Interior designers often say they are their own are their own worst client – not so
Tania immediately recognised the potential in her own home when she purchased it eight years ago. “When I came across this house I was immediately won over by its Regency period detailing – the dentil cornices and exterior frieze, the columns on the front porch and the handsome simplicity of the internal windows with no architraves,” Tania recalls. When she finally undertook the six-month renovation in 2021, she not only had a clear vision, but she’d also collected many of the pieces that now take pride of place in the reimagined interior.
This feature originally appeared in est Magazine Issue 45: Sense of Place.
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Not one to do things by halves, Tania ensured the renovation involved gutting the entire house and demolishing and rebuilding the rear half – a rabbit warren of tacked-on rooms. “The ground floor layout was replanned to optimise the spaces through generously scaled rooms that flow easily from one to the other,” Tania says. On the first floor, the designer ingeniously added bay windows to make the small rear bedroom and bathroom more functional, while working within the strict Paddington conservation zone. After deliberating, an attic room was also added creating a much-needed home office.
It is the handpicked finishes that really make the spaces sing. “I was careful to select finishes with patina, warmth and texture,” Tania says, adding “one of the more dramatic changes was the plaster wall finish used throughout the front two rooms, imbuing those spaces with a real sense of atmosphere that didn’t exist before.” Newly installed narrow solid oak floorboards with distressed edges emulate what might have been originally there.
The furniture is equally individual; “I had a very clear idea from the beginning of what I planned to do with the house so enjoyed slowly collecting vintage pieces that would work in the spaces as I envisaged them,” the designer explains. Highlights include the Guillerme and Chambron French oak cabinet from the 1950s, the 17th-century kitchen table and entry console and a pair of brass wall sconces acquired from the estate of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge. Custom-designed pieces such as the dining table and blood-red velvet sofa complete the picture.
Having woven her magic, the house is now the perfect balance of artful spatial planning and a carefully executed, yet seemingly effortless atmosphere. “Aesthetically, I finally feel like I live in a home that is a true reflection of my personal style and practically, the quality of the spaces makes my family feel more comfortable, organised and productive,” Tania says. From the pretty vignette at the entry through to the floral upholstered inbuilt seating at the back, it is the embodiment of style and substance.
“I had a very clear idea from the beginning of what I planned to do with the house so enjoyed slowly collecting vintage pieces that would work in the spaces as I envisaged them.”
– Tania Handelsmann
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