Houzz Tour: A Glamorous Apartment in a Victorian Mansion Building
This elegant flat in a Grade II listed mansion block needed a thorough update to transform it into a vibrant home for a creative family
Dyfed Price knew a complete refurbishment would be in order the moment he saw this Grade II listed home in Kensington, central London. The designer had been introduced to the art-loving owners during their search for a renovation project, and helped them choose the well-appointed apartment, which he could see had plenty of potential. ‘The apartment is in a beautiful mansion block dating from 1879, but this particular flat hadn’t been touched since the 1970s,’ he recalls. ‘There were lots of remnants from that era, and the layout was clumsy and didn’t flow very well. There was even a his ’n’ her drawing room – it was designed for a very different time.’
Dyfed’s first task was to completely reconfigure the layout to meet the needs of a contemporary family, while integrating generous wall space into the plans to showcase their treasured art collection. ‘Most of the major work was done in the kitchen to enhance the sense of flow,’ he explains. ‘And we moved a large pillar in the hallway, which opened it up to create a spacious reception area.’ As the house was intended for a growing family, Dyfed created plenty of storage wherever space allowed. ‘We’ve also been mindful to adhere to the principles of minimalism,’ he explains. ‘There’s a lot of technology in the house, but it can all be hidden away. It’s seamless.’
Dyfed’s first task was to completely reconfigure the layout to meet the needs of a contemporary family, while integrating generous wall space into the plans to showcase their treasured art collection. ‘Most of the major work was done in the kitchen to enhance the sense of flow,’ he explains. ‘And we moved a large pillar in the hallway, which opened it up to create a spacious reception area.’ As the house was intended for a growing family, Dyfed created plenty of storage wherever space allowed. ‘We’ve also been mindful to adhere to the principles of minimalism,’ he explains. ‘There’s a lot of technology in the house, but it can all be hidden away. It’s seamless.’
Artwork displayed in the split-level entrance hall lends it the appearance of a modern art gallery.
‘There was originally a pillar at the top of the staircase. Removing it has transformed the space and you can now see the artwork very well,’ explains Dyfed.
The fireplace is a new addition, fashioned to make a statement without overpowering the space. ‘It just needed a focal point, so it’s a lovely feature while not being too obtrusive,’ says Dyfed.
Fireplace, Jamb.
‘There was originally a pillar at the top of the staircase. Removing it has transformed the space and you can now see the artwork very well,’ explains Dyfed.
The fireplace is a new addition, fashioned to make a statement without overpowering the space. ‘It just needed a focal point, so it’s a lovely feature while not being too obtrusive,’ says Dyfed.
Fireplace, Jamb.
The glamorous drawing room is a TV-free zone. ‘There’s space for two living rooms in the apartment, so this one was intended as an area for reading and music,’ says Dyfed. ‘It’s a grown-up space where the family and their guests can go to talk. It’s quite different to the rest of the house.’
Another new fireplace has an Art Deco feel to it, which is subtly referenced elsewhere in the room.
Fireplace, Jamb.
Find out how to integrate a fireplace into your living space
Another new fireplace has an Art Deco feel to it, which is subtly referenced elsewhere in the room.
Fireplace, Jamb.
Find out how to integrate a fireplace into your living space
Elsewhere in the drawing room, thin strips of aluminium underneath the cornicing add a cool, metallic touch to the otherwise pared-back scheme.
Accent colours are added through the soft furnishings, making it easy for the family to update the look in the future. ‘We like people to take ownership of their home, so they feel they can put their own stamp on it – we just give them the means,’ explains Dyfed.
Chandelier, Serip. Sofa, Roche Bobois.
Accent colours are added through the soft furnishings, making it easy for the family to update the look in the future. ‘We like people to take ownership of their home, so they feel they can put their own stamp on it – we just give them the means,’ explains Dyfed.
Chandelier, Serip. Sofa, Roche Bobois.
The eye-catching kitchen-diner was previously a snug and a corridor that led to the kitchen, before Dyfed knocked through a number of walls to open up the space. ‘We completely reconfigured this part of the house,’ he explains. ‘They’re a large family, so they needed a lot of space, and they didn’t want a formal dining room.’
The open-plan scheme is perfect for low-key family dinners and convivial gatherings. ‘It’s a very practical kitchen in many ways, but they’re a very creative family, so there’s also a certain element of panache.’
Glamorous bauble chandeliers complement the orange and copper palette, while a cupboard at the end of the kitchen peels back at the touch of a button to reveal an array of concealed household appliances.
Kitchen units, TM Italia. Hob, ABK-InnoVent. Chandelier, Innermost
The open-plan scheme is perfect for low-key family dinners and convivial gatherings. ‘It’s a very practical kitchen in many ways, but they’re a very creative family, so there’s also a certain element of panache.’
Glamorous bauble chandeliers complement the orange and copper palette, while a cupboard at the end of the kitchen peels back at the touch of a button to reveal an array of concealed household appliances.
Kitchen units, TM Italia. Hob, ABK-InnoVent. Chandelier, Innermost
The ceiling showcases beautiful original brickwork, which Dyfed decided to expose in places to turn it into a feature. ‘We worked hard to make the house a comfortable, contemporary space, but we’ve incorporated a number of special elements throughout,’ he reveals.
