The journal

Beata Heuman's 188 Hammersmith Office

06 August 2025 6 min read

The transformation of 188 Hammersmith, interior designer Beata Heuman's London studio and showroom, is the making of Heuman's design philosophy hand in hand with a considered colour palette, The Dependables. Far more than a workspace, this studio and showroom is the living embodiment of Beata's distinct work, one that balances elegance with bold character. The Grade II listed townhouse offers an entry into Heuman's masterful world of interior design and a home-from-home for clients, guests and friends alike.

Light-filled drawing room at 188 Hammersmith with walls and woodwork in Beata White BH.01 — The drawing room, walls and woodwork in Beata White BH.01

At the heart of the studio and showroom lies The Dependables collection, a considered palette of 24 vivid, reliable paints born out of necessity: colours with depth, flexibility and timeless appeal. Made with a mutual devotion to craftsmanship, authenticity and effortless design, the palette is a homage to Beata's interior design journey.

In central London, 188 Hammersmith showcases her signature style elements; the iconic Dodo Egg Light sits proudly in front of a grand Forest BH.16 painted door, and beyond it a warren of unique rooms awaits, with every element, from furniture to diligently designed lampshades and accent colours, sourced or produced by Heuman and her studio. The space evokes years of honed design expertise, layered with deeply personal style, yet the palette has been thoughtfully considered, drawing on a philosophy that champions both individuality and elegance.

Within the showroom are soft, calming neutrals such as Beata White BH.01, Old Man's Beard BH.03 and Butter BH.21, along with the confident placement of bold mid-tonal accents like Thunder BH.12, Caca d'Oie BH.15, Crayfish Party BH.19 and John's Pantry BH.24, reflecting the signature balance between function and fantasy. These carefully chosen hues do more than colour the space; they imbue it with rhythm, character and refined style that feels both inviting and intelligently composed, intertwining modern warmth with an enduring scheme.

Townhouse front door painted in the deep green of Forest BH.16 — Front and back: the front door in Forest BH.16 and the back door in Caca d'Oie BH.15

Back door painted in the olive yellow of Caca d'Oie BH.15 — Front and back: the front door in Forest BH.16 and the back door in Caca d'Oie BH.15

188 HAMMERSMITH

A 'GO-TO' WHITE: BEATA WHITE BH.01

Placed throughout 188 Hammersmith is the main neutral, Beata White BH.01, Beata's 'go-to' white, with warm undertones so versatile it works in almost any setting. This handsome shade is the grounding neutral in The Dependables, chosen for its subtle, enduring complexity; though labelled a 'white', it's an elegant interplay of tones, a hint of grey for understated coolness and clarity without starkness, while a soft warmth adds depth and approachability. This unique balance makes Beata White BH.01 remarkably adaptable, effortlessly contemporary and traditional, attuning to a range of conditions and architectural styles.

Library bookcase with a crosslap lattice painted in Forest BH.16 and dining chairs in Thunder BH.12 — The library: a Forest BH.16 crosslap lattice bookcase with Thunder BH.12 chairs, and a cabinet lined in Crayfish Party BH.19 behind a Beata White BH.01 exterior

Cabinet with its exterior and the dado panel below in Beata White BH.01, its interior painted Crayfish Party BH.19 — The library: a Forest BH.16 crosslap lattice bookcase with Thunder BH.12 chairs, and a cabinet lined in Crayfish Party BH.19 behind a Beata White BH.01 exterior

A true staple, whether used across expansive walls for a clean, cohesive backdrop or paired with bolder hues for contrast, its quiet sophistication anchors any room with ease, bringing clarity and calm, reflecting natural light beautifully and providing the perfect canvas for creative work. Its presence at 188 Hammersmith is a testament to its versatility: elegant, effortless and designed to work in harmony with the entire Dependables collection.

Beata Heuman's tip for white paint: "Consider picking one white that you use throughout the house; with that decision made you can move on to other, more interesting things. White walls can still allow a scheme that feels colourful and uplifting by injecting that energy with your fabrics, art and loose furnishings. You can't go wrong with this one."

