00:03I've always liked materials that have a lot of pattern, especially historic materials.
00:10Really my interest goes back to me growing up near shipyards and being surrounded by
00:16brick and steel buildings. This is my family home for my son and I and this is most importantly his
00:26childhood home and I want him to remember it and this is why I was inspired to become an architect
00:33living and seeing incredible properties as a child. So the building was built in the Art Deco style by
00:42Wallace Gilbert and Partners who also built the Hoover Building. It is in the heart of the
00:50historical industrial area near River Thames. This apartment block was originally the offices
00:58for the factory behind and then was converted into apartments in the 90s. I wanted a place where
01:09I could totally relax and have a slower pace and just be in a calm space in the city centre.
01:29Weather here in London is very grey so the idea was always to have rich materials. I wanted it to
01:37be warm and cozy especially on those dark grey winter months and also the idea behind the texture is
01:45it makes the space feel much larger. So the existing layout was a bit awkward originally. The double height
01:54space was completely ignored and it seemed a missed opportunity to me. So on the ground floor we added a
02:01door to the kitchen, a door to the understair storage and built-in cabinets in the dining area. On the
02:09first
02:10floor I totally renovated the bathroom. In the bedroom I added storage units and privacy doors. I just wanted
02:17some extra privacy as it was very light and it helped to sleep better. Once inside to make the
02:26entrance feel more important I added a landing step. I added two wall mounted IKEA timber cabinets with
02:34a circular mirror which creates a vanity unit. So I positioned the sitting area away from the window
02:40to give a very private area and the seating is in an L shape so it divides the uses. The
02:48ceiling is
02:49quite low at two metres so I painted it in a dark brown chocolate colour and the idea behind this
02:54is that
02:54dark colours recede to the eye so it doesn't feel as noticeable so it gives it height. I have a
03:01terracotta
03:02velvet coupler sofa from Sankal which is set high on legs so it allows the light through underneath.
03:10There is also a white shelving system with base cabinets which I use for my son's books and toys and
03:20also my CD player. My favourite spot in this apartment it's probably where I'm sat right now
03:33under the lanterns because it's actually super relaxing. Even when the windows aren't open the
03:40lanterns are just floating very gently around and it just has a very calming effect.
03:48The custom dining table has a painted MDF top. The dining room has a four meter tall ceiling with
03:56large concrete beams that span across so I chose to hide these with a large mesh ceiling screen and
04:03it also creates a base for the spotlights. I also have one pendant light for the dining room table which
04:09I picked up on my travels to Indonesia. The chairs are vintage chrome Magnus Olsen X line chairs and these
04:17can be stacked and also moved out the way. The table can also be folded up and moved so the
04:23space can be
04:24used in a totally different way. Along the window wall I designed a birch plywood unit with cabinets for
04:31storing shoes and also to hide the original radiator. The kitchen is very small at just over two square
04:44meters so I had to plan the layout to the millimetre and the kitchen doors are all birch plywood with
04:51no
04:51handles and the ceiling is again painted chocolate brown so it gives the feeling of height.
04:57I managed to get all the appliances in a dishwasher, a washer dryer, a fridge freezer, oven and even
05:02a combi microwave. For additional storage I have a pegboard with all the items I need at hand
05:09so I can cook happily without searching for things. There is also a small wall shelf with everyday items
05:17so everything is just there ready to go. The landing is oak to match the main floor. I also added
05:28a David
05:29Gropey shade wall light and it's not only a light but it's a mirror I can use to check my
05:33lipstick before
05:34I leave. Every looking cranny is useful here. The staircase is folded perforated metal which doesn't sit
05:44against the wall so it gives it a floating look. The stair is also perfect to light up at night
05:51and enhance this floating feeling. And then the bedroom itself is accessed with two sliding doors
06:00which fit around one of the original concrete beams. The metalene floor is the original simple pine
06:09boards which are oiled and the ceiling is painted in a concrete colour which matches the living area.
06:15To this I added built-in storage, a wardrobe and cabinets all in birch plywood.
06:24I added a woven hanging to the head of my bed to define the area. It's made from grass
06:29and it is made in Spain by espadrille makers and it just gives some texture to the room as a
06:35lot of
06:35the walls are smooth. The metalene has a simple glass balustrade with a rich wooden handrail and behind
06:47this is a large folding door which is installed for privacy from the main space.
06:55I share the bedroom with my toddler's son and he has a small toddler bed and I have a low
07:01height queen
07:01size bed because the height in the bedroom is quite short. Under my bed there are four pullout drawers for
07:08extra closed storage. On the stair landing I added two deep shelving units in birch ply,
07:16each with two doors to save space when open.
07:22The battery was completely redone adding lots of storage. The main shower head is Fifth Avenue by
07:29Westworld Bathrooms and it looks a little bit industrial so it fits in very well. The basin
07:35style was picked because it was in a very simple shape, a little bit arch deco and above there is
07:41a wall mounted rose coloured hanging bar for hooks and shelves which come in orange for storage and
07:47it's part of a modular system by EXT. At the battery mentions there is a large concrete beam which runs
07:54along the top and you have to duck to get into the bathroom. It's just one of those quirks of
07:59converted
07:59buildings. I think it's important when you design small spaces to think big. Don't believe that you
08:07can't get everything you want. You just have to think of it and solve it in a different way.
08:13City dwellings often have constraints.
08:17Really you don't have to add space to make a place feel bigger.
08:22You just have to manipulate materials and colours to have the same effect.
08:38City dwellings and �ί to show up as you do.
08:41To show up you can make a place full table and you start to equip yourself.
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