Houzz Tour: A Plain London Apartment Becomes Guest-Friendly
Layout tweaks and a lively color scheme add up to a place that’s comfortable for visitors and convenient for office work
A slightly worn, plain interior was one of the issues facing the owners of this apartment in a 1990s building in east London. “It didn’t represent them well because they like color,” says interior designer Kia Stanford. Plenty of room for guests, loads of storage and space for working at home also were on the professional couple’s wish list.
“It was important to make sure their plants were considered in the design,” Stanford says. Now they sit on the floor, hang from the ceiling and grace the window ledge. The pair’s love of greenery — and their sense of fun — is also represented in the room’s wallpaper. “There are animals in the design. It’s slightly whimsical,” she says.
She kept the wallpaper to a limited area so that it wouldn’t overwhelm the space, but it visually widens the rectangular room. “It doesn’t look out of proportion, as it did before,” Stanford says.
Since privacy wasn’t an issue, Stanford left the window undressed to maximize daylight and views.
Singita wallpaper: Cole & Son; browse nature-inspired wallpaper
She kept the wallpaper to a limited area so that it wouldn’t overwhelm the space, but it visually widens the rectangular room. “It doesn’t look out of proportion, as it did before,” Stanford says.
Since privacy wasn’t an issue, Stanford left the window undressed to maximize daylight and views.
Singita wallpaper: Cole & Son; browse nature-inspired wallpaper
The couple had already chosen their new kitchen cabinetry and designed the layout when they called in Stanford. They asked her to select the backsplash and door handles to complement the rest of the apartment’s design.
One of the owners does all the cooking and wanted a practical chef’s kitchen. “Pots and pans are to hand, and spices are within arm’s reach,” Stanford says.
The dining table, which the couple already owned, extends to accommodate extra guests. Above it, standard track lights were swapped for a statement light fixture.
Kitchen cabinetry: Ikea; Oris light: Lucide; browse ceiling lights
One of the owners does all the cooking and wanted a practical chef’s kitchen. “Pots and pans are to hand, and spices are within arm’s reach,” Stanford says.
The dining table, which the couple already owned, extends to accommodate extra guests. Above it, standard track lights were swapped for a statement light fixture.
Kitchen cabinetry: Ikea; Oris light: Lucide; browse ceiling lights
The couple wanted to be able to play music in the living-dining area, but they didn’t want their keyboard to draw too much attention. “It can slide upwards to playing height,” Stanford says.
The flooring here, as in other rooms, is white oak. “It needed something that flowed through the space,” she says. “Different thresholds would have divided the space.”
A swing door was traded for a sliding one with a more interesting barn door-style mechanism.
5 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Barn Door
The flooring here, as in other rooms, is white oak. “It needed something that flowed through the space,” she says. “Different thresholds would have divided the space.”
A swing door was traded for a sliding one with a more interesting barn door-style mechanism.
5 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Barn Door
Custom Storage in the Master Bedroom
More storage in the master bedroom was vital, so custom cabinets were made to surround the window. “They loved the idea of the window seat,” Stanford says.
The teak veneer matches the headboard and has an orange tone that complements the blue wall. “We really wanted to stay away from anything that would feel washed out, especially as the flooring is white oak,” Stanford says. “It has a lovely vintage feel as well.”
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More storage in the master bedroom was vital, so custom cabinets were made to surround the window. “They loved the idea of the window seat,” Stanford says.
The teak veneer matches the headboard and has an orange tone that complements the blue wall. “We really wanted to stay away from anything that would feel washed out, especially as the flooring is white oak,” Stanford says. “It has a lovely vintage feel as well.”
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The wall behind the bed is finished in tadelakt, a plaster used in Moroccan designs. Stanford chose it partly for its easy maintenance — it’s waterproof and durable — but its texture and shade also add softness to the room.
The blue color creates a restful ambiance. “They have a full-on lifestyle, so it has a calming feel,” she says.
The blue color creates a restful ambiance. “They have a full-on lifestyle, so it has a calming feel,” she says.
Wall-hung bedside tables save space, and Stanford added outlets with USB ports above and below. “They can use different devices and charge multiple things,” she says.
Wall lights: Normann Copenhagen
Wall lights: Normann Copenhagen
A Multipurpose Second Bedroom
The second bedroom is an office for one of the owners, who works from home at least two days a week. It also serves as a guest room. “It had to be somewhere you could work very easily but not feel [as if] the room had been taken over by the working area,” Stanford says.
The end wall is painted a dark shade to frame the view.
