INTERIOR DESIGNER
Situated on the third floor of a Grade II listed building in Knightsbridge, Ed, creative director of Godrich Interiors, has created an eclectic home that, refreshingly, doesn’t look like it’s been designed at all
How long have you lived here?
Johnny and I have lived here for 20 years, and share it with our two border terriers, Bev and Kev.
Have you done any structural work to the property?
Yes, we wanted it to be open plan, so we removed all the walls in the drawing room. This helped to flood the entire living and dining space with natural light. We also created two bedroom suites.
What do you usually look for in a property? What are your non-negotiables?
Open-plan is definitely my preference, paired with outside space, if possible. And I’m obsessed with sunsets, so if I can catch a few, I’m very happy!
How does travel feature in your furnishings?
We travel to some far-flung and obscure locations on our sourcing missions. Although we try to source as many things as possible from the UK, we do tend to find items from all over the world – the States in particular. To create a diverse collection of great pieces for a home you need to source from all genres and countries.
How would you describe your personal interiors style?
My personal style started with my art and led on from there. Following that, I bought a full suite of ’50s Danish rosewood furniture from a junk shop in Copenhagen. I added older antiques to create a design that echoes my relaxed and balanced approach. The look is informal and very much oriented around collecting. In terms of projects for our clients, we make sure each one we finish is somewhere we’d want to live. But this does lead to serious house envy… You have to hand over to your client, when really, you want to stay and start cooking!
Where do you source your furniture? Any advice on collecting interesting pieces?
We try not to follow trends. Trend-based items fall out of fashion, while our projects stand the test of time. Never feel afraid to source from somewhere unusual – this is where you’ll find the best surprises. That shop on a back street of Krakow may not have fancy lighting or an elegantly styled window, but it could be the place where you find your jewel.
What’s your favourite piece of furniture?
I have a full-size ceramic goat, which is my favourite thing. I bought it from an English salvage yard based in Shropshire. I fell in love with it because I’d never seen one like it before. I drove it home in the back of my Defender… like a dead goat on the move!
Tell me about your art collection, including your own works.
I’ve been collecting art for years. I started buying at auction and still do, but now I work alongside galleries in order to search for key works by artists that I love. I’m currently working on a three-metre-long installation diorama to show right here in our apartment. Art is always our starting point for designing an interior space, so it’s very personal. I was recently advised not to ‘magpie-buy.’ In other words, to choose carefully and wisely, saving for the things you really love.
Which room is your favourite?
I love the drawing room because of its light and scale. It has three windows overlooking the square below. I have no curtains or blinds, which is a bonus that comes with living on the third floor. This means that at nighttime, the lit trees on the street outside become another element of the interior.
How do you work with clients to realise their dream home?
We have a very strict process that we follow at the start of every project. We need to know as much as possible about how the space is used, including family habits – like how they use the living room, how often they entertain, the list goes on. The more we know at the start, the better the project will be.
And do you have any exciting projects coming up?
Yes, but they are all top secret… Except I can say that a chalet in the French Alps and an ’80s pop art apartment in central London could very well be on the agenda.
