Houzz Tour: Neon Brights Mix With Classic Style
Bold blasts of color, quirky pieces and family heirlooms give this London family townhouse a distinctive look
When the owners bought this six-story townhouse in London’s Chelsea area, they went straight to interior design studio NBB Design, known for its signature use of color, quirky sense of style and savvy spatial awareness. “We had previously worked for this couple, so the [plan] was to reuse some furniture from their previous house but in a more family-like, elegant way that was less urban than their former property,” says Niloufar Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari, owner and founder of NBB Design. “They were already familiar with our use of color, so we knew we could be quite daring on this project.”
The background in the drawing room is a very subtle shade of pink, with the molding painted gray to make it stand out.
“It creates a very mellow yet elegant effect that not everyone would have gone for,” the designer says.
The fireplace provides a focal point for the room and is flanked by a pair of antique chairs (family heirlooms) and black-and-white photography, for a calming sense of symmetry.
Mirror: RV Astley
“It creates a very mellow yet elegant effect that not everyone would have gone for,” the designer says.
The fireplace provides a focal point for the room and is flanked by a pair of antique chairs (family heirlooms) and black-and-white photography, for a calming sense of symmetry.
Mirror: RV Astley
The elegant drawing room leads into the family space at the back of the house, with the two areas united by a gray-tinted wood floor.
Sofa: NBB Recline
Sofa: NBB Recline
The family room has a bolder look with a crimson sofa and charcoal wallpaper surrounding the fireplace.
Moma extra-deep sofa: NBB Recline; wallpaper: Élitis
Moma extra-deep sofa: NBB Recline; wallpaper: Élitis
The grand, Grade-II listed townhouse was originally two apartments.
As soon as you step through the front door, a bold hallway scheme sets the tempo for the rest of the house.
“It is a typical Chelsea house, so when you open the front door, the first thing you see is a corridor and a staircase,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari explains. “So we started with this in order to make it amazing.
“I found the entrance and staircase the most challenging as it is a tall building with many floors,” she says. “I didn’t want this space to feel like a tunnel, so we treated it as a real room, with a red handrail to keep people’s eyes away from the wall.”
The designer installed white deer heads as a subtle reference to the owner’s passion for hunting.
White resin stag head with antlers: Graham and Green; stair runner: Hartley & Tissier
“It is a typical Chelsea house, so when you open the front door, the first thing you see is a corridor and a staircase,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari explains. “So we started with this in order to make it amazing.
“I found the entrance and staircase the most challenging as it is a tall building with many floors,” she says. “I didn’t want this space to feel like a tunnel, so we treated it as a real room, with a red handrail to keep people’s eyes away from the wall.”
The designer installed white deer heads as a subtle reference to the owner’s passion for hunting.
White resin stag head with antlers: Graham and Green; stair runner: Hartley & Tissier
The clash of daring color, contemporary style and classic furniture in the ground-floor dining room is a design concept that runs throughout the house.
“The dining room is my favorite part of the house as it is rare these days to have a separate dining room,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says. “It’s a timeless and elegant space, which is very comfortable. The mirrored paneling makes it seem much bigger and brighter.
“The chandelier encapsulates the brief for this project: a classical glass chandelier surrounded with ultra-contemporary transparent mirrors.”
“The dining room is my favorite part of the house as it is rare these days to have a separate dining room,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says. “It’s a timeless and elegant space, which is very comfortable. The mirrored paneling makes it seem much bigger and brighter.
“The chandelier encapsulates the brief for this project: a classical glass chandelier surrounded with ultra-contemporary transparent mirrors.”
Two Asian art pieces owned by the client provided the starting point for the dining room decor.
“The two tables can be joined as one for entertaining purposes, but they are usually separated to make it more cozy for everyday life,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says. “The polycarbonate chairs are by Philippe Starck for Kartell — we use them a lot as they are stackable and can go outside. The fact that they are transparent means that they don’t take up space visually.”
Dining table: NBB Design; Victoria Ghost stackable chair: Philippe Starck for Kartell
“The two tables can be joined as one for entertaining purposes, but they are usually separated to make it more cozy for everyday life,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says. “The polycarbonate chairs are by Philippe Starck for Kartell — we use them a lot as they are stackable and can go outside. The fact that they are transparent means that they don’t take up space visually.”
