Inside a Victorian Home in West London That Proves Good Design Ages Well
Overview
“Welcome to my home in Chelsea,” says Gigi, joined by Ebba of Sigmar London. Completed in 2017, the project marked Gigi’s first solo, full-scale refurbishment. At the time, she was navigating the process alone, time-poor and keenly aware of the responsibility involved. “Getting a really good interior designer, in many ways a project manager, was essential,” she reflects. Returning to the house years later, the question is not simply whether it looks good, but whether it still works.
Brand
Sigmar London
Type
Family Residence
Location
Chelsea, West London
Services
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Presented by
Gigi and Ebba
Photo: Sigmar London
Respecting the Victorian Framework
The property itself required little correction. A handsome Victorian house, previously owned by a French family, it retained its original detailing and proportions. The brief was not reinvention, but refinement.
Gigi wanted light, freshness, and clarity, balanced with warmth. Ebba’s response was a tone-on-tone palette of greys, carried through wooden floors, joinery, and walls. Traditional forms were subtly sharpened, allowing the architecture to feel contemporary without losing its heritage. “It was about opening it up,” Ebba explains, “continuing the light through, and then framing it.”
Photo: Sigmar London
The Dining Space as Connector
The dining area sits at the heart of the ground floor, acting as entrance, thoroughfare, and social anchor. It links living room, kitchen, and garden, forming what Ebba describes as “the glue” of the house.
Lighting by Michael Anastassiades replaces a traditional chandelier with a sculptural cluster of globes, introducing softness without formality. A bespoke banquette pushes the table into the corner, improving circulation in the walk-through layout while transforming an eight-seater into a comfortable ten. “Everyone wants to sit there,” Gigi notes. “No one chooses the chairs.”
Photo: Sigmar London
Photo: Sigmar London
A Country Kitchen in the City
The kitchen was designed to evoke a country kitchen transplanted into London. Bespoke cabinetry accommodates a 90-centimetre stove, while the defining blue was developed specifically for the project.
“I knew I wanted a blue kitchen,” Gigi says, “but what blue is a real question.” The final shade bridges marine and classic blue with a subtle green undertone, keeping it crisp and timeless.
An antique French cabinet from a former home was repainted and integrated seamlessly, while a custom extractor cover disguises an existing unit with simple industrial detailing. “If you get the colour right,” Abba notes, “it makes upcycling effortless.”
Photo: Sigmar London
Photo: Sigmar London
Living With the Design
Revisiting the project years later has reinforced the value of considered design. Aside from a light refresh three years ago and routine maintenance, the house has held up remarkably well. “A good interior designer is a bit like insurance,” Gigi reflects. “You don’t realise how much you need it until something goes wrong.”
In the living room, lighting, brass accents, and vintage furniture create spaces designed for conversation rather than display. “It’s not just about sustainability,” Gigi says. “It’s about soul.”
Photo: Sigmar London
Private Spaces, Thoughtfully Planned
Downstairs, the master bedroom is colour drenched in a deep blue, creating an enveloping, restful atmosphere. Built-in wardrobes frame the bed, while silk wallpaper and an oversized upholstered headboard add softness and quiet elegance.
The walkthrough bathroom brings light from the garden back into the bedroom, reinforcing the home’s emphasis on sightlines and flow. Additional rooms flex easily between guest space, home office, and everyday living.
A Home Built on Trust
Gigi and Ebba first met twenty years ago on a flight to Spain, a long-standing relationship that underpins the success of this project. “I needed someone who understood how I live,” Gigi says, “not just how I wanted the house to look.”
The house emerges as a Chelsea home that respects its Victorian shell, supporting modern life with calm clarity and warmth. A house designed not just to impress, but to endure.
Step inside with the full tour here.
Gallery
The Finer Details.
