Inside A Georgian Family Home In South Kensington
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1 hour ago
This London townhouse combines period features with everyday comfort
It’s no secret that London is a melting pot – of people, cultures and, in this case, architecture. Large swathes of the city boast rows of Georgian townhouses, with hundreds of years of history. And while they might look uniform on the outside, on the inside is where you’ll see their owners’ personalities shine – sometimes through sleek modern layouts, and other times through loyalty to the original features. But in the case of this family, it was all about finding a balance between the two. Meet Gemma Holsgrove, Design Director at Sims Hilditch, who was tasked with bringing balance to this Georgian home in South Kensington. Below, the designer gives us the tour (and shares some of the highlights from her latest project).
Look Inside… A Georgian Family Home By Sims Hilditch
The Property
London is home to a grand collection of Georgian townhouses – like this one, which sits in South Kensington. The original building, which dates back to around 1825, underwent a significant refurbishment around four years ago, but the owners wanted to make their space feel more like a family home. ‘While the property already benefitted from generous architecture and strong period features, the interiors lacked warmth and a sense of cohesion,’ notes Holsgrove. ‘Our role was to reimagine the house as a layered, timeless family home that honoured its Georgian heritage while introducing a more contemporary and inviting atmosphere.’
A real historical gem, the home retains many of its original details – classic proportions, cornicing, skirtings and architraves – which played a vital role in guiding the direction of the redesign. Spanning multiple floors, the townhouse is home to multiple family spaces, including the sitting room, snug, kitchen and a substantial basement entertaining area.
The Brief
British design studio Sims Hilditch was tasked with creating a warm, elegant and highly functional family home with a traditional Georgian aesthetic, interpreted through a fresh and contemporary lens. ‘The clients wanted interiors that felt timeless rather than trend-led,’ the designer tells C&TH, ‘spaces with character, softness and comfort, but that could also withstand the realities of modern family life whilst packing it with personality that reflects them.’
And since the property had already undergone a recent renovation, the designer was asked to work with a number of existing elements in the property – including existing cabinetry and bathroom features. ‘Rather than stripping everything back and starting again, the challenge became one of thoughtful evolution – elevating what was already there and layering in warmth, texture and personality.’
Take The Tour
Drawing Room
It all starts with the drawing room. Designed to feel elegant but approachable – ‘ space equally suited to family evenings, reading quietly by the fire or entertaining guests’ – the room has been given a sense of balance thanks to a blend of traditional architectural detailing and softer contemporary furniture.
‘A statement coffee table gave the room a timeless quality that feels neither overly formal nor overly modern,’ notes Holsgrove. ‘While the reinstated fireplace becomes the natural focal point of the room, helping to restore a sense of period character. Deep, comfortable sofas layered with tactile fabrics created a relaxed yet refined atmosphere, while carefully selected lighting and artwork added warmth and intimacy.’
Snug
The snug, meanwhile, is where the family can truly switch off. Designed as a cocooning retreat within the house, it features layered textures, generous seating and a versatile ottoman. The space itself is still open to the main drawing room, but feels distinct thanks to a deeper and more atmospheric colour palette.
Comfort was a focal point for this room, adds Holsgrove. ‘We wanted the room to feel intimate, relaxed and informal – somewhere the family could truly switch off,’ she says. ‘A reopened fireplace becomes pivotal to evening cosiness. And the flexibility of the furniture was key, particularly for family life. Every piece needed to work hard without sacrificing aesthetics.’
The designer also included a personal touch for the client, arranging ‘treasured artworks thoughtfully throughout the space, adding personality and reflecting the family’s character.’
Basement
One of the standout spaces is the basement. ‘The aim was to create a rich, layered entertaining space that could transition effortlessly between large gatherings and quieter evenings for two,’ the designer tells C&TH. ‘We wanted the room to feel dramatic and atmospheric, but still comfortable.’
The space was transformed with textured wall finishes, a timber-clad ceiling and the introduction of a fireplace, as well as bespoke storage integrated into the architecture. ‘The room initially had no real focal point, so with careful layout planning the sitting area focused on a large wall with the TV and artwork, whilst the dining area/pool table got the introduction of a fireplace.’
