Interior designers Carla Dutra of Studio Griz and Débora Foresti of Studio Foresti both trained as architects in Brazil but met in London. They have collaborated on projects since 2022 including the remodelling of this family home
Can you tell me a bit about the property? The building is a Grade II Georgian townhouse in St John’s Wood. At ground floor it has a double living room (formal and TV room) and cloakroom. At first floor it has the office and master bedroom, walk-in closet and master bathroom. At second floor it has the boys’ bedroom, a bathroom and a playroom. At basement level it has the kitchen, utility and patio. At lower basement level (vault) it has a TV/guest room and a shower room.
Who was your client for this project? Our clients were a family: a couple with two children. They are Brazilian expats, who had lived in New York prior to moving to London.
What was your starting point for the interior? Our original brief was to redesign the living room and hallway of this Grade II listed Georgian house but it became a comprehensive remodelling and interior redesign of the entire home. Preserving and highlighting the period architectural features was very important to us and bridging this gap between period architecture and modern interiors aesthetics became our main focus. So, on the ground floor the moulding serves as a bridge between the period architecture of the building and the modern interior design. We saw this as a contemporary interpretation of Georgian panelling and decided to incorporate it to blend the subdued elegance of the architecture with the client’s interior design preferences. (learn more about working with historical buildings)
Were there any particular challenges you had to overcome? One of the challenges was during implementation of the panelling mouldings on the GF, we discovered the wall between the living rooms was askew, complicating the moulding application. After careful consideration and client persuasion, we decided to proceed with installation. Ultimately, the mouldings accentuated the building’s character, proving essential to the cohesive design vision. Another challenge was with the furniture positioning of the living room, as the fireplace wasn’t centralised in the space and we had the doorway on the opposite wall. We overcame this by selecting a curved sofa arrangement that not only provided a practical seating solution but also artfully navigated the asymmetry.
How did you decide on the colour palette? Our client wanted a neutral palette, so we implemented a palette of muted greys and beige tones while enhancing it with natural textures. Incorporating elements like natural oak flooring, bronze accents and richly textured rugs we created warmer and more inviting spaces. The introduction of these materials produces a layered effect, making each space feel inviting and lived-in without relying heavily on colour. Greenish-blue tones provide subtle colour accents that compliment the overall neutral scheme. This allowed us to maintain a cohesive look while incorporating elements of colour where they could have the most impact.
Is the furniture all new or did you include vintage pieces? Some of the furniture was the client’s already and we either kept it as it was or reupholstered it. All the other pieces were new.
What is your favourite design feature? We are very proud of the mouldings on the ground floor – we think it goes beautifully with the restored cornice. But also, on the top floor, in the boys’ room, at an investigation before demolition, we found we could open up the ceiling to follow the line of the roof. This gave us the opportunity to not only breathe a sense of space in this small room but also have fun – we opted for a stylish wallpaper (from Tektura) in the ceiling and took advantage of the alcove on the side of the previously blocked chimney breast to create some storage.
What did you enjoy most about this project? Design wise it was the opportunity to work on a Grade II listed building, with all the heritage and features that come with that architecture, and bring a contemporary and fresh interior design, which is so representative of the clients and their heritage.
On a more general note, the team of contractors working on this project made it more enjoyable but especially, the client and the relationship that was formed with them. Their feedback, even after a few months of completion, was so positive, we will always have good memories of this project.
Find out about Carla Dutra of Studio Griz and Débora Foresti of Studio Foresti here
