London Calling

A move abroad immerses a young designer in classic English style that puts comfort at the forefront.

- JODY GARLOCK,CHRIS HORWOOD

A statement Louis Philippe mirror helps this room live large. "Playing around with the scale-having a big piece and then smaller pieces-feels very English," says homeowner Sally Wilkinson. "There's an imperfection to it." An 18th-century celadon cabinet fills the nearby nook.

A pale olive sofa brings earthy color to the living area. Next to it, a 1700s mahogany folding table pulls double duty as a bar and game table. Stacked books and collected wall art are distinctly European, while a midcentury coffee table from Vinterior adds contemporary sleekness.

Moving usually means whittling down—and when the move is overseas, the purging pressure mounts. Sally and Taylor Wilkinson managed to fit their lives into five suitcases when Taylor’s job took them from Atlanta to London. “We took a leap of faith,” Sally says. “We thought we’d be there about a year as a quick experience living abroad.”