Who is the founder of Studio Peake?
After careers at Alidad and Todhunter Earle, Sarah Peake set up her Parsons Green studio in London in early 2019. “At Alidad, I started folding rugs and fabrics and worked my way up. I learned a lot about proportion and scale,” recalls Peake, who was at the same time taking evening classes at interior design school. “Todhunter Earle was quick, with a focus on architectural interiors. I honed my technical skills and, as an associate director, followed projects from initial design to final shade.
Peake grew up next to some of the biggest properties in the country – his father was a property manager at houses such as Castle Howard and Cornbury Park – but it was only after post-graduate work experience at Knight Carr & Company , an American interior design firm in North Carolina, which she chose for her career.
What is Studio Peake’s signature style?
A mix of traditional and modern. Peake likes rooms that “are not too organized, so they feel like they’ve been organically built over time to reflect the guest’s personality.” For example, she can pair a contemporary kitchen with antique furniture or add color and pattern in unexpected places, like inside a closet or on curtain linings.
Various references range from hand-painted cabinets by Vanessa Bell to murals by Christian Bérard used in projects by 20th-century French interior designer Jean-Michel Frank.
What are Studio Peake’s recent projects?
The firm’s first solo commission was a complete refurbishment of a Georgian cottage in Vauxhall. “It was really interesting because it wasn’t about ripping everything out and starting over. We did a lot of restoration, from painting the kitchen to adding new worktops to polishing French for the handrails on the stairs,” recalls Peake.
Peake has also completed an apartment in an Edwardian mansion in Barons Court, decorated to a “Parisian chic” mandate, with a turquoise bathroom and a dark desk. “We strayed slightly from some of the frilly elements that the record might have led to, to create something timeless,” she adds.
What is Studio Peake currently working on?
Projects range from a country house in Surrey to a four-storey townhouse in Chelsea. “Young customers in London let us stretch our legs creatively with nature-inspired designs with Japanese references,” says Peake. “There are so many exciting things about this project, especially the bathroom, which has ceramic wall tiles in the shape of scallops and cloud wallpaper on the ceiling – when you lie down in the bath, it’s It’s like looking at the sky!”
Studio Peake’s top interior design tip: “Being brave with color is so important because it adds character to a home.” studiopeake.com
The little black book
Sarah Peake, founder of London-based Studio Peake shares some of her most valuable interior design contacts, sources and stores
Antiques
Lillie Road in Fulham is known for its antique shops. Two of my favorites are Fawes’ Quindry and Dorian Caffot, both of which are great for 20th century furniture, mirrors and ceramics. From Dorian, I recently purchased an amazing mid-century cabinet that we converted into a TV stand. quindry.net;dorian-antiques.com
textiles
I buy a lot of vintage textiles, like Chinese wedding blankets and unique throw pillows from Penny Worrall. I also love Vanderhurd’s dhurries – I’m using a silk at the moment for a Missoni-esque zig-zag patterned stair runner. pennyworrall.com; vanderhurd.com
Bedding
I have a huge obsession with beautiful bedding. Aleta makes the finest block printed bedspreads, inspired by the decorative arts of the 17th century. aletaonline.com
Lighting
Margit Wittig is first and foremost an artist, so she has an incredible eye for color, which translates into her lighting designs. We collaborated on a chandelier, which will be launched later this year. margitwittig.com
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