Houzz Tour: A Bright and Open-Plan London Loft
This converted warehouse’s Crittall windows, concrete ceiling and open-plan layout mix with fresh style to create a unique family home
Once a Pirelli tyre factory, Nia Morris’s loft apartment near London’s Edgware Road is now a light, bright, flexible home. When she bought it two years ago, the décor was dated and the layout almost completely open-plan, but with her trained eye (Morris is co-founder of interior design practice Cloud Studios), she saw it could be reconfigured to suit life with her partner, Paul, and daughter Millie.
When it came to the interior design, Morris was influenced by the bones of the space. ‘The building did dictate the style,’ she says. ‘I wanted to keep the loft aesthetic, but didn’t want it to be masculine.’ Now, a warm wooden floor, antique mirrors, silvery wallpaper and bold artworks steer this loft away from a purely industrial look towards something more eclectic and feminine.
When it came to the interior design, Morris was influenced by the bones of the space. ‘The building did dictate the style,’ she says. ‘I wanted to keep the loft aesthetic, but didn’t want it to be masculine.’ Now, a warm wooden floor, antique mirrors, silvery wallpaper and bold artworks steer this loft away from a purely industrial look towards something more eclectic and feminine.
The loft is furnished with a mix of contemporary pieces, vintage finds and antiques. This old plan chest now holds the sketches, plans and drawings relating to the interiors projects Morris is working on. ‘There’s one drawer for each current client,’ she says.
Picasso sofa, The Sofa & Chair Company.
Picasso sofa, The Sofa & Chair Company.
After buying the loft, Morris spent around two months meticulously planning its redesign. ‘I planned it all to the last detail in advance, so when it came to the work, the builders knew exactly what we were doing,’ she says. ‘I didn’t change my mind on anything. There were no surprises!’
Morris was keen to make sure the central areas worked in harmony together. ‘The kitchen is in the living area, so it had to work in the space. I kept it quite sculptural and discreet,’ she says. ‘I quite like lots of open storage in a kitchen, but it was not appropriate to do that here. You don’t want all that stuff on view when you’re relaxing in the living area.’
Kitchen, Bulthaup.
Tour another home with a light, open-plan living, dining and kitchen space
Morris was keen to make sure the central areas worked in harmony together. ‘The kitchen is in the living area, so it had to work in the space. I kept it quite sculptural and discreet,’ she says. ‘I quite like lots of open storage in a kitchen, but it was not appropriate to do that here. You don’t want all that stuff on view when you’re relaxing in the living area.’
Kitchen, Bulthaup.
Tour another home with a light, open-plan living, dining and kitchen space
Morris enjoys entertaining and the loft’s central London location makes it easy for friends to drop in. ‘We often have people over to supper, so I had to factor in a kitchen large enough to cook for friends and a table that could happily seat eight,’ she says.
In addition to the Bulthaup kitchen, the wide floorboards from Dinesen were a key investment for the loft. ‘I wanted a hard floor and used the same throughout to make it feel consistent, which is important in a space that isn’t too huge,’ says Morris. The natural grain and knots give the boards warmth and detail. ‘I was trying to soften the space and create a nice balance with the concrete ceiling above,’ she says.
Bermuda dining table, Asplund. Floorboards, Dinesen.
In addition to the Bulthaup kitchen, the wide floorboards from Dinesen were a key investment for the loft. ‘I wanted a hard floor and used the same throughout to make it feel consistent, which is important in a space that isn’t too huge,’ says Morris. The natural grain and knots give the boards warmth and detail. ‘I was trying to soften the space and create a nice balance with the concrete ceiling above,’ she says.
Bermuda dining table, Asplund. Floorboards, Dinesen.
Although the original, almost completely open-plan layout wasn’t suitable for family living and needed redesigning, Morris did preserve the large reception space.
‘That was key,’ she says. ‘I liked the openness of how the loft was before. The new configuration had to be practical and about how we lived, but while retaining that sense of space. So I kept a large open living area, and then put all the other rooms around the edges.’
‘That was key,’ she says. ‘I liked the openness of how the loft was before. The new configuration had to be practical and about how we lived, but while retaining that sense of space. So I kept a large open living area, and then put all the other rooms around the edges.’
Work on the loft took a speedy three-and-a-half months, thanks to Morris’s careful planning. All the windows were replaced, two new bathrooms and a new kitchen were installed, and a utility room was added. Morris also fitted new lighting and underfloor heating. ‘We completely gutted it,’ she says.
Picasso sofa, The Sofa & Chair Company.
Discover more about Crittall windows
Picasso sofa, The Sofa & Chair Company.
Discover more about Crittall windows
Large wooden hooks and a bench that Morris had built provide lots of useful storage in the entrance hall.
Dots hooks, Lars Tornøe for Muuto.
Dots hooks, Lars Tornøe for Muuto.
Statement lighting adds unique character to the loft. Two large pendants hang above the living area. ‘You notice them when you walk in,’ says Morris. ‘It’s quite important that you have one or two pieces you really notice in an open-plan space.’ These lights define the seating area, while the smaller lights over the table define the dining area. ‘They divide up the space without the need for walls,’ she says.
The two large pendant lights are by Dutch company Ay Illuminate. ‘They are huge – over a metre tall,’ says Morris. ‘At first I thought I would hang one, then I thought it might be nice to have two! I didn’t want a conventional chandelier – I was after something more interesting.’
Pendant lights, Ay Illuminate.
The two large pendant lights are by Dutch company Ay Illuminate. ‘They are huge – over a metre tall,’ says Morris. ‘At first I thought I would hang one, then I thought it might be nice to have two! I didn’t want a conventional chandelier – I was after something more interesting.’
Pendant lights, Ay Illuminate.
While planning the renovation work, Morris was eager to preserve the unique features of the loft, such as the concrete ceiling and Crittall windows. ‘I could have added a new ceiling below the original concrete one and then fitted lights into it, but I wanted to keep the loft aesthetic,’ she says.
Drilling into solid concrete would have been too difficult, so instead Morris used exposed galvanised conduits to cover the electric cables. ‘None of the lights are flush fitted and I think that was the right thing to do,’ she says. ‘There are various pillars and beams that could have been covered up, too, but I didn’t want to lose the things I’d originally liked about the space.’
Drilling into solid concrete would have been too difficult, so instead Morris used exposed galvanised conduits to cover the electric cables. ‘None of the lights are flush fitted and I think that was the right thing to do,’ she says. ‘There are various pillars and beams that could have been covered up, too, but I didn’t want to lose the things I’d originally liked about the space.’
Morris has office space in one corner of the main living area, with a desk flanked by a storage system and shelves fitted along one wall.
Storage system, Vitsoe.
Storage system, Vitsoe.
Bookcases from a previous home fit nicely by the pillars. ‘There isn’t much wall space because of the windows on two sides, the kitchen, and my office on the fourth wall,’ says Morris. ‘It made sense to make use of the pillars.’ An internal window allows light into the second bedroom.
Ptolomeo bookcases, available from The Conran Shop.
Ptolomeo bookcases, available from The Conran Shop.
Windows facing south and east flood the loft with light, which can be dazzling. ‘I sometimes can’t see my computer screen,’ says Morris. She fitted simple linen blinds to help control the brightness.
Ball lights, Michael Anastassiades.
Ball lights, Michael Anastassiades.
In the hallway, Morris has designed a neat, wall-mounted storage unit that’s just the right size to hold a folding bike.
Dots hooks, Lars Tornøe for Muuto.
Dots hooks, Lars Tornøe for Muuto.
The master bedroom features more statement lighting. ‘I’m not sure these lights are meant for bedrooms, but I really wanted to use them,’ Morris says. ‘I had thought about putting them in the main room. It’s slightly crazy having them here.’
The lights each have their own hook, so they can be arranged in any number of ways. ‘You can spend many a happy hour adjusting the length of the wires,’ she says. ‘You can hang them however you like.’
Aim pendant lights, Flos, available from Made In Design. Mirrored dressing table, B&T Antiques.
The lights each have their own hook, so they can be arranged in any number of ways. ‘You can spend many a happy hour adjusting the length of the wires,’ she says. ‘You can hang them however you like.’
Aim pendant lights, Flos, available from Made In Design. Mirrored dressing table, B&T Antiques.
The master bedroom has a silvery paper on its walls. ‘I’ve looked for ways to soften the masculine feel of the loft,’ says Morris. ‘Once I’d hung the lights, I decided they made the space feel slightly too industrial, so I added the silver wallpaper.’ It has a pattern of giant lizards on it. ‘It’s quite weird, but quite subtle,’ she adds.
Iguana wallpaper, Timorous Beasties.
Iguana wallpaper, Timorous Beasties.
Morris designed a huge wall of wardrobes for the master bedroom, which provides most of the loft’s storage.
Check out 10 ways to boost your bedroom storage
Check out 10 ways to boost your bedroom storage
This beautiful antique mirror, one of a pair hanging in the bedroom, is an early 19th century French piece. ‘They are both slightly falling apart, but I’ve brought them with me over the years from previous homes and really love them,’ says Morris. ‘I wasn’t sure whether they’d work in a very industrial space, but I think they do.’ The mirrored side table adds a further glamorous, light-reflecting touch.
Side table, Minotti. Pink Ro chair by Jaime Hayon for Fritz Hansen, available from Aram.
Side table, Minotti. Pink Ro chair by Jaime Hayon for Fritz Hansen, available from Aram.
Glass doors onto a Juliet balcony allow lots of light into the master bedroom.
Morris created two bathrooms in the loft, including this en suite. A spacious shower is fitted with white metro tiles, while patterned tiles in various designs cover the floor.
Floor tiles, Surface.
See how to make sense of bathroom design jargon
Floor tiles, Surface.
See how to make sense of bathroom design jargon
‘Millie wanted a double bed,’ explains Morris, ‘but without creating a really big room for her – which would have compromised the living area – the only way was to put it up high.’ The room is 7 sq m, but with a 3.5m-high ceiling there was lots of vertical space to exploit. ‘It doesn’t feel oppressive when you’re in bed,’ she adds. ‘There’s still another metre above you.’
Morris slotted a desk beneath and also designed a little alcove in the wall near the bed with sockets in it, so Millie has power for her phone or laptop. ‘It’s like a little built-in bedside table.’
Morris slotted a desk beneath and also designed a little alcove in the wall near the bed with sockets in it, so Millie has power for her phone or laptop. ‘It’s like a little built-in bedside table.’
This bathroom is accessed from the main living space. The same metro tiles and patterned floor tiles create consistency with the en suite, and the green cabinet adds a splash of colour.
This is Morris’s first foray into loft living and she’s enjoying the experience. ‘Our previous house was on several levels and each floor was quite small,’ she says. Once her two older sons had left home, those levels became underused, so a switch to lateral, open-plan living made sense. ‘This is a good way to live once the children have moved on,’ she says. ‘It’s been an exciting change. It’s nice to try something new.’
See more white bathrooms that incorporate a shot of bold colour
TELL US…
What do you think of this bright, airy loft space? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
This is Morris’s first foray into loft living and she’s enjoying the experience. ‘Our previous house was on several levels and each floor was quite small,’ she says. Once her two older sons had left home, those levels became underused, so a switch to lateral, open-plan living made sense. ‘This is a good way to live once the children have moved on,’ she says. ‘It’s been an exciting change. It’s nice to try something new.’
See more white bathrooms that incorporate a shot of bold colour
TELL US…
What do you think of this bright, airy loft space? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Nia Morris, co-founder of Cloud Studios, her partner, Paul Baines, a paediatrician, and daughter Millie
Location Central London
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, in a second-floor loft apartment measuring just over 100 sq m
Designer Nia Morris of Cloud Studios
It was love at first sight when Nia Morris came to view this loft, despite its dated appearance and open configuration. ‘I loved the fact it had a corner position, with windows on two sides and lots of natural light,’ she says. ‘I could see I’d be able to create two bedrooms and two bathrooms here. I didn’t know exactly how I was going to do it, but I felt it was possible.’