From the mid twentieth century until 2010 the American socialite and art collector Mrs. Jayne Wrightsman leased this London penthouse apartment in St. James’s Place overlooking Green Park, commissioning the renowned French designer Stephane Boudin of Maison Jansen to redecorate in the French style as a foil to Mrs. Wrightsman’s collection of art and 18c French furniture. Consequently Boudin was introduced to Jayne’s friend Jacqueline Kennedy and redecorated The White House in a similar manner.
Whilst the apartment was kept immaculate it had been unchanged since so Robert Lavers Architects was commissioned by the owner to bring it up to date and appeal to 21st century tenants. The owner was keen to retain Boudin’s work so the challenge was to do this but with a fresh touch, and also to integrate air conditioning replacing the outmoded underfloor heating. Fortunately the builder was able to source original fittings from France from the same supplier as had been used fifty years before. All the bathrooms and the kitchen were stripped out and refitted from scratch.
Four years later we revisited the apartment to renovate the balconies, replace the bedroom floors and install a marble staircase.
