Houzz Tour: A Spectacular Penthouse in a Gothic London Landmark
Arran Patel bought a penthouse inside London’s St Pancras Chambers as an investment property, but he loved it so much he decided to stay
Natalie Wain
11 October 2014
UK-based Houzz contributor.
I've been writing for the national press in Britain for almost 10 years and my most recent post was as the News Editor at Housetohome.co.uk.
These days I can usually be found hunched over my dining room table (which I've commandeered as my office) where I scribble away for a number of UK-based publications, including Homes & Gardens, The Telegraph, metro.co.uk and This is Money, among others.
I'm a bit of a jack of all trades but hopefully master of some.
And, in case you're wondering, I'd describe my interior style is brave, bold and eclectic. That's not to say I don't love a gleaming white wall... but I can't resist an accessory or two.
As the glorious Vivienne Westwood once said, 'when in doubt, overdress...'
UK-based Houzz contributor.
I've been writing for the national press in Britain... More
This impressive penthouse is part of an imposing Gothic Revival structure at London’s St Pancras railway station. Originally built between 1865 and 1873, it eventually fell into disrepair, standing derelict for many years until the mid 2000s – when the Manhattan Loft Corporation embarked on an ambitious renovation plan for the whole building. Arran Patel bought one of only three penthouses in the building in 2009. While the exterior of the building had been restored to its former glory, the onset of the recession in 2009 had resulted in a basic makeover internally – prompting Arran to commission a luxurious renovation by Thomas Griem of TG-Studio.
‘It’s a fantastic space, set over three floors,’ recalls Thomas of the first time he saw the property. ‘Arran briefed me to create an amazing loft space that would complement and enhance the heritage of the building, and he gave me a lot of creative freedom to decide how. We literally stripped everything out and started from scratch.’
The renovation included significant changes. ‘It’s a Grade I listed building, so obtaining permission for some of the renovation work, such as changing the staircase and extending the mezzanine, was a lengthy process,’ explains Thomas. He took responsibility for fully furnishing the property as well as attending to the renovation work. The interior is now a warm and cosy home, despite its impressive dimensions, with a cutting-edge vibe that Arran couldn’t bear to leave. ‘Arran’s often away on business, but he was so impressed with the finished penthouse he decided to move in permanently,’ says Thomas.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Arran Patel
Location Kings Cross, London
Designer Thomas Griem of TG-Studio
Size 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
That’s interesting The building – which originally formed the Midland Grand Hotel adjoining St Pancras railway station – was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Revival style
Year built Construction started in 1865 and the hotel opened in two stages in 1873 and 1876
‘It’s a fantastic space, set over three floors,’ recalls Thomas of the first time he saw the property. ‘Arran briefed me to create an amazing loft space that would complement and enhance the heritage of the building, and he gave me a lot of creative freedom to decide how. We literally stripped everything out and started from scratch.’
The renovation included significant changes. ‘It’s a Grade I listed building, so obtaining permission for some of the renovation work, such as changing the staircase and extending the mezzanine, was a lengthy process,’ explains Thomas. He took responsibility for fully furnishing the property as well as attending to the renovation work. The interior is now a warm and cosy home, despite its impressive dimensions, with a cutting-edge vibe that Arran couldn’t bear to leave. ‘Arran’s often away on business, but he was so impressed with the finished penthouse he decided to move in permanently,’ says Thomas.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Arran Patel
Location Kings Cross, London
Designer Thomas Griem of TG-Studio
Size 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
That’s interesting The building – which originally formed the Midland Grand Hotel adjoining St Pancras railway station – was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Revival style
Year built Construction started in 1865 and the hotel opened in two stages in 1873 and 1876
The layout of the three floors has remained largely unchanged due to significant planning restrictions associated with Grade I listed buildings. ‘We were very limited, but we managed to increase the mezzanine slightly,’ explains Thomas. ‘We also ripped out the cumbersome spiral staircases that connected the floors in favour of a more comfortable, contemporary design.’
The exposed trusses lend a barn-like feel to the space, which Thomas wanted to tone down with contemporary features, such as the glass balustrade. ‘The home is in the centre of London, so I felt it was important to work against the more country-style elements of the structure,’ he explains.
The ground floor of the property houses the family TV area and dining room, as well as the kitchen, while a more formal living room and games room occupy the middle floor. Three bedrooms are located on the top floor.
The exposed trusses lend a barn-like feel to the space, which Thomas wanted to tone down with contemporary features, such as the glass balustrade. ‘The home is in the centre of London, so I felt it was important to work against the more country-style elements of the structure,’ he explains.
The ground floor of the property houses the family TV area and dining room, as well as the kitchen, while a more formal living room and games room occupy the middle floor. Three bedrooms are located on the top floor.
Glorious views across the city can be enjoyed from the deep sofa in the formal sitting room on the middle floor. Thomas opted for a neutral palette with touches of colour and pattern to create a sophisticated feel. ‘I focused on providing quality finishes throughout the property and this translates to the furnishing as well,’ he explains.
Two enormous chairs add drama to the spacious room, which centres on a marble-topped coffee table.
‘The billiard table [just seen, left] is the only piece of furniture Arran brought to the property,’ says Thomas. ‘It’s quite funky, so I introduced some fun elements, such as the classic Arco lamp, to play on this theme.’
For practical purposes, Thomas had the Roman blind on the tall window fitted with a motor. ‘The window is absolutely enormous,’ he says.
Sofa, Giorgetti. Chairs, Poltrona Frau. Coffee table, B&B Italia. Rug, Luke Irwin. Arco lamp, Flos.
