Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Sophistication and Style in a Compact London Flat
A dysfunctional Victorian-era apartment gets a glamorous update that reconfigures rooms and adds visual interest
Sometimes it’s clear from the start that a renovation will need to be drastic. So it was with this compact flat in the heart of London. “The building is Victorian, but a 1960s conversion had left the property with a warren of rooms that didn’t function very well,” recalls interior designer Irina Townsend. “The entrance opened onto a narrow corridor that led straight to a separate toilet, so it wasn’t particularly welcoming, either.”
With less than 430 square feet to play with, Townsend’s clients wanted to make the best use of space, as well as incorporate plenty of storage. “We reconfigured the entire flat by knocking down a couple of walls, and we replaced bulky radiators with underfloor heating,” she says. The completed flat is a lesson in how to make a small space function well and appear bigger than it is. “A common misconception is that the fewer pieces of furniture and features you have in a space, the bigger it will seem,” Townsend says. “In fact, the more zones and features you have, the more it creates a perception of space.”
With less than 430 square feet to play with, Townsend’s clients wanted to make the best use of space, as well as incorporate plenty of storage. “We reconfigured the entire flat by knocking down a couple of walls, and we replaced bulky radiators with underfloor heating,” she says. The completed flat is a lesson in how to make a small space function well and appear bigger than it is. “A common misconception is that the fewer pieces of furniture and features you have in a space, the bigger it will seem,” Townsend says. “In fact, the more zones and features you have, the more it creates a perception of space.”
The homogenous color scheme enhances the sense of openness, while visual interest has been added through the layering of different textures. “Although everything is a similar color, nothing looks the same, as there are so many fabrics and materials in the mix. It’s very subtle, but it’s a wonderful way to create depth,” Townsend says.
Suede-covered dining chairs with a neat brown trim echo the custom dining table, which is made from a quartz and marble composite for a hard-wearing surface with a luxurious feel. A chandelier overhead reflects light onto the surface, injecting a touch of drama.
Custom dining table, chairs, chandelier: Keir Townsend; blind fabric: Abbott & Boyd
Suede-covered dining chairs with a neat brown trim echo the custom dining table, which is made from a quartz and marble composite for a hard-wearing surface with a luxurious feel. A chandelier overhead reflects light onto the surface, injecting a touch of drama.
Custom dining table, chairs, chandelier: Keir Townsend; blind fabric: Abbott & Boyd
Even though the flat is compact, Townsend has managed to pack in plenty of glamorous touches. The eye-catching backsplash, for instance, is made from antiqued bronze mirror glass with a polished edged. “It looks very elegant, but it’s also practical and opens up the space in this corner,” she says.
Elsewhere in the kitchen, custom cabinetry — made by specialists in the Keir Townsend studio — has been sprayed silver for a cool, crisp look. “It was such a small, awkward space,” Townsend says, “and the units were not standard size, so it was easier to make them ourselves.”
For the flooring, the designer chose durable textured ceramic tiles that look like wood.
Backsplash: antique mirror, Saligo Design
Elsewhere in the kitchen, custom cabinetry — made by specialists in the Keir Townsend studio — has been sprayed silver for a cool, crisp look. “It was such a small, awkward space,” Townsend says, “and the units were not standard size, so it was easier to make them ourselves.”
For the flooring, the designer chose durable textured ceramic tiles that look like wood.
Backsplash: antique mirror, Saligo Design
In the living area, raspberry accents break up the cream palette. Townsend even found space for a small workstation by slotting a custom slim table and chair into a corner by the window. “Every centimeter has been used,” she says.
Office chair fabric: de Le Cuona; side chair fabric: Dedar Fabrics
Office chair fabric: de Le Cuona; side chair fabric: Dedar Fabrics
For the gray feature wall in the corner, Townsend used polished plaster with two different finishes to add further depth. “It’s my favorite material,” she says. “It’s incredibly versatile, and it reflects the light beautifully.”
As with many converted flats in London, storage was a thorny issue when it came to reconfiguring the design. “We had to be clever and make the most of any space that presented itself,” Townsend says. “The alcove above the workstation doesn’t seem like much, but it’s the perfect space to squirrel away books and household files.”
Discover 10 genius ways to supersize a studio space
Discover 10 genius ways to supersize a studio space
A cumbersome bath was removed to make way for a spacious rainfall shower in the new bathroom. “A bath isn’t really necessary in a small home, and we’ve made much better use of the space,” Townsend says. Hidden cupboards elsewhere in the room conceal the washing machine and extra storage. The walls and floor are covered in ceramic tiles.
“We invented the basin,” Townsend says. “It’s a very clean design using recycled bottle glass set in resin, which is lit up underneath with LED lighting, so it also functions as a nightlight.” Ornate crystal fixtures and Venetian glass tiles complete the look and enhance the luxurious finish.
Amber sink, crystal fixtures: Keir Townsend; walls tiles: Venetian glass, Dune
Amber sink, crystal fixtures: Keir Townsend; walls tiles: Venetian glass, Dune
“We managed to create quite a lot of storage in the flat without sacrificing wardrobe space in the bedroom,” Townsend says. “Luckily, the ceilings are quite high, so we’ve managed to fit in double-height cupboards here.”
A cantilevered bed conceals more storage space, keeping clutter to a minimum in the calming room. The shagreen leather floor echoes the luxurious flourishes elsewhere in the flat, while the velvet headboard adds depth and texture. “The flooring is very special in this room — it feels heavenly underfoot,” Townsend says. “The leather will soften and become even more beautiful with time.”
Wall covering: Japanese linen, Phillip Jeffries: velvet for headboard: Abbott & Boyd; curtain fabric: de Gournay
A cantilevered bed conceals more storage space, keeping clutter to a minimum in the calming room. The shagreen leather floor echoes the luxurious flourishes elsewhere in the flat, while the velvet headboard adds depth and texture. “The flooring is very special in this room — it feels heavenly underfoot,” Townsend says. “The leather will soften and become even more beautiful with time.”
Wall covering: Japanese linen, Phillip Jeffries: velvet for headboard: Abbott & Boyd; curtain fabric: de Gournay
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes | Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes | Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: A couple who uses the flat as a pied-à-terre
Location: Kensington, London
Era built: Victorian; converted into flats in the 1960s
Year renovated: 2013
Size: 430 square feet (40 square meters); 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
“The niche where the sofa sits was created to make wardrobe space on either side in the bedroom behind,” says Townsend, of Keir Townsend. “In such a compact flat, there was a lot of give and take.”
Despite the space restrictions, the clients wanted the flat to be comfortable and insisted on a roomy sofa. “We designed virtually all the furniture in the flat ourselves and had it made in our workshop so it fits the space beautifully,” Townsend says. “It was a challenge, but it’s all about getting the right proportions, the right fabrics and the right lighting.”
Sofa: Keir Townsend; wall paint (similar): Pointing, Farrow & Ball