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A London Duplex Receives a New Lease of Life From Janine Stone & Co.
A smart London address but with tired decor with more than a hangover from the 1980s. The duplex apartment was completely unmodernised when Janine Stone’s clients purchased the property. The brief from the client, a young couple with two energetic boys, asked the Janine Stone & Co team to bring this Belgravia home into the 21st century.
Inside the Belgravia Apartment
Anthony Bevacqua, Janine Stone’s London Design Director oversaw the project which presented quite a few challenges.
Anthony comments: “A big problem was the ‘landing strip’ lighting which was everywhere, probably an installation from the decade that challenged interior taste, the 1980s, that decade has a lot to answer for. We needed to address this with the right level of subtle and considered illumination and importantly, create better living spaces that worked harder for modern family life.”
Good Bones Meet a New Layout
The bones of the duplex were particularly good with plenty of period detailed ceilings and cornicing in relatively good condition. Anthony realigned the master bedroom suite layout and bathroom adjacency and created a bedroom and play area with pocket sliding doors for the boys’ bedroom/play space.
A wet-room bathroom with a specialist resin flooring was created for the youngsters which was both stylish and practical.
A Need for More Natural Light
Most private residences in Belgravia (and across London) are beautiful period buildings, with architectural detailing that is a delight. However, the walls of these buildings can be thick and reduce the amount of natural light that reaches the depths of a decent sized apartment. To create a light and airy space Janine Stone & Co. had to consider this in the design.
Anthony’s solution was the installation of a dramatic Crittall© glazed wall which opened onto the staircase but created an elegant ‘open’ hallway. The installation of a concealed mister system met challenging building regulations and robust fire regulations, that others may have struggled to meet.
A new powder room was created in fallow space too – the result is a vibrant living space that packs a punch within the existing footprint.
Space to Feature the Clients’ Art
The clients had worked in the fine art world and there was a collection of art and furniture pieces to accommodate in the apartment. A new contemporary fireplace was designed which created dramatic wall space for a treasured Victor Pasmore painting. An integrated credenza was designed around the fireplace and ran the full width of the room. This provided a chic platform for the sound system and television as well as objects from travels afar.
More Creative Solutions
Anthony comments: “We were able to bring some exciting and creative solutions to what was fundamentally an attractive apartment, but it required fresh thinking around the space and attention to detail on the finishes, flooring, kitchen, and lighting. The new glazed wall allowed light to flood into the living area which beautifully punctuated the space between the drawing-room and open plan kitchen. We also worked with a lighting specialist, Hawksbee Lighting to install concealed lighting around the staircase and stairwell which created a softer mood but kept the area safe for the young rumbustious boys.”
A Perfect Designer-Client Relationship
Anthony continues: “It is always a joy when your client is on the same page in terms of the conversations you have around the design aesthetic. It makes the whole process easier and fun for all concerned. This project was a case in point, knowledgeable clients that entrusted me to interpret their vision and aspiration for the home. The result is very pleasing and works on many levels for bustling family life.”
Janine Stone’s client for this project comments “We have our perfect home and it is exactly how it was designed and visualised.”
About Janine Stone & Co:
Janine Stone & Co is one of London’s top interior designers, who has designed, built, renovated, and furnished some exquisite private residences across Kensington & Chelsea, Belgravia & St. James, Holland Park, Hampstead and Beyond. From small apartments to large, town, and country houses, their multi-disciplinary team has a wealth of interior design, planning, architecture, and project management expertise to draw upon.
