Putting On The Glitz
Living Etc Magazine|December 2019
Designer Julia Thompson’s dark and delicious schemes make an ideal backdrop for a divinely decadent Christmas
Steven Efstathiou
Putting On The Glitz

I Love creating muted backdrops against which sparkling accessories can really pop,’ says interior designer Julia Thompson. And the schemes she’s drawn up for this stylish south London home fizz and shimmer with excitement, especially when the Victorian townhouse is so flamboyantly dressed for the season. Every room has an individual twist – there’s nothing staid here – yet the key to Julia’s success is in working alongside her clients to bring out their eye for fine design. For this project, it helped that Julia resided in a nearby street and her own home became a showcase of ideas. ‘I’ve known this couple for almost as long as I’ve lived here,’ says Julia. ‘When they saw my house, they liked my use of vintage pieces.’

The raw material you have to begin with is rather important, too, but when you’re working with as fine a property as this five-story townhouse you’re off to a good start. ‘It’s surprising that this part of the Peckham area took so long to become popular, as the housing stock around here is amazing,’ says Julia. You can instantly see what she means when you step through the front door. From the double-aspect living area to the roomy landings on each floor, the property mixes impressive proportions with pleasing architectural details.

This story is from the December 2019 edition of Living Etc Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 2019 edition of Living Etc Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM LIVING ETC MAGAZINEView All
modern extensions
Living Etc UK

modern extensions

WITH STRIKING USE OF COLOUR, MATERIALS AND SHAPE, THE LATEST DESIGNS ADD SO MUCH MORE THAN AN EXTRA ROOM

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
think like a pro
Living Etc UK

think like a pro

It's not just interior designers who are skilled at picking the perfect palette architects are in on the act, too, and Richard Parr knows just how to get the ideal shade

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
colour decoded
Living Etc UK

colour decoded

As with all successful schemes, there's much more going on beneath the surface of this space than first appears -Livingete's colour expert Amy Moorea Wong reveals all

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
enduring style
Living Etc UK

enduring style

B&B Italia has pioneered modern Italian furniture design since 1966 - but its latest collection feels as fresh as ever

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED
Living Etc UK

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED

Seventeenth-century origins meet vibrant contemporary design in a cleverly reimagined Amsterdam canal house

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
ROCK OF AGES
Living Etc UK

ROCK OF AGES

The owners of a Menorcan home have made a stylish yet sustainable retreat using the island's signature stone

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
FORCE OF NATURE
Living Etc UK

FORCE OF NATURE

An unexpected flood into what was already a dark basement flat prompted a new vision, full of light, natural materials and foliage

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
TOP OF THE WORLD
Living Etc UK

TOP OF THE WORLD

High above the busy streets of Bangkok, two talented designers have created a tranquil retreat that nods to chic 1970s style and makes the most of the views

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
A PLACE IN THE SUN
Living Etc UK

A PLACE IN THE SUN

An apartment within a former luxury hotel celebrates - and updates - the style of France's Côte d'Azur

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
OUTSIDE IN
Living Etc UK

OUTSIDE IN

The design of this modernist bungalow in South Africa was dictated by the trees on the plot and the desire for an indoor-outdoor flow

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024