Houzz Tour: A Lofty London Home Gets a Suitably Cool Transformation
A dated conversion in a hip London suburb needed a total overhaul if it was going to keep up in the style stakes…
In the past decade, London’s Dalston has seen some serious changes. When the current owners bought this home 10 years ago, the area was already considered cool, but no one could have predicted the number of trendy bars, restaurants and hip residents that now populate the area. But while the streets that surround the converted 19th century factory were changing by the day, very little was happening behind the front door.
‘The home had been converted into a residential building in the 1990s and the owners had literally done nothing to it since the day they moved in,’ explains designer Michelle Chaplin. ‘They are both so busy, they have no time to think about houses.’ In fact, it was this frenetic lifestyle that dictated the owners’ brief: to create a beautiful, peaceful place where they could enjoy some downtime. Clearly not keen on doing things by halves, the couple moved out, got rid of all their existing furniture and gave Michelle 12 weeks to turn the place into ‘something with the wow factor’.
Michelle relished the opportunity to completely redesign the space, replacing staircases and exposing structural beams while getting the details just right. ‘I chose everything, right down to the tea towels and cutlery,’ she says, recalling the experience of working with dream clients. ‘It was great, because they really bought into my style and gave me carte blanche.’
Having left her to it, the owners had the excitement of the ‘big reveal’ once the project was complete. ‘Luckily they really were wowed. We ended up having a party here till 4 in the morning.’
Designer Michelle Chaplin of Michelle Chaplin Interiors
Who lives here A professional couple
Location Dalston, London
Decade built 1850
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Budget £140,000
That’s interesting The building used to be a bible-printing factory
Other designers involved in this project Chantel Elshout of Chantel Elshout Design Consultancy
‘The home had been converted into a residential building in the 1990s and the owners had literally done nothing to it since the day they moved in,’ explains designer Michelle Chaplin. ‘They are both so busy, they have no time to think about houses.’ In fact, it was this frenetic lifestyle that dictated the owners’ brief: to create a beautiful, peaceful place where they could enjoy some downtime. Clearly not keen on doing things by halves, the couple moved out, got rid of all their existing furniture and gave Michelle 12 weeks to turn the place into ‘something with the wow factor’.
Michelle relished the opportunity to completely redesign the space, replacing staircases and exposing structural beams while getting the details just right. ‘I chose everything, right down to the tea towels and cutlery,’ she says, recalling the experience of working with dream clients. ‘It was great, because they really bought into my style and gave me carte blanche.’
Having left her to it, the owners had the excitement of the ‘big reveal’ once the project was complete. ‘Luckily they really were wowed. We ended up having a party here till 4 in the morning.’
Designer Michelle Chaplin of Michelle Chaplin Interiors
Who lives here A professional couple
Location Dalston, London
Decade built 1850
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Budget £140,000
That’s interesting The building used to be a bible-printing factory
Other designers involved in this project Chantel Elshout of Chantel Elshout Design Consultancy
The wall-hung unit under the TV conceals the TiVo box and other media. All the wires for media and lighting have been concealed in the walls.
59th Street armchair, upholstered in Designers Guild fabric, Content By Conran. Bonaldo XXL light, Go Modern. Media box, Kemp.
59th Street armchair, upholstered in Designers Guild fabric, Content By Conran. Bonaldo XXL light, Go Modern. Media box, Kemp.
The wall between what was a ‘nasty little galley kitchen’ and the living room was removed to maximise the light. The table, made from reclaimed timber, is surrounded by galvanised steel chairs that add to the utilitarian feel.
Table, Metro Retro. Tolix chairs, available from John Lewis.
Tour another London home with a lofty vibe
Table, Metro Retro. Tolix chairs, available from John Lewis.
Tour another London home with a lofty vibe
Michelle designed the kitchen, which was made by Chantel Elshout. Grey units help the kitchen blend seamlessly into the rest of the open-plan space. ‘The clients didn’t want to feel as if the kitchen was encroaching on the living room,’ she explains.
Kitchen units, Chantel Elshout. Appliances, Siemens.
Kitchen units, Chantel Elshout. Appliances, Siemens.
Concrete-style composite work surfaces seem to hover above the kitchen units, which are Anthracite laminate.
The owner insisted on a neon sign featuring his beloved hometown’s football motto, ‘Up the Kingdom’. ‘His wife was less keen, but she loves it now. I think it works really well in the script style,’ says Michelle.
Filament bulbs, Heal’s. Bespoke neon light, Kemp.
Filament bulbs, Heal’s. Bespoke neon light, Kemp.
Michelle felt she was taking a bit of a gamble with the durbar plate metal staircase, but it’s one of the owners’ favourite parts of the project. ‘When the men arrived to install the stairs, one of them said, “You do know this is supposed to go outside, don’t you, love?’’’
Metal staircase, Crescent Stairs.
See more inspirational mezzanines
Metal staircase, Crescent Stairs.
See more inspirational mezzanines
The mezzanine level, which has plenty of natural light, makes the perfect area for a work space. From here you can really see the structure of the 19th century building.
Desk, Custom Desk.
Browse ideas for rooms with a pitched ceiling
Desk, Custom Desk.
Browse ideas for rooms with a pitched ceiling
The view from the mezzanine level reveals what appears to be the beautiful patina of an old oak floor. In fact, it’s basic pine. ‘I had professional floor people in with industrial machines stripping it right back to the bare pine and then I stained it,’ says Michelle.
The ground floor has bedrooms leading off to the right, next to one of the original steel girders that was exposed during the renovation. Michelle completely overhauled the staircase, swapping the existing handrails for a glass balustrade. Low-level LEDs light the way to the living room above.
Lighting, John Cullen. Glass balustrade, Railing London.
Lighting, John Cullen. Glass balustrade, Railing London.
Mint-green cushions soften the industrial look in the master bedroom, with its trompe l’oeil Brooklyn Wall Tiles wallpaper. ‘There’s a small balcony that looks out over the square from the guest bedroom. It’s incredibly peaceful,’ says Michelle. ‘You wouldn’t know you were around the corner from Dalston’s main road.’
Brooklyn Tin Tiles – 05 wallpaper, Merci.
Brooklyn Tin Tiles – 05 wallpaper, Merci.
Hotel chic meets industrialism in the second bedroom, which has views onto the courtyard outside. The mint green theme is continued in here, adding a fresh note to the concrete wallpaper.
Michelle, who was responsible for every last detail of the project, is a big fan of warm metals, such as brass and copper. The delicate flower buds next to the copper bedside lamp contrast beautifully with the industrial trompe l’oeil concrete wallpaper.
Concrete wallpaper by Piet Boon, Rockett St George. Lamp and side table, Holly’s House.
Concrete wallpaper by Piet Boon, Rockett St George. Lamp and side table, Holly’s House.
A wall-hung vanity unit increases the sense of space in the compact shower room, while textured tiles add visual interest. ‘The plumbing system was really old,’ recalls Michelle, ‘so that made designing the bathrooms quite a challenge – as did the practicalities of fitting everything in the space.’
Tiles and vanity unit, Porcelanosa.
TELL US…
Do you live in a converted property? What are the challenges? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Tiles and vanity unit, Porcelanosa.
TELL US…
Do you live in a converted property? What are the challenges? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Sofa, Sofa.com.