Before & After: A Case Study

This ground floor property in a red brick mansion block in south west London had been recently 'developed' before the new owners acquired it. The rooms needed adapting and enhancing, with thoughtful solutions for much needed additional storage. The rooms needed be comfortable and elegant but still welcoming and relaxed.

Adding a warm backdrop (walls in 'Dimity', soft white linen curtains) gives the previously cold and unfriendly room a much more comfortable atmosphere. Choosing soft colours that don’t compete with the view outside keeps the space feeling fresh and elegant. The occasional stools and large upholstered ottoman provide for moments of entertaining or large family gatherings.

Changing the 'modern' fireplace and black marble shelf to a stone fire surround more in keeping with the age of the building adds character and sophistication to the room. Always consider if a space might need to be multi-functional - bespoke joinery with a pull-out desk and hidden printer was semi fitted in the alcoves for those working from home days.

A simple (and environmentally friendly) way to upgrade a bathroom is to reuse the original fixtures and fittings, and change the paint colour and hard finishes. Here, we installed chevron tiled floor with underfloor heating, painted the walls a soft plaster-pink, and added deep green paint on the underside of the bath, connecting well with the garden beyond.

In a featureless, long, and narrow space, it helps to give the eye something to fall on and break up the view. We added beautiful glass pendants and a runner with an intriguing geometric pattern. A new semi-glazed door helps transfer light and the style is in keeping with the building. The colour palette of pinks, blues and greens is carried through.

Replacing the flat panel doors with bespoke semi-glazed double doors allows light into the entrance hall and a glimpse through to one of the two courtyard garden areas.

To give the entrance area a much needed dose of colour and personality, custom painted panelling and wallpaper were added. An Edwardian-style coat rack adds useful storage for shoes, coats, dog leads and the like.

To see more of this project, follow the link here.