For his clients’ new home in the heart of Chelsea, London, just minutes away from the ultra-hip King’s Road, the mission was clear: “To create an elegant and young environment for the couple starting their new life together,” says Maurizio Pellizzoni, founder of London-based interior architecture and design firm Maurizio Pellizzoni Ltd. “This celebrity couple wanted a calm and understated home. They were also looking to recreate the Ralph Lauren lifestyle as seen in the [company’s] Mayfair Collection.”
At the time, his clients were moving out of a contemporary flat, which was too cold and impersonal for their tastes. “They wanted a more mature look in their first home as a married couple,” says Pellizzoni. “They wanted something classic and stylish . . . glamorous and feminine.”
Another request was for a fast turnaround with minimal disruption. Due to the short time frame, structural work was kept to a minimum. All the rooms were redecorated with a new color scheme, window treatments, and furniture, including custom pieces made to work within the allotted space.
The designer created many bespoke pieces for this home, including the desk in the bay window. Designed to complement the iconic, mahogany Duke Bar by Ralph Lauren that’s nearby, the consistency of the desk helps unite the three different sections in the living room. The desk chair was discovered at the Portobello Road Market, while the two casual chairs and side table facing the fireplace are from Ralph Lauren Home. A framed photograph of the client’s horse hangs above the bar, which conceals a collection of spirits and cocktail accessories.
Pellizzoni’s impressive blend of past and present and influences near and far can be seen in the details, like the chinoiserie, crystal, and nail-head trim. “My aesthetic is inspired by the glamour of Lake Como, cosmopolitan New York, and daily life in London where I live,” he says. “Fashion-based industries such as ours change frequently, making it imperative for us to keep ahead of the game in terms of new trends. For me, the best way to evolve and keep up with new trends is taking inspiration from fashion, movies, and whatever is happening around us.”
The fact that comfort also inspires the designer can be seen in the seating, such as the custom sofa in the main part of the seating area that provides the perfect place for the homeowners to watch TV. “I think style is very important, but a comfortable sofa is very important,” says Pellizzoni, who believes this element is essential in any living room. The arrangement is completed with a side table and leather chairs from Ralph Lauren Home.
Although the furniture is dark and substantial, Pellizzoni says the soft color scheme and careful assortment of accessories lighten the overall impact of the room, as do the walls that wear Skimming Stone by Farrow and Ball. “The room has a colonial feel to it, with stained floorboards, plantation shutters, and campaign style chairs,” he says. The Venetian mirror and the glamourous chandelier bring a feminine touch to the design. “My interest for novelty and trends is always counterbalanced by my roots in classical Italian design, and this is the skill and the eye I like to teach to my staff,” he says. “The timelessness of our work lays in this classicism, while the trendy touches will make it current. Finding the balance is a difficult craft.”
For a successful project such as this, communication is key. “My philosophy is to create unique interiors for my clients, listen to them, and understand their lifestyle,” says Pellizzoni. “How they want to use the interior is very important to me.” These clients were so happy with the way their home turned out that they returned for help with the nursery after the birth of their first child. Now they all get to live the luxurious lifestyle.