notting hill pied a terre
Simple but luxurious.
The London base of a Swiss art journalist. The flat has beautiful high ceilings and incredible light, but it’s small, so every inch had to be planned precisely.
I reconfigured the space to create balance in the room, moving the kitchen then adding a fireplace as focal point when you enter. The sofa was positioned to align with the large windows on both sides of the flat - perfect for sky gazing and day dreaming when reclining in either direction!
To make the most of the ceiling height, I added glass panels above the doors and widened the doorways so the whole space feels more open. Antique mirror glass above the honed slate kitchen counter adds to the sense of light and air.
Moody, inky blues and warm greys are woven with splashes of deep ochre and burnt orange, while Mid-Century design classics mix with Bauhaus inspired floor tiles and traditional pieces.
In the bedroom, I leaned into the darker, more shadowy space rather than fighting it, using deeper tones to make it feel cosy.
Thick tweed wool curtains, linen sheets, a cashmere throw, a silk velvet cushion and a textured linen headboard all add to the restful feel.
“When I found my flat, I fell instantly in love with the basic structure - the clear layout, the high ceilings, the cornice, the views into the garden and the tree lined road. But it was small like a shoe box, and it looked faded and weary.
Kitty has an amazing sense of symmetries and space, and being knowledgeable in all the sciences of colours, materials and textures; she almost instinctively knew what I was wishing for. She also directed some structural changes & sourced wonderful little period details.
The transforming process was smooth and fun, and at the end Kitty materialised my dreams in amazing ways. My little Victorian treasure - it has even got an original cast iron fire place as the centre piece - has become my sanctuary, with all the modern functionalities.”
Photo credit: Richard Round-Turner