Upper Mall

London- and Austin-based interior design studio Stelly Selway introduces Upper Mall, a 4-story turreted townhouse set on the banks of the River Thames.

The gut renovation focused on infusing character specific to the family’s Scottish and Chinese stories, including a mixture of contemporary and bespoke furnishings, alongside interior architectural details that modernised traditional design features and recuperated the unconventionality of the original flooring.

The family's heritage influences are seen through custom joinery and shoji doors, and thoughtful material and colour choices like hemp linen, natural wood, tartan, and mohair. These elements blend with details reminiscent of the industrial-age, like a series of Charlotte Perriand 'Applique à Volet Pivotant' sconces, and sophisticated modern notes like a colourful Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois Mah-Jong Sofa.

A den with bespoke curvilinear plaster walls hosts custom patinated brass shelves. The soft-tan wall cleverly conceals the skewed orientation of the original walls and flooring, creating a unique floorplan that artfully frames the room’s new fireplace. This centerpiece, made with marble sourced from a local stonemason, foregrounds a vintage silk rug, meticulously cut to fit around the hearth.

Ceiling rose details along with myriad cornices added throughout the home were custom-created to preserve the Victorian essence of the original architecture.

The garden-facing, expansive kitchen features a sunroof and floor-to-ceiling windows, complete with marble countertops.

Upstairs, Stelly Selway designed the living room to frame a panoramic view of the Thames. Substantial changes to the floor plan were also made in the primary bedroom. By removing a series of cumbersome walls that originally separated the bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom areas, Stelly Selway implemented a more cohesive layout that redefines underutilized zones.

This project was a collaboration with Dominic McKenzie Architects.