British Houzz: Hand-Built New York Style in a London Flat
A British couple, inspired by a trip to Brooklyn, created their perfect home with heirlooms, original features and their own hands
A trip to Brooklyn, New York, gave architectural technologist Joe Stewart and his wife the inspiration they needed to turn their dilapidated North London split-level flat – which had formerly been used by squatters – into a stylish home. “We’d recently visited Williamsburg in Brooklyn, USA, and we loved the modern rustic look we saw there,” says Stewart. “So we tried to incorporate elements of that into the interior design of our home.”
“We stripped the whole property back to its bricks, which we then sandblasted and made a feature of in many areas of the house,” says Stewart.
The couple didn’t want to cover up too much of the original brickwork, so they opted for mainly low-level units in the kitchen, which gives it a homey feel. “It’s a modular system that you have to pick up and install yourself, but it looks good and the cost works out to be pretty reasonable,” says Stewart.
Reclaimed bar stools and metal pendant lights add an industrial edge to the space.
Benchtops: Ikea; oven: Rangemaster; yellow pendant light: Made.com; kitchen cabinetry: British Standard
The couple didn’t want to cover up too much of the original brickwork, so they opted for mainly low-level units in the kitchen, which gives it a homey feel. “It’s a modular system that you have to pick up and install yourself, but it looks good and the cost works out to be pretty reasonable,” says Stewart.
Reclaimed bar stools and metal pendant lights add an industrial edge to the space.
Benchtops: Ikea; oven: Rangemaster; yellow pendant light: Made.com; kitchen cabinetry: British Standard
Finding an extra-wide butler sink to fit neatly over this kitchen unit proved tricky, as most sinks of this size are divided into two sections, but the couple finally found one. Teamed with the vintage plate rack above, it has a rustic, period look, and the handily placed plate rack makes it quicker to put away crockery after doing the washing-up.
Sink: Shaws; subway tiles: Tons of Tiles
Sink: Shaws; subway tiles: Tons of Tiles
The couple installed underfloor heating beneath the restored floorboards and inserted a wood-burning stove into the fireplace to throw out a cosy glow on long winter days. “We use the stove all the time,” says Stewart. “It gives out an amazing heat.”
Monochrome hearth tiles add a little pattern to the scheme. “We sent off the measurements of the hearth to a specialist hearth tile manufacturer, who sent back a ready-made plate of tiles, which you just slip into place,” explains Stewart.
Stove: Esse; hearth tiles: 20th Century Fireplaces
Monochrome hearth tiles add a little pattern to the scheme. “We sent off the measurements of the hearth to a specialist hearth tile manufacturer, who sent back a ready-made plate of tiles, which you just slip into place,” explains Stewart.
Stove: Esse; hearth tiles: 20th Century Fireplaces
With the arrival of their new baby imminent, the couple were in a race against time to get their home finished.
In search of a sofa, they went to a Sofa.com store, but couldn’t find anything suitable, until a member of staff there advised them to check out its eBay store. “We discovered this grey sofa, at a bargain price, which teams perfectly with the exposed brick and timber,” says Stewart.
In search of a sofa, they went to a Sofa.com store, but couldn’t find anything suitable, until a member of staff there advised them to check out its eBay store. “We discovered this grey sofa, at a bargain price, which teams perfectly with the exposed brick and timber,” says Stewart.
Being tight on space, it was important to build in storage at every opportunity. These neatly filled floor-to-ceiling open bookshelves in the living space provide colour and interest, plus that all-important storage. They also subtly divide the kitchen and living area from the stairway.
The fireplace in the main bedroom has been left in its original state and is a feature in itself. Smart shutters at the windows keep the look sleek and simple. “We opted for shutters that split in the middle,” explains Stewart, “as they give you much more control over how you let the light filter into a room.”
Wardrobe: Ikea; bedlinen: John Lewis; bed: Sofa.com
Wardrobe: Ikea; bedlinen: John Lewis; bed: Sofa.com
The striking bathroom features reclaimed, home-made furniture and can be accessed from both the main bedroom and the hallway. The wooden sliding door was from Stewart’s great grandmother’s house. “We actually used it as a backdrop for photos at our wedding,” he reveals, “so it was nice to find it a home here. I built the table for the sink out of scaffolding boards.”
Period-style fittings and fixtures in the bathroom acts as a reminder of the property’s historic past. “We also really liked the idea of a roll-top bath with freestanding taps,” says Stewart.
Bath and toilet: Victorian Plumbing
Bath and toilet: Victorian Plumbing
The wall between the bathroom, bedroom and hallway is constructed from microcement. “This is a fantastic material that’s waterproof and very flexible, so it won’t crack, allowing us to use it as the shower wall too,” says Stewart. “I was very keen to have a continuity of colour from the outside to inside the shower. Plus, the wall goes well with the brickwork and gives a nice industrial feel.”
Black and white tree wallpaper creates a dreamy mood in the guest bedroom. To ensure the wallpaper remains the focal point, the bed has been dressed with simple white bedlinen, while unfussy shutters screen the windows.
‘Woods’ wallpaper: Cole & Son
‘Woods’ wallpaper: Cole & Son
This nook in the attic was always there, but Stewart has made it more accessible and usable as a room by adding a staircase and balustrade up to it. It’s now a handy little study or reading room. With a newborn in the house, the couple were careful to limit the amount of chemicals used in the build, and this room has been painted in environmentally friendly Earthborn paint.
TELL US
What do you think of this split-level apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US
What do you think of this split-level apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here: Architectural technologist Joe Stewart with his wife and baby
Location: North London, UK
Property: A Georgian end-of-terrace maisonette
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Architectural technologist: Joe Stewart of HFM Architects
The property had previously been used as a squat and was in a bad state of repair when Joe Stewart and his wife took over ownership, but this gave them the opportunity to strip it back to its bare bones and begin again.
“We reconfigured the whole space and really opened it up downstairs to maximise the flow of light,” explains Stewart. “At the same time, we tried to stay in keeping with the property’s historic Georgian roots.”