British Houzz: A Gin Distillery Turned Bachelor Pad
A soulless, canal-side apartment in Camden is single professional's dream for work, rest and play
Natalie Wain
22 January 2015
UK-based Houzz contributor.
I've been writing for the national press in Britain for almost 10 years and my most recent post was as the News Editor at Housetohome.co.uk.
These days I can usually be found hunched over my dining room table (which I've commandeered as my office) where I scribble away for a number of UK-based publications, including Homes & Gardens, The Telegraph, metro.co.uk and This is Money, among others.
I'm a bit of a jack of all trades but hopefully master of some.
And, in case you're wondering, I'd describe my interior style is brave, bold and eclectic. That's not to say I don't love a gleaming white wall... but I can't resist an accessory or two.
As the glorious Vivienne Westwood once said, 'when in doubt, overdress...'
UK-based Houzz contributor.
I've been writing for the national press in Britain... More
When the owner of this canal-side apartment in Camden needed help with its renovation, he turned to Houzz to find an experienced interior designer. The property – part of a former gin distillery – dates back to 1894, but a bland redevelopment in the 1990s had resulted in a rabbit warren of rooms and a soulless interior. “It was very tired and dated when the owner bought it,” recalls designer Cassidy Hughes. “The layout was confused, and it had poky rooms and very little character.”
The sociable owner – who works from home – wanted a contemporary space in which to live and work, with plenty of room for entertaining. “We completely opened up the kitchen to create a generous open-plan living area, and we also switched around the bedrooms and bathrooms to make better use of the space and improve the sense of flow between rooms,” explains Cassidy.
High-tech gadgetry controlled via the owner’s tablet, sculptural furniture, and feature lighting complete the look, which took Cassidy almost a year to complete. “It was quite an organic process in the end,” she explains. “The owner had a very clear vision of what he wanted to achieve in the beginning, but, as the work progressed, he’d come to me with new ideas and pieces of furniture he’d found, so the brief evolved and adapted during the renovation process.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional man
Location: Camden, north London
Year built: 1894
Year renovated: 2014
Designer: Cassidy Hughes of Cassidy Hughes Interior Design & Styling
Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That’s interesting: The flat is part of a former gin distillery
The sociable owner – who works from home – wanted a contemporary space in which to live and work, with plenty of room for entertaining. “We completely opened up the kitchen to create a generous open-plan living area, and we also switched around the bedrooms and bathrooms to make better use of the space and improve the sense of flow between rooms,” explains Cassidy.
High-tech gadgetry controlled via the owner’s tablet, sculptural furniture, and feature lighting complete the look, which took Cassidy almost a year to complete. “It was quite an organic process in the end,” she explains. “The owner had a very clear vision of what he wanted to achieve in the beginning, but, as the work progressed, he’d come to me with new ideas and pieces of furniture he’d found, so the brief evolved and adapted during the renovation process.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional man
Location: Camden, north London
Year built: 1894
Year renovated: 2014
Designer: Cassidy Hughes of Cassidy Hughes Interior Design & Styling
Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That’s interesting: The flat is part of a former gin distillery
An LED light installation integrated into the wall panels of the sleek corridor creates a dramatic effect in the entrance hall. “We completely reconfigured the hallway to make it longer and wider as you approach the main living area,” explains Cassidy. “It also helped to make the shape of the bedrooms more regular.”
For the corridor flooring, Cassidy sourced an innovative, eco-friendly alternative to concrete that’s durable, easy to lay and cost effective. “It looks and feels like poured concrete, but it’s actually an engineered product that’s laid down in panels, similar to tongue and groove,” she explains.
The wall panels in the corridor also provide much-needed storage, concealing the boiler and various electrical appliances.
For the corridor flooring, Cassidy sourced an innovative, eco-friendly alternative to concrete that’s durable, easy to lay and cost effective. “It looks and feels like poured concrete, but it’s actually an engineered product that’s laid down in panels, similar to tongue and groove,” she explains.
The wall panels in the corridor also provide much-needed storage, concealing the boiler and various electrical appliances.
“The back wall where the TV now hangs was an uneven niche before the redesign,” explains Cassidy. “We smoothed it out and opened up the space with feature lighting to create a media wall.”
The floor in here is laid with double-width engineered oak floorboards. The up-lighters around the edges of the room help create the illusion of height. “The ceilings are very low, but it feels incredibly light and airy in here,” Cassidy adds.
