TRADITION WITH A TWIST

Complete with twinkling tree and roaring fires, this Georgian terrace in London has been gently herded into a new era thanks to the vision of designer Brandon Schubert

- EMMA J PAGE

Some homes seem perfectly suited to celebration. This London townhouse, belonging to a British South African couple and their toddler son is a case in point. On a chilly winter's day, when dusk falls, the warm glow of table lamps adds depth to the sitting room's toffee-coloured walls and the glint of the Christmas tree's bronze baubles brings out the room's oyster pink and terracotta tones. A wide-ranging palette of fabrics and colours - coupled with eclectic art and a largely original layout - lends these schemes a relaxed, evolved feel, but in fact, not so long ago, they featured nothing but white walls and grey carpet.

'I've been in a warm and cosy colour phase for the past few years,' says Brandon Schubert, the American-born interior designer who helped bring these rooms to life. 'I'm drawn to caramels, oranges, reds and greens, so the house naturally embodies those hues.' According to him, the building's original bones were just waiting to be brought back to life, demanding 'only a light touch refurbishment, yet a full-scale interior redesign'.

Initially the owners considered a full structural renovation before deciding to scale back in favour of a phased approach as and when budget allowed. But when Brandon came on board, he advised them to make one essential alteration: move the kitchen from the basement to the ground floor for a more intuitive configuration.