The homeowner fell in love with the breathtaking crescent-shaped facade of the complex conceived by John Nash, as well as the illustrious history behind the establishment. Some of the noted residents at Regent’s Crescent include Earl of Derby, Lord Houstoun-Boswall, and Count Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte – Napoléon’s older brother.

A chandelier with natural crystal from Wired Custom Lighting grades the ceiling in the main living area. 

The interior reflects the cheerful character of the owner, who is captured dancing with fans and a glass of champagne in a painting by the British artist Bianca Smith.

Olga Ashby’s friend introduced her to Josephine, a charming Chinese woman who became the proud owner of a gorgeous space in a newly renovated mansion near Regent’s Park.

Olga Ashby: “The apartment was sold with a fine finish – white walls, a finished kitchen. Traditionally for London, there is a drawing room, the ceiling height is four meters, light is pouring from the huge French windows. The bedrooms and there are three of them in the apartment, are intimate and cosy.”

The coffee table is actually a crystal geode filled with quartz crystals. These agate tables, which had to be tracked a long time and then transported from America, were to become a key element.

Moving the tables, which weigh 700 kg, was difficult, but the decorator coped with it.

In contrast to the cream palette running throughout the rest of the home, the kitchen features dark hues with the cabinetry and countertops in matte black.

Olga Ashby: “The project turned out to be very personalised, independent of British traditions. It looks like a dollhouse for a carefree Oriental princess, receiving guests and having fun until dawn.”

According to Olga, the project went smoothly and at times it sparkled like champagne, with which the customer and the designer celebrated every purchase. The spirit of hedonism hovered under the four-meter ceilings. For the first time Olga did not have to think about easy cleaning and durability of furniture, despite the fact that Josephine has a four-year-old son and a miniature poodle.

The black marble countertop in the bathroom pairs beautifully with the white walls.

“Art did not come right away either. A photo of David Yarrow at Maddox Gallery (above) was bought before it officially went on sale. The gallery secretly showed a selection of the photographer’s new works for a close circle of people,” explains Olga. For the bedroom, British artist Bianca Smith also painted a portrait of the client called “Josephine Dancing in Heels with Fans and a Glass of Champagne. Mark Quinn’s spectacular round work for the living room was bought from a private collector.

The dining table was designed by Carlo Scarpa; chairs, Gallotti & Radice, in fabric from Dedar; bar stools, by Crea; table lamps designed by Kelly Weirstler for Visual Comfort & Co .; vases designed by Jean-Louis Deniot for Baker.

Armchair by Liang & Eimil; side table Elude; on the wall is Bianca Smith’s “Josephine Dancing with Fans and a Glass of Champagne”; curtains by Mark Alexander.

The master bedroom is bathed in shades of white, evoking a restful and comforting ambience.

Soft textures abound in the bedroom, adding to the serene atmosphere of the space.

The dressing table sits by the window in the master bedroom, looking out into the picturesque view of central London.