Houzz Tour: A London Warehouse Apartment Full of Clever, Flexible Space
A former tea warehouse in London is now home to this cleverly updated apartment, featuring flowing space and seriously smart lighting
This spacious apartment sits inside a historic wharf warehouse in east London. The Grade II listed building was bought for redevelopment in 1972 and was one of the first warehouses on the banks of the Thames to be transformed into housing. “This apartment hadn’t been refurbished since it was originally converted in the 1970s,” says James Holt, who worked on its modernisation. “There was a lot of pine everywhere. It had been divided up with lots of boxy rooms, and one bedroom had no natural light.”
Architect James Wells redesigned the space to create largely open-plan living that nevertheless respected the bones of the building. “It was important to retain the original features and maintain the character of the property, while making it work for contemporary life,” says Pippa Easton, who worked with Holt on the project. The result is a brilliantly designed home, packed with clever innovations, but brimming with warehouse character.
Architect James Wells redesigned the space to create largely open-plan living that nevertheless respected the bones of the building. “It was important to retain the original features and maintain the character of the property, while making it work for contemporary life,” says Pippa Easton, who worked with Holt on the project. The result is a brilliantly designed home, packed with clever innovations, but brimming with warehouse character.
There were several challenges in working on this first floor apartment. “The logistics were tricky,” Holt says. “Access was via quite a winding staircase, so getting materials in and out was difficult.”
Another challenge was the lighting. “The apartment’s only windows are all at one end,” Holt explains. “We also couldn’t install downlighters in the ceiling because of fire regulations.” Instead, spots are fitted on the ceiling, rather than installed in it.
Another challenge was the lighting. “The apartment’s only windows are all at one end,” Holt explains. “We also couldn’t install downlighters in the ceiling because of fire regulations.” Instead, spots are fitted on the ceiling, rather than installed in it.
The apartment is fitted with an electronic lighting control system called Rako. “You can programme in different settings for different times of the day,” says Holt. “You can prioritise the dining area, for example, and dim the lights elsewhere to create intimate pockets. This is such a big space, so it was important to zone it using lighting.”
Built-in cabinetry runs along the central wall, providing essential storage and also display space. It’s a cantilevered design made from stained oak veneer, with the shelves in laminated ply. “We also included some back-lit glass shelves,” Holt adds.
Browse 13 stylish storage solutions for living rooms
Built-in cabinetry runs along the central wall, providing essential storage and also display space. It’s a cantilevered design made from stained oak veneer, with the shelves in laminated ply. “We also included some back-lit glass shelves,” Holt adds.
Browse 13 stylish storage solutions for living rooms
A large, sliding pocket door can close off this second living space from the main social area of the apartment, so it can become a second bedroom when guests stay.
“It’s important with open-plan living that you try to create zones, while also preserving the sense of openness and the ability to move around the space freely,” says Pippa Easton. “Within that, you need concentrated areas with a sense of identity.”
James Wells Architects designed the kitchen with the owner, and all the joinery came from Five Furniture. The worktop is quartz. The owner chose the floor tiles, too. “They really help to make it into a zoned kitchen space,” says Holt. The pocket door leads into a small utility room with a butler’s sink.
Floor tiles, Solus Ceramics. Swiss Pro stainless-steel mixer tap, Franke. Range cooker, Rangemaster. Industrial pendant lights, Pigeon Vintage Furniture.
Floor tiles, Solus Ceramics. Swiss Pro stainless-steel mixer tap, Franke. Range cooker, Rangemaster. Industrial pendant lights, Pigeon Vintage Furniture.
The beautiful parquet flooring in the apartment looks original, but was installed during the renovation work. “Another challenge was that the client wanted underfloor heating,” says Holt. “There’s a concrete floor underneath, which was out of level by about 50mm throughout the whole apartment. We had to level it all without losing ceiling height, which was pretty tricky.”
Holt’s team then laid wet underfloor heating with the parquet flooring on top. “We also installed uplighters by all the columns, to pick them out,” he says.
Distressed oak chevron flooring, Walking On Wood. Morph stools in walnut, Zeitraum at Viaduct.
Read this expert guide to underfloor heating
Holt’s team then laid wet underfloor heating with the parquet flooring on top. “We also installed uplighters by all the columns, to pick them out,” he says.
Distressed oak chevron flooring, Walking On Wood. Morph stools in walnut, Zeitraum at Viaduct.
Read this expert guide to underfloor heating
Much of the exposed brickwork had been painted or bisected by rooms in the old layout. It was repointed in places and then sandblasted, to reveal the beautiful bricks. “Sandblasting the walls was really difficult,” says Holt. “The residual dust goes everywhere.”
He and his team had to tape up doors and windows and also gain access to neighbouring apartments to seal them up. “By the end, you have six inches of sand on the floor, which is pretty horrific!” he says.
Fork floor lamp, Foscarini with Diesel, available from Nest.
He and his team had to tape up doors and windows and also gain access to neighbouring apartments to seal them up. “By the end, you have six inches of sand on the floor, which is pretty horrific!” he says.
Fork floor lamp, Foscarini with Diesel, available from Nest.
“Sliding doors mean you can compartmentalise the bedroom spaces,” says Easton, “but for day-to-day living, it’s all flowing, open space. You can walk from the master bedroom right round into the rest of the house.”
This comfortable living space can be converted into a bedroom when friends stay. There’s a second, guest bathroom off the entrance hall.
Sofa, Ikea.
Sofa, Ikea.
The spacious master bathroom has a freestanding bath and shower. The bath was painted by the supplier in this choice of rich grey.
15mm Carrara marble tiles, Mandarin Stone. Lyon bath, Ribble Reclamation; painted in Iron Grey RAL 7011, mixed by Dulux.
Discover the key trends influencing bathroom design in 2016
15mm Carrara marble tiles, Mandarin Stone. Lyon bath, Ribble Reclamation; painted in Iron Grey RAL 7011, mixed by Dulux.
Discover the key trends influencing bathroom design in 2016
The door next to the shower leads to the loo. The shower has black porcelain tiles that continue into the toilet. Slim windows run along the top of the internal wall, drawing natural light into this bathroom, but also the dressing room and master bedroom next to it.
The basin unit was made bespoke for this space. It contains two under-mounted basins and a marble splashback and top.
Carrara marble tiles, Mandarin Stone. Taps, Crosswater. Basins, Duravit.
Carrara marble tiles, Mandarin Stone. Taps, Crosswater. Basins, Duravit.
The plans show how brilliantly arranged this apartment is, with generous, open-plan living, but also a dressing room, laundry room, utility and second bathroom neatly included in the layout.
TELL US…
Impressed by this beautiful warehouse apartment? Tell us what you like about it in the Comments below.
TELL US…
Impressed by this beautiful warehouse apartment? Tell us what you like about it in the Comments below.
Who lives here A couple
Location Wapping, London
Property An apartment in a Grade II listed converted tea warehouse built in 1869
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms; 1,800 sq ft
Architect James Wells Architects
Construction James Holt and Pippa Easton of Holt Construction
“The beauty of this apartment was that we could literally remove every single wall and start again,” James Holt says. “That said, one challenge was to fit new stud walls around the structural columns. Any new layout had to work around them.”
Columns painted in Umbra Grey RAL 7022, mixed by Dulux. Togo sofas in Cadmium Orange, Ligne Roset. Pilke pendant lamp, Showroom Finland at Skandium.