Updating an Art Deco-era apartment in the storied London borough of Kensington & Chelsea presented interesting challenges, writes Nikki Bisiker
Q What was the brief?
This pied-a-terre apartment close to the National History Museum in Knightsbridge owned by four sisters and was last fitted out to create a student pad for them 25 years ago. Now those students have families of their own with children coming into their teenage years who want to use the apartments for weekends away and summer holidays. The brief was a complete renovation for the 21st century, to bring space and light, a luxurious ‘hotel suite’ feel, and to create a space that worked for adults and teenagers alike.
Q Is it different working in London and the Middle East?
Design wise in London, there tends to be a more set look and feel. I call it the “synonymous look”. While London has now evolved a contemporary style, it’s about balance and harmony rather than being free spirited. So even foreign nationals resident here tends to adopt a timeless, tailored elegance, with sleek furniture pieces, accessorising art and silk rugs, and neutral palettes of blues, greys and soft whites, perhaps with pops of classic heritage colours or pale pastels for warmth. I call it “neutrals with a touch of lively”. I like London for the wide range of architectural detailing both internally and externally, which is only possible in centuries old cities.
In the Middle East, things can be actioned faster, and quality artisanal work produced more swiftly. Different nationalities with their cultures and lifestyles reflect a wide diversity of tastes and styles, so things can get a little crazier and there is more wide-ranging opportunity to explore different design styles. In a small space you can also have wide ranging tastes from beach villas, to city chic metropolitan penthouses, to grand palaces and residences, so that diversification makes life interesting on a day to day basis.
Q How have you mirrored the style of the building?
The building dated back to the Art Deco period, and the devil was in the detail when it came to honouring that. All the new internal and external doors have an updated Art Deco design also reflected in the door handles and door hardware. The cabinetry adopts a linear pattern, as does the pendant lighting. In the chosen textiles and textures, we adopted the simplicity of a metropolitan London look with a traditional twist, making use of tweeds, twills, small-check and hounds’ tooth. For the joinery detailing, from radiators to sliding doors, we have chosen antique brass, a very British-inspired material.
Q What were the practical challenges?
The building as whole had been badly maintained and when we started to remove walls, floors, ceilings and windows, a litany of crises was waiting, from asbestos in every corner to corroded water pipes that disintegrated, no main valves, leaking radiators in the ceiling – you name it. A great deal of time was spent rectifying and making good all the plumbing, rewiring, removing asbestos safely, and meeting health and safety standards, so the project required 11 months to complete.
Q What were the design challenges and solutions?
The entrance hall was tricky. We wanted to create an “’Isn’t this beautiful!” feel when walking in, but really it was just a hallway of many doors leading to various rooms, storage places and nooks that the client wanted to retain as a space. We were also limited by fire regulations. So, we had to find a way of creating an allusion of grandiosity in a functional passageway. They wished to have a more traditional set-up of retaining kitchen and dining separately, so we employed some thoughtful tricks to enhance the area. Storage areas were created using elegant, interesting cabinetry to conceal accessories, electrical components and air conditioning, and we made use of a sliding door and invisible doors that melded into the hallway, plus an oversized mirror, which created the illusion of space. A signature console with decorative paint finishes and leather legs, hanging sphere feature lamps and vibrant artwork brought a sense of occasion. Mirrors cleverly reflected curved, spherical details on the doors, sparking interest and optically enhancing the space, double-reflecting walls and bouncing window light around the area.