Who says rental flats can’t be dreamy escapes? Sally Wilkinson, interior designer and master of the artful workaround, proves that even a temporary home can ooze style, comfort and a sense of serenity—no demolition required, just ingenuity and a sprinkling of intention (okay, plus a quick curtain to hide the inevitable plastic toys).
From Rushed Rental to Intentional Oasis
Sally Wilkinson isn’t a stranger to handling life with a sense of urgency—just ask her about moving mid-Covid from the States with no more than six suitcases and a head swirling with jet lag. ‘There was a real sense of urgency,’ she says, and it showed: their Chelsea flat, speedily decorated, still managed to wow readers of House & Garden, who couldn’t believe it was a rental that had been finished in a rush. But when the time came for a new chapter, Sally decided to do things very differently.
‘This time, I made every decision very slowly. I was much more intentional,’ she explains. With a baby on the way and no wish to play a real-life game of rental Tetris, Sally went in search of more space and ‘very good bones.’ She hit the jackpot in a Regency building in Pimlico, on the same square once graced by Robert Kime. The garden flat boasted unusually high ceilings and was drenched in natural light, thanks to a back skylight. The cherry on top? Lovely floors and perfectly painted Farrow & Ball walls,—'such a luxury not to have to worry about painting,’ she notes.
Rules, Rooms, and a Dash of Quirky Ingenuity
The only catch: the flat was technically a one-bed. Cue interior designer flexibility:‘I chose to convert the second sitting room into a bedroom,’ Sally reveals. ‘It is quite quirky to have a bedroom right in the middle of the flat, but the bones and structure made it worth it … It works surprisingly well for us.’
With rental agreements limiting grand gestures, Sally leaned into her strengths: furnishings, textiles, and art as storytellers. Most of the furniture journeyed with her from Chelsea, but scale proved amusing:‘The bigger flat made all of our old furnishings look like they were from a doll’s house.’ In Chelsea, doorways and stairwells dictated everything she could drag in. Not so in Pimlico:‘We have not had that problem in this flat,’ she laughs.
- The living area features a 19th-century sofa in hand-dyed loose linen, a snuggly rug from Etsy, and a Brutalist coffee table from Modants.
- The antique textile above the mantlepiece sits in a frame painted in Farrow and Ball’s ‘Setting Plaster’.
- The room enjoys woven chik blinds for privacy, a French leather-covered floor lamp, and a throw from Toast set against a linen-upholstered chair bearing a seat cushion in 36 Bourne Street ticking.
Astute fans may spot the sage green cabinet from her previous flat, now updated for life with a baby: ‘Before, we had books, candles, beautiful things … Now it basically just needs to be packed with plastic toys. I added a Rose Tarlow wool sheer as a quick way to hide the chaos inside.’
Fresh Perspectives on Old Favourites
Sally knows the value of a good rehash. Her professional experience often means incorporating clients’ inherited and collected items, giving each scheme a deeply personal narrative. She reflects, ‘Most people come to new houses with old things … It tells me so much about who clients are and where they’ve come from.’ Unsurprisingly, she’s well-versed in reimagining her own pieces, seeing them anew against Pimlico’s bright, spacious backdrop.
The home is purposefully pared-back:‘Maybe that is representative of where I am in life,’ Sally laughs. ‘We wanted it to feel serene and peaceful, not loaded up with things.’ Her evolving taste and sharpened point of view are reflected everywhere, from the quietly functional Schumacher ticking stripe covers on a 19th-century wingback (‘a trick I probably overuse,’ she admits, ‘but I can get them cleaned!’) to the careful curation of accent objects.
- The four-poster bed, from the Original Bed Company, is upholstered in Schumacher’s ‘Motallegro Linen Stripe’ and paired with antique cushions from Katharine Pole and Guy Goodfellow’s ‘Fez’.
- Beside the bed: a delicate glass lamp with a parchment shade from Lucy Cope.
- In the kitchen, sunlight pours through a skylight onto antique Swedish armchairs dressed in Décors Barbares ‘Petite Pommes’ cushions.
- Sally’s daughter sleeps in a late 19th-century faux bamboo bed, and the little stool features Nicholas Herbert’s ‘Kaveri,’ with candlestick lamps by Besselink and Jones.
- Even the loo gets a lift with a Rose Tarlow ‘Shoji’ sheer café curtain, a vintage clover bowl, and Zara Home accessories.
Retreat, Recharge, Commit
Sally sums up her rental approach with infectious conviction:‘My husband tells me I am crazy to wallpaper in a rental, but my biggest advice is to really commit.’ Yes, it might not look great on the balance sheet, but as Sally insists, ‘At the end of the day, it’s your home. These small details are what set it apart.’
The result? Generously sized, light-filled rooms that feel like secret sanctuaries. As Sally puts it, ‘Both rooms are super generous and I have ended up loving having a larger scale bedroom. We actually sit in there all the time and have a glass of wine.’ For anyone doubting the power of intention in a rental, she’s living, lounging proof.
So next time you’re staring down beige walls and a lease agreement, remember: your home is what you make it, even if it’s borrowed. All it takes is patience, personality, and perhaps a well-placed wool sheer for your secret plastic toy stash.
With a discerning eye for exceptional craftsmanship and timeless beauty, Edward has dedicated his career to sourcing and curating fine antique furniture from across USA. His deep appreciation for historical design, from Georgian elegance to Art Deco sophistication, guides collectors and enthusiasts in discovering pieces that tell stories of bygone eras. Through his expertise and genuine passion, he helps preserve the artistry of master cabinetmakers while bringing distinguished character into contemporary homes.
