FE ATURE
RACHEL LEEDHAM
PHOTOGRAPH
NICK SMITH
We loved working for this client; she was
very open to new ideas. The brief was
that the room needed to be elegant and
timeless but with a modern edge, and
she wanted to avoid high-street pieces.
I think I must have explored every
chandelier invented until I saw this
incredible piece. It was ‘the one’.
The space beneath the window was crying
out for a built-in seat, which has the
practical function of storing toys, while
shutters were an obvious choice to offer
privacy without blocking too much light.
I also designed cupboards to flank the
fireplace to balance the room, with a pair
of striking mirrors in the alcoves above.
THIS IS THE RECEPTION ROOM on the
ground floor of a four-storey Victorian terrace in Kew,
west London. The house was entirely remodelled by
an architect, but we were brought in to furnish this
space, the adjoining TV room and the media room on
the floor below. This space also needed to double as
a place where the owners’ small children could play.A SOFT PALETTE of blues, greens and pinks,
which was a nod to the Royal Botanic Gardens
nearby, works well with the subtle grey and teal hues
throughout the house. We painted the ceiling the same
grey as the walls for a sense of intimacy, while crisp
white cornicing offers subtle definition. A strong pattern
on the window seat adds depth to the muted colours.TO EVOKE A SALON FEEL, I chose a gently
curved sofa and chairs, and a circular marble table to
encourage conversation. The antiqued mirrors add to
the glamour and elegance, as does the chandelier
centred over the table. The artwork was found by my
client; it brings another layer of texture to the scheme
and it was lovely for her to add her mark to the space.■Rebecca Leivars, 07929 934511, leivars.com
Elegance, timelessness and a nod
to nature were Rebecca’s focus for
this dual-purpose sitting room
Nika Zupanc Stardust sofa, £7,510
plus 8m of fabric; Jaime Hayon
Tambor coffee table, £5,795, both Sé
Collections. Malay armchairs, €2,670
each, Brabbu. Sofa in Adamo & Eva
172 Acier; chairs in Adamo & Eva 140
Lago, both £122m, Dedar. Window
seat back in Indie Wood, £150m,
Timorous Beasties. Mirrors, £2,455
each, Rough Old Glass. Luca
chandelier, from £4,920, Fiona
McDonald. Vancouver rug, 170
x240cm, from £965, Woven. Walls in
Pavilion Gray estate emulsion, £46.50
for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball
DESIGN