10 Real London Homes to Add to Your Instagram Saved Folder
House envy, incoming.
Don’t be fooled by what you see in the rom-coms; enormous houses lined with wisteria are something of a unicorn in the British capital (for ‘normal’ people, anyway). The reality is streets upon streets of often narrow, brick-built Victorian-era properties tightly packed together. But whatever Londoners lack in space and variety, they make up for with creativity.
Thanks to Instagram, we’ve enjoyed an immersive window into the way many owners (and renters) are putting their stamp on their surroundings. From thrifted treasures to clever ways with a paintbrush, there are plenty of ideas to steal from these tastemakers. Here, we open the door to some of our favorite accounts, whose thoughtful touches are bound to inspire you.
The fashion maven and content creator has overhauled her west London home in one impossibly stylish swoop. Showing a predilection for blue (check out the library and the kitchen) and mid-century modern furniture finds, every nook is calming and considered as it is cozy. And it’s official: inset baths, arched doorways and a day bed for curling up on in the kitchen are the new must-haves.
Art director Zeena Shah hit the rental jackpot when she landed on this Art Deco apartment in east London: its original Barbie-esque, pastel pink doors and turquoise window frames feel more Miami than Clapton (and make for striking IG backdrops). Shah’s clever but uninvasive tweaks to the decor, such as painting a statement headboard and hanging plants instead of curtains, make for a home that is playful and personable.
From asymmetrical shelving to banquette-lined bay windows, and coloured grouting to panelled curtains, there’s a lot to take away from designer and creative consultant Matilda Goad’s nest. A breeding ground for ideas and experimentation, her affection for pre-loved furniture and floral fabrics is something we can all get on board with.
Oh, to have Leanne Kilroy’s vision. The American mother-of-three has transformed her terraced home in north London with a luminous, greenhouse-like extension that has quickly racked up many likes (and wistful sighs of envy) on Instagram. But it’s her hard-working pantry - a mustard-shelved, gingham-skirted affair, stacked with jars and essentials and closed off with reclaimed doors - which provides the most thrilling insight into how much we’re obsessed with utility and how other people organize their ‘stuff’.
Diversity consultant Natasha Landers’ east London home defies trends - note the yellow kitchen floor and unusual, color-blocked living room. Bright, bold and quirky, it’s the ultimate match for her personality and creativity. Having cultivated the decor over two decades, the eclectic interior is also home to her growing collection of Black art.
Broadcaster and podcast host Laura Jackson’s charming east London home continues to evolve as her tastes and needs change - confirming that it’s more than OK to change your mind about a paint color a couple of years down the line. Taking us on the decision-making journey with her, anyone following her account for a while will feel like they’ve been part of her renovations - in the best possible way.
Journalist and designer Louise Roe moved from a rectory in the Cotswolds to a London house and brought the English country house look via elegant antiques and chintzy fabrics with her. Richly layered and lived-in, her low-lit sitting room is the sort of space we could imagine sipping cocktails and playing games by a roaring fire come winter.
Serene and dream-like, scrolling through the north London home of Zoe Carter-Mackay and her husband James is like flicking through an artfully styled design magazine. Favouring a neutral base with textures overlaid, this home oozes sophistication with slabs of marble, polished concrete floors, exposed brickwork and raw plaster finishes. The somber cladded extension is a budding architect’s dream.
It’s worth following this account purely for the jaw-dropping before and afters. Once a flat-fronted, pebble-dashed terrace, this house belonging to Jessica Horton has been painstakingly brought back to life by the fashion designer and her art teacher husband, learning plastering and carpentry along the way. Their determination to the cause - and assured good taste - will astound you.
OK, so not all London houses are two-up,two-down. Emily Jane Lathan is documenting the overhaul of her second bungalow, a light-filled, sprawling 70s build (with dizzying printed carpets still intact). The wood panelling and her tonal eye makes this a must-follow.
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