A savvy design-loving couple set themselves on a mission to increase the feeling of space and bring more light into the ground floor of their narrow three-story, 600-square-foot contemporary mews house in Stoke Newington, London. Unable to enlarge the existing footprint of their home, they call on London-based interior designer Charles Mellersh and his skills. After noting the designer’s masterful renovation of a Notting Hill home that been published on Remodelista, the couple, a teacher and a TV executive, knew that the designer had what it took to rise to their challenge.
Like a magician, Mellersh makes it all look easy. His design moves may be familiar tricks of the trade, but combined with his highly honed attention to detail and signature skillful application of textures and colors, the result is a warm glow of brilliance. Come take the tour and see what he did.
Unless otherwise noted, photography by Chris Tubbs.
Above: The first step was to replace an existing solid partition wall that separated the kitchen from the entrance hall with a steel framed glazing system, manufactured by Crittal. The glazed wall distributes light into the hallway and increases the sense of open space. "The new kitchen space feels huge in comparison to what it was before and all without increasing the actual footprint," Mellersh says.
Above: The kitchen cabinets were custom designed by Mellersh and manufactured locally using a mixture of Tulip wood faces and MDF units, spray-painted Purbeck Stone by Farrow & Ball. "The low sheen finish of the paint creates a beauitful warm feel," Mellersh says. "We needed to maximize the feeling of space, so we employed a ‘wraparound’ color scheme, a neat trick where the units, walls, and skirting boards are painted the same color. This unifies the disparate elements and provides an illusion of space, in contrast to the previous kitchen, where a hodgepodge of clashing materials, tones, and textures made the small space feel chaotic and oppressive."
Above: The custom-plated gold tap adds warmth to an otherwise muted palette of color and materials.
Above: A Vox Pendant by Rubn hangs above the oak and honed Carrara marble table that Mellersh custom designed for the small kitchen. The Pitcher on the table is by Another Country, a homeware company founded by Paul de Zwart, a colleague of Mellersh's from their Wallpaper days.
Above: Mellersh replaced the existing solid door between the hallway and the living room with a floor-to-ceiling metal and glass screen and a door that is hinged off a glass side pane. "The Crittal door and side screen that connects the hall with the living room was a breakthrough idea in opening up the space while maintaining the integrity required by the building regulations," Mellersh says. "From a design point of view it changed the relationship between two adjacent areas by promoting a continuity of light flow within the ground floor level, which previously had felt very oppressive and tunnel-like." A series of Cone Wall Lamps in white from Atelier Areti continue from the hallway into the living room.
Above: "The two-tone paint effect from the hallway into the living room adds dynamism to an otherwise static environment," Mellersh says. "This was a simple idea to bring some energy and movement to the space while drawing people toward the living area from the front door." The vintage 1950s Italian mirror reflects light from the kitchen and was sourced from 52 Meters.
Above: From the living room, the view looks out onto historic homes the neighborhood. To maintain continuity throughout the ground floor, Mellersh replaced the existing PVC conservatory, which "literally creaked in the wind," with the same Crittal framing system he used in the kitchen and hallway. "The instant continuity between the various spaces we gained was further amplified by using the same flooring in all the rooms," Mellersh says. "One of my rules on any project is to invest in a really great floor. It provides an anchor to the scheme and a strong layer of materiality that sets the tone throughout." The flooring used in this project is a system of solid oak parquet blocks laid in a herringbone pattern and finished with a matt lacquer.
Above: "The furniture plays to the modernist lines of the contemporary architecture," Mellersh says. "The red Utrecht Chairs are by Cassina. The marble- and metal-framed Tati coffee table is by Asplund. The vintage Berber rug is by Larusi, who are hands down the best source in Europe for such rugs. And the somewhat industrial looking floor lamp is by Lampe Gras."
Above: The space has been designed for flexibility. The Desk One Table by Another Country moves positions, depending on how the room is being used.
Above: The desk is accessorized with a Gubi Grasshopper Task Light from Another Country.
Above: "Bright colors add energy into an otherwise neutral scheme," Mellersh says.
Above: On the opposite wall, Mellersh built a shelf in order to hide the wifi router that attaches underneath as well as various cables.
Above: "The shelf also provides a useful area at waist height for placing keys, pictures, and novels," Mellersh says.
Above: In the bedroom, Mellersh mixed robust natural materials including brass, sheepskin, and wicker to add warmth and texture. The blankets and cushions by Eleanor Pritchard play on the modernist feel.
Above: Lamp 2349 by Josef Frank, designed in 1940 for Svenkst Tenn, sits on the Hardy Table by Simon Kampfer for Zilio A&C and available from Twenty Twenty One.
Above: A plan of the ground floor shows the flow of space from the entry door on the left through to the living room on the right.
Before
Above: A view down the entry hall with the kitchen through the opening on the right. All "Before" photographs by Charles Mellersh.
Above: The PVC glazing system that was original to the building.
Above: The previous "hodgepodge" kitchen with its mix of colors and materials.
Above: The kitchen as it was originally closed off to the hallway.
For more London renovations see:
- A Sympathetic Renovation in Stoke Newington, London
- Stardust in Northwest London
- Fresh and Clean: A London Chef Lives the Way She Cooks
Christine is also the writer of the new lifestyle and wellness blog My Contents Have Shifted—A Fabster's Musings on Being Fifty and Beyond.
More Stories from Remodelista
- A Midcentury Mountain House Artfully Updated, Whitewashed Wood Edition
- Top 5 in Design News: Rothschild Wins for House of the Year and Rightful Recognition for a Woman Architect
- A Sympathetic Renovation in Stoke Newington, London
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