Masterpiece Theatre

In a London apartment, Philip Vergeylen builds a lively repartee between a client's art collection and a charismatic cast of global antiques and daring patterns.

- ALICE DOYLE

BECOMING DEAR FRIENDS is not a given for an interior designer and a client, nor is talking almost daily and after years coming close to reading each other's minds. London-based interior designer Philip Vergeylen and his art collector client have that connection, so when she decided to move, naturally she asked Vergeylen to weigh in.

"After living in a four-story London house, which I had designed about 10 years ago, she decided to switch to one-level living," says Vergeylen. "She was considering an apartment redone by a developer that had zero personality and I was very discouraged. I couldn't imagine my friend being happy there." On the third visit, after some pressing, the real estate agent offered up one more property-a historic ground-floor, double-fronted apartment with two courtyards, a private entrance, and high ceilings. Though it was somewhat dated, the two "walked in, looked at each befitted other, and it was done!" he says with a laugh. "It had a feeling and a grandeur that I felt my friend and, of course, the art that she loves."

When COVID-19 hit in full force, his client decamped to her country home in Italy before making any firm decisions about the interiors. That's when the pair's synergetic decorating spark ignited, allowing every last detail of the project to play out almost entirely over the phone. The whole process down to hanging the artwork was accomplished in about 10 months (lightning speed in decorating circles).