‘We tend to work very differently to a lot of designers. I trained as a furniture designer and Luke – my business partner – trained as a draughtsman, so as well as being creative, we’re technically very knowledgeable and we look at things structurally and then make them look pretty. There’s a reason behind everything we do.’
Dining table, B&B Italia. Dining chairs, Zanotta.
Check out more ideas for open-plan living
‘We tend to work very differently to a lot of designers. I trained as a furniture designer and Luke – my business partner – trained as a draughtsman, so as well as being creative, we’re technically very knowledgeable and we look at things structurally and then make them look pretty. There’s a reason behind everything we do.’
Dining table, B&B Italia. Dining chairs, Zanotta.
Check out more ideas for open-plan living
The colourful media room has been designed for optimum comfort, as well as sound and picture quality. ‘The room is entirely soundproofed,’ says Dyfed.
The artwork in this room is different in style to the pieces in the drawing room. ‘The drawing room is filled with work chosen by the wife, while this room is more to the husband’s taste.’
Sofa, B&B Italia. Chandelier, Tom Kirk.
The artwork in this room is different in style to the pieces in the drawing room. ‘The drawing room is filled with work chosen by the wife, while this room is more to the husband’s taste.’
Sofa, B&B Italia. Chandelier, Tom Kirk.
At the back of the media room, two Arne Jacobsen Egg chairs enjoy a prime position looking out over the central London skyline.
Arne Jacobsen Egg chairs, Chaplins.
Arne Jacobsen Egg chairs, Chaplins.
There’s a subtle Japanese theme in one of the bathrooms in the apartment. ‘The tub is a Japanese two-seater soaking bath that we had made bespoke,’ reveals Dyfed. ‘It’s by William Garvey, who makes incredible teak baths.’ Subtle origami-style tiles complete the look. ‘It’s a reference without being too obvious,’ says Dyfed.
Bespoke Japanese soaking bath and washstand, William Garvey. Taps, CEA.
Bespoke Japanese soaking bath and washstand, William Garvey. Taps, CEA.
The elegant master bedroom has a boutique hotel feel, with all the homely comforts you’d expect in such a lavish scheme. ‘The dressing table is the only antique piece in this room,’ says Dyfed, ‘everything else was made specifically to fit the space.’
Bedside pendant lights, Rothschild & Bickers. Central pendant light, Heathfield & Co.
Check out more supersized headboards
Bedside pendant lights, Rothschild & Bickers. Central pendant light, Heathfield & Co.
Check out more supersized headboards
‘The zesty lemon accent colour was chosen by the wife,’ reveals Dyfed. ‘But we kept the rest of the palette fairly neutral, as we knew they wanted to display some artwork in this room, so it’s designed to let that shine.’
Textural fabrics in glimmering shades of silver and lemon add depth to the bedroom scheme.
Lemon armchair, Porada
Lemon armchair, Porada
The lemon accent colour is carried through to the en-suite bathroom for a unified look. The rest of the room is decked in marble for a practical yet glamorous finish.
Bath, Rexa Design.
Bath, Rexa Design.
The couple’s eldest daughter chose a more funky scheme for her bedroom, which is also used as a guest room when she’s away at college. ‘It’s quite grown-up, but it’s a bit fresher than the glamorous master bedroom,’ says Dyfed.
Wallpaper, Harlequin. Hand-blown glass pendants, Bob Crooks. Lampshade, Heathfield & Co.
Wallpaper, Harlequin. Hand-blown glass pendants, Bob Crooks. Lampshade, Heathfield & Co.
As with the master bedroom suite, the pink accent colour has been carried through from the bedroom into the en-suite bathroom through the back-painted glass splashback.
The couple’s younger son has a versatile grey and white bedroom with red accents. ‘It’s more of a blank slate so he can adapt it as he gets older,’ explains Dyfed.
Concrete lamps, Wayfair. Bedside tables, Porro.
Concrete lamps, Wayfair. Bedside tables, Porro.
A smaller bedroom features a number of items from emerging designers. ‘We like to give our clients things they won’t see in their friends’ houses,’ explains Dyfed.
Bedside pendant lights, Studio WM. Wardrobe, Carré.
TELL US…
What do you think of this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Bedside pendant lights, Studio WM. Wardrobe, Carré.
TELL US…
What do you think of this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A family with four children
Location Kensington, central London
Year built 1879
Year renovated 2013
Designer Dyfed Price of Morph Interior
Size 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
That’s interesting The mansion block, designed by eminent Victorian architect Richard Norman Shaw in 1879, was the first to be designed specifically as flats in London
The spacious entrance hall features a chaise longue – made to order – and a sculptural Birds Birds Birds chandelier by Ingo Maurer, which Dyfed reveals he’d been wanting to use in a design for years. ‘It’s rare to find a space with such lovely high ceilings that can actually take such a dramatic piece,’ he says. ‘Even when the lights are off, it looks amazing.’
The intricate cornicing in this room is an original feature that Dyfed had painstakingly restored.
Birds Birds Birds chandelier, Ingo Maurer.