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August 7, 2016

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Home » Sunday » Home and Design

Timeless elegance in London townhouse

INTERIOR designer Rachel Laxer found her ideal home base inside a stately Georgian townhouse in the heart of St. John’s Wood, one of the London’s most exclusive boroughs.

She was sold the second she walked in the house and “felt” the space. “London is typically dark so the windows and skylights opened up the house. It spoke to me with its clean lines, yet it retains its Old World elegance with the original mouldings, wide plank floors and limestone entry,” Laxer said.

Laxer’s objective was to create a sophisticated modern aesthetic for an active family while complimenting the classical setting and being sympathetic to the painstakingly restored Georgian architecture.

“The original state of the interior was wonderful. I changed the wall colors, added wallpaper to the chimney breast in the dining room, and replaced the floor color with a brownish/greyish tone,” she said.

The biggest change was to the front garden. It was a mess so the designer cleaned it up, giving it a low-maintenance, Zen-inspired makeover with old French beams, black river rocks, boxwood spheres and wonderful handmade planters on the balcony that act as a partial screen to the interior.

Laxer’s design philosophy is based on the principle of “relaxed elegance,” fusing the chic with carefully curated art pieces. Her background influences her style and design panache as well.

Laxer previously worked on emerging markets and trading at firms owned by investment legends George Soros and Michael Steinhardt. This work took her to many far-flung and interesting places. It was when she relocated to Tokyo with her family that her interest for design developed.

“I love a mixture of East and West, coming from my time living in Japan and travelling in Asia,” she said.

Laxer has an amazing antique bench from Shanghai in her entry – it has perfect proportions and seems to work in every home she’s lived in. Her coffee table and side tables are by Robert Kuo, a Chinese artist living in California. These are mixed with Promemoria, Christian Liagre and vintage pieces as well as her black and white photography collection.

Thanks to the family’s extensive travels, the home’s shelving space displays are constantly changing with objects found anywhere from flea markets to art galleries from all over the world. An ample collection of books adds further richness and interest.

“The house was designed to reflect my core design belief in timeless, relaxed elegance – all the pieces with clean lines and will stand the test of time. It’s a home for a busy family that does not want anything too fussy that it cannot be enjoyed,” Laxer said. “If someone spills a glass of wine or dents something it can either be cleaned or replaced. It does not take itself too seriously.”

The interior designer loves to start with a neutral base of natural linen colors or soft greys, and then brighten things up with a burst of color.

“I selected purple, as it is my favorite color. My other favorite color is burgundy. When selecting colors I think of deep jewel tones as my ‘go-to’ colors — rubies, sapphires, emeralds, amethyst. That tells one about my other favorite thing besides interior design: jewelry.”

Laxer said the living room is designed around a purple Damien Hirst Butterfly – it was one of the first things she bought for the house. “I love the deep richness of color and symbolism of the artwork,” Laxer said. The other pieces are meant to be comfortable and inviting, whether while relaxing or entertaining.

The dining room is designed for daily use. Laxer used the table she designed many years ago. The custom-made mirror in the dining room is also one of Laxer’s favorites. She’s also made several mirrors like it for her clients.

“The master bedroom is meant to be calm and relaxing with just enough masculine and feminine vibes for a balance in the room,” she said.

Throughout the home, Laxer has created a sense of continuity and flow between rooms.

“The artwork is always evolving – I collect black and white photography and love how it makes groupings, and when you move the pieces around it changes the look of the room,” she said. “It’s also wonderful since we have moved a lot and the pieces themselves are not large. I can make them work in a variety of homes.”

Laxer said the energy of the people who live in a space is the most important factor when making a home welcoming and cozy.

“The other thing is no clutter. A space should feel balanced, well edited and curated. That is where a good designer can do their job to help the client select the key pieces to shine in the room.”

Laxer is originally from New York. She previously lived in Tokyo but settled in London to raise her family. She enjoys working on projects all over the world and considers it is her core strength to work with clients and make their vision a reality in their homes. “I would love to come back to Asia to do a new project,” she added.

Q: What’s the best thing about living in London?

A: The access to so many different places in the world and the amazing mix of people and cultures.

Q: Describe your home in three words.

A: Relaxed, elegant and happy.

Q: What’s the first thing you do when you get home?

A: Take off my shoes. We have a no-shoes-inside policy

Q: How do you unwind?

A: I love TV dramas! Lately I have been watching the “Night Manager” and “UnReal.”

 

Q: What’s the best thing outside your window?

A: My wonderful garden.

Q: How do you scent your home?

A: I love Diptyque candles. My favorite is Baies and I only buy it in the black container, very chic.

Q: What’s your favorite object at home?

A: My grandmother’s silverware. I love when I set a table with it and it reminds me of my childhood.

Q: What are your favorite spots for furniture shopping in London?

A: Alfie’s’ Antique Market and Church Street for vintage finds; Pimlico Road for wonderful shops and Chelsea Harbour for fabrics and furnishings.




 

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