How a love of Japan and the 1970s shaped Sherrill Smith’s Hackney home
Before having her son, Sherrill went on many solo adventures around the world. Her trips to Japan and California are particularly reflected in the design of her home, with lighting inspired by Hotel Okura in Tokyo and nods to a laid-back Laurel Canyon aesthetic. Musical influences, from framed rock heroes to an extensive vinyl collection, lend the space a cool feel, while her love of 1970s style translates in the furnishings, such as the vintage shag pile carpet from Vinterior and Conran rust-orange velvet sofa. As the apartment comes on the market, Sherrill tells us how her use of the space has evolved with her life – and why her Hackney neighbourhood of Wilton Way will always be part of her identity.
“I’ve lived around London Fields for around 17 years. The first flat I bought was on the other side of Broadway Market in my 20s, before it really took off; then me and my best friend bought an Edwardian house at the end of Wilton Way and renovated the whole thing. It took us more than three years because we were both living crazy lifestyles. We also bought this flat together as we’d loved Wilton Way and saw the potential and rented it to friends for years before I moved into it in 2018, just before my 40th birthday – and then I saw the flat next door for sale on The Modern House, which had been renovated by Louis Hagen Hall. I got in touch and went to see singer Rae Morris’s house in Primrose Hill, which he was working on at the time, and said: ‘Right, when can you start on mine?’
“I gave him free rein to create this little sanctuary. The brief was to reflect my personality and taste: I absolutely love sleek, modernist design and clean lines. Because we’re in the middle of the city, I wanted to bring in a sense of nature with the wood. We added warmth with all the tones of peach, rust and pink, which feels fresh but not girly. It was very important to have a dining area to entertain, which could be a workspace as well.
“Before I had my son, I was always taking myself off on fun adventures to Japan, Mexico, Cuba and Zimbabwe, amongst others. When I went to Japan, I was reading a book by Patti Smith, who is one of my heroes, and learned she’d stayed in a hotel in Tokyo called the Okura, so I looked it up and stayed there. It’s heralded as the city’s modernist masterpiece and a lot of inspiration for this place was taken from there, such as the wood and the spotlighting in the hallway. I also love California and have travelled there a lot over the years – this place has a Laurel Canyon vibe. I’ve worked in fashion for 18 years and have collected a lot of vintage clothes and pieces from designers I have worked with, and love 70s style and the tactile fabrics of that era – the silks, velvets and silhouettes.
“We have all our meals at the table area, which is also an amazing desk space. The light reflects off it in the morning. I sit there with a strong cup of tea – I’m Northern – and write my journal and plan my day when I have time. At the beginning of our relationship, Dougie wooed me at the table with his cooking. We have had lots of very beautiful dinners there since – and we still do.
“I love the open-plan layout, which has become even more important since having my son Atlas. I never had it in mind to start a family in this flat, but the space works well with having a toddler. I love that I can see him in the living space while I cook and talk in the kitchen. That said, I do also enjoy taking a bath when I get time, the lighting and hues in the bathroom are beautiful and peaceful.
“My favourite item in the flat is the portrait of my mum, which was drawn just before I was born. I also love my grandmother’s 60s leopard blanket. I’ve got a huge collection of records, including my dad’s, mainly from the 70s. Music is very important to me. When I’m sitting at the table reading and writing, I’ll always have something playing on my record player or a playlist on. I grew up in Manchester and experienced first-hand the music scene, which has shaped my identity and taste. The red candlestick by the dining table was a Christmas gift from product and interior designer Jermaine Gallacher, who I work with at DH-PR. My prized possessions are very sentimental and family-and-friends-related, so they have a story.
“We’ve been renting an idyllic place overlooking the sea in Sandgate, Kent, for the past couple of years and are planning to move there whilst we look for a bigger space with a garden near the sea. I absolutely adore this place and it’s with a heavy heart that I’m leaving, but we’ve outgrown it as a family. From dinner parties to lockdown to breastfeeding, I’ve got a lot of emotional attachment to this beautiful apartment. I’ll miss the area and community here too – knowing everyone that works in the little independent shops and being able to ask the neighbour to look after the cat.
“There’s an incredible feeling in here and it’s very quiet because there’s no through traffic on the road. It feels like you’re not in London but you have everything on your doorstep. Apart from the other places Hagen Hall has done, I haven’t seen anywhere else like it. It’s modern but quite timeless as well – and you can add your own personality to it. I basically want to recreate this, but looking over the sea. That would be perfect.”
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