Houzz Tour: A Redesign Makes a Period Flat Feel Spacious
Natural tones, midcentury furniture and clever space planning highlight the beauty of this Georgian apartment
A quiet, restful bedroom is on many people’s wishlists, not least the owners of this Georgian flat. With this in mind, it made sense for them to move their sleepspace away from the street. Interior designer Beth Dadswell and the team at Darren Oldfield Architects came up with a plan to flip the layout and position the master bedroom at the rear, with a beautiful view of communal gardens.
This idea, together with some additional reconfiguration, redecoration and design, has turned the once poky space into a fresh, elegant city crash pad.
This idea, together with some additional reconfiguration, redecoration and design, has turned the once poky space into a fresh, elegant city crash pad.
The listed-building regulations restricted where Beth could install new lighting. “Fortunately, my clients were keen to install dimmable wall lights, so we used those in all of the rooms to create atmosphere,” she says.
“We installed a beautiful, multi-armed black metal pendant in the living area, which emphasises the height of the ceiling and adds some drama, as well as contrasting with the pale walls,” she says.
Engineered oak flooring, Barbers Flooring. Washed linen Roman blinds, Village Blinds. Sofa, Heal’s. Chair, The Conran Shop. Coffee table, Viaduct. Rug, The White Company. Wood-burning stove, Stonewoods. Lighting, The Conran Shop and Astro. Walls painted in Flint, Little Greene.
“We installed a beautiful, multi-armed black metal pendant in the living area, which emphasises the height of the ceiling and adds some drama, as well as contrasting with the pale walls,” she says.
Engineered oak flooring, Barbers Flooring. Washed linen Roman blinds, Village Blinds. Sofa, Heal’s. Chair, The Conran Shop. Coffee table, Viaduct. Rug, The White Company. Wood-burning stove, Stonewoods. Lighting, The Conran Shop and Astro. Walls painted in Flint, Little Greene.
The rooms were furnished with a selection of midcentury Scandinavian and contemporary British pieces to reflect the American couple’s love of European design and culture. “I think it works well with the simplicity of the Georgian architecture,” Beth says.
Keen to make changes in your home? Find an interior designer in your area on Houzz.
Keen to make changes in your home? Find an interior designer in your area on Houzz.
“We increased the floor space [in this room] by moving the bathroom further towards the new bedroom, and installed a kitchen-diner in that area instead,” Beth says. “This also meant the front door opened into a light-filled, airy living space rather than a dark corridor.”
A simple run of kitchen units along one wall maximises space in the open-plan room. “The carcasses came from Ikea and we added custom-painted doors with black metal handles,” Beth says.
“The clients didn’t want the kitchen to overwhelm the living area, or to feel too clinical,” she says, ”so rather than a heavy run of wall cabinets, we installed some floating shelves where they can display their pretty crockery.”
Dining table, Adventures in Furniture. CH26 and CH23 oak chairs, Carl Hansen. Tablecloth, Habitat. Kitchen cabinet doors, Custom Fronts. Handles, Schoolhouse. Oven, Miele. Tap, Nivito. Carrara worktop, Compac.
A simple run of kitchen units along one wall maximises space in the open-plan room. “The carcasses came from Ikea and we added custom-painted doors with black metal handles,” Beth says.
“The clients didn’t want the kitchen to overwhelm the living area, or to feel too clinical,” she says, ”so rather than a heavy run of wall cabinets, we installed some floating shelves where they can display their pretty crockery.”
Dining table, Adventures in Furniture. CH26 and CH23 oak chairs, Carl Hansen. Tablecloth, Habitat. Kitchen cabinet doors, Custom Fronts. Handles, Schoolhouse. Oven, Miele. Tap, Nivito. Carrara worktop, Compac.
The owners wanted a kitchen that was easy to maintain, so Beth chose hardwearing surfaces and good-quality appliances. The practical quartz worktop continues onto the wall to form an upstand and has subtle grey veining that prevents it from looking clinical.
An undermounted ceramic sink is also a practical choice and contrasts with a matt black, deck-mounted soap dispenser and tap.
To make best use of the compact entrance hall, Beth installed simple brass coat hooks. A large pocket door separates the hallway from the master bedroom, so that everyone has privacy when there are guests staying.
An undermounted ceramic sink is also a practical choice and contrasts with a matt black, deck-mounted soap dispenser and tap.
To make best use of the compact entrance hall, Beth installed simple brass coat hooks. A large pocket door separates the hallway from the master bedroom, so that everyone has privacy when there are guests staying.
A shelving unit enhances the view into the master bedroom from the rest of the flat. It also hides pipework and creates some symmetry in the bedroom. “The unit on the opposite side of the bed houses the boiler and this couldn’t be moved,” Beth explains.
A dramatic ceramic pendant emphasises the height of the ceiling and creates a warm glow at night, while angled wall lights are practical for bedtime reading.
Lighting, Original BTC.
A dramatic ceramic pendant emphasises the height of the ceiling and creates a warm glow at night, while angled wall lights are practical for bedtime reading.
Lighting, Original BTC.
A wall of tall wardrobes [not pictured] was built in the same way as the kitchen units, with Ikea carcasses and custom-made doors.
Bedding, Habitat. Armchair, The Conran Shop. Washed linen blinds, Village Blinds. Walls painted in Slaked Lime, Little Greene. Bed, Sofa.com.
Bedding, Habitat. Armchair, The Conran Shop. Washed linen blinds, Village Blinds. Walls painted in Slaked Lime, Little Greene. Bed, Sofa.com.
Two recessed bedside nooks have been built into the shelving units, providing enough room for a book and a glass of water.
“We changed the layout in the bathroom, removed the huge bath, as it took up half of the space, and replaced it with a large walk-in shower,” Beth says.
She also designed a built-in, floating vanity unit that provided storage without overwhelming the room. The walls and ceiling are finished in a simple waterproof polished plaster, which allows the asymmetrical design on the floor tiles to be the main feature.
Sanitaryware, Duravit. Fixtures and fittings, West One Bathrooms. Lights, Astro. Mirror, bespoke. Floor tiles, Domus.
Tell us…
What do you like about this bright, stylish Georgian flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
She also designed a built-in, floating vanity unit that provided storage without overwhelming the room. The walls and ceiling are finished in a simple waterproof polished plaster, which allows the asymmetrical design on the floor tiles to be the main feature.
Sanitaryware, Duravit. Fixtures and fittings, West One Bathrooms. Lights, Astro. Mirror, bespoke. Floor tiles, Domus.
Tell us…
What do you like about this bright, stylish Georgian flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A US-based couple with a grown-up daughter who visit London regularly
Location West London
Property A Georgian flat
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Designer Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors
Architect Darren Oldfeld Architects
Photos by Chris Snook
“It was a real joy to be able to return the elegant features to their original condition,” Beth says of the Georgian flat. The living room, for example, felt drab and dated, with an old carpet and 1980s joinery, before she stripped it back to reveal its beautiful architectural elements.
Beth redesigned the layout of the flat with the team at Darren Oldfield Architects, being careful to work within the building’s listed status. “The plaster and cornicing were repaired by a specialist, and we were very limited in what we could do in terms of ceiling-mounted light fittings, levelling the floor and altering the plumbing,” she explains.