Oversized lighting and large-scale furniture, meanwhile, gives the space an even better sense of intimacy. ‘A bespoke L-shaped sofa and dual-purpose games/dining table were designed specifically for the space to ensure the proportions felt appropriate and comfortable,’ says the designer. ‘The subtle mid-century influence introduced through the furniture silhouettes, colour palette and materiality helped soften the more traditional architectural language found elsewhere in the house.
‘Above, the mezzanine gym – complete with equipment and reformer Pilates beds – provides a sense of separation and retreat, while still feeling cohesive with the overall design scheme.’
Kitchen & Family Areas
In these parts of the house, Holsgrove had to find a balance between the existing features and her new plans for the space. ‘Although key cabinetry remained from the previous renovation, the introduction of layered textures, updated furnishings, softer finishes and carefully considered styling helped completely shift the mood of the space,’ she says.
‘These areas needed to feel relaxed, practical and welcoming – the true heart of the home,’ the design adds. ‘The continuity between the kitchen, dining room, snug and sitting room helped create a natural rhythm throughout the house, making the spaces feel connected while retaining their own identity.’
Entrance
First impressions count – and for this Georgian home, the entrance needed a complete overhaul. ‘The property lacked any sense of arrival and instead felt like a continual flow of the adjoining rooms,’ notes Holsgrove. ‘We created a space that had its own identity and purpose, a space to feel proud of the moment you walked through the door.’
She curated the space to feel like ‘a moment of tranquillity as you crossed the threshold. ‘Being one of the most important spaces in the home, it was imperative it didn’t shout at you and sat as a comfortable transition space to all adjoining rooms.’
The floor has been altered to give the space a more formal feel – playing off the existing period features of the property – and giving the home a greater sense of cohesion. ‘This is where the mid-century nod becomes important, allowing us to tone it up as we move to the more relaxed parts of the house whilst not entirely turning it off in the more formal Georgian areas of the home.’
Dining Room
Holsgrove describes the dining room as initially feeling ‘somewhat soulless’, with a contemporary fireplace and porcelain tiled floors not leaving much room for the house’s period charm to shine through. The designer reintroduced a more period-style fireplace and timber flooring, which lifts the space and makes it feel both warm and inviting.
‘We wanted to create an “everyday” space that was comfortable but could also be set up for intimate dinners with friends and family,’ notes the designer. ‘Although referred to as the dining room, the space was designed to work much harder day to day – somewhere to work from home, enjoy breakfast or informal suppers, rather than exist solely as a room for entertaining.’
Hero features include a large, almost floor-to-ceiling window – which lets in plenty of sunlight, but also gives onlookers an unobstructed view into the house. ‘Our client also had a very nervous dog, so we introduced floor to waist height sheer curtains that didn’t prevent light flooding in but allowed for privacy and a barrier to an anxious pooch.’
Master Suite
The client’s personal haven. ‘We wanted this to feel like a deeply private space – somewhere our clients could truly unwind,’ says Holsgrove. ‘Having spent part of their childhood in Hong Kong, we introduced a cherry blossom de Gournay wallpaper as a subtle nod to that connection, while also bringing a sense of nature into the room to enhance its calm and restorative atmosphere.’
Dressing Room
And nearby, the designer installed a separate dressing room. ‘To make the master suite feel as calming and restorative as possible, we wanted to remove as much “function” from the bedroom itself as we could,’ she says. ‘Together with the client, we decided to sacrifice one of the bedrooms to create a dedicated dressing room, complete with purpose-built cabinetry tailored entirely to their requirements.’
Cabinetry was designed to feel elegant and feminine, and incorporates soft curves and fabric-curtained doors. ‘This allowed us to have fun with what was ultimately quite a compact space, transforming it into something both beautiful and highly functional,’ notes the designer. ‘We wanted the dressing room to feel unique, while still maintaining a connection to the wider language of the master suite through soft pink tones and natural timbers. The result is a calming, restorative space in which to begin the day.’
