Houzz Tour: A Spacious and Elegant Victorian Apartment in West London
A very roomy flat has been carved out of three properties and elegantly furnished to match its proportions
Cathy Rebecca
25 May 2015
London-based freelance journalist
It’s not every day you get to tour a triple lateral conversion. In fact, this is only the second property in London to have been created like this. A triple lateral conversion involves opening up a space horizontally across three properties. As you can imagine, it was a mammoth project, and the planning stage alone took more than seven months, but the result is an impressive space that’s been elegantly decorated with furniture from around the world.
Houzz at a Glance
Location West London
Size 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Architect Georgina Turvey of PEEK Architecture + Design
Interior designer Bonnie Meredith of Bonnie Meredith Studio
Georgina was responsible for the architectural side of the project, while Bonnie took care of the specification for the hard finishes, including the kitchen and bathrooms as well as the furniture and soft finishes.
Location West London
Size 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Architect Georgina Turvey of PEEK Architecture + Design
Interior designer Bonnie Meredith of Bonnie Meredith Studio
Georgina was responsible for the architectural side of the project, while Bonnie took care of the specification for the hard finishes, including the kitchen and bathrooms as well as the furniture and soft finishes.
The new apartment – which exists in the space of four previous flats – spans all nine windows of the first floor seen in this photo. ‘It was a huge project,’ says Georgina. ‘We had three different builders working on the different parts.’
Previously, the spaces had been very dated and a little drab, and Georgina and Bonnie wanted to create something extraordinary. ‘We wanted to make it look as though a family had been living here for 100 years,’ explains Bonnie.
Previously, the spaces had been very dated and a little drab, and Georgina and Bonnie wanted to create something extraordinary. ‘We wanted to make it look as though a family had been living here for 100 years,’ explains Bonnie.
Taking the European aristocracy as a starting point, the designer used distressed paint finishes and bespoke furniture to give the space a slightly more lived-in feel.
There are three reception rooms: this central one, which is a formal reception and dining area for guests; a kitchen and breakfast area, and a separate library and lounging space.
Dining table, Salda. Dining chairs, Robert Langford. Rug, Luke Irwin. Chandelier, Chelini. Curtain fabric, Jim Thompson at Fox Linton. Table lamps, Absolute Flowers & Home.
Check out 11 ways to add luxury to your living space
There are three reception rooms: this central one, which is a formal reception and dining area for guests; a kitchen and breakfast area, and a separate library and lounging space.
Dining table, Salda. Dining chairs, Robert Langford. Rug, Luke Irwin. Chandelier, Chelini. Curtain fabric, Jim Thompson at Fox Linton. Table lamps, Absolute Flowers & Home.
Check out 11 ways to add luxury to your living space
The central room is the most formal of the three receptions and is designed for hosting guests. It’s more structured, and the furniture is more stately. ‘A lot of the furniture was made in Italy by old-school craftsmen,’ says Bonnie, ‘and the rug was handmade in Nepal.’
Almost all of the fireplaces in the home were there already. ‘We didn’t want to take them out as they’re part of the story of the architecture,’ explains Georgina.
Almost all of the fireplaces in the home were there already. ‘We didn’t want to take them out as they’re part of the story of the architecture,’ explains Georgina.
The next reception room has a cosier feel. ‘This is more of a lounging area,’ explains Bonnie. ‘We had a beautiful, big, L-shaped sofa made to create a real focal point.’
The colour scheme in here is slightly darker, with built-in library shelves giving it a cosy feel. To the left of the bookcase there are glass shelves, and underneath are drawer fridges that store everything needed for an evening cocktail.
Corner sofa, bespoke in fabric by Rubelli. Purple armchairs; writing desk; chair, all Chelini. Walls painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball.
The colour scheme in here is slightly darker, with built-in library shelves giving it a cosy feel. To the left of the bookcase there are glass shelves, and underneath are drawer fridges that store everything needed for an evening cocktail.
Corner sofa, bespoke in fabric by Rubelli. Purple armchairs; writing desk; chair, all Chelini. Walls painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball.
This was the only fireplace in the flat that was replaced. Georgina sketched the design and had it made in Rosso marble by a stonemason. To the left of the fireplace is a hidden TV. The panelling lifts up electronically to reveal the flatscreen.
Bonnie used the same curtains in here as in the more formal reception room to create some continuity for the front elevation.
Silk curtain fabric, Jim Thompson at Fox Linton.
Bonnie used the same curtains in here as in the more formal reception room to create some continuity for the front elevation.
Silk curtain fabric, Jim Thompson at Fox Linton.
The third reception room is a multi-functional space that serves as a kitchen, breakfast room and informal seating area.
‘We wanted a bit of an Art Deco feel in here,’ explains Georgina. ‘We didn’t want the kitchen to feel too much like a kitchen,’ adds Bonnie. She kept it light and fresh with off-white walls, and chose a more relaxed dining table, which she teamed with bespoke Italian dining chairs.
Walls painted in Strong White, Farrow & Ball. Dining table, Salda. Dining chairs, bespoke from Orsi. Lighting, Circa Lighting.
