India Holmes dazzling redesign of a north London ‘90s terrace

There’s a particular joy in the unexpected and nowhere is that more evident than at India Holmes’ Highbury terrace. As co-founder and Creative Director of cult rug brand Pelican House, and formerly Design Director at De Gournay, India has an instinctive ability to infuse even the most understated canvas with personality and character.

Built in the 1990s on a sunny corner plot in north London, she immediately recognised the potential of the two-bedroom house, with its dramatic vaulted ceiling and era-defining glass-block window. Rather than lean into the stark warehouse aesthetic the architecture seemed to invite, she transformed the space into a joyful composition of pastel hues, childhood keepsakes and large-scale artworks, many painted by members of her own family.

When we visited, India guided us through the carefully considered vignettes that define her home, revealing how thoughtful layering and deeply personal objects have transformed a cookie-cutter new build into a singular creative sanctuary.

Don’t think about it too much. Just go with what you like then it will all work. Well, at least it will work for you because you like it all.

They’re a real mixture. These two were sourced on a trip we did to Turkey when we were looking for suppliers. Both Bella’s (Pelican House co-founder) and my house have very much come last. For ages neither of us had any rugs, and it’s more of a testing ground than anything else. At some point both of us are going to design rugs into our houses. But at the moment it’s like, “Okay, what should we put in here? Just whack it in.”

I think rugs definitely can do that, and you don’t need to have much else going on in the room. You could have quite a contemporary room with quite plain fabrics, and then if you land it all on a really decorative or patterned rug, then suddenly it lifts everything. Obviously we’re biased, but if you start with the rug, it’s so much easier to build on top of it. Also, don’t be too scared of patterns.

There are cushions that are actually my childhood curtains. When I decided I didn’t want them anymore, my mum luckily kept them and stored them away. I found them a few years ago at home and decided to turn them into cushions.

Also, having so much art really helps because things feel older. If it already feels quite full to the brim, then all the layers make it feel more lived in.

My parents’ house and my grandparents’ house. When you’re growing up, if you’re surrounded by houses that are really busy,  that makes you more comfortable in a maximalist home. Some people find it quite overwhelming, but luckily I don’t. I’ve always collected so many objects since a young age and it has to go somewhere.

It was like a hospital here! There wasn’t much going on, so it was quite easy and it was nice having the bare bones and then it meant you could just decorate.

It was one big room, but I hated having the shower in the bath. So the only way to have a separate loo and sink, bath and shower was to make three little pockets. It was already a small bathroom, and splitting it into three separate spaces seemed crazy, but actually it really works.

Thanks to India for showing us around.

For more information on Pelican House’s rugs and to view the collections, click here.