Houzz Tour: 2-Bedroom Apartment Gets a Clever Open-Plan Layout
Lighting, cabinetry and finishes help make this London home look roomier while adding function
Lara Watson
September 3, 2016
Houzz UK and Ireland Editorial Staff. My background is in creative lifestyle publishing and I'm currently a freelance writer/editor. I live in a converted dye factory in East London and am forever searching 'exposed brick' on Houzz.
Houzz UK and Ireland Editorial Staff. My background is in creative lifestyle publishing... More
On the first viewing of his client’s apartment, Amit Malhotra, founder of Aflux, a design and build company in London, knew he had a job on his hands. “The previous owner had lived in there for 15 years and it hadn’t been all that well looked after. The kitchen was closed off and, to be honest, it was quite claustrophobic,” with ceilings only about 8 feet high.
The goal was to make the dated two-bedroom apartment overlooking London’s Hyde Park more livable and introduce fresh colors and an international look. This involved knocking down walls and adding lots of space-saving cabinets and a beautiful selection of furniture designed to sit low to the floor. “This property is styled very much to the client’s taste,” Malhotra says. “It has a bit of an English classic vibe, and a contemporary European feel to it.”
The goal was to make the dated two-bedroom apartment overlooking London’s Hyde Park more livable and introduce fresh colors and an international look. This involved knocking down walls and adding lots of space-saving cabinets and a beautiful selection of furniture designed to sit low to the floor. “This property is styled very much to the client’s taste,” Malhotra says. “It has a bit of an English classic vibe, and a contemporary European feel to it.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A Dutch man, who uses the flat as his London base
Location: Hyde Park neighborhood of London
Size: Two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designer: Amit Malhotra of Aflux
A lot of planning went into this project before the first wall was knocked down. “When the engineer came in to look at the flat, we realized it had a strange construction,” designer Amit Malhotra says. “Two beams hold the roof from the bedroom to the living room, and the rest of the structure is basically there to create a platform for the loft space. We wanted to open the ceiling up to the roof to get around the lack of height, but we weren’t allowed to because of that.”
Instead, Malhotra and the construction team took down every wall they could, leaving just a few beams. “Our scope was to make more room for the en suite bathroom, push the kitchen into the living room to create an open-plan space, and take the walls down that divided the two bedrooms. This project literally goes down to the centimeter!”
Who lives here: A Dutch man, who uses the flat as his London base
Location: Hyde Park neighborhood of London
Size: Two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designer: Amit Malhotra of Aflux
A lot of planning went into this project before the first wall was knocked down. “When the engineer came in to look at the flat, we realized it had a strange construction,” designer Amit Malhotra says. “Two beams hold the roof from the bedroom to the living room, and the rest of the structure is basically there to create a platform for the loft space. We wanted to open the ceiling up to the roof to get around the lack of height, but we weren’t allowed to because of that.”
Instead, Malhotra and the construction team took down every wall they could, leaving just a few beams. “Our scope was to make more room for the en suite bathroom, push the kitchen into the living room to create an open-plan space, and take the walls down that divided the two bedrooms. This project literally goes down to the centimeter!”
Because the century-old home is a Grade II listed building, or a protected historic property, Malhotra started by organizing listed-building permits with a planning consultant, which took about eight weeks. The process of design and building took about 4½ months, and getting all the furniture and installations in took another month.
“Working with our regular builders means we have all bases covered in one team,” Malhotra says. “They’re a one-stop shop — builders, plumbers, electricians, all under one brand. It makes the whole process easier and quicker.”
Malhotra is proud of this striking fireplace. “I sourced that. It’s a Gazco design — a hole-in-the-wall remote-control fireplace.” Cabinetmakers built the cabinetry around it.
Armchairs: Giorgetti
“Working with our regular builders means we have all bases covered in one team,” Malhotra says. “They’re a one-stop shop — builders, plumbers, electricians, all under one brand. It makes the whole process easier and quicker.”
Malhotra is proud of this striking fireplace. “I sourced that. It’s a Gazco design — a hole-in-the-wall remote-control fireplace.” Cabinetmakers built the cabinetry around it.
Armchairs: Giorgetti
After the first consultation, Malhotra and the client had a series of design meetings.
“We had to modify the drawing to hide the beams when we knew which walls had to stay,” Malhotra says. “Then the space was stripped out and we went into full construction.” He was able to buy all the interior elements before work started. This way, everyone involved in the project knew exactly what was going in.
