Inside A Wellness-Led Chelsea Townhouse
Photography: Richard Pickavance
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Inside A Wellness-Led Chelsea Townhouse

Balancing entertaining credentials with a calm, restorative feel, this five-storey Chelsea townhouse has been completely reimagined by Portia Fox. From a sculptural, light-filled kitchen and dedicated wine-tasting room to a private spa complete with sauna and onsen, bespoke design, natural materials and thoughtful spatial planning come together to create a home that’s as indulgent as it is liveable. Here, she gives us the tour…
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Photography: Richard Pickavance

The Property

The property is a five-storey, six-bedroom private home in Chelsea, London. It underwent a full renovation and redesign to transform it into a modern, light-filled residence with bespoke interiors, including structural changes and a newly excavated basement.

The Brief

The brief was to create a home that balances wellness and entertaining. It has spaces for socialising, including a bar, games area, gym, sauna, and onsen, as well as areas for everyday relaxation. The design has a neutral colour palette and lots of natural materials, with furniture and layouts that are functional and flexible. Architectural features and lighting support the flow and comfort, making the home suitable for both entertaining and relaxation.


TAKE THE TOUR

Lower Ground Floor: Entrance

The entrance sets the tone for the home with walnut panelling and a marble floor, creating a strong contrast of materials. A jib door conceals the powder room to maintain clean architectural lines. A quartzite console by DeMuro Das sits beneath Alexander Lamont's Folly gesso pendant, while bespoke walnut doors with straw marquetry add depth and texture.

Lower Ground Floor: Kitchen & Dining Area

With increased proportions and taller ceiling heights, the kitchen was designed to feel bold yet controlled. Working with Lanserring, bespoke joinery conceals large access panels within sculptural ceiling roses, which also function as custom light fittings designed with Francis Russell Design. Taj Mahal quartzite was chosen for its durability and appearance. A Van Rossum end-grain oak table and Overgaard & Dyrman chairs anchor the space, with accessories from So At Nature, AbaskJapan House and Les Ateliers Courbet.

Basement: Wine Tasting Area

The wine tasting area was designed as a contained space within the basement. A bespoke wall-hung cabinet by Grosvenor & Christian integrates a humidor, wine dispensers and glass storage, using burgundy-dyed bird’s-eye maple and Spanish cedar. Kelly Wearstler swivel chairs and a Monologue  side table complete the area.

Basement: Bar/Games Room/Media Room

The basement receives natural light from a internally glass-walled winter garden. Sliding glazed partitions and bifold doors allow the space to open fully when entertaining, creating flexibility for both smaller gatherings and larger events.

Basement: Gym & Spa

Wellness was a key part of the brief, with a gym and spa area linked directly to an external sauna. Materials and layouts were selected to encourage regular rather than occasional use.

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Upper Ground Floor: Dining Room

With glazed glass on three sides, the dining room connects directly to the garden. A contemporary tapestry, Tapisserie Capriccio, depicting a garden scene forms the fourth wall. Sourced in Paris, it was box-framed in non-reflective acrylic by Frame London. The dining table was made by London cabinet maker Rick Baker from hand-selected solid elm, with a lightly tempered live edge and knots pinned with brass butterflies. Dining chairs are by The Invisible Collection, with a pendant by Andrea Claire Studio. 

Upper Ground Floor: Sitting Room

The sitting room combines classical architectural detailing with contemporary furniture. Original profiles were adjusted to suit the proportions of the house. Mathieu Le Hanneur’s Inverted Gravity console introduces a sculptural element, topped with a pencil drawing of the family pet. Teddy armchairs by TIC in Pierre Frey mohair, lighting by Apparatus and a Cox London coffee table complete the room.

Upper Ground Floor: TV Room/Library

Traditional townhouse detailing was adapted for everyday use. Refined mouldings and views through to the orangery and garden prevent the room from feeling overly formal. A George Smith sofa, Demuro Das coffee table and accessories from Bonadea and Willer furnish the space.

Upper Ground Floor: Orangery

The orangery combines contemporary detailing with natural materials. A bespoke walnut bar is topped with Avocatus marble. The floor is made from Moleanos limestone, red travertine and Avocatus green marble in a woven honed pattern. The sofa and footstool are by George Smith with accessories from BonadeaWiller  and Riviere.

First Floor: Main Bedroom & Dressing Room

The principal bedroom was designed as a calm space for retreat. Polished plaster walls and honed Michelangelo marble are paired with light-stained joinery and woven leather wardrobe doors. A bespoke George Smith bed is flanked by wall-mounted bedside tables by Grosvenor & Christian, with travertine wall lights by Charles Zana. Fabrics by Lauren Hwang and De Le Cuona and linens from Vis à Vis complete the scheme. We also incorporated a bath as a focal point, a design inspired by the client’s stay at the Ett Hem hotel in Stockholm.

Second Floor: Guest Bedrooms & En-Suites

Each of the three guest bedrooms has its own colour palette, bespoke floor pattern and marble selection for the en-suite. Custom headboards and linens by Vis à Vis were used to keep the rooms consistent and comfortable.

Garden & Sauna

The garden was designed as a direct extension of the home’s principal living spaces, supporting both everyday family life and entertaining. Designed in collaboration with The Gardenists, strong visual  and physical connections link the kitchen, garden room, orangery and basement. Full width, bifold doors open the rear façade entirely to the garden, while level changes and material transitions enhance indoor-outdoor flow. The garden also has a sauna cabin, which is connected to the Japanese onsen bath in the basement, allowing for cold plunges followed by heat therapy.

Visit PORTIAFOX.COM 

Photography Richard Pickavance

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