Inside a listed London villa refurbished by an interior designer

June 18, 2024

House-hunting inevitably comes with a few obstacles, but Kate Ledlie and her husband Alistair knew they had their work cut out when they spotted their perfect — from the other side of the world.

‘We’d moved to Sydney for four years for Alistair’s work, but with the intention of coming back to London,’ Kate remembers. She knew south London well and had always admired this particular Georgian house, so when a ‘For Sale’ sign went up, Kate’s mother tipped her off. ‘We told the agent we were very interested, but then had to wait until the next school holiday before we could fly back and view it,’ she says.

Luckily, Kate had an expert on the ground in London to begin negotiations, in the form of designer Ruth Campbell of Campbell Cadey. ‘Ruth is a good friend, so she knew what we were looking for and sent us loads of photos, both before and after we’d seen it,’ Kate says.

The couple knew they wanted to refurbish some of the rooms, particularly the and . As the house is Grade II listed, any changes were more about playing to the house’s architectural strengths than altering its character. It now works well for family life, with a kitchen-diner and playroom on the lower ground floor and a double sitting room (plus a study and loo/wet room) on the upper ground floor. Their two daughters have bedrooms on the top floor, while the main bedroom and their son’s bedroom are on the first floor.

a kitchen with grey base units
Penny Wincer

The Valcucine cabinetry includes sections with frosted glass fronts that slide down into the worktop, so the toaster, kettle and a rotating tap can be swiftly hidden from sight

Kate concedes that doing a long-distance refurbishment has its pros and cons. ‘In some ways, it was fairly stress-free because we didn’t have to endure the dust and chaos, but it was hard not being able to see the work in the house progress,’ she says.

a wooden kitchen island with books and wine bottles
Penny Wincer

With its vibrant display of cookbooks and spirits, the wooden central island adds warmth to the contemporary space. Microscreed flooring lends an industrial edge

However, Ruth kept the couple updated all the way, even sending tile samples to Australia by express courier, so decisions could be made swiftly. It was an advantage that Ruth had helped Kate and Alistair reconfigure their previous London home: ‘She knew our style and understood this wasn’t just another renovation project – it was about creating a family home for the long term,’ Kate says.

a dining table with flowers and candles on it
Penny Wincer

An antique French table and benches, bought in Australia, provide character, alongside a photograph by Australian artist Samantha Everton. The pendant light is by Atelier de Troupe and the stove by Morso

That air of longevity runs through all the spaces of this home, aided by a selection of well-chosen antiques and the odd family heirloom. ‘My ethos is that it’s better to buy for the long term, rather than constantly having to replace things, so a lot of our furniture made the trip out to Australia with us and then back again,’ Kate says. This also meant that when the family finally moved into their London property, it immediately felt homely and familiar.

a bedroom with white walls
Penny Wincer

Vintage wall lights by Rene Mathieu add a flash of colour, along with a photograph of an art installation in New York by Christo and a poster of Sydney Opera House by Landers Design

During their time living in Australia, Kate managed to soak up plenty of inspiration. ‘We rented several homes while we were over there, so I had lots of opportunities to try out different ideas, as well as seeing gorgeous homes belonging to friends,’ she says.

a bathroom with a tub and sink
Penny Wincer

Taking inspiration from an Australian bathroom they liked, the couple opted for the Milbrook bath by The Cast Iron Bath Company teamed with Fantini brassware and tiles by Patricia Urquiola for Dormus

Kate’s career in fashion communications has also sparked her imagination. ‘I’ve been lucky enough to visit some beautiful houses for fashion shoots, including one designed by British interior designer Robert Kime and another by American architect and interior designer Daniel Romualdez – very different but equally inspiring.’ Kate is also an avid reader of interiors magazines: ‘I think you can look at other people’s style but then create your own version,’ she adds.

‘I think you can look at other people’s style but then create your own version’

a room with a bed and a picture
Penny Wincer

Kate chose a sophisticated headboard by TS Design Studio for the John Lewis bed. She spotted the bedcover by Worldwide Aura in an interiors magazine

To balance her antique and vintage pieces, Kate went for a sleek and modern Italian kitchen by , with tempered glass worktops. ‘Our aesthetic is to combine older pieces, be it an Arts & Crafts chair or a 1950s lamp, with more contemporary touches,’ she explains. ‘This is an old house, so that needs to be respected, but at the same time we wanted to make our homework for us and feel that it’s in the 21st century.’

a bathroom with a window and bath
Penny Wincer

Tex tiles by Dormus introduce mellow yellows and greys. The tap is from Brodware

The interior design of this late-Georgian home also has an eye on the future. ‘We avoided children’s rooms that were overly cute, as they’d be outgrown really quickly,’ Kate says. So, when eldest daughter Alexa asked for pink in her bedroom, Kate opted for fabrics in a soft blush shade that won’t date. Likewise, the functional desk has storage and can be adapted when she’s ready to replace teddy bears with teenage paraphernalia.

a white shelving unit with a chair and a desk
Penny Wincer

The desk and storage are by Campbell Cadney and the neon light is from Urban Outfitters

With Ruth on hand to project-manage Kate and Alistair’s refurbishment, interesting design details have been included at every turn. Bespoke shelving in the living room carefully replicates the fluting and decorative roses that run around the window frames.

And when Ruth discovered the original doorway into the kitchen, she reworked the staircase area in a thoughtful way, creating a small vestibule with shelving and an internal window. By dovetailing old and new, the redesign of this Georgian villa works for Kate and Alistair’s family right now, but will also stand the test of time.

Look around a little more…

EXTERIOR

a pink house with a driveway
Penny Wincer

The elegant front facade of the Georgian villa

LIVING ROOM

a chair in front of a bookcase
Penny Wincer

Bespoke shelving by Jacob Alexander mimics the original window mouldings. The chair is vintage, with a cushion in antique fabric from Rhona Valentine

DRESSING AREA

dressing area with floor to ceiling wardrobes and a basket
Penny Wincer

Bespoke wardrobes by Campbell Cadney keep the bedroom clutter free

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