A bright and beautiful Chelsea townhouse cleverly reimagined by Lonika Chande

Given the property’s footprint, the main living space is essential for eating, lounging and entertaining fun. ‘The room was really hard work,’ says Lonica, ‘so we had to be very clever with the layout.’ And clever they were: sofas are built into built-in joinery to maximize available space and create beautiful displays, and much of the furniture serves a dual purpose. Perhaps the best example of Lonika’s ingenuity in this project are the fireside chairs, which were custom made at the perfect height to be pulled into the banquette to create additional seating and set on casters for added maneuverability.

‘We also opened a lot. We took down the wall between the sitting room and the kitchen, which meant that both rooms got a lot more light thanks to the double aspect,’ notes Lonika. In fact, it is the banquette that creates the perfect through-thread between the comfortable living space and the practical kitchen area, gently bending the eye around the corner. ‘A curved banquette was non-negotiable for the client. He was inspired by Loulou (a Mayfair members’ club) and wanted to do something fresh, light.’

The kitchen was custom made by Apron Kitchens and painted in a custom color by Papers and Paints – ‘the perfect sludgy color to complement the banquette’, says Lonica. Roman blinds are made from Flora Soames’ ‘Plain Stripe’ emeralds.

Milo Brown

The theme of charming practicality continues upstairs in the spare BedroomJ houses A beautiful box bed. ‘We put the bed under the sash window to maximize floor space, as we couldn’t afford to lose any space around the bed. We also built a shelf behind the headboard that actually lifts up to reveal Collection For clutter or excess Books.’ In the same room, Lonica designed a wardrobe that ‘looks freestanding, but has proper drawers and something built-in’.

The ebonized oak pedestal table in the kitchen is custom from Galvin Brothers. The striped banquette features Penny Morrison’s multicolored ‘Rustic Stripe’.

Milo Brown

As Lonika notes, there was a real rapport between designer and client on this project, and that’s evident in the project’s outcome. ‘During this project we have both shared things and opened each other’s eyes to new ideas. Customers love bold textiles and unexpected color pairings and we are really confident to tackle this project.’

Lonika Chande: lonikachande.com

Lonika Chande is a member of the House & Garden Directory, our essential directory of design professionals. Visit the catalog by House and Garden here.