This period apartment combines traditional elegance with a contemporary twist

The Property

This mansion block apartment in Kensington has been given a fresh new look, combining period elegance with a contemporary twist. 

Situated on the north side of communal gardens and within the Corfield Conservation Area, the modern home was built in the late 1800s and designed in a Queen-Anne style, typical of the late-Victorian era. The homeowners waited almost a year for the freeholder’s licence to be granted and nearly gave up on this renovation project.

The wait paid off, and the owners brought on architecture firm De Rosee Sa and interior design firm Ericsson Interiors to create a family home whilst retaining the atmosphere of period elegance.

Hallway

Most of the property's original features had been lost, so De Rosee Sa inserted new details that felt sympathetic to the existing architecture. 

Wall panelling and beading in the living room and hallway were selected to accentuate the proportions and to compose the interior atmosphere. 

The entrance hall floor is a black and white geometric pattern, cut from three different marbles, leading onto an oak herringbone floor that runs throughout the living spaces.

Stained-glass windows were re-introduced, with patterns and designs in the style of the Victorian stained-glass in the communal light-well.

Cloakroom

The marble hallway flooring flows through into a dark cloakroom / loo, with a striking floating sink.

Living room

Marble fireplaces were fitted that make reference to the apartments original period details.

A separate seating area looks out over the communal gardens.

The openings and doorways to connecting rooms were made taller and more generous, to create more of an open-plan feel.

Snug

De Rosee Sa opened up the main living areas to create a large, open plan living space – with the option of closing off the TV snug next door.

Dining room

The living and dining rooms benefited from the property’s original high ceilings, tall windows and elegant proportions. With such volumes, large furnishings were selected to fill the space, including statement mid-century lighting and an oversized dining table.

French doors, in the original style, were fitted to open onto the balcony with views of the communal garden below.

Kitchen

The apartment's redesign was centered around reconfiguring the internal layout of the apartment to meet the demands of modern family life. The biggest challenge was to connect the isolated kitchen to the main living areas as previously the kitchen was accessible only through a corridor that lead through to the bedrooms. Opening up the kitchen onto the entrance hall / hallway improved the flow and reconnected it to the rest of the home.

The dine-in kitchen, with a built-in banquette seating area to optimise the space by the windows, creates a place to enjoy a family breakfast or a cup of coffee and a good book. 

The kitchen joinery was designed in different styles, some pieces intentionally blend into the background while others are to be viewed as free-standing furniture.

Home office

A Morris & Co wallpaper adds some character and warmth to the home office.

Master bedroom

The master bedroom features a beautiful curved headboard and a sophisticated grey bedroom colour scheme.

Master bathroom

For the master bathroom, De Rosee Sa created a ‘wet area’ with twin showers and a freestanding bathtub. A steel screen with ribbed glass inserts was used to section off this area, whilst allowing natural light to pass through to the Bardiglio marble vanity. These materials, offset by pale polished plaster walls, were selected to create an atmosphere of timelessness, with a contemporary twist.