PERFECTLY COMPOSED

This apartment is like a beautiful symphony balancing style notes that include the modern, the classic, the elegant and the laid-back

- Kate Jacobs

fitzrovia, in central London, often feels like a law unto itself. The area is surrounded by bustling roads - Oxford Street among them - but, as you step away from the crowds towards leafy Fitzroy Square, the vibe becomes calm and dignified. There's a sense that this is a genuine urban village, hidden away in the heart of the city. This is what made it the perfect spot for this family to snap up a pied-à-terre for their visits to the capital.

Set within a grand mansion building, the space was full of elaborate period detailing but, other than that, the apartment was a little bland when interior designer Irene Gunter came on board with a brief to freshen it up. The apartment was in good condition because it had been fully refurbished by a developer, but it had very little personality-so that's where we came in and added a bit of flair,' she explains.