Step inside Kate Moss's London home and you can immediately feel that her unique sense of style – bending rock and roll edge with vintage finds and fresh-off-the-runway polish – translates from red carpet appearances to interior design with equal ease and consistency.
Working with interior designer Katie Grove of Katie Grove Interiors, she has transformed her four-storey redbrick, a Georgian townhouse discreetly tucked within a leafy conservation area, into a haven of quiet luxury. And nowhere is that more apparent than in the new bathroom.
Inspired by Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan, its design, according to Grove, channels 1920s and 30s elegance with a sense of calm. “It started with Kate seeing a staircase she loved whilst visiting there, which was reminiscent of the existing balustrade detail of her home, and this branched into her enthused celebration of their bathroom treatments with stone,” says the designer.
Bathroom inspiration from Kate Moss’s London home
The interior designer has collaborated with Moss on previous house projects, and it is clear they have developed a strong bond over the years. “Kate is the most wonderful muse to work with,” says Grove. “Her energy and passion for things that inspire her give fuel to the process. Her eye and appreciation for craftsmanship and detail are inspiring. How things feel to the touch is important too. Kate loves the storytelling with design, what is the world, where are we living, what era, what mood, what are we doing. It’s quite a theatrical process. The references can be blended, and there are no rules. Comfort, ease, joy being the most important.”
Here, that layered creative approach has resulted in a masterclass in bathroom design, anchored by handcrafted fixtures from Drummonds and defined by Rosa Portugal marble that wraps around the space.
1. Embrace understated glamour
Forget high gloss and trend-led finishes. Kate Moss’s bathroom proves that true luxury doesn’t have to shout. Instead, choose a material that evokes emotion. The Rosa Portugal marble, with its dusty blush hue rippling across the walls, sets a romantic tone and creates a cocoon-like atmosphere. “Kate had it in mind for a while to have a pink bathroom,” reveals Katie. “We narrowed the choices down to three shades of Rosa Portugalo and opted for the palest after seeing the slabs at the yard. Once we saw this stone with the silk wallpaper and other materials in the adjoining rooms, we knew it had to be the one. We enjoyed a minimal amount of book-matching contained around the bath.” Drummonds’ bespoke roll-top bath, paired with Mull taps, is an invitation to unwind. “I love that a friend can perch on the edge of the bath. These rooms are made to be lived in,” says Grove.
2. Let the mood shape the layout
“The original bathroom was a different layout with dark timber panelled cabinets – it was too heavy and we wanted light and air,” says Grove. So the space was reconfigured around light, not plumbing. “The sense of space was enhanced by introducing a pair of sliding pocket doors at Kate’s request. These panelled doors bring privacy with ease as required, with easy movement,” adds Grove. “It was Kate’s idea to place her basin between the two windows, along with choosing a single basin to allow more counter and drawer space. This is where we started – the room was anchored by the vanity, and the rest followed from there. The stone demi walls around the bath were important to break the space and create a sense of sanctuary. A bathing nook.”
3. Blend heritage and modern craft
Grove’s design bridges eras and styles, balancing Drummonds’ timeless brassware with bespoke detailing inspired by English and Japanese traditions. “There are many beautiful churches and chapels in the Cotswolds countryside, and the doorway and porch details I find very engaging, like lace work made from stone,” says Grove. “Kate enjoys the Japanese practice of working seasonal flowers, blossoms, leaves and stems into sculptural flower arrangements. Tokonoma is a recessed decorative alcove designed to display art, ceramics, scrolls and ikebana – I think there is some fusion here in the way the vanity unit evolved, blending these elements. Kate often doodles floral motifs, and they became the inspiration for the mythical patterns on the pillars.”
Grove and Moss selected unlacquered brass fittings from Drummonds for its ability to develop patina. “Kate was very specific with the choice of unlacquered brass because she enjoys the way it changes over time, reminiscent of old country houses that have been around a while and stood the test of time,” says Grove. “Patina is very important. Patina to me means ‘signs of life’ and pieces imbued with fingerprints, like footprints in the sand.”
Lighting in Moss’s bathroom is not merely functional. It is layered to create specific moods and atmosphere. “As a room used at all times of day for practical activities as well as relaxation practices, these all require different light,” explains Grove. “In this setting, we have decorative fittings, ‘the jewellery’, which is more about the materiality and look as opposed to the light it offers, like earrings. Then the architectural task lighting.” For that, they worked with lighting design studio Brightbox. “They created a simple stone wall light for the steam room and worked on discreet switching for the vanity mirror for the times one requires sharp focus.”
Treat the ceiling as part of the bathroom design story. A polished or textured finish can completely transform the feeling of the space. “The ceiling – the 5th wall – is the same polished plaster as the walls and cupboard doors,” says Grove of Moss’s bathroom. “It felt essential when slipping down into the deep Drummonds roll-topped bath to have a considered ceiling finish to gaze at.”
Despite its luxury notes, Moss’s bathroom remains deeply personal, thanks in no small part to its window dressing, made from vintage wedding saris, a gift from a friend from India 20 years ago. “These drapes were kept from Kate’s previous home and can be seen full-length in the de Gournay wallpaper ‘Anemones in Light’ pictures from their wallpaper collaboration. They’ve been reimagined for here, and we reworked a few other fabrics from her earlier home. Little touches of previously loved pieces create a familiar thread.”
