Explore This Reimagined London Townhouse

[Celerity]

When interior designer Rachael Gowdridge was asked to restore and reimagine a Georgian townhouse in Clerkenwell, she decided to work within the property’s existing footprint to transform it into a layered, welcoming home. Choosing to retain some of original elements like the kitchen carcasses, timber floorboards and pieces of client-owned furniture, the result is a thoughtful and tactile space. Here, Rachael gives us the tour…

https://slman.com/life/explore-this-reimagined-london-townhouse



The Brief

The client’s vision for her Georgian townhouse in Clerkenwell was to create a soulful, grounded home that reconnected with the building’s original character. Over time, the interiors had become fragmented, lacking warmth and cohesion. The brief called for a more considered, layered aesthetic that would feel comforting, lived-in and authentic. This included softening overly sleek spaces like the kitchen and bathrooms, while celebrating natural materials, period features and the idiosyncrasies of the historic structure. Functionality was key – the spaces needed to support family life and entertaining, but always with a focus on texture, tactility and calm. Sustainability and reusing existing materials and furniture where possible were also important to the client.



The kitchen was reworked with shaker doors and Calacatta Verde marble, opening up the space and reconnecting it to the home’s architecture. Each room reflects the client's desire for atmosphere and warmth: the dining room features textural zellige tiles and travertine, while the snug offers an intimate retreat with soft lighting and sculptural seating. The elegant first-floor living room balances Georgian grandeur with soft contemporary touches, and the main bedroom feels cocooning yet clean, thanks to bespoke joinery and bold, considered colour choices. Throughout, natural materials, vintage furniture, layered textiles and artisan-made details create a grounded, collected aesthetic. The project is a testament to working with the bones of a period house while gently reinterpreting its interiors for modern life, achieving a home that feels both timeless and deeply personal.



Visit https://www.rachaelgowdridge.com/

The Kitchen

The existing kitchen felt overly modern and disconnected from the Georgian fabric of the house. The brief was to bring it back into alignment with the period architecture, while creating a warm, soulful space – something grounded, informal, and central to daily family life. We retained the original kitchen carcasses for both sustainability and budgetary reasons, then added bespoke shaker-style doors painted in a soft olive green to nod to traditional joinery. The worktops and upstands were replaced with Calacatta Verde marble, chosen for its painterly movement and gentle green veining. Overhead cupboards were removed in favour of a single timber shelf, lending the space a more open and considered aesthetic. The extractor was boxed in and finished by hand in plaster so it would feel more architectural and less like an appliance.



A central antique farmhouse table brings warmth and history to the space, surrounded by rush-seated vintage stools to keep things relaxed. Underfoot, a flatwoven striped rug offers texture and softness, while still allowing the original timber boards to shine through. The timber shelf is styled with a collection of rustic ceramics, vintage paintings and practical glassware – objects that feel quietly personal and layered over time. Everyday items like wooden boards, cast iron cookware and stoneware bowls are kept visible and tactile. Floor-length Irish linen curtains filter the light and soften the architecture, while preserving the generous glazing.

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[niyad]

1. Thank you! I needed this, it is lovely.

[3catwoman3]

2. I would move in there in a heartbeat.

Exquisite!