Before & After: How an interior designer brought a cold contemporary flat to life
If you have ever lived in and decorated a new-build, you are likely familiar with their overwhelming blankness – a mix of blinding white walls, flat surfaces and straight lines that feel more showroom than family home. This is what met interior designer Anna Burles when she first visited her client's new flat in central London.
Despite occupying a listed building, the three-bedroom apartment had been newly renovated with tiled flooring, an ultra modern kitchen, and 'white walls as far as the eye could see'. Anna and her team at Run For The Hills were tasked with bringing it all to life. 'We came up with a fun and sophisticated scheme that suits working and family life as much as it does entertaining,' says Anna.
Below, Anna takes us through the renovation process and explains how each corner was filled with purpose...
Tell us a little bit about the original space and why your clients chose to renovate
AB: Our clients had found an amazing property, just under the top floor of a gorgeous heritage building. It was a blank canvas but lacked the charm of the exterior and had no personality or warmth – just white walls as far as the eye could see.
What did the brief look like?
AB: Our brief was to restyle each space into a gorgeous home full of character, bringing their personalities into the space. As it was a second home, we needed to be mindful of costs to not go overboard, so we set about making smart, creative decisions for maximum impact within a sensible spend.
Did you update the layout?
AB: We didn’t change any room sizes or layouts – they were great as they were. But we changed everything about the decorative palette in the social spaces and bedrooms. Changing the flooring – originally a cold, timber-effect tile – to a gorgeous real timber parquet added heart and soul.
The awkward dining corner really just called out for a clever design solution, so creating a bespoke banquette was the best idea and unlocked a really gorgeous dining set up. It’s also a great spot to work from.
Did you face any challenges in the process?
AB: Working in a sub penthouse presented some access issues, and some larger pieces had to be winched up from the street!
Is there anything you would change if you were to tackle it again?
AB: We would have loved to add our own design touch to the bathroom tiling and kitchen units, but as the developer had done a good job, we took the view along with our clients that it was the eco-conscious decision not to rip out brand new fittings.
We worked with the palette we had but accessorised and styled to add the character and personality that our clients wanted, including adding a custom neon sign in the kitchen to create the wow factor. It helps that my husband and business partner is an artist and graphic designer who can design these lovely bespoke art pieces for us.
Good To Be Home Neon Sign
Wiltshire Ottoman Storage Bed
House Beautiful Nia Square Side Table
Denver Sofa by Swoon
Great Ormond St Parchment
Round Floating Gold Shelf
What was the biggest splurge and best bargain?
AB: The custom dining corner banquette was one of the hero pieces. The photographic art on the walls makes it feel like a chic restaurant booth.
Alongside the lovely custom banquette, dining table and the striped canopies on the roof terrace, we included some great bargains – the consoles from Atkin and Thyme and the vintage tallboy in the master suite. True style is a mix of high end and high street with a smattering of vintage – something we love doing.
What are your favourite pieces in the space?
AB: We love our bespoke dining table with a gorgeous Diespeker marble top, ironwork wishbone legs and a tactile marble oval top that maximises the space. We also love the home bar from Soho Home with curved shelving above. Our client loves making cocktails so we needed a super stylish set up for him to enjoy entertaining and getting creative.
What were the main paint colours used?
AB: Our palette was Farrow & Ball through and through, from the gorgeous Setting Plaster in the dining room to the zen Wimborne White in the master suite. And then neutrals were used to key into our feature wallpapers, including the Mind The Gap wallpaper in the kids' rooms. We also opted for colours which would allow us to fill the property with art – colours which would create the perfect backdrop to display clusters and hero framed pieces.
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