There are days when I design, sketch, plan, and select fabrics until my eyes blur. And then there are days like today—when I wander. When I step into a space not to work, but to feel.

Because even when we interior designers are “off,” we’re never really off. We’re seekers. Hunters of beauty, collectors of detail, pilgrims in pursuit of the perfect proportion or a forgotten trim. And today, I stumbled into a gem that I simply had to share with you.

 

At Sloane. Nestled quietly in the heart of Chelsea, it’s not the kind of place you find by accident. It’s the kind of place you find because you need to find it.

 

A Door Without a Name

Imagine this: the ever-bustling King’s Road fades behind you. You step through a doorway so unassuming, you wonder if you’ve wandered into a private members’ club or perhaps someone’s beautifully kept townhouse. No sign. No grand reveal. Just serenity.

That’s the first whisper of what makes At Sloane so beguiling. There’s a bravery in not shouting—no logos, no luminous signage. Instead, a door that simply says: You’re home.

It’s a Victorian building, originally built in 1888, and while the façade has been lovingly preserved, the interior tells a new story—one of layered textures, masterful lighting, and a design language that doesn’t try to impress, but gently wraps you in warmth.

 

Franco-British Elegance with a Twist

The interiors are the brainchild of French designer François-Joseph Graf—a name you might recognise if you’ve wandered through some of Paris’ most exquisite interiors. Graf brings with him that refined Parisian instinct for proportion and layering, but here, he’s speaking in a distinctly British dialect.

The result? A love letter to Victorian England, told in velvet and silk, in dark woods and gentle lamplight. It’s a home, a club, a retreat—all at once.

And what’s truly remarkable is how every detail, from the carved shelving in the library to the bespoke upholstery in the lounge, carries the weight of thought. There’s nothing arbitrary here. Each object, each finish, each colour, has earned its place.

 

A Reception Like No Other

Forget everything you know about hotel lobbies. There’s no desk, no clattering keys, no transactional energy. Instead, you arrive into a library.

Yes, a library.

Deep mahogany bookshelves, antique rugs underfoot, plush seating with the gentle sheen of silk-velvet, and lighting so low you half-expect to hear a whisper before a word. It feels like stepping into a private study.

This is not a space that wants to dazzle. It wants to hold you.

And that’s something I find profoundly powerful in design—the ability to lower your voice and still be heard. The best interiors, much like the best people, don’t need to raise their volume.

 

How to Bring It Home: Layering & Lighting

So, how can you apply this ethos to your own home?

Start with texture. Combine velvet with linen, silk with boucle, wood with marble. Let opposites attract. The goal isn’t opulence, it’s depth.

Then, consider lighting. Overhead lighting can often be clinical. Replace it—or at least complement it—with layered sources: wall sconces, floor lamps, low table lamps. Use warm bulbs. Use dimmers. Light is emotion, not utility.

When your lighting whispers, your space listens.

 

The Restaurant in the Sky

Upstairs, past hallways dressed in panelled grace and moody blues, is the restaurant. But this isn’t a dining room. It’s a secret supper club in the sky.

Each table is nestled into its own sense of privacy. Even in the centre of the room, you feel cradled. And the atmosphere? Intimate, elegant, never overwrought. The acoustics are soft—thanks to curtains, upholstered banquettes, and clever spatial planning.

The chandeliers (yes, plural) hang like jewellery. Thoughtfully chosen, they don’t match, but they speak to each other—like dinner guests from different cities who find common ground.

Here’s a design truth: When sound behaves, the mind relaxes. Want your dining space to feel this inviting? Invest in acoustics. Think panelled walls, thick curtains, fabric-covered chairs. Make softness structural.

 

No Two Rooms Alike

While I couldn’t sneak a peek into the guest rooms (believe me, I tried!), I’ve researched and read enough to know they are individually designed. No copy-paste schemes here. Each room is a narrative.

Some rooms take inspiration from the Peacock Room of James McNeill Whistler. Others feature ceramics sourced from Singapore, adding a gentle global note to the British-French melody. It’s curated, not themed. And that makes all the difference.

It’s also a lovely reminder that luxury isn’t about repetition. It’s about consideration. The ability to walk into a room and feel that someone thought of you when designing it.

 

The Underground Bar That Belongs in a Film

Now, for my favourite part: the bar tucked away in the basement. It’s straight out of a 1920s prohibition film—low ceilings, geometric tiles, deep shadows, and just the right level of sultry indulgence.

There’s a marble fireplace so grand it anchors the entire space. The sofas are swathed in floral fabrics—yes, florals! A trend that’s making a confident return in 2025, I might add.

This is the kind of place you don’t post on Instagram. Not because it isn’t beautiful—it’s achingly so—but because you almost don’t want to share it. It’s a little secret, and secrets like this are part of what make London, well… London.

 

A Masterclass in Discreet Design

What At Sloane teaches us is this: you don’t need to shout to be unforgettable.

From the fragrance in the corridor to the weight of the cutlery, from the grain of the wood to the softness of the sheets (hello, Egyptian cotton), everything has been considered. Analysed. Perfected.

It’s a love song to intentionality. And that, to me, is the very heart of luxury. Not chandeliers the size of spaceships. Not gilding every surface. But restraint. Control. Whispering with confidence.

 

What You Can Steal From This Space

So, whether you’re designing a Mayfair pied-à-terre or refreshing a quiet reading nook, here are a few things worth borrowing:

• Texture layering: Velvet meets linen. Gloss meets matte.

• Soft lighting: Avoid overhead glare. Choose lamps and dimmable fixtures.

• Personalised corners: Each space should feel like it belongs to someone, not everyone.

• Silence as luxury: Invest in soundproofing where possible—acoustics are elegance.

• The art of entry: Let your home’s entrance feel like a welcome, not a showroom.

 

What Caught Your Eye?

I would truly love to know—what detail from At Sloane moved you most? Was it the dark, intimate bar? The no-lobby check-in? The lighting, the florals, the unexpected serenity?

And more importantly—do you have a hidden gem to share? A hotel, a restaurant, a private home even, that made you feel held in its beauty? I’m always on the lookout for the next quiet marvel.

After all, discovery is part of the craft.

 

I’m Miriam Prada, interior designer in London, dreamer of textures, seeker of beauty. And when I’m not creating spaces for others, I’m wandering into hidden places like this—so I can share them with you.

Because in a world of noise, I believe in design that whispers.

Thank you for passing by… 

 

Feel free to check the virtual version of this on YouTube 

 

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