How to frame a perfect view
Two enormous chairs add drama to the spacious room, which centres on a marble-topped coffee table.
‘The billiard table [just seen, left] is the only piece of furniture Arran brought to the property,’ says Thomas. ‘It’s quite funky, so I introduced some fun elements, such as the classic Arco lamp, to play on this theme.’
For practical purposes, Thomas had the Roman blind on the tall window fitted with a motor. ‘The window is absolutely enormous,’ he says.
Sofa, Giorgetti. Chairs, Poltrona Frau. Coffee table, B&B Italia. Rug, Luke Irwin. Arco lamp, Flos.
How to frame a perfect view
A busy work schedule prevents Arran from entertaining as much as he’d like, but a generously sized dining table ensures there’s plenty of space for visiting family members who frequently descend.
Colourful artwork, bought by Arran in South Africa, presides over the space, which is shot through with glamorous touches, such as the chandelier and classic Gun floor lamp.
Dining table, Poliform. Gun floor lamp, Philippe Starck for Flos.
Colourful artwork, bought by Arran in South Africa, presides over the space, which is shot through with glamorous touches, such as the chandelier and classic Gun floor lamp.
Dining table, Poliform. Gun floor lamp, Philippe Starck for Flos.
A Paul Smith rug infuses colour and pattern into the TV room, along with a timber and white leather coffee table. The floor is oak. ‘I chose a pale finish for the floor, as although the apartment is huge in terms of volume, it’s actually rather dark inside,’ explains Thomas.
He added a further layer of interest by using textured wallpaper. ‘It provides some extra depth to the room and, because it’s so tactile, it makes the space feel very warm.’
Coffee table, Poltrona Frau. Rug, Paul Smith for The Rug Company. Oak floor, Schotten & Hansen. Wallpaper, Stereo.
He added a further layer of interest by using textured wallpaper. ‘It provides some extra depth to the room and, because it’s so tactile, it makes the space feel very warm.’
Coffee table, Poltrona Frau. Rug, Paul Smith for The Rug Company. Oak floor, Schotten & Hansen. Wallpaper, Stereo.
Opposite the dining room, a new staircase proved to be quite a feat of engineering. ‘The staircase is actually supported by the cupboard behind it and cantilevers off it,’ explains Thomas.
The bookcase with reading snug under the stairs is made from the same Schotten & Hansen timber as the floor and provides invaluable concealed storage. ‘Arran uses the reading snug all the time. It’s a very cosy, calming space in which to read a newspaper and have a cup of coffee in the morning.’
The bookcase with reading snug under the stairs is made from the same Schotten & Hansen timber as the floor and provides invaluable concealed storage. ‘Arran uses the reading snug all the time. It’s a very cosy, calming space in which to read a newspaper and have a cup of coffee in the morning.’
The mezzanine floor at the top of the apartment houses the glamorous master bedroom. It oozes luxury, from the recessed silk carpet to the silk wallpaper. ‘The rest of the apartment is very voluminous’ says Thomas, ‘so this space is designed to feel warm and cosy.’
Carpet, Jacaranda. Wallpaper, Stereo.
Carpet, Jacaranda. Wallpaper, Stereo.
A motorised curtain encloses the mezzanine bedroom off from the rest of the home, enhancing the feeling of being cocooned. Thomas furnished the room with a bespoke bed covered in deep-blue velvet. Lacquered beside tables complete the look.
Bespoke bed, Meridiani. Side tables, Lima.
Bespoke bed, Meridiani. Side tables, Lima.
A skylight above Arran’s walk-in wardrobe floods this area with natural light. The wardrobe is made from MDF veneered in brushed oiled oak and beige leather. A mirror is fitted on one of the internal sides to boost the space.
Huge Portuguese travertine tiles lend a cave-like quality to the en-suite bathroom. ‘I wanted to make this a masculine space, so as well as the TV recessed in the wall, we’ve introduced dark timber and lacquer to give it gravitas,’ Thomas explains. Mirrors span one wall to create the impression of more space.
Travertine, Gareth Davies Stone. Taps, Dornbracht. Basins, Flaminia. Shower, Majestic.
Travertine, Gareth Davies Stone. Taps, Dornbracht. Basins, Flaminia. Shower, Majestic.
Twin guest bedrooms flank the master suite and have been decorated in a palette of soft greys for a peaceful, calming effect. A yellow chair provides a stylish pew at the desk in the home office area.
Chair, Philippe Starck for Kartell. Bedside table, Lima.
10 glamorous bedrooms with movie star quality
Chair, Philippe Starck for Kartell. Bedside table, Lima.
10 glamorous bedrooms with movie star quality
The his ’n’ hers en-suite bathrooms are a glamorous affair, despite their relatively small footprint. ‘These rooms are in the turret of the building, so they’re very tall, but quite small, making them both difficult and interesting to decorate,’ says Thomas. Clad in Arabescato marble, each bathroom features a chandelier hung low from the ceiling as a play on the dimensions of the rooms.
‘In the evenings, the bathrooms look especially wonderful, with views right across the city. They definitely have the wow factor,’ says Thomas.
Stunning views and a fascinating heritage attracted Arran to buy the apartment in this historic London landmark, but its the impressive interior that will keep him there for many years to come.
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TELL US…
What did you like about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Enjoy more inspiring Houzz Tours
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What a beautiful, comfortable and elegant home; it must be a real oasis of calm in the middle of London.
Love it!
Looks fantastic, the Jacaranda works well here