Dining table: NBB Design; Victoria Ghost stackable chair: Philippe Starck for Kartell
Lacquered furniture and tones of burnished gold and red create an Oriental look in the dining room.
The goal for the ground-floor kitchen was to have a more country, family look.
“This was a challenge as it is a small room,” the designer says, “but the client is a good cook and wanted a breakfast area. Before, it was ultra-contemporary with no sitting space.”
Kitchen units: Higham
“This was a challenge as it is a small room,” the designer says, “but the client is a good cook and wanted a breakfast area. Before, it was ultra-contemporary with no sitting space.”
Kitchen units: Higham
The kitchen is now an elegant yet practical space in tones of gray and white, with marble counters.
“I discovered the original [molding] in the kitchen and brought it back to life in all its authentic glory,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says.
“I discovered the original [molding] in the kitchen and brought it back to life in all its authentic glory,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says.
The guest toilet is a flamboyant space that demonstrates the NBB design ethos.
“We made it a priority to have stunning guest toilets,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says. “It is a very small space but we wanted something striking. The classical molding has been treated in a contemporary way with the use of neon paint. The inspiration came from a drawing that the clients’ daughter created with highlighter pens.”
Even the classical toile blind is handprinted in fluorescent colors.
Check out these expert tips to make the most of a powder room
“We made it a priority to have stunning guest toilets,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says. “It is a very small space but we wanted something striking. The classical molding has been treated in a contemporary way with the use of neon paint. The inspiration came from a drawing that the clients’ daughter created with highlighter pens.”
Even the classical toile blind is handprinted in fluorescent colors.
Check out these expert tips to make the most of a powder room
The ground-floor garden room has a snug, cocooning ambience with a deep-red ceiling and gray walls.
“This is a typical example of where we improved the small, awkward passage to the garden and made it into a real room,” the designer says. “The idea was to make it like a cozy box with a TV — it’s a very relaxing space.”
Chairs: antique; curtain fabric: Pierre Frey
“This is a typical example of where we improved the small, awkward passage to the garden and made it into a real room,” the designer says. “The idea was to make it like a cozy box with a TV — it’s a very relaxing space.”
Chairs: antique; curtain fabric: Pierre Frey
The country-cottage garden features comfortable outdoor furniture from Peter Jones.
The master suite on the third floor has a palette of soothing grays and pinks.
“We wanted to create a cozy, classic and romantic look, which mixes contemporary with a more classic style,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says.
An elegant antique sofa is perched at the end of the Robert Langford bed.
“We wanted to create a cozy, classic and romantic look, which mixes contemporary with a more classic style,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says.
An elegant antique sofa is perched at the end of the Robert Langford bed.
The fireplace wall has been clad in antiqued mirror with unusual upholstered cupboards on either side.
“It’s a signature look of NBB,” the designer says, “and is perfect for softening and hiding cupboards. I hate cupboard doors.”
Curtains: Rapture & Wright
“It’s a signature look of NBB,” the designer says, “and is perfect for softening and hiding cupboards. I hate cupboard doors.”
Curtains: Rapture & Wright
The master bathroom continues the look with accents of color and quirky pieces.
“The painting of Peter Sellers is cherished by the client and they wanted to enjoy it, hence the idea to have it in the bathroom,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says. “I always try to treat bathrooms as other rooms and incorporate art into them.”
“The painting of Peter Sellers is cherished by the client and they wanted to enjoy it, hence the idea to have it in the bathroom,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says. “I always try to treat bathrooms as other rooms and incorporate art into them.”
The Peter Pan-themed nursery on the top floor was designed to accommodate a growing family.
Bartsch Cotton Clouds wallpaper in Sea Green: Smallable
Bartsch Cotton Clouds wallpaper in Sea Green: Smallable
The nursery has a sleeping area as well as a separate play area.
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Who lives here: A French family with a young child
Location: Chelsea area of London
Size: Five bedrooms, four bathrooms
Designer: Niloufar Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari, interior designer, owner and founder of NBB Design
The property was originally two separate apartments, so these had to be combined.
The second-floor drawing room is subtly divided into two halves. A sophisticated and understated front room with French windows leads out to a Juliet balcony.
“The clients had a few antique furniture pieces, and the goal was to feature them throughout the house,” Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari says. “They were very involved in the design and it was a pleasure to see them enthusiastic about the color choices.”
Chandelier: Challières