Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Riverside Apartment With a Striking Open-plan Layout
Smart planning and reflective finishes help to capture the view from this home overlooking the River Thames
If you were about to renovate a home with a gorgeous view, whether it be of a beautiful garden, a sweep of rooftops, or a twinkling body of water, as here, chances are you’d want to make the most of it, and that’s exactly what interior designer Sam Kennell decided to do when she redesigned the flat she shares with her husband and his three children.
By removing a dividing wall and replacing wood surfaces with glass, she’s transformed the apartment into a stunning space where the family can enjoy the panoramic vista of the River Thames from different areas of their home.
By removing a dividing wall and replacing wood surfaces with glass, she’s transformed the apartment into a stunning space where the family can enjoy the panoramic vista of the River Thames from different areas of their home.
This ‘before’ photo shows the previous living space. A wall separated the living area from the kitchen-breakfast room, as well as two small bedrooms and a bathroom. The team knocked down the concrete wall, which was a real challenge. “The building is made of reinforced concrete, so the walls were thick,” Kennell recalls.
By removing the wall, Kennell made the living space much larger. The L-shaped kitchen has become a smaller galley kitchen, which suits the family fine.
Kennell also fitted a new glass staircase, which now leads up from the front door, and a glass balustrade along the mezzanine level rather than a wired one with wooden fascias. “We chose glass for both as we didn’t want to have any interruption of the view,” she says.
“My husband loves gadgets, so the TV is recessed in the wall and surrounded by sound bars, which sit flush,” says Kennell. The whole thing is connected to an integrated audio-visual system, with the controls housed in the hallway.
Gas fire, Dru. Staircase, Elite Metalcraft. Walls throughout painted in Skylon Grey, Fired Earth.
Kennell also fitted a new glass staircase, which now leads up from the front door, and a glass balustrade along the mezzanine level rather than a wired one with wooden fascias. “We chose glass for both as we didn’t want to have any interruption of the view,” she says.
“My husband loves gadgets, so the TV is recessed in the wall and surrounded by sound bars, which sit flush,” says Kennell. The whole thing is connected to an integrated audio-visual system, with the controls housed in the hallway.
Gas fire, Dru. Staircase, Elite Metalcraft. Walls throughout painted in Skylon Grey, Fired Earth.
The building has a nautical theme, which can be seen in the apartment’s porthole windows. The wall covering provides an added marine touch, with its soft ridges resembling waves. “I tried to play with the river,” says Kennell. “In the summertime, you can watch the movement of the river through the window, and the wall reflects that. The glass table also reflects the same pattern as the wall.”
Kennell’s husband already owned the leather sofa. “He loves the feeling of uncluttered space,” she says, “so the furniture had to be stylish and sleek. But it also had to be comfortable, and I had cushions made to add texture.”
Sofas, Roche Bobois and Rolf Benz. Rug, Deirdre Dyson. Dining table, Go Modern. Coffee table, Roche Bobois. Side tables; honeycomb console and lamps, all Porta Romana.
Kennell’s husband already owned the leather sofa. “He loves the feeling of uncluttered space,” she says, “so the furniture had to be stylish and sleek. But it also had to be comfortable, and I had cushions made to add texture.”
Sofas, Roche Bobois and Rolf Benz. Rug, Deirdre Dyson. Dining table, Go Modern. Coffee table, Roche Bobois. Side tables; honeycomb console and lamps, all Porta Romana.
The layout of the furniture creates a spacious walkway to the glazed wall. “People like to stand by the windows and look out,” says Kennell. “We have a six-seater table, but the layout allows people to move around.”
To add a cosy feel to the open-plan space, the couple put in a gas fireplace. There used to be a boiler next to the dividing wall, so they already had access to the gas flue.
The flooring throughout the apartment is wood-effect porcelain tiles warmed by underfloor heating.
Floor tiles, Grestec. TV, Panasonic. Multimedia system, installed by Prestige Audio. Wall covering, Armourcoat.
To add a cosy feel to the open-plan space, the couple put in a gas fireplace. There used to be a boiler next to the dividing wall, so they already had access to the gas flue.
The flooring throughout the apartment is wood-effect porcelain tiles warmed by underfloor heating.
Floor tiles, Grestec. TV, Panasonic. Multimedia system, installed by Prestige Audio. Wall covering, Armourcoat.
The kitchen was made by the building team. They’ve managed to slot in bags of storage, including ceiling-high, push-door cabinets, two pantry cupboards, pots and pans cupboards above and below the oven, four cupboards above the sink and some useful wide drawers, as well as a wine fridge.
“Light from the living space floods into the kitchen, and the mirrored extractor fan reflects even more, so it gets a lot of light despite being a small space,” says Kennell.
“We chose the blue because we wanted an injection of colour against the soft grey in the rest of the apartment,” she adds.
Extractor fan, Elica. Wine fridge, Avintage. Tap, Hansgrohe.
“Light from the living space floods into the kitchen, and the mirrored extractor fan reflects even more, so it gets a lot of light despite being a small space,” says Kennell.
“We chose the blue because we wanted an injection of colour against the soft grey in the rest of the apartment,” she adds.
Extractor fan, Elica. Wine fridge, Avintage. Tap, Hansgrohe.
