Period Conversion on Spectacular Communal Gardens

Formosa Gardens, Little Venice

Cozy living space in Central London apartment.On the two sides of the TV and Fireplace there are bespoke shelves displaying sentimental items lovingly collected by the owner.

A Back-to-Brick Refurbishment

This Little Venice period conversion underwent a full, back-to-brick makeover. Tired, aged interiors with fantastic potential were lifted and given a refreshed lease of life. We coordinated the design schemes from room to room to ensure synchronicity and cohesiveness between spaces. High-end, high-spec interiors still feel lived in and personable, with bespoke shelves displaying sentimental items lovingly collected by the owner. During the renovation project, ample time was spent visiting stone yards and selecting the perfect wood stains for joinery. The finished result is a warm, inviting home that feels decadent yet comforting, with natural materials such as marble and wood used throughout.

Paint Colours that Appeal to the Senses

This Maida Vale property is undeniably bright and airy. Typically, people think white and off-white colours are the go-to for achieving this, yet there wasn’t a lick of white paint used here. Instead, we opted for a richer palette that still denotes a natural, organic feeling. This creates moods and sensations that vary depending on how the colours react with the daylight or layered lighting scheme in each room. All of the paints used across the property were sourced from Argile, a French eco-responsible paint manufacturer with an impressive palette of 184 harmonious shades to choose from.

Entry from hallway to the living room in central London apartment. Moody, warm toned luxurious guest bathroom in Central London apartment.

A Living Area for Entertaining in Comfort

In the lounge area, we focused on comfortable seating with soft curves to highlight the sense of inclusion and togetherness. The custom designed sofa and Sennen Swivel Tub Chair from Sedilia are made extra cosy with cushions rich in pattern and texture. Choosing quality pieces of furniture and furnishings that would stand the test of time was important, as this is a place where guests can feel completely at ease, and the owner’s dogs can jump up for a cuddle while watching TV.

Open plan living, dining and kitchen space inn Central London apartment. The space is filled with warm neutral tones, also burgundy and green tones as well. The room has a warm and cozy feel to it.
Open plan living space and kitchen in Central London apartment. The main tones are neutrals and deep warm tones which give the place a home-like feeling.

A French-Style Bistro Feeling

The owner of this home loves to have friends over, so sparking cosiness and conviviality were paramount when creating the interiors of the living spaces. The dining area is ideal for informal gatherings, evoking the feeling of a cosy corner in a French bistro. The bespoke window-seat hugs the custom marble dining table perfectly and is illuminated by an Atelier 001 pendant light. Just to the side, a sleek bar area calls for some attention.

Dining table and chairs in open plan living and dining space. On one side of the dining table a banquette seating is placed. Dining table and chairs in open plan living and dining space. On one side of the dining table a banquette seating is placed.

An Authentic Combination of Old & New

Marrying the old with the new is a fantastic way to craft interiors that have a timeless appeal. Here, we blended antique pieces, such as the living room pendant, side table, wall art, rug and decorative with contemporary designers and pieces that were entirely custom designed by the studio, such as the sofa and marble fire surround. Certain new elements also have an aged feel to them to tie in with this. In the hallways, a patinated liquid bronze leaf finish on the walls has a rich, bronzey depth, and in the open-plan kitchen, sumptuous black leather bar stools, deep wooden furniture, and brass kitchen fixtures complement with a mature, sophisticated edge.

Marble fireplace.
Beautiful large oil painting decorates the wall of a mid century modern living room. The warm tones of the painting is aligning with the tones in the room.

A Distinctive Look & Feel

Blush, currant, and terracotta shades coalesce for a striking, contemporary look with a French feel in the living area. This versatile family of colours blend well with lots of other shades, so we interspersed soft tones of green such as moss and sage. The luxurious spaces allow the owners to decompress and feel uplifted – this home strikes a perfect balance between helping you relax and feel at inspired to entertain and enjoy yourself.

Cozy living space in Central London apartment.On the two sides of the TV and Fireplace there are bespoke shelves displaying sentimental items lovingly collected by the owner.

Enriching Spaces with Specialist Wall Finishes

The property’s interiors were enriched with specialist wall finishes. These can be used in many ways to create a bespoke design with a truly unique look. In the hallway, we worked with Benjamin Rayond Decorative Atelier to give the wall paneling an elegant & luxurious finish. The bio ethanol fireplace with a Calacatta Viola marble surround in the living room pops against the fot, hand dragged linen finish on the wall. In the bathroom, a stunning hand-painted sun kissed cloud mural on the walls works alongside bespoke joinery to create a total zen experience. Working with IDS Lifestyle Technology and John Cullen Lighting, programmed lighting scenes and plastered in invisible speakers make this sanctuary come to life, and transform it into a place the owner would enjoy spending time in.

Hallway with Benjamin Rayond Decorative Atelier to give the wall paneling an elegant & luxurious finish. Moody, warm toned luxurious guest bathroom in Central London apartment.

The Refined Touch of a Decorative Atelier

Bespoke joinery allows you to create something truly unique to the dimensions of your home, and there’s nothing like a perfectly fit, custom solution made to match your needs. Knocking down a structural wall, we opened up the living area and transformed what was once a small bedroom into an open-plan, bespoke luxury kitchen. Enlisting several specialist suppliers for their combined craftsmanship expertise, the end result is a smart yet characterful kitchen. Cabinets were given a hand-painted pitted champagne liquid leaf finish and all appliances were placed to integrate beautifully. Bespoke blinds by Material Concepts dress the large south-west facing windows without drawing too much attention or taking up a lot of space.

Beautiful marble kitchen with bespoke cabinetry. In the cabinetry there is a wine fridge, steam oven and regular oven.
Cutlery organisation in drawers.
Built in wine fridge, steam oven and regular oven in bespoke cabinetry in kitchen. In between the appliances there is a hidden pantry and coffee station.

Home Automation for Seamless Living

With this project, we focused heavily on lighting and technology, enlisting master home automation specialist IDS Technology to ensure sleek, easy, and intuitive technical design. From the intercom doorbell to the lighting, heating, security, sound systems and blinds, everything is simple to use and automated to fit around the owner’s lifestyle.

A Bespoke Bedroom

The principal bedroom in this property is north facing, so it was important to factor this in when developing the colour scheme. We opted for warmer tones like yellows, sands and golds to achieve a cosy, welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, something that is much welcomed when a bedroom risks lacking the warm glow of sunshine. A large painting by Fernando Casasempere takes centre stage above the vanity area which doubles up as a desk. When considering the right piece of art which would fit with the mood of the bedroom, it was important to ensure that it was hung and lit correctly too. We crafted an entirely bespoke, multilayered lighting scheme in the bedroom to highlight the art, and other key areas, such as the wardrobes and bedsides

Bedroom with warmer tones like yellows, sands and golds can be found to achieve a cosy, welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, something that is much welcomed when a bedroom risks lacking the warm glow of sunshine.
Study / Work space in neutral toned bedroom.

The Benefits of a Custom-Made

A bespoke wardrobe can completely transform a bedroom, making optimum use of space and keeping things sleek. The goal is to create a design that appeals both aesthetically and functionally, accommodating the existing clothing, shoes, accessories, and so on, while also leaving enough room for new purchases. The custom wardrobe in the bedroom allows the owner to stay organised and enjoy getting ready in the mornings

A bespoke wardrobe in a bedroom, making optimum use of space and keeping things sleek. The design appeals both aesthetically and functionally, accommodating the existing clothing, shoes, accessories, and so on, while also leaving enough room for new purchases. The custom wardrobe in the bedroom allows the owner to stay organised and enjoy getting ready in the mornings. Entry to minimalist en-suite bathroom from bedroom.
Counter and cabinetry in neutral relaxing bathroom. Dimmable lighting in minimalist bathroom.

Book a Consultation

At Designed by Woulfe we take the time to understand our clients’ wishes so that we can tailor our interior design services to the individual requirements of each project.

To discuss a property or for further information, please contact us at [email protected].

No matter the scope or scale of a project, the initial step in our process is to arrange a complimentary consultation with Managing Director & Founder, Brian Woulfe.

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