Keir Townsend is an interior design company with a retail showroom based in Old Brompton Road SW7. Their international team comes from different cultural and creative backgrounds but what unites them is the drive to deliver aesthetic and inspiring spaces that bring joy into people’s lives.
The interior design studio provides a full scope of services from concept design and branding through to design implementation. Their residential projects are at the forefront of high end interiors providing a hand-picked selection of exclusive furniture, flooring and lighting that has been sourced from all over the world. Most of the pieces are bespoke and many are made to Keir Townsend’s own designs.
This 120m square flat, situated on two levels in a high rise contemporary development, features spectacular views of Chelsea and Kensington from the living room windows and balcony.
The development was completed some 13 years ago and this first redecoration was very much required and welcomed by the client. The client, a professional in the city, wanted a perfect ‘urban oasis’ with a great entertaining space, as well as a luxurious guest room for friends and family to stay with him when in London. In addition to the general ‘facelift’ and reinvigoration, Keir Townsend made some alterations to the layout, removing the partition wall between the kitchen and living room to open up the space and bring an element of ‘contemporary dining’ into the concept, where the kitchen becomes an integral part of the entertaining space.
This South-facing room has ample natural light flooding through glazed sliding doors opening onto the balcony. This is perfect lighting for using rich, dark tones, as they look lively and luscious in daylight and luxurious and comforting at night when complemented by various elements of mood lighting. The starting point for the development of the colour scheme was the large amethyst cluster the client saw in the Keir Townsend showroom, which became the focal point of the room.
Keir Townsend has collaborated with an Italian manufacturer on production of the copper coffee table; it features a unique process which involves applying patinated metal strips of different widths to furniture surfaces. Bookcases and shelving units are made of dark burnt oak, trimmed with the same metal detail providing a complementary contrast with the purple and amethyst tones, as well as a touch of urban living to the concept.
The sitting room is open plan to the kitchen and dining area.
The client loves entertaining so it was essential that the dining table was part of the open kitchen.
Several slabs of granite threaded with iron pyrite or ‘fool’s gold’ as it is commonly known, were chosen for this striking, bespoke dining table and the same stone has been used for the worktops and splash backs, linking the zones and taking kitchen dining to smart heights. Columns clad in antiqued bronze mirrors and bronzed diffuser glass ‘chandelier’ pick up the golden streaks in the granite, dimmers create mood lighting for the dining zone. 2 wine coolers house the client’s collection of fine wines. Woven leather and dark metal chairs are by Henge.
The trick to using colour confidently in a relatively small space is not to have too many contrasts or palette juxtapositions. There should be an overall dominant background colour scheme and if different materials and textures from the same palette are used, it adds a calming and luxurious feel. Oak in a tobacco finish has been used for the head board frame, side tables and the wardrobes which also feature leather detailing. The headboard is in charcoal grey velvet. All joinery is bespoke, designed by Keir Townsend’s team. Wall light shades and bespoke cushions in bronze tones add an injection of colour. Woven grass wall coverings are by Philip Jeffries. Luxurious Italian cotton bed linen and throw are all available from Keir Townsend.
Dark tones make a space look smaller and lighter tones make it look bigger. However, reflective dark surfaces with a variation of tone create a sense of depth. Well though out black schemes can feel more spacious then pale schemes. Black schemes work better in electric light so a bathroom with no natural light can be dramatic.
The master en-suite bathroom features a bespoke graphite colour sink in recycled glass lit from within with LED lighting fitted with bespoke chrome and black onyx taps above a black lacquered vanity unit. The wall behind the wash basin is clad with bespoke carved wooden panels with Art Décor detail. Textured grey/black mosaic tiles in the shower complement the grey silver floor tiles
The concept is premised on an urban retreat which allows guests to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. This bedroom combines a touch of luxury and tranquillity with numerous playful elements.
Colour, tone and a plethora of textures have been layered to create a feeling of cocooning warmth. Fabrics include
sumptuous De Le Cuona velvet for the headboard, etched silk cushions and Italian cashmere bed throws.
Straw wallpaper contrasts with the smooth finish of the Walnut & Ash bedside tables with sculptural cast metal legs.
Pendant and desk lights are in hand-blown Murano glass.
The majority of joinery elements in the bedroom were made bespoke for Keir Townsend, including the walnut and leather dressing table with a pop up mirror and a matching leather pouf, the bookcase in ash and bedside table in walnut and ash. The taupe leather swing chair with a bronze base is available from Keir Townsend Interiors showroom.
Neutral shades abound in this bathroom in a variety of textures. The main feature is a bespoke lacquered vanity unit with chrome detailing. The crystal mixer taps are carved into shapes of seahorses. IP rated glass wall lights with leather and chrome detailing can be dimmed to create a different atmosphere.
