One St. John's Wood | Balcony with a view | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Balcony with a view | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Balcony with a view | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Balcony with a view | Angel O'Donnell

St. John’s Wood

Luxury apartments with legendary views

Lush greenery and Lord’s Cricket Ground provide interior design inspiration

We were asked to interior design a penthouse and sub-penthouse inside One St. John’s Wood, a new luxury development in NW8.

Both residences enjoy the rarest of London views: big skies, treetops as far as the eye can see, golden sunrises, showstopping sunsets and, of course, the legendary Lord’s Cricket Ground.

This happy blend of nature and iconic architecture inspired many choices – from hand-drawn floral motifs to sculptural furniture and geometric patterns. Each apartment, while different, feels part of an exclusive collection, something our client was keen to achieve.

One St. John's Wood | Stunning views from the kitchen | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Stunning views from the kitchen | Angel O’Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Quirky dark coffee table centers the room | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Quirky dark coffee table centers the room | Angel O’Donnell

In full flow

The rippling bronze coffee table base. The oscillating lines on the rug that resemble light-dappled water. The dimpled vase. The curled wooden bowl. Even the folds and twisted leather piping on the cushions. These fluid and irregular shapes balance the clean-lined simplicity of the joinery.

While the sofa we designed – with its walnut plinth base and mix of textured linen and multi-yarn weaves – is low-slung to maximise the views outside.

Making a splash

We upholstered these two Vladimir Kagan armchairs in a soft Edelman leather. We love their shape, like the flukes of a whale’s tail emerging from the watery deep.

One St. John's Wood | Sleek leather chairs bring elegance | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Sleek leather chairs bring elegance | Angel O’Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Ornamental sculpture mantle piece | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Ornamental sculpture mantle piece | Angel O’Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Wooden shelves filled with culture | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Wooden shelves filled with culture | Angel O’Donnell

In the mix

Arranging shapes, textures and colours is a way of forging relationships between seemingly disparate objects. It could be a conical lampshade paired with a pyramidal sculpture. Or a set of mixed-media collages that share tonal similarities with wood, brass and marble finishes. By selecting pieces with commonalities, we brought an unsuspecting corner of the living room to life.

One St. John's Wood | Comfortable bedding and curved mirror on the wall | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Comfortable bedding and curved mirror on the wall | Angel O’Donnell

Cushion the blow

Striped cushions of multi-coloured linen yarns. Stone-washed cushions with handmade leather straps. And a superabundance of pillows and throws. It’s what every bedroom deserves.

Artwork depicting Singapore’s Garden City – with its intersecting lines and architectural supertrees – complement the elliptical shapes and parallel lines elsewhere in the room.

One St. John's Wood | Comfortable bedding and bathtub with a view | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Comfortable bedding and bathtub with a view | Angel O’Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Wooden chair beneath colourful artwork| Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Wooden chair beneath colourful artwork| Angel O’Donnell

Go native

Against the cool calm of the white cotton sheets, dove-grey headboard and evergreen cushions, sit two bold fabrics inspired by Native American iconography. The mix of print and embroidery, geometric motifs and bright colours invigorate the warm neutrals in the scheme.

One St. John's Wood | Native cushions bring a splash of colour | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Native cushions bring a splash of colour | Angel O’Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Natural elements combine for a serene bedroom | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Natural elements combine for a serene bedroom | Angel O’Donnell

Turn over a new leaf

The flourishing mural of large leaves, delicate pods and long grasses has been hand drawn and printed onto panels. The design is exuberant and life-affirming – and a pleasing counterpoint to the measured fumed oak side tables, and cushions with their neat arrangement of teal, mint and ochre circles and crescents.

One St. John's Wood | Wooden shelving, velvet sofa and contemporary ornaments | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Wooden shelving, velvet sofa and contemporary ornaments | Angel O’Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Wooden shelving, velvet sofa and contemporary ornaments | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Wooden shelving, velvet sofa and contemporary ornaments | Angel O’Donnell

In good shape

The large bronze table lamp resembles a Stonehenge monolith. Its substantial frame provides a visual backbone to the mix of soft, plump and lean shapes in the room. Whether it’s the reassuringly rounded profile of the Marenco sofa or the shiny accents of the glamorous Hollywood Regency coffee table – there’s plenty to savour.

Lean into it

Like Disney’s Pixar lamp, our thin-stemmed floor light has an animated quality. As it leans over the two bespoke lounge chairs, its posture appears inquisitive. Its reflective copper shade mirrors the gleam of the coffee table. While its angled rod echoes the diagonals in the wool, mohair and alpaca fabric of the chairs.

One St. John's Wood | Wooden shelving, woven fabric chairs and metallic ornaments | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Wooden shelving, woven fabric chairs and metallic ornaments | Angel O’Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Glass and wood combine to create a contemporary kitchen | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Glass and wood combine to create a contemporary kitchen | Angel O’Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Glass and wood combine to create a contemporary kitchen | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Glass and wood combine to create a contemporary kitchen | Angel O’Donnell

All clear

The glass and ash-wood table was designed in-house. The base, which pays homage to miyadaiku Japanese carpentry, is cunningly simple. No bolts or nails. Just five interlocking pieces of wood that form a top with four triangular legs. It looks architectural, skeletal even. The precision of the half lap joints combined with the drama of the scorched wood are beautiful to behold.

One St. John's Wood | Roman arches ziggurat-inspired shaped lamps | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Roman arches ziggurat-inspired shaped lamps | Angel O’Donnell

Looking sharp

Structural forms and materials continue to flourish in the guest bedroom. In particular, the Roman-like arches of the headboard and the ziggurat-inspired shape of the lamps. These speak to the riot of architectural genres found in the neighbouring Lord’s Cricket Ground. We especially love how the lamps’ teeth look wincingly sharp against the smooth, burgundy velvet.

Butter wouldn’t melt

In the same bedroom, vintage drawers painted a pale buttercup, a flower-like wall light and an impressionist landscape create a bucolic scene. It’s a surprising contrast to the industrial-looking lamps diagonally opposite. And that’s what St. John’s Wood is all about: village sensibility mingled with a little raw-edged urban style.

One St. John's Wood | Vintage decor creating bucolic scene | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Vintage decor creating bucolic scene | Angel O’Donnell

Green and serene

A dark, moss velvet headboard further endears us to nature. So, too, do the opal-glass wall lamps and chunky hand-knotted throw. There’s a soft, rounded wholesomeness to these pieces, which is gently counterpointed by the geometric patterns of the cushions, and sharp detailing of the art deco bedsides.

One St. John's Wood | Art deco bedsides with plush bedding | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Art deco bedsides with plush bedding | Angel O’Donnell

In the frame

A large piece of art – coppery, elemental, strong – provides a striking focal point in a room filled with houndstooth and lightly stippled pear-hued cushions, linen and lambswool throws, and pale grey upholstered walls.

Just as nature ages, the pleated brass pendant lights will patina over time and develop some of the dark, rich tones present in the artwork.

One St. John's Wood | Natural copper artwork contrasts with the room | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John’s Wood | Natural copper artwork contrasts with the room | Angel O’Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Terrace with a view | Angel O'Donnell

One St. John's Wood | Terrace with a view | Angel O'Donnell

St. John's Wood

Completion 2022
Services Interior design Project management FF&E procurement
Awards
Press
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