Commentaires
Houzz Tour: Colour and Texture Liven Up a Bland Apartment
A cohesive scheme featuring colourful accents took this converted Victorian property from dull to delightful
Sarah Warwick
6 janvier 2019
The couple who own this two-bed maisonette in a converted Victorian house in London started with a clean slate. Downsizers returning to the capital, they arrived without furniture to a home with nothing but white walls.
They did bring their artwork, though, and it became the starting point of a scheme that turned a boring property into one that’s personality packed.
They did bring their artwork, though, and it became the starting point of a scheme that turned a boring property into one that’s personality packed.
Flat at a Glance
Who lives here? A professional couple
Location Kentish Town, London
Property A maisonette in a converted Victorian building
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Interior designer Shanade McAllister-Fisher of Shanade McAllister-Fisher Interior Design
Photos by Natalie Priem
The owners of this flat had seen and liked interior designer Shanade McAllister-Fisher’s work, so it was her they called on to banish the boring from their new home.
Her other task was to remedy the maisonette’s lack of storage. She started in the living room by building a cabinet to house the TV with plenty of storage all around the screen. The doors have a ribbed effect that’s repeated elsewhere in the apartment to help make the interior work as a whole.
The couple had hardly any furniture either, “they were sleeping on a mattress for about six months,” Shanade says.
Gobi Shaggy rug, Benuta. Rebar coffee table, Hay.
Need bespoke storage for your home? Find cabinet-makers in your area.
Who lives here? A professional couple
Location Kentish Town, London
Property A maisonette in a converted Victorian building
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Interior designer Shanade McAllister-Fisher of Shanade McAllister-Fisher Interior Design
Photos by Natalie Priem
The owners of this flat had seen and liked interior designer Shanade McAllister-Fisher’s work, so it was her they called on to banish the boring from their new home.
Her other task was to remedy the maisonette’s lack of storage. She started in the living room by building a cabinet to house the TV with plenty of storage all around the screen. The doors have a ribbed effect that’s repeated elsewhere in the apartment to help make the interior work as a whole.
The couple had hardly any furniture either, “they were sleeping on a mattress for about six months,” Shanade says.
Gobi Shaggy rug, Benuta. Rebar coffee table, Hay.
Need bespoke storage for your home? Find cabinet-makers in your area.
Their makeshift bed aside, the couple did bring one ingredient for their new home – the artwork they wanted to put on display. This became the basis of the scheme. “We incorporated their art with ours, and used it to dictate colours and textures and themes,” Shanade says.
With one half of the couple preferring bolder shades and the other liking a more Scandinavian feel, Shanade had to bring in both influences, and make them work together. “We went for punchy colours on the cushions and sofa, but pared back with monochromes throughout the rest of the space,” she says.
With one half of the couple preferring bolder shades and the other liking a more Scandinavian feel, Shanade had to bring in both influences, and make them work together. “We went for punchy colours on the cushions and sofa, but pared back with monochromes throughout the rest of the space,” she says.
The stripy image was one of the couple’s own, and Shanade echoed its tones, along with those from another picture of theirs, in the additional artwork she sourced for the gallery wall. “We picked out a mix of coloured images, but included line drawings and monochrome, so it didn’t feel overwhelming,” she says.
Once each artwork was selected, Shanade worked out which size would look best. “A lot of the prints came in a variety of dimensions, so once we knew what we wanted, we chose the size and where it was going to go,” she says.
Sofa cushions pick up hues from the gallery wall, and velvet is set against a chunky weave to create interest through contrasting textures. “We didn’t want the living room to be too opulent, but we were after a feeling of luxury,” Shanade says.
Side tables with a marble top and wood frame continue the Scandi references in the living space. The sofa was made bespoke and is upholstered in brushed cotton.
Marble nest of tables, French Connection.
Shop for prints and posters on Houzz.
Once each artwork was selected, Shanade worked out which size would look best. “A lot of the prints came in a variety of dimensions, so once we knew what we wanted, we chose the size and where it was going to go,” she says.
Sofa cushions pick up hues from the gallery wall, and velvet is set against a chunky weave to create interest through contrasting textures. “We didn’t want the living room to be too opulent, but we were after a feeling of luxury,” Shanade says.
Side tables with a marble top and wood frame continue the Scandi references in the living space. The sofa was made bespoke and is upholstered in brushed cotton.
Marble nest of tables, French Connection.
Shop for prints and posters on Houzz.
The kitchen and dining space is at the other end of the room to the seating area. “The kitchen was already there, but the worktop was very orangey,” Shanade says. “We sanded it back to a natural colour, and did the same with the flooring.”
