WHY I LOVE CHELSEA
WHY I LOVE CHELSEA
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
Interior designers in Chelsea head to one place first and foremost – Chelsea Harbour Interior Design Centre – one of the richest sources of pattern, colour, form and textural inspiration in the capital. I’m often found browsing the exhibitions and installations before I start work on my next luxury interior design.
Us Chelsea interior designers have been influenced by botanical elements for some time now and though the neighbourhood is synonymous with a certain RHS flower show, year-round displays can be admired at the Chelsea Physic Garden on Royal Hospital Road, where they have a collection of over 5000 different edible, useful and medicinal plants. I love that its roots (sorry!) are in growing for apothecary uses and you can even take home something to try from the shop.
The Saatchi Gallery is another must-visit for a kaleidoscope of colour and creativity. The 70,000 square feet of space are conveniently located at the start of King’s Road – a short stroll from Sloane Square Tube station.
Love to shop
The King’s Road never fails to deliver a sublime shopping experience, beating an out-of-town retail park hands down. The smartest interiors in London aren’t complete without works of art and 508 Gallery is the ideal place to browse if you have an empty wall. The King’s Road is also home to the flagship Designers Guild store – if there ever was such a thing as fabric porn, you’ll find it here! If you have time, stop at John Sandoe Bookshop, where weighty tomes and rare finds are tucked away in a pretty 18th century store. Don’t forget, the Duke of York Square is a day out all on its own, with its 30 stores, restaurants and artisan food market.
Love to eat
You can’t say you love all things Chelsea if you haven’t dined at Bluebird. The Art Deco edifice is home to a ground floor café and courtyard, a refined restaurant and bar on the first floor, a wine cellar and food store. If you love soul food, head to Seasons on Fulham Road. The menu is as fresh and as sustainable as possible, so you’ll leave with a clear conscience and a full belly. If you’ve only got time for a take-away, you can’t go wrong with Amar Café Chelsea Green on Cale Street. Its lemon yellow façade never fails to lift the spirit, and the flat white is pretty fortifying too. If you like your coffee with an alcoholic hit, head for Chelsea Black – a cocktail bar that specialises in espresso martinis. Chin chin!