Houzz Tour: A Stylish Open-plan Warehouse Conversion in Shoreditch
Once a dilapidated warehouse, this impressive space is now a luxury apartment with dual-aspect terraces and views across London
Converting an old Victorian warehouse from a commercial space into a luxury apartment created a number of challenges, as well as exciting opportunities. ‘The top floor of the building was basically a timber shed,’ says Gideon Purser at Chris Dyson Architects, who worked on the project as part of a team from the firm. ‘Removing this gave us the chance to create a whole new floor with a lot of outside space, but at the same time we wanted to stay true to the history of the building. So we designed the first floor around the existing window openings and staircase, then worked to ensure the old and new flowed into each other.’
As the top floor lent itself to being an open-plan space that flowed out onto the terraces, Purser decided to put the bedrooms on the first floor and, unconventionally, site the living area above. ‘The design lent itself much better to this arrangement,’ he explains, ‘and it means the homeowners get so much more use from the outside space.’
As the top floor lent itself to being an open-plan space that flowed out onto the terraces, Purser decided to put the bedrooms on the first floor and, unconventionally, site the living area above. ‘The design lent itself much better to this arrangement,’ he explains, ‘and it means the homeowners get so much more use from the outside space.’
As the brief was to create a luxury city retreat, Purser paid close attention to all the little details, designing the door architraves, skirting boards and kitchen units.
‘The kitchen units are all spray-lacquered MDF and they are topped with a Silestone worktop. The breakfast bar is made from polished concrete, which was poured on site and then topped with Silestone,’ he explains.
‘As the warehouse itself still has lots of character, we tried to keep the fixtures and fittings quite simple and neutral, so as not to detract from the building’s features.’
Kitchen appliances, all Miele. Kitchen units, designed by Chris Dyson Architects and constructed by DW General Wood Machinists.
Explore more creative uses for concrete
‘The kitchen units are all spray-lacquered MDF and they are topped with a Silestone worktop. The breakfast bar is made from polished concrete, which was poured on site and then topped with Silestone,’ he explains.
‘As the warehouse itself still has lots of character, we tried to keep the fixtures and fittings quite simple and neutral, so as not to detract from the building’s features.’
Kitchen appliances, all Miele. Kitchen units, designed by Chris Dyson Architects and constructed by DW General Wood Machinists.
Explore more creative uses for concrete
A skylight above the island provides natural light over the breakfast bar during the day, while LED lighting creates a feature out of this cavity at night.
Concrete pendant lights hang over the dining table and help this area to feel more intimate as night draws in.
Heavy concrete pendant lights, Decode.
Concrete pendant lights hang over the dining table and help this area to feel more intimate as night draws in.
Heavy concrete pendant lights, Decode.
A geometric rug, as well as a grid of lighting, helps to separate the living space from the kitchen-diner. Underfloor heating has been fitted to keep the walls free for storage and artworks. Purser laid engineered oak flooring on top, because it’s less prone to warping and shrinking than natural timber floorboards.
Read expert advice on underfloor heating
Read expert advice on underfloor heating
Large-format sliding doors open onto terraces that bookend the living and dining space. Powder-coated metal planters have been filled with bamboo to ensure privacy on the roof terrace, while artificial timber decking that won’t rot covers the floor.
Sliding doors, Schuco. Artificial timber decking, Millboard.
Sliding doors, Schuco. Artificial timber decking, Millboard.
Downstairs, the original Crittall windows were stripped back, restored and teamed with full-length curtains to add a touch of grandeur to the master bedroom suite. ‘We stuck to a muted colour scheme throughout so as not to detract from the warehouse’s interesting features,’ says Purser.
Walls painted in Rolling Fog, Little Greene. Wool carpet, Jacaranda. For a similar pendant light, try the Glo-Ball by Jasper Morrison for Flos, available from Heal’s.
Walls painted in Rolling Fog, Little Greene. Wool carpet, Jacaranda. For a similar pendant light, try the Glo-Ball by Jasper Morrison for Flos, available from Heal’s.
In the adjoining en suite, twin basins and twin showerheads ensure there’s no queuing for the bathroom in the morning.
Mirrored cabinets, designed by Chris Dyson Architects and constructed by DW General Wood Machinists. Basins, Duravit. Taps, Hansgrohe. Flooring, Burlington Stone.
Mirrored cabinets, designed by Chris Dyson Architects and constructed by DW General Wood Machinists. Basins, Duravit. Taps, Hansgrohe. Flooring, Burlington Stone.
‘We wanted to celebrate the materials of the old warehouse, so we kept the original brickwork exposed in here, sealing it to stop it getting too dusty,’ explains Purser. ‘Elsewhere, the palette is muted, so as not to detract from the strong dark red of the brick.’
Check out more ways to bring out the beauty of bare brick
TELL US…
What do you think of this warehouse conversion? Share you thoughts in the Comments below.
Check out more ways to bring out the beauty of bare brick
TELL US…
What do you think of this warehouse conversion? Share you thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A young couple
Location Shoreditch, east London
Size 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (3 en suite)
Architects Gideon Purser and the team at Chris Dyson Architects
The owners of this apartment wanted the main living space to have an urban loft feel, so on the top floor, architect Gideon Purser created a large, open-plan kitchen-diner that flows into the living room and onto the terraces beyond. The floor below is more private, with a series of bedroom suites.