Behind the blunt angles of the 50s utilitarian exterior, our team performed a complete refurbishment and redesign, complete with the finest Italian and French furniture, to create a luxury contemporary home, perfect for family living in the heart of London’s N8 postcode.
From Outdated Home to Contempory Masterpiece
As a family inheritance, the apartment’s outdated aspects were well known to the owner. When the time came to renovate to make it suitable for their young family, they opted for the trusted expertise of InStyle Direct, deeming the building’s dedicated in-house contractors unable to create the unique, high-end, contemporary home they desired. Three decades had passed since any alterations, also meaning complete rewiring throughout, requiring the diverse skills of our in-house team. The team could instantly see where they could add value, how they could maximise space and where aesthetics and functionality could be improved.
The decision to convert three bedrooms into two – one an en suite and the other a children’s bedroom (complete with bespoke Montessori beds) was an early yet crucial move by the team that dovetailed with the client’s vision of an open-planned, family-friendly, highly functional home that could be further brought to life with exquisite furnishings, accessories and finishes.
Securing Space with Clever Innovation
Creative solutions often depend on bold, smart decisions that save time and money and ensure proper execution of work for high-quality results that stand the test of time. After relevelling the floor with poured concrete, the apartment was completely rewired so as to meet the needs of a modern family of four. Due skill and experience is needed for crucial foundational jobs pertaining to convenience, comfort, safety, and security.
To achieve the harmonious flow that makes open-plan living desirable, the design team had one more obstacle to surmount. Combining decorative camouflage and repurposed functionality transformed an unsightly pillar into a storage solution seamlessly flowing with the kitchen’s units. Turning it into shelving space meant that it no longer detracted from the room’s main focal point.
In addition to the main structural changes completed, our team and client engaged in extensive meetings to ensure the finishes and flooring were exactly what the client envisioned, ensuring the best suppliers were used for premium results that offered value for money and the cohesive look that makes this project ooze old money luxury.
A specially crafted herringbone wood floor imposed a structure and a symmetrical flow to the open-plan kitchen, where the finest, full-width quartzite splashback would add drama and intrigue. The uniquely exotic look of the quartzite panel was achieved through a technique known as ‘book matching’. This is where two slabs are cut side by side out of the same stone before being polished and laid out like leaves from a book. The natural beauty of the stone is enhanced by the way details seem to mirror each other in order to create stunning optical effects.
The project manager and designer visited Stone World London, renowned for the largest selection of exotic and unique natural stone. Together, they chose a stone that suited the use and look and feel of the home and would work together with the various specially-chosen elements for a cohesive, put-together result.
The exquisite piece of marble that was chosen and was sourced from South America, hence its name: Patagonia. The creamy swirls and textural flourishes from eons of tectonic heat and pressure on the original sandstone layer. The result is a geological work of art.
Connecting Themes with Timeless Craftsmanship
Finally, a hand-crafted rug would elevate the living space with a perfect balance of cosiness and function. All three of these initiatives required that the InStyle team source the very best materials and suppliers from around the globe.
A piece of art, the rug chosen by the client and team extended beyond a luxury item. A representation of a craft that stretches back through history and across civilisations.
Perfectly framed by the herringbone floor, its beauty and elegance provide a welcoming calm that is pure indulgence to the senses. Hand-tufted, the rug was commissioned by InStyle with the client’s full design participation.
The UK-based designers provide numerous bespoke artwork samples before handing over the agreed template to their master craftspeople. The hand tufting process allowed the work to be completed on time and within budget while also providing the client with a unique work of art that could be handed down through generations, much like their apartment.
Furnishings and accessories were judiciously selected by the team and the client to project true luxury and comfort. High-end Italian furniture items from designers Porada include cocktail tables from their Callisto range for understated opulence.
Exquisitely built, their striking green marble tops cleverly reference connecting themes established by the kitchen’s exotic stone and artisan rug.
Fluid creativity of the Gallic variety came in the form of a biomorphically designed dinner table by Eugeni Quitlett in collaboration with Roche Bobois. Sleek and sensuous, the table effortlessly dominates the dining space despite possessing no solitary straight line.
International Design Influences, Furniture and Finishes
French suppliers Roche Bois were also the source of the Bubble sofa, which takes centre stage in the living area. Designed by Sacha Lakic in straight or curved variants (we chose the latter), it provides ultimate comfort. Additionally, it segments the room into stylistically connected yet physically independent zones. The sanitaryware in the bathroom is another luxurious, albeit hi-tech facet of the redesign. Electronically controlled and perfectly styled, these units represent the very latest advances in Japanese home technology. Finishing touches were applied using appropriate soft furnishings.
The client was presented with a seamless synthesis of innovative design solutions and high-end finishes. The team guided them through the emotive journey of bringing a outdated family back to life with the benefit of a new layout and contemporary assets to promote an entirely new way of living. From elegant Italian cabinetry to French soft furnishings, the InStyle Direct delivered a timeless home that complemented the client’s way of life and unique style preferences.
