Back to the Future
A very personal design project to our Creative Directors, Anna & Chris. Refurbishing and styling the Notting Hill apartment where Run For The Hills began. The genesis of the business was hatched in this gorgeous Victorian Villa, where the studio’s founders lived and worked before setting up the studio on the banks of the Grand Union canal. The interior design is a reflection of their idiosyncratic style, featuring a lot of Chris’s original art, as well as a host of one-off curios, artefacts and much-loved vintage pieces Anna has picked up on her sourcing travels over the years.
A Creative State of Mind
The spacious two bedroom apartment has insanely high ceilings, stacked full of period detail, ornate cornicing and original wooden shutters. A beautiful period backdrop for an unashamedly strong interior look and feel. Bold, quirky patterns, bohemian whimsy in the master bedroom, statement vintage and a gorgeously rich paint palette from Dulux Heritage including the most amazing Waxed Khaki in the master bedroom. Punchy and peaceful all wrapped up in one. Oh and did we mention the antique brass picture rail yet, made in collaboration with Collier Webb.…..
Above: The 3 metre long rail features Chris’s vertical diptych (pictured centre), Juliana Loveday’s work (left and bottom right) and Benjamin Parker (top right). All hanging from wonderfully antiqued chains. The rail was homed and framed within a custom architrave and we can’t quite explain how much we love it.
Below: Our arts and crafts fireplace design and the really fun Art Deco swimmer tiles in bronze we found. A vintage painters easel proudly displays one of Dex’s London Maps and the kitchen boasts a powder pink-meets-brass makeover, topped with botanical terrariums presided over by Queen Victoria’s head.
Small Room Big Attitude
The master bedroom is amazingly spacious, but what to do with a smaller second bedroom? Make it an event. We took a dark and inky wallpaper from Feathr and painted up to it in a gorgeous dusky blue shade, breaking their meeting point with a collection of (Chris’s alter-ego) Dex’s edgy 3D and music-inspired artworks. The bed was custom-designed to fit the space and edge-banded with brass. Compact but not forgotten.
Just a few of the design details, materials, finishes and unique collectables dotted around the property. Anna and Chris are collectors and keep their prized finds close. You might see them popping up in Run For The Hills photo shoots. Like lucky mascots. But they always find their way home. Some finds are meant to become family heirlooms. Not for their cash value. But because they make us smile. Every home needs a sequin table-cloth. And lots of plants. And how lovely is our feminine Thai Totem. We can’t even remember where we found her. But she has been with us from the start.
