph.
Got your own small urban garden? Check out these clever design ideas
The white kitchen is from Magnet, but Juliette added her own Caesarstone worktops. The most striking detail in this room, however, has to be the built-in fish tank. ‘Everyone loves the fish tank!’ says Juliette.
‘It was a window when we moved in, but the view overlooked the neighbours, so this was really just a good way to block in the window. The self-feeding tank is fitted with lights. It’s only accessible from the exterior, and someone comes to clean it regularly.’
Kitchen units, Magnet. Dishwasher, Miele.
‘It was a window when we moved in, but the view overlooked the neighbours, so this was really just a good way to block in the window. The self-feeding tank is fitted with lights. It’s only accessible from the exterior, and someone comes to clean it regularly.’
Kitchen units, Magnet. Dishwasher, Miele.
‘This is where the girls and their friends spend most time hanging out. The house is always full of teenagers,’ says Juliette.
And the space, which is next to the dining area, is every teenager’s dream (not to mention a few oldies’, too). There’s a large TV, twinkly fairy lights for a cosy glow after dark, and a vintage-style pink record player, which gets good use from Juliette’s youngest daughter, an avid vinyl collector. The silver-leaf wallcovering has a slightly antiqued effect, which, Juliette says, ‘makes it warmer’.
Made-to-order Zebra rug, Loomah. Floor lamps, Best & Lloyd. 1950s corduroy chair, vintage, The French House. Brass Frette side tables, Lombok. Wallcovering, Altfield.
And the space, which is next to the dining area, is every teenager’s dream (not to mention a few oldies’, too). There’s a large TV, twinkly fairy lights for a cosy glow after dark, and a vintage-style pink record player, which gets good use from Juliette’s youngest daughter, an avid vinyl collector. The silver-leaf wallcovering has a slightly antiqued effect, which, Juliette says, ‘makes it warmer’.
Made-to-order Zebra rug, Loomah. Floor lamps, Best & Lloyd. 1950s corduroy chair, vintage, The French House. Brass Frette side tables, Lombok. Wallcovering, Altfield.
The cherry blossom wallpaper in Juliette’s room continues the oriental theme dotted around the house and is enhanced by a flash of petal pink on the cushions. The jade green-topped bench at the foot of the bed is another 1950s heirloom from Juliette’s parents.
Ikebana wallpaper, Knowles & Christou. Walls painted in Stony Ground, Farrow & Ball.
Ikebana wallpaper, Knowles & Christou. Walls painted in Stony Ground, Farrow & Ball.
Juliette’s en suite bathroom is painted in the same shade as the bedroom. The dyed sheepskin rug does the same job as a bathmat, but adds an extra layer of style. The large-scale floor tiles are porcelain. ‘They look like stone, but are more practical,’ says Juliette.
The built-in cupboards are made from MDF, but were spray-painted with satin lacquer paint mixed to match the walls. The delicate pendant light adds softness to the modern space. ‘It came flat-packed,’ Juliette says, ‘and each flower had to be hand-built. It took nearly a day to assemble!’
Pendant light, John Lewis. Floor tiles, European Heritage. Find a similar bath at CP Hart.
The built-in cupboards are made from MDF, but were spray-painted with satin lacquer paint mixed to match the walls. The delicate pendant light adds softness to the modern space. ‘It came flat-packed,’ Juliette says, ‘and each flower had to be hand-built. It took nearly a day to assemble!’
Pendant light, John Lewis. Floor tiles, European Heritage. Find a similar bath at CP Hart.
This bold bedroom belongs to Juliette’s youngest daughter, Bonnie, and the African theme was inspired by a trip to Morocco.
Lion wallpaper, Elitis. Dressing table, Graham & Green.
Lion wallpaper, Elitis. Dressing table, Graham & Green.
Juliette’s eldest daughter, Celia, has gone for full-on glamour in her grown-up room. A mirrored chest of drawers with gold detailing – a reproduction from a local shop – looks wonderfully opulent against the dramatically floral wall.
Mirror, Graham & Green. Angelique wallpaper, Florimund collection at Designer’s Guild.
TELL US…
Which ideas would you steal from this eclectic home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Mirror, Graham & Green. Angelique wallpaper, Florimund collection at Designer’s Guild.
TELL US…
Which ideas would you steal from this eclectic home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Photograph, Trowbridge Gallery. Rug, The Rug Company. Vintage C Jeré/Artisan House 1960s wall sculpture, Talisman. Stool, found in a shop in LA. Sofa, vintage, but find similar at Brissi.