How To Master Modern London Interior Design

“It is often said that true style is timeless, while fashions come and go… One of our main design principles for the apartments is to create spaces that are enduringly elegant and which remain relevant and as enjoyable to live in in 10 years’ time as they are today,” explains Jiin Kim-Inoue, Design Director at Finchatton who is responsible for the schemes, in a statement which perfectly sums up the London interior design aesthetic. Timeless, elegant, relevant, enduring.

Here are six times Twenty Grosvenor Square mastered those key London design elements.

“Think neutral tones, various accents of blues and greens,” explains Jiin, “But then we do use hues of more lively colours to bring warmth, such as dusky pinks. These colour tones and combinations help create the London aesthetic, as they are those that are typically associated with classical British style that remains popular choices for modern design. Where we do use deeper and richer tones, they are often colours that have been popular in the past in grand London homes, and we use them in a modern setting for a few focal pieces, such as a pair of deep green armchairs in a reception, to add balance against the lighter tones and to inject some stronger colour.”

Modern London furniture is perhaps the most notable divergence from its traditional aesthetic for which it has been so renowned. In the place of decorative carvings, heavy casegoods and rich fabrics, the exquisite craftsmanship of modern London design is showcased in its considered lines, finely finished pieces and lack of overdesign. Where traditional elements (nail-head trim, piping, et al) are used, the application is simplified and doesn’t detract from the crispness of the piece.

Of Twenty Grosvenor Square’s perfectly London chic furniture choices, Jiin recognises, “It’s certainly not a ‘cookie cutter’ approach and, as a result, the styles and themes are varied which appeals to a wider and international audience.”

Twenty Grosvenor Square’s use of fully upholstered panelled walls, trimmed with brass detailing, harks back to traditional techniques Its ceiling trim is traditional in its inspirations but feels brilliantly relevant, simply adding sophistication to a new setting. Jiin reveals some of its architectural elements: “Many apartments have chamfered window reveals, while some feature floor-to-ceiling sash windows with cornice detailing on the ceiling and mouldings on the walls—all classical architectural details that provide a refined setting for the interior design.

By doing so, we are striving to appeal to an audience which appreciates understated luxury and sophistication rather than design trends; an aesthetic which we believe is inherent in the makeup of modern London style.”

Importantly, there is no one method for collecting accessories for your home or an example of a décor capsule collection which are very subjective processes. Jiin recognises this about artwork: “[It] is generally a very personal decision, but we have selected pieces that mix a contemporary London style with the traditional, again trying to add modern elements to an otherwise historic location. To avoid a manicured appearance, artwork looks best when it gives the impression of it having been collected over time, with each piece finding its natural place in the home.”

“We typically prefer silk or silk/wool-mix rugs with a subtle pattern or texture to them, but new modern techniques allow for various materials to be introduced to them with great effect—looping in metallic threads and sisal, or mixed and hand-tufted silks and cashmere create amazing textural landscapes. Natural looking patterns, such as a mottled effect, are more subtle than a modern abstract design, although the colour is also important here!”