LONDON (CNN) -- High-style fabric manufacturer Peter Osborne loves a challenge. And that's what he got when he bought an 1860s house in the Knotting Hill area.

Osborne wanted to use the house as a showplace for the family's large collection of art, furniture and objects.

"This house is classical. It's got very nice moldings and fireplaces and such, but we wanted to give it sort of a contemporary face-lift, "said Osborne."So we went to a interior designer that we know, called Jenny Armit. And we gave her a very wide brief. We just said come up with whatever you feel is right."

What was 'right" turned out to be what Osborne calls a "mix of lots of different styles."

The living room alone holds a Regency bookcase and chaise lounge, Osborne's much-loved William Morris desk, several Arts and Crafts pieces and a few Modern elements.

A large painting on the mantle by William Roberts is a favorite of Osborne's who's been buying the artist's work for 12 years now.

The kitchen/ dining room area is spacious but designed also to be intimate, with a modern dining room table of burr oak and polished chrome, red leather Italian chairs and an Arts and Crafts side-board.

The walls in the master bedroom suite are covered in a paisley chenille fabric. The Osborne's bought the bed 30 years ago and the dressing room features another William Morris table that's used for holding "nick-nacks."

Osborne says the mural in the bathroom was his wife's idea. They had long debates about the subject and compromised on a jungle scene because "as you lie in the bath you see it reflected in the mirror, that's yes, that is very relaxing."

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