Houzz Tour: A London Apartment in a Grand Edwardian House Goes Luxe
Showstopper lighting, quality materials and playful accents ramp up the glam factor in this sophisticated apartment
When the owner of this London apartment enlisted the help of interior design and property development company Oliver Burns, she already had a clear idea of how to makeover the space, a process that took four months. ‘She doesn’t like colour,’ explains Katia Perez, the designer behind this project, ‘and while she wanted some feminine touches, they had to be mixed in with lots of sleek surfaces.’
The apartment is one of seven in a grand Edwardian building, recently converted into luxury apartments with a host of striking features, including built-in cabinetry and glam marble bathrooms. To these existing elements, Katia added metallic finishes, crystal accents and a palette of grey and very muted pink to create a space that looks sophisticated and chic.
Houzz at a Glance
Owner A young woman in her twenties
Location Fitzrovia, London
Designer Oliver Burns
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The apartment is one of seven in a grand Edwardian building, recently converted into luxury apartments with a host of striking features, including built-in cabinetry and glam marble bathrooms. To these existing elements, Katia added metallic finishes, crystal accents and a palette of grey and very muted pink to create a space that looks sophisticated and chic.
Houzz at a Glance
Owner A young woman in her twenties
Location Fitzrovia, London
Designer Oliver Burns
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The glamorous aesthetic of this apartment is obvious from the moment you walk through the front door. Here, a gilt coffered ceiling and oversized chandelier deliver an immediate blast of grandeur. ‘In the hallway, we played with proportions by hanging an oversized chandelier,’ says Katia. ‘It is quite dramatic, but with a contemporary approach.’
A bold, modern design with a masculine edge was the concept for this apartment. Lacquered wood-veneered cabinetry at either end of the room unifies the living space, which flows into the open-plan kitchen. ‘The owner bought the grey leather sofa first, so we built the room around that,’ explains Katia. ‘The cabinetry was already installed, too, but we rearranged the shelves inside to improve access.’ In addition to the chandelier, the living room has six light circuits. ‘They are all set in individual circuits and can be dimmed,’ says Katia, ‘but we have programmed a few settings (an evening setting, for example) so the owner can create the perfect mood at the touch of a button.’
Check out some great ways to work with grey
Check out some great ways to work with grey
While the colour scheme may be muted, an exciting mix of textures and finishes keeps the look dynamic and anything but dull. Sleek, glossy surfaces are contrasted with tactile, luxurious fabrics, such as a Fendi rug and Missoni cushions. ‘Reflective surfaces are key to the luxe look in this apartment,’ says Katia. ‘Here, we simply fronted existing storage with white lacquered doors.’
A contemporary chandelier of three interlocking crystal rings adds a touch of glam at ceiling height and creates a striking focal point in the living space. ‘The owner wanted to add the wow factor some boutique hotels have,’ says Katia. ‘We needed a piece that would contrast with the very dark flat unit behind. The mix of the ring shapes and delicate crystals was perfect and reflected the owner’s taste really well.’
Accents of gold are peppered throughout the apartment. ‘The gold arched windows are my favourite detail,’ says Katia. ‘They look beautiful during the day and magical at night when the lights are on.’ The finish is gold leaf, which has been carefully applied by a specialist gilder. ‘It’s a deeper and richer finish than paint,’ she explains, ‘as you can see fine hair lines running through each leaf.’
The kitchen was already home to a marble island, but Katia extended the unit to create an integrated dining table. ‘It has high stools around it,’ she explains, ‘perfect for informal entertaining.’ The lights are the Little Balance crystal design by Windfall, and look like parts from a deconstructed chandelier. They are an example of the witty, feminine notes dotted throughout, softening up some of the apartment’s more austere elements, such as the dark cabinetry.
There is a slightly masculine, boutique hotel feel to the master bedroom. ‘The owner loves grey, but we worked in plenty of mirrors and silvery and metalic tones, too, to give it a more glamorous feel,’ says Katia.
Katia has used symmetry and worked in geometric designs with the cushions and headboard to enhance the boutique hotel style in the master bedroom. ‘It’s a sophisticated, timeless look,’ she says. The headboard was made bespoke and the leather-clad bedside tables are from Fendi, one of the luxury brands the owner loves.
This slimline dressing table was made bespoke for the master bedroom. ‘It is lined with purple velvet,’ says Katia, ‘and contains a pull-out hairdryer holder. It looks really elegant, but hides lots of jewellery and possessions.’
A relaxing lounge space has been created by the window in the master bedroom. ‘The curtains are a pure silk backed with a sheer fabric for a lovely full look,’ says Katia. The Marble silk is from Zimmer + Rohde. The sumptuous fabrics are contrasted with a super-bling footstool with stud detailing by Lee Broom.
‘The owner wanted a more feminine look for the guest bedroom,’ says Katia, ‘so we used muted flock wallpaper, Swarovski crystals and highlights of old rose in here.’ An animal-print throw keeps glam on the interiors menu, though!
The bathroom, complete with luxe marble floor and freestanding tub, was installed when the apartment was created. Katia simply added sheer voile curtains. ‘We trimmed the swags with crystal droplets,’ Katia says, ‘to reference the owner’s love of chandeliers and add some playfulness to this white, luxury bathroom.’
Have a look at some more fabulous freestanding baths
Have a look at some more fabulous freestanding baths