Primrose Hill - Loft Conversion
Refurbishment of a 2nd floor apartment and loft conversion situated in a four storey Victorian London town house – a spacious 2 bedroom apartment was created for modern living – a pied a terre at the heart of Primrose Hill’s leafy cafe and restaurant district.
Externally, the front of the property underwent a considerable transformation; enhanced with the addition of a grand Victorian style entrance – a Corinthian Columned Porch – to reflect that of the neighbouring properties architecture and stucco detailing, as well as the addition of a gated entrance to the Front Garden with low-walls and railings.
A new Entrance was created at 1st Floor Level, incorporating what was originally communal stairwell space. A bespoke engineered staircase from 1st Floor to (a newly created) 3rd Floor was inserted. A Loft living space was created, accommodating a light and spacious Master Bedroom Suite, lit naturally via the addition of two double-glazed roof-hatch-windows and three new dormer windows at the front, side, and rear slopes of the roof.
Vast storage and wardrobe space was incorporated within the sloping eves, and within the main pitch of the roof – accommodating an Ensuite Shower Room, a separate WC and a small external terrace in the rear slope of the roof.
This project sees the reorganisation and refurbishment of a tired and dated 2nd floor : transforming a labyrinth of small rooms and hallways into an extensive free-flowing
open-plan living space.
By opening up the entire space (from front to back), allowing large triple sash windows to channel light from both sides into an open-plan living and entertaining space – a modern home was created where clean lines and contemporary surfaces juxtapose with the “quirky and edgy”, together with raw industrial finishes and design inspired by mid 20th Century Scandinavian design, an era synonymous with groundbreaking creativity.
In the process, two concealed fireplaces were revealed with working flues.
On a limited budget, twin reclaimed Carrara marble fire surrounds were installed with fully-functional – gas enabled fire baskets.
Brickwork, exposed during the building works, was left raw and un-rendered – later painted and modestly shelved to display a collection of Pop Art and objects collected by the client.
A linear white kitchen with Corian worktop and Carrara marble detailing carries through the client’s passion for grey and white marble surfaces; a statement which adorns other freestanding and fitted furniture throughout the home.
Industrial-retro-style wall and pendant light fittings feature throughout the project, with discreet recessed downlighting to create a range of task and mood lighting, whilst an audio-visual-system including a drop-down Digital Cinema System projects and delivers an enhanced theatre experience with pristine images combined with surround sound.
Walls : a palette of natural monochrome white-grey tones and an “electric-blue” (inspired by Yves Klein) defines and illuminates the main Entrance Stairwell space as well as the Master Bedroom Suite’s WC.
Floors : a reconstituted mix of composite marble and hand-poured-concrete surfaces the entire main living space in a linear tile composition. Herringbone features throughout – Ebony and light oak surfaces the bedrooms – matt “ink- blue” porcelain adorns both shower rooms contrasting with the reflective gloss of the black and white “metro style” wall tiles.
A combination of fabrics, add texture and contrast : Soft furnishings accessorise and add comfort, echoing geometry throughout the scheme with wool-weave form, and printed pattern on linen. A mixed weave of linen-silk curtaining frame the views whilst electric sheer roller blinds add privacy to “overlooked” windows at a click of a remote.