Houzz Tour: A Small Studio Flat Makes the Most of Every Inch of Space
Ingenious design transformed a tiny neglected London flat into a stylish, space-savvy, multitasking home
Olga Alexeeva, of interior design firm Black & Milk Residential, likes a challenge, and when she was asked by a firm of developers to modernise a small studio flat in central London, that’s exactly what she got. ‘Not only was it tiny, it had not been touched in more than 30 years and was a real wreck,’ says Olga of the fourth floor apartment. ‘But I was lucky it came along. It was such an exciting, challenging project.’
Exciting it may have been, straightforward it was not. The flat sits on the top floor of a block, situated in a quiet courtyard in central London. ‘There was no road access to it and never anywhere to park nearby,’ laughs Olga. ‘We had to carry everything on foot to the property!’ In addition, building and safety regulations limited how Olga could reconfigure the space, and the age of the property – it’s about 150 years old – also threw up issues. Once the two-month build was underway, for example, moving ancient pipework provoked a huge leak.
Hiccups and restrictions aside, though, Olga has successfully created a wonderfully innovative home. Now, its central space can hop seamlessly between roles, morphing from living room to office to dining area to bedroom with minimal effort, thanks to clever design and the latest kit. ‘It’s a tiny studio and I wanted to create maximum space and functionality in it,’ says Olga. ‘Every centimetre counts!’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A professional woman, who works in the creative and media industries
Location Central London
Year built Mid 19th century
Designer Black and Milk Residential
Size Studio space with 1 separate bathroom, 25 sq m
Exciting it may have been, straightforward it was not. The flat sits on the top floor of a block, situated in a quiet courtyard in central London. ‘There was no road access to it and never anywhere to park nearby,’ laughs Olga. ‘We had to carry everything on foot to the property!’ In addition, building and safety regulations limited how Olga could reconfigure the space, and the age of the property – it’s about 150 years old – also threw up issues. Once the two-month build was underway, for example, moving ancient pipework provoked a huge leak.
Hiccups and restrictions aside, though, Olga has successfully created a wonderfully innovative home. Now, its central space can hop seamlessly between roles, morphing from living room to office to dining area to bedroom with minimal effort, thanks to clever design and the latest kit. ‘It’s a tiny studio and I wanted to create maximum space and functionality in it,’ says Olga. ‘Every centimetre counts!’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A professional woman, who works in the creative and media industries
Location Central London
Year built Mid 19th century
Designer Black and Milk Residential
Size Studio space with 1 separate bathroom, 25 sq m
‘The starting point for redesigning the apartment was to take out as many partitions as I could, to get it back to its rectangular shape,’ says Olga. The biggest space is also the most multifunctional. A bed pulls down from the wall and the small console can be extended to become a large dining table.
The original metal window frames were hidden behind layers of white paint. ‘We stripped them back and painted them black to really show them off,’ says Olga. The radiator was another original feature. ‘We sanded it back and painted it in an antique gold colour,’ she explains.
Olga made the cluster light, too. ‘I sourced all the individual pieces and put it together,’ she says. ‘It was much cheaper than buying a ready-made design.’
Cushions, Houseology.
Olga made the cluster light, too. ‘I sourced all the individual pieces and put it together,’ she says. ‘It was much cheaper than buying a ready-made design.’
Cushions, Houseology.
Although the apartment is tiny, Olga has chosen good-sized pieces for it. The sofa can be extended to become a corner design, creating a generous space for relaxing. ‘It’s incredibly comfortable,’ she says.
Coffee tables, Made.com.
Explore a compact cottage
Coffee tables, Made.com.
Explore a compact cottage
A double bed pulls down from the wall and sits above the sofa to create sleeping space. ‘You just tuck the back cushions down the side and then it’s ready,’ says Olga. ‘It’s nice and high, just right for watching TV. You feel as if you’re in a boutique hotel!’ The bed, sofa and shelves are a set, which Olga sourced from an Italian manufacturer. ‘It’s not bespoke, but the company was able to modify the shelves to fit with the sloping wall,’ she says.
Although small, the apartment has plenty of natural light, thanks to its position on the top, fourth floor of the building. Olga chose a pale scheme to help the space feel open and bright, but added colour through the rug and cushions.
Grid rug, Habitat.
Big up a small living room
Grid rug, Habitat.
Big up a small living room
A bank of storage on one wall contains ample wardrobe and drawer space, and also a mini office. ‘The apartment is in central London and will typically be used by a professional person,’ says Olga, ‘so a desk is vital.’ She designed it with drawer space beneath and shelves above, served by a high electrical socket, so a printer could be positioned there. ‘The ottoman fits back underneath when not in use,’ says Olga, ‘and also pulls apart to become six stools!’
There is space to seat six at the dining table. It sits against the wall as a console when not in use, and then pulls out to create a table, with the top stored in a cupboard. Ingenious design means the stools fit back together to become the ottoman, tucked under the desk. Mirrored doors on the wall of storage help to boost light levels and increase the feeling of space.
The kitchen used to be barely functional, but by taking down a partition wall, sitting in front of this window, Olga improved its dimensions.
‘It was 120cm wide and just 60cm deep,’ she says. ‘The worktop alone was about 40cm deep, so you could hardly enter the room! It was more like a bar, with just a kettle and sink, than a kitchen,’ she adds. ‘In order to fit in all the necessary appliances, I designed the kitchen first and then built the walls around it, with the help of Battersea Builders.’
To limit costs, Olga sourced porcelain tiles that look like marble for the splashback. ‘The apartment really lacked a touch of luxury,’ says Olga, ‘but these look like the real thing.’
Porcelain tiles, London Tiles and Mosaic Company.
Uncover more small but beautiful u-shaped kitchens in our kitchen photo section.
‘It was 120cm wide and just 60cm deep,’ she says. ‘The worktop alone was about 40cm deep, so you could hardly enter the room! It was more like a bar, with just a kettle and sink, than a kitchen,’ she adds. ‘In order to fit in all the necessary appliances, I designed the kitchen first and then built the walls around it, with the help of Battersea Builders.’
To limit costs, Olga sourced porcelain tiles that look like marble for the splashback. ‘The apartment really lacked a touch of luxury,’ says Olga, ‘but these look like the real thing.’
Porcelain tiles, London Tiles and Mosaic Company.
Uncover more small but beautiful u-shaped kitchens in our kitchen photo section.
The small bathroom presented Olga with lots of challenges. ‘I didn’t want a square shower enclosure, as you would have been knocking against its corners all the time,’ she says. The solution was a diamond-shaped enclosure, which feels far less blocky and obtrusive. ‘It saved my life!’ laughs Olga. It also comes with a slim slower tray that the glass of the enclosure slots neatly into. ‘It looks very minimal – ideal for a small room.’
Olga then chose the smallest wall-mounted toilet she could find, with a slim cistern that fits in the space between the bathroom and kitchen stud walls. ‘This meant there was space for a good-sized basin and vanity unit,’ says Olga, ‘which feels generous and is nice to use.’
Sanitaryware, CP Hart. Shower head, Methven. Tiles, London Tiles and Mosaic Company.
Stylish ideas for small bathrooms
TELL US…
What do you like about this micro home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Olga then chose the smallest wall-mounted toilet she could find, with a slim cistern that fits in the space between the bathroom and kitchen stud walls. ‘This meant there was space for a good-sized basin and vanity unit,’ says Olga, ‘which feels generous and is nice to use.’
Sanitaryware, CP Hart. Shower head, Methven. Tiles, London Tiles and Mosaic Company.
Stylish ideas for small bathrooms
TELL US…
What do you like about this micro home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.