Third Floor Bedrooms
And finally, Holsgrove worked on reviving a collection of bedrooms on the third floor of the property. ‘This floor was never intended to feel secondary to the rest of the home, but rather a space that could be equally enjoyed by guests and the clients’ visiting children,’ says the designer. Not to be confused with kids’ rooms, these spaces feel both young and elegant. ‘The rooms were designed not to feel overly youthful, but instead to strike a balance between sophistication and playfulness – spaces that felt welcoming, relaxed and enjoyable to spend time in. We wanted the people in those rooms to enjoy being in there without feeling they are in a secondary space.’
Design Notes With Gemma Holsgrove
How did the Georgian home in South Kensington compare to previous projects you’ve undertaken?
What made this project particularly interesting was the balance between restoration and reinvention. Unlike many full renovations where everything begins with a blank canvas, here we were working with a house that had already been modernised. The challenge was to soften and enrich those previous interventions while reintroducing a sense of history and permanence.
The scale of the property also brought an additional layer of complexity, particularly in terms of proportion, flow and logistics across multiple floors. It required a very considered approach to furniture sizing, bespoke pieces and spatial zoning to ensure the home felt cohesive throughout.
What was your top priority for this project?
Our main priority was creating a home that felt welcoming and liveable without compromising on elegance. We wanted every room to feel comfortable, calm and genuinely used – not overly formal or decorative.
Another key priority was balance: respecting the home’s Georgian architecture while introducing contemporary comfort and personality. It was important that the interiors felt layered and collected over time, rather than overly designed.
Finally, ensuring the process itself felt collaborative and enjoyable for the clients was incredibly important. We worked closely with trusted contractors and makers throughout to create a seamless experience from concept to completion.
How did you begin the process? What was planning like?
The project began with a series of in-depth conversations focused on how the family actually lived within the house. Understanding their routines, how they entertained, where they spent most of their time and what they felt was missing from the home was essential in shaping the design direction.
Early shopping trips with the clients were also hugely valuable. They helped us understand the pieces, textures and styles they naturally gravitated towards, which informed the wider palette and furniture selections.
Planning was incredibly detailed due to the nature of the building. Uneven floors required careful coordination with contractors, while the home’s multi-storey layout meant logistics became an important part of the design process. Many bespoke pieces had to be designed specifically to allow for installation and assembly in situ.
Any fun stories from the project that you can share with us?
One of the most enjoyable parts of the project was watching the clients become increasingly confident and adventurous throughout the process. The early sourcing trips became collaborative and creative days out, where ideas evolved organically through conversation and discovering pieces together.
There was also a real sense of excitement around the transformation of the lower-ground floor. Seeing such a stark, reflective and rather impersonal space evolve into one of the warmest and most atmospheric areas in the house was particularly rewarding for everyone involved.
Were there any challenges along the way?
As with many period properties, uneven floors proved to be one of the more technically demanding aspects of the project. Addressing these issues sensitively while preserving the integrity and character of the building required close collaboration with the contractors.
Another challenge was working within the constraints of existing elements that needed to remain, particularly cabinetry and bathrooms from the previous renovation. Rather than viewing this as limiting, we approached it creatively, using texture, colour, lighting and decorative layering to transform the overall feel of the spaces.
The scale and layout of the house also meant that transporting and installing larger furniture pieces required careful planning, with some bespoke items designed to be assembled on site.
How did you create a sense of balance?
Balance was really at the heart of the entire design approach. We were constantly navigating contrasts – historical character alongside contemporary comfort, elegance alongside practicality and spaces that felt sophisticated but still family-friendly.
Materiality played a huge role in achieving this. Rich textures, soft upholstery and layered textiles helped soften the formality often associated with Georgian interiors, while carefully preserving architectural details ensured the home still felt authentic to its history.
There was also a balance between entertaining and retreat. The larger social spaces were designed to host comfortably, while quieter rooms like the snug offered moments of calm and intimacy.
You can find out more about recent projects by Sim Hilditch at simshilditch.com