‘We wanted a bit of an Art Deco feel in here,’ explains Georgina. ‘We didn’t want the kitchen to feel too much like a kitchen,’ adds Bonnie. She kept it light and fresh with off-white walls, and chose a more relaxed dining table, which she teamed with bespoke Italian dining chairs.
Walls painted in Strong White, Farrow & Ball. Dining table, Salda. Dining chairs, bespoke from Orsi. Lighting, Circa Lighting.
Georgina sketched the kitchen design and had it made according to her drawing. ‘We didn’t want any wall cupboards,’ she says, ‘so a lot of the storage went into the island.’
The cabinets are lacquered timber with antique brass handles, and the worktop is a beige marble, with a grey marquina marble on the island. A smoked mirror splashback and brass taps complete the sophisticated and luxurious look.
Appliances, Gaggenau. Taps, Perrin & Rowe.
The cabinets are lacquered timber with antique brass handles, and the worktop is a beige marble, with a grey marquina marble on the island. A smoked mirror splashback and brass taps complete the sophisticated and luxurious look.
Appliances, Gaggenau. Taps, Perrin & Rowe.
The bedrooms are all decorated in a neutral palette, with grey hues and elegant accent pieces of furniture. A bespoke bed covered in a luxurious bedspread forms the main feature of this room. The mirror above the fireplace is actually a TV.
Jute carpet, Tim Page. Bedside table, Salda. Pendant and bedside lights, Circa Lighting. Armchair, The French House.
Jute carpet, Tim Page. Bedside table, Salda. Pendant and bedside lights, Circa Lighting. Armchair, The French House.
Each bedroom has an en suite. ‘The tiles at the end are rough-cut marble,’ explains Georgina. ‘They come as a mosaic sheet you can stick to the wall.’ The shower enclosure is lined in back-painted glass. With brass fittings adding a warm gleam to the cool surfaces, the look is classic with a contemporary twist.
Sanitaryware, Butler. Taps, Lefroy Brooks.
Sanitaryware, Butler. Taps, Lefroy Brooks.
A second bedroom continues the understated elegance look. Linen wallpaper gives the room warmth, while the jute carpet brings in some nice texture. As in the other bedrooms, Georgina created a soffit in the ceiling and installed concealed LED strip lighting that can be dimmed to change the ambience.
Jute carpet, Tim Page. Armchair, The French House. Suede throw, Oka. Ivory Linen Herringbone wallcovering, Stereo.
Jute carpet, Tim Page. Armchair, The French House. Suede throw, Oka. Ivory Linen Herringbone wallcovering, Stereo.
For the master suite, Bonnie wanted to do something that would make it different to the other bedrooms, so she opted for an abaca carpet, which is a type of natural fibre. There’s a little nook housing a dressing table, custom-made in ebonized oak, and the suite has two bathrooms (a his and a hers) as well as a large dressing room, which leads onto the library reception area seen in the distance.
Abaca carpet, Tim Page. Bedspread, The White Company. Throw, Nicole Farhi.
Abaca carpet, Tim Page. Bedspread, The White Company. Throw, Nicole Farhi.
The master dressing room, in ebonized oak and burgundy leather, was made bespoke and gives the space an opulent feel. Bonnie found the table in a Paris flea market.
This is the ‘hers’ bathroom of the two en suites. Georgina went for Calacatta d’Oro marble with brass fittings to create a luxurious feel with a contemporary edge. She decided to enclose the toilet in brass mesh that’s been sandwiched between glass to keep it separate from the shower area.
The showerhead is flush with the ceiling, which had to be lowered to fit it in, and the white onyx wall has LED backlighting to create a moody atmosphere. The bath is made entirely from marble, and the floor had to be reinforced to stand the weight. It’s a huge square tub that’s more like a miniature swimming pool than a bath.
Showerhead, Rossini. Taps, Lefroy Brooks.
See ways to incorporate marble into your home
The showerhead is flush with the ceiling, which had to be lowered to fit it in, and the white onyx wall has LED backlighting to create a moody atmosphere. The bath is made entirely from marble, and the floor had to be reinforced to stand the weight. It’s a huge square tub that’s more like a miniature swimming pool than a bath.
Showerhead, Rossini. Taps, Lefroy Brooks.
See ways to incorporate marble into your home
This is the common hallway, which had to be unified and modernised. ‘It was very magnolia,’ says Bonnie, so she updated it with fresh, clean colours.
Pendant lights, Circa Lighting.
Pendant lights, Circa Lighting.
The flat benefits from a beautiful long balcony that stretches across the entire width of the home. Anoushka Feiler of Bestique took care of the landscaping. ‘We put in lots of pot plants and a Victorian-style tiled floor to give it an established feel,’ explains Georgina.
Victorian-style tiles, Original Style.
Victorian-style tiles, Original Style.
TELL US…
What do you think of this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Beautiful apartment! Wonder if it's sound proofed (floor and ceiling ) as these old London buildings can be a nightmare that way.
LOVE this home, although expensive it feels cosy and homly in the living areas. The hallway colour & kitchen aren't my choice, but hey, I don't live there! And the bedrooms need a little more cosy as they look a bit modern and stark, some nice roman blinds would make a world of difference. An excellent project overall, well done!