A Designer Couple Craft a Dreamy Apartment in a Former Shoe Factory
Located in the creative, post-industrial neighborhood of Shoreditch, the 3,000-square-foot apartment takes up an entire floor in one of the earliest warehouses in the area to be converted.
The original factory space had an open plan, but the loft’s previous owner (a set designer) divided the interior into many rooms. Zoe Chan Eayrs and Merlin Eayrs removed all the existing walls to return the space to its original form. They then lived in the unfurnished space for a year to get a better feel for the light, temperature, and volumetry before they came up with their plan for the interior.
The living room features an olive-green Camaleonda sofa by Mario Bellini.
Poul Kjaerholm and Jørgen Høj Snedkerier lounge chairs from the ’50s.
"The loft is located at the end of the block, and has a quadruple aspect, so the space is flooded with light all day with stunning views over the treetops surrounding the adjacent St Leonards church," says Zoe.
A dining nook features a green Settle bench by Sue Skeen for The New Craftsmen.
A Trunk dining table by Sue Skeen for The New Craftsmen.
"We kept the plan as open as possible, delineating the ‘rooms’ through pattern and texture on the floor instead of walls," says Merlin.
Merlin and Zoe with their daughter.
The Zyklus chair in the sitting area has been reupholstered in Pierre Frey velvet.
The kitchen features custom-made cabinetry and countertops.
Chan + Eayrs used leaf-green plaster for the interior walls to reflect the verdant greenery seen through the windows. The color also appears in the Settle bench by Sue Skeen for the New Craftsman, artwork by surrealist painter Faye Wei Wei, and handmade mugs by the late potter Christopher Magarshack.
A built-in bench in the hallway.
The loft's floors feature Moroccan Bejmat tiles arranged in a variety of motifs—from traditional basketweave, to herringbone, to an interlocking pattern inspired by Chinese courtyard houses.
Stephen Wright paintings.
The unusual window shutters, which are made of woven fabric, are the result of a collaboration between the couple and London weaver Christabel Balfour. They're soft enough to hang, rigid enough to hold their shape, and thick enough to block out light.
The bedroom is furnished with Once Milano hand-painted quilts.
The bedroom connects with the bathroom, which has a large Water Monopoly bath in Avocado.
As with Chan + Eayrs’ earlier projects (such as the Weavers’ House), the Beldi gained character and depth through the duo’s intimate involvement, and their slow, organic process of crafting spaces.
An antique chair near the ensuite bathroom.
"Ideas have the time they need to grow fully and percolate through every aspect of the home. Each corner is lovingly considered and attended to, and every object is collected and curated with intent," says Zoe.
The bedroom features antique midcentury lamps.
The pendants above the kitchen island are antique Venetian Murano blown glass cage lights.
The Beldi is currently listed for £3,200,000 (approximately $4,146,000) via The Modern House.
Related Reading:
n Architect Couple Give This 18th-Century Townhouse a Sumptuous Refresh
Project Credits:
Architect of Record, Interior Design: Chan + Eayrs / @chanandeayrs
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