When Grace Beverley and her husband Amar Daved moved into their new home, there was no time to settle in slowly. The founder of fitness brand Shreddy and activewear label TALA bought the property in March of this year and immediately began a 12-week renovation, determined to move back in during her third trimester of pregnancy.
‘We never even moved in,’ she says. ‘We went straight into renovations, and I made it clear that we would be moving back in in June, no exceptions.’
The house already had the practical qualities Grace and Amar wanted: light-filled, lateral living spaces, an open-plan layout divided into distinct zones and enough room to create a generous main suite. Aesthetically, however, it presented an unusual problem. While many homeowners grapple with outdated interiors, Grace and Amar faced the opposite issue.
‘It was far more modern than our style,’ Grace says. ‘The aim was to build as much character as possible and turn it into our dream house before the baby arrived.’
Grace and Amar enlisted the help of Louise McGarry and Matt Simpson, the husband-and-wife team behind Studio Braw, after meeting several designers. ‘We really clicked,’ Grace says. ‘I loved how much they leant on vintage furniture and how unique each of their projects felt.’
A meticulous planner (as admirers of her 'Productivity Method' planner will know), Grace prepared a 60-page presentation setting out her visual inspiration and practical requirements room by room. ‘Louise said it was more helpful than scary,’ she recalls. 'I'll take her word for it!'
Despite the detailed brief, the process remained collaborative. ‘I had a pretty clear vision, hence the 60-page deck,’ Grace says, ‘but I enjoyed how Louise pushed me. There are things I would never have chosen initially that I absolutely love now.’
The aim was to create a home that felt collected rather than newly installed. ‘I’ve always been attracted to houses, hotels and spaces with character and unique pieces rather than just minimalism,’ Grace says. ‘That preference has only grown as I’ve matured.’
Because the architectural shell was relatively simple, Studio Braw introduced depth and character through mouldings, silk wall treatments, timber, quartzite and natural textiles. ‘We wanted the home to feel deeply personal to Grace and Amar,’ Louise says. Amar’s photographs are hung on the walls, while the butter-yellow guest bedroom was playfully styled as a TALA hotel suite.
Antiques reinforce the sense of a home curated over time. A chinoiserie sideboard stands in the snug, while a glazed Georgian cabinet adds character to the kitchen. Other pieces carry family history: an onyx-topped brass table was a gift, and the chest of drawers in the main bedroom is an heirloom.
The glass cabinet was one of the project’s best bargains. The natural quartzite kitchen worktop, meanwhile, was among its biggest investments. ‘We chose natural rather than synthetic,’ Grace says. ‘It's so beautiful and feels incredibly premium.’
The open-plan kitchen, living and dining area was a priority for the couple, who love to entertain. Designed to accommodate everything from long dinners to informal gatherings, the space is filled with thoughtful features, including a television concealed behind a tapestry. ‘We love hosting a Traitors or World Cup final watch party,’ Grace says, ‘but I’m not a fan of visible TVs.’
Grace also consulted her Instagram audience during the renovation. ‘I love a bit of crowdsourced information, so Instagram was useful for questions like, “Will this worktop scratch even though it looks beautiful?"' The advice was not always followed. ‘Everyone told me to choose light wood rather than dark in the kitchen,’ she says. ‘I went for dark, and I’m so happy I did.’
Grace's office is the most immersive room. Wrapped in hand-painted Fromental wallpaper, it feels deliberately distinct from the calmer communal spaces. ‘I wanted somewhere that felt totally me and inspired me to work,’ she says. ‘It’s my little selfish space where I can feel creative.’
The bedrooms were designed around contrasting moods. The main bedroom is serene and layered, while the guest rooms are more expressive. ‘I love a house where each guest bedroom has its own personality, like “The Blue Room” or “The Yellow Room”,’ Grace says. ‘At the same time, I want my own bedroom to feel super calm.’
Colour is used to create different effects in the bathrooms. In the main en suite, deep red, high-gloss Kit Kat tiles from Ca’Pietra contrast with a honed chequerboard marble floor. A timber vanity resembles a freestanding piece of furniture, while antique-gold brassware adds warmth.
The family bathroom follows the same decorative language with textural tiles and luxe finishesbut has a sunnier character, with butter yellow walls, chequerboard tiles and a large bath chosen with the couple’s future daughter in mind. ‘We wanted the main en suite to feel like an elegant retreat,’ Louise says. ‘The family bathroom needed to be practical and uplifting.’
Preparing for the baby influenced almost every decision. ‘Every room had to be baby-proofed,’ Grace says. ‘We spent a lot of time thinking about what our routines would look like and how we would flow through the space.’
The combination of open-plan living and more enclosed rooms allows the family to remain connected while still providing quieter spaces for work and rest. New furniture sits alongside antiques, heirlooms and objects with personal meaning, creating a home that feels relaxed rather than overly polished.
After months spent moving between temporary bases, Grace is enjoying the chance to settle. ‘It feels amazing to be making this place a home where we’ll build our own little family,’ she says. ‘I find it calming and inspiring, and it makes me so excited to host, which is my favourite activity.’
Sourcebook
Paint Lick
Tiles Ca’ Pietra
Brassware BC Designs
Office wallpaper Fromental
Lighting Huey
Kitchen Thomas James Bespoke
Kitchen handles Hendel & Hendel
Tap and pot filler Bidbury
Range cooker Smeg
Living room furniture Eichholtz
Dining chairs and tables Peppermill Interiors
Dining bench The House Upstairs
Snug furniture Loaf
Guest room headboard and bolster cushions CC Moulton
Bedroom furniture DUSK
