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mma Oldham’s passion for elegant, understated style is evident from the moment
you step into her restored period home. From the hall, a sweep of chic pink stair
carpet takes your eye upwards, while straight ahead the living room is a celebration of
unusual art, modern and mid-20th century furniture and sophisticated colour. ‘I always
prefer tones not to perfectly match,’ says Emma. ‘I think they’re better a little off-key.’
With its four-metre high living room ceiling and oak parquet flooring, the apartment
looks true to its Victorian roots. But when Emma bought it three years ago, it was an ugly,
boxy 1980s conversion, totally lacking features apart from, oddly, a Gothic-style staircase.
Seeing its potential, Emma wasn’t put off. She removed the false ceiling and swapped the
banister for a traditional style, then reinstated the original mouldings, skirtings and window
shutters in the living room and sourced the f looring. ‘I put back the pretty bones the property
deserved,’ says Emma, who studied fashion and later switched to interior design.
Emma’s design ethos – ‘personal, eclectic homes, fusing style with a speedy approach’- was impressively applied here. Within nine months the property was gutted, reconfigured
and fitted (notwithstanding a four-month wait for listed building consent). The lower-floor
footprint of living room, kitchen and cloakroom was retained, but two sets of double doors
leading off the hall were made taller to echo the height of the living room. Upstairs the wall
between the master bedroom and bathroom was demolished to create a large bedroom with
bath in situ, plus a walk-through wardrobe/vanity area and shower room behind a stud wall.
While the structural alterations are stunning, the fittings and furnishings really steal
the show. Having worked as a magazine interiors stylist, Emma has a sharp eye for colour
LIVING ROOM
‘When it comes to art, my style is
more collective than coordinated,’
says Emma; the gold-leaf and
lacquer picture was a present from
her mother and the pastel portrait
was painted by her nine-year-old
niece. By the fireplace, chunky
velvet seating creates a ‘party
vibe’ and Emma designed the
tall mirror on the mantelpiece.
Sideboard, Lema at Forza.
Landscape painting, Alice
Sheppard Fidler. Framed
photograph, Anthony McCall.
Sixties tub chair, Talisman. Highwire
chandelier, Apparatus Studio. Wall
lights, Delta Light. Rug, Zara Home
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