At home with India Cardona in West London

India Cardona had an unlikely start into the fashion and interiors world; she studied economics at Exeter university and her first job was as a strategy analyst for Accenture in London. But an interest in fashion led her to work for RewardStyle as an account manager where she climbed the ranks to Head of Partnerships. Alongside her day job, her natural eye for aesthetics and photography drew her into the realm of content creation, first sharing her outfits and then her interiors projects. She began collaborating with interiors and fashion brands alike, and at the beginning of 2023 she left her job to go freelance and hasn't looked back.

During the Covid lockdowns her and her now husband James began decorating their apartment, (as did many of us while spending more time at home). He had recently moved in and it was an opportune time to rethink the design and build a home together. The result is a beautiful, serene and cozy space that mixes neutrals and pastel tones, stripes, scalloped shapes, bouclé fabrics and linen that also perfectly reflects India’s personal style and photographic aesthetic - see her Instagram, The India Edits for gorgeous shots of exotic travel destinations, outfits and most recently her wedding that are all captured in the same dreamy muted pastel colour palette.

Together they undertook various DIY projects, including a radiator cover and wall panelling to add character to the apartment. I love the ‘snug’ for example, where they added panelling to the back wall and painted in a calming muted green. Additions like a commissioned marble block coffee table, an up-cycled scalloped-framed yellow mirror (that India created herself) and a comfy linen white sofa have added personality and depth to what was previously a box room. The light-drenched kitchen and dining space is also particularly charming and inviting with its peachy-beige lime-wash, half panelled walls, large rustic dining table table and cosy armchair corner. India’s home is a joy to be in and we hope you enjoy the tour!

Watch the video tour here and scroll down for an interview with India and more photos.

Shop India’s Space

How long have you lived in your home?

Almost eight years! I first lived here with friends as it’s a three-bed flat so over the course of five years I had about 10 friends living with me at different times. In 2020, my now-husband James moved in and my friends moved out so we made it our own and redecorated parts. It was in need of a more grown-up makeover and we turned one bedroom into a little snug / living-room and kept the other as a spare room / office.

What do you love most about the property?

I love the light - it gets the most glorious light all day long. The sun rises at the front of the flat where our kitchen / dining space is, goes over our loft bedroom and sets over our terrace, lighting up our living and spare rooms at the same time.

Favourite room in the house?

I think I’d have to say our snug / living room. It’s had a major transformation from being a white bedroom. We panelled and painted the walls in a muted green hue, put up our favorite vinyls, got an incredibly comfy sofa, dotted it with lamps and candles, and had a marble coffee table made. I love spending time there curled up watching TV or having drinks with friends.

How would you describe its interior style?

I hope that it’s chic and inviting, creating a feeling of calm and cosiness with a mix of sophisticated and playful elements.

What styles or periods have inspired you in its decoration?

I think LA-style interiors are what I’m most drawn to - I love Jake Arnold and Rose Uniacke. To me they are the perfect mix of cosy, grounding and chic. My friend bought me a coffee table book by Disc Interiors, which I love to flick through. I think that style is reflected in our home with the mix of colours, materials and textures we’ve used with linen, limewash, marble, wood, raffia, stripes, prints and muted tones.

Current favourite sources for interior inspiration?

I get a lot of inspiration from Instagram - my saved folder is lengthy! I also love seeing beautiful places IRL from restaurants to hotels to other people's houses. I feel lucky to have visited lots of beautiful places and had a peek into many gorgeous homes. I recently had the pleasure of shooting an interior design install for Katie Harbison, which was hugely inspiring.

Favourite piece(s) of furniture/treasures?

I really love some of the tables in our house. I found our dining table on eBay for £300, which was probably my best ever find. It’s a gorgeous lime-washed wooden table that I adore and use as my desk too. I had our marble coffee table made at a local marble yard and I feel like it totally transformed the room. We also have an Alfred Newall Bobbin side table in an ebonised wood, which really grounds the space. I once heard someone say you should have something black in every room. Finally, I love my bedside table, which I got from Trove and it hides all of my mess in it’s big drawer.

Any specific pieces you’re currently on the lookout for or would love for your home?

We just got married and were overwhelmed by the generosity of our guests - we just received a big box of presents, mainly kitchen bits, but that has been very spoiling and fun. We’re also going to put some money towards furniture for our terrace and a Trove chest of drawers to match our bedsides. The final thing on our list is art - we’d love to find some special pieces to treasure.

Favourite places to buy for your home?

I buy a lot through independent brands I find on Instagram - Glassette is a great place to find many of them in one place. We have quite a few pieces from Soho Home - their footstools are fab and we love their dinnerware. I’ve had a fair few things made or upholstered too in order to make them exactly what we’re looking for.

Last good book you read?

I gobbled up Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld - exactly my kind of read.

Last good meal/restaurant you ate in?

I visited the RH Gallery at Aynhoe Park in Oxfordshire, which is a furniture gallery from US interiors and lifestyle brand RH. They have taken over this beautiful Georgian property and as well as ogling the building and interiors they have some incredible restaurants onsite. The truffle pizza was next level!