Brass Is Everywhere at this Classical-Meets-Modern Flat in London

Custom fittings and clean lines define the elegant city home.

In London’s Maida Vale, a tired 100-year-old Victorian was reimagined as an ultra-chic flat, loaded with thoughtful details and delicate accents. London-based architecture firm MWAI benefited from a collaborative relationship with their client, one of the owners of UK-based millwork and joinery company INTERIOR-iD, who produced many of the custom elements. The renovation of the 1,100-square-foot flat meant a reconfiguration of the layout, with the goal of creating an open plan and improved flow, bringing as much ease and function as possible to the relatively compact space. The MWAI team took great care to consider the history and context of the site, preserving original character details where possible. The final result is an updated historic home, lovingly revitalized to meet modern needs.

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The kitchen features custom stained white oak cabinetry by INTERIOR-iD with eye-catching brass accents. A custom brass extractor hood sits over a Gaggenau range. The space-efficient workstation is anchored against one wall, and the mirrored panel helps reflect light and visually integrate the kitchen into the rest of the living area. A utensil rail, along with ample cabinet and drawer space, all offer organizational solutions. An open shelf above the cookspace is cleanly accented by minimal strip lighting.

A Dornbracht tap sits above a custom-built glacier white Corian countertop and sink. The sink is covered by a removable cutting board that can be kept in place for an added work surface, or removed for dedicated sink use. The cutout in the center allows water from the tap to flow straight through to the custom Corian drainer.

The opposite wall of the kitchen features built-in Siemens appliances and concealed storage. The custom INTERIOR-iD cabinets feature mitered doors, and brass trim, which passes fluidly around the edge of the doors, terminating at the back wall.

Adding wood floors to the home proved to be a challenge, both in terms of approval and execution. Since the flat is located in a historic mansion block, the license to alter it was very strict. Once approved, floating oak parquet floors were installed above a high-performance acoustic system to offer sound insulation for the neighbor below. The open dining room exemplifies the clients’ wish for a “fun yet minimalist” home. A copper Habitat pendant lamp hangs above a solid oak dining table fabricated by INTERIOR-iD. A whimsical mustard sofa pops against the blue Tabu veneer wall.

Where possible, original details were preserved and worked into the final design. As the MWAI team describes, window casements were kept intact and interior doors and trims were “carefully removed, stripped, restored and faithfully matched back in the original design.” An original stained glass window is seen in the hallway.

Pros: Also known as composite quartz, engineered quartz comes in a wide range of colors and textures with the general durability of real stone slabs, but with the ease of manufacturing and installation of a man-made product. As a result, engineered quartz isn’t as expensive as other natural stone countertops. Cons: On the other hand, customers can expect to see these qualities reflected in the price of engineered quartz, which can be on the higher end. Quartz also doesn’t handle extreme heat as well as granite does.

Fabric-clad wardrobe doors custom designed by INTERIOR-iD, along with Joseph Giles leather pulls, add texture to the master bedroom.

The adjoining master bathroom is connected by mirrored pocket door with bronze trim at the frame. The graphic space features a Kaldewei tub, Domus tiles, and Dornbracht faucets and fixtures. A marble vanity top and medicine cabinet sit against the far wall; a compact wood bench slides smartly under the vanity.

A mini grand piano sits in front of the fireplace, an original feature of the early-1900s home.