Att Home with... Our Co-founder Kai
When Kai, and his husband Joe first stepped into their South London house in February last year, it was far from the considered home it is today. Formerly a rental, the interiors were a patchwork of makeshift decisions — “most of the rooms had been used as bedrooms,” Kai recalls, “with some questionable design features and lots of tired grey carpet.” Yet the couple saw beyond the dated surfaces to the home’s inherent charm, and began a slow, deeply personal renovation journey that continues to evolve.One of the first tasks was to strip back the layers of carpeting and reveal the original floorboards, which were painstakingly sanded and varnished to a warm, honeyed finish. In the living room, a rug brought back from Marrakech adds texture - a subtle nod to the couple’s love of travel and craftsmanship.
Curtains were, unsurprisingly, a high priority. Given Kai’s work with Att Pynta. In the living space, sheer panels paired with pleated mustard linen drapes lend a breezy elegance, catching the light beautifully as it moves across the room. “Curtains do so much more than frame a window,” Kai says. “They set the tone for a space.”
The layout of the ground floor has been subtly reimagined to encourage a sense of openness and flow. Originally two separate rooms, the front and back parlours are now connected via a wide opening, allowing light to travel more freely and drawing guests through the home in a natural, unhurried rhythm.
In the kitchen, the couple returned to trusted British makers deVOL, having used the brand in their previous home. This time, they leaned into a soft farmhouse aesthetic with terracotta tiled floors, aged brass hardware and creamy cabinetry. A wall was removed to connect the kitchen with the dining room, resulting in a sociable, light-filled heart of the home that’s as suited to Sunday breakfasts as it is to evening suppers with friends.
A classic ceramic butler sink sits beneath a sheer roman blind, the soft-filtered light bouncing off marble worktops sourced from a local stone yard in Essex. But the true centrepiece is a rich red Lacanche oven, which they first spotted on eBay. After losing out in a bidding war, it reappeared a week later — serendipity, perhaps — and with a little negotiation and a lot of lifting (it had to be dismantled to fit through the door), it now sits proudly restored and gleaming.
Throughout the kitchen and dining area, details reveal the couple’s meticulous eye. Walls are painted in Matchstick by Farrow & Ball, a warm neutral that flatters both daylight and candlelight. The joinery and rear door are finished in Sardine — a beautifully muddied blue-grey that offers contrast without dominance. A vintage dining table, surrounded by an eclectic mix of bentwood and woven chairs, is anchored by a patterned rug, while sheer café curtains and roman blinds in off-white linen from Att Pynta diffuse the light with effortless grace.
A wooden dresser to the side of the kitchen, topped in the same marble as the counters, adds both storage and continuity, tying the whole scheme together with quiet confidence.
Upstairs, the bedroom is a masterclass in soothing restraint. Framed by khaki linen curtains layered over sheer white, the bay window becomes a cocooning focal point. A boucle bedspread, sculptural Crème Atelier lamp and vintage rocking chair bring texture and tactility, while a patterned headboard by MELIMELI offers subtle structure and softness.
The guest room — which also serves as a reading nook and occasional office — is enveloped in Farrow’s Cream, a buttery, enveloping shade that warms the north-facing space. A linen-covered daybed, scalloped roman blind, and delicate layering of curtain panels ensure both comfort and charm. A spindle-back chair and floor lamp create a simple but welcoming reading corner, while a patterned rug and vintage cushion lend colour and personality.
The bathroom continues the home’s quiet layering of old and new, with checkerboard marble tiles in earthy tones underfoot and classic white subway tiles lining the walls. A traditional pedestal basin sits beneath a wooden mirrored cabinet, while a Crème Atelier pendant overhead and a rustic wooden stool complete the room’s gentle elegance. Layered linen roman blinds and sheer café curtains — a recurring motif — filter the light, adding privacy without compromising the home’s soft, luminous atmosphere.
Kai and Joe’s home is a testament to the power of restraint, warmth, and lived-in elegance. With each choice made deliberately and each corner treated with care, it feels less like a finished project and more like a quietly evolving reflection of the couple who live there.