As the room isn’t huge, Shanade chose chairs with open backs and a minimal pendant light to maintain views through the space. Meanwhile, a bench on one side of the dining table was a space-efficient choice. Its seat cushions have blue tones, but otherwise a monochrome palette was used for this area.
New cabinetry was also constructed at this end of the reception room. Like the TV wall storage, it has a blue-black finish that favours one colour or the other depending on how the light catches it. The storage includes plenty of shelves for the keen cooks’ collection of items.
J77 dining chairs, Hay. Cubo dining table, Another Brand. Two Spheres ceiling light, Atelier Areti.
As the room isn’t huge, Shanade chose chairs with open backs and a minimal pendant light to maintain views through the space. Meanwhile, a bench on one side of the dining table was a space-efficient choice. Its seat cushions have blue tones, but otherwise a monochrome palette was used for this area.
New cabinetry was also constructed at this end of the reception room. Like the TV wall storage, it has a blue-black finish that favours one colour or the other depending on how the light catches it. The storage includes plenty of shelves for the keen cooks’ collection of items.
J77 dining chairs, Hay. Cubo dining table, Another Brand. Two Spheres ceiling light, Atelier Areti.
Fluted glass doors repeat the ribbed finish of the storage in the seating area, and create a display area for crockery and glasses.
“Because space is quite tight, we chose to have no handles and keep the doors flush,” Shanade says.
“Because space is quite tight, we chose to have no handles and keep the doors flush,” Shanade says.
To evoke the calm and relaxed atmosphere the couple wanted for their bedroom, Shanade chose a rich green shade and teamed it with blush pink as an accent.
The deep colour of the walls meant a natural linen was all that was required for the headboard, and the bedside table’s oak finish reflects the wood tones downstairs. Sisal was used for the flooring, continuing the palette of natural materials.
Wall painted in Green Smoke, Farrow & Ball. IC pendant light, Flos. Carson bedside table, Swoon Editions.
The deep colour of the walls meant a natural linen was all that was required for the headboard, and the bedside table’s oak finish reflects the wood tones downstairs. Sisal was used for the flooring, continuing the palette of natural materials.
Wall painted in Green Smoke, Farrow & Ball. IC pendant light, Flos. Carson bedside table, Swoon Editions.
A dressing table was fitted under the slope of the roof in the bedroom. The drawers were made as large as possible to provide a place to store clothing, while the whole furniture piece was finished in the same shade as the walls so it blends in.
New wardrobes were also built for the room.
Check out dressing table ideas for every size of bedroom.
New wardrobes were also built for the room.
Check out dressing table ideas for every size of bedroom.
The wardrobe doors were finished with wallpaper to create a more interesting feature. Shanade was keen that it didn’t overpower the room, though, so its colour is harmonious, and the size of the motif is relatively small.
The wardrobe was finished with brass knobs. The metallic shade is another detail that runs through the home to subtly pull the look together.
Amorina wallpaper, BoråsTapeter.
The wardrobe was finished with brass knobs. The metallic shade is another detail that runs through the home to subtly pull the look together.
Amorina wallpaper, BoråsTapeter.
The bathroom already had a shapely bath in the window, but the rest of the room was given a facelift. “The owners didn’t want an awful lot of colour in here, but something that felt clean,” Shanade says.
The designer added a new oak vanity unit in a Scandi style. As the bathroom isn’t large, the plan was originally for a wall-mounted design, but structural issues prevented it. However, the slim legs of this model keep the floor on show, achieving the same spacious feel a wall-hung unit would.
Noir Craft basin unit; Noir Square basin, both Bathstore. Patsy mirror, Habitat.
Noir Craft basin unit; Noir Square basin, both Bathstore. Patsy mirror, Habitat.
A geometric-patterned splashback behind the basin continues the Scandinavian theme. The mosaic tiles took their colour cue from the marble top of the vanity unit. “Originally, we were going to add a trim down the side,” Shanade says. However, the happy accident of the designer walking into the room before the trim was added resulted in the tiles being left with a more visually interesting edge.
Confisarie Fogg Triangle mosiac tiles, Claybrook.
Confisarie Fogg Triangle mosiac tiles, Claybrook.
The bathroom lights have brass details and glass shades. “All the lights have a globe to keep everything cohesive,” Shanade says.
Solo Suspension light, Intueri Light.
Tell us…
What do you like about this chic and spacious home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Solo Suspension light, Intueri Light.
Tell us…
What do you like about this chic and spacious home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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