Interior designer Zoe Willis created an immersive sanctuary defined by colour and texture rather than trends for the owners of this Victorian townhouse …
The work of interior designer Zoe Willis is defined by its cinematic atmosphere, expressive use of colour, sculptural compositions, and an editorial sensibility drawn from her background in fashion and media.
After 20 years shaping visual narratives alongside brands including NET-A-PORTER, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, GQ and Vogue, she founded Zoe Willis Design — working between London, Dublin, Monaco, Sotogrande and the south of France. Her signature style blends artisanal design pieces with vintage discoveries, creating interiors that feel layered and entirely individual.
The owner of this Victorian townhouse in Clapham, a foreign affairs journalist, wanted a place to decompress from a life lived in high-intensity environments across global borders. “A home to create a buffer from the outside world, encouraging reflection and stillness. Inspired by the client’s love of cinema – particularly the visual language of Wes Anderson – the design approach was filmic yet refined, characterful and deeply personal,” she says.
The first phase of the renovation focused on the emotional core of the two principal reception rooms and master bedroom. These required a full redesign, wall treatments, sanding and oiling of existing period flooring. She explains her guiding principles; “I use colour as architecture, symmetry as structure, lighting as sculpture, incorporating zoning within the floorplan.” Each space has its own identity with colours that flow between them, alongside a mix of design icons and character pieces by Eileen Gray, Gubi and Eames.
The front entertaining room was designed to feel akin to a boutique hotel lounge, incorporating pieces by Eileen Gray and Cassina. The original Victorian fireplace was removed and replaced with an integrated gas fire. Rather than installing a traditional mantelpiece, the surround was treated as an architectural feature. Tonal tiling creates depth and grounding without ornamentation. The colour palette centres around a deep blue, chosen for visual calm. Rust and oxblood accents add warmth, while subtle raspberry pink undertones prevent the scheme from feeling cold.
Colour drenching all walls and ceiling adds to this sense of cocooning, while sculptural occasional chairs and carefully balanced side tables create a composed layout. Curated accessories ensure clarity rather than visual noise. The result is bold yet controlled – dramatic without excess.
The rear den or listening room is intimate and enveloping. Walls were drenched in a moss-toned green to encourage relaxation. Darker colours absorb light and create a psychological retreat, particularly important in a media and music-focused space. Integrated storage and TV solutions were part of the requirements to ensure technology receded rather than dominated the space. Deep seating, layered textiles and low-level lighting were other details added, while a subtly incorporated bar area reinforces the room’s role as an evening retreat. Where the front room is structured and social, the rear is eclectic and private.
The master bedroom did not need any structural work; Willis worked around the existing bed and wardrobes. She used a statement wallpaper on the custom-scalloped wardrobes with antique-inspired fronts to anchor the room. The walls and ceiling were painted in complementary deep plum to create cohesion. Layered lighting – wall lights and table lamps from Aram – add to this sense of calm.
“My clients immediately experienced a meaningful transformation in their stressful everyday lives,” says Willis. “A coherent colour language was established for the rest of the house. The remaining areas of the home are now positioned to evolve from this established foundation.” @zoewillisdesign
