No.5
Clara and Robert Walker’s house may be in the centre of a city but it’s still a tranquil oasis for their young family
FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM
HOME TRUTHS
THE PROPERTY Semi-detached Victorian villa
ROOMS Sitting room, kitchendiner/living area, dining room, TV room, bar area, cloakroom, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, dressing room
LOCATION West London
FAMILY ROOM
Striking Aboriginal art flanks joinery that cleverly conceals the television. To the right is a feature wall displaying wine. Jemima sofa in Vintage Linen in Ink Blue, Love Your Home. Artwork, Ronnie Tjampitjinpa. Contorno cushion covers; Pattani Eclipse cushion covers, all Oka. Feature wall, Wine Walls
HALLWAY
The limestone floor was restored and an oversized lantern was added to emphasise the soaring ceiling. Darlana lantern, Andrew Martin. Lloyd chair in Omega Midnight velvet, The Sofa & Chair Company
SITTING ROOM
Brass shelves and a silver and glass coffee table make this a glamorous scheme. Aubrey shelving unit, Eichholtz. Bolzano table lamp, Vaughan
DINING ROOM
The couple’s favourite hues are introduced to this space in the form of blue velvet dining chairs and a yellow contemporary artwork. Artwork, Maria Paola Coda. Beetle dining chairs, Gubi. Ashton extendable dining table, Andrew Martin
KITCHEN
The table, which is made from reclaimed barn wood, adds to the relaxed feel of the space. For similar cabinetry, try the Chichester kitchen by Neptune. Range cooker, Lacanche. Similar Diner 75 pendant in Weathered Brass, Original BTC. Ghost chairs, Kartell
MAIN BEDROOM
A streamlined four-poster bed helps enhance the room’s generous proportions. Ziggy four-poster bed, Porada. Velvet trimmed blanket, Kelling Home. Cushions in Varese velvet fabrics, Designers Guild. Lampshade in Wicker, Fermoie
The home of Clara and Robert Walker may be situated on a busy street in west London but what greets visitors to the Victorian villa is a wonderful sense of calm. ‘The house is set back from the road and it overlooks a private park, so we have lovely green views,’ says Clara, adding, ‘It feels like an oasis in the city.’
Complementing this tranquil vista are chic, neutral interiors punctuated with bold pops of blue, yellow and terracotta. ‘We wanted a simple backdrop to celebrate the architecture, and used colourful pieces of furniture and art to bring in more character,’ explains Clara, who was conscious that the house needed to be practical for their young family comprising twin boys, now aged five, and their daughter, aged one. ‘Most of the fabrics are pretty robust, although we did opt for
