As a luxury interior designer, I rarely get the chance to pause and share the journey behind our projects. So I wanted to invite you behind the scenes of one of our most exciting projects: The Peninsula Project. At this stage, installation is just around the corner, we’re in the thick of it and I thought, what better time to give you an insider’s glimpse into the process, the challenges, the decisions, and the joy of seeing a home come to life at this stage.
The Client Brief: Sophisticated Glamour with a Personal Touch
From our very first meeting, the clients had a clear vision: a refined blend of London chic and Hollywood glamour. They loved light woods, meticulous detail and soft, sophisticated palettes with personality. What made this brief special was how prepared they were. They came with inspirational imagery, notes on finishes they loved, and examples of properties they admired. As a designer, that’s gold dust. It allowed us to quickly understand their aesthetic language and build something truly bespoke.
We originally explored bronze accents, but as the design evolved, the client’s preference for antique and brushed brass became a defining thread throughout the scheme. It softened the entire look and perfectly complemented the timber tones and elegant, layered textures we introduced.
The Final Weeks Before Installation
Right now, we’re one month before installation, this is always a thrilling stage to be at, the stage where every final decision is critical.
HERE’S A PEEK AT WHAT WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON, ONE MONTH UNTIL INSTALL:
1. Principal Bathroom:
The marble detailing in the principle bathroom has been a labour of love. We dry-laid the tiny mosaic flooring, which then had to be reviewed for a second dry lay before installation. We had multiple site visits and Teams calls with the marble mason, decorators and sanitary ware team to make sure every join, line and junction is perfect. Once the marble was complete, the walls were prepped for a high-gloss paint finish, and then the final layer, a breathtaking hand-painted silk De Gournay wallpaper with hand-embroidered goldfish will be installed. It’s a showstopper.
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2. Joinery and Finishes
Throughout the apartment, bespoke joinery was being installed. The living room joinery was complete, and work was just starting on the new dressing rooms and kitchen. The kitchen has been templated for its marble worktop and backsplash. Meanwhile, our decorating team were sanding and filling every panel with such precision that it takes up to a week per room before any paint is applied. Their commitment to excellence is humbling.
In the entrance hall, we applied a traditional japanning finish to the cornice, ceiling and panels. It’s a complex process that involves layering lacquer over several weeks, and it requires an entirely dust-free environment. We sealed off the space with Ziplock sheeting and carried out a sparkle clean so that the decoration team could begin the first of many layers to create a deep, mirror-like gloss.
View my Pinterest board here if you need any inspiration for your entrance hall whether thats for your own home or projects.
3. Powder Room & Special Details
The powder room wallpaper which had travelled all the way from the U.S. is a tactile, gold-toned plaster relief scene featuring delicate woodland animals. It has been hand-finished to align perfectly with the brass wall panels we installed earlier this year. The craftsmanship is incredible.
If you need inspiration for wallpaper for you own projects check out my Pinterest board here to help get you started.
In other news, the mural artist arrived at this stage to begin a completely bespoke wall scene in the children’s bedroom inspired by the illustrations in Matilda, it’s whimsical, charming, and completely personal to the family.
4. Furniture & Installation Planning
With one month to go before installation, we aim to have 90% of the furniture delivered to our warehouse. During this time, we also schedule two additional warehouse visits to inspect each piece of furniture as it arrives.
Access has been a major consideration on this project. The apartment can only be accessed through a single 780mm-wide door, so every piece has been designed to fit within this restriction. Sofas have been split into sections, joinery designed in transportable modules, and our install team has signed off every piece.
Advice to Aspiring Designers
There are a few insights from The Peninsula Project that I think are especially valuable for design students, luxury interior designers, and anyone working on large-scale interiors:
- Always assess access. Before you sign off any drawings for furniture or joinery, confirm the smallest doorway, lift size, and corridor turn. If your supplier or upholsterer is delivering, make sure they carry out a formal access check and take responsibility. This can save thousands in costly redesigns or replacements.
- Overlay different suppliers’ drawings, double-check every measurement, and if in doubt, visit the site again. Having those open conversations with your team saves a huge amount of stress later.
- Respect the trades. Contractors and subcontractors are your allies. Bring them into your thought process and make space for their input. Our best design solutions often come from collaborative brainstorming on site.
- Document everything. Meeting notes, site photos, updated drawings, it’s all essential. Not just for you, but for your client and every team member involved.
If you found the above helpful, you might enjoy this article: 5 Interior Design tips I wish I’d learnt sooner.
Where I share even more tips from past projects and experiences. It’s full of real examples, tools, and techniques I use every day as a luxury interior designer.
And, if you’re keen to learn more about how we work behind the scenes, from managing trades and timelines to pulling together cohesive, layered schemes, I go into so much more detail in the Sophie Paterson Academy. It’s full of real examples, tools, and techniques I use every day with clients like these.
Looking Ahead
With just five weeks to go before the full installation begins, we like to finalise the programme, confirm every trade’s availability, prepare care guides, and begin the handover documents. This stage is all about precision, preparation and pacing ourselves to the finish line.
For a closer look at how we approach site visits , join me over on YouTube by clicking HERE.
For more inspiration, explore our portfolio to see how I translate timeless design principles into distinctive, character-filled homes. For exclusive behind-the-scenes content, including project reveals, product collaborations, and more insights into our design process, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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