Walpole: What was your main source of inspiration for the design of this space?
Sharon Lillywhite: The inspiration for the design of the House of Walpole was Buckingham Palace gardens, and to celebrate the enduring love affair between British luxury and the English garden. I wanted to re-tell the fascinating stories from this treasured sanctuary in a modern way; a love letter to the garden’s enduring beauty, transformation and resilience, giving the internal space as much gravitas as the external architecture.
What was the first detail of the project you really got excited about creating or sourcing?
I was really taken with the love story between Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert, and how beautiful it was that they had planted plane trees in the gardens on their anniversary over 150 years ago. This led to the idea to ask Walpole member Helen Amy Murray to recreate those very trees on a sculpted headboard wall in the primary bedroom. Seeing Helen’s craft bring this story to life has been so rewarding and the end result is sublime – it’s one of my favourite standout pieces.
When you embarked on this project, you said that you wanted the space to embody a spirit of “thoughtful luxury”. What did you mean by this – and how have you achieved it?
"Thoughtful luxury" embodies everything we do at Oliver Burns. It is reflected in our designs, from the concepts we develop, through to the thoughtfully layered details we create with artisans and craftsmen. It is demonstrated in the unique understanding we have of our discerning clients and translated in our vision of client care.
We have taken a multi-sensory approach to the House of Walpole brief that mixes both timeless British institutions and the new guard in a modern, yet elegant way. Every detail has been considered and the design goes beyond the aesthetic to reflect Thoughtful Luxury in practice. From concept to completion our approach ensures that all of our projects are thoughtfully designed, thoughtfully crafted and thoughtfully finished.
What is your favourite aspect of the design of the apartment itself?
The palace gardens provided an endless source of inspiration, with flora and fauna abound. From floral and winged motifs to organic lines, the narrative is weaved through the design using the subtle geometry, abstract pattern and repetition found in nature. I love that the design story can be seen throughout the whole apartment, even in the styling. Being able to collaborate with Walpole, Northacre and so many wonderful brands to create the apartment has made this a very special project.
What was the most challenging aspect of the project and how did you overcome it?
The House of Walpole apartment sits in Northacre’s stunning No.1 Palace Street development, which is finishing up over the next few months and is still a live construction site. A live site environment comes with challenges and unforeseen delays which had a knock-on effect to the project. It was challenging to manage these delays with multiple brands, but we worked collaboratively with Northacre and made it happen. Thank you to everyone for their patience and resilience!
There are some incredible Walpole brands in situ in the apartment. What are your favourite objects in the space that a visitor should look out for?
There are too many to mention! The seasonal bespoke scent by Rachel Vosper is very inviting – I love that Rachel created a different scent for each season and it was a pleasure being part of that process. Peter Reed has created some beautiful linen for the beds. I love the sea island cotton bed linen that they embroidered with a love letter from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria which sits perfectly on the bespoke Savoir bed. The bespoke ‘Menagerie’ wallpaper we collaborated with Cole & Son on makes me really happy. Coupled with the beautiful etched glass bespoke mirror from Sterling Studios that continues the menagerie theme, the whimsical powder room is one of my favourite rooms. Alexandra Llewellyn has created a very special backgammon board for the reception room which takes pride of place on our display unit, and Aiveen Daly’s embroidery on our dining chairs are like works of art in their own right.
And talking of art, I love Maddox Gallery’s curation for the space, particularly the Banksy triptych in the upper lobby (above). I really do love it all and I am hugely grateful to all the brands that worked with me and my team to bring our vision to life.
What’s your favourite luxury under £50 that we’ll find in the space?
I love all the candles and luxury hand soaps and lotions from our gorgeous Walpole brands. I think my favourite under £50 is Juniper Sling Hand Wash by Penhaligons.
What is a key feature of your design for House of Walpole that someone can apply to their own home to make it feel instantly more luxurious?
Taking a multi-sensory approach to your home is the best way to make it feel luxurious. A beautiful scent creates a great first impression, whether that is through luxurious candles or diffusers. Flowers instantly elevate a space and thoughtfully considered art and objet bring your home to life.
See more of Lillywhite's concept sketches for the House of Walpole, and their realised designs, in the gallery below. View more photographs of the space here.
The House of Walpole is located at No.1 Palace Street, The St. Regis Residences, London, SW1E 5DX. numberonepalacestreet.com
