Sublime design at Elm Park Gardens

Benjamin Frowein first visited Elm Park Gardens during the lockdown. He was looking at a faded flat in a grand Victorian terrace running south from the Fulham Road. ‘Nothing made sense,’ Benni explains, ‘tiny hobbit doors, radiators in front of windows.’

However, ‘the bones’ of the flat were excellent. High ceilings, a square layout, a wide balcony, and a triple aspect formed by bay windows on three sides. But, in order to take advantage of this space, everything needed updating. ‘You asked what I changed,’ Benni adds. ‘A better question would be, what didn’t I change?’

Work took place over eight months. During this period, the flat was completely reoriented, so that the living spaces overlooked the large communal garden. The bedroom, kitchen and bathroom were moved as well, while the aging bay windows were replaced. Doors were also repositioned, creating open sight lines from one side of the property to the other.

Benni visited the flat every morning at 7am to discuss problems with the builders, before heading to work. His day job – CEO of the European branch of F. Schumacher & Co – meant he was perfectly qualified when it came to decorating his home.

It was Schumacher that brought Benni to London. He was born in Germany and spent a decade in consulting, before switching careers to become president of the American textiles company famed for its exquisite fabrics, wallcoverings and furniture. He then launched the first European operation in the firm’s 135-year history.

Listening to Benni describe each room is like receiving a masterclass in interior design. ‘Every bedroom needs at least one upholstered wall,’ he explains, adding warmth and absorbing sound. For his own bedroom, he chose a plain camel-coloured linen to cover the wardrobes, with the shoe drawers below elegantly disguised as skirting board.

‘Kitchens or guest bathrooms are the rooms to have some fun,’ he adds on entering the former, with a black-and-white geometric Porter Teleo pattern covering both the walls and floors, coated in varnish to keep off the stains.

While working as a consultant, Benni travelled around the world. His eclectic and international taste can also be seen in the flat, which combines items from different places and periods without losing any sense of harmony. ‘I want an apartment to feel fresh,’ he adds. ‘I don’t like stale air or stale design.’

One of the most striking objects is the dining table by the London-based architecture and design studio Atelier Pendhapa. The legs are of oak, the underside has been lacquered, and the surface is topped with sections of Raku ceramics from Japan. What’s more, the beautiful lattice pattern formed by the tabletop is echoed in the patterns of the rug below, created by Helder Johannes, the design firm run by Benni’s brother in law.

The dining room is separated from the sitting room by a central wall with a double-sided fireplace in the middle. That fireplace has been lined with black brick tiles, to match the floor of the entrance hall. Despite their dark colour, the glossy finish reflects light out into the rest of the property, adding to the sense of sophistication.

The sitting area leads through to the balcony, facing the large communal garden that runs the entire length of the terrace. This is the ideal spot to sit with coffee and catch the morning sun, Benni explains, and one of the things he will miss most about the flat.

He will also miss living in Chelsea. The King’s Road is close, South Kensington too, with countless restaurants, cafes and shops within walking distance. ‘I love this neighbourhood,’ he concludes, ‘and if I wasn’t moving, I would stay here forever.’