1. Town or Country? Oh! This is definitely the hardest question I’ve ever been asked! My heart sings for both! I yearn for green spaces but I love where I have moved to in Notting Hill. Hmm.. at this stage in my life, I’ve got to say London. Not any city. It has to be London. So I guess, city it is then!
2. Can you name your three essentials – what don’t you leave the house (or studio) without? Wilbur, my beautiful, dependable black Labrador. My glasses. My eyesight isn’t that bad but if i were to lose sense, i’d lose anything before my eyes; it would be the end of my job – and I love my job! Lastly, my umbrella. I carry it everywhere. You can never trust the temperamental English weather.
3. If someone could only make one change to elevate their living space what would you tell them to do? My initial thought is to suggest bringing more light in. We’re better people when we have exposure to more daylight.That said, I know the rest of my team will say my “go-to” is to change the staircase. I do it in every property we design. 90% of houses have staircases in the wrong place. Not heritage houses per se but pretty much every other house. You have to go back hundreds of years, when craftsmen knew what they were doing, to find a staircase where people got it right.
4. Colour, scent or texture – what word resonates with you the most? Colour.
5. Outside influences – do you ever take inspiration from other creative fields like fashion, music or art? Oh, art absolutely! We often start a scheme based around specific work. You can do so much to a room with it. It transforms any space. I was just looking at a Van Gogh painting today, you’d only need that one piece of art in your whole house and it would be complete.
6. What turns a beautiful property into an unforgettable one? Well-proportioned architectural detailing. I must say, I do love a cornice! I understand there is a place for modernity but even with modernity, I do prefer the texture and character that Georgian architectural detailing offers. Skirtings, architraves, lovely mouldings – they create depth and give resonance to a room. If a room had a 4 metre ceiling and no detail, it is a box. If you add a cornice, it has a better sound and visual resonance. The light is distributed differently, and all round it is just… better.
7. Do you have a design signature that you return to time and time again? One of the things our studio really tries to do that sets us apart from other designers, is to view each project as a clean canvas and approach each space as a piece of art. Naturally there will be threads we pull through, but repetition is something we try to avoid. I don’t want to give our clients something that someone else has. Their home is their own, it is a unique expression of them. Each element we design is tailored to the individual to reflect their unique character. No two spaces are ever the same. You don’t want to walk into your friend’s house and find they’ve got the same thing – it’s like turning up to a party wearing the same dress!
8. Are there any current design trends that you are particularly excited by? Are there any you would like to see stop? We would love to see authenticity shining through people’s houses. Something we have noticed recently is the “instagrammable” home, a space designed more for photos and followers rather than a timeless space that exudes ‘quiet luxury’, individuality and flair. We are also strong advocates for craftsmen (particularly those that are women) and we’re delighted to see that traditional craft is regaining traction and much deserved recognition. We use artisans on every project we design. I used to have my own team of craftsmen at my country home in Hampshire. They are the most astoundingly delightful people and so unbelievably talented!
9. Out of all your projects, are there any that still make you smile? In a way, I have to say my country home in Hampshire. It is the most beautiful Georgian building. When I bought it, I had just gone through my divorce. It was a carte blanche. I have three beautiful daughters, who designed their own rooms and the rest of the home, I really poured my heart into. Lindsay actually sold the property for me when I decided to move to London. He was wonderful, it was a really difficult decision for me to move but he really looked after my heart. I loved that house. I still do. A famous musician lives there now and I like to think he loves it on behalf of both of us. It is a place of complete tranquility – a break away from the rest of the world – just expansive British countryside outside every window.
10. What makes a property a Blue Book property? That’s easy. Blue Book sells homes that hold immense character. You know the age old saying “if walls could talk?” well, Blue Book finds the homes that metaphorically do that. They are all individual. They all have a personality. Blue Book’s mastery is matching the personality of the home to the personality of the buyer. They are selective, careful and deliver everything with care.
Philippa Thorp is the founder of the multidisciplinary design studio THORP. To learn more about THORP and the exceptional services they offer, visit their website or Instagram (@thorp_design)
THORP’s work can also be viewed at 144 Kensington Park Road, currently on the market with Blue Book.
