Inside Josie Lywood’s Grade II Listed Georgian Home in West London
Overview
Interior designer Josie Lywood, founder of Q Design House, has brought new life to a Georgian townhouse built in 1717. Located in West London, the property is rich in architectural character, but when Josie and her family purchased it in 2020, much of its original detailing was hidden from view. “The wood floor was covered in carpet and laminate,” she recalls. “We lifted everything up to expose the original architecture.”
Brand
Q Design House
Type
Grade II Georgian Home
Location
London
Services
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Presented by
Josie Lywood
Original fireplaces were uncovered, their historic tilework revealed beneath layers of black paint. “One evening I just started scratching away at it, hoping something was underneath, and magically, the tiles appeared,” Josie says. A marble hearth, long buried, was also restored, offering another glimpse into the home’s past.
The furniture is a mix of antique and contemporary pieces, each with a story. A grandfather clock once owned by Josie’s great-grandfather shares the room with two reupholstered antique chairs and a whimsical watercolor of Josie and her dog Winnie, painted by her parents.
A second sitting room has been reimagined as a snug. Its green walls and striped sofa add warmth and informality, complemented by a picture wall filled with collected prints.
“I always wanted a stripey sofa,” Josie says, smiling. “I saw an image of one and just thought, I want that.”
Downstairs, the kitchen sits in what were once two bedrooms. The transition required listed building consent, a process that included architectural plans, a heritage report and approval from the local authority. Every element of the kitchen was designed by Josie and to prevent the space from feeling gloomy, she opted for bright citron cabinetry inspired by her Le Creuset collection. “I wanted it to feel like a happy place, not just a dark basement,” she says.
Adjacent to the kitchen is a dining area anchored by a solid oak table and a deep bench seat built into the bay window. “It’s such a comfy space in the evening to chill out and have dinner,” Josie says. A rise-and-fall pendant overhead can be lowered for added intimacy.
Outdoors, a once-overgrown garden has been transformed with newly planted borders and a reclaimed stone patio. A timber studio at the far end now serves as a home office for Josie’s husband, a welcome retreat as the couple juggles work and life with their one-year-old daughter.
Upstairs, the former living room has become the principal bedroom, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Red Earth to counterbalance the room’s limited natural light. Another original fireplace adds character, while personal pieces bring warmth.
A sketch by Josie’s great-great-grandfather hangs above a carved wood mantel, while small bronze sculptures are suspended delicately between the windows.
In her daughter’s room, south-facing light floods yellow walls and a hand-installed animal mural. Antique family heirlooms, including a child’s rocking chair and a bench built by her grandfather, have been reupholstered in playful fabrics.
“One of my clients gave me the toy giraffe,” she adds. “It belonged to her son, who’s now in his twenties. My daughter loves stroking the giraffe before bed.”
At the top of the house, two more bedrooms and a bathroom are still in progress. But even unfinished, the home feels deeply lived-in and full of care. From the layered antique pieces to the rigor of the design detailing, Josie’s renovation is not about spectacle but about thoughtful adaptation, of past to present, of function to feeling, and of house to home.
Watch the full house tour here.
