I recommend Colleen's Richmond home without hesitation. Colleen provided a home away from home for my 14 year old son and I for 10 days. He loved the privacy of the loft (not closed off from the main area, but enough distance to give a growing kid his own space). We both loved the view of the Thames. Watching boaters and water fowl below our window was very relaxing as were the changes in the clouds and sunlight. At night, blinds helped block out the long hours of daylight and ensured we got a good night's rest. An added bonus was the wonderful deep bath, luxurious after a full day of being on the town.
Regarding location, Richmond is in the 4th ring of London. We enjoyed NOT being right in the midst of tourist central. Museums and major attractions could be easily reached via rail or the bus (we did not have a car). There was also a lot to see right in and near Richmond, so much so, that we ended up alternating a day "in the city" and a day around "home."
While I am not a shopper, there are tuns of places to discover finds and an equivalent number of places to dine. I hope we get a chance to return so we can explore more!