Chelsea Mills, a managing partner of a creative marketing agency and photographer, and her partner Kirby, who works in the pharmaceutical industry, made a bold move in April 2022. After finishing up “gut-job renovations on a rambling townhouse” in Toronto, they relocated to London, UK, with their two cats, Dolly and Frankie, and just six suitcases.
“Although on paper we were leaving so much stability behind — great jobs, friends and family close by, a beautiful home we had renovated to our tastes — we had had this dream of living overseas at some point, and we felt after so many lockdowns there was no time like the present,” Chelsea begins. “We were very naive and full of wonderment at that time!”
The couple quickly set out to find a flat that would be a fit, but first stayed in an Airbnb for a month. “London is incredibly vast, so we spent weeks visiting as many neighborhoods as we could to get a sense of where we wanted to lay down roots. My home and personal space has always been a sanctuary for me — as a couple with demanding jobs, who travel often for both work and pleasure, we wanted a place we could escape the chaos. Needless to say, we had a lot of criteria when looking for the perfect flat!”
After an exhaustive search, they found their perfect home in a charming ground-floor converted Victorian. With soaring 14-foot ceilings, bay windows flooding the space with light, and a mix of traditional details like wainscoting and modern updates, the flat offered an ideal place for themselves and their kitties. Despite some mismatched furnishings that came with the rental, Chelsea’s talent for blending sleek minimalism with organic textures brought cohesion and warmth to the space.
“I value authenticity and individuality and I like my home like I like my life: functional, yet with character. The story is of utmost importance to me (as a marketer, I come by it honestly!), which is why I am allergic to too much in the way of box-fresh,” Chelsea describes. “I prefer to go with vibes and instinct when it comes to decorating a living space instead of a singular style classification, operating on a bit of a ‘I’ll know it when I see it’ mentality!
“That being said, I often reach for my personal style theory — polished and effortless with a little bit of interest/ edge — and I would say that translates well for my decor preferences. I like the juxtaposition between clean minimalism and sleek lines mixed with organic shapes and textures, tend to gravitate to a neutral color palette, and dislike too much of one thing. All those characteristics and preferences and traits are very much embedded into all aspects of my life, our home included.”
Resources
LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM
Sofa — Loaf
Coffee table — Facebook Marketplace
Rug — Came with flat
End table — Came with flat
Side tables — Loaf
Lamp — Vintage
Armchairs — IKEA (came with flat)
End table — Wayfair
Canvas artwork — DIY!
LOUNGE AREA
Sofa — Loaf
End tables — Loaf
Table lamp — Vintage
Floor lamp — Came with flat
Artwork — A mix of wedding and family photos, Chelsea’s personal photography, artworks sourced from local artists and markets around the world
Throw pillows — H&M Home
RECORD AREA
Large mirror — Facebook Marketplace
Record unit — IKEA
OFFICE/BEDROOM
Bedding and throw pillows — H&M Home
Throw blanket — John Lewis
Dresser — IKEA (Facebook Marketplace)
Lamp — B&Q
Large artwork — Etsy
Small artwork — Flea market
Roller blinds — Amazon
Rug — IKEA
Bobbin mirror — DIY
Wall hanging — DIY
BEDROOM
Linen bedding — H&M Home
Bolster pillow — Etsy
Throw blanket — Zara Home
Nightstands — Facebook Marketplace
Marble knobs — H&M Home
Headboard — DIY
Lamps — IKEA
Bookshelf — IKEA (Facebook Marketplace)
Dresser — IKEA (Gumtree)
Lamp — T.K. Maxx (painted to match green shade)
Round mirror — Facebook Marketplace
Rug — Facebook Marketplace
Bench — Came with flat
Ahearling throw — Flea market
Rubber plant — Found on pavement and nursed back to life
Cat — Frankie!
Thanks Chelsea!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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