Summers Place

A stately space softened with comfort, restraint and quiet refinement.

A Grand Country Sitting Room in a Historic West Sussex Apartment

The apartment is located within this historic former Sotheby’s building in West Sussex, offering a dramatic architectural backdrop and views over landscaped grounds.

A layered, intimate living space – refined, relaxed, and rooted in heritage.

Set within the historic former Sotheby’s building in West Sussex, this grand apartment offered an extraordinary architectural canvas and a significant private collection of antiques. The brief was to respect the room’s formal architecture and the client’s collected antiques, whilst introducing a greater sense of comfort and harmony – creating a room that felt both elegant and livable – a place to relax, gather, and feel at home.

Working closely with the clients and their inherited pieces, we developed a scheme that layered relaxed seating, curated lighting, and refined materials to soften the more museum-like quality of the room. Where possible, original architectural features were revealed and grounded with textural accents. The design also sensitively incorporated the clients’ existing window treatments and beloved furnishings, offering a space that feels timeless, personal, and quietly luxurious.

In keeping with the client’s privacy, interior photography remains limited. The visuals shown offer a considered glimpse into the design narrative through planning layouts, moodboards, and material direction.

Early visual research set the tone for a design that embraced quiet formality and a softened, lived-in elegance.

A palette of faded glamour and rich jewel tones – italianate formality meets relaxed English elegance.
Planning and Concept Visuals

Early planning visuals focused on balancing formality and flow, with carefully considered zones for conversation, reading, a desk area, and display.

Design Details

  • Warm antique tones, botanical accents, and sculptural furniture silhouettes
  • Juxtaposition of rich velvets, natural linens, and layered textures
  • Curated artwork and heirloom pieces provide soul and patina
  • Retained archways and enriched paneling detail the room’s provenance, adding depth and classical structure.

Design Approach

How did you approach the design of this historic West Sussex apartment?

The approach centred on respecting the scale, proportion, and formality of the historic setting while softening the interior for contemporary living. Rather than competing with the architecture, the design works in quiet dialogue with it – allowing patina, symmetry, and inherited character to lead.

The aim was to create a composed, generous sitting room that feels lived-in and welcoming, balancing grandeur with comfort and ease.

What were the key considerations for working within a historic building of this nature?

Preserving architectural integrity was essential. Original detailing, volume, and sightlines were carefully considered, with new layers introduced to enhance warmth, depth, and usability rather than overwrite the building’s history.

Material choice, colour, and furniture placement were used to temper formality, ensuring the apartment feels elegant but relaxed – a space suited to both everyday life and quiet entertaining.

Published by Kate Kitchen