Kitchen with walls and ceiling in Beata White BH.01 — The kitchen, walls and ceiling in Beata White BH.01

Laundry room with walls and ceiling in Beata White BH.01 — The laundry: Beata White BH.01 on walls and ceiling, with the tongue-and-groove joinery in Overall BH.10

Laundry room tongue-and-groove joinery painted in Overall BH.10 against Beata White BH.01 walls and ceiling — The laundry: Beata White BH.01 on walls and ceiling, with the tongue-and-groove joinery in Overall BH.10

RICH TONAL HUES

Throughout the studio, Beata masterfully deploys a palette of rich accent colours to sculpt a space that feels both elevated and effortlessly lived-in. These carefully placed hues, from mid-tones to dramatic darks, do more than add visual interest; they shape the emotional and spatial rhythm of the interiors, each shade a tool of intention used to balance light, enhance form and evoke a layered, sophisticated atmosphere. The tonal range, bold in places, restrained in others, isn't about showmanship but the subtle art of balance in colour design: deeper shades provide visual weight and grounding in areas flooded with natural light, while more vibrant tones animate and uplift features that might otherwise recede, resulting in a space where contrast feels natural, transitions seamless and every colour purposeful.

Among the most striking accents is Overall BH.10, a deep, velvety mix of green and blue, Beata's two favourite colours, bringing quiet elegance to selected joinery and architectural details, its richness a refined anchor that creates depth and permanence. Crayfish Party BH.19, by contrast, delivers a joyful burst of energy, a spirited red dancing across trims and frames, adding modern flair without disrupting the room's poise, while John's Pantry BH.24, a luscious ochre yellow, punctuates the palette with charm and individuality, drawing the eye without overpowering.

Together, the interplay of The Dependables creates a dynamic yet harmonious composition that feels both curated and deeply personal. Here, colour is never an afterthought but a central design language, a means of storytelling, expression and spatial refinement, and at 188 Hammersmith the effect is exquisite: a studio that is not only functional but emotionally resonant, where every room tells its own story yet all are united by balance, elegance and imaginative restraint.

Hallway with Beata White BH.01 walls and ceiling, door architraves and skirting in Overall BH.10 and an accent of Crayfish Party BH.19 — The hallway, its door architraves and skirting in Overall BH.10 with a touch of Crayfish Party BH.19, and a second view of the drawing room

Drawing room with walls and woodwork in Beata White BH.01 — The hallway, its door architraves and skirting in Overall BH.10 with a touch of Crayfish Party BH.19, and a second view of the drawing room

Office with all of its woodwork painted in the ochre yellow of John's Pantry BH.24 — John's office, all its woodwork in John's Pantry BH.24, and a bedroom in Wheatsheaf BH.23

Bedroom with walls and ceiling in the ripening-wheat tone of Wheatsheaf BH.23 — John's office, all its woodwork in John's Pantry BH.24, and a bedroom in Wheatsheaf BH.23

Far from a traditional workspace, this is a home for ideas, a living studio that celebrates creativity through craft, where every tone, texture and finish has been chosen with purpose. The result is a space that doesn't just support the creative process but elevates it, a true embodiment of Beata's creative personality: imaginative, layered and elegantly unexpected.

"The idea was to create a capsule collection of colours that ticked a lot of boxes and gave a broad yet concise range which could serve your whole house. They all have their own character but they also work as a whole." - Beata Heuman.

Garden trellis painted in Overall BH.10 with a bench in Crayfish Party BH.19 — Outside: trellis in Overall BH.10 with a Crayfish Party BH.19 bench, and London Brick BH.07 sills and plinth with Wheatsheaf BH.23 window frames

Exterior with window sills and plinth in London Brick BH.07 and window frames in Wheatsheaf BH.23 — Outside: trellis in Overall BH.10 with a Crayfish Party BH.19 bench, and London Brick BH.07 sills and plinth with Wheatsheaf BH.23 window frames

Powder room seen through an open door, its tongue-and-groove panelling and ceiling in Butter BH.21, the door and architrave in Overall BH.10 and the floor painted in Henna BH.18 — The powder room: Butter BH.21 tongue-and-groove panelling and ceiling, Overall BH.10 doors, architraves and skirting, and a Henna BH.18 painted floor

188 will act as the studio's first by-appointment showroom, letting visitors physically experience and interact with Shoppa, the rapidly growing collection of interior products designed and produced by Heuman. Spanning fabric and wallpaper, furniture, hardware, homeware, lighting and rugs, each piece is recognisable for its playful spirit while remaining grounded in simplicity, line and colour.