Collette Ward, the Co Wicklow designer, has recently remade a Victorian terrace into a delightful haven, reminiscent of a dish of sugared almonds, in the prestigious Primrose Hill area of London. The property is located in one of the trendiest places in the UK capital and serves as a spirited new beginning for the homeowner. Thanks to Ward’s skill, each room in the house is now oozing with individual character and vigorous vivacity.
The designer’s job often begs the question – is it about setting aside personal preference for the owner’s taste or forging a symbiotic relationship that includes what both the designer and owner desire? As anyone who has seen their fair share of home makeover shows knows, the answer varies based on the designer.
Ward, having earlier collaborated with the homeowner who had resided in Ireland for the previous three decades, was privy to her wants and aspirations. While Ward’s own taste is known to be vivacious and colourful, her client leaned towards being more playful and attractive. Also, despite Ward’s aversion for the colour, her client’s love for pink led to a journey of transformation and self-growth for the designer.
Primrose Hill has a reputation of having been a favourite haunt of A-list celebrities like Kate Moss, Jude Law, Sienna Miller, and Liam and Noel Gallagher, thus earning it a spot on the map. The location oozes a village-like charm with a blend of Georgian and Victorian terraces, offering majestic views over Regent’s Park and is in proximity to designer boutiques, culinary delights, and a delightful short walk away from Camden Market along the Regent’s Canal towpath.
The homeowner fell for the cosy familial essence of the house, but being at a turn of life, she desired a thorough transformation. The final outcome of the makeover is a lively, usable home that accommodates visiting family and friends and radiates homely charm. This atmosphere is further amplified by creative touches ranging from gold-papered ceilings and chain-based light shades to intricately patterned wallpapers and bold mixtures of forms, textures and patterns.
The entire process spanned roughly half a year, according to Ward who operates from Aughrim, Co Wicklow (collettewardinteriors.ie). She cautions the need to be ready for unexpected findings in a period home, no matter its initial condition. Conversations about the client and the property itself kick off the process. Regardless of individual preferences, say for a pink hue, there are numerous concepts to borrow from Ward’s work. She skillfully distinguishes between functional rooms and ‘splendid showcase spaces’.
In these areas, the owner’s favourite pink gets to shine, but with subtle echoes in other rooms throughout the house, promoting cohesiveness. This is achieved with a delicate hand and is as minute as a candlestick or artwork detail. Even if a certain colour isn’t the preference throughout, flexibility is allowed. For instance, in Primrose Hill’s house, a soothing blue creates a serene guest bedroom.
Regarding spare rooms, they shouldn’t be neglected as they can appear ‘rather desolate and vacant’ without use. Despite irregular use, these spaces are within sight so should provide visual pleasure. Each guest room in this home has its unique manner; a tranquil blue room, a soft brown, cream and baby blue room and another adorned with bold striped wallpaper from renowned Transylvanian artisans, Mind The Gap (mindtheg.com), paired with detailed patterned fabrics by Manuel Canovas (manuelcanovas.com).
One of the reasons the colour scheme works in this property is due to the room proportions allowing the hue to breathe. Ward anchors it with earthy tones on some of the walls and by incorporating linens and other textured materials ensuring it does not become ‘all frills’.
She incorporates common themes into her designs. For example, the silhouette of a mirror being echoed in a footstool, the chevron pattern in the kitchen floor tiles from Mandarin Stone mirrored in a light fixture, or the kitchen table’s distinct shape mirrored in a demi-table by the window. These shared elements contribute to a sense of harmony within the space.
Despite not having expansive rooms, you could find joy in dynamic colours and unique designs by using undervalued areas of your home such as your downstairs toilet. Even the smallest space can be transformed into a place of exploration if approached with creativity. Alternatively, consider adding a bit of feature wallpaper in a small alcove or in an adjacent area, as Ward has demonstrated in her kitchen with a panel from Osborne & Little, and in the compact pantry-cum-cocktail bar area she used a whimsical Alice in Wonderland-themed paper by Sanderson.
The vivid wine-toned paint adopted here matches both the feature wallpaper and the kitchen floor, thereby ensuring a unified look. If you have a standout feature or detail, it wouldn’t overwhelm the space if used sparingly, so it doesn’t dominate.
Being mindful of the kitchen’s lack of natural light in the basement, Ward introduced an eye-catching floor, removed the central island to give the room a larger feel, and made the kitchen table the focal point. She wanted to bring an energy of cheerfulness to the room, making it not just a place for meal prep, but an inviting area where you could spend time with family or stay up late playing cards.
In addition to their professional expertise – for instance, Ward designed a significant amount of the custom furniture, made by Charlotte James in Edinburgh – the advantage of working with a designer is the access to their network. Ward was able to source furniture from notable designers including a striking marble dining table from Tom Faulkner, setting the colour theme for the dining room. She also chose the Spring chair, a modern, whimsically-designed piece, from Bryan O’Sullivan Studio in Ireland.
Take note, and consider this – there’s no need for a complete overhaul to make a fresh beginning. The previously dark brown wooden wardrobes in the main sleeping quarters were revamped with Missoni paper, and the walls are draped in a bouclé brought in from Belgian company, Omexco (omexco.com), to bring them up to date. “The atmosphere of tranquillity in my bedroom is one I cherish. The understated hues and textures are gratifying,” states the homeowner.
But with numerous aspects in mind, how does Ward determine when things are falling into place? “It’s a dynamic process,” she explains. “I engross myself in it – eating, sleeping and breathing it. When things start aligning and the homeowner starts trusting me, I realise I’ve reached my goal. It is a domestic space carefully chosen by a woman, with a woman in mind,” she adds.
There’s an unmistakable air of emerging into a renewed existence with tenacity and assurance. “This residence marked the start of a novel phase for me. As the palette suggests, it carries a distinct feminine character,” reveals the homeowner. “Collette was able to encapsulate my personality flawlessly.” A close associate recently reiterated this praise. “A woman, a newcomer acquaintance, told me ‘you must be tremendously close because you’ve encapsulated her persona so well’,” Ward recalls. “That was quite gratifying.”