With its enviable location between Oxford Street and Regent’s Park, Marylebone offers a beguiling blend of period architecture and a village feel in the heart of town, not to mention some outstanding venues for eating, drinking and shopping, including numerous independents. So it’s perhaps hardly surprising that this part of London is home to a number of celebrities and wealthy individuals – and it’s an absolutely prime area as far as property in central London is concerned.
If you’re looking to transform the interior of a property here, there are some specific considerations and challenges to bear in mind, including:
Striking the right balance: If you’re working on a property and looking to combine period features such as high ceilings with modern luxury, some delicate handling may be required.
Listed buildings: Many local properties are rigidly controlled by local council and historic guidelines, which impose strict limits on the changes you can make. So you may need to factor in waiting for permissions into your project timelines. You could also be dealing with narrow rooms, staircases you can’t move, low ceilings or other elements which make the layout awkward.
Densely populated Marylebone can make deliveries and removal of waste materials more challenging. What’s more, parking rules can limit some vehicle access. Equally, if you’re working at a multi-tenant property, noise and disruption control rules will apply.
Maximising natural daylight: If you’re dealing with older urban windows, you might want to use clever lighting schemes and oversized mirrors. Bear in mind London’s overcast skies and narrow streets, which affect illumination.
Original elements: A number of Marylebone apartments encompass original features such as sash windows, panelled doors and ceiling cornices. Work with and respect these – and indeed highlight them – for an authentic, timeless look.
How to create the perfect interior
There are many things you can do if you’re working on a central London interior such as one in Marylebone, including:
Lighting and furniture
Don’t be afraid to mix up the old and the new. So, for example, modern sofas with clean lines will sit quite comfortably alongside antique pieces to give a sense of items having been collected over time. Equally, in compact city rooms, furnishings with soft curves or rounded edges enhance flow and comfort.
When it comes to lighting, swap harsh overhead illumination for wall sconces, low-level table lamps, and candles. This creates a gentle, inviting ambience throughout the day and evening and is a way of layering ambient lighting. In dimmer rooms, use wall lights with warm tones, floor lamps or hanging illuminations.
Material and colour choices
Start from a neutral base and use white, taupe and grey in soft shades, especially on the walls, where they can reflect natural daylight. Sticking to a neutral palette is essential to allow viewers to picture themselves living in the place if you’re selling or letting out a property.
However, being neutral doesn’t have to mean being starkly minimalist. Layer rich, tactile fabrics such as heavy linen drapery, wool rugs, and velvet for a gorgeous look. So you could,, for example, combine velvet cushions with wool throws plus ceramic vases to add comfort and depth.
Use classic hardware
If you go for antique fixtures for door handles and window latches, for example in brass, bronze or unlacquered metal, you again create a lovely, timeless effect.
How McGlashans Interiors can help
At McGlashans Interiors, we specialise in the Prime Central London market and in creating stunning homes across our area, including Marylebone, complete with high-quality, bespoke furnishings. Plus we’re a trusted family firm with many years’ experience in our sector and always pay meticulous attention to detail, while adopting a highly personalised approach to every project we take on.
Talk to us about luxury furniture hire for your Marylebone apartment or visit our shop and showroom on London’s Crawford Street to see some of our offerings for yourself.
Get in touch today for an informal chat about your requirements – we’ll be delighted to help.