Houzz Tour: Harmonious Hues Give a Flat Style and Personality
Subtle palettes give a unique feel to each room while ensuring the whole flat feels cohesive
An easy-going client who’s open to ideas is an interior designer’s dream, but they can also present the challenge of opening up too many options. For Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors, however, this wasn’t an issue, as one of the reasons her clients had contacted her through Houzz was that they’d loved the bright-toned projects on her profile. So Sacha knew they’d be on board with an interesting colour scheme, which was confirmed by getting to know the female partner. “She was always wearing colourful clothes,” she says, “so I just knew she liked colour.”
The fireplace and alcove storage were already in place, but Sacha added a soft taupe to the walls as a cosy neutral backdrop. “I also used black accents, which help to ground the space,” she explains.
These black hues can be seen in the round mirror and the wide pendant light, which the designer chose because the ceiling is quite low. “The light makes the most of the room’s width instead, so it’s much more in proportion,” she says.
These black hues can be seen in the round mirror and the wide pendant light, which the designer chose because the ceiling is quite low. “The light makes the most of the room’s width instead, so it’s much more in proportion,” she says.
Brightly coloured artworks bring in more colour without overpowering the main scheme.
Marble side tables, West Elm. Artwork, King and McGaw.
Marble side tables, West Elm. Artwork, King and McGaw.
The dining room doubles up as an office, so Sacha kept this in mind when designing the room’s bespoke cabinets. “There are pull-out shelves inside for the printer, as well as other useful shelves and rails,” she explains. Substantial antique brass handles give a quality finish to the cupboards.
As the room is quite small, Sacha added interest with a bold blue paint colour.
Wall painted in Oval Room Blue, Farrow & Ball. Dining table, Atkin and Thyme. Chairs, West Elm. Lights, Soho Home. Artwork, HK Living.
As the room is quite small, Sacha added interest with a bold blue paint colour.
Wall painted in Oval Room Blue, Farrow & Ball. Dining table, Atkin and Thyme. Chairs, West Elm. Lights, Soho Home. Artwork, HK Living.
The table is the key piece of furniture in the room and the patterned top turns it into a feature. Sacha chose chairs in a dusky lavender fabric to complement the blue walls, and had curtains made in a similar material.
A large mirror adds an industrial feel and helps to visually open up the small room.
Ready to revamp your home? Find interior designers in your area and read reviews from previous clients.
A large mirror adds an industrial feel and helps to visually open up the small room.
Ready to revamp your home? Find interior designers in your area and read reviews from previous clients.
The kitchen was already finished and in good condition, so Sacha didn’t need to do much in this room apart from installing a matching island [not pictured].
At the other side of the kitchen, an industrial-style wooden dining table with metal legs chimes with the steel-framed patio doors.
Both the dining room and the kitchen look out to a patio area, which Sacha helped to turn into a cosy seating spot. “I created a screen with bamboo to give the couple privacy from the neighbouring property and to provide a green view,” she says.
She also sourced some garden furniture and blue and white textiles, and had a matching awning installed over the dining room French windows.
Cushions, Etsy.
She also sourced some garden furniture and blue and white textiles, and had a matching awning installed over the dining room French windows.
Cushions, Etsy.
Upstairs, soft tones give the main bedroom a relaxing feel. “We chose this patterned wallpaper to give the space depth, then picked out colours and added beige and pink,” Sacha says.
She designed similar cabinets to those in the dining room, but added a linen veneer to the insides.
Wallpaper, Cole & Son. Mother-of-pearl pendant light, Verner Panton. Dressing table, Homary.
She designed similar cabinets to those in the dining room, but added a linen veneer to the insides.
Wallpaper, Cole & Son. Mother-of-pearl pendant light, Verner Panton. Dressing table, Homary.
Round, marble-topped bedside tables add a contrasting shape, and the glass lamp bases allow the wallpaper pattern to show through.
Sacha went for a different look in the spare bedroom, with a nude peach hue on the walls balanced with denim blue accessories. Patterned cushions on the bed tie the two shades together.
Walls painted in Setting Plaster, Farrow & Ball. Bed, West Elm. Pendant light, Sweetpea & Willow. Lamps, Pooky. Cushions, Etsy. Roman blind, Ada & Ina.
Walls painted in Setting Plaster, Farrow & Ball. Bed, West Elm. Pendant light, Sweetpea & Willow. Lamps, Pooky. Cushions, Etsy. Roman blind, Ada & Ina.
Wood and rattan storage furniture brings a cosy feel to the room.
Envoys Return artwork, Mary Jane Ansell.
Envoys Return artwork, Mary Jane Ansell.
In the upstairs office, Sacha teamed restful sage green walls with warm wooden furniture. “I used earthy colours, which are relaxing to work in,” she says. “I wanted it to feel warm, not boring.”
Walls painted in Pigeon, Farrow & Ball. Lamp, Tom Dixon. Rug, French Connection.
Walls painted in Pigeon, Farrow & Ball. Lamp, Tom Dixon. Rug, French Connection.
Behind the desk and above a rattan cabinet, Sacha introduced a fun element with a quirky picture.
Asked how her client feels about the finished project, Sacha replies that she loves it all. “She was a pleasure to work with,” she says, “really open to ideas, and a lot braver than she thought.”
Artwork, Rockett St George.
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Asked how her client feels about the finished project, Sacha replies that she loves it all. “She was a pleasure to work with,” she says, “really open to ideas, and a lot braver than she thought.”
Artwork, Rockett St George.
Tell us…
What do you like about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple
Location London
Property A ground floor flat
Size Three bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors
Photos by Elina Päsok
The colour palette in the home’s living room sets the tone for the rest of the property. “It was a combination I hadn’t used before,” Sacha says of the mustard, olive green and red tones that feature in the room.
A cosy green sofa is complemented by deep yellow armchairs, all upholstered in velvet. “I always use velvet with colour, as it makes the shades look so beautiful,” she says.
Sofa, Cox & Cox. Armchairs, West Elm. Walls painted in Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball. Coffee table, Liang & Eimil.