“We had to modify the drawing to hide the beams when we knew which walls had to stay,” Malhotra says. “Then the space was stripped out and we went into full construction.” He was able to buy all the interior elements before work started. This way, everyone involved in the project knew exactly what was going in.
Malhotra uses woodworkers based in the Netherlands on his projects. “The team came over and fit everything in one week. The fitted cabinets are classic contemporary in their finish, and spray-painted,” he says. The TV is concealed inside this wall of cabinets. “We tried to go for as much storage as possible. Even if it was a shelf of just [6 inches], we were going to make use of that space.”
Pendant lights: Here Comes the Sun, Nest
Pendant lights: Here Comes the Sun, Nest
The kitchen is discreet in design so the emphasis remains on the living, dining and entertaining areas. The cabinets were spray-painted the same color as the other areas, creating the impression of a larger room.
“The clever thing about this kitchen is that the exhaust for the induction [cooktop] is located inside the island,” Malhotra says. “The air gets sucked into the middle. That was another key decision in us saving space — we didn’t want to create an obstruction hanging from the wall to disrupt the view.”
Kitchen appliances: Gaggenau
“The clever thing about this kitchen is that the exhaust for the induction [cooktop] is located inside the island,” Malhotra says. “The air gets sucked into the middle. That was another key decision in us saving space — we didn’t want to create an obstruction hanging from the wall to disrupt the view.”
Kitchen appliances: Gaggenau
Recessed lighting was an important element too. Malhotra made sure there weren’t too many downlights, and that accent lighting was used instead. Mirrors also enhance the light and sense of space. The designer prepped this wall for a TV in case the owner ever decides to add one.
The floor is a light engineered wood, which allows the heat from the underfloor heating system to permeate easily.
“Due to the original height issue, we wanted to attract more attention to the floor and used a clever technique of mixing up the widths of the planks” — 6, 7 and 8 inches wide, Malhotra says.
The floor is a light engineered wood, which allows the heat from the underfloor heating system to permeate easily.
“Due to the original height issue, we wanted to attract more attention to the floor and used a clever technique of mixing up the widths of the planks” — 6, 7 and 8 inches wide, Malhotra says.
Art is important to the owner, who found many of the flat’s decorative elements at the Maison&Objet show in Paris. Malhotra purchased the smaller “cheeky bits and pieces” with the client in Holland.
“It’s our duty to work out where to put all of our client’s art,” Malhotra says. “I include plans for picture fittings and shelving for other elements from the beginning.”
“It’s our duty to work out where to put all of our client’s art,” Malhotra says. “I include plans for picture fittings and shelving for other elements from the beginning.”
In the hallway, Malhotra designed a wall finished in veneer and antiqued mirror.
Most of the apartment’s walls are covered in woodwork, Malhotra says. “It’s the most we’ve ever done in one project, and the reason for that is that it distracts from the ceiling height.”
Most of the apartment’s walls are covered in woodwork, Malhotra says. “It’s the most we’ve ever done in one project, and the reason for that is that it distracts from the ceiling height.”
More space-saving tricks were used in the second bedroom, which is also a study. A sofa bed sits under the window, with plenty of storage to hold bulkier items of clothing.
The master bedroom has a space-saving sliding door to the en suite bathroom.
“In a small space, every room has to be multifunctional,” Malhotra says of the veneer-finish fitted storage.
In both the master and guest bathrooms, porcelain tiles from Via Arkadia in Chelsea add a wet-room function.
Both vanities were designed and made by Malhotra’s cabinetmaker. “It was a challenge to make these as spacious as possible,” he says.
Wall paints throughout: Slipper Satin, Wimborne White, Wevet and Lichen, all Farrow & Ball
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Wall paints throughout: Slipper Satin, Wimborne White, Wevet and Lichen, all Farrow & Ball
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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I cannot get my head around why the dining table is over nearest the fire and sitting space over nearest the kitchen...
Absolutely exquisite flat. Perfect transformation which makes the flat feel spacious and homely yet calm - beautiful!
Gosh looking at the comments I can’t understand why it’s provoked such a contrast. All I know is that I’d be very comfortable living there! And small is in the eye of the beholder - some flats are much bigger and as someone said some houses are smaller! I loved it!