Houzz Tour: A Live-Work Space With a Heavenly Heritage

When interior designer Gianna Camilotti set eyes on this converted historic church in Chingford, Essex, a suburb of London, it was love at first sight. It had undergone a sympathetic conversion in 2005, leaving Camilotti with a gleaming white space in which she could create a spacious home and office for her interiors business. “The architecture is so beautiful; I loved everything about it,” she says. “High ceilings were a must, and this building has those and everything else — lots of character and history.” Camilotti’s main challenge was to fill the generous space without having her furniture get lost in it. “It was such an amazing project. I had no limitations,” she says.



Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Gianna Camilotti of Gianna Camilotti Interiors
Location: Chingford, Essex, England
Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms


The converted church, a National Heritage List property dating to 1890, seduced Camilotti with its arching ceilings and timber beams. “When it came to a base color, I decided to keep it neutral in order to accentuate the original beams,” she says.



“I needed lots of courage when it came to decorating,” Camilotti says. “The living area is a huge, open space, and a normal-sized sofa would have disappeared, so I supersized!” Camilotti has always had a passion for oversize furniture, and the generous proportions of her new home allowed her to indulge her whim for extravagance. “The upholsterer thought I was crazy when I gave him the measurements for the sofa,” she says with a laugh.



Camilotti was drawn to a monochrome palette and is happy the colors worked to the building’s advantage. “I just couldn’t imagine this place in another palette — I think it works perfectly,” she says. The gleaming surface of the glossy white Koishi coffee table reflects light from the large windows.


Continue to Houzz for the full article.



Houzz Tour: A Live-Work Space With a Heavenly Heritage

Popular Posts