By Ali Heath

Published: Saturday, 05 March 2022 at 12:00 am

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Tom Cox’s west London apartment, with park views on three sides, is more bijou country house than conventional city pied-à-terre. A reminder, perhaps, of the home in rural Somerset, to which he escapes each weekend with his dogs.

Although the apartment was in a bad state of repair when he first saw it, the high ceilings, generously proportioned windows and original fireplaces all suggested that it had plenty of potential. As Managing Director of Hám Interiors, his family’s interior design business, Tom is used to working on complex projects, so although the renovation was significant, it wasn’t complicated. ‘It was more about opening up the space, zoning it and adding clever storage,’ he says. The work took three months to complete, with Tom watching over all the details, ensuring the building’s architectural integrity was respected.

The wall between the kitchen and sitting room was replaced with a reclaimed shopfront, which not only opened up the views between the front of the apartment and the back, but also maximised the flow of light. Painstakingly laid out with Hám’s restoration expert, the frontage was reconfigured to include a collection of reclaimed window panes.

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Tom grew up going to endless salesrooms, auctions and French brocantes with his parents and these trips forged a love of antiques that is evident throughout his home. The chest of drawers in the sitting room, an early 19th-century French walnut commode, is one of Tom’s favourite purchases. ‘It’s the holy grail,’ he says. ‘Brass inlaid details, lovely antique marble and a beautiful patina. It caught my eye immediately.’

As did the 19th-century display cabinet in the kitchen with its original glass. ‘I had been looking for an old piece with majestic proportions for the kitchen,’ he says. Restored and painted in a classic green, the freestanding piece complements the bespoke cabinets from Hám. A former draper’s table has been repurposed as a characterful island unit.

The sitting room, painted in warm country house hues from Farrow & Ball, is furnished with a classic William Yeoward sofa and smart armchairs piled with colourful patterned cushions. Bold canvases adorn the walls, and shelves display intriguing decorative pieces. An elegant black bookcase in the sitting room is a beautiful reproduction, handmade by a second generation company of Dutch antiques dealers. ‘They copy original pieces in their workshop,’ Tom explains, adding that he loves combining antiques with contemporary furniture and works of art to achieve a look that is best described as elegantly eclectic.

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‘Art has always been a passion. I started out buying vintage signs and wooden fishing trophies and this has evolved into sourcing art with my sister, Kate, for the family interior design business.’ The flat is filled with antique oil paintings, modern abstracts, naïve canvases and works by highly collectable artists such as David Shrigley. ‘The walls are constantly changing as works come and go, but the Richie Culver Athletes of the Sky painting in the dining area is a definite keeper,’ he says.

Hám was founded nine years ago, by Tom and his parents and, six years ago, Tom’s younger sister, Katie, joined them. ‘We all add to the creative process on projects with our complementary mix of styles. We’re launching Studio Hám, a rebranded version of our online store, which will sell art and antique furniture sourced by us, along with our own bespoke range of lighting and furniture.’ 

They’re also opening a new warehouse and showroom at their Hambleden studio, which will showcase their collections. ‘I have learned to challenge perceptions, take risks and not sit still. It definitely makes for more interesting outcomes and infinitely more personal homes,’ Tom smiles.

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