Masterpiece Theatre

In a London apartment, Philip Vergeylen builds a lively repartee between a client's art collection and a charismatic cast of global antiques and daring patterns.

- ALICE DOYLE

BECOMING DEAR FRIENDS is not a given for an interior designer and a client, nor is talking almost daily and after years coming close to reading each other's minds. London-based interior designer Philip Vergeylen and his art collector client have that connection, so when she decided to move, naturally she asked Vergeylen to weigh in.

"After living in a four-story London house, which I had designed about 10 years ago, she decided to switch to one-level living," says Vergeylen. "She was considering an apartment redone by a developer that had zero personality and I was very discouraged. I couldn't imagine my friend being happy there." On the third visit, after some pressing, the real estate agent offered up one more property-a historic ground-floor, double-fronted apartment with two courtyards, a private entrance, and high ceilings. Though it was somewhat dated, the two "walked in, looked at each befitted other, and it was done!" he says with a laugh. "It had a feeling and a grandeur that I felt my friend and, of course, the art that she loves."