On the mezzanine level, Kennell has created an office space. “I wanted it to feel cosy and warm,” she says, “so I had the sofa and chair upholstered in velvet.” There’s lots of storage up here, with units under the shelves and a roomy ottoman.
Teal rug, Deirdre Dyson. Chair, Staffan Tollgard.
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Teal rug, Deirdre Dyson. Chair, Staffan Tollgard.
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A glass desk sits in front of the reinforced glass balustrade, maximising the view.
From here you can see a lip above the giant windows, which was created to hide the blinds when they’re up. LED lights sit behind this fascia and throw light down the surface of the closed blinds in the evening. At the bottom of the window is another LED strip, which runs along the perimeter of the room.
The underside of the mezzanine level also provided the perfect place to put extra LED spotlights to illuminate the living space.
Desk, Dwell. Office chair, Eames.
From here you can see a lip above the giant windows, which was created to hide the blinds when they’re up. LED lights sit behind this fascia and throw light down the surface of the closed blinds in the evening. At the bottom of the window is another LED strip, which runs along the perimeter of the room.
The underside of the mezzanine level also provided the perfect place to put extra LED spotlights to illuminate the living space.
Desk, Dwell. Office chair, Eames.
In the master bedroom, a petrol blue crocodile-skin wallpaper contrasts with a bright orange headboard and ottoman. “We chose quite a full-on headboard to contrast with the minimal look of the apartment,” says Kennell. The luxurious bed is high up, so the designer had tall bedside units made, and complemented them with tall lamps.
“In the winter, we have a big fur throw on the bed to make it snuggly,” says Kennell. “We contemplated having a rug, but with underfloor heating, you don’t need it.”
Bed, Savoir. Lamps, Porta Romana. Wallpaper, Abbott + Boyd.
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“In the winter, we have a big fur throw on the bed to make it snuggly,” says Kennell. “We contemplated having a rug, but with underfloor heating, you don’t need it.”
Bed, Savoir. Lamps, Porta Romana. Wallpaper, Abbott + Boyd.
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“The bathroom had a massive overhaul,” says Kennell. “There was originally a big bath with an over-bath shower, but we removed it as a standalone shower works better for us.”
The cubicle is a walk-through design that you can access from both sides. “We chose a slim, linear drain rather than a traditional round one, and the builders sloped the floor very very slightly, so it still looks level.”
Large marble tiles give a luxurious feel, while the wall-hung toilet and vanity unit add a feeling of space. A mirrored wall reflects the light.
Marble tiles, CDS Tiles. Vanity unit, Artelinea.
The cubicle is a walk-through design that you can access from both sides. “We chose a slim, linear drain rather than a traditional round one, and the builders sloped the floor very very slightly, so it still looks level.”
Large marble tiles give a luxurious feel, while the wall-hung toilet and vanity unit add a feeling of space. A mirrored wall reflects the light.
Marble tiles, CDS Tiles. Vanity unit, Artelinea.
The guest room is on the ground floor behind the kitchen. It was originally Kennell’s husband’s study, but is now home to a useful sofa-bed and a TV and games console for the kids.
The back wall is covered with a black crocodile-skin wallpaper, and a large cowhide cosies up the floor. Behind the mirror is a cupboard with plenty of storage space.
Pocket doors lead into the room. They’re left open most of the time to give the space an airy feel and allow whoever is inside to look out towards the large windows.
Crocodile wallpaper, Abbott + Boyd.
The back wall is covered with a black crocodile-skin wallpaper, and a large cowhide cosies up the floor. Behind the mirror is a cupboard with plenty of storage space.
Pocket doors lead into the room. They’re left open most of the time to give the space an airy feel and allow whoever is inside to look out towards the large windows.
Crocodile wallpaper, Abbott + Boyd.
The girls’ bedroom, which is adjacent to the guest room, has been given a warm and cosy feel. “The girls love blue, so we chose this paper, which gives the impression of sky and is soft to the touch,” she says.
One of the high beds has a mattress below, while the space under the other one is used for storage. There’s also a corner desk and a wardrobe for all their clothes.
The corner window has been fitted with soft Roman blinds, and behind those are some roller blinds that let in the light while providing privacy.
Beds, Aspace. Wallpaper, Abbott + Boyd.
One of the high beds has a mattress below, while the space under the other one is used for storage. There’s also a corner desk and a wardrobe for all their clothes.
The corner window has been fitted with soft Roman blinds, and behind those are some roller blinds that let in the light while providing privacy.
Beds, Aspace. Wallpaper, Abbott + Boyd.
A view from the front of the apartment block, designed by Richard Rogers.
What do you think of the redesign of this apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
What do you think of the redesign of this apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here Interior designer Samantha Kennell with her husband and three children
Location Hammersmith, London
Property Duplex penthouse designed by Richard Rogers
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer Samantha Kennell of SLK Interior Decoration
Interior designer Samantha Kennell renovated this riverside apartment for her husband. “We were courting at the time, and it was very much about making him an apartment to live in with his three children,” she explains. The pair are now married and she lives here, too, so the home has evolved to suit all five of them.
The aim was to open up the living space in order to make the most of the stunning river views. “There was a much narrower living space before,” Kennell explains.
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