Houzz Tour: Relaxed Vintage Style in a Once-neglected Flat
This cleverly reconfigured flat has become a calm, light-filled home peppered with characterful reclaimed finds
Sarah Alcroft
17 May 2021
Houzz UK Editorial Team
For many of us, having a vision of how we want our homes to look is one thing, but how to get to that gorgeous, finished point, especially when there are numerous stages including demolition and permissions to navigate, is quite another.
That was the situation facing the couple who own this period flat. They both have a keen design eye, and had collected numerous vintage pieces for the stylish space they envisaged, but they needed help to make it happen. Fortunately, Cat Hoad and the team at Absolute Project Management were on hand to help.
That was the situation facing the couple who own this period flat. They both have a keen design eye, and had collected numerous vintage pieces for the stylish space they envisaged, but they needed help to make it happen. Fortunately, Cat Hoad and the team at Absolute Project Management were on hand to help.
Flat at a Glance
Who lives here? A couple in their thirties
Location Hackney, north London
Property A first-floor, purpose-built period flat
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Designer Cat Hoad of Absolute Project Management
Kitchen designer Uncommon Projects
Photos by Helen Rayner of Moon Street Studio Photography
The home’s new owners originally planned to do all the work themselves, but they quickly realised they needed help.
“The flat had lots of things wrong with it, such as damp that hadn’t been addressed,” Cat says. “Also, because there’s a property underneath it, there were party wall issues. There were a lot of stages [to navigate] and the couple didn’t know exactly how to go about the process.”
Who lives here? A couple in their thirties
Location Hackney, north London
Property A first-floor, purpose-built period flat
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Designer Cat Hoad of Absolute Project Management
Kitchen designer Uncommon Projects
Photos by Helen Rayner of Moon Street Studio Photography
The home’s new owners originally planned to do all the work themselves, but they quickly realised they needed help.
“The flat had lots of things wrong with it, such as damp that hadn’t been addressed,” Cat says. “Also, because there’s a property underneath it, there were party wall issues. There were a lot of stages [to navigate] and the couple didn’t know exactly how to go about the process.”
Originally, the living room was at the front of the property. The owners wanted to combine the rear kitchen and small bathroom behind it to create a large kitchen/dining/living space instead, as seen here.
Before Photo
The kitchen as it looked before the renovation.
The ‘before’ floorplan on the left shows how small the original bathroom was and the fact the kitchen layout wasn’t making the most of the space.
As you can see in the ‘after’ floorplan on the right, Cat’s team removed the wall between the bathroom and kitchen to create an open-plan kitchen/diner/living space, then moved the bathroom into the roomier former store room.
As you can see in the ‘after’ floorplan on the right, Cat’s team removed the wall between the bathroom and kitchen to create an open-plan kitchen/diner/living space, then moved the bathroom into the roomier former store room.
Having the living room at the back of the property means the couple can enjoy views of the local gardens, and have easy access to their own green patch via steps down from the balcony.
Cat replaced the door with a fully glazed one, adding to the many windows in the open-plan room to make this a lovely light space.
Cat replaced the door with a fully glazed one, adding to the many windows in the open-plan room to make this a lovely light space.
The couple were keen to incorporate lots of vintage and upcycled pieces. “They’re a creative couple, and good at that unconventional, mix-it-up approach,” Cat says. However, she advised that they shouldn’t necessarily choose the cheapest reclaimed materials.
This was particularly the case when it came to flooring, including the Victorian tiles seen here in the hearth and also used on the bathroom floor.
“We said, ‘You could get those knackered, dirty old tiles, and the guys could clean them and put them in, but that’s going to cost a fortune, as it will take ages to clean each tile,’” she says.
The same applied with the beautiful reclaimed parquet. Knocking the back of the flat into one room meant the flooring was left as a mix of old boards, concrete and tiles. The couple decided on parquet to unify the space, but hunted for blocks that didn’t need too much work. “We said, don’t get something that’s really cheap and coated with 40-year-old adhesive, as it will take ages to clean them up so they lie flat,” Cat says.
This was particularly the case when it came to flooring, including the Victorian tiles seen here in the hearth and also used on the bathroom floor.
“We said, ‘You could get those knackered, dirty old tiles, and the guys could clean them and put them in, but that’s going to cost a fortune, as it will take ages to clean each tile,’” she says.
The same applied with the beautiful reclaimed parquet. Knocking the back of the flat into one room meant the flooring was left as a mix of old boards, concrete and tiles. The couple decided on parquet to unify the space, but hunted for blocks that didn’t need too much work. “We said, don’t get something that’s really cheap and coated with 40-year-old adhesive, as it will take ages to clean them up so they lie flat,” Cat says.
The tiles they eventually settled on work beautifully with both the parquet and the brickwork in the newly opened up fireplace. The team gave the chimney opening a gently curving top, which softens it nicely.
The flat is painted crisp white throughout, as a backdrop for the owners’ pieces. “The idea was that the accessories would do all the colour,” Cat says.
This area, originally in the hallway outside the small former bathroom, contained an unused loft hatch. The owners sourced a piece of stained glass, which Cat had reframed and fitted into the ceiling, creating a decorative feature and bringing light into this corner.
The new fire door was glazed to allow the extra light to spill into the hallway, too.
The new fire door was glazed to allow the extra light to spill into the hallway, too.
