Houzz Tour: Understated Luxury in a London Flat
A new layout and custom furnishings improve flow, bring in natural light and create a serene atmosphere
Anna Tobin
March 8, 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist and editor. I regularly contribute to all the UK glossies and the national press and international press and I run www.dontcrampourstyle.com, the blog for people who live in homes that they've physically outgrown. Follow me on Twitter @theannatobin or contact me via www.annatobin.co.uk
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist... More
Typical of mansion flats built in London in the early to mid-20th century, this apartment had a separate kitchen and dining room, and a living room that led to all the bedrooms. “The whole configuration just didn’t work for the here and now,” says architect Nick Leith-Smith. Since the building has a steel frame, Leith-Smith was able to reposition the internal partitions without having to make any major structural changes, and this gave him free rein to transform the space.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family that uses this apartment as a U.K. base
Location: Central London
Size: Three bedrooms, three bathrooms
Architect: Nick Leith-Smith of Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design
One of Leith-Smith’s goals was to capitalize on the apartment’s amazing natural light. “It has windows on both sides,” he says. “We maximized the light coming in from the east and the west at different times of the day by putting in a glass partition wall between the hallway and living space.
“We then reduced the circulation space of the hallways and corridors to give more floor area to the bedrooms and bathrooms. We also created a light and airy open-plan kitchen, dining and living space.”
Buttoned leather hallway seat: designed by Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design
Who lives here: A family that uses this apartment as a U.K. base
Location: Central London
Size: Three bedrooms, three bathrooms
Architect: Nick Leith-Smith of Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design
One of Leith-Smith’s goals was to capitalize on the apartment’s amazing natural light. “It has windows on both sides,” he says. “We maximized the light coming in from the east and the west at different times of the day by putting in a glass partition wall between the hallway and living space.
“We then reduced the circulation space of the hallways and corridors to give more floor area to the bedrooms and bathrooms. We also created a light and airy open-plan kitchen, dining and living space.”
Buttoned leather hallway seat: designed by Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design
As well as reconfiguring the layout, Leith-Smith was charged with furnishing the home. Much of the furniture and art is custom-made for the space. He’s managed to tuck in plenty of storage and useful elements without affecting the serene mood. “There are cupboards either side of this back wall in the living room, with a fridge built into the left-hand side and a bar unit on the right,” he says.
Coffee table: Fendi; sofa: Meridian; rug: Stark
Coffee table: Fendi; sofa: Meridian; rug: Stark
Leith-Smith used Grigio Imperiale marble flooring throughout the flat to help the space flow. He also called for underfloor heating, so the walls aren’t cluttered with radiators.
Wall paint: Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball
Wall paint: Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball
The kitchen, designed by Leith-Smith, is tucked in the corner of the L-shaped living space. “We’ve used a mix of light and dark oak units to create a contrast,” he says.
Soffits in the ceiling fitted with concealed lighting help to create a warm ambience and define different areas, such as the dining space shown here.
Dining table: Armani/Casa; chairs: Flexform
Soffits in the ceiling fitted with concealed lighting help to create a warm ambience and define different areas, such as the dining space shown here.
Dining table: Armani/Casa; chairs: Flexform
The owners wanted the home to have an air of understated luxury, and this is just as apparent in the kitchen as it is in the rest of the apartment.
The counters are a natural champagne quartz, chosen for its crystalline pattern, while a bronze-tinted mirror forms the backsplash.
Appliances: Miele
The counters are a natural champagne quartz, chosen for its crystalline pattern, while a bronze-tinted mirror forms the backsplash.
Appliances: Miele
The champagne quartz counters are hard-wearing and easy to clean. The surface has been cut around the undermounted sink to harmonize with the seamless feel of the kitchen units and the furniture in other rooms of the apartment, helping each space flow naturally into the next.
In the master bedroom, the bed is the focal point, and it has been stepped forward to face away from the windows toward the closets, which conceal a TV. It’s also on a rug set into the floor, so there’s only one level of flooring in the room.
Leith-Smith used a clever trick to enhance the light in here. “As the apartment is in the eaves of the building, it has very deep window reveals, so to bring in more light and to extend the view, we put bronze mirrors on the cheeks of the dormer windows,” he says.
Bed: The Sofa & Chair Company; rug: Stark
Leith-Smith used a clever trick to enhance the light in here. “As the apartment is in the eaves of the building, it has very deep window reveals, so to bring in more light and to extend the view, we put bronze mirrors on the cheeks of the dormer windows,” he says.
Bed: The Sofa & Chair Company; rug: Stark
To maximize storage in the en suite bathroom, mirrored cabinets have been unobtrusively sunk into the wall. The cantilevered vanity unit also contains a roomy drawer beneath the basin.
The walls in here are Botticino Classico stone, while the floor is honed granite.
Sinks: Duravit; faucets: Signorini; shower: Hansgrohe
The walls in here are Botticino Classico stone, while the floor is honed granite.
Sinks: Duravit; faucets: Signorini; shower: Hansgrohe
Since this guest bedroom is slightly smaller than the others, Leith-Smith designed the headboard with antique mirror glass to make the room feel more spacious and glamorous.
Wall lights: Tom Dixon; bedside tables and lamps: The Sofa & Chair Co.
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Wall lights: Tom Dixon; bedside tables and lamps: The Sofa & Chair Co.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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Yes I always use Grigio Imperiale marble flooring throughout to help the space flow (hahaha!). Seriously though, it is a stunning place.
Any before and after layout plans? Looks as if you have made fabulous use of the space.