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Houzz Tour: A Tiny Basement Flat is Boosted With Colour
Introducing pattern, rich pastels and warm brass details has made this once-plain apartment cosy and luxurious
It’s hard to imagine now, but this bright apartment was an empty shell when the owner, Rajmeet, moved in. She found interior designer Sacha Berger on Houzz and asked her to help bring the flat to life.
“My main priority,” Sacha says, “was to brighten up the place and make it feel less like a basement flat with low ceilings. I wanted it to be a bright, happy and interesting space, so you didn’t concentrate too much on the small rooms.”
“My main priority,” Sacha says, “was to brighten up the place and make it feel less like a basement flat with low ceilings. I wanted it to be a bright, happy and interesting space, so you didn’t concentrate too much on the small rooms.”
A teal midcentury-style sofa sits in front of a sculptural artwork. “This and the lovely brass wall sconces fill the space without overpowering the room,” Sacha says.
Need some help to design your home? Find an interior designer in your area.
Need some help to design your home? Find an interior designer in your area.
To maximise the alcoves either side of the chimney breast, Sacha installed low cupboards with shelving above for books.
By the window is a dining table with plenty of seating. “As everything’s in one room, we didn’t want the space to look cluttered,” Sacha says, “so we chose a bench seat and just a few chairs. The table is also used as a desk when the owner works from home.”
Sofa; artwork, both West Elm. Wallpaper, Cole & Son. Flooring, The Parquet Flooring Company. Pendant light, eBay. Side tables; coffee table; dining table, all Graham & Green.
By the window is a dining table with plenty of seating. “As everything’s in one room, we didn’t want the space to look cluttered,” Sacha says, “so we chose a bench seat and just a few chairs. The table is also used as a desk when the owner works from home.”
Sofa; artwork, both West Elm. Wallpaper, Cole & Son. Flooring, The Parquet Flooring Company. Pendant light, eBay. Side tables; coffee table; dining table, all Graham & Green.
“The kitchen is tiny, but I wanted it to look really stylish for Rajmeet,” Sacha says, “so we chose brass handles to give it a more high-end finish.”
The tap is also brass, as are the plug sockets and switches. “As everything is quite small, you really notice them,” Sacha says.
The cabinets are painted in two colours to make the space feel more interesting. “You can see into here from the living room,” she says, “so the colours all complement each other.”
Cabinets; worktop; splashback, all Wren Kitchens. Cabinet handles, Buster + Punch.
The tap is also brass, as are the plug sockets and switches. “As everything is quite small, you really notice them,” Sacha says.
The cabinets are painted in two colours to make the space feel more interesting. “You can see into here from the living room,” she says, “so the colours all complement each other.”
Cabinets; worktop; splashback, all Wren Kitchens. Cabinet handles, Buster + Punch.
A marbled granite worktop and splashback subtly lighten up the space. Moroccan patterned tiles add interest to the kitchen floor and that of the utility room next door.
Discover how to perfectly pair two kitchen cabinet colours.
Discover how to perfectly pair two kitchen cabinet colours.
In the hallway, Sacha painted the walls in a pale grey and the doors in a slightly dark shade. A small black console is stylish and useful.
Console, Made.com.
Console, Made.com.
In the bedroom, Sacha suggested a calm colour scheme. “I wanted to be quite brave in here, and thought white walls would be too stark,” she says. Pale aqua forms a backdrop for soft pink and bright turquoise accents.
Bed; bedside tables; lamps, all Anthropologie. Chest of drawers; mirror, both Graham & Green. Door handles, Buster + Punch. Walls painted in Pale Powder, Farrow & Ball.
Bed; bedside tables; lamps, all Anthropologie. Chest of drawers; mirror, both Graham & Green. Door handles, Buster + Punch. Walls painted in Pale Powder, Farrow & Ball.
“Rajmeet wanted plenty of storage, so we used as much wall as possible to build in wardrobes,” Sacha says. “To open up the space, we painted them in the same colour as the walls.”
“The spare room is extra mini, so it was tricky to find a sofa-bed that would squeeze in,” Sacha says. “It only just fits in the room when it’s opened up for guests.”
She suggested patterned wallpaper to make the space feel inviting, and installed wall lights, as there wasn’t room for a pendant light.
Wallpaper, Cole & Son. Sofa, Maisons du Monde.
She suggested patterned wallpaper to make the space feel inviting, and installed wall lights, as there wasn’t room for a pendant light.
Wallpaper, Cole & Son. Sofa, Maisons du Monde.
The bathroom is also small, so Sacha brought in plenty of stylish features to make it feel special and inviting.
“We chose a pink and mint colour palette that’s similar to the bedroom, but with a dark vanity unit to contrast with it,” Sacha says. “The floor tiles were the starting point for the colour scheme and help to tie all the hues together.”
Vanity unit painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball. Mirror; wall lights, all Etsy. Floor tiles; wall tiles, all Fired Earth.
“We chose a pink and mint colour palette that’s similar to the bedroom, but with a dark vanity unit to contrast with it,” Sacha says. “The floor tiles were the starting point for the colour scheme and help to tie all the hues together.”
Vanity unit painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball. Mirror; wall lights, all Etsy. Floor tiles; wall tiles, all Fired Earth.
The vanity unit was made bespoke and has a marble top. Brass was then introduced in the fixtures, radiator and mirror.
Tell us…
What do you like about this bright, colourful basement apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you like about this bright, colourful basement apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? Rajmeet Bhatti
Location North London
Property A basement flat in a Georgian house
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Designer Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors
Photos by Elina Pasok
In the living room, a large chimney breast wall is covered in striking wallpaper and an oversized mirror. “There was an ugly vent on the wall, so I decided to disguise it with the patterned wallpaper,” Sacha says. “We added the mirror to bring in lots of light and pare back the paper.”
Opposite the mirror is a media unit and TV. “The screen is on a bracket that comes forward and turns, so it can easily be seen from all parts of the room,” Sacha says. “We went for a simple white unit that blends in with the wall and doesn’t become a strong feature in the room.”