A life in colour: Inside Susi Bellamy’s jewel-box apartment

That shared sense of joy is reflected in the result. Craftsmanship, classic symmetry and painterly touches underpin a design direction that originates from Susi’s six-year spell in Florence. Surrounded by art and architecture – and learning the craft of marbling paper – she developed an instinct for colour that continues to inform her work. “So much of my inspiration comes from there,” she says.

Back in Bayswater, the apartment’s proportions provided the ideal framework. Behind a stucco façade, the lofty living room – with its generous bay window overlooking the gardens – offers both light and volume, and the bones to carry colour well. “That room sold it to me immediately,” she recalls.

Today, it’s a space that balances art and architecture. The palette here is restrained – a fresh green reminiscent of nature – allowing the room’s classical detailing to come forward. Panelling introduces structure; while coving and the column-like sash windows soften the light as it moves through the space.

The design evolved in layers, with Susi and Pandora refining the composition, so it feels expressive but never excessive. Early on, they coined a phrase for it: the jewel box. “We wanted the home to bring a smile the minute you walk in,” she says.

Colour becomes the thread that connects each room. The undulating pinks and ochres of the entrance wallpaper set the tone, echoed in the softer peach kitchen and carried through to the principal bedroom. There, a yellow upholstered headboard is covered in the same print as the en suite’s feature wall, continuing that ripple of rich notes without feeling uniform.

For Susi, colour is instinctive – “always in my head”, as she puts it – shaping not just how a space looks, but how it feels. “The colours we’ve used are grounding, with pops of joy and echoes of nature,” she says.

Designed as a pied-a-terre, the apartment nonetheless balances personality with practicality. The kitchen and living room are kept deliberately separate, allowing the latter to breathe, while the dining area has space to host up to 12. Elsewhere, thoughtful interventions – like a guest bedroom with an integrated sleeping nook and concealed storage – bring a sense of ease to everyday living. “We wanted it to feel energising,” says Susi. “But with space for everyone to come together.”

Throughout, the overlaying of materials, artwork and colour has created a home that’s characterful and composed – a vibe that might be described as Renaissance confidence within a Regency shell.

The process, Susi admits, has reshaped her perspective. “I get very enthusiastic,” she smiles. “But you need someone like Pandora who understands how a space works as a whole.”

Still, one principle remains unchanged: “Life’s too short to avoid colour – and definitely too short to hold back on expressing yourself in your home.”

Queen’s Gardens is for sale for £1,095,000