A colourful home in the heart of King's Cross London
Spanish interior designer Sara Leonor transforms an exclusive flat in a Mansion Block in King's Cross in London with colour
Red, blue, green and yellow coexist in these 42 square meters flat where every detail has been carefully chosen
The refurbishment maximizes the use of the space and brings functionality to the flat, in a renovation full of style, distinctiveness and personality
The London-based Spanish interior designer Sara Leonor has transformed an exclusive flat in a century-old Mansion Block in the King's Cross area of the British capital with design and vibrant colours.
Colour is essential in this 42-square-metre home, giving each space its own identity. While green tones are used in the kitchen, yellows covers the bathroom, blue adorns the bedroom for the couple and reddish tones embellish the walls of the living-dining room. Each of the four rooms features a different colour. The residence is located in one of the most luxurious blocks in the King's Cross area, dating from 1905, and is currently valued at half a million euros.
"The owners wanted to update the flat because it was no longer functional. They needed more storage, but the size of the home required creative and efficient solutions that took up as little space as possible. They were clear that they wanted to use green in the kitchen and, from there, we defined the rest of the colour choices. Our mission was to provide all the comforts of a large flat in a small space, while infusing style, distinctiveness and personality", explains Sara Leonor.
In the kitchen, all the appliances have been panelled to generate a continuous, linear image, combining tiles and painted walls, which broadens the visual perception of the room, amplified by the black anarchd white tones of the floor tiles, designed by Nathalie Du Pasquier for Mutina. The worktop in metallic and copper tones is inspired by the traditional industrial aesthetic of London. In the design approach, a broom cupboard was created and additional space was made for the freezer, which the couple lacked.
In the bathroom, the toilet and custom-made concrete washbasin were placed at the back of the room and a rounded bathtub was chosen at the front to make it easier for the owners to walk through. Sara Leonor opted for a mirror with a U-shaped cabinet to provide depth and a transparent curtain that contributes to the same purpose. A sliding door and shelves conceal the fireplace and, in the upper part, a metal mesh was placed where plants and towels can be placed.
"The tiles are handmade in Morocco and their glossy texture serves as a reflection and contributes to making the space appear larger. On the side walls, we opted for concrete tiles, and in the rest of the space and the ceiling, yellow paint was used," says Sara Leonor.
In the master bedroom, the original built-in wardrobe was respected and replicated on the opposite side of the room in the same style. The moldings were dressed with a wallpaper featuring plant motifs, which was also extended on the ceiling adding an artistic detail to the room.
The previous shelves and the headboard were removed to optimize the use of the space, with a ottoman bed, a bookcase in the upper wall area and built-in bedside tables, as well as an integrated dressing table and shoe rack, also at height.
In the case of the dining room, a multi-purpose space has been created within an area of less than 15 square metres that serves as a lounge, party room and dining room with an extendable and expandable coffee table that can accommodate up to six people.
Red defines both the lower and upper areas of the room, while the white of the central strip provides a neutral setting for the decorative objects of the couple, who also wanted to keep the original chest of drawers. An L-shaped bench creates seating for visitors, while also accommodating storage for the record collections and concealing the room's radiator.
Next to the door, a