Architecture: Harper Latter Architects
Photographer: Kensington Leverne
The owners of Gunter & Co’s London Home, an artist and her financier husband, knew from the outset that this was to be more than just a renovation. Having recently completed a project in India, they brought both experience and vision to the process, entrusting Irene Gunter and her team with the freedom to create something extraordinary. What began as a modest plan to relocate the staircase evolved into a complete transformation, with the façade braced and the rest of the structure rebuilt. The result is a three-storey residence more reminiscent of a contemporary gallery than a conventional London home.
Light quickly became the home’s defining ingredient. Rare in the British capital, it floods the interiors, drenching polished plaster walls and spilling across expanses of natural stone. Spaces are layered in calm, neutral shades — oak, bronze, Emperador marble, Taj Mahal quartzite — forming a quiet canvas upon which the family’s vibrant art collection takes centre stage. Colour is reserved for moments of punctuation, from a dramatic cinema to moody bathrooms and rich textiles that echo the tones of international works sourced in Paris, London, and beyond.
“Colour is reserved for moments of punctuation, from a dramatic cinema to moody bathrooms and rich textiles that echo the tones of international works sourced in Paris, London, and beyond.”
Collaboration lies at the heart of the design. Gunter & Co worked closely with skilled artisans in India to craft bespoke furniture throughout, a narrative enriched by the clients’ heritage and their passion for craftsmanship. A sculptural spiral staircase, designed with Harper Latter Architects, anchors the house, its organic curves echoed in custom seating, cabinetry, and lighting. The pièce de résistance, a three-storey pendant installation by Charles Burnand, hangs in the entrance void, its hand-blown glass forms refracting light in a collision of artistry and engineering.
Despite the scale and precision of its detailing, the house remains deeply personal. The artist-homeowner’s handmade pottery sits proudly alongside contemporary canvases and curated objects. Shopping trips through London and art journeys to Paris expanded the collection, layering character and intimacy into the clean-lined spaces. Every room tells its own story — the family living room warmed by oak and natural light; the kitchen, designed in collaboration with Lanserring, honed from Taj Mahal quartzite; the bedrooms cocooned in texture and craftsmanship, from bespoke headboards to heavy cashmere drapery.
The footprint is generous, spanning five bedrooms, en suites, a cinema, a gym, an artist’s studio, a prayer room, and a wine cellar, yet the flow is seamless, with each space bound by a sense of cohesion and tranquillity. Cornices are absent, skirtings flush, and walls are rendered in soft plaster that absorbs and reflects light in equal measure. The effect is contemporary, but never cold; restrained, but never austere.
Ultimately, this South West London home by Gunter & Co is a meditation on light and craft — and sits at the intersection of both. It is a gallery and a refuge, and a family house that honours heritage while embracing modern living. Above all, this residence is a quietly luminous sanctuary, conceived to stand the test of time for years to come.
