The owners of this London residence wanted a refined canvas for their art collection. Their instructions were to avoid the extremes of overpowering elements and blandness. Charlotte Middleton writes.
/ By blending modern elements with vintage touches, we aimed to recreate the quintessential Parisian ambiance — one that seamlessly balances opulence with understated grace. / Scott Maddux
There are many words one could use to describe the Marylebone pied-à-terre designed by Maddux Creative’s Scott Maddux and Jo leGleud. It’s certainly elegant. Evocative. In parts, playful and flirtatious. Above all, it’s thoughtful; the design is a journey through discrete ideas and philosophies, curated into a timeless, captivating conversation.
Situated in an upmarket area of London, the two-bedroom apartment belongs to a Los Angeles-based couple. For their home away from home, they were seeking a refined canvas to house their growing art collection – all the while remaining inviting and liveable. “They wanted a home that felt both fresh and relaxing,” comments leGleud, “avoiding extremes of overpowering elements or blandness.”
Established in 2011, Maddux Creative’s work is underpinned by the belief that history and modernity, imagination and rigour should coexist – and that craftsmanship is paramount. The designers set to work curating a space exuding modern luxury, while celebrating the building’s Art Deco bones in creative ways.
The homeowners’ admiration for the elegance and charm characteristic of European design plays out across a medley of luxurious materials throughout the space, such as several different marbles and burnished bronze. The discerning observer might also notice a Parisian thread – from flooring and key furniture pieces to the lamps perched coquettishly atop a console table.
“By blending modern elements with vintage touches, we aimed to recreate the quintessential Parisian ambiance,” says Maddux, “—one that seamlessly balances opulence with understated grace.”
The residence is punctuated by artworks in a broad range of mediums and styles, testament to the homeowners’ “intuitive” approach to collecting. A luminous mirrored artwork by Sabine Marcelis and Brit van Nerven installed above the fireplace serves as a hypnotic contemporary centrepiece for the living room.
To its left, a large multi-media work by Silvina Der-Meguerditchian is snugly framed by the surrounding wall panelling. An adjacent wall showcases a gestural abstract painting by Ross Chisholm, whose work takes a more minimalist form in the subdued master bedroom where it is complemented by blue grasscloth wallpaper.
In the library hangs a dramatic graphite drawing titled Explosion #26 by American artist Charles Gaines – a prominent figure in conceptual art. “The owners’ collection is not just about visual appeal but about creating an emotional and intellectual dialogue within the space,” shares Maddux.
An assortment of curvaceous sculptures – including an almost anthropomorphic work by Abigail Ozora Simpson guarding the hallway – inject a variety of textures and organic forms throughout the space. But Maddux Creative had another ingenious trick up their sleeve to offset the rigid geometry of original Art Deco features.
Blooming across the walls of the living and dining areas, shapes appear in a combination of painted shades creatively layered over the existing wall panelling. “This approach draws from contemporary art practices, where layering and juxtaposition of colours and forms create a multidimensional effect,” explains leGleud.
At first glance resembling shadows, the painted shapes at moments appear like an extension of the artworks they share walls with. The effect of this surprising embellishment is a subtle, captivating transition between living and dining areas that enhances the spatial experience.
The bathrooms are another charming example of how art can be woven into the very fabric of a residence. The two ensuites boast intricate mosaic floors inspired by the designs of Jean Cocteau – Parisian artist and thinker of the surrealist, avant-garde, and Dadaist movements. The powder room meanwhile features a playful faux-panel motif painted by Isabelle Day, based on historic works by Christian Bérard – a contemporary of Cocteau’s.
The Marylebone pied-à-terre is emblematic of the Maddux Creative approach; one involving meticulous planning and collaboration with skilled craftspeople, where imagination is matched by functionality. Art and design elements of the past and present cohabitate harmoniously, while the scene is set for new narratives to unfold.
/ The residence is punctuated by artworks in a broad range of mediums and styles, testament to the homeowners’ “intuitive” approach to collecting. /
Above:
The mirrored artwork above the fireplace in the living room is by Sabine Marcelis and Brit van Nerven, the multimedia work to the left is by Silvina Der Meguerditchian and a painting by Ross Chisholm hangs above the antique Saarinen sofa. The serpentine sofa, based on an antique piece, was commissioned for this project. The daybed is from Lambert and Harper and the cocktail tables are from Pierre Augustin Rose, while the cabinet by Victor Courtray is from Foster & Gane. The space is punctuated with beautiful pieces from Abigail Ozora Simpson and Seeds Gallery.
Interior Design: Maddux Creative. Photos: Michael Sinclair. Courtesy: Maddux Creative.
In the dining area a Ceccotti dining table is paired with vintage chairs upholstered in sheepskin from Anna Unwin. In the library beyond hangs Explosion #26 by Charles Gaines from Hauser & Wirth. the furninshings include a Christophe Delcourt sofa, cocktail table from Villiers, a rug from Tufenkian and a vintage pendant light.
A 19th-century British painting of a young girl is a beautiful addition to the Calacatta Verde marble, brass-clad appliances and cabinetry of the kitchen.
The bathroom gains character from a mosaic floor realised by Pierre Mesguich Mosaïk, a bespoke arched shower screenand a Jordan Pink Portuguese marble sink surround.