Holiday Comforts
Interior Architecture | Highgate
An American based client contacted us for help with managing a small but complex renovation of their London holiday base. We took over the planning approval and architect specifications and then worked with her contractor and our joiners for the full fit out and handover.
Taking the Brief
The client adores natural materials, an affinity for pure lines, uncluttered spaces and the clean comforting aesthetic of the White Company. Despite the limited footprint we used joinery to hide the typical Georgian jagged walls so that the rooms now have clean lines and ‘square proportions’ and we commissioned all furniture in bespoke petite sizes adapted to the scale of the rooms which means they can breathe and the apartment looks and feels bigger than it was before
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Open Plan Living
Double reception rooms with large windows are challenging to decorate as they are narrow and long with little opportunity for placing larger items of furniture. We designed a small, open, shaker style corner kitchen at one end and a fitted cabinet with a bar area, integrated TV and bookcase at the opposite end. We decided to eliminate any reference to the former fireplace in favor of clean lines and beautiful timber veneer and antique mirror glass. We also opted to remove and not replace the traditional cornicing and large skirtings and elaborate doors. All windows and doors were replaced. All radiators were eliminated and replaced by underfloor heating throughout, thus saving on valuable wall space and further decluttering the features of the rooms. The apartment was deliberately stripped off architectural embellishments to simplify the structure and achieve a lighter contemporary style.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Like a Fresh Breeze
The client’s main home is on the coast of Maine and they wanted to still feel that fresh air and clean New England atmosphere even on the cramped hills of Highgate. We chose a clean palette of shades of white and the clouds wallpaper by Fornasetti which will never go out of style. The bed was commissioned deliberately with higher legs to accommodate suitcase storage underneath. The fitted wardrobes were designed so that the interiors offer not only clothes storage, which would be limited on their short visits, but also store all the bedlinen, towels and other household items. The children’s bedroom has a double bed with a trundle which is easily moved, comfortable enough for holidays and leaves the room spacious during the day.
Small Bathroom Design
Small scale rooms in old buildings are much more challenging to design than super-sized new builds. All the rooms in the apartment were stripped back to the original Georgian bricks. The bathroom was entirely reconfigured to create a decent walk-in shower and an additional separate WC for the second bedroom. Recessed cove lighting adds a modern ambiance to the marble clad spaces.
