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The window looks into the living room and pours light into the kitchen. One of Sarah’s large pencil drawings hangs above the Mid-Century sideboard and is complemented by the bright orange chair and the strong blues in the pot and bowl and the poster. ‘The bright and happy Hawaii poster is my favourite thing in the kitchen,’ explains Sarah. -
The simple but beautifully designed kitchen ‘was built by my friend Steve, which makes it extra special to me,’ says Sarah. The grey cupboards are reminiscent of one of Sarah’s designs, with the pops of colour found in the kitchenware and posters working like the carefully selected colours Sarah uses in her work. -
This hallway leads into the two bedrooms and bathroom. Sarah’s passion for colour continues here. ‘I love using colour in my home because it warms me up. It’s my antidote to the British climate!’ she explains with a smile. -
Maker Spaces: Colourful London Home
WORDS Emily Quinton IMAGES Helen Cathcart
Artist and designer Sarah Hamilton lives in a stylish Mid-Century Modern house in a leafy corner of South East London in the UK with her husband and son.
The house is situated close to Dulwich Woods, where Sarah enjoys living in her country oasis amongst the bustling city. Sarah and her husband lovingly restored this house with a deep respect for the vision the architect originally had for it. ‘Houses are very precious,’ explains Sarah, ‘and they are only yours for a period of time, so it is important to respect and love them.’
There is a Scandinavian feel throughout Sarah’s home, which is also indicative of her work. Sarah’s love for her home is clear in her careful attention to every detail. Her stylish but welcoming interiors have been carefully collected to complement the age and style of the house. Her love of colour, pattern and design can be seen throughout the house, with fun flashes of joyful colours on doors, bold graphic prints, patterned rugs and bold prints.
The use of colour in the home is enhanced by its wonderfully light and airy quality, with large windows looking out over the tall trees. This light feels like it flows through the whole house. Its design and layout of the house is interesting and unusual with the kitchen on the ground floor, the two bedrooms and bathroom in the basement and Sarah’s studio and the large living room upstairs.
Sarah’s fascinating home really inspires her; she is passionate about architecture and has a deep appreciation of how unique and special her house is. In addition to its design, its location and setting is central to both her life and her work. ‘I couldn’t live in the countryside, but I’m very obsessed with the natural world. The house fulfils the countryside in me but also the city that I could never give up.’
Sarah’s work is deeply connected to the natural, so living surrounded by trees and nature is perfect for her. When this is combined with her city location, with its galleries, theatres and museums, you can understand why she loves her little corner of London so much. It is clear that Sarah adores her home and is very settled in it, but travel is also a huge source of inspiration for her work. Globes, travel posters and trinkets from far-off lands fill her home. ‘If I’m not travelling, I’m thinking about travelling,’ she says dreamily.
This is an excerpt from Emily Quinton’s Maker Spaces (R577, Ryland Peters & Small). The book is available from Exclusive Books.
