When the digital creative and brand consultant Lucy Williams undertook her first renovation project, she did it with her assured sense of style. Here, she shares what makes her west London house a home. By Jessica Jonzen
LUCY WILLIAMS AT HOME. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
Where do you live and why?
We live in a very quiet, leafy part of west London. I love living in London but I really like living somewhere fairly quiet and seeking out the fun, high energy stuff when I want it rather than being surrounded by it all the time.
How would you describe your home?
Cosy, comfortable and full of meaning. I think because I’ve always been quite introverted, I’ve been a homebody since I was little and having a space to call my own and retreat to has always been really important. I love having people over and having space for friends and family to stay over or just come to dinner, but primarily home to me is creating a place where the three of us (me, my husband, and my dog) are at our most comfortable and relaxed.
What was the first thing you did to your home when you moved in?
We fully renovated our home before officially moving in but before the work started, I used to just come to the house and sit in the empty sitting room or in the garden and just picture us living here. The first thing we did when we officially moved in was unpack all our books onto the bookshelves we’d made in the snug. Something about putting your books on shelves really feels like ‘ok, I actually live here now’.
If the objects in your home could talk, which would have the best stories to tell?
Probably our sofa as that’s where all our best chats happen. Me and a small group of girlfriends like to do sporadic sushi and sofa nights at mine where we essentially don’t stop talking for hours.
Which part of your home makes you happiest?
The window seat in our kitchen has ended up feeling like the centre of our home and is often where one of us sits while the other cooks or where we catch up about our day. If I can’t sleep, this is where I come to for a cup of tea.
What’s on your bedside table?
Bamford pillow spray, a big silk eye mask, OTO sleep drops, a Dinosaur Designs trinket dish for jewellery and the book I’m reading – right now it’s Blue Sisters by Coco Mellor, which I’m really enjoying. I’d be lying if I said my phone wasn’t always within reach, too.
What was your childhood home like?
I grew up on a working farm in Shropshire with lots of animals, muddy boots and a constantly busy kitchen. It’s very traditional with wisteria crawling up the outside of it, an old Aga, log fires, well-used sofas and lots of pine furniture and yellow walls; we had an avocado bathroom until I was about 12, too. I always think I have quite different taste to my mum but I can totally see how all these things have trickled down into my idea of what now constitutes ‘home’. I love that home wasn’t too precious or neat growing up and that everyone – people and animals – were welcome.
Do you have a domestic guilty secret or pet hate?
I think my guilty secret is that I’m horribly messy, which I hate. I’d love to have a house that is always neat and ready for people to see every inch of but, alas, I regularly have to cram stuff behind closed doors to make it presentable! My bedroom in particular is a constant disaster and ‘the chair’ is always piled high with clothes. It would be fine if I was ok with it but I really, really hate mess so I’m always fighting it.
What is the most memorable thing to have happened in your home?
We got married officially at Marylebone Town Hall and my parents came and stayed with us beforehand, so the whole ‘night-before’ and ‘walking down the stairs to see my dad’ parts of our wedding were at home. There were a couple of stressful moments too (forgotten confetti and handbags!) but I love that our home was a key part of a big day.
What makes your house a home?
I’m someone who loves stuff, be it framed invites and menus, well-thumbed books or little trinkets dotted around. I love seeing these kinds of things in other people’s homes as they all say something about who lives there. Every home should have a very-spoilt dog, too, if you ask me.
THE SITTING ROOM IN LUCY WILLIAMS’ LONDON HOME, PAINTED IN FARROW & BALL’S ARCHIVE COLOUR ‘YONDER. THE SOFA IS FROM MAKER&SON. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
THE HALLWAY IS PAINTED IN MYLAND’S SOHO PINK, WITH RECLAIMED QUARRY TILES ON THE FLOOR. THE STAIRCASE IS PAINTED IN PAPER & PAINTS ‘PORPHYRY RED’ IN GLOSS, WITH LIGHTING PROVIDED BY A VINTAGE WALL LIGHT, AND BEATA HEUMAN’S DODO EGG PENDANT. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
THE SECOND RECEPTION ROOM LINKING THE KITCHEN AND SITTING ROOM, PAINTED IN FARROW & BALL’S SCHOOL HOUSE WHITE. THE PINCH CEILING LIGHT BRIGHTENS THE SPACE. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
IN THE SITTING ROOM, BUCHANAN STUDIO DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE BOOKCASES TO FRAME THE DOORWAY BETWEEN THE TWO RECEPTION ROOMS. ANTIQUE MIRROR ON THE RECLAIMED MARBLE FIREPLACE IS FLANKED BY JIM LAWRENCE WALL LIGHTS. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
THE DINING AREA IN LUCY WILLIAMS’ KITCHEN. THE HENNING KJAERNULF CHAIRS WERE SOURCED FROM VINTERIOR AND THE PENDANT LIGHT IS BY BEATA HEUMAN. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
LUCY’S BEDROOM IS PAINTED IN FARROW & BALL’S ‘WHITE TIE’, WITH CURTAINS MADE FROM ROSE UNIACKE LINEN IN ‘STRAW’. THE CUSTOM-MADE HEADBOARD IS UPHOLSTERED IN TORI MURPHY STRIPED FABRIC. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
THE BEDROOM HAS A WALK-THROUGH DRESSING AREA, LEADING TO THE EN-SUITE BATHROOM. THE OTTOMAN IS UPHOLSTERED IN SANDERSON FABRIC. THE CHEST, MIRROR AND CHAIR ARE ALL ANTIQUE AND THE LAMP IS BY PALEFIRE. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
Find Lucy Williams on Instagram @lucywilliamshome and @lucywilliams02
Know someone who would enjoy this feature? You can share it using the buttons at the top of the page. Discover more Home Truths interviews on The Home Page here…
