Some homes reveal themselves slowly. Others stop you in your tracks the moment you step inside. That’s exactly the feeling at Phillimore, our remarkable vacation rental set on one of Kensington’s most prestigious streets – considered London’s Millionaire’s Row. Created as a true jewel box by celebrated interior designer Lucy Eadie, the Phillimore is one of the most original and beautifully designed apartments in the London Perfect collection. Just moments from Holland Park, it’s surrounded by a sense of calm and history that makes this neighborhood so special.
Recently, London Perfect founder Madelyn had the opportunity to visit Phillimore and share a special walk-through of the apartment, along with a conversation with Lucy about the inspiration and fearless design choices that shaped this extraordinary home. Now re-imagined as a three-bedroom apartment, Phillimore is even more versatile, while remaining completely true to Lucy’s deeply personal design philosophy that’s rooted in comfort, originality and a love of color.
Join Madelyn on an apartment walk-through on Instagram for an intimate, behind-the-scenes look inside this extraordinary home.
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Be sure to follow @londonperfectrentals to catch the upcoming highlights, as Lucy guides us room by room sharing stories about the design process at Phillimore.
Sitting Down with Lucy Eadie
There’s no more perfect place to begin a conversation about design than the living room at Phillimore. It’s a spacious room that still feels immediately inviting, with beautiful sofas designed for comfort and conversation. It’s also the natural starting point for a deeper look at the home, as Madelyn reflects on some of the most striking and thoughtful details she discovered during her conversation with Lucy – highlights we’ll explore room by room.
Having long admired Lucy’s work, Madelyn was eager to hear more about her approach to design and the thinking behind the many distinctive choices throughout Phillimore. “I’ve always been the queen of non-beige,” Lucy stated, a philosophy that is so beautifully on display in the living room. Rather than following trends, the space was shaped around a single, much-loved piece: an antique Arabian rug whose rich, layered colors became the starting point for the entire design.
Lucy often turns to antique textiles for inspiration, noting that they contain some of the most unexpected color combinations – ones we might not instinctively pair today. For the living room, those colors set the tone for the artwork, upholstery and furnishings, creating a space that’s richly layered yet completely harmonious.
Despite its artistry, this is a room meant to be lived in. Coffered lighting discreetly conceals modern infrastructure so nothing distracts from the atmosphere. As Lucy puts it simply, comfort is key, and here comfort and originality exist in perfect balance.
Bespoke Design for True Cooks
Located just off the living room, the kitchen at Phillimore feels fully integrated into the home rather than set apart as a purely practical space. Designed for people who truly love to cook, it balances serious functionality with beauty. This is something that immediately caught Madelyn’s eye, given her love of great kitchen design.
For Lucy, it all began with the woven brass basketweave panels in the upper cabinets, crafted in Indonesia, which set the tone for the kitchen’s distinctive use of brass. From there, Lucy drew on long-standing relationships with specialist makers and suppliers to create a kitchen that is entirely bespoke, from custom cabinetry and fittings to the antique French brass sink she sourced before designing the room around it. A La Cornue oven anchors the space, finished in deep tones to echo the ebony cabinetry and paired with black granite countertops chosen for both beauty and practicality.
Just beyond, the dining area is set into a bright bay of windows overlooking the front gardens, furnished with a beautiful table and vintage Pierre Cardin chairs upholstered in their original velvet. Thoughtfully lit and extremely comfortable, it’s a place designed as much for lingering over meals as for gathering while someone cooks – reinforcing Lucy’s belief that the best kitchens are meant to be lived in.
The Atrium: Inside and Outside at Once
One of Phillimore’s most distinctive features is its atrium, a light-filled space that connects the living areas to the bedrooms while bringing a surprising sense of openness into the heart of the apartment. Surrounded by glass, it draws light into the home and creates a feeling of movement and flow throughout.
Lucy designed the atrium to blur the line between indoors and out. Stone flooring continues seamlessly from the hallway into the space, allowing the windows to be opened on fine days so fresh air and breezes pass through the apartment. Even with air conditioning, this connection to the outdoors gives the home a wonderfully natural feel.
Shelving, artwork and carefully placed antique wall sconces make the atrium feel as thoughtfully designed as the rest of the home. Brass detailing inspired by antique travel cases and traditional shipbuilding, with its riveted metalwork, sits alongside ornate sconces, creating a beautiful interplay between craftsmanship and whimsy.
Quiet Luxury in the Primary Bedroom
The primary bedroom at Phillimore is designed as a deeply restful space in the very heart of London. It is remarkably quiet, with only birdsong filtering in from outside. For Lucy, this stillness is essential for truly restorative design.
Layered materials and rich golds set the tone throughout the room. A French Art Deco wall light from the 1930s, discovered in a small antique shop in Kent, is featured in the dressing area and echoed by similar fixtures in the en suite bathroom. Gilded gesso cupboard doors, made using traditional techniques, add depth and texture, their hand-carved patterns subtly catching the light. Fully interlined silk curtains, hung from bespoke brass rods, complete the warm, enveloping feel of the space.
In both the bedroom and dressing area there’s an incredible sense of calm. Leather-lined walls provide acoustic softness and warmth, creating a hushed atmosphere. From here, doors lead directly to the shared garden, offering a peaceful spot to sit with a book or simply pause at the end of the day.
The en suite bathroom is a masterful study in light, reflection and craftsmanship. Custom taps designed by Lucy in collaboration with The Water Monopoly, a renowned British maker known for exceptional bathroom fittings, feature sculptural forms inspired by duck heads. A delightful nod to the owners’ love of ducks!
They sit alongside shimmering 24-carat gold mosaic tiles, while beautifully veined Greek marble and finely crafted concave wood wall panels bring balance and warmth to the space. A Drummonds brass radiator adds a timeless note, grounding the room in classic design, with every detail thoughtfully bespoke.
As Madelyn observed during her visit, “It takes you to a different time and a different place – and that’s what a vacation is for!”
Color & Creativity in the Second Bedroom
The second bedroom at Phillimore is where Lucy’s fearless use of color takes center stage. Warm and full of personality, it’s a space that feels instantly uplifting and is a stunning reminder that great design doesn’t have to play it safe.
The starting point here was color. Lucy chose a rich watermelon hue for the walls, setting the tone for the entire room. “It’s one of my favorite colors,” she said. “You just want to eat it.” The walls are covered in hand-painted Venetian silk by Fortuny, a material Lucy describes as her favorite in the world. “You have to wait for it and you have to beg for it,” she explained, “But when it comes, it’s magic.”
That sense of energy carries through the room as colors and textures play off one another. A beautiful rug grounds the space, while a Tiffany lamp on the desk picks up the warmth of the palette and adds a soft glow. Custom-made beds, crafted in England and topped with luxurious cashmere-filled mattresses, ensure that the room feels as inviting as it is visually striking. Now a full bedroom, the king bed can also be configured as twins, allowing the apartment to adapt easily to different stays.
Even the details surprise and delight. Wooden shutters block out the light for restful sleep, but they’re lined in red suede – an unexpected choice that adds warmth and a touch of drama. It’s a detail that perfectly captures Lucy’s approach to design: original and unafraid.
Madelyn was instantly drawn to the room’s boldness. “So much design is safe and beige,” she said. “You’ve done something really magical here. Sometimes you just have to let go and not be safe.” Lucy agrees, noting that travel is the perfect time to embrace something different. “Particularly on holiday,” she added, “it’s quite fun to experience something completely different.”
Versatility & Playful Charm
With its redesign from two bedrooms to three, Phillimore offers a wonderfully flexible layout, ideal for friends traveling together or guests who appreciate well-defined spaces. A beautifully appointed Jack-and-Jill bathroom connects the second and third bedrooms, offering both convenience and privacy. Finished with the same level of care found throughout the home, it features a spacious steam shower, beautifully veined Greek marble and The Water Monopoly fittings. A bespoke bronze sink sits atop a charming Regency bookcase – complete with books!
The third bedroom is absolutely full of personality. Designed with a wider-than-standard single bed, it feels inviting and intentional, with green wool felt wall coverings adding softness. Fun artwork and custom curtains give the room its own distinct identity.
A Study in Color & Character
We had to finish our tour of Phillimore in one of its most charming spots. Located just off the living room, the study is a small room with a big personality, designed as a place to work, read or simply enjoy a moment of color and creativity.
Lucy chose one of her favorite shades for the walls, a bold, expressive hue she calls lipstick. Wrapped in silk fabric and paired with chiffon-pink lampshades, the room feels intimate and uplifting all at once. An antique textile has been transformed into a Roman blind, while bespoke cabinetry with leather-studded detailing adds texture to the space.
It’s a room that perfectly captures Lucy’s expressive approach to design and her love of color. Along with the luxury found throughout Phillimore, the study offers a final, joyful note – a reminder that great design can be beautiful and just a little bit fun.
Book Your Stay Now at Phillimore
We’re incredibly grateful to Lucy Eadie for sharing so generously not only her time, but her very personal approach to design. The result is a home our guests absolutely adore. Perfectly located between High Street Kensington and Notting Hill, and just moments from gorgeous Holland Park, Phillimore offers one of London’s most enviable addresses. Yet it’s also a design destination in its own right, a place you’ll look forward to returning to at the end of each day.
If you’re dreaming of a London stay that’s as inspiring as it is comfortable, now is the perfect time to book your stay at Phillimore and experience it for yourself!
