Warmth & whimsy

AN ECLECTIC MIX OF LONDON CHARM AND SOUTH AFRICAN FLAIR GIVE THIS APARTMENT VIBRANCY, FRIVOLITY AND PLENTY OF PERSONALITY

- BRITTANY SMITH

LIVING COLOUR Rosy hues welcome visitors into this apartment in north London. "The brief was to create a home that was playful, colourful and whimsical," shares interior designer Sean Symington. From the door, finished in Edward Bulmer Paint Sang De Boeuf, to the Ian Mankin 'Peony Ticking' fabric on the blinds and curtain, the result is lots of fun. Antiques are a grounding force in the sitting room (opposite), where Sean's dog Penny the cavapoochon sits on a velvet sofa. The 19th-century portrait was sourced from Vinterior.

On any given day, London's notoriously grey weather can put a dampener on even the most boisterous personality. But in the north of the city, one apartment in a block of Edwardian townhouses is filled with enough colour to lift anyone's spirits. When Sean Symington, director of Sean Symington Design, was first contacted by the owner in September 2021, he knew he wanted to pay homage to her South African background, love for Britain plus her bold personality. While a total redecoration was on the table, the bones of the twobedroom, one-bathroom abode were strong. "She loved the unconventional character - the unevenness of the floor and lack of cornicing on the ceilings," says Sean. "We decided to play this up and work with this rather than fight against it by layering prints and colour throughout each room."

As such, reinventing and repurposing was key, with antiques showcased alongside bespoke items for a seamless blending of styles. "We loved the friction of clashing prints and varying eras of furniture," Sean explains. "A mid-century armchair next to a French antique makes us swoon! In addition to this, we had so much fun playing with colour and pattern which is threaded throughout the apartment."