This Tiny Pimlico Flat Proves Bold Pattern Can Make a Small Space Feel Like a Jewel Box
Upon visiting any new place, one inevitably has the curious thought of what it would be like to live there. Yet, it wasn't a mere thought for Lauren Hudson (above) when she first found herself in London a decade ago.
Newly at the helm of Wells Design, she found herself immediately taken by the seemingly endless showrooms, artisans, and antiques shops sprinkled around the capital city. The trip sparked such inspiration that she immediately started drawing up plans for her own English-inspired showroom back in her hometown of Houston. And it didn't end at the showroom. Hudson went on to expand the business into the illustrious Wells Companies and, in 2024, launched Design Destination London , further cementing her connection to the city.
A commissioned art series from Pamela Hoffmeister features fabrics from The Wells Companies. "She's come up with this fictitious character, who you know could be Rose Cumming, could be me, could be whoever in the locations or all the various places where I spend time and our fabrics are made." Wallpaper, The Kensington Paperie .Simon Brown
Some may say London was always calling out to the founder and CEO, yet Hudson says, "This was a total impulse move." After a night of scrolling through Zillow, she stumbled upon a humble Pimlico Road flat, boasting nothing more than a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bath. Smitten after one look, Hudson presented what she describes as a "girl math scenario" to her husband, explaining why renting the apartment simply made sense. Before long, she found herself embarking on another thrilling project.
"I love a tiny little apartment," says Hudson. "I've always loved the whole concept of the perfect not-so-big space: Take every square inch and make it exactly what you want it to be. It doesn't take much to make me happy."
A quirky layout and not-so-perfect right angles never deterred Hudson but rather encouraged her to embrace the apartment's peculiarities. Working with thousands of textiles daily, Hudson's natural first order of business, working with designer Katrin Cargill , was to upholster and cover all the walls in the textiles she's coveted for years.
Hudson hung a print (right) of the very first shoot that she ever did with Rose Cumming and Classic Cloth in the drawing room. "In this little nondescript apartment, it's nice to bring in some age and architectural interest, where, let's face it, it doesn't otherwise exist." Artwork (left), Phil Shaw through Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery .Simon Brown
The drawing room walls and windows were immediately dressed in Classic Cloth's handwoven Agra linen in an indigo hue that sets a stately foundation. Hudson brought a few treasures over from the States; however, being in the heart of London's design district basically served as an invitation to scour the local antiques shops and showrooms for furnishings with varying scale and great character. "A small room full of small furniture starts to feel a little bit like a dollhouse," says Hudson. "I like the yin and the yang of scale—large scale against small."
The parade of patterns continues into the bedroom, where Rose Cumming's Macclesfield fabric in a delicious chocolate brown cocoons almost every inch from the walls and window shades to the headboard and bed skirt. "When you go into the room, you do feel like you're wrapped, and it feels good," says Hudson.
Powder blue linens from Biscuit Home keeps the moody flowers from feeling somber in the bedroom. Lumbar pillow fabric, Lilac Lamp by Robert Kime .Simon Brown
Hudson exquisitely exercises restraint the longer she lives in the apartment—constantly editing the pieces that fill each room and making sure everything has a place. And the joy Hudson felt when she first visited London? It never faded. While she may only spend a couple of weeks every quarter in the city, the creativity flowing through the streets never ceases to amaze her.
"What I love about London is being surrounded by this hunger and appreciation for craft and heritage," says Hudson. "There's such a support for things that are made by hand—crafts that are shrinking in terms of the people who can do them. That's what I love about being here: being surrounded by an industry that appreciates and promotes artisanal craft."
Drawing Room
Simon Brown
A custom sofa upholstered in Rose Cumming's Clemenceau fabric creates a cozy perch for guests visiting during Design Destination London and beyond. The pair of collages is by Jerry Jeanmard , the former owner of Wells Design who first brought Hudson to London all those years ago. Chik blinds, Namay Samay . Lamp, Liz Marsh Designs for Rose Cumming. Lampshade fabric, Sabu by Rose Cumming.
Bedroom
Simon Brown
The bedroom is a celebration of English craft featuring a Jamb side table topped with a Robert Kime lamp and artwork sourced locally from Robert Young Antiques .
Interior design by Wells Design with Katrin Cargill. Styling by Katrin Cargill. Florals by Harald Altmaier.
You Might Also Like
