Nina Flohr has welcomed cameras from House & Garden UK into the London home she shares with her husband, Philippos De Gres. Guided through the residence, viewers saw how the couple applies an open door policy for family and friends in the British capital.
Flohr, who founded the Kisawa Sanctuary in Mozambique, said the concept of home for them contains many layers. She explained that guests have no set arrival or departure times, adding that visitors who arrive for lunch often stay through dinner.
Georgian architecture and British craftsmanship
The couple married in October 2021 at the Metropolis of Athens with Archbishop Ieronymos officiating, following a civil ceremony in Switzerland. As their first home together as a new family, they decorated the building to honor its Georgian heritage dating back to 1835.
Flohr said they kept the history of the building in mind during every stage of room layout, color choices, and decoration. She noted that they combined inspirations from their different life experiences in a way that is modern yet timeless.
Flohr had designed her previous home with Veere Grenney and preserved those pieces to showcase them in a new way, particularly inside the guest rooms. She mixed these existing items with new pieces and antiques, noting that combining past experiences in a new space brings them great happiness.
She also sought out British artisans across the country for carpentry, upholstery, metalwork, and garden design. Flohr called working with these local craftspeople a personal passion and a central part of her design process.
Interior decor and urban sanctuary design
Inside the residence, decor features earth tones including terracotta and olive green, marble fireplaces, and furniture with floral and ethnic fabrics. The rooms hold artworks, book collections, and wall weavings, while outdoor spaces include a terrace filled with plants.
Flohr compared the London project to her resort venture in Africa. She said that while Kisawa Sanctuary explored living in a natural island environment, her London residence applies the same concept to an urban setting to create a restful retreat from city life.
