Painting on Kensington’s Knightsbridge fringe

The Brompton setting

RBKC’s Brompton appraisal records Georgian houses on Brompton Road, a late Regency square, cottages and mews. It identifies entrances to Cheval Place and Rutland Mews South as gaps in the built frontage. This guidance concerns the Brompton side of the fringe; establish the responsible authority and building status from the actual address.

Sources: RBKC: Brompton appraisal

Protect what is staying

List stone, flooring, fitted furniture, decorative lighting and fabrics that will remain. Discuss whether handles, curtains or fittings need removing and who will do that. Room photographs help define a protection plan, but the quotation should state its extent. Keep specialist cleaning, repairs and alterations separate from the decorating work.

Wallcoverings need a complete brief

Provide the exact wallpaper reference and photographs of the existing walls. Discuss removal, lining and repairs before quantities are ordered. Identify chimney breasts, panels, alcoves and joinery returns that influence seam positions. Confirm the supplier, batch and responsibility for ordering; a visual preference is only one part of the specification.

From the street to the room

Describe the entrance, steps and internal route, including narrow turns or shared spaces. Confirm unloading using current council or TfL guidance, rather than relying on a convenient stopping place seen during a visit. For a managed apartment, include the building’s instructions. For a mews home, identify storage and the route that must stay usable during the work.

• Full address and building-management details
• Surfaces to decorate and finishes to protect
• Wallpaper or paint product references
• Delivery route, storage and room sequence