Pendant light: Habitat
The second bedroom is an office for one of the owners, who works from home at least two days a week. It also serves as a guest room. “It had to be somewhere you could work very easily but not feel [as if] the room had been taken over by the working area,” Stanford says.
The end wall is painted a dark shade to frame the view.
Pendant light: Habitat
The room is a true multitasker with workout space in front of the large cabinet.
The cabinet doors are decorated with Polaroid pictures from the couple’s travels. Visiting friends and family can add photos from their journeys too.
Show Us Your Guest Book Traditions
The cabinet doors are decorated with Polaroid pictures from the couple’s travels. Visiting friends and family can add photos from their journeys too.
Show Us Your Guest Book Traditions
Hidden behind the cabinet doors is the guest bed. “Previously, the double bed took up half the room,” Stanford says. “Even though they have guests staying quite often, they wanted the room to function mainly as an office.”
The pull-down bed was designed for the room and fits perfectly. For comfort and convenience, the cabinet has a headboard and lighting.
Shelves are attached to the adjacent wall. “Because the room has so many different functions, things need to be to hand,” Stanford says. “Shelving tucked away but accessible was important.”
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The pull-down bed was designed for the room and fits perfectly. For comfort and convenience, the cabinet has a headboard and lighting.
Shelves are attached to the adjacent wall. “Because the room has so many different functions, things need to be to hand,” Stanford says. “Shelving tucked away but accessible was important.”
How to Add a Murphy Bed | Find Murphy beds
The hallway is filled with doors, so Stanford livened up the space by choosing different colors for each one. Yellow leads to the bathroom, dark blue to the master bedroom and light blue (not shown) to the living room.
She also designed places for the owners to stow their belongings when they come home. These conveniences include a mail rack, a key box and umbrella hooks.
Find an interior designer near you
She also designed places for the owners to stow their belongings when they come home. These conveniences include a mail rack, a key box and umbrella hooks.
Find an interior designer near you
Fun Touches in the Bathroom
A disparity in the couple’s heights meant that the old bathtub served neither well. Stanford remedied the issue with a new tub that’s wider and deeper. It also creates a bigger showering space.
The curved tub required a panel that could be molded; it’s finished in a stained oak veneer. “It brings in the darker colors in the rest of the property,” Stanford says. “Each of the rooms has something that’s a nod to the 1970s, such as the sideboard in the living room and the teak in the bedroom.”
The niche at the end of the tub features a map of London centered on the apartment’s location. “We wanted to bring in something that’s very much of the area,” Stanford says. It’s made from ceramic that’s printed and sealed.
A disparity in the couple’s heights meant that the old bathtub served neither well. Stanford remedied the issue with a new tub that’s wider and deeper. It also creates a bigger showering space.
The curved tub required a panel that could be molded; it’s finished in a stained oak veneer. “It brings in the darker colors in the rest of the property,” Stanford says. “Each of the rooms has something that’s a nod to the 1970s, such as the sideboard in the living room and the teak in the bedroom.”
The niche at the end of the tub features a map of London centered on the apartment’s location. “We wanted to bring in something that’s very much of the area,” Stanford says. It’s made from ceramic that’s printed and sealed.
The bathroom has plenty of hidden storage. The poster conceals a set of shelves, as does the mirror.
“We wanted to inject some fun in there, so we used a laundry bag that looks like a punch bag,” Stanford says.
The backsplash tiles add another playful note and create a bold accent against the white of the room.
On the floor are vintage-style patterned tiles.
Floor and backsplash tiles: Topps Tiles
“We wanted to inject some fun in there, so we used a laundry bag that looks like a punch bag,” Stanford says.
The backsplash tiles add another playful note and create a bold accent against the white of the room.
On the floor are vintage-style patterned tiles.
Floor and backsplash tiles: Topps Tiles
A wall-mounted rack at the end of the bathtub makes towels easy for guests to see and grab.
Hello rack: Block; browse wall-mounted towel racks
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Hello rack: Block; browse wall-mounted towel racks
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Apartment at a Glance
Location: Spitalfields area of east London
Size: Two bedrooms, one bathroom
Designer: Kia Stanford of Kia Designs
The owners already had a few items for the living room when Stanford took on their project. “They’d picked up artwork on their travels and had two sofas, the coffee table and the sideboard,” she says. “But the configuration was tiny and cramped.”
Regular entertaining and frequent overnight guests made the problem particularly acute, so to relieve the discomfort, Stanford reworked the layout to create more space. She also introduced some color and added a focal point with a statement chair.