Becoming close friends isn’t typical for a designer and client, but London-based interior designer Philip Vergeylen and his art-collector client share that rare bond. So when she decided to move from her four-story home—also designed by Vergeylen—he was naturally her first call.

After several uninspiring property visits, they discovered a historic ground-floor apartment with two courtyards, high ceilings, and a private entrance. “We walked in, looked at each other, and it was done,” recalls Vergeylen. “It had the grandeur and feeling that suited her and her art.”

When COVID-19 struck, the client decamped to Italy, and the pair completed the project remotely—every detail decided by phone. Within ten months, the apartment was transformed into layered, art-filled rooms that belie the quick turnaround. “These are not timid spaces; we made bold choices,” says Vergeylen.

Though the homeowner’s impressive collection informed the design, Vergeylen avoided a gallery feel: “It had to be a home with beautiful art.” From gold-leaf dining room walls softened with glaze to the distressed textures of the drawing room, each space balances restraint and drama.

The library offers contrast—warm, eclectic, and deeply personal, with leopard-print wallpaper, vintage furniture, and playful accents. “It’s the room no one wants to leave,” Vergeylen says.

The result is a home where art and design coexist naturally—an elegant reflection of trust, creativity, and friendship.

Featured in Veranda’s September/October 2022 issue. Interior Design by Philip Vergeylen; Photography by Ricardo Labougle; Produced by Cynthia Frank Written by Alice Doyle.