A two-bedroom apartment located in Notting Hill serves as a London home for a European creative in the fashion industry, who desired a residence that felt lived-in rather than a mere temporary stay. The design team focused on maximizing the existing space to create a feeling of spaciousness without resorting to an open-plan layout.
The project involved rethinking the entry and flow of the apartment right from the entrance. Adjustments were made to ceiling heights and sight lines, and the guest WC was relocated to facilitate a proper lobby. A previously enclosed kitchen was opened up with a glazed joinery screen, enabling light and views to flood into the living room, while still maintaining the kitchen as a distinct space. The end result is a two-bedroom apartment that feels larger, more interesting, and complete.
The client aimed for the apartment to resonate with her identity as a Londoner rather than just a transient space. She was attracted to Notting Hill’s blend of antiques, independent shops, and contemporary energy, seeking an interior that displayed a similar contrast.
The design incorporates a variety of styles, mixing bespoke items with antiques, mid-century pieces, vintage lighting, and contemporary art, resulting in a curated but not overly matched aesthetic. Color also played a significant role, with palettes of burnt siennas, terracottas, and greens in the living areas transitioning to softer blues and greens in the bedrooms. Despite the colorful choices, the apartment remains calm, thanks to a thoughtful layering of materials.
The approach avoided the addition of excessive decorative items, instead utilizing linen wallcoverings, jute, stone, wood, woven fabrics, aged brass, and mirrors to add depth. A key challenge was to make the small apartment feel layered and engaging without overcrowding it. The solution involved avoiding an entirely open-plan design, as seeing the entire apartment at once can diminish its perceived size. The layout was designed to reveal the space gradually through screens, doorways, mirrors, and carefully framed views.
