Space Age: six space-saving London homes
The saying ‘quality, not quantity’ rings particularly true with this edit of space-savvy homes. Sizeable footprint can be hard to come by in the capital, but there are crafty design tricks that can be adopted instead. From a volume-enhancing apartment within a former pub in Clapton to a mid-century flat with a clever shelving system in Pimlico, here are six space-saving London homes that serve as sources of ample inspiration.
Repton House, Charlwood Street, London SW1
This split-level flat within Darbourne and Darke’s Grade II*-listed Lillington Gardens Estate in Pimlico, south-west London, is inducing some serious shelf envy. We particularly love the way the books and records that neatly line the rows punctuate the white-walled space with colour and character. But aesthetics aside, shelving is a wonderfully simple way to save space, especially for avid collectors. Another highlight here are the bespoke ply and cork kitchen units that provide storage for utensils and store cupboard essentials, while singing in tune with this apartment’s original mid-century design.
Max Lamb and Gemma Holt’s live/work space in Wood Green
When designers Max Lamb and Gemma Holt began renovating their newly bought home, a former warehouse in north London, they decided to take out the existing ceiling in the single-level living area. Their mission to reveal the original joists and create extra height and volume was a success, but in doing so, the couple sacrificed the loft. So Max, whose expertise lies in furniture design, set about crafting one-of-a-kind cabinetry to run the length of the home. As he explained when we visited his live/work space, his creation acts as the attic – likely one of the most appealing we’ve ever seen.
Sladen Place, London E5
The owners of this contemporary one-bed employed design studio Lozi to create a bespoke piece of multi-functional furniture for their compact open-plan living space. The result is a jack of all trades: a kitchen island that triples as seating, a dining area or a working-from-home zone. It has been crafted from oak and emerald-green upholstery, which pairs pleasingly with pops of green dotted around the new build. It’s also a nifty storage system, with cupboards in the kitchen area and underneath the sofa. An additional desk space fits like a glove in another corner, a perfect nook for working or reading. A personal slither of outdoor space in the form of a balcony welcomes additional footprint, too.
Farleigh Road II, London N16
Here’s an apartment with one bedroom in Stoke Newington, north London, that in a blink of an eye can perform like it has two. In the lounge is a clean-lined double-doored cupboard that would prove useless for storage. Instead, the space inside is taken up by a custom-built fold-out bed, perfect for when friends and family come to stay – or for when residents fancy camping out in front of the TV. No need to wonder where you’d place your desk either, the piece of bespoke cabinetry has been designed to house exactly that, too.
Kyle Stewart and Jo Sindle’s home near Columbia Road
“I love storage and organisation. When we designed our home that was very much in mind,” said Jo Sindle, co-founder of Goodhood, when we visited her at the home she shares with her life and work partner, Kyle Stewart. “One of the things that was a challenge to us was how can we stay and live in this house as a growing family? Everything became a bit of a game – how can we fit everything in?” continued Kyle. The answer is through dual-purpose designs like beds that conceal cupboards, sofa beds that double as room dividers, bespoke joinery that hides electrical appliances like the TV and fridge, and shelves in abundance.
Chatsworth Road II, London E5
This bright two-bedroom apartment sits within a former east London pub, the signage and green-tiled façade untouched since its days as a boozer. Once inside, however, the heritage of the converted home is hard to detect. Its brilliance lies in the volume-enhancing mezzanine level and subsequent double-height void. The main bedroom overlooks the living area through a smart glazed wall that keeps things light and open. Raw materials have been used for storage elsewhere, such as the curved wooden cabinets in the kitchen. Finally, bike storage can be hard to come by in the capital, but take cues from owner of this home, who hangs their two wheels on a considered hook system, next to beautifully packed bookshelves.
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