This neo-Georgian home balances elegance and practicality, designed for both family and entertaining
Helen’s welcoming home really comes into its own during the festive season, when it is adorned with magical decorations and lighting
Helen’s home in Ashley Park, Walton, is designed with both family life and entertaining in mind. As co-founder of Hill House Interiors, it’s no surprise she’s created a space that’s both luxurious and liveable. The house, a five-bed Neo- Georgian build, sits on a private estate, and it’s very much her dream home, even though it didn’t start that way. “I actually developed the property 12 years ago after knocking down the original building,” she explains. “My goal was to create a home that perfectly balanced elegance with practicality, somewhere that would comfortably host family gatherings and entertain friends.” Helen’s love for entertaining is reflected in the property’s open-plan layout, which allows for easy movement between spaces, making it the ideal setting for everything from intimate dinners to lively get-togethers.
She’s lived here for over a decade now, and she’s still in love with the setting. “What really drew me to building my home here was the location,” she says. “It’s just a short walk to the town centre and train station, which makes it so convenient for my trips into London. With Helen’s busy work life and frequent trips, the house had to be functional as well as beautiful. “It was a complete rebuild,” she explains. “I demolished the original house and started completely from scratch. It was really exciting to have the freedom to design everything from the ground up, tailoring every detail to suit my lifestyle and preferences.” The one thing Helen would have liked to add? “The size of the house was governed by the boundaries of the plot size, as I’d love to have been able to get a home gym squeezed in there somewhere,” she admits.
But what she has created is a home that reflects her personal style, which she describes as neutral but never boring. “I love playing with textures to keep things interesting,” she says. “In my kitchen, for example, I’ve mixed lacquer and leather for a bit of contrast.” Lighting, too, is a big focus for Helen. “Lighting is incredibly important to me,” she explains. “It really sets the mood and brings everything together.” The open-plan layout is designed for flexibility and works equally well for a cosy dinner or a gathering for 14. And it’s not just the indoors that reflect Helen’s impeccable style. Outside, the garden is a carefully curated Italian-inspired space, complete with a lap pool and outdoor fireplace. There’s even a Zen pool that acts as a water feature, bringing a calming, peaceful vibe to the outdoor area.
The kitchen island, with its view across the open-plan space, and the show-stopping bar are amongst Helen’s favourite spots in the house
Despite the house’s grand proportions, Helen has managed to make the space feel cosy. “When you have a property with larger proportions, the key to making it feel cosy is creating zones within the space,” she explains. She’s done this with clever use of furniture, rugs, and even screens, making each area feel intimate without disrupting the overall flow of the home. Her choice of a neutral palette has also helped maintain that balance. “A neutral base works brilliantly in larger spaces,” she says. “It allows you to layer with different textures and shades, bringing warmth and depth without overwhelming the room.” And the best bit about working with a neutral palette? “You can introduce accent colours whenever you like, which makes it easy to refresh the look seasonally or whenever the mood strikes.”
Among Helen’s favourite features in the house is the bar, which she describes as a real showstopper. “It’s got backlit smoky quartz, which not only adds atmosphere but also makes it incredibly practical,” she says. “The lighting creates such a warm, inviting glow, which is perfect for enhancing the ambience.” The bar is even fitted with an ice maker – one of those little luxuries the interior designer appreciates. Then there’s the view from her kitchen island. “You can stand there and see straight across the room to the TV, which is 13 metres away,” she says. “It really shows off the scale of the space, while still feeling connected.” Her three-metre chandelier is another striking feature, adding high drama the moment you walk in. Of course, this entertaining-focused abode really comes into its own at Christmas. And it all starts with the front porch. “For me, it’s important that the festive feel starts the moment you arrive at the house,” Helen says. “That’s why I always begin with the garland over the front porch, making sure it coordinates with the rest of the decorations inside.” Over the years, she’s added swags over the doors and foliage displays across the dining table, but the real showstopper is the swooping staircase adorned with garlands. “They add such a magical touch and create a real sense of grandeur,” she says. And while Christmas is a visual spectacle at Helen’s house, it’s also about creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. “One of my favourite touches is decorating the lighting above the dining table with natural foliage,” she explains. “Not only does it look stunning, but it fills the space with that wonderful Christmas scent, creating a warm, festive atmosphere.”
Christmas Day itself is a relaxed affair. “It’s one of the only days of the year where I allow myself a lie-in, which makes for a relaxed and slow-paced morning – something I really cherish,” she says. Lunch is usually served around 3pm, just after the King’s Speech, with Helen surrounded by her daughter, grandsons, and close family. “It’s all about soaking up the atmosphere, enjoying good food, and making the most of being together,” she says. It won’t be long before we’re popping Champagne corks and ringing in the new year. I wonder what 2025 holds for Helen. “At the moment, we’re working on a number of exciting international projects, especially since opening our Dubai studio,” she says. “We’re seeing more demand overseas, with ongoing work across Europe in places like Florence, the Algarve, and Marbella, which has been fantastic. There’s so much more in store for 2025,” she says. “We’re looking forward to expanding even further and continuing to bring our signature style to new destinations.” Watch this (beautifully designed) space.
