Houzz Tour: A Bright and Open London Loft
A converted factory space benefits from abundant windows, a modified open-plan design and eclectic art and decor
Nia Morris’ London loft, once part of a Pirelli tire factory, is now a light, bright and flexible home. When she bought the apartment two years ago, the decor was dated and the layout almost completely open-plan, but with her trained eye — Morris is co-founder of interior design firm Cloud Studios — she saw it could be reconfigured to suit her family life.
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.” Her use of wood flooring, antique mirrors, silvery wallpaper and bold artwork steer the space away from a purely industrial look toward something more eclectic and light.
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.” Her use of wood flooring, antique mirrors, silvery wallpaper and bold artwork steer the space away from a purely industrial look toward something more eclectic and light.
The loft is furnished with a mix of contemporary pieces, vintage finds and antiques. An old blueprints chest now holds the sketches, plans and drawings relating to the design 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 about 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. “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
Morris was keen to make sure the central areas worked in harmony. “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
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.
The wide floorboards were another key investment for Morris. “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,” she says. 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,” Morris says.
Bermuda dining table: Asplund; flooring: Dinesen
The wide floorboards were another key investment for Morris. “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,” she says. 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,” Morris says.
Bermuda dining table: Asplund; flooring: Dinesen
Although the original, almost completely open-plan layout wasn’t suitable for family living, 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.”
The renovation took just 3½ months, thanks to Morris’ careful planning. In addition to the new kitchen, all the windows were replaced and two new bathrooms and a laundry room were added. Morris also installed new lighting and underfloor heating. “We completely gutted it,” she says.
Large wooden hooks and a bench that Morris had built provide storage in the entrance hall.
Dots hooks: Lars Tornøe for Muuto
Dots hooks: Lars Tornøe for Muuto
Statement lighting adds character to the loft. Two large pendants hang above the living area. “You notice them when you walk in,” Morris says. “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 pendant lights are huge — over 3 feet tall. “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,” Morris says.
Pendant lights: Ay Illuminate
The two pendant lights are huge — over 3 feet tall. “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,” Morris says.
Pendant lights: Ay Illuminate
Morris was intent on preserving the unique features of the loft, such as the concrete ceiling. “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 galvanized 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 galvanized 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 against the pillars. “There isn’t much wall space because of the windows on two sides, the kitchen and my office on the fourth wall,” Morris says. “It made sense to make use of the pillars.” An internal window lets light into the second bedroom.
Ptolomeo bookcases: The Conran Shop
Ptolomeo bookcases: The Conran Shop
South- and east-facing windows flood the loft with light, at times to a dazzling extent. “I sometimes can’t see my computer screen,” Morris says. She installed simple linen blinds to help control the brightness.
Ball lights: Michael Anastassiades
Ball lights: Michael Anastassiades
For the hallway, Morris designed a neat, wall-mounted storage unit that’s just the right size to hold a folding bike.
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.”
Each of the lights has its 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,” Morris says. “You can hang them however you like.”
Aim pendant lights: Flos, Made in Design; mirrored dressing table: B&T Antiques
Each of the lights has its 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,” Morris says. “You can hang them however you like.”
Aim pendant lights: Flos, Made in Design; mirrored dressing table: B&T Antiques
The walls of the master bedroom are covered in a silvery paper. “I’ve looked for ways to soften the masculine feel of the loft,” Morris says. “Once I’d hung the lights, I decided they made the space feel slightly too industrial, so I added the silver wallpaper,” which features a giant lizard pattern. “It’s quite weird, but quite subtle,” Morris says.
Iguana wallpaper: Timorous Beasties
Iguana wallpaper: Timorous Beasties
Morris designed a huge wall of closets for the master bedroom, which provides most of the loft’s 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,” Morris says. “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: Aram
Side table: Minotti; pink Ro chair by Jaime Hayon for Fritz Hansen: Aram
Glass doors that open onto a Juliet balcony allow lots of light into the master bedroom.
Morris created two bathrooms in the loft. This one features a spacious shower fitted with white subway tiles and various patterned tiles on 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,” Morris says, “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 75 square feet but has a 10-foot-high ceiling, so there was lots of vertical space to exploit. “It doesn’t feel oppressive when you’re in bed,” Morris says. “There’s still another [3 feet] above you.”
Morris slotted a desk beneath the bed and also designed a little alcove with electrical outlets so Millie has power for her phone or laptop. “It’s like a little built-in bedside table.”
Morris slotted a desk beneath the bed and also designed a little alcove with electrical outlets 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 subway tiles and patterned floor tiles are consistent with the other bathroom, with the green cabinet adding a splash of color.
This is Morris’ 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.”
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This is Morris’ 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.”
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
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Nia Morris, co-founder of interior design firm Cloud Studios; her partner, Paul Baines, a pediatrician; and daughter Millie
Location: Central London
Size: 1,075 square feet (100 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
It was love at first sight when Nia Morris viewed 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,” the interior designer 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.”