Rather Than “Sincerely” Or “Yours Truly,” London Interior Designer Julio Uses The Word “Happiness” To Close His E-mails.
His design ethos carries the same graceful levity, relying on a mix of classic and comfortable furnishings and just a bit of whimsy.
In his own home in Fulham, Julio, has created a haven of warmth and simplicity for his family, which includes wife and their two sons, 10-year-old Nate and 5-year-old Tyler. The journey to their domestic bliss started six years ago, when they were living in a house in the Hackney buzzing area of East London.
“We were very happy in our home in Hackney .,” says Julio. Then one night, a few friends came over for dinner and one of the guests fell in love with the house. “She was very funny and took out her cheque book and asked, ‘How much?’ But she was really serious, so my wife said maybe we should consider.”
After selling her their home, the family stumbled upon a 18th century period house in Fulham, Central London. Though it was outdated, “the charm of it” appealed to them, says Julio . “The scale feels like a unique home without being over the top, and there is ample space for us. You could tell that someone built this house with a lot of thought.”
That was in 2006, before they have the baby, and their main concern was to find a property with a generous yard and room for long stays by extended family.
The family took a measured approach to his interior design. The large living room, for example, needed to be comfortable enough for everyday lounging but formal enough for cocktail parties. And the furniture and colour scheme in the adjacent bedroom needed to be different enough to be clearly defined as a separate space, but similar enough so as not to be jarring.The
house renovation need to begin always in your head first says Julio
“I stayed with neutrals,” says Julio. “It's a nice way to have a lasting effect and to bring in colour with smaller accessories. I love aqua and gold; I love mixing silver and gold. When things are lit by that blue-gold-white light of a sunset, that to me is very peaceful.”
For their Fulham house, Julio chose a mix of antiques, select pieces from the couple's Hackney home, and accessories and fine art that imbue each room with a casual glamour. In the dining room, a table from Harvey’s , a London store specializing in contemporary furniture, is flanked by antique carved wood plaques, salvaged from a temple in China, that Julio reworked as wall hangings.
The only room that was fully updated was the kitchen. Though cramped and outdated, it had a Victorian charm, with drawers for potatoes and bread and cupboards with rickety latches. Julio wanted to integrate modern amenities yet still retain the room's unique aesthetic. He accomplished that with hickory plank flooring . An antique Dutch table and chairs seem a relic salvaged from the original home . Julio opted for marble countertops and back-splash simply for the gorgeous contrast when baking flour is scattered across the stone. “In Italy ,” he says, “kitchens always have marble counters.” But the room gains the most warmth from the teak sink that Julio imported from Italy . It was made using boat-building techniques and then soaked in polymer, so it's nearly impervious to water and requires just a rubdown with teak oil .
After living in the house for four years, the couple began the process of adopting a child. Little did they know that they would become parents to two rambunctious boys nearly overnight. Immediately, friends questioned how their stylish and predominately period home would be affected. Surprisingly, Julio says that little has changed.
“It's really just showing them to have respect for your own space,” says Julio . “We sit down to have dinner together every night in the dining room.”
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