Arts and Crafts in the 21st Century

By Editorial Staff - 30 September 2025

Behind the façade of an Edwardian Arts and Crafts-style residence in a quiet residential neighborhood in South West London, a home is taking shape where art, craftsmanship, and light engage in perfect equilibrium – the result of the coming together of a well-traveled artist and a collector, and a shared vision of elegance, functionality, and attention to detail. The project involved two London studios, with Gunter & Co designing the interiors and Harper Latter Architects the architecture.

After a renovation project in India, the clients were already familiar with the challenges of a complex project. So, what began as a simple relocation of the interior staircase evolved into a radical transformation. With the entire house demolished, except for the historic façade, a new home was created that reflects an eclectic personal vision, enriched by travel, collaboration, and a strong design synergy. The project is therefore an example of how interior architecture can tell a story by creating a space that mirrors the identity of its occupants.

Arts and Crafts nel XXI secolo | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy Gunter & Co L’area living si affaccia sul giardino tramite vetrate scorrevoli a tutta altezza, che trasformano la stanza in un’estensione del paesaggio naturale. Questa idea viene rafforzata dalla palette cromatica, composta da tonalità neutre e terrose.

Spread over four levels, the residence comprises five bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, and a spacious open-plan living area on the first floor, which includes a kitchen, dining room, and a living room overlooking the garden through retractable glass walls.
An office, an artist’s studio, a gym, and a prayer room complete the floor. The basement level houses a home theater, a cellar, and auxiliary rooms. The entire layout is designed to offer visual and material continuity between spaces, with high-quality finishes that extend seamlessly from one zone to the next, creating an elegant, intimate, and luminous atmosphere.

Arts and Crafts nel XXI secolo | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy Gunter & Co Lungo il vano scale scende un’installazione luminosa singolare, che valorizza i materiali raffinati e le opere d’arte.

The color palette revolves around neutral and warm shades, highlighting the tactility of natural materials: polished lime plaster, oak, bronze, white Emperador marble, Taj Mahal quartzite, and Dover White. Every surface is designed to enhance the owners’ constantly growing collection of artworks by international and Indian artists, and to create a perfect dialogue with custom furnishings made in collaboration with Indian artisans. From the large timber spiral staircase, the heart of the home, to the built-in audio system, each element is calibrated to create a sense of harmony and peace.

Fully open to the garden via large retractable walls, the living area has a palette of neutral, earthy tones, with a sand-colored brushed concrete floor that unifies the space. More intimate and cozy, the kitchen repeats the same tones. A central island with upholstered stools creates an informal and functional gathering point. In the basement, the home theater features a deep blue wall and a large cream-colored sofa with cushions in shades of ocher and blue. Adjacent to it, the wine cellar is a striking showcase for the owners’ collection of precious wines. In the sleeping quarters, the master bedroom is dominated by a large bed with a fabric headboard, enriched by coordinating rugs and cushions. Finished in marble and natural materials, the en suite bathroom continues the delicate, earthy tones of elsewhere in the home, adding to the project’s visual and material unity.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | The living area overlooks the garden via floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls, transforming the room into an extension of the natural landscape. This idea is reinforced by a palette of neutral and earthy tones.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | With its pivot door and large painting, the double-height entrance recalls the foyer of an art gallery.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | A spacious garden with outdoor sofas invites relaxation and conversation, while large glass walls blur the boundary between the interiors and lush greenery.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | More intimate and cozy, the kitchen repeats the colors found in the living room. A central island surrounded by upholstered stools creates a comfortable gathering point.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | In the home theater, blue fabric-covered walls and a colorful abstract painting hide the built-in speaker system. A U-shaped sofa invites you to settle in and enjoy a film.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | The basement houses a wine cellar, a spacious home theater, and a storage area.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | A distinctive multi-drop pendant in the staircase void highlights the elegant materials and artworks.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | A striking curving staircase with parquet flooring and white walls leads to the upper levels and the sleeping quarters.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | The en suite bathroom, with its marble surfaces and timber furnishings, echoes the delicate, natural tones used elsewhere in the home, underscoring the project’s visual and material unity.

Harper Latter Architects Gunter & Co | © Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co | The centerpiece of the master bedroom is a large bed with a fabric headboard, accented with coordinating rugs and cushions. An orange armchair adds a splash of color to the space.

Location: London, United Kingdom
Completion: 2024
Gross Floor Area: 1,115 m²
Architect: Harper Latter Architects
Interior Designer: Gunter & Co
Main Contractor: Lifestyle Projects

Consultants
Structural: Elliott Wood
Lighting: Atrium
Landscape: Charlotte Rowe

Photography: Kensington Leverne, courtesy of Gunter & Co

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