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Room Tour: A Mansion Block Apartment Achieves its True Potential
It had the period features and lovely light, but this London flat needed a redesign to become a welcoming, personal pad
Blessed with beautiful original features, huge windows and high ceilings, this apartment in a mansion block in Marylebone, London, already had lots going for it. “But it was a little bit tired and completely empty and impersonal,” James Karpin of Akiva Projects says. He devised a scheme for the kitchen-dining-living room that would inject warmth, elegance and personality into the space, so its owner would feel at home the second she stepped through the door.
The owner, in turn, was confident James would hit the brief. “She was a repeat client,” he says. “She found us originally on Houzz and we worked for her in her other property. Then she sold that, moved here, and called us again.” Read on to see how this happy collaboration turned out.
The owner, in turn, was confident James would hit the brief. “She was a repeat client,” he says. “She found us originally on Houzz and we worked for her in her other property. Then she sold that, moved here, and called us again.” Read on to see how this happy collaboration turned out.
The apartment had lots of original features, including this black cast-iron fire surround and the beautiful coving around the 3.2m-high ceiling. “When a property ticks all the boxes like that, it’s a dream to work with,” James says. “If we could have projects like this every day, we would. I really like working with old buildings and seeing what we can do with them.”
There’s another original cast-iron fireplace at the opposite end of the space, creating a symmetrical effect. James has picked up that black and used it throughout to punctuate the neutral scheme, most noticeably in the kitchen, glimpsed here, but also through the furnishings, such as this throw and the black-based floor lamp.
A generous opening connects the living room with the kitchen and dining area and lets light flow through the entire space. The hallway can be accessed from both rooms. “We didn’t change the layout at all,” James says. “Our job was space planning, styling and bringing in the furniture.”
More: Surprising Ways an Interior Designer Could Help You
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The hallway features contemporary wood panelling. “We wanted to elongate the space and make it a bit more inviting,” James says. “It needed to blend in with the rest of the property, but also function well, with somewhere to hang your coats.”
A huge mirror covers the opposite wall. “The hallway isn’t very wide, so this gives it a feeling of space,” he says.
Panelling, The Wood Veneer Hub. Coat hooks, John Lewis & Partners. Bench, West Elm.
A huge mirror covers the opposite wall. “The hallway isn’t very wide, so this gives it a feeling of space,” he says.
Panelling, The Wood Veneer Hub. Coat hooks, John Lewis & Partners. Bench, West Elm.
The ceiling light in here is a particular favourite of the owner. “She loves the scalloped shape of those lights,” James says. He used the same design over the dining table, and the wall light version on either side of both fireplaces, here and at the other end of the space, creating symmetry.
An oak shelf was made bespoke to run along the wall behind the sofa. “Its purpose was to have some sockets below it,” James says, “so you don’t have to scrabble around behind the sofa to plug things in easily.”
It also provides a surface for two lamps, adding to the variety of light sources in here, but its shallow design means it doesn’t intrude on the overall space.
Folia scalloped natural linen pendant light and wall lamps, Lights & Lamps.
An oak shelf was made bespoke to run along the wall behind the sofa. “Its purpose was to have some sockets below it,” James says, “so you don’t have to scrabble around behind the sofa to plug things in easily.”
It also provides a surface for two lamps, adding to the variety of light sources in here, but its shallow design means it doesn’t intrude on the overall space.
Folia scalloped natural linen pendant light and wall lamps, Lights & Lamps.
A plush grey sofa creates a comfy hub for relaxing, with a cosy grey rug beneath to soften the wooden flooring.
The sofa is layered with textured cushions in earthy tones, picked to echo the colours in the artwork behind. The coffee table has a natural travertine surface to chime with all the natural shades.
Sofa; coffee table; rug, all West Elm.
The sofa is layered with textured cushions in earthy tones, picked to echo the colours in the artwork behind. The coffee table has a natural travertine surface to chime with all the natural shades.
Sofa; coffee table; rug, all West Elm.
The abstract artwork, by British artist Kayleigh Young, has been hung low on the wall so it can be enjoyed close up.
Art, Kayleigh Young Studio.
Art, Kayleigh Young Studio.
The piano was the one piece of furniture the owner brought with her and it sits nicely in this spot by the window.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
A storage bench built into the bay window and topped with cushions creates a reading nook for the owner, with views over the street below.
A specialist window treatment supplier consulted with the owner on blind choices, but James was clear that curtains wouldn’t work here. “We didn’t want to hide or constrict the beautiful windows at all,” he says.
Armchair, West Elm. Blinds, Libby Coates Curtains and Blinds.
A specialist window treatment supplier consulted with the owner on blind choices, but James was clear that curtains wouldn’t work here. “We didn’t want to hide or constrict the beautiful windows at all,” he says.
Armchair, West Elm. Blinds, Libby Coates Curtains and Blinds.
The new kitchen is configured in a similar way to the previous one and includes a 3m long peninsula that houses the sink, hob with extractor, wine fridge and lots of storage.
The worksurface is polished stone, while the pendant light brings a touch of the midcentury style the owner wanted.
Amatti long chandelier, Liang & Eimil.
Amatti long chandelier, Liang & Eimil.
The cabinetry at the back of the kitchen is built right up to the ceiling, providing generous storage. The wall of units is also home to an oven and microwave. “We chose black just to bring in a bit of contrast,” James says. “It also ties in with the fireplaces.”
All appliances, Miele.
All appliances, Miele.
Windows on two sides of the kitchen-dining space flood it with light. The flooring was already in situ, and is oak parquet laid in a herringbone pattern.
A sleek, marble-topped dining table, with its gently curved edges, sits at the heart of the dining space, framed by midcentury-inspired wooden chairs.
Pendant light, Lights & Lamps. Dining table and chairs, Heal’s.
Pendant light, Lights & Lamps. Dining table and chairs, Heal’s.
Now it’s finished, what does the owner think of her apartment. “She’s over the moon,” James says. “It’s everything she imagined it to be and more.”
Here’s how she describes this latest collaboration with James: “[He] turned a bright but sterile space into a gorgeous, warm, inviting and chic living area. I couldn’t be more pleased!”
Tell us…
What do you like about this redesign? Let us know in the Comments.
Here’s how she describes this latest collaboration with James: “[He] turned a bright but sterile space into a gorgeous, warm, inviting and chic living area. I couldn’t be more pleased!”
Tell us…
What do you like about this redesign? Let us know in the Comments.
Who lives here? A female professional
Location Marylebone, London
Property A second floor apartment in a mansion block built in 1885
Size Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Room dimensions Around 40 sq m
Interior designer James Karpin of Akiva Projects
Photos by Lena Otvodenko
The owner’s brief to James was for a space that felt inviting and warm, but sophisticated, too. She wasn’t keen on bold colours, so he picked a neutral scheme of off-white walls that would enhance the abundant natural light, and then introduced subtle accent tones through the furnishings. The owner loves to entertain, so there needed to be space to cook and dine with friends, too.
James shared his designs with the owner throughout using Houzz Pro’s Clipper tool. “It’s a very smart tool for interior design,” he says. “It’s very intuitive and saves a lot of time when adding products to any project.”
Walls painted in Strong White, Farrow & Ball.