South London Home by SGS Design

Client SGS Design
Location Keston Park, South London
When March 2021
Shoot Duration 2 Days
Assistant Jonny Wilson

Written by Hayley

A South London plot with an original 1950s house was the perfect project for the owner of this stunning 20,000 sq ft property. With a view to demolishing the old and building new, the owner has successfully created a Georgian-style forever family home with three floors and a basement below that houses everything from cinema to nightclub! For photographer Ryan Wicks, the photoshoot for SGS Design involved walking an incredible four miles around the house on just the first day of this two-day shoot.

The homeowner is a building contractor and having built a number of homes for both his family and his clients, he has always created the interiors and selected the architectural finishes himself, repeating the style throughout. This time, however, the brief was for SGS to provide something new and to challenge the owner’s finish selection. And while it’s primarily a family home, Sophie Stevens and her team were tasked with making sure it felt welcoming and relaxed.

The result is a classic style that respects the proportions of its Georgian architecture beautifully. Details such as parquet flooring, wood paneling, silk wallpaper, and a stone staircase with metal balustrade and lacquered wooden handrail are softened by contemporary furnishings throughout. “The palette has a soft, warm, neutral base,” explains Sophie. “But every room has its own identity. The interiors are luxurious but relaxed and inviting rather than formal.”

Traditionally, the owner would have opted for an all-timber kitchen design but SGS persuaded him to mix stained oak with painted cabinets for contrast. The bespoke design by Chamber Furniture features a stunning marble worktop on the island, which combines caramel accents with warmer neutrals and darker veins. White Macaubus Quartzite is used elsewhere while feature lighting and bespoke bar stools introduce soft texture and pattern.

Jewel-like reflective details enhance a sense of space with antique mirror panels behind open shelves that were designed to reflect the natural light from a nearby window and add interest to an awkward corner.

A chunky Gaggenau gas hob offers a professional look and is complemented by matching extractor and ovens as well as fully integrated fridges and freezer. The controls are installed over the fixed joinery panel of the island face for easy access.

Walls are finished with an Armourcoat Perlata specialist paint to add movement and texture to the large open plan space, which has zones for cooking, dining and relaxing. Polished plaster has also been used in the pool area and some of the bathrooms. “In a large space it is a great way to add interest to walls without over-complicating the design,” says Sophie. “It’s also very forgiving to live with and reflects a beautiful light when you overlay with wall lights.”

In the grand sitting room, a marble fireplace surround and contemporary oak joinery provide an elegant focal point. “The design is deliberately linear to contrast with the Georgian-inspired arch-top windows at either end of the room,” explains Sophie. “Everything is oversized but the space is layered with beautiful fabrics and tactile material finishes such as the brass and marble coffee table, velvet cushions and faux shagreen bar joinery.”

Perfect for home working, the study has a deliberate dark and masculine feel with a statement Porta Romana light fitting and silk Rug Company rug. Geometric shapes and angles keep the eye travelling around the space.

Luxurious and calming, the master suite is a peaceful space that balances soft textures with some twinkle. The antique mirror and bespoke panelled headboard and bed were all supplied by The Sofa & Chair Company while the light fittings are SGS favourites from Porta Romana.

The secret to the bedroom remaining tranquil at all times is thanks to the working space being hidden from view. His and hers dressing rooms are designed in the same colour palette as the main bedroom space and are accessed via the panelled end wall.

Inside, gold and brass tones along with layers of glass and mirror add a feminine feel.

For contrast, the second dressing room feels as if you have just stepped into a Savile Row tailor with stained oak panelling and fully panelled ceiling.

Oozing opulence from every inch, the master bathroom features a faux marble large format tile from Domus Tiles. “It is exceptional quality and suitable for cladding the vanity as well as installing as wall and floor tiling,” explains Sophie. Dual basins, niche storage, feature lighting and double walk-in shower all enhance the five-star appeal.

The property also includes a two-bedroom self-contained apartment on the second floor for the couple’s eldest son. The contemporary design of the bathroom is finished with a waterproof plaster product installed by Kourasanit. “It’s a stunning finish but also incredibly durable,” says Sophie. “We combined this with matt black sanitaryware and smoked glass. The lighting is also designed to create a more contemporary feel with LED contours installed for a vertical light spill onto the walls.”

Perfectly designed for parties, the property also includes its very own nightclub in the basement. This is where the family spend time together at home and with their closest friends. SGS used the Kourasanit product on the floor for an industrial concrete effect to the main bar and wine room, which were created by Chamber Furniture, then defined the seating area with a dark engineered timber.

No club would be complete without a dancefloor but this one is different… at the touch of a button, the electrolytic glass reveals the garage and its glamorous contents inside. Everything is programmed with a whole house automation system, was installed by Gibson Integration and controls the lighting, audio visuals, cinema and security.

Gibson Integration also created the home cinema, too. “They are fantastic to work with,” says Sophie. “They focus on the quality of the cinema experience and the technical while we work with the client on the look and feel.” Fabric panels are overlayed with Porta Romana wall lights and some of the panels conceal a hidden bar filled with cinema drinks and sweet treats.

The pool is lined with marble on the inside and to the surround with a pearlescent mosaic on the curved jacuzzi and a metal nickel mosaic tile as a step marker in the pool. All of the marble work has been installed by Natural Stone Installers. The walls are Spatulata polished plaster in a bespoke finish, supplied and installed by Armourcoat.

Perfect for relaxing after a hard week, the home sauna and steam room offers luxurious spa-style sanctuary with products supplied by West One Bathrooms.

With its classic monochrome colour scheme, the downstairs WC cloakroom was inspired by the marble used to create the floating basin.

In the boot room, wooden wall panelling defines this space as part of the more formal area of the house with plenty of room for hanging coats, bags and scarves.

With references to the Georgian-style architecture, the grand hallway features a galleried landing and stone staircase with a statement Tom Faulkner centre table. Its practical marble top jars with its angular bronze base for instant impact.

Created for family dining and entertaining, the dining room is sleek and sophisticated with its soft neutral colour palette and statement lighting.

Sophie could not be happier with the results of the photoshoot, which has resulted in a wonderful selection of wide and detail shots that capture the beauty and elegance of this home perfectly. “We’ve worked with Ryan for a number of years and trust his creative eye to spot the best shots and make the most of our work,” confirms Sophie. “It’s a fantastic collaboration and at a very hectic moment in the project, just before final handover, Ryan has a calming and professional approach, which we appreciate.”