The Primrose Hill home where pink is the prominent colour
When the owner of this house in leafy north London took it on after leaving a thirty year relationship, she knew exactly who to ask to help her create a joyful haven for her fresh start: Collette Ward, founder of Collette Ward Interiors.
Ward had worked on her client’s previous home, so had a sound understanding of her aesthetic and practical needs. On the aesthetic side, that boiled down to one challenging word for Ward: pink. As a redhead, the colour is anathema to the designer.
‘We often chuckled about it,’ she recalls, ‘but my job as an interior designer is to facilitate my client’s taste and curate the house to reflect her personality, not mine.’ On the practical side, the home had to be able to withstand life with the owner’s dogs, and accommodate the friends and family who often visit.
Given the open brief her client gave her, Ward looked to the colourful neighbourhood that the house was located in for inspiration for her scheme. ‘I adore Primrose Hill as it’s very eclectic and everyone is so friendly,’ she says. ‘I’ve enjoyed meeting colourful characters, discovering restaurants and quirky little places. The area did inform my design because of its sense of colour and uniqueness.’
Ward turned to Sanderson for her paint colours, wallpapers and fabrics, making some bold choices to inject colour and personality into every corner. One notable example is the pantry, where the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ wallpaper from the brand’s collaboration with Disney, teamed with a deep shade (Morris & Co.’s ‘Wardle Wine’) on the joinery and ceiling, is a conversation starter ‘inviting everyone to reveal their favourite character,’ she explains.
Sanderson’s ‘Light Rose’ paint appears in several rooms, adopting a slightly different tone in each. In the basement kitchen it lends a softness and light where there was very little, its petal tones complemented by the herringbone pattern tiles and the marble on the floor and contrasting with the Blakes of London cabinetry.
She had fun creating a sense of drama in the basement TV room, leaning into the lack of natural daylight by covering the ceiling with a gold wallpaper that glows against the smoky charcoal-toned joinery and panelling (Sanderson’s ‘Burnt Black’). Charlotte James furniture in Edinburgh made the corner sofa which is upholstered in nutmeg-coloured velvet from Clarke & Clarke and is perfect for lounging and watching a movie.
‘I was involved in selecting absolutely every single item that came through the door,’ says Collette. ‘This house was a joy to design, with so many stunning elements from wonderful suppliers and artisans bringing my vision to life.’
Now, the whole house is a soft, welcoming haven, full of quirky touches and playful details. From its bubblegum-toned front door, as Ward says, ‘It reveals the sense of fun of its owner. This became a very positive and exciting process for her,’ she adds. ‘The house has a very feminine feel and celebrates all that joy and wonder that comes with new adventures.’ collettewardinteriors.ie
