Mixing Antique and Contemporary: Lauren Campbell’s West London Home
Interior designer Lauren Campbell’s West London home is a study in mixing antique, vintage and contemporary design. Having lived in the house for five years before renovating, Campbell had a clear understanding of what she wanted to change, with light being the main priority. Her approach combines warmer finishes, collected furniture and contemporary details to create an interior that feels personal, layered and relaxed.
DESIGNER
Lauren Campbell
TYPE
Family Residence
LOCATION
West London, UK
SERVICES
Full feature on YouTube, IG, FB & TikTok
PRESENTED BY
Lauren Campbell
Designing Around Light
The renovation began with the challenge of bringing more warmth and light into the house. The north-facing front and a mansion block behind the south-facing kitchen meant the interiors previously felt “quite grey inside.” Campbell introduced lime wash throughout the hallway and ground floor, replacing cooler painted surfaces with subtle texture and depth. “I think you notice it more when the light hits it and you see that texture and depth” she explains. The softer finish became an important foundation for the rest of the scheme.
A Living Room of Old and New
In the living room, a large tapestry blind became the starting point for the colour palette, introducing greens, blues and warmer tones while adding texture and softness. Campbell paired it with a vintage armchair from Kempton upholstered in yellow cotton velvet, a second-hand George Smith sofa in white linen and a coffee table combining rope detailing, iron and tumbled granite. The mix captures her wider design philosophy of bringing different periods and materials together. “I think it doesn't feel like you've stepped back in time” she says. “The materiality and natural materials have all really played a part in balancing old with new.”
Furniture With Character
Instead of relying entirely on built-in joinery, Campbell introduced freestanding furniture, including a bleached wood antique unit with a marble top. The lighter finish gives the traditional piece a more contemporary feel. Throughout the home, furniture and accessories are also chosen for their stories.
In the living room, Campbell displays artwork collected on trips and pieces that hold personal memories. “Everything here does have a story” she says. This collected approach gives the interiors a sense of individuality that develops over time.
The Dining Area
The dining area demonstrates Campbell’s ability to use contemporary materials within a more traditional setting. She had originally considered an Italian or Spanish timber table, but felt a large dark piece could be too heavy for the room. Instead, she found the chunky travertine table on Facebook Marketplace for £150. Its substantial top and rounded edge detail give it presence, while the stone adds a contemporary note alongside the traditional dining chairs with Italian scroll details and rush seats. Campbell calls it “probably the best purchase of the house.”
A Kitchen With a Contemporary Shaker Style
The kitchen retained its existing layout, but Campbell transformed the dark timber cabinetry with painted Shaker-style fronts in more contemporary proportions. The island was topped with marble featuring warm brown tones, while chunky mohair stools and vintage pendants add softness and character. A vintage tablecloth was also repurposed as a café curtain, continuing Campbell’s use of textiles throughout the house. The aim was to create a lighter kitchen that still connects visually with the living room. “They're kind of talking to each other in terms of being similar but different” she says.
The Courtyard as an Extension of the Interior
At the rear, the courtyard takes the interior palette in a warmer, Mediterranean direction. Reclaimed terracotta tiles replaced the existing decking, while darker lime wash adds depth to the walls. Vintage Swedish copper lights introduce an aged finish and pick up the terracotta tones. A vintage bench from Kempton echoes the scroll details found inside, creating a connection between the two spaces. With the bi-fold doors open, Campbell describes the courtyard as giving the house an “indoor outdoor” feeling.
Practical Design for a Small Home
Campbell’s renovation also shows how practical changes can improve a smaller property without compromising its character. Pocket doors allow the kitchen and living room to function separately or as one space, while laundry appliances are concealed beneath the stairs.
In the entrance hall, a timber wall-hung console and mirror provide useful storage without taking up much floor space.
A Bathroom With Rich Colour
The bathroom continues the quieter palette of the hallway, with natural plaster walls allowing the materials to provide contrast. Viola marble at the double vanity introduces deep red and pink tones, while an antique rug adds texture and softness. Campbell chose to use the reverse side of the rug for its more muted appearance, creating a subtler contrast with the marble. Polished nickel fittings and rechargeable candle lights add further detail, with Campbell favouring layered lighting that can create a calmer atmosphere in the room.
A Light and Layered Bedroom
The principal bedroom was kept light and airy, with warm lime wash and a palette built around a tapestry offcut that inspired the headboard fabric. Campbell was drawn to the reverse of the tapestry for its raw, imperfect quality. “I think that's what I so often am drawn to in things, is it's not polished, it's not perfect" she says. Different bedside tables are paired with alabaster lamps, while a George I giltwood and gesso mirror brings another historic element into the room.
A Studio Shaped by Materials
Campbell’s home studio is a practical working space filled with the materials and references that inform her projects. An oak desk with metal detailing provides a generous surface for laying out samples, while its simple, rectilinear form has the character of an architect’s table. A vintage tapestry folding screen from Kempton adds texture and pattern, alongside fabrics Campbell has been collecting for future projects. The space reflects her wider approach to design, where functional furniture sits alongside pieces chosen for their materiality, character and potential to be used in different ways over time.
The Dressing Room
Campbell’s dressing room, which she jokingly calls her “sulking room” is a more personal and playful space. Freestanding furniture and metal rails were added to the existing room, including a vintage sofa table adapted as a dressing table and a rope stool bought on eBay. A vintage chaise, purchased for around £100 and upholstered in Rose Uniacke fabric, shows Campbell’s approach to working with antiques on a budget. “Look for something that's really well priced and then embellish it with something more expensive” she explains.
A Home Designed to Evolve
Across the house, Campbell has created an interior through a mix of antiques, vintage finds, contemporary furniture, textiles and natural materials. Instead of following a single decorative style, the rooms are built around pieces with character and meaning. Her buying philosophy is straightforward: “Buy what you love and you'll have it forever.” It is an approach that gives the Victorian home a distinctly personal identity while leaving room for the interiors to continue evolving.
For more information about Lauren Campbell's West London home, her studio and current projects, visit the links below.
