Project in focus: HIGHGATE
There are projects and there are projects, and this one was just…well….magic! Offer me a column inch on why and I’d likely attempt to give you three, but to sum it up, the clients on this project were so inspiring that a design anything less than extraordinary would have felt like we were selling them short.
To offer some context, our clients had recently bought a large modern apartment overlooking Hampstead Heath. These vibrant downsizers were looking to create a contemporary home that was warm, welcoming, grandchild friendly, yet luxurious and full of character.
With a fantastic eye for design of their own and the help of the very talented Joanna Williams Interior design, the dream was brought together in this truly unique and stunning home.
With this being a modern central London apartment, albeit a very spacious lateral one, it was important to make use of all available space. A keen eye might notice, that this ash-lined breakfast pantry was actually designed as an L shaped corner larder that extended to the back of the sink run.
The ash internals made a soft contrast to the black oak cabinetry which was stained rather than painted in order to ensure that the texture and grain within the timber would remain visible.
The clients chose this flat for its incredible location and spectacular views out over Hampstead Heath.
As you sit on the custom pleather banquet seat, chosen for its ability to withstand the wear and tear of the most robust visiting grandchild, you could be forgiven for thinking you were perched within a tree canopy.
This unique view of nature at its most splendid, deep within an urban jungle, was the basis for the kitchen design.
Inspired by natures green, we sourced a deeply veined Green Guatemalan stone that is not easy to come by to create this fabulous book-matched island. A banquette seat was designed with under-seat storage. Banquette seating uses up less space which meant the dining table could be incorporated into the kitchen freeing up the other side of the room for an informal lounge area.
A Bora induction hob with integrated extraction meant no overhead extractor was needed keeping the space looking uncluttered and elegant.
Any follower of Blakes will probably recognise that a house style for us is to use mixed materiality throughout a scheme. Here at Highgate we used different materials on the flat-fronted cabinetry, on the hardware and on worktop runs.
Where the Island is green Guatemalan stone, we chose a more durable white porcelain Statuario effect worktop from Neolith for the sink run.
The incredible wall units were hand-painted on-site with a special liquid metal pigment to give a fabulous brass effect. The brass was echoed in the hot water tap from Quooker and a custom coated extendable handheld spray attachment. Where many may have expected all of the hardware to have been brass, we chose black Buster and Punch cabinet pulls on the tall units to offer some contrast and additional interest in the space.
We did, however, draw the line at adding a stainless steel sink, instead chosing a white cast iron sink to blend in with the Neolith worktop. There is a limit to how many tones you wish to introduce into a vignette after all!!
Walking into this space now, you would never believe that the narrow room with a wall of glass that emitted an austere vibe to the space, has been transformed into this highly usable space. Perfecrt for hosting large boisterous family meals as well as sophisticated candlelit soirees.
Sharron, David, you were a joy to work with and we wish you and the extended family many a happy memory in this phenomenal space. Bon appetit!
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