UK Houzz Tour: Texture and Curves Give a New Apartment Character
A combination of sleek finishes and warm textures was key for bringing this contemporary apartment to life
Amanda Pollard
23 May 2020
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
The owners of this Docklands flat in London, UK, had been renting out their home while they lived abroad, and the move back presented an opportunity to update it. They asked interior designer Omar Bhatti of Space Shack to help them make better use of the space and add some luxury and depth to their newly built home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: East London, UK
Property: A newly built apartment
Size: Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Omar Bhatti of Space Shack
Images by Chris Snook
The original kitchen/living space in this apartment felt more cramped than it does now. “There were two stud walls protruding either side of the kitchen,” says Bhatti. “The kitchen was in a little cube and it felt disconnected from the rest of the room.”
Bhatti removed the stud walls to create a fully open-plan space and to bring more light into the cooking area. The kitchen layout was changed from a U-shape to an L-shape. A small breakfast bar helps separate the area from the dining and living spaces.
Who lives here: A couple
Location: East London, UK
Property: A newly built apartment
Size: Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Omar Bhatti of Space Shack
Images by Chris Snook
The original kitchen/living space in this apartment felt more cramped than it does now. “There were two stud walls protruding either side of the kitchen,” says Bhatti. “The kitchen was in a little cube and it felt disconnected from the rest of the room.”
Bhatti removed the stud walls to create a fully open-plan space and to bring more light into the cooking area. The kitchen layout was changed from a U-shape to an L-shape. A small breakfast bar helps separate the area from the dining and living spaces.
The starting point for the kitchen design was the couple’s combined fridge and freezer. The team built a housing unit around the large appliance and installed flat-fronted units elsewhere.
Sleek, pale grey wall cabinets contrast with oak base units, which bring warm texture to the modern space. A white, marble-look quartz benchtop adds another bright surface and is continued along the side end of the breakfast bar, “Otherwise there would have been too much wood,” says Bhatti. “As we didn’t use the [benchtop] material on the splashback, this was also a good way to include more marble.”
Freestanding fridge-freezer: Fisher & Paykel; integrated appliances: Neff
Sleek, pale grey wall cabinets contrast with oak base units, which bring warm texture to the modern space. A white, marble-look quartz benchtop adds another bright surface and is continued along the side end of the breakfast bar, “Otherwise there would have been too much wood,” says Bhatti. “As we didn’t use the [benchtop] material on the splashback, this was also a good way to include more marble.”
Freestanding fridge-freezer: Fisher & Paykel; integrated appliances: Neff
Bhatti decided to use interesting materials to add depth to the plain, newly build apartment, so he chose microcement for the kitchen walls.
“We also went for an undermounted sink in a graphite colour for a sleek look,” he says.
Thinking of renovating? Find an interior designer in your area on Houzz and read reviews from previous clients.
“We also went for an undermounted sink in a graphite colour for a sleek look,” he says.
Thinking of renovating? Find an interior designer in your area on Houzz and read reviews from previous clients.
The couple already owned this curved dining table and Bhatti refreshed the chairs with light blue velvet upholstery. A contemporary pendant light from Etsy hangs above to replicate the design on the table’s surface. “The timber rods tie in with the kitchen and add more warm texture,” says Bhatti.
Soft curves and graphic lines continue in the living area. Bhatti chose a rounded sofa to contrast with the couple’s straight-edged bookcases. A circular rug and round occasional furniture add more gentle shapes to the space.
“The client already owned the artwork in the flat, so we used the colours to inspire the scheme,” says Bhatti.
Sofa: B&B Italia; rug: iRugs; walls painted in Pavilion Gray: Farrow & Ball
“The client already owned the artwork in the flat, so we used the colours to inspire the scheme,” says Bhatti.
Sofa: B&B Italia; rug: iRugs; walls painted in Pavilion Gray: Farrow & Ball
The layout of the guest bathroom stayed the same as the original space, but Bhatti transformed the look with new fixtures and materials.
“The couple really liked these huge, marble-look tiles for the walls, but didn’t want to put them everywhere,” says Bhatti. “So we added a sliver of microcement with integrated shelves to break them up.”
“The couple really liked these huge, marble-look tiles for the walls, but didn’t want to put them everywhere,” says Bhatti. “So we added a sliver of microcement with integrated shelves to break them up.”
A freestanding bath sits opposite kitchen cabinets that were used as a wall-to-wall vanity unit. “The mirror above was cut to size and creates the illusion of space,” says Bhatti.
Simple LED downlights are complemented by a more interesting pendant at the side of the basin.
Pendant lights: Amara
Simple LED downlights are complemented by a more interesting pendant at the side of the basin.
Pendant lights: Amara
“The master bedroom underwent a huge transformation, even though we used the owners’ existing furniture,” says Bhatti.
To add character to the boxy room, Bhatti stripped off the wallpaper and designed a panelled wall behind the bed, with a section of microcement flanked by two fluted timber panels. The whole thing is framed by tinted mirrors on either side.
“The tree artwork inspired the use of natural woods,” says Bhatti. “It’s all flush and looks like one whole piece.”
To add character to the boxy room, Bhatti stripped off the wallpaper and designed a panelled wall behind the bed, with a section of microcement flanked by two fluted timber panels. The whole thing is framed by tinted mirrors on either side.
“The tree artwork inspired the use of natural woods,” says Bhatti. “It’s all flush and looks like one whole piece.”
The team also reupholstered the couple’s two-seater sofa and hung pendants as bedside lamps to save space on the surfaces.
The original ensuite, seen through the door in this image, was a small four-square-metre space. The door was positioned further into the room and the space was accessed through a corridor with wardrobes on the left. Bhatti’s team moved the door forwards into the corridor, and replaced the wardrobes with a 800mm x 1,500mm walk-in shower, doubling the size of the room.
The original ensuite, seen through the door in this image, was a small four-square-metre space. The door was positioned further into the room and the space was accessed through a corridor with wardrobes on the left. Bhatti’s team moved the door forwards into the corridor, and replaced the wardrobes with a 800mm x 1,500mm walk-in shower, doubling the size of the room.
Next to the shower is a built-in vanity unit. Marble-look tiles have been used on the walls again, contrasting with the microcement on the shower enclosure and along the back wall (seen in the mirror).
Opposite the vanity unit is a laundry cupboard with a washing machine and dryer stacked inside.
Travertine floor tiles and soft pink paint on the walls add a warm feel to the room.
Wall painted in Calamine: Farrow & Ball
Your turn
Which is your favourite room in this contemporary apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen for another dose of great design? Check out this UK Garden Tour: Soft Curves Make a Long, Narrow Plot Feel Wider
Travertine floor tiles and soft pink paint on the walls add a warm feel to the room.
Wall painted in Calamine: Farrow & Ball
Your turn
Which is your favourite room in this contemporary apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen for another dose of great design? Check out this UK Garden Tour: Soft Curves Make a Long, Narrow Plot Feel Wider
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I like it because it is Modern
So many great ideas. Love the shelving in the lounge area, pendant lighting in the bedroom. A modern flat with so much character.
👍🏻👍🏻Really loving what you’ve done. Just curious, where did you get the kitchen cabinets from?