Rose Wood, a restaurateur discovered that her house was larger than she thought.
An original painting of The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards by Ronnie Wood and framed Ferrari stickers adorn the dining room walls. The vase is from oka.com. The chairs are from Amsterdam and covered in Colefax & Fowler fabric (colefax.com)
When having their home renovated, restaurateurs Rose Hood and her husband Anthony were told by their builder that he’d found two extra rooms! The couple, who live in West London’s Notting Hill close to their café, Farm Girl, bought their penthouse flat six years ago.
Split-level properties were always a possibility. This year was the first year that they actually realized their potential. ‘We had always wanted to extend over the mezzanine and knew there was the possibility of gaining eight foot,’ says Rose, who moved to the UK from Melbourne 12 years ago, ‘so when we decided to have a child this year [Rocco was born just last week], we went for it.’
Steve Beckett (construction specialist) started the renovations. Halfway through he called Rose saying, ‘I need to show you something. I’ve found two rooms in the eaves.’ Knocking into them, which the previous architect had sealed off, gave Rose and Anthony a walk-in wardrobe, a dressing room and a sauna. ‘Anthony uses it three to four times a week,’ says Rose. ‘He’s got Finnish blood, so it’s part of his culture.’
With the arrival of Rocco, four Farm Girl cafés in London (with a fifth opening before Christmas), plus the healthy food brand Roll Baby (which the couple launched in lockdown) to manage, Rose is looking forward to relaxing in the sauna, too. thefarmgirl.co.uk
The Conran Shop’s pale blue sofa is in the living area. A Matilda Goad raffia lampshade (matildagoad.com) is paired with a clear glass lamp base bought, says Rose, ‘many moons ago’. You can find similar designs at loaf.com. A selection of marbled velvet cushions and a pendant light, both by Rose’s good friend and interior designer Beata Heuman (beataheuman.com), add a chic touch. Anthony discovered the chair in an antique recliner while living in Johannesburg.
Rose reclining on her back just days prior to the arrival of baby Rocco
A sauna has been added to one of the rooms found in the eaves. The outside is being painted by Farrow-ball.com
The bedroom features a mirror made by Alice Design (by -alice.co.uk), which leads to the hidden space between the eaves that was once a closet and now it is a dressing room. Cushion from hm.com
Bathroom: Cast-iron bath lifted from the window. Vardo paint by Farrow-ball.com is used to paint the cast iron bath. Pendant lamp from beataheuman.com
Get the look
Plush textiles and a muted palette are key to Rose’s style
It was constructed with limestone slabs for the fireplace. The painting is of Anthony’s mother’s first husband, an Austrian F1 driver called Jochen Rindt