THE STORY
Owner: Karen Radley, founder of fashion trade show Scoop, lives here with her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Perry
Property: A two-storey maisonette set within a Georgian townhouse in north-west London
Essential repairs: An 18-month overhaul of the property during the 1990s, stripping back the interior and reinstating period features. Later in 2012 the entire property was redecorated, rewired, replumbed and fitted with a new kitchen and bathroom
Stepping into Karen Radley’s townhouse maisonette is more like entering from a rue in Paris’ Saint-Germain district than a quiet road in north London. And once in the living room you are dazzled by a scene of French elegance reminiscent of a baroque salon.
What the property lacks in size it certainly makes up for in splendour. Chandeliers sparkle, gilt frames glimmer, and sumptuous velvets twinkle from the upholstered seats of antique furniture. Filled with exquisite antiques, luxurious surfaces and vibrant hues, Karen’s home is like a jewellery box of glistening treasures. ‘I’d describe it as vintage boho meets 19th-century Paris,’ she says. Yet this scene of opulence is a far cry from how it was when Karen moved in.
Built in 1818, the townhouse had been divided into three dwellings in the 1960s, and when Karen bought the maisonette in 1989 some horrors from its reconfiguration still remained. ‘It had lowered false ceilings with huge eyeball spotlights, wall-to-wall anaglypta paper, and most of the period features had been removed.’ says Karen.
Find out how she transformed the space, then check out more real home transformations. Check out our guide to renovating a house, too.
Terracotta pots of box spheres lead the way up the tiled steps to the front door
Undeterred by the dated décor, Karen knew the property had the potential to become her perfect home and was won over by its handsome proportions, large sash windows and romantic history.
False ceilings were removed to restore the living room to its full height. The lost fireplace and cornicing were reinstated. The jacquard velvet sofa fabric and linen curtain fabric were from Designers Guild
‘It was built by an army captain for his two spinster sisters, and started life as a dancing school,’ says Karen. ‘The property spoke to me straight away. I knew I could make it my own and was excited by the challenge.’
The sitting room is linked to the dining area by elegant mirrored bi-fold doors. A circular dining table makes the most of the space and is adorned with a magnificent bouquet from The Urban Flower Company. Antique chairs have been handpainted by A&M Restoration and upholstered in Designers Guild velvet; the sideboard came from Hampstead Antique Emporium
Karen says bringing her unique style to the space has been a real labour of love. After moving in she quickly got to work stripping the rooms and reinstating lost period features. She was keen to make it as faithful as possible to the era, so did plenty of research and enlisted the help of specialist tradespeople.
The showstopping iron balustrade came from an antiques shop on Caledonian Road and was handpainted by bespoke decorators Christie & Co for an antique look. The ground floor has been fitted with Junckers solid wood flooring, which has been bleached and painted
To return the home to its former grandeur, cornicing was installed by plasterer Tony Byrne and traditional fireplaces were fitted by Browns of London. Karen loves chandeliers, so didn't waste much time replacing the 1960s spotlights with antique fittings.
To make the most of the tight space, Karen chose a bespoke Shaker-style kitchen with plenty of cupboards, finished in Little Greene’s Bone China Blue. A vintage kilim patchwork rug from Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and a blind in Colefax & Fowler’s Heywood fabric add colour and texture, while the antique table and dining chairs are in keeping with the French look elsewhere
In 2012 Karen started a second phase of renovation, redecorating room by room. ‘Understanding the space you are changing is essential, so I felt it was important to live in my home for a time before decorating it so that I knew exactly what I wanted.’
Integrated appliances are a good choice for a small kitchen and help to achieve a streamlined look. Copper kitchen accessories help add a warm glow against the soft greys
She replaced the kitchen, then moved on to the bathroom, living room and dining room, before finishing with the bedroom. ‘I lived in the property throughout,’ says Karen. ‘I’ve slept in every room!’
A dresser-style cupboard houses a collection of antique English and oriental ceramics includes a series of limited-edition annual Liberty cups dating back to 1975
With a family heritage in the textile industry and a career in the fashion industry that takes her across the globe, Karen has been immersed in textiles and travel from an early age, and these passions are clearly reflected in her home. Dotted throughout are sumptuous textures from velvets and embroideries to kilims and toiles, and unique pieces from Paris to the Middle East.
Outside on the balcony Karen has created a little slice of paradise in the city. The space is filled with plants in vintage pots and wire garden pieces. For similar, try Petersham Nurseries
Bespoke storage, smart use of furniture, mirrored surfaces and a light palette are all devices used here to maximise the feeling of space, while co-ordinating fabrics and colours bind spaces together.
The bedroom is Karen’s favourite room. Panelled wardrobes were made by Lander & Lander and painted in Little Greene’s China Clay to link seamlessly with the walls. The bed frame came from Montpellier Mews Antique Market and has been covered in a classic stripe from Ralph Lauren. The windows are framed by curtains in a toile de Jouy fabric. For similar, try Provence Toile de Jouy from F&P Interiors
‘It’s been a long journey, but it’s now complete,’ says Karen. ‘I was fortunate enough to have an excellent team, especially the decorators Christie & Co, who really pulled all the work together.’ Although she’s over the moon with her home, Karen admits she’s itching for a new challenge – ‘perhaps somewhere with a garden.’ No doubt it will be a vision of elegance and sophistication.
A door concealed within the bedroom panelling leads to an opulent bathroom. The walls are clad in mirrored glass and veined marble for a luxurious feel, and the showstopping Bateau cast-iron roll-top bath from The Water Monopoly had to be craned in and positioned on the specially reinforced floor