Scheme of opulence

By and large, showhouses tend to be rather analogous affairs. Conscious of the need to create a decor and interior that appeals to as wide a target market as possible, the interior designer charged with breathing decorative life into the space tends to play it safe.

Cue a tried-and-tested formula that dictates lashings of white and cream, clean-lined furnishings, recessed lighting and the obligatory L-shaped sofa. The result, more often than not, is ...