The floor in here is laid with double-width engineered oak floorboards. The up-lighters around the edges of the room help create the illusion of height. “The ceilings are very low, but it feels incredibly light and airy in here,” Cassidy adds.
Clean lines in a monochrome scheme was the starting point for the interior. “Once we had the bones, we decided to introduce red as an accent colour,” says Cassidy. “As well as breaking up the look, it also adds warmth and interest to the scheme.”
Finishing touches, such as the pendant light and bold dining table, add a sculptural note to the aesthetic.
Endless light: Jason Miller; Big table: Bonaldo; Hidra chairs: Bontempi
Finishing touches, such as the pendant light and bold dining table, add a sculptural note to the aesthetic.
Endless light: Jason Miller; Big table: Bonaldo; Hidra chairs: Bontempi
The box pattern of the built-in bookshelf is based on the tile-match puzzle game, Tetris. “The owner is very techie, so we wanted to incorporate some subtle references to his passion for video games into the scheme,” explains Cassidy.
Sleek, push-click drawers at the bottom of the unit provide concealed storage.
Canvas sofa by Marcel Wanders: Moooi
Sleek, push-click drawers at the bottom of the unit provide concealed storage.
Canvas sofa by Marcel Wanders: Moooi
Vintage 1960s armchairs by Brazilian designer Jorge Zalszupin provide a sculptural focal point in another corner of the open-plan living space. “They have quite a graphic profile, which complements the bar stools in the kitchen, as well as the coffee table,” explains Cassidy.
“We’re really playing with horizontal and vertical lines in this part of the flat, especially against the backdrop of the duo roller blinds. It’s a very effective, but minimalist way to add some drama to the scheme.”
Vintage armchairs: Jorge Zalszupin; Cage table: Tacchini
“We’re really playing with horizontal and vertical lines in this part of the flat, especially against the backdrop of the duo roller blinds. It’s a very effective, but minimalist way to add some drama to the scheme.”
Vintage armchairs: Jorge Zalszupin; Cage table: Tacchini
The wall-mounted graphite radiator is another dramatic piece. “It’s a very minimalist space, so we chose a radiator that would stand out, almost as a piece of installation art,” says Cassidy. “It’s lovely and tactile and contrasts really well with the starkness of the room. Nobody ever guesses it’s a radiator.”
Cuprus radiator: Cosy-Art
Cuprus radiator: Cosy-Art
The minimalist theme continues in the fuss-free Rational kitchen, where concealed storage and hidden appliances keep the look uncluttered. “The owner is something of a perfectionist, so clever storage solutions were essential given the limited space,” explains Cassidy.
A sleek induction hob integrated into the breakfast bar is barely visible, while the extractor fan is tucked neatly into the ceiling.
Kitchen: Rational Kitchens; About A Stool AAS38 bar stools: Hay
A sleek induction hob integrated into the breakfast bar is barely visible, while the extractor fan is tucked neatly into the ceiling.
Kitchen: Rational Kitchens; About A Stool AAS38 bar stools: Hay
Laundry facilities are hidden away behind bespoke units in the main bathroom. “There’s also a pull-out rail where you can hang washing to dry without having it on display,” says Cassidy.
A dramatic floating bed by Daniele Lago and shoji-style doors add a touch of drama to the master bedroom. “Soft creams and taupes soften the look in this room, but the LED lights emphasise the wow factor,” says Cassidy. As well as the soft purple glow emanating from underneath the bed, a channel of white lights behind the shoji screen give the impression of daylight peeping through after dark.
Fluttua floating bed: Daniele Lago; Aplomb pendant lights: Foscarini
Fluttua floating bed: Daniele Lago; Aplomb pendant lights: Foscarini
Simple sconces in the ensuite bathroom echo the shoji screen in the bedroom, while mirrored walls give the illusion of space and light. “It’s a very simple look that references the clean lines used elsewhere in the flat,” says Cassidy.
“Essentially, what we’ve done is simplified the layout and chosen a few key pieces of furniture to infuse personality into the pared-back scheme.”
Mashiko 500 wall sconce: House of Orange
“Essentially, what we’ve done is simplified the layout and chosen a few key pieces of furniture to infuse personality into the pared-back scheme.”
Mashiko 500 wall sconce: House of Orange
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Cool space, but hard to imagine an actual human being in it.
A stunning renovation by Cassidy Hughes.
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