Andrea Benedettini brought a large, detached home to life thanks to a warm colour palette and layered textures enhanced by carefully chosen art and accessories
Can you tell me a bit about the property ? The property is a stunning seven bedroom detached house spanning nearly 10,000 square feet. Originally built in the late 1960s, the house underwent a comprehensive refurbishment and extension in 2019, which included the reconstruction of the rear façade.
When the new owners approached us, it was clear the house had excellent architectural and interior detailing – its ‘bones’ were truly remarkable. Our role was to enhance these strong foundations with our signature touch, layering the spaces with thoughtfully curated furnishings to bring the interiors to life.
Who was your client for this project? Our client’s identity remains confidential, but I can share that they possess an incredible sensitivity to beauty and design. They envisioned a warm, inviting home with a ‘wow’ factor. As art collectors, they also wanted certain areas of the house to feel like curated gallery spaces, showcasing their existing collection alongside new pieces acquired throughout the design process.
Working closely with this client has been an absolute pleasure. From the outset, they demonstrated impeccable taste and a deep appreciation for the value and craftsmanship of beautiful things. Their trust in our vision allowed us to bring their dream to life – a trust that is evident in the results.
What was your starting point for the interior? The starting point for this project was the concept of ‘sculptural with a wow factor and art gallery-feel.’ This vision translated into sculptural forms across the furnishings such as curved sofas, double tiered plaster chandeliers and one-off vessels. The client’s brief was clear: an interior that felt cosy, inviting and luxurious, while also serving as a base layer to let each individual piece shine.
Given the property’s proximity to Hampstead Heath, we incorporated elements of nature into the design. This vision materialized beautifully in the form of a bronze leaf wall sculpture by Alexander Lamont, installed in the entrance hallway. The sculpture subtly guides visitors toward the main family seating area.
Were there any particular challenges you had to overcome? The dining room presented a few unique challenges. Firstly, the floor featured a black polished stone inset within a beautiful limestone border that flows seamlessly from the main living areas. The black stone clashed with the overall design, so it had to go. Our contractors worked with incredible precision to remove the black stone without damaging the limestone border. To elevate the space, we added a bronze trim and inlaid a stunning custom rug made from a blend of jute and wool pile, which instantly made the room feel incredibly cozy.
Another challenge for the Andrea Benedettini studio in the dining room, was the fireplace, which was nearly black—which again, didn’t complement our scheme. The new fireplace we specified came with an exceptionally long lead time, so to meet the project’s deadline we enlisted the expertise of specialist painter Henry Van Der Vijver. He skilfully transformed the existing fireplace with a gorgeous Arabescato Corchia marble effect, adding a refined and timeless touch to the room.
Above all, one of the biggest challenges in the dining room was a last-minute ceiling leak. We worked closely with the main contractor and subcontractors, carefully coordinating the repairs in a well-thought-out sequence to ensure the issue was resolved as quickly as possible. The leak occurred just weeks before project completion, which added an unexpected complication, but we managed to make it work.
Once the ceiling was dried, I was thrilled to see the beautiful hanging chandelier from Apparatus finally installed. It perfectly complements the walls, which were elegantly finished with a Holly Hunt wallcovering, creating a truly stunning and moody space.
How did you decide on the colour palette? Our client preferred a warm, earthy palette and leaned toward textured finishes rather than bold patterns – an approach that perfectly aligned with my own design sensibilities. While we are often recognized for our elegant blue accents, I also have a deep appreciation for rich, earthy tones and aspire to explore this warm, lived-in aesthetic more fully. A step in that direction was this year’s WOW!House Library, where we curated a palette of saffron and ochre tones paired with deep forest greens and chocolate accents.
For this project, we embraced a rich tobacco hue showcased in the family room curved sofa in a tactile Larsen mohair velvet, which pairs beautifully with the off-white plaster walls in the family room. This became the foundation for building the overall colour palette, which features a harmonious mix of browns and rusty tones that speak to one another. For example in the dining room the dining chairs are dressed in an elegant yet practical Perennials chocolate velvet. Nothing competes; instead, there’s a subtle conversation between the spaces, creating an inspiring colour journey throughout the house.
In addition to the warm palette, we explored a variety of textures, including pippy oak, burr walnut veneers, high-gloss parchment, plaster chandeliers, and more. We also used some of my go to colours for the bedrooms such as Stone 2 by Paint and paper Library for the teengaer’s bedroom and Portland Stone for one of the guest bedrooms. Both warm and timeless. The result is an organic, earthy aesthetic that feels both refined and inviting.
Is the furniture all new or did you include vintage pieces? For this project, we incorporated a pair of vintage armchairs, which were carefully restored and reupholstered in a luxurious Holly Hunt bouclé. Additionally, we sourced vintage Swedish brass candlesticks from Willer Gallery, which are beautifully showcased as part of a curated composition on a marble console by Baker in the family room.
What is your favourite design feature? The family room is one of my absolute favourite spaces, thanks to its undeniable wow factor. The double-tiered chandelier by Tatiana Tafur makes a stunning statement as it cascades into the double-height space.
I’m particularly fond of the curated vessels in this room, sourced primarily from Willer and Maud and Mabel galleries. Among them, the sculptural vessel by Paul Phillip stands out as one of my favorite pieces. Its distinctive cracked, tactile texture adds a unique and captivating element to the space. We thoughtfully positioned it on a custom plaster plinth, kindly made for us by Stuart Fox, which enhances the vessel’s presence and creates an art gallery-like feel. Every piece in this room is truly special, each telling its own story of exceptional craftsmanship and artistry.
Another favorite is the cinema room. I love how we wrapped the walls and ceiling in a fabric wallcovering by Philip Jeffries. Extending the wallcovering to the ceiling creates an incredibly cozy atmosphere. The space is further grounded by a beautifully textured jute and wool rug by Tim Page, which adds warmth, while the wall lights from Garnier and Linker introduce a touch of elegance with their textured glass design.
What did you enjoy most about this project? I genuinely love every project we work on. Even those that might not seem particularly exciting at first tend to grow on me over time, as we immerse ourselves in the process – thinking through the design and layering it with intricate details. In one way or another, each project becomes special.
This project, however, was unique from the very beginning. I could tell that the client truly understood the level of furnishings required to complement the interior architecture and was willing to embrace that vision wholeheartedly. I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with them throughout the process, and I am deeply grateful for the trust they placed in me and my creative vision. Being allowed to do my job freely and without constraint is the greatest gift any project can offer.
The final touches are so important, and I felt fortunate to be given free rein to source beautiful sculptures, vessels, and artwork that perfectly completed each room. These finishing elements, brought the spaces to life and added that extra layer of character and refinement.
You can find more of Andrea Benedettini’s work here
(photo credit: Julian Abrams)
