Inside this Grade II-listed home that celebrates the owner’s black heritage

In her Grade II-listed London home, Kemide Lawson has skilfully woven together a rich and personal narrative which respects the age of the building as much as it does her family’s own history and cultural ancestry

Tucked away in Stanmore, Greater London, sits a quintessentially English former workman’s cottage, belonging to the co-owner of online home and lifestyle store The Cornrow, Kemide Lawson, her husband and their two daughters. The uniform exterior of the house, built in 1750, evokes thoughts of a traditional interior – beams for sure, florals maybe – but this is not the period home one might expect.

Kemide, who has a dual Jamaican and Nigerian heritage, has created an interior which reflects her overwhelming passion for black history and heritage, and, importantly, positive role modelling. With respect shown for the original character of the building, a powerful mix of bold colour and wallcoverings cultural reference and family narrative sits alongside old and new furniture and art with a layering of accessories from independent brands. Innately comfortable and homely, it demonstrates a commitment to history, in both a bricks-and-mortar and a personal sense. It is the true definition of a considered and conscious home.

When originally starting her home search, Kemide didn’t imagine buying an 18th-century cottage. However, the 250-year-old building sparked a feeling of joy and they moved in during March 2020. ‘I love the sense of history and think of all the eras it has lived through and the stories it could tell; I also acknowledge that the recent  pandemic wasn’t the first it has seen. The previous owners passed on a book which catalogues the complete history of the cottage, including extracts of a census from the 1800s, and we love that we’re continuing its story. I like to imagine our daughters visiting when they’re older and feeling a sense of connection to its ancient history. We very much view ourselves as custodians rather than owners of the cottage.’

‘My home pays homage to time spent in Nigeria, and the first-hand knowledge that African home style isn’t all rural. I call my interior style “Afro-aristo meets Caribbean nan chic”,’ says Kemide. ‘I’m influenced by modern, cosmopolitan Lagos; English and French country houses and Marrakech riads I’ve visited; and Devon House, a stately home in Kingston, Jamaica. I draw inspiration from my Jamaican grandmother and her generation’s West Indian front-room aesthetic.’

Kemide’s use of colour is intentional throughout, and as the cottage is set in a nature reserve surrounded by lush English flora green was a go-to. Wallcoverings also play a key role, with carefully selected papers adding extra punch through strong narrative. ‘In the living room I chose seagrass wallpaper to bring the feeling of nature inside in a calm and relaxing way; in the kitchen we saved money by painting the perfectly good cabinets in jade green. The Yaël & Valérie Gingerbread wallpaper depicting property built by the Haitian elite at the turn of the 20th century features wonderful illustrations of beautiful houses in a myriad of architectural styles – an important part of Caribbean history.’

When it comes to African artefacts, Kemide values buying new in support of artisans who are continuing traditional skills. ‘It has taken a lot of research and sourcing to pull off my look and it’s been particularly rewarding commissioning pieces. The mosaic kitchen splashback by talented black British mosaic artist Dionne Ible, featuring ackee and saltfish, the national fruits of Jamaica and Nigeria, is a favourite,’ says Kemide.  As a small business owner, she feels passionate about buying independent, and after finding it hard to source affordable products of the aesthetic she enjoys, she started The Cornrow with her sister Lara Senbanjo. ‘My home has since become The Cornrow’s research lab!’