The kitchen was designed and fitted by Uncommon Projects. The cabinets are oak-veneered birch plywood with Formica-faced plywood worktops. The doors on the wall cupboard and the back of the island are cork-veneered birch ply, adding warmth and interesting texture and chiming with the sustainable theme in the flat.
The black doors are birch plywood finished in Fenix NTM laminate, which has a matt finish and is very robust. Some areas have been left open to bring in colour from the couple’s books and pottery.
The black doors are birch plywood finished in Fenix NTM laminate, which has a matt finish and is very robust. Some areas have been left open to bring in colour from the couple’s books and pottery.
There’s ample storage for the couple in the galley layout, plus a washing machine and dishwasher flanking the sink. The fridge-freezer is on the right of the tall unit.
Find the right people to help make your project a reality in the Houzz Professionals Directory, where you can search for professionals in your area, see photos of their work and read client reviews.
Find the right people to help make your project a reality in the Houzz Professionals Directory, where you can search for professionals in your area, see photos of their work and read client reviews.
Before Photo
The old bathroom, which has now been absorbed into the new, open-plan living space, was quite cramped.
Moving it to the bigger, former store room next to it allowed Cat to create a better layout and a separate shower (out of shot on the right). A corner cupboard on the left was built around the boiler, fitted with shelves, and given an old door to match others in the flat.
The reclaimed floor tiles, seen in the hearth in the living area, also make a stunning feature in here.
The reclaimed floor tiles, seen in the hearth in the living area, also make a stunning feature in here.
Before Photo
The reclaimed tiles were painstakingly laid to create the classic pattern.
A reclaimed wooden table and art school sink have been turned into a vanity unit. The timber was painted with a clear matt lacquer to waterproof it and protect the natural patina that had developed.
An Art Deco mirror, vintage first aid kit and reclaimed brass tap add to the laid-back, pre-loved style.
An Art Deco mirror, vintage first aid kit and reclaimed brass tap add to the laid-back, pre-loved style.
The couple sourced reclaimed brass taps and shower fittings for their new bathroom. “They were really clever about buying old brass tapware and stuff from eBay,” Cat says, “but again, we guided them that you can buy something that looks really nice, but you have to be sure it works with the water you have here and the pipework that’s going to it. You need to factor in the cost of the work to make that shower head function.”
The team did make it all work, however, and the patinated brass looks lovely with the antique wood and Victorian tiles.
The team did make it all work, however, and the patinated brass looks lovely with the antique wood and Victorian tiles.
The wall tiles are super-simple to allow the reclaimed pieces to shine.
When the windows in the flat were overhauled, the glazing in here was replaced, the bottom panes with frosted glass for privacy.
When the windows in the flat were overhauled, the glazing in here was replaced, the bottom panes with frosted glass for privacy.
In this photo, with the kitchen-diner behind the camera, the bathroom is to the left, just out of shot; the two doors further down are the spare and main bedrooms, and the door at the end leads to the workroom.
There was a second loft opening here, but it was small, so Cat’s team enlarged it and fitted a fold-down ladder. They then kitted out the loft space with new boards and a light to create a good-sized storage area.
There was a second loft opening here, but it was small, so Cat’s team enlarged it and fitted a fold-down ladder. They then kitted out the loft space with new boards and a light to create a good-sized storage area.
The brick chimney breasts have been exposed in both bedrooms. “When the guys were stripping off the old, blown plaster, the clients said they really liked the brickwork,” Cat says. It did need to be cleaned up, however. “They liked the rough luxe look, but the bricks needed to be tidied up, because there were loose ones,” she says. “We wanted the new pointing to match the old stuff, so we got dyes to get the correct colour.”
The hearth in the main bedroom is original, but a reclaimed fireplace was fitted in here and the spare bedroom. A new plaster ceiling rose was also added. “In a property that’s had mouldings, we suggest clients could fit a simple version to reinstate a period feel without being too ersatz,” Cat says.
In the spare room, there’s a new slate hearth, in keeping with the original style. The boards throughout the hallway, bedrooms and workroom are original.
The curtains in both bedrooms were handmade by the owner.
The curtains in both bedrooms were handmade by the owner.
One of the owners is a fashion designer and this gloriously light room functions as a work space. The walls had been stripped to reveal a patchwork of past paint, plaster and wallpaper. The couple liked the look and wanted to keep it, so the area was lightly prepped then sealed with a clear matt lacquer.
“We thought about doing this style throughout,” Cat says, “but it turned out that, in most rooms, the plaster was about to fall off if you tapped it.”
“We thought about doing this style throughout,” Cat says, “but it turned out that, in most rooms, the plaster was about to fall off if you tapped it.”
The finished home is a calm yet interesting space, with the simple white walls and wooden floors throughout creating the perfect backdrop for all those treasured finds.
Tell us…
What do you like about this flat filled with vintage finds? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you like about this flat filled with vintage finds? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Great job with the layout- much better arangement without changing the footprint.
totally disagree with cassandra re the colour. love a bright fresh crisp white, animated with texture and colour additions. I cannot deal with creamy ivory tones, and this is the very first thing I update with any reno
Fabulous renovation, warm, inviting, not cold minimalism here! Well done.👍
Love all the raw industrial elements and particularly the couple's repurposing of vintage or old items. Extremely creative. It's light and very uplifting. If you have a house full of objects then white is a good base colour as it shows them off and doesn't compete for attention. Striking. The floors are lovely, all of them.