Striking a balance

Serial renovator Michelle Hagemeier has a knack for mixing lots of styles to make one harmonious look

- EMMA J PAGE

Country florals paired with nubby grasscloth wall coverings; inky tones and plush textiles with design-led prints. The home of Kentucky-born Michelle Hagemeier and her German husband Jan reveals the eclectic imprint of a well-travelled family, yet every element co-exists easily, resulting in a space that is tactile, cocooning and adventurous in equal measure.

The couple’s Victorian villa in west London may share the same slim multi-storey configuration as its neighbouring terraces, but behind its classic front door lies confident design choices. Interiors fuse contemporary detailing, mid-century elements and an American preference for colour and pattern – with a sprinkling of English country style for good measure.

Michelle, a seasoned renovator, and Jan lived in this house for a year with their daughter Lilli, now 13, before undertaking a renovation. ‘It was a good opportunity to see how its bones settled around us,’ says Michelle.