British joinery firm, James Wellesley unveils a major Knightsbridge townhouse transformation ahead of its 10th anniversary
The Kitchen - made by James Wellesley for Paolo Moschino
A former plain London townhouse with ‘good bones’ is transformed into a jewel box gem with bespoke British joinery that speaks of luxury interior trends for 2026
The hidden bar on the hallway opens out to rich woods and fine detailing
British joinery house, James Wellesley, has unveiled its latest private commission: the complete transformation of a previously ‘characterless’ Knightsbridge townhouse into a richly detailed “jewel box” residence. The launch marks a major milestone as the firm prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026 — and signals its emergence as one of the UK’s most in-demand luxury joinery specialists.
The four-storey home, situated on a leafy Knightsbridge Street just a stone’s throw from Harrods, has been designed in partnership with leading interior designer Paolo Moschino. It demonstrates a key shift in the way luxury interiors are increasingly designed - investing in high-artisanal, British-made interiors, where individuality, craftsmanship and materiality are very much in evidence and carry as much weight as architecture.
The project is already generating interest within the design community for its depth of detailing — from antique-bronze verre églomisé kitchen panels to hand-finished ebony columns, book-matched marble bathrooms and cabinetry engineered with concealed dovetailing and British-made, tailored hardware. Every element was produced entirely in the UK across Wellesley’s workshops in the Home Counties.
The townhouse also offers a preview of the direction luxury residential design is heading in 2026:
Layered historical references reinterpreted through contemporary joinery
Material storytelling replacing minimalism
A kitchen rich in detail in muted olive green offset with ceiling details that are highly patterned and detailed and nod to the era
Craft as a form of architectural expression – walk-in wardrobes are different in every room combining a range of materials and finishes
Hidden details that surprise and delight add an extra layer of luxury such as hidden bars on a hall landing to make tea or drinks encased in the finest woods and finishes
Detail is key – from the marble that is book-matched to the expanded wood grain in the bathrooms to the finishes on the light switches and radiators
Collectors commissioning bespoke interiors with the same mindset as bespoke furniture or couture
High gloss finishes and rich woods in plum and terracotta from the walk-in wardrobes in rich oak, teak and walnut to the panelled bedroom interiors, materiality is on the walls and ceiling
No one ‘feature’ that shouts the key to the new luxury design is an encompassing layered approach to detail, materiality and finish
Each room has an individual identity whilst blending as a whole each space has its own signature
Return of the dining room the main kitchen and dining room are joined but can be shut off using hand crafted hidden doors to ensure a private restaurant quality dining experience that is intimate and luxurious
For James Wellesley, the project marks a defining moment. “This townhouse reflects what clients are asking for now: interiors with soul,” says James Wellesley managing director, Christian Lawson. “When we’re brought in early, we help turn bold concepts into joinery that feels effortless but reveals itself slowly — hidden details that transform a scheme from the expected to the extraordinary. Even the radiator covers are considered as part of the scheme – individually crafted in each space while hidden details such as hallway bars add surprise and delight.”
Walk in wardrobes in book matched woods and the finest finishes
Heather Lindhal, senior designer Paolo Moschino, who oversaw the interior architecture, adds: “James Wellesley’s craftsmanship allowed us to combine complex materials — fine marble, detailed metalwork, rare woods — with absolute precision. This is British joinery at a level few ateliers can deliver.”
A master bedroom suite with bespoke eucalyptus wall panels by James Wellesley
With the rise of British craft-led interiors and the growing appetite for bespoke residential detailing, the Knightsbridge townhouse is poised to become a reference project for clients, but for designers seeking best-in-class collaboration between studio and workshop.
James Wellesley currently employs more than 30 full-time artisans – many of whom are intergenerational craftspeople - at its workshop in the home counties and collaborates with leading designers and architects across the UK and internationally.
