Waterfront Development, River Thames
LOCATION: Hammersmith, LONDON
TIMESCALE: 13 MONTHS
SCOPE OF WORKS: FULL INTERIOR DESIGN & BESPOKE JOINERY SERVICE
This project was in a new high end luxury development on the Thames in London and had large floor to ceiling wrap around windows overlook the tranquil River and the stunning Hammersmith Bridge. The clients live in the Caribbean and wanted to have a pied a Terre which would be elegant and good for entertaining and easy to lock up and go. The 24-hour porterage and adjacent Spa and swimming pool is designed to give a lifestyle Spa feel and compliments the green landscaped grounds.
Our brief was to take a totally plain builders finish interior and transform it into a stunning contemporary apartment with additions of joinery and specialist walling we created the main reception to compliment the stunning views.
The first design stage was to plot the layout and we arranged the open plan space into 3 main areas: the relaxing living room area/ a dining area and fitted kitchen area. To create a focal point in the seating area we built in fitted walnut joinery which housed the TV and AV equipment and by placing antique mirror in the back of the unit the reflection creates an illusion of bringing the outside into the room.
We sourced a large L shaped sofa from the Powell range at Minotti which was upholstered in a hard wearing dark blue brushed linen and the leather detailing on the extra leather pads at the back of the sofa enable one to raise the leather head rests for extra comfort. Accent cushions are elegant and monochrome and we chose to make them in a square shape. The low square shaped coffee table is in a Moka lacquered ash briarwood & satin bronze painted finish and the extra addition armchair with the footstool are from Minotti and covered on the back with leather.
A bespoke rug by Matthew Wailes was woven in light soft grey with practical fibres, the rug also has a slight sheen which compliments the dark blue upholstery and dark wood trims.
The dining area is placed adjacent to the windows to maximise the views over the river. We wanted to add in a texture to the top so selected the dramatic marble oval table top and a high finish chrome base, Table and chairs from Minotti. The striking marble is lit overhead by a circular pendant from Cameron Design House. We chose a brushed brass for the exterior and this simple outline is perfect for this area.
We added in wave headed unlined voile electric curtains which can be drawn round when the sun is too bright or on a winters day to warm up the interior space.
Across the curved room is the kitchen which we wanted to blend into the open plan space and not be too prominent in the room – therefore the cabinets we made full height and clad in a textured grey finish with the sink and appliances tucked away behind pocket doors. We formed a sociable bar area with the hob on the worktop and oven / wine fridge below and this also enables us to add in 4 simple upholstered bar stools with brushed stainless legs. The feature pendants above were from Arteriors and they complement the circular ceiling pendant hanging over the dining table. Our final touch was to use a wonderful textures wallcovering from Rubelli – ‘Filigrana argento’ For all the walls and columns in the room and this is what creates the elegance and sumptuous feel to the reception room which was originally white painted emulsion.
On arrival into the apartment hallway, we wanted to create impact and have suitable place to put door and car keys, so we selected an FBC console called ‘housesteads’ with its textured caste iron base and polished show wood top. The monolithic piece was complimented by a rectangular antique mirror framed in bronze. The lamps from CTO we added to be a talking point and we added this to bring an organic feel.
Moving into the Master bedroom at the rear of the property we decided to use the whole wall to create a large padded headboard from Sofa and Chair. It has a wenge trim and soft grey fabric– which is the colour palette that we continued on the wallcovering. Wallcovering from Innovations – Saigon. Adding in 5 accent cushions in a fringed geometric fabric from, and soft grey/blue plain cushions. The bedside tables were made bespoke to maximise the space and we place two glass lamps with satin shades from Heathfield to give an opulent feel to the Master bed.
The curtains were electric and have a secondary voile curtain behind for privacy. The fabric is from Sue Whimster. And we lightly lined and interlined them to give a more luxurious feel to the bedroom… The apartment has two further bedrooms which are for his visiting guests and daughter. We wanted them to be light and bright and also practical. The palette of the first room is a yellow ochre and has charcoal grey accents. The walls are covered in a linen effect paper in a soft neutral colour from Elitis - Luminescent and we added in headboard and bedside tables from Minotti, lamps from Arteriors add a fun touch and we sourced a wenge linear desk from Minotti called ‘close desk’ and a punchy desk chair covered in a Anthology fabric called ‘Eved – veda citron’ which picks up on the scatters on the double bed.
The daughter’s bedroom has an aubergine/cerise and taupe palette, as we wanted it to have a young touch and feel. The bed had a vertical padded headboard from The sofa and chair Company with a wenge trim and upholstered in a Opuzen fabric. We added in contrasting cushions – the back cushion fabric is a Sue Whimster fabric and the front feature cushions are trimmed in large aubergine feathers.
The wall covering is ‘Rubelli – Travertino’ and the curtain fabric is from Ian Sanderson and voile are a Sue Whimster fabric. In the corner we added in a small contemporary style bedroom chair by Flexform and upholstered in a Turnell and Gigon fabric and the final touch is a practical chest of drawers in a high gloss taupe finish which reflects the river views.
