Houzz Tour: A Small City Flat With a Cosy Midcentury Vibe
Before and after photos show how a two-bedroom flat untouched for decades has been given a stylish yet homely revamp
Polystyrene ceiling tiles and loud carpets greeted designer Omar Bhatti of Space Shack when he went to assess this basement flat. With a brief to create a boutique hotel look that feels intimate and cosy, he set to work improving the flow, restoring period details, and introducing beautiful textures in warm, earthy colours.
The flat hadn’t been touched for years, so Omar had to strip everything back and start from scratch. “The ceilings were covered in polystyrene tiles, and there was no insulation,” he says. “And there was carpet in the bathrooms – bright blue and deep red.”
Omar removed a wall between the small galley kitchen and the living room to create an airier feel.
The 3.7m-high ceiling (see previous photo) had to be dropped to 3.2m in order to accommodate lighting and insulation.
Artwork, DegreeArt.com. Acorn Mid-century bookshelf, West Elm. Ceiling light, Astro.
The 3.7m-high ceiling (see previous photo) had to be dropped to 3.2m in order to accommodate lighting and insulation.
Artwork, DegreeArt.com. Acorn Mid-century bookshelf, West Elm. Ceiling light, Astro.
Omar created a cosy living space with the midcentury-style pieces, earthy colours and dark woods the owners like.
The herringbone parquet flooring brings in the warmth of timber, but is actually luxury vinyl tiles. “It’s water-resistant, so it’s good around the kitchen sink in particular,” Omar says. “We’ve gone for a border running around it for a more traditional look.”
Vinyl flooring, Amtico. Living room walls painted in Quartz Grey, Heritage collection at Dulux. Rug, West Elm. Side table, Wayfair. Sofa, Lombok. Cushions, Liberty. Armchair, BrandAlley.
The herringbone parquet flooring brings in the warmth of timber, but is actually luxury vinyl tiles. “It’s water-resistant, so it’s good around the kitchen sink in particular,” Omar says. “We’ve gone for a border running around it for a more traditional look.”
Vinyl flooring, Amtico. Living room walls painted in Quartz Grey, Heritage collection at Dulux. Rug, West Elm. Side table, Wayfair. Sofa, Lombok. Cushions, Liberty. Armchair, BrandAlley.
Omar kept the lighting discreet, but gave the owners the chance to alter things at a later date. “They didn’t want too many lights,” he says, “but we’ve left wiring in the ceiling, so they can easily have a pendant over the dining table at a later date if they change their minds.”
Dining table, Habitat. Dining chairs, West Elm.
Trying to fit everything into a small space? Check out these 17 tiny dining area ideas for small homes.
Dining table, Habitat. Dining chairs, West Elm.
Trying to fit everything into a small space? Check out these 17 tiny dining area ideas for small homes.
“The kitchen was my main focus and everything led from there,” Omar says. The owner loves marble, so Omar chose marble-patterned quartz to get the look in a more robust material.
As the kitchen is now open to the living area, Omar was keen it fitted in with the mood of the space. “Instead of making it look totally kitchen-y, I added these handles to give it a more unusual edge,” he says.
“I also went for a waterfall worktop, so at least when you’re sitting at the dining table or on the sofa, it looks a lot nicer than seeing your everyday worktop and unit sides,” he adds.
A full wall of cabinets at the back makes the most of the space. “I wanted ‘to the ceiling’ cabinetry, as we had to fit a lot in,” Omar says. “On the back wall, each bottom and middle door is connected to form tall cupboards. On the left is a fridge-freezer; in the centre is a cupboard with double doors that holds all the small appliances; on the right is the boiler. Along the top are additional storage cupboards.”
On the left of the room is a slide and hide oven – “good for small spaces” – a built-in microwave, an extractor in the cupboard above the hob, then storage all around.
“On the sink side, there’s a dishwasher to the left and a washing machine to the right, plus storage under the butler sink,” Omar says. “The sink is quite deep, so the tap is a pull-out design with a hose.”
Kitchen, made to Omar’s design by Howdens. Integrated appliances including Slide&Hide oven, Neff. Cabinet handles, Buster & Punch.
As the kitchen is now open to the living area, Omar was keen it fitted in with the mood of the space. “Instead of making it look totally kitchen-y, I added these handles to give it a more unusual edge,” he says.
“I also went for a waterfall worktop, so at least when you’re sitting at the dining table or on the sofa, it looks a lot nicer than seeing your everyday worktop and unit sides,” he adds.
A full wall of cabinets at the back makes the most of the space. “I wanted ‘to the ceiling’ cabinetry, as we had to fit a lot in,” Omar says. “On the back wall, each bottom and middle door is connected to form tall cupboards. On the left is a fridge-freezer; in the centre is a cupboard with double doors that holds all the small appliances; on the right is the boiler. Along the top are additional storage cupboards.”
On the left of the room is a slide and hide oven – “good for small spaces” – a built-in microwave, an extractor in the cupboard above the hob, then storage all around.
“On the sink side, there’s a dishwasher to the left and a washing machine to the right, plus storage under the butler sink,” Omar says. “The sink is quite deep, so the tap is a pull-out design with a hose.”
Kitchen, made to Omar’s design by Howdens. Integrated appliances including Slide&Hide oven, Neff. Cabinet handles, Buster & Punch.
In the old kitchen, the built-out area on the right was a small boiler room.
The boiler room also contained a doorway to an alley. “We thought about it for quite some time and decided the owners just didn’t need that door, so we blocked it off and opened out the space to the rest of the kitchen,” Omar says.
In the area where the boiler used to be, Omar fitted this solid walnut shelving.
“The accents – the walnut shelves matching with the floor and the chairs – it all works nicely together,” he says.
“The accents – the walnut shelves matching with the floor and the chairs – it all works nicely together,” he says.
The walls in the kitchen are microcement, which introduces a velvety texture to the space.
Microcement, Decora Cement.
Microcement, Decora Cement.
The master bedroom was gutted, then Omar employed a plasterwork specialist to create the elegant wall panelling, which perfectly frames the bespoke headboard.
The couple wanted a king-size bed, so there was little room left on either side, but Omar found these slim wall lights and side tables that slot in neatly.
Bed, Made.com. Wall cornices (panelling), Cornices Centre. Headboard, Abbott’s. Cushions; throw, all Lombok and John Lewis & Partners. Wall lights, Astro. Silhouette drink tables (used as bedside tables), West Elm.
The couple wanted a king-size bed, so there was little room left on either side, but Omar found these slim wall lights and side tables that slot in neatly.
Bed, Made.com. Wall cornices (panelling), Cornices Centre. Headboard, Abbott’s. Cushions; throw, all Lombok and John Lewis & Partners. Wall lights, Astro. Silhouette drink tables (used as bedside tables), West Elm.
Omar also had all the window frames restored. “The apartment had proper sash windows, but they were in really bad condition, so we had them all refurbished,” he says.
Bench, West Elm. Vases, Liberty. Artwork, DegreeArt.com. Wardrobe (just seen on left), Wayfair.
Bench, West Elm. Vases, Liberty. Artwork, DegreeArt.com. Wardrobe (just seen on left), Wayfair.
The second bedroom is off the living room. As such, Omar chose a smart velvet sofa-bed and again created plasterwork panelling.
“We based the [plasterwork] design on the existing sash window,” he says. “On both sides of the sofa there are two dimmable wall lamps that create a cosy, homely feeling after dark.”
Sofa-bed, West Elm. Wall cornices, Cornices Centre. Cushions; throw, all Liberty. Wall lights, Astro.
“We based the [plasterwork] design on the existing sash window,” he says. “On both sides of the sofa there are two dimmable wall lamps that create a cosy, homely feeling after dark.”
Sofa-bed, West Elm. Wall cornices, Cornices Centre. Cushions; throw, all Liberty. Wall lights, Astro.
The midcentury theme is continued in here, with a dark wood desk and velvet chair creating an elegant work space. There’s also a small wardrobe in here (not seen) for clothes and study paraphernalia.
Desk, Made.com. Desk chair, Dunelm. Horse sculpture; artwork, both DegreeArt.com.
Desk, Made.com. Desk chair, Dunelm. Horse sculpture; artwork, both DegreeArt.com.
“This bathroom was originally just a toilet and there was a store cupboard next door, so we removed the wall to make a bigger room,” Omar says.
The black tapware subtly links with the cupboard handles in the kitchen and the wall lights and door furniture throughout the flat.
Shower tray; enclosure; vanity unit; taps, all Lusso Stone. Artwork, DegreeArt.com.
The black tapware subtly links with the cupboard handles in the kitchen and the wall lights and door furniture throughout the flat.
Shower tray; enclosure; vanity unit; taps, all Lusso Stone. Artwork, DegreeArt.com.
Omar laid marble-style porcelain tiles on the walls and floors in both bathrooms. They’re large format (1200x800) for a luxurious look.
Carrara marble-look porcelain wall and floor tiles, Tiles & Baths Direct.
Carrara marble-look porcelain wall and floor tiles, Tiles & Baths Direct.
The main bathroom has a sleek resin bath and modern vanity unit.
“I hung artwork in both bathrooms to introduce a colourful contrast to these very bright white spaces,” Omar says.
Carrara marble-look porcelain wall and floor tiles, Tiles & Baths Direct. Bath; vanity unit; taps, all Lusso Stone. Mirror, Kartell. Artwork, DegreeArt.com.
Tell us…
What do you like about this revamped flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“I hung artwork in both bathrooms to introduce a colourful contrast to these very bright white spaces,” Omar says.
Carrara marble-look porcelain wall and floor tiles, Tiles & Baths Direct. Bath; vanity unit; taps, all Lusso Stone. Mirror, Kartell. Artwork, DegreeArt.com.
Tell us…
What do you like about this revamped flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? This is a family’s city home
Location Earl’s Court, central London
Property A basement flat in a listed mansion block
Size Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Omar Bhatti of Space Shack
Photos by Chris Snook
“The owner had quite a clear idea of what he wanted stylewise,” Omar says. “He asked for something classic and timeless, and he loves midcentury pieces. He took me to a hotel where he sometimes stays and said, ‘This is the vibe I want, I just don’t know how to create it, and I want your help to bring it all together.’”