For the interior designer Caroline RiddellMoving from a West London townhouse to Mews House changed the way his family lived. The previous house was tall and narrow and her life with ‘husband’, two Childrenau pairs, Office The assistants, cats and dogs, were very vertical together. Now, they live side by side, huge, in their bedroom the bathroomSitting room and kitchen all on one floor, and two other bedrooms and bathroom above.
‘I have found it free to live here. It’s easygoing, safe and friendly,’ says Caroline. ‘Mew has a communal feel. Sound has never been an issue. We will sometimes gather to drink outside on the cobbled patio where we have our lemon trees and pots to help create our own garden area. My dog Potter will visit the neighbors all day and occasionally, when invited. We respect each other’s privacy, but put up Joss Graham’s chic blinds wherever we’ve been ignored. They create a beautiful screen effect between us and our neighbors while allowing light to filter through.’
When Caroline and her family first moved in, Mews House was a two-story office space and needed a lot of attention to make it suitable for family life. With her husband James – who runs a building company, Labatt Construction – They opened up the space, creating a wonderful double-height sitting room with large ceiling lights. They also introduced internal glazed doors to divide certain areas without obstructing light or air flow. ‘There’s a preconceived notion that Mew House is dark and poky,’ explains Carolyn. ‘I find it quite the opposite to live among us.’
