Future-proofing is not just for computers and phones — Ritu Bhushan has done the same to her home.
This four-bedroom penthouse in Fitzrovia doesn’t follow fads — instead it is an outburst of expression, character, colour and pieces that will never go out of fashion.
To start with, the property, sitting high above the hustle and bustle of central London, has a split personality.
It is a unique combination of two buildings, sitting astride a modernist 1970s building and a Victorian block of flats.
This means that part of Ritu’s home is clean, straight lines while other rooms have higher ceilings, beautiful ornate wall mouldings and original 150-year-old herringbone flooring.
‘The idea was very much to future-proof by using timeless pieces that we can take with us from one home to another, or even change up some accessories, wallpaper and curtains around the iconic pieces, while using the classics to keep things fairly grounded. We didn’t follow any trends for this exact reason.’
When Ritu and her husband, Alok, bought the flat a year ago, it was freshly renovated but a blank canvas — an intriguing space spread over one 2,000sq ft main living area and a couple of hundred metres upstairs that would be an entertaining space, as well as a small terrace outside.
The aim was to create distinctive character throughout the different rooms that would reflect all inhabitants’ tastes, including their seven-year-old daughter, as well as visiting parents.
Above all, it would need to be both peaceful and relaxing, as well as visually stimulating and bespoke — no small ask.
The look all started with one key piece — the Eames lounger in the living/dining room.
‘Alok wanted the Eames lounger for a long time — it was a must-have,’ says Ritu. ‘We worked backwards from that piece using it as the design inspiration.
‘It is classic-contemporary and a very grounded design — why not work around that?’
Enlisting the aid of celebrated interior designer Aurore Martial, founder of Domus Venus, the property went through a three-month, top-to-bottom overhaul.
Aurore explains the brief was to create a flat that is daring, fun, confident and modern, reflecting the owners’ personalities.
‘We created a flat that has character, not a copycat of what you could find anywhere else. Here we have a set of furniture that really goes together here and in any other flat or house we will move to in the future.’
Ritu adds: ‘We wanted something fun, playful and contemporary, but with a minimalistic approach.
‘As a family, we all have different personalities and so didn’t want one look for all of us, instead bringing in the person’s interests to define the space. It is home for all of us, after all.’
With a rich tapestry of colours and textures, this is no plain white box but it is still fairly minimalistic.
Ritu wanted to use many of the pieces she had collected in the past but rather than dictating neutral spaces with furniture, she and Aurore approached it from the opposite direction.
‘We wanted to keep the furniture fairly neutral and have fun through rugs and wallpaper. That meant we can choose investment pieces and use them in every property we live in and keep them a long time. We don’t want to keep throwing things away and long-lasting pieces are eco. We care about the environment.’
A good example is the epic marble Plinto dining table by Meridiani, which is simplistic in architectural lines but dazzling in its surfaces and details. Around the dining table are Gubi Beetle chairs, a delicate design with a hint of Eames to them.
Topping this ensemble is an ethereal pendant from CVL called Cercle Et Trait.
The Glas Italia coffee table has a great party trick — it features an ethanol flame in the middle. Ritu laughs: ‘This could look super-cool or super-tacky, but it’s great in winter.’
The rug underneath was custom-made by Aurore and the wallpaper is another bespoke item from Glamora. The overall look is difficult to pigeonhole, blending elements of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, with art deco glamour.
‘We wanted something fairly minimalistic but with personality and colour,’ says Ritu. ‘We like clean lines.’
The other entertaining space upstairs is pure fun.
The blue sofa is from Moroso while the other is from Missana.
The wallpaper was brought from Italian specialist Texturae as an abstract expression to match the furniture, the whole look channelling 1980s’ Memphis.
‘I wanted this space to be a conversation starter,’ says Ritu. ‘Some people think the wallpaper is a beach, others see flamingos — it’s abstract and fun. These are happy colours and the room can take colour well because there is lots of light.’
The bedrooms also have strong personalities.
‘The bed (called Beach House from Lifetime) in my daughter’s bedroom is the piece that makes me happiest.
‘She loves animals and, given that she lives in a city, I wanted something that fits with her needs so she could get in touch with nature. The wallpaper has trees and is light and brings in elements of nature. The rugs are in the shape of a cloud.’
The fluffy sheep, by the way, is from Woolroom.
The spare bedroom, designed for older guests, is in the traditional part of the home and features a more classical gold wallpaper.
‘It is period and more reflective of our parents’ homes. They come for longer periods and we thought about what they would find comfortable. It’s very simple and minimalistic, so true to the rest of the house while not being too contemporary. It’s classic but also with a little abstract modern twist to it.’
Ritu adds that in terms of an overall feeling there is just one word: home.
‘I love that everyone feels homely who lives here.
‘It is a good reminder not to collect things because it is very simple, not too many empty surfaces to put things — and it’s designed like that. It’s very relaxing, easy and true to who we are.’
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