Veere Grenney’s London Townhouse Is Proof You Can Live Elegantly—and Closer to Nature

The article offers an exclusive look into the London townhouse of renowned interior designer Veere Grenney, originally featured in VERANDA's November/December 2014 issue and re-published with updates ahead of Grenney's art and furnishings sale with Dreweatts auction house. Grenney, known for his "contemporary Classicism" style, acquired the early 19th-century Regency townhouse in 2010. The home, previously untouched since the 1950s, features high ceilings and large sash windows that allow ample natural light, aligning with Grenney's design philosophy of mixing the grand with the humble. Grenney's design approach in his London residence prioritizes maximizing space and fostering a connection with nature. To create an illusion of larger rooms, he employs a technique of using the same fabrics for both walls and curtains, as demonstrated in the drawing room with its rich green silk velvet. This choice of material aims to evoke a sensual and almost translucent quality, changing color in different light conditions. Proportion is also a key element, with custom-made furniture designed to perfectly fit each room. Examples include a canopy bed in the primary suite that extends to the ceiling and a dining room table complementing walls adorned with a heavily patterned Fortuny-style damask. The dressing room, which doubles as a spare bedroom, cleverly uses curtains to delineate two distinct areas, accommodating a guest bed across the room's width. Beyond London, Grenney maintains residences in Tangier, Morocco, and The Temple in Suffolk, a Neoclassical retreat once owned by British design icon David Hicks, which he has inhabited for 40 years. He describes the London home as central to his working life, while Suffolk serves as a place for regrouping and reflection, and Tangier as a slowly manifesting dream. His design principles extend to holiday decorations, where he prefers simplicity and a natural aesthetic. For Christmas decor, Grenney collaborates with celebrated florist Shane Connolly, known for his naturalistic arrangements, including those for royal weddings. Connolly's approach involved creating arrangements that appeared freshly gathered from a garden, utilizing elements like blue spruce, magnolias, jasmine, hellebores, and hyacinths, predominantly in white. This eschews festive kitsch in favor of a tamed yet wild natural beauty, reflecting Grenney's overall design ethos. The article provides specific details on furnishings and art within various rooms. The drawing room features a rich, mossy velvet from Alton-Brooke on the walls and curtains, an 18th-century English chair in Colefax and Fowler chintz, a Jamb mantel, a Gordon Watson light fixture, and art by Alan Reynolds. The drawing room also includes a vintage Maison Jansen desk, 18th-century Austrian chairs, large-scale art by Richard Lin, and custom armchairs in a Nicky Haslam fabric. A clean-lined corner sofa, covered in Alton-Brooke toile, and a custom slipper chair with Claremont fringe are accompanied by a Gerald Bland coffee table, a vintage Gabriella Crespi side table, and art by John Lavery, William Scott, Roger Hilton, and Victor Pasmore. In the dining room, a bold-patterned Tissus d’Hélène damask covers the walls, alongside a vintage Georges Jouve mirror, Royal Worcester dinnerware, Georg Jensen silverware, William Yeoward glasses, and walls painted in Paint & Paper Library's Slate II. The dining area also includes a custom sofa in Claremont fabric, a vintage Michel Boyer stool, and art by Roger Hilton. The primary bedroom showcases a custom canopy bed and fabrics from Claremont, Volga Linen bedding, a custom armchair in Tissus d’Hélène fabric, and an 18th-century English ottoman. The dressing room features a Regency chair in a Veere Grenney fabric and walls clad in Sandra Jordan alpaca. The overarching theme throughout the townhouse is a harmonious blend of metropolitan sophistication with organic elements, demonstrating Grenney's ability to create elegant yet natural living spaces. #InteriorDesign #LondonTownhouse #VeereGrenney #DecoratingIdeas #LuxuryLiving #HomeDecor #DesignPhilosophy #RegencyArchitecture #ShaneConnolly #InteriorDesign #LondonTownhouse #VeereGrenney #DecoratingIdeas #LuxuryLiving #HomeDecor #DesignPhilosophy #RegencyArchitecture #ShaneConnolly