Refurbishment of a duplex loft apartment in the acclaimed Beaux Arts Building in Holloway.  The clients, a US based couple, acquired the property to have as a London base when visiting family. They wanted interiors decorated in vibrant colours associated with their California roots.

The interiors were given comprehensive refurbishment involving raising ceiling and door heights, replacing skirtings and architraves,  adding new flooring throughout with underfloor heating, and reconfiguring electrical installations.

The existing poorly constructed staircase was replaced to have an open stair rail and built in storage below, designed by Seb and Fin Architects, manufactured and installed by K&D Joinery, and fitted with a Roger Oates stair runner in a striking pattern.

Bespoke cabinetry was commissioned for the new kitchen, bedroom and a home office nook, using Corston hardware in unlaquered brass to link the designs.  New lighting throughout from design focused UK brands was chosen to capture an Art Deco feel associated with the building’s architecture.

The construction was project managed by Helene Bowden Design, who co-ordinated the installations and ran the procurement process for all fixtures and finishes. Interiors photography by Chris Hopkinson.

Design updates to a semi-detached Victorian family home.  The clients had undertaken a substantial modernisation of the property ten years earlier, and approached Helene Bowden Design to redefine some of the interior spaces to suit the family's changing needs.  A low ceilinged loft conversion space was repurposed as a teen TV / games room with bespoke joinery slotted between eaves and a structural steel bulkhead to form a media and storage wall, with sleek plaster in lighting.  A bathroom was enhanced with a refresh of surfaces, enlargement of the shower enclosure, bespoke cabinetry and improved lighting.  

The ground floor central room and rear extension were re-designated to have dining by the kitchen and the TV lounge in the centre of the floorplan. Lighting was reconfigured to declutter ceilings of surplus fittings and reset outputs. The central chimney breast was adapted to incorporate a contemporary style recessed fire burner, dressed with honed Arabescato Oro Verde marble, cut to exacting profiles.  Slim metal shelving with integral lighting and decor panels by Porro in chocolate lacquer / mirror was configured each side of the chimney walls, and long low fitted cabinetry in dark walnut veneer provides storage.

New furnishings and decorative lighting were sourced from leading European design brands to suit the contemporary style of the fitted elements, selecting for timeless, understated forms and comfort in earthy hues and textures.  A set of much loved Zanotta dining chairs were fully refurbished with new leather upholstery covers to complement other interior finishes.

Helene Bowden Design project co-ordinated the joinery installations, working closely with specialists and the client’s main contractor to ensure the accuracy and correct sequencing of installation.  Joinery specialists: lazkitchens.co.uk, www.madeby68.com Stone work: Marble and Stone.

A full back to brick renovation of a lower ground family apartment in a large mid-Victorian stucco property. The clients’ briefing was for a pared down aesthetic, drawing in Scandinavian and Japanese influences. The interior layout was repurposed to add a fourth bedroom and rationalise three bathrooms down to two. A materials backdrop of warm neutrals throughout created a spacious and airy feel. Detailed technical design work was in collaboration with Seb + Fin Architects. The project incorporated extensive customised joinery fabricated and installed by Laz Furniture, including a fully bespoke kitchen with overhead metal racking specifically designed to house a recessed cooker hood, a wall to wall low level media unit with ribbed oak sliding doors and honed Emperador marble top, bespoke floor to ceiling shelving in the home office and a built in headboard in the principal bedroom with integrated storage and lighting to partly conceal ducting from a boiler flue. Full procurement over the construction phase for all finishing materials / fixtures and fittings was undertaken by Helene Bowden Design. Finally, a curated selection of furnishings, lighting and accessories from Nordic brands completed the interior finishing and styling.

Working alongside DMC Consulting Structural Engineers, Helene Bowden Design was engaged to provide interior design, procurement and project management services to the clients on a back to brick renovation and new build extension of a 3 bedroomed garden apartment in a Victorian end of terrace for a young family. The clients had an adventurous aesthetic, and their brief was to fuse the heritage style of the building with a contemporary interpretation, drawing in abundant colour and pattern in the finishing surfaces and details. With a high pitched roofline and plentiful skylights in the large side return extension, the glazing design needed a richness of detail and proportions. Fabco Sanctuary, the steel window specialists, provided bespoke technical fabrication and installation of the external and internal glazing. The reinstatement of period style interior architecture including cornices, high skirtings, salvaged doors, column radiators and industrial style light fittings brought the Victorian references. The interiors were furnished with a selection of vintage one offs mixed with pieces from Soho Home, with a final decorative layer coming from the clients’ growing art collection.

Working for private developer clients, I was appointed to carry out turnkey interior styling, finishing and accessorising this 5 bedroomed, 2 reception room property for the sales market. The overall brief/concept was to present finished spaces with a contemporary European feel, delivering understated timeless luxury to complement the high end interior architectural finishes designed by Dust Architecture. Furniture was supplied by procurement specialists Clippings.

The interiors were elevated with careful curation and placement of artworks and floral displays to bring the finished project to life. 

Redefining the living spaces of a family home using new finishing materials, working with a restricted colour palette of muted blues and greys. Occasional bursts of colour and pattern in the soft furnishings and distinctive artworks add character and individuality. Bespoke joinery and stone work were commissioned to add a more coherent framework to the interior spaces.

This well proportioned family home was given bold styling to complement its Victorian architectural heritage and create a sense of transition between rooms. Walls were painted with modern architectural neutrals providing a backdrop to a mix of modernist classics and vintage furniture pieces. Artworks, textiles, lighting and accessories add layers of interest with colour and pattern. The vertical design of the hallway wallpaper plays to the generous ceiling heights. Richer colours were used in the bedroom spaces to create a sense of cocooning.

This project focused on furniture procurement, interior styling and the commissioning of a number of pieces of bespoke joinery in a mews house. The clients, a busy family, wanted a purpose built shoe storage facility to conceal inevitable hallway clutter. A free standing, narrow console unit was designed to accommodate shoes with a colour finish to tone with the artworks displayed above it. The dining area was given a fresh treatment with full height shelving to store books and display barware and table lighting. The antiqued mirrored backing was added to give depth and ambience, especially after dark. Advice was given on the detailing of a new internal staircase configuration to connect to the new basement extension. A guest bedroom was given a calming feel with a Farrow & Ball botanical print wallpaper and feminine details in the interior hardware and colour accents.  The choice of furniture, lighting, accessories and styling was guided in colour and personality by the lively, vibrant artworks and objects in the clients’ collection.

Exterior joinery included a new front door and adjacent half glazed door partitions to suit interior repurposing to a home office. Careful consideration was given to the exterior elevation to complement the overall character of the buildings in the neighbourhood.