London Houzz: Tour a Contemporary Loft in an Old Victorian School
Watch and read how a design firm updated this light and airy apartment in an old block with sleek style and warm touches
Mitchell Parker
28 May 2023
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Ross Targett had a gem on his hands. His loft-style apartment in a converted Victorian school building in the UK featured charming period details and a location in a prime London neighborhood. But the late-1990s conversion had created a look and layout that didn’t quite fit his lifestyle. Looking to update the space with a more contemporary Japandi style with clean lines and a generous balance of white and wood finishes, Targett searched Houzz for an interior design firm.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Ross Targett, who works in the tech industry
Location: London, UK
Size: 111 square metres with three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Ivana De Felice, Akiva Projects
Contractor: Ben Newham of Aspire Builders
Among Houzz’s search results, Targett found interior design firm Akiva Projects, which he commissioned to refresh the interiors and redesign the floor plan. The designers added more privacy to the mezzanine level while maintaining the open and airy atmosphere and preserving historical details, such as the glazed brick tiles in the main living area.
Who lives here: Ross Targett, who works in the tech industry
Location: London, UK
Size: 111 square metres with three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Ivana De Felice, Akiva Projects
Contractor: Ben Newham of Aspire Builders
Among Houzz’s search results, Targett found interior design firm Akiva Projects, which he commissioned to refresh the interiors and redesign the floor plan. The designers added more privacy to the mezzanine level while maintaining the open and airy atmosphere and preserving historical details, such as the glazed brick tiles in the main living area.
Before Photo
The former space featured plenty of natural light and a mezzanine level with two rooms that sat half-open to the lower level. Targett wanted to preserve the open feeling while adding a bit more privacy between rooms.
Watch now: Go inside this casual contemporary home on Houzz TV
Watch now: Go inside this casual contemporary home on Houzz TV
Working for Akiva Projects, interior designer Ivana De Felice closed off a portion of the lower level on the right and created a TV niche backed with acoustic panels in a timber finish that help mitigate echo in the voluminous space. “Plus they’re very nice to look at,” she says.
The space on the other side of the niche is now an enclosed guest bedroom and reading area. On the mezzanine, De Felice took the former half-glass partition to the ceiling to fully enclose the main bedroom on the upper left, adding privacy while keeping the sightlines open and the natural light shared between spaces.
A half-glass partition gives an open and airy feel to the home office on the upper right, which also overlooks the bottom level guest bedroom on the other side.
De Felice used Houzz Pro business software to show Targett products for his approval, guide the style direction and manage the project. “The shopping lists Ivana created using Houzz Pro meant I could see exactly what was being proposed,” Targett says. “Being able to approve or decline each item at the click of a button saved me so much time and meant I could better visualise how it would all come together.”
Searching for an expert to refresh your home? Find an interior designer or decorator in your area and browse their projects
The space on the other side of the niche is now an enclosed guest bedroom and reading area. On the mezzanine, De Felice took the former half-glass partition to the ceiling to fully enclose the main bedroom on the upper left, adding privacy while keeping the sightlines open and the natural light shared between spaces.
A half-glass partition gives an open and airy feel to the home office on the upper right, which also overlooks the bottom level guest bedroom on the other side.
De Felice used Houzz Pro business software to show Targett products for his approval, guide the style direction and manage the project. “The shopping lists Ivana created using Houzz Pro meant I could see exactly what was being proposed,” Targett says. “Being able to approve or decline each item at the click of a button saved me so much time and meant I could better visualise how it would all come together.”
Searching for an expert to refresh your home? Find an interior designer or decorator in your area and browse their projects
Before Photo
A portion of the former kitchen sat under the mezzanine, giving it a closed-in feel.
De Felice moved the cabinet layout forward and behind it created a utility room with a washer and dryer and extra storage beneath the mezzanine. A wall of cabinets, ovens and paneled fridge and freezer now give a clean look to the cabinet layout.
Lower cabinets now extend the width of the space, leaving the above wall open to accentuate the height of the room and display artwork. “Visually it looks less, but the storage created was more,” De Felice says.
Watch now: See more of how this renovation came together
Lower cabinets now extend the width of the space, leaving the above wall open to accentuate the height of the room and display artwork. “Visually it looks less, but the storage created was more,” De Felice says.
Watch now: See more of how this renovation came together
Before Photo
Before: The former space featured some original elements worth preserving, including the glazed brick tile. But De Felice and Targett wanted to punch up the overall design.
After: Neutral gray and wood furnishings lean toward the Japandi style the homeowner wanted. Black details add touches of drama and contrast. And new wood flooring in a herringbone pattern introduces a traditional element.
Watch now: Tour this London loft apartment in the latest episode of Houzz TV
Watch now: Tour this London loft apartment in the latest episode of Houzz TV
The lower-level guest bedroom features more wood acoustic panels and large framed artwork from the homeowner’s extensive collection. The home office is visible on the mezzanine.
Opposite the bed in the guest room is a bookcase that extends from the floor to the soaring double-height ceiling. A wood sliding ladder gives access to the top shelves.
Here’s a view from the mezzanine-level home office showing the top of the bookcase in the lower-level guest room.
In the other direction, the home office overlooks the main living space below, divided only by a half wall of glass.
Watch now: Tour this London home on Houzz TV
Watch now: Tour this London home on Houzz TV
Before Photo
Before: In the former layout, half walls of glass and a low balustrade made the bedroom feel a bit too open to other spaces.
After: Looking from a slightly different angle, the updated bedroom now features a more enclosed feel with floor-to-ceiling glass separating it from the main living space below and a wall dividing it from the staircase. The glass wall adds privacy while maintaining visual openness, creating “the effect of separating the room like if you are in an aquarium,” De Felice says. “So you can see through but you are divided.”
More acoustic panels form the headboard wall in the main bedroom. Pendant lights allow for small floating night tables.
Before Photo
Before: This bathroom was functional but the owner wanted to update the look and feel to fit a more contemporary style that’s easier to clean.
After: De Felice used large-format tiles in a soft gray to create a streamlined look that’s easy to wipe down. Matte black details add bold touches of contrast. “I’m so happy with the final result,” Targett says. “It’s exactly what I was hoping for.”
Watch now: Go inside this contemporary London loft
Watch now: Go inside this contemporary London loft
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I wish they would show the two layouts side by side.
Beautiful having nature growing inside. Which type of tree is in the open living space?
Okay Mr. Ross, if you're done with our house, we'd like it back! LOL. What a renovation. It is fabulous. It has to be very nice to come home to all of that! It is an amazing design. Akiva rocked it. The keys, please.