Hello, Art Deco

24.05.21

Offering 10,241 square feet of luxurious living space the eight-bedroom double-fronted mansion on Hamilton Terrace in St John’s Wood, has magnificent Art Deco and contemporary style interiors by designer Nicola Fontanella of Argent Design, inspired by the life of Freda Dudley Ward, the mistress of King Edward VIII later the Duke of Windsor, who lived in an Art Deco house on Hamilton Terrace between 1937 to 1966, with other design inspirations drawn from the classic Art Deco hotels of Manhattan: for sale via Aston Chase.

Located on St John’s Wood’s most sought-after address, the imposing and handsome residence on Hamilton Terrace provides substantial accommodation over five levels arranged over lower ground, raised ground and three upper floors. With architectural design by David Wolff of Wolff Architects and interior design and dressing by Argent Design the accommodation includes entrance hall, three reception rooms, health spa with swimming pool, cinema room, cocktail bar, wine room and study. This magnificent house stands out, not just for the quality of its build and intricate detailing, but also for its supreme level of comfort and the lifestyle amenities provided.

The stunning interiors, a combination of Art Deco and contemporary influences, hark back to the seemingly effortless elegance and opulence of the 1920s and 1930s. Argent Design based the design inspiration for the house on Freda Dudley Ward (1894-1983), the socialite who was the glamorous mistress of King Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor, profiled in the recent TV series Downtown Abbey.

The grand-daughter of wealthy furniture magnate Sir Thomas Birkin, Freda Dudley Ward, whose first husband was MP William Dudley Ward, was the mistress of King Edward VIII – then Prince of Wales – between 1919 and 1929. Freda continued her close friendship with the Prince of Wales until 1934 when Wallis Simpson’s arrival ended their relationship.

The affair led to Freda’s divorce from her first husband and remarriage in 1937 to Cuban businessman Pedro Monés (1896-1968), the Marques de Casa Maury, the founder of Mayfair’s Curzon Cinema, Freda becoming the Marquesa upon marriage.

In 1938 the Marques and Marquesa took up residence at Hamilton Terrace, in a newly built house with Art Deco interiors which the couple had commissioned in 1937 from Art Deco architect Francis Lorne of Burnet, Tait & Lorne. The Marques had used Francis Lorne in 1934 to build the Art Deco style Curzon cinema in Mayfair and loved Art Deco design and furniture.

At Hamilton Terrace the Marques and Marquesa entertained the cream of high society including Viscountess Furness, Maud, Lady Cunard, and Sibyl, Lady Colefax. The couple divorced in 1954 and Freda sold the Hamilton Terrace property in 1966.

Now the elegance of the Art Deco era and the life of Freda Dudley Ward at Hamilton Terrace has been lavishly reimagined by Argent Design in the new Art Deco and contemporary style interiors of the house now for sale on Hamilton Terrace.

Inside, the house has Art Deco style raised high-gloss doors and architraves throughout, Deco style polished solid joinery and 1930s style wall lights to key rooms. The main entrance hall has Deco style white statement flooring with black edging which leads to the main staircase which has 1930s style bronzed balustrading.

On the ground floor there are three reception rooms – drawing room, dining room and family room – each with full height windows, coffered ceilings and contemporary and Art Deco inspired bespoke furniture pieces, lamps and high-gloss joinery. The family room opens onto the fully fitted family kitchen which has a mirrored breakfast table with Deco inspired chairs.

The Deco elegance continues on the leisure floor below. The beautiful oval shaped wine/cards room has lacquered walls with Deco feature lights, a coffered ceiling and built-in cocktail bar and floor-to-ceiling built-in champagne and wine fridges. An oval lacqured table with feature chairs completes the dressing of this elegant entertaining room. Here you can imagine Freda, Lady Cunard and Sibyl Colefax playing cards or discussing the latest 1930s filmstars and Royal gossip.

The Art Deco cinema room provides pure Hollywood glamour with beautiful high-gloss joinery, panelled walls in Deco style and deep sofas. There is also the Deco style study with niches for books and ornaments lined with faux-crocodile skin with brass detailing. Alongside an Art Deco style desk and side consoles.

The mosaic-tiled steam room has a ceiling glittering like the night sky with the swimming pool featuring a 12 metre pool, bordered by leisure decks bordered by granite slab walls with built floor-to-ceiling mirrors. There is also a well equipped gymnasium and shower/changing room.

The magnificent principal bedroom suite has a private floor on the first floor of the house, with a main bedroom with day/lounge area, twin walk-in dressing rooms and twin marble bathrooms. There are a further six bedroom suites on the upper floors, each with luxurious ensuite bathrooms. On the lower ground floor there are staff quarters providing a further two bedrooms.

The large landscaped rear garden has a patio of Moleanos Limestone with an outside fireplace and multiple seating areas opening onto a sweeping lawn bordered by planting. The house is complete with a front driveway providing substantial parking and a manicured front garden.

Michael Sulkin, Director at Aston Chase says: “This beautifully refurbished Hamilton Terrace mansion has been interior designed by Nicola Fontanella of Argent Design. The interiors skilfully combine Art Deco and contemporary influences and the glamorous interiors, amenity facilities and landscaped grounds are perfect for a family or A-lister looking for a London home providing an abundance of entertaining space and bedrooms. This is without doubt one of the finest houses on Hamilton Terrace and one of the most outstanding homes in St John’s Wood.”

Nicola Fontanella, Founding Director of Argent Design says: “The striking interiors of this beautiful house are a fusion of Art Deco and contemporary detailing carefully designed to compliment this grand mansion-house. Argent Design was inspired by the glamorous life of Freda Dudley Ward, the mistress of King Edward VIII later the Duke of Windsor, who lived in an Art Deco house on Hamilton Terrace between 1937 to 1966. This magnificent mansion has substantial entertaining areas and the leisure complex is one of the best in a private residence in Central London.”