A gorgeous garden in the ‘quiet oasis’ of Lexham Walk

Lexham Walk lies between two of South Kensington’s most beautiful garden squares. Intended for pedestrians and cyclists, it offers a paved passage from one square to another. Recently, the wall on one side was lined with trees and shrubs in plant pots. ‘I wanted to make it a nice place to walk,’ explains Randle Siddeley, a celebrated garden designer and local resident. ‘People have been telling me how much it adds to their commute.’

Randle’s parents moved to Lexham Walk in 1974. He was in his late teens, meaning he did not live at the address for long. However, he has always been fond of the property – a maisonette with a large garden – because it encapsulated his parents’ character.

His father, John Siddeley, was an interior designer. His work included the Harlequin Suite at the Dorchester Hotel and Park Lane Hotel in Piccadilly. He believed that ‘comfort brings with it relaxation, and that’s what home is all about.’ And he designed the maisonette to suit his tastes.

The upper storey has high ceilings and pale walls, with colour coming from the eclectic range of antique and modern furniture, as well as tasteful artworks on the walls. Meanwhile, the downstairs dining room is a glorious space, with rich colours mixed from the fabric on the walls and ceiling.

In his teenage years, Randle had summer jobs with furniture makers and a fabric mill. ‘So I understand what goes on behind an interior,’ he adds. He was later employed by his father – given the worst jobs and expected to work the longest hours – though he soon left to start a landscape design business. But this experience shaped his approach, and his designs blend his father’s classical tastes, his admiration of Humphrey Repton’s Red Books, and the different demands on his many clients.

By the late Seventies and early Eighties, interior design was becoming fashionable. Many celebrated designers began during this period – such as David Hicks and John Fowler – and John Siddeley acquired several distinguished clients. He worked and travelled alongside Randle’s mother, who would often discuss his choices in noisy debates.

Even though Randle did not live in the property for long, he remembers the friendly neighbourhood his parents found here. ‘It was a quiet oasis in the middle of London,’ he explains. ‘The kind of place where you knew your neighbours.’ And, though the residents have changed, that friendly atmosphere remains.

Randle inherited the property last year. He did not wish to change the interior his parents had lovingly created. However, the garden was designed in 1974 and needed an update. The previous design was too ‘hard’, with paving that pushed up against the walls. While some of the plants were retained – a beautiful maple and a rhododendron bush – the borders were extended and the central island planted with grasses and chamomile.

At the same time, the sheer brick wall at the far end of the garden was softened with olive, silver birch and hydrangea on the garage roof, to create layered planting over several levels. The garden also displays the creations of friends and clients, such as the WildKitchen and WildTable designed by Guy Richie, which offers cooking, heating and a dining space in a single unit.

Randle’s influence can be seen indoors as well. Some of the beautiful pieces of pottery on the cabinets and shelves come from his new collection. These pots were discovered while on holiday in Nicaragua, hand-made from volcanic clay. Each one is unique, with idiosyncratic shapes and geometric patterns painted or carved into the clay. Randle began commissioning pots to bring back to the UK – and so the Randle Siddeley collection was born.

This mix of the traditional and the unexpected can be seen throughout Lexham Walk. The classical design provides the perfect backdrop for more personal touches. Not one but two renowned designers have left their mark on this property – even more special when they’re father and son.