Houzz Tour: A Family’s City Flat Gets a Warm, Contemporary Update
A subtle palette, luxurious surfaces and cosy textures bring a boutique hotel feel to a London flat
The owners of this apartment are lucky enough to be able to divide their time between the city and the countryside, and were keen to embrace a contemporary, urban look in their London flat.
They appointed interior designer Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors, who cleverly balanced a sleek modern look with a cosy boutique hotel feel, while also ensuring the space is practical for the child and functional for the couple to comfortably work, exercise and relax in their home.
They appointed interior designer Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors, who cleverly balanced a sleek modern look with a cosy boutique hotel feel, while also ensuring the space is practical for the child and functional for the couple to comfortably work, exercise and relax in their home.
Sacha chose the type and size of furniture carefully to ensure there was ample circulation space between the room’s three zones. The bar stools, for instance, needed to be a design that could be tucked under the worktop to provide space between the island and the dining table.
The bright white worktop contrasts with a brass-legged, black ash dining table, while the cream and mustard velvet seating adds a soft feel to the sharp-edged surfaces.
Bar stools, Furniture in Fashion. Dining table and chairs, Liang & Emile.
The bright white worktop contrasts with a brass-legged, black ash dining table, while the cream and mustard velvet seating adds a soft feel to the sharp-edged surfaces.
Bar stools, Furniture in Fashion. Dining table and chairs, Liang & Emile.
To the side of the dining table is a wall-hung workout table with various elements that pull out. In order to make space for this, Sacha was careful about the length of dining table she specified.
The dropped ceiling is quite low and was previously fitted with spotlights. There were also a couple of low-hanging pendant lights, which Sacha removed and replaced with one striking, ethereal design above the dining table.
“I added as many lamps around the room as possible, so [the owners] don’t need to use the overhead lights,” she says.
Pendant light, Heal’s.
The dropped ceiling is quite low and was previously fitted with spotlights. There were also a couple of low-hanging pendant lights, which Sacha removed and replaced with one striking, ethereal design above the dining table.
“I added as many lamps around the room as possible, so [the owners] don’t need to use the overhead lights,” she says.
Pendant light, Heal’s.
A large cream corner sofa in the living area mirrors the island and helps to balance the room. An existing TV unit along the wall felt quite obtrusive, but it made sense to work with it rather than remove it.
Sacha designed a unit to install over it, with display shelves backed with smoked mirror. LED lights within the shelves adds a luxurious glow in the evening. Either side, Sacha fitted slatted timber panels. “They’ve turned the unit into one big feature wall,” she says.
Slatted timber panels, The Wood Veneer Hub.
Sacha designed a unit to install over it, with display shelves backed with smoked mirror. LED lights within the shelves adds a luxurious glow in the evening. Either side, Sacha fitted slatted timber panels. “They’ve turned the unit into one big feature wall,” she says.
Slatted timber panels, The Wood Veneer Hub.
A console unit is positioned beside the sofa, providing a handy surface for a table lamp.
Console, Andrew Martin.
Console, Andrew Martin.
Sacha designed a bespoke pouffe in a stain-resistant fabric to ensure it was practical for the couple’s small child. She also had cushions made in different fabrics to add layers of texture to the plain, contemporary sofa.
Las Palmas floor lamp, Eichholtz. Curtain fabric, Romo. Rugs, Soho Home and Benuta.
Las Palmas floor lamp, Eichholtz. Curtain fabric, Romo. Rugs, Soho Home and Benuta.
In the main bedroom, Sacha brought in cooler blue tones for a serene feel and designed a cosy, luxurious padded headboard.
Cushion, Romo. Bed linen, Sweetpea & Willow. Bedside table, RV Astley. Lamp, West Elm.
Cushion, Romo. Bed linen, Sweetpea & Willow. Bedside table, RV Astley. Lamp, West Elm.
A small table doubles up as a dressing table and desk to provide an extra area for working from home.
Writing desk, Oka. Chair, Eichholtz.
Writing desk, Oka. Chair, Eichholtz.
As it’s quite a large room, the main bedroom could accommodate a comfortable sofa at the end of the bed. Sacha also added a print of Beverly Hills as a nod to the couple’s previous home.
Sofa, Eichholtz.
Sofa, Eichholtz.
Sacha used a richer palette in the guest bedroom. A bespoke bed is upholstered in a wine coloured velvet, while Art Deco-style cushions add some pattern.
Art Deco cushions, Anna Hayman Designs.
Art Deco cushions, Anna Hayman Designs.
A shallow wardrobe is covered with textured wallpaper and Sacha chose a similar design for the walls to help the cupboard blend into the space.
Bedside table, Andrew Martin. Table lamp, RV Astley.
Bedside table, Andrew Martin. Table lamp, RV Astley.
Sacha asked her joiner to make a dressing table for the 2m-wide section of wall beside the bed. The piece features a metallic inlay and faux leather surfaces, and doubles as a desk.
The child’s bedroom is both cosy and practical. “The mother was keen for everything to be within easy reach, so the child can do things for herself,” Sacha says. “So we added a low-level bookcase and a hanging rail, as well as a low bed.”
“The room had a really long wall, so we decided to add interest with a mural wallpaper,” Sacha says. She complemented this with sage green on the remaining walls.
Wallpaper, WallpaperMural. Beanbag; bookshelf, both Etsy.
Wallpaper, WallpaperMural. Beanbag; bookshelf, both Etsy.
There was no need for Sacha to redesign the bathrooms, as they were already in place. This one, for instance, has a smart marble and timber vanity unit.
The owners are over the moon with their updated apartment and loved working with Sacha. “She has convictions about the way colours, patterns and products come together, which is extremely helpful considering how many options are out there,” they said.
Tell us…
What do you like about how Sacha has used colours and textures in this city apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The owners are over the moon with their updated apartment and loved working with Sacha. “She has convictions about the way colours, patterns and products come together, which is extremely helpful considering how many options are out there,” they said.
Tell us…
What do you like about how Sacha has used colours and textures in this city apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple and their child
Location London
Property A flat with three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors
Photos by Elina Päsok
The layout of this open-plan apartment was already in place when Sacha came on board, so her main focus was the property’s decorating scheme.
A single-wall kitchen sits at the far end, divided from the dining zone by a large island. “I based the colour scheme around the existing brown kitchen, which was remaining intact,” Sacha says. “Blues would have clashed, so I went with earthy colours such as ochre and mustard.”
Sofa, Raft. Cushion fabrics, Romo.