A light-filled Kensington mews house that balances bohemian spaces with a cool and calm palette

This space looks out onto an enormous light well, at the bottom of which is a subterranean courtyard garden which is accessed from the basement living area. Down here is the kitchen and dining area as well as another large sitting room – all of which have remarkably high ceilings for a basement. It is lighter and brighter in mood here compared to the space upstairs, and shows off the versatility of Lucia’s work. The dining table is washed oak and the panelling is in sycamore with a hint of sheen to help bounce light around; an antiqued mirrored wall and an enormous red lacquered cabinet have the same effect. It’s hard to believe you are metres below ground.

The first floor is a luxurious suite including the main bedroom, dressing room and bathroom. The palette here is cool and calm: whites and off-whites with the odd opulent flourish. One of the clients is very interested in all things wellness (crystals, yoga, healing) and had a very specific requests, right down to the size of the round bathtub which was made in ‘Verde Antigua’ marble. There’s also an infrared sauna. It’s an extraordinary space, really.

And indeed the entire house is incredibly well thought-out and hugely detailed. And the quality of the work lives up to the designs. The maker of the balustrade, for example, is a one-man band based in Wales whose previous projects include making the gates at Buckingham Palace.

The clients are obviously delighted too. So much so that they’ve asked Lucia and her team if she’d like to get involved in a potential new home in Umbria. The deal isn’t signed yet, but with any luck it’ll get off the ground this year.

Lucia has no shortage of projects at the moment. There’s a big house in Kenya, and there are a couple on Jersey where she has just completed a clifftop house for herself. We caught up recently on Zoom where I was craning my neck to see over her shoulder at the space. It looks supremely cool – and very different from this project in South Kensington. She promised to send a few snaps my way when she finishes off a few bits and bobs. I’ll keep you posted…