THE KINGSWAY
The re-imaging of a London duplex apartment in a converted boarding school.
The past and present harmoniously combine in this elegant apartment where
heritage features are enhanced by natural fibres and cosy hues.
The Details
Who: A couple in their thirties
What: Extensive renovation of a duplex apartment in a converted Boarding
School, which is a now a Grade II listed building.
Where: London
History of the building: Here
The Brief
The client disliked the tired decor and dysfunctional layout and wanted a cohesive open plan living space that incorporated a more practical kitchen and an inviting dining area. Efficient built-in storage was essential for maintaining calm, welcoming spaces, while the mezzanine master bedroom required a creative response to ensure more privacy, as well as natural light. Clean, pared back Japandi-style was the aesthetic preference to allow the heritage features to shine, while warm tones and tactile texture were required to soften the industrial elements and cocoon the spaces.
Before
Previously, the apartment had felt dark and claustrophobic, with little natural light reaching the rooms on the mezzanine or the central hallway. The entire first floor could be navigated in a circle, with no clear definition between each room and a serious lack of privacy. Below the mezzanine, the kitchen was also dark, with no effective storage for laundry or cleaning essentials, and the dining area was in a separate room, making the flow of the apartment feel in-cohesive.
How we achieved it
Our Interior designer, Ivana has created ‘proper’ rooms without altering the essence of the apartment itself, while also filtering the light into every area through the skilful use of sliding doors and glass partitions. Discreet pocket doors retain the openness and accessibility between all the rooms, yet create the much-needed privacy and definition that the client required, while a steel balustrade, more suitable for a commercial space, was replaced with a full height glass partition to create privacy but still let light pass through. Reconfiguring the open plan layout has allowed for niches and nooks to be used as extra storage, and the fusion of natural fibres and earthy tones alongside the raw, industrial details has created a refined and sophisticated home full of character and interest.
The design process
Our clients chose to purchase 5 of our standard room makeover packages and one medium size package for the open plan space. They also purchased a bespoke wardrobe package and few hours consultation for the hallway. After the initial face-to-face site survey, the design process was mainly conducted remotely.
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““The true success of this project is the
optimisation of every mm available, whilst also creating effective rooms that
have retained authenticity of the property.””
Defined Living
Crafting a contemporary yet inviting entertaining space for the owners required a deft design.
The space was taken from broken plan to open plan, with clearly defined zones ensuring a cohesive flow and welcoming ambience. The rich honey wood tones offer a subtle consistency throughout, from the kitchen cabinetry to the grain of the parquet flooring, which incidentally mirrors the original old school herringbone floor that still exists in the building’s communal areas.
To quieten the impact of the large TV, wooden acoustic slats have been used to add interest and another layer of texture.
While the setting is sophisticated and lends itself to fabulous entertaining, it also sits comfortably with everyday family life.
The great indoors
To enhance the generous proportions in the living space, and to bring the outdoors in, a tree towers over the sofa creating a bold statement that can be seen from both levels of the apartment. Other architectural details, such as the green wall tiles and steel beams, were restored and beautified, ready to welcome the symphony of organic materials, earthy tones and spectacular artwork that mirrors the timber hues.
Warm Wooden Tones
Oppressive kitchen wall units were removed to preserve clean lines, and were replaced with low base units, while tall cupboards and built-in appliances were tucked away under the mezzanine, out of sight. Now, rather than ugly wall units, the kitchen’s focal point is the richly grained cabinetry and black accents that complement the structural beams. These beams have been highlighted in Farrow&Ball’s Off Black, giving them an integral role in the apartments story, and ensuring they tie in with the black elements peppered around open plan space, such as the directional spotlights, cabinet handles, picture frames and radiators.
Above the kitchen, a glass wall with flowing curtains replaces steel balustrades, allowing light to flood through and maintain the views, whilst also providing privacy at night.
Blissful Master Bedroom
Continuing the organic theme, wood acoustic slats from Acupanel were used to create statement walls behind each bed, while classic white walls, painted in Farrow & Ball’s School House White, are personalised with playful artworks.
The thoughtful lighting plan throughout the apartment, such as the charming dimmable lights either side of the master bed, plays a huge part in creating a peaceful yet adaptable ambience.
Chic En suite
The strong black lines of the shower screen set a bold industrial note in the glamorous en suite, which is kept light and bright thanks to oversized wall tiles.
Octagonal floor tiles define the wet area bringing another layer of interest, while wall niches offer a handy storage solution for toiletries, keeping the sleek shower free of clutter.
Guest space
Beyond the living area, the unique guest space continues the soothing flow of organic textures and colourful artwork, while the study space on the mezzanine above is separated by a subtle glass division, again letting natural light stream in.
Vertical Library
The designer’s final masterstroke has to be the vertical reading nook in the guest space. The client wanted an abundance of books shelves, and as there was more space available vertically than horizontally, an epic bookcase was built to scale the entire wall, recalling the original use of the building, and successfully delivering the best of old and new for luxurious everyday living.
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