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Houzz Tour: Clever Ideas Make a Flat Feel Both Cosy and Spacious
Thoughtful design has given this small apartment a warm and welcoming mood without it feeling cramped
Having a small flat and wanting to host a group of friends are not always compatible, as the owner of this city centre apartment discovered. Keen to rearrange the space to accommodate a crowd while also creating a cosy retreat where he could occasionally work and, most importantly, relax and unwind, he contacted Camila Rodrigues of COR London to ask for her design expertise.
“[The owner] was keen to have dinner parties for up to 10 people, so we had to create a traffic flow that would allow that,” Camila says. “We wanted to make it so that he could have that number of guests and the flat would still feel welcoming and spacious.”
Her solution was to use nature-inspired warm colours, open up the centre of the living space, and employ small-space tricks that help the flat to feel open and airy.
“[The owner] was keen to have dinner parties for up to 10 people, so we had to create a traffic flow that would allow that,” Camila says. “We wanted to make it so that he could have that number of guests and the flat would still feel welcoming and spacious.”
Her solution was to use nature-inspired warm colours, open up the centre of the living space, and employ small-space tricks that help the flat to feel open and airy.
When the owner first moved in, the flat hadn’t been well cared for and was painted a cool grey, so he asked Camila to warm it up.
She presented him with several ideas. “We had a few goes with the living room to get the right layout and exact finishes,” she says. Fortunately, she could utilise the Houzz Pro software tools to make the process of choosing a scheme and furniture easy for him.
“We used Mood Boards to share all our ideas, so he could see all of the products in a visual way,” she says. “Once he’d approved the products, we could generate the Proposals, so he could see all the [prices] together. Then we had a second round of going through them and making sure he wanted to go ahead with everything he’d previously selected, so it was very useful.”
The team also use Houzz Pro tools to manage customer relationships and generate invoices, which helps to smooth the process for homeowners.
She presented him with several ideas. “We had a few goes with the living room to get the right layout and exact finishes,” she says. Fortunately, she could utilise the Houzz Pro software tools to make the process of choosing a scheme and furniture easy for him.
“We used Mood Boards to share all our ideas, so he could see all of the products in a visual way,” she says. “Once he’d approved the products, we could generate the Proposals, so he could see all the [prices] together. Then we had a second round of going through them and making sure he wanted to go ahead with everything he’d previously selected, so it was very useful.”
The team also use Houzz Pro tools to manage customer relationships and generate invoices, which helps to smooth the process for homeowners.
Key to creating a space that allowed room for entertaining was moving the seating area into the corner next to the front door. This has both created a cosy spot to hang out in and freed up the length of the room next to the terrace (see the first photo) for a large dining table.
The walnut-veneer slatted panels and stone-look tiles on the side wall bring in natural textures and colours, but Camila left areas of white to keep the look light. “The kitchen [opposite] is dark, so if this side was totally dark, too, it might feel a bit like a tunnel,” she says.
She laid wood-look herringbone laminate that chimes with the walnut throughout the flat.
The walnut-veneer slatted panels and stone-look tiles on the side wall bring in natural textures and colours, but Camila left areas of white to keep the look light. “The kitchen [opposite] is dark, so if this side was totally dark, too, it might feel a bit like a tunnel,” she says.
She laid wood-look herringbone laminate that chimes with the walnut throughout the flat.
The panel on the left-hand side of the wall hides a little home office, as the owner sometimes works from the flat.
When he’s finished, he can close the bifold door to hide the work area behind slats that match the panel on the right.
In tandem with the TV, which can be pushed back against the wall and turned into an ‘artwork’ when it’s not being watched (seen here), the work station design means the whole area isn’t imposing when friends come over.
Frame TV, Samsung.
In tandem with the TV, which can be pushed back against the wall and turned into an ‘artwork’ when it’s not being watched (seen here), the work station design means the whole area isn’t imposing when friends come over.
Frame TV, Samsung.
The pendant lights above the sofa create a soft glow in the seating area. They’re inspired by one of the owner’s favourite restaurants in London.
“When there are places where you feel good, the features can bring that energy for you and create a cosiness that makes you want to go back there,” Camila says. “So we took the idea of the lamps, which are a bit kinder to your eyes than spotlights.”
Pendant lights, House Doctor. Rug, Brink & Campman. Mags sofa, Hay. Flooring, UK Flooring Direct.
“When there are places where you feel good, the features can bring that energy for you and create a cosiness that makes you want to go back there,” Camila says. “So we took the idea of the lamps, which are a bit kinder to your eyes than spotlights.”
Pendant lights, House Doctor. Rug, Brink & Campman. Mags sofa, Hay. Flooring, UK Flooring Direct.
The kitchen cabinets were already in place, but Camila needed to fix the doors, which weren’t properly aligned.
She also painted the top units and tall utility cupboard on the left dark to match the other cabinet fronts.
She also painted the top units and tall utility cupboard on the left dark to match the other cabinet fronts.
There wasn’t much worktop space, especially as the owner planned to entertain, so Camila added a base cabinet at the top of the stairs. In another of her clever space-saving tricks, she created a pull-out surface, so the owner can extend the worktop when he’s cooking.
The cabinet also provides more storage and holds the microwave, freeing up worktop space on the main run.
The cabinet also provides more storage and holds the microwave, freeing up worktop space on the main run.
The building is clad in copper externally and the kitchen had a copper splashback. “We wanted to keep it,” Camila says, “but it was a rosy copper and, for the colour scheme, we needed something a bit darker, so we removed it and treated it to get the darker finish.”
Camila removed a metal-framed banister and replaced it with glass to create a lighter look and make the room feel more spacious.
She also had a metal drinks bar fabricated. This acts as a divider and hides from view the utility cupboard (visible in the ‘before’ photo) containing the washing machine and tumble dryer for anyone in the seating area. The metal is perforated to keep the look light.
“You don’t want to be looking at the [utility cupboard], but at the same time you don’t want the space to feel more cramped,” Camila says, “so the perforated sheet is perfect as a divider you can still see through.”
She also had a metal drinks bar fabricated. This acts as a divider and hides from view the utility cupboard (visible in the ‘before’ photo) containing the washing machine and tumble dryer for anyone in the seating area. The metal is perforated to keep the look light.
“You don’t want to be looking at the [utility cupboard], but at the same time you don’t want the space to feel more cramped,” Camila says, “so the perforated sheet is perfect as a divider you can still see through.”
The bar contains a shelf and slots for bottles and glasses and is the owner’s favourite feature.
The pendant lights over the stairwell add texture and earthy colour while again sitting lightly in the space.
The pendant lights over the stairwell add texture and earthy colour while again sitting lightly in the space.
As well as the colours reminiscent of the owner’s homeland, Camila took into account those in the view beyond the terrace – the terracotta and grey-brown of the buildings – to link indoors and out.
In order to accommodate a crowd, the dining table is extendable. There are three chairs that fit along one side (not photographed) as well as the bench. “There are also chairs around the flat and on the terrace that [the owner] can bring to the table if necessary,” Camila adds.
Dining table, Wayfair.
In order to accommodate a crowd, the dining table is extendable. There are three chairs that fit along one side (not photographed) as well as the bench. “There are also chairs around the flat and on the terrace that [the owner] can bring to the table if necessary,” Camila adds.
Dining table, Wayfair.
Guests can easily spill onto the large terrace and Camila has added a long, comfy sofa to help extend the living space.
She removed a small plastic shed the owner didn’t need and replaced it with a storage box that doesn’t block the view, holds the cushions and blankets, and chimes with the wood indoors.
Outdoor sofa, Quatropi.
She removed a small plastic shed the owner didn’t need and replaced it with a storage box that doesn’t block the view, holds the cushions and blankets, and chimes with the wood indoors.
Outdoor sofa, Quatropi.
Downstairs, there’s a bedroom and a bathroom. The bedroom is actually quite big and, as this ‘before’ photo shows, the old wardrobes weren’t really making the most of the potential storage space.
Camila removed the old cupboards and used the whole of the space to the right of the bedroom door to create a walk-in wardrobe.
“We wanted to keep it very peaceful and nature-inspired,” she says, “so we used the same walnut veneer slats as upstairs to give the feeling of separating the wardrobe but letting the light through.”
The curtains fit in with the earthy, textured scheme. “We looked at quite a few samples to get the right fabric,” Camila says. “We wanted something quite textural that would blend in the colours of green, yellow and brown.”
Curtain fabric, Romo.
“We wanted to keep it very peaceful and nature-inspired,” she says, “so we used the same walnut veneer slats as upstairs to give the feeling of separating the wardrobe but letting the light through.”
The curtains fit in with the earthy, textured scheme. “We looked at quite a few samples to get the right fabric,” Camila says. “We wanted something quite textural that would blend in the colours of green, yellow and brown.”
Curtain fabric, Romo.
Camila suggested cost-effective units for the wardrobe, freeing up funds to spend on the bespoke divider. “[The owner] is a very neat guy, which is great, as it wouldn’t be ideal to have such an exposed wardrobe otherwise,” she says.
There’s also lots of storage in the hallway on this floor, which is lined with cupboards.
Wardrobe system, Ikea.
More: Maximise Every Inch of Storage Space with a Walk-in Wardrobe
There’s also lots of storage in the hallway on this floor, which is lined with cupboards.
Wardrobe system, Ikea.
More: Maximise Every Inch of Storage Space with a Walk-in Wardrobe
Camila made the sleeping area opposite the wardrobe much cosier. As a nod to the dark greens and browns of the owner’s native landscape, she and a specialist plasterer created a textured wall behind the bed.
“We wanted to bring in a nature feel,” she says. “We played with the plaster to create the right texture, because we wanted something quite rough, but that would last, as textures like this can be quite delicate. I mixed the colour to get a brown-green to be in line with the colour scheme.”
The owner was very pleased with the design. “As he didn’t really have any inspiration images, it was more about us talking about his background and the things he likes to do, places he felt inspired by,” Camila says. “He just wanted to feel at home and was really happy with the result.”
Tell us…
What do you like best about Camila’s design? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
“We wanted to bring in a nature feel,” she says. “We played with the plaster to create the right texture, because we wanted something quite rough, but that would last, as textures like this can be quite delicate. I mixed the colour to get a brown-green to be in line with the colour scheme.”
The owner was very pleased with the design. “As he didn’t really have any inspiration images, it was more about us talking about his background and the things he likes to do, places he felt inspired by,” Camila says. “He just wanted to feel at home and was really happy with the result.”
Tell us…
What do you like best about Camila’s design? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A professional man
Location Central London
Property A two-floor apartment in a modern block
Size One bedroom and one bathroom; 63 sq m plus a terrace
Project year 2022
Designer Camila Rodrigues of COR London
Photos by Patrick Williamson of PW Interior & Lifestyle Photography
“[The owner] wanted, in his words, something very masculine, but at the same time cosy, with colours that would remind him of nature back home [in the Spanish countryside], so we went with a darker colour scheme,” Camila says.