Houzz Tour: Warm Neutrals and Bespoke Joinery Enhance a City Flat
Gently layered colours and natural materials have brought cosiness to this once cold apartment for a family of four
Sometimes, it’s no bad thing to spend a little time living in a property before deciding how to decorate it. This family moved into their three-bedroom flat around three years ago and didn’t have time for a full revamp, but it meant that, by the time they called in designer Amalia Boier earlier this year, they knew exactly what they wanted.
“The brief for the palette was warm, cosy, inviting, calm and harmonious,” Amalia says. It was about creating a welcoming mood and a relaxing ambience, and Amalia’s mix of beautiful oak joinery, tactile fabrics and soothing colours has resulted in a comfy home the whole family enjoy.
“The brief for the palette was warm, cosy, inviting, calm and harmonious,” Amalia says. It was about creating a welcoming mood and a relaxing ambience, and Amalia’s mix of beautiful oak joinery, tactile fabrics and soothing colours has resulted in a comfy home the whole family enjoy.
Amalia has given each area of the open-plan kitchen-diner-living space its own identity while ensuring the space flows.
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The team renovated everything, including updating the electrics, and increased the storage. The wood flooring was already down in all the rooms, but Amalia had it polished, then complemented it with a range of subtly different off-whites and pale taupes on the walls and ceilings.
She positioned the family piano next to the seating area. “The teenage daughter plays piano and, as [the family] entertain quite a bit, they wanted it in the living room area, as she sometimes plays for them,” Amalia says.
The discs artwork above helps to zone the music area. “I thought it resonated with the music notes,” she says.
She positioned the family piano next to the seating area. “The teenage daughter plays piano and, as [the family] entertain quite a bit, they wanted it in the living room area, as she sometimes plays for them,” Amalia says.
The discs artwork above helps to zone the music area. “I thought it resonated with the music notes,” she says.
The bespoke sofa curves to create a cosy living area, with a circular marble and wood coffee table following the line perfectly. “It’s quite an angular space with the sloping walls, so we wanted to bring in more organic shapes to make things softer, and also to zone the area in a natural, flowing way,” Amalia says.
The couple wanted more seating, as they frequently invite friends round. “We had the sofa made, upholstering it in stain-resistant fabric, and there are stools and armchairs, plus side tables [for drinks],” she says.
The couple wanted more seating, as they frequently invite friends round. “We had the sofa made, upholstering it in stain-resistant fabric, and there are stools and armchairs, plus side tables [for drinks],” she says.
This space next to the piano was wasted. “There was a small unit with a printer on it,” Amalia says. So she designed this bar cabinet, which brings height and “a little grandeur” to the room and also creates more storage.
The fluting seen on the lower cupboard doors is a thread that runs throughout the flat, appearing on wardrobe doors, upholstered headboards and furniture including the coffee and dining tables. “It adds a bit more interest,” Amalia says.
The fluting seen on the lower cupboard doors is a thread that runs throughout the flat, appearing on wardrobe doors, upholstered headboards and furniture including the coffee and dining tables. “It adds a bit more interest,” Amalia says.
Inside the cabinet, there are integrated LEDs on sensors, which not only illuminate the contents, but provide ambient lighting after dark. The drinks section can be closed off or left open thanks to neat pocket doors, plus there are open shelves to the right for display.
There’s also a coffee station here, so it’s perfect for entertaining any time of day.
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There’s also a coffee station here, so it’s perfect for entertaining any time of day.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
The dining table can accommodate six comfy chairs thanks to the pedestal design, and its circular shape helps with softening the angular room.
Amalia has defined the area with a pendant light. “It’s quite delicate, but still enough to make a statement and bring a bit of height and interest to that area,” she says.
The relaxed sheer blinds are bespoke. “We wanted to bring softness to the room – and privacy, even though it’s on the top floor,” she says. The blinds diffuse rather than block the light.
Amalia has defined the area with a pendant light. “It’s quite delicate, but still enough to make a statement and bring a bit of height and interest to that area,” she says.
The relaxed sheer blinds are bespoke. “We wanted to bring softness to the room – and privacy, even though it’s on the top floor,” she says. The blinds diffuse rather than block the light.
Amalia kept the original layout and unit carcasses in the kitchen, but replaced the fronts and handles – choosing knobs over bars to continue the softening curves – and added new granite worktops and splashback.
Anyone arriving at the apartment will climb the stairs just seen on the right, so Amalia placed a sideboard at the top for shoes and a mirror for a quick appearance check before leaving. There’s a trinket box on top for keys and coins.
To the right there’s a large built-in cupboard with hanging space for coats and umbrellas, plus a lift (see the floor plan, above).
More: How to Design an Open-plan Kitchen Layout
To the right there’s a large built-in cupboard with hanging space for coats and umbrellas, plus a lift (see the floor plan, above).
More: How to Design an Open-plan Kitchen Layout
In the couple’s bedroom, Amalia took the fluted upholstered headboard right to the sides of the room, as it’s a fairly compact space and this helps to make it seem wider.
This chest of drawers is the companion piece to the one in the living room and was already in the flat. The mirror and artwork, meanwhile, bring in curves.
There are sheers and floor-to-ceiling curtains in here for privacy and to fully block the light.
This chest of drawers is the companion piece to the one in the living room and was already in the flat. The mirror and artwork, meanwhile, bring in curves.
There are sheers and floor-to-ceiling curtains in here for privacy and to fully block the light.
There were smaller wardrobes in here, so Amalia removed them and built in this roomy bank of cabinets. The interiors are oak and there are drawers, shelves and hanging space lit by LEDs.
The fluted panels mirror the headboard on the opposite wall and continue the subtle fluting elsewhere in the flat.
The fluted panels mirror the headboard on the opposite wall and continue the subtle fluting elsewhere in the flat.
The bedrooms had just been functional before, with basic furniture, so Amalia chose big, comfy beds for the daughters, including this soft pink one for the youngest girl. “We went with different colour palettes based on the girls’ preferences – they had quite a big imput into the colours and type of storage they wanted,” she says.
These artworks are custom-made, and include the daughter’s name and date of birth, plus the animals she likes. “We had fun working with her on these,” Amalia says.
She fitted more traditional Roman blackout blinds at the window for a good night’s sleep.
These artworks are custom-made, and include the daughter’s name and date of birth, plus the animals she likes. “We had fun working with her on these,” Amalia says.
She fitted more traditional Roman blackout blinds at the window for a good night’s sleep.
The daughter wanted to include baskets in her storage. “She has all these tiny toys, such as Lego, which were everywhere,” Amalia says. “We came up with these rattan baskets, which have a nice pinkish tone and work quite well with the rest of the furniture.”
To the right of this arched unit there’s a roomy built-in wardrobe (see the floor plan, above) and there’s also pull-out storage under the bed.
To the right of this arched unit there’s a roomy built-in wardrobe (see the floor plan, above) and there’s also pull-out storage under the bed.
Amalia also included a unit in here that can multitask as a homework desk and dressing table.
The colours tend more towards lilacs and browns in the older daughter’s bedroom. The headboard is a cream bouclé, but the fluted bedside tables and capiz shell lamps chime with the fluted pieces in the other rooms.
Amalia included a ribbed dressing table with a mirror for the teenager. “She’s into make-up,” she says.
The built-in wardrobe is to the right of the dressing table.
The built-in wardrobe is to the right of the dressing table.
There’s also a good study desk with lots of drawers and a pinboard.
So how did the renovation go for everyone. “The main challenge for us was access,” Amalia says. “The corridor and staircase are quite narrow, so everything we brought in was carefully thought about and designed to make sure we were able to fit it in; we weren’t able to use a crane, as the windows were too narrow.”
But, as their review on Houzz shows, the homeowners really appreciated all Amalia’s hard work and attention to detail, saying, “We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. The space looks absolutely beautiful, and we’re enjoying it every single day.”
Tell us…
What do you think of Amalia’s design for this city flat? Let us know in the Comments.
So how did the renovation go for everyone. “The main challenge for us was access,” Amalia says. “The corridor and staircase are quite narrow, so everything we brought in was carefully thought about and designed to make sure we were able to fit it in; we weren’t able to use a crane, as the windows were too narrow.”
But, as their review on Houzz shows, the homeowners really appreciated all Amalia’s hard work and attention to detail, saying, “We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. The space looks absolutely beautiful, and we’re enjoying it every single day.”
Tell us…
What do you think of Amalia’s design for this city flat? Let us know in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple with two daughters, 15 and almost 12
Location Notting Hill, west London
Property A top-floor flat in a period building
Size Three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Amalia Boier of Amalia Boier Interiors
Project year 2025
Photos by Vigo Jansons
When Amalia first saw this flat, the walls throughout were a purply-grey, which felt rather cold. “The furniture was very angular, with lots of dark navy and black metal detailing, which was quite overpowering for the size of the apartment,” she says. “Also, the [open-plan] room didn’t really have a natural flow.”
“[The owners] wanted a very personalised touch, and a complete makeover in terms of the furniture and fixtures,” she says.
Some treasured pieces were retained, including this sideboard and its sister piece in the couple’s bedroom.