29th May 2026 | IN INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECTS | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn When a brief calls for a property to be ‘gutted’ and re-designed from scratch, it’s rare for that to actually be the case. For this mews house in Belgravia, it really was in need of re-wiring and re-plumbing, with the space needing to be fully re-configured to allow for a downstairs cloakroom and new kitchen. The two-bedroom house sits on one of London’s quietest mews, despite being in the middle of Belgravia and therefore very well-placed. The clients would be using the house on brief trips to London but the property was also to be let for several months at a time. The design brief for Celine Jumaili focused on a modernised version of traditional English style, in order to appeal to European tastes as well to renters further afield. Celine Jumaili The entrance level sitting room is the beating heart of the house, with plenty of seating and a small dining banquette. One of the main selling points of this house is the original fireplace that was retained and re-finished as a bioethanol fire installed in a vintage fire basket. The room is made up of soft neutrals and warming green accents. The fabrics are a real mix of textures so that the room can wear its many hats; Guy Goodfellow weave on the chairs and Colefax & Fowler velvet on the sofa. The dining banquette is like a mini room of its own and is perfectly in keeping with the multi-functionality of the house. The banquette itself is upholstered in a fabulous flamestitch design by Colefax & Fowler whilst the chairs are a bright Fermoie fabric. Celine Jumaili Lighting in a house that will be used by a mix of people is essential to get right, so the lighting in the sitting room is a mix of Hector Finch, Besselink & Jones and Richard Taylor covering the functional, the modern and the decorative. A large lockable storage unit allows for the client’s possessions to be stored away whilst also adding some colour to the room, perfectly tied in with the green sofa, cushions and decorative accessories. Despite this sitting room needing to appeal to all sorts of guests; there are two lovely touches from the designer. One is the antique chiffonier from an independent dealer in Norfolk which could not have been a more perfect fit for the space. The other is the artwork, which was painstakingly sourced from a couple of London galleries and specialist dealers. Even a rented house needs to feel like a home. The clients are big racing fans and so the art and downstairs cloakroom wallpaper is a nod to this part of their lives without being too obvious. Celine Jumaili Celine Jumaili The install logistics of this project had to be considered from the very beginning and incorporated into everything. The stairs are narrow (as is the case in many a mews house) so fitted furniture had to either be made on site and anything else needed to come through the windows. Custom split-bed bases solved any mattress problems but every piece of the puzzle had to be meticulously scheduled for the project to be completed on time and on budget. The property is located off one of London’s prettiest streets with no end to the restaurant offerings but the house still needed to incorporate a fully fitted kitchen. It’s compact and suitable for city living rather than for six-course dinners but has a built-in dishwasher and all the mod-cons the clients or a tenant could require. Every single inch had to be carefully thought through and the result is a sleek design with space for preparation amongst modern amenities. Celine Jumaili The whole house over, jib doors are a brilliant space saver allowing doors to blend seamlessly into walls which gives the house a feel of seamless living. Upstairs, the Master Bedroom is finished in soft pale blues and luxurious fabrics from Penny Morrison, Lewis & Wood and Colefax & Fowler. One wall was turned into floor-to-ceiling custom joinery with inset grass cloth panels…again making storage work within the room and adding touches of modern design that still works with the traditional English aesthetic. The Georgian chest of drawers and pictures were all sourced at auction. Celine Jumaili Every second home, city apartment or rented house needs an excellent bathroom. The house has a very contemporary walk-in shower made of Crema Marfil stone, a Spanish marble known for its soft colour. There is a double basin unit with ample storage as well as mirrored cabinets and fluted wall lights either side of the sink. Every single centimetre had to be accounted for in this bathroom and the aim was to create something that felt luxurious, almost hotel-like as well as being homely. The second bedroom has zip and link beds so it can happily work as two singles for children (including the client’s grandchildren) or as a double with a single bedside table when required. Celine Jumaili It would be very easy for this bedroom to look cramped or cold but this was avoided with a clever use of colour and space. The headboards and decorative pillows are Seaweed Lattice by Soane with a green grasspaper by Stereo Interiors mixed with a textured paper from Colefax & Fowler on the remaining wall. The bed valance and braiding is by Claremont alongside Samuel & Sons. The rug is Penny Morrison and the bedside drawer (which has an amazing amount of storage for something so small) is by Chelsea textiles. The whole room is a cosy and colourful space, however it is arranged. It’s not always easy to have such a prescriptive space but every single square inch of this house has been considered. The result is a perfectly compact do-it-all house that is modern and well-organised whilst also being homely and comfortable. Whether for the clients or for temporary renters, it’s a lovely little escape in the heart of busy London. Celine Jumaili About Celine Jumaili Renowned for timeless, client focused spaces Celine Jumaili balances refinement with comfort and functionality. With over 20 years of experience across leading international studios, the firm brings extensive expertise in historic restoration and modern eclectic design. The studio combines architectural sensitivity with intuitive space planning, curating materials, art, and antiques to create interiors that feel natural and enduring. Committed to delivering a joyful design journey from concept to completion, the practice is recognized for rigorous project management and a philosophy of timelessness over trend. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 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