Sculptured in Sparkle

Photography by Stephan Julliard

Award-winning Australian designer Greg Natale has embarked on his first-ever London project, channeling the city's maverick charm into a four-storey townhouse in Chelsea.

Greg Natale crafted a bespoke, eclectic family home that strikes a harmonious balance of decorative flourishes and clean lines. The owners, a couple with two teenage daughters, first collaborated with Greg thirteen years ago on the design of their Paddington home in Sydney, Australia. Greg recalls the couple’s distinctly different tastes: she favours glamorous, traditional design, while he prefers 'cleaner' modernism. Balancing the opulent with the understated, the home’s liminal spaces and entrance hallways are pared back, serving as palette cleansers between richly layered rooms. The flat-top portals adorned with wainscoting introduce a sense of separation and visual intrigue reminiscent of a decorative collar on a tailored blouse. At the entrance, a modern Cattelan Italia sideboard has been placed, above which the Depeche Mode Vase by Greg makes a powerful postmodern statement with its playful geometry.

From the entrance, you can glimpse the sophisticated and contemporary design of the dining area, with a mix of elegant materials and harmonious colors. You can see the refined details such as the artistic carpet by Designer Rugs, the dark marble table and the dark green bouclé fabric chairs by Cassina designed by Patricia Urquiola. Above, thanks to its transparent material, the Meshmatics chandelier by Mooi emits an elegant radiant, soft glow without creating a visual block. Next to it is the kitchen with a skylight that makes the whole space full of light - one of the clients' priorities. This architectural feature not only brightens the area but also creates a sense of openness and connection to the city-scape. Furthermore, a delicate palette of light pink and cream lends an airy ambiance to the space, enhancing the elegant Crema Evora marble. As in the whole house, here too the brass elements have been chosen to give a touch of luxury. The frame of the lamps by Flos with diffused light above the island, taps, handles and the thin legs of the bar stools.

It's a home that makes you feel good. But it is also definitely glamorous. With all those layers, we have put charm back into the house.

The formal lounge exemplifies bespoke luxury, pairing a soft, feminine palette of lilac and pink with contemporary furnishings. A captivating artwork by Anya Pesce, supplied by M Contemporary pairs beautifully with the stunning gold-accented porcelain chandelier from Lladro. While the Designer Rugs carpet echoes the patterns of the Norwegian rose fireplace. In the center, the organically shaped coffee table from The Invisible Collection sits - a striking, handcrafted piece in wood.

Characterised by the rose color, a ‘knockout’ powder room was also incorporated on the same floor, along with a laundry room. Inspiration from the legendary Annabel's social club has influenced the rich mix of materials and moments of detailed wallpaper throughout the home. An oyster shell sink paired with silky pink roses, gold taps shaped like swans, and the timeless elegance of Chinoiseries wallpaper by de Gournay create an extremely lovely atmosphere.

Downstairs, where we find the media room, cellar and study, draws inspiration from the homeowner’s wine collection, infusing rooms with deep, rich reds that evoke the warmth of a fine vintage. Every detail, from the bold to the subdued, is thoughtfully designed to delight and inspire. Pairing those ‘hyperfeminine colours’ with contemporary, not traditional furniture, created a good balance. The soft sofa by Minotti in grey tones picks up the colour of the carpet underneath, while the table lamp by Oluce with its geometric shapes and the sculptural side table by ClassiCon recall luxurious accents. Lively, veined marbles are used for the vanity units in the powder room. The floors are marked out with geometric tiles and suede-like polished plaster is swathed across the walls.

Dubbed 'the most beautiful desk in the world', Karakter's office desk designed by Danish architect Bodil Kjær is the centrepiece of the home office. Its slender legs take up the deep red while the wood of the spacious top picks up the built-in joinery. Pastel blue tones have been added to create a cleaner and lighter climate to stimulate work inside. A painting, home accessories, Cole&Son wallpaper on a wall: everything is harmoniously united by the colours of the Designer Rugs rug.

The entire first floor of the house is a dedicated suite, complete with a primary bedroom, walk-in dressing room, and private bath. The stairwell leading up to it is livened up with an ocelot-patterned rug, Vistosi chandelier and balustrades in Tiffany Blue.

To bridge the gap between traditional and modern, Greg designed a diamond-shaped molding on the bedroom ceiling, a contemporary take on a classic detail. The designer opted for the Galotti&Radice upholstered bed with a freestanding upholstered headboard with adjustable side panels. The Rug Company’s soft, warm pattern features subtle bands of brass, pink and blue water features, which shimmer to create the illusion of movement. A pair of Roche Bobois armchairs with natural, organic lines, a coffee table from The Invisible Collection, and a vanity table complete the modern design of the bedroom.

The built-in wardrobes finished in Cole & Son's chinoiserie wallpaper and a Stark spotted carpet for a soft underfoot lend an elevated elegance to this private dressing room, while the Norwegian Rose-topped dressing island introduces a touch of whimsy with its splashes of soft pink.

Featuring a playful polka dot pattern, the Punti tile from my Teranova Tiles collection brings a touch of charm and individuality to this personal retreat.