Houzz Tour: A Fifth-floor London Flat is Totally Transformed
This apartment hadn’t been touched for half a century, but following its 21st century makeover, it now has timeless appeal
Typical of mansion flats built in the early to mid-20th century, this apartment had a separate kitchen and dining room and a living room that led out on to all the bedrooms. ‘The whole configuration just didn’t work for the here and now,’ explains Nick Leith-Smith of Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design.
As the building has a steel frame, Leith-Smith was able to completely reposition all the internal partitions without having to make any major structural changes, and this gave him free rein to completely transform the space.
As the building has a steel frame, Leith-Smith was able to completely reposition all the internal partitions without having to make any major structural changes, and this gave him free rein to completely transform the space.
As well as reconfiguring the layout, Leith-Smith was charged with furnishing the home. ‘There’s a lot of bespoke furniture here, and we sourced much of the art, too,’ he says. He’s managed to tuck plenty of storage and useful elements in without affecting the serene mood. ‘There are cupboards either side of this back wall in the living room, with a fridge built into the left-hand side and a bar unit on the right,’ he explains.
Coffee table, Fendi. Sofa, Meridian. Rug, Stark Carpets.
Coffee table, Fendi. Sofa, Meridian. Rug, Stark Carpets.
Leith-Smith used Grigio Imperiale marble flooring throughout the flat to help the space flow. He also had underfloor heating laid, so the walls aren’t cluttered with radiators.
Walls painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball.
What you need to know about underfloor heating
Walls painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball.
What you need to know about underfloor heating
The kitchen, custom-designed by Leith-Smith, is tucked in the corner of the L-shaped living space. ‘We’ve used a mix of light and dark oak units to create a contrast,’ he explains.
Soffits in the ceiling fitted with concealed lighting help to create a warm ambience and zone different areas, such as the dining space shown here.
Dining table, Armani Casa. Chairs, Flexform.
How and why to commission a bespoke kitchen
Soffits in the ceiling fitted with concealed lighting help to create a warm ambience and zone different areas, such as the dining space shown here.
Dining table, Armani Casa. Chairs, Flexform.
How and why to commission a bespoke kitchen
The owners wanted the whole home to have an air of understated luxury and this is just as apparent in the kitchen as it is in the rest of the apartment.
The worktops here are a natural champagne quartz, chosen for its crystalline pattern, while a bronze-tinted mirror has been used for the splashback.
All appliances, Miele.
The worktops here are a natural champagne quartz, chosen for its crystalline pattern, while a bronze-tinted mirror has been used for the splashback.
All appliances, Miele.
The champagne quartz worktops are hard-wearing and easy to clean. The surface has been cut around the neat, under-mounted sink to chime with the seamless feel of the kitchen units and the furniture in other rooms of the apartment, helping each space flow naturally into the next.
In the master bedroom, the bed is the focal point and it has been stepped forward to face away from the windows towards the wardrobes, which conceal a TV. It’s also been placed on a rug set into the floor, so there’s only one level of flooring in the room.
Leith-Smith has used a clever trick to enhance the light in here. ‘As the apartment is in the eaves of the building, it has very deep window reveals, so to bring in more light and to extend the view, we put bronze mirrors on the cheeks of the dormer windows,’ he explains.
Bed, The Sofa & Chair Company. Rug, Stark Carpets.
Leith-Smith has used a clever trick to enhance the light in here. ‘As the apartment is in the eaves of the building, it has very deep window reveals, so to bring in more light and to extend the view, we put bronze mirrors on the cheeks of the dormer windows,’ he explains.
Bed, The Sofa & Chair Company. Rug, Stark Carpets.
To maximise storage in the en suite bathroom, mirrored cabinets have been unobtrusively sunk into the wall. The cantilevered vanity unit also contains a discreet, roomy drawer beneath the basin.
The walls in here are Botticino Classico stone, while the floor is honed granite.
Basins, Duravit. Taps, Signorini. Shower, Hansgrohe.
The walls in here are Botticino Classico stone, while the floor is honed granite.
Basins, Duravit. Taps, Signorini. Shower, Hansgrohe.
As this guest bedroom is slightly smaller than the others, Leith-Smith designed the headboard with integral antique mirror glass to give the room more of a sense of space and make it feel more glamorous.
Wall lights, Tom Dixon. Bedside tables; lamps, The Sofa & Chair Company.
TELL US…
What do you think of this luxury apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Wall lights, Tom Dixon. Bedside tables; lamps, The Sofa & Chair Company.
TELL US…
What do you think of this luxury apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A family who use this apartment as their UK base
Location Central London
Property An apartment in an early 20th century, purpose-built block
Size 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Architect Nick Leith-Smith of Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design
This apartment is on the fifth floor, which means it benefits from amazing natural light. ‘It has windows on both sides,’ explains Leith-Smith. ‘We maximised the light coming in from the east and the west at different times of the day by putting in a glass partition wall between the hallway and living space.
‘We then reduced the circulation space of the hallways and corridors to give more floor area to the bedrooms and bathrooms. We also created a light and airy open-plan kitchen, dining and living space.’
Leather buttoned hallway seat, designed by Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design.