On the upper floor is a grand sitting room with three sets of doors leading to a balcony – two facing the street and one overlooking the rear garden – with a quiet study on the half landing. Upstairs, on the second floor, is a grand dressing room with bespoke cabinets in deep red. This tasteful delightful space, through hidden mirrored doors, leads to the main Bedroom – one in five – which has a particularly calming feel. ‘The owners wanted the interior to be energetic and exciting,’ says Angus. ‘But we always try to make the bedroom quieter. This is their cloud-like cocoon.’ At the epicenter of the room is a bed that is covered in sheer sheets curtains On a sweeping rail, the ethereal enhances the mood. This show-stopping four-poster is testament to the fact that Angus began his professional life as a set designer.
‘It’s a house with lots of unexpected twists,’ says Angus. A case in point is the first-floor cloakroom created by specialist artist Catherine Lloyd. Every inch of the jeweled room is covered in deep sea treasures, sea glass and semi-precious stones. Painstakingly applied by Catherine, the shellwork features dynamic, undulating patterns that include a favorite Buchanan Studio motif – the stripe.
Another surprise is the Muse House across the garden which tells its own design story. The two-bedroom space used for guests includes a large sitting room with raw plaster walls, natural materials and salvaged Victorian doors, lending warmth and patina. The pale pink of the sitting room gives way to an emerald bedroom with an envelope of burgundy. the bathroom. ‘It’s quite a shock of colour,’ says Angus of the jewelery palette, who takes guests on a Pantone tour.
It’s no longer a case of maximalist owners living in a minimalist home, as the Buchanan Studio team has expertly created a unique and beautifully decorated backdrop for every aspect of their lifestyle. ‘It has pops of theatricality, but it’s also comfortable and lively,’ says Angus of the house’s new upbeat, idiosyncratic form.
