Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Contemporary Riverside Home in London
A mom and her son trade country life for an industrial city area, giving their converted space a fresh, contemporary bent
Interior designer Vincent Cullane was asked by his client to create a contemporary look for a riverside home in London, reflecting the design tastes of a working mum in finance and a teenage boy obsessed with Manchester United. "They were moving from the country into a converted building by the Canary Wharf and wanted their home to reflect their easygoing lifestyle," says Cullane.
The designer didn't look too far for inspiration. He started in the kitchen and decided with Andrea, his client, that the kitchen backsplash should reflect her son's eyes. "We extracted the hue from a photo to get the blue just right," he says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Andrea and her teenage son
Location: Wapping area of London
Size: 1,506 square feet
The designer didn't look too far for inspiration. He started in the kitchen and decided with Andrea, his client, that the kitchen backsplash should reflect her son's eyes. "We extracted the hue from a photo to get the blue just right," he says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Andrea and her teenage son
Location: Wapping area of London
Size: 1,506 square feet
A black wall adds a dramatic and masculine feel to a room that can easily grow with the son. Framed Manchester United memorabilia fill patches of the expansive wall space.
Splashy bedding in red and blue add color and visual interest to the sleek space. "We worked with Andrea in every last detail of the design — all the way to the bed linen," says Cullane.
A custom shelf juts out from the cabinet wall and displays a music player and a speaker system.
A custom shelf juts out from the cabinet wall and displays a music player and a speaker system.
The home's contemporary identity is juxtaposed here with its industrial context. The house is on the Thames River and is close to the industrial heartland of the area, the Docklands.
The texture of an exposed brick wall contrasts nicely with the polished surface of the dining table and other sleek furnishings.
A closer look at the brick wall reveals its weathered appearance.
Cullane shows us an easy way to declutter bookshelves: Hide the spines and show only the neutral pages in white, ivory and beige. Although it's not a look many readers embrace, it's perfectly suited for the styling of this contemporary space.
The designer maximized the narrow master bedroom with a custom wardrobe that's flush to the wall. Blue and white wallpaper in a floral print breaks up the neutral color scheme.
The strong horizontal lines of the bedroom lead the eyes in the direction of the balcony, which houses a small herb garden for the "cooking mum" in the house.
The strong horizontal lines of the bedroom lead the eyes in the direction of the balcony, which houses a small herb garden for the "cooking mum" in the house.
A vanity mirror reflects the wallpaper print, creating a sliver of pattern play in the otherwise crisp and stark visual plane.
Cabinets, vanity: custom by Increation
Cabinets, vanity: custom by Increation
The unadorned floors let us appreciate the consistency of the wood grain, also present in the closet drawers.
This bathroom countertop has room for only soap and hand lotion, but the custom medicine cabinet has plenty of shelving to store toiletries.
Vanity: Claygate
Vanity: Claygate
A rain shower is soothing in the sleek bath and simulates a tiny waterfall.
Slate tiles: Increation; toilet: Claygate
Slate tiles: Increation; toilet: Claygate
Sleek white cabinetry hugs the walls and works with the substantial beam in the kitchen. Oak floors and a raised wooden breakfast bartop warm up a contemporary kitchen that's frequented by a cadre of football-mad boys.
Backsplash: Essex Safety Glass; lighting: Intalite