Last week we met Kia Stanford, an award winning interior designer who revamps and restyles desirable London properties. This week we focus on one of her Knightsbridge projects.
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge, home to Harrods and well known as one of the UK’s premier retail areas, is also one of London’s most expensive postcodes in which to buy property; a four bedroomed apartment will set you back at least £8,000,000.
Spending that amount of money on a home means that the interior of your property needs to be fairly special, which is why the owner of this four bedroom SW3 pad employed Kia and her team of interior creatives to work their magic.
A Deco Design Dream
Situated on the fifth floor of a 1930s mansion block, the spacious apartment needed a complete restructure and refurbishment. The client has younger children, so specified that the design needed to be hardwearing, with easy to maintain surfaces – and no sharp corners! The end result is something masculine but family friendly, with curved corners and cleverly hidden storage.
You enter the property through a rather grandiose entrance hall, complete with its original wood panelling. There is something very hotel-like about this space: oversized floral arrangement and umbrella stand essential.
To the left of the entrance hall is a bedroom designed to accommodate the owner’s younger children, with bespoke bunk beds and an en-suite bathroom. And off to the rear, the main living area, a large open plan space for lounging, cooking and eating.
After the grand but somewhat dark hallway this space is a theatre of light. The area benefits from three bay windows, which maximises the amount of light coming in, and as we saw in the Notting Hill apartment Kia has used reflective materials to maximise that light; Kia understands that light is something very important to her London clients.
The ‘living-room’ area is marked out by large, comfortable sofas, which separate the space from a relaxed dining zone, defined in turn by hexagonal flooring. The kitchen is sleek and modern – no nonsense no frills. A mirrored splash back prevents the kitchen from feeling too closed, and the bubbly chandelier from lighting designer Ochre adds an element of fun. Also of note in the living area is the original Art Deco cornicing; subject to many renovations, London properties have been all too often stripped of period features. When Kia comes across a property that has these details she makes sure to incorporate them in her designs.
The remainder of the apartment is given over to three bedrooms, two double and one twin, two bathrooms and a study. A masculine, no nonsense feel prevails throughout with fabrics and artwork placed to provide interest, colour and a sense of the modern.
The owner of this Knightsbridge home has a penchant for boutique hotels, and nowhere is this more in evidence than in the master bedroom, with its oversized chairs and custom made headboard. The mottled pelagic carpet was made by Stark Carpets.
The bathrooms are simple and uber modern: one features a hypnotic mosaic floor and another a stunning onyx splash back, custom made in Mexico.
The study
The final room in the apartment, the study, has a real gentleman’s club feel, the perfect space in which to write a spy thriller. The key feature of the room is a masculine desk, which matches in with the wood panelling. The walls lights make you think of antlers – hunting trophies for the desk-bound family man, and the two beautiful cobalt leather chairs make you think business. The floral rug adds a feminine touch though, and hints of turquoise prevents this room from being to austere.
The Knightsbridge apartment is right on spec: there is room for kids to run around (without knocking themselves out on a sharp something) and store their stuff. The light filled living area is an ideal space for both children and entertaining. Flow has been achieving throughout the home by continuous use of dark wood, modern finishes, and vibrant colour tones.
Delighted with his masculine Deco des res, the owner now has Kia designing for a second Knightsbridge home for his daughter, which will feature a floral mosaic wall by Italian company Bisazza.
If you would like to see more of Kia’s work visit www.kiadesigns.co.uk. Designs start at £1,500 per room. Initial consultations are free.
© 2018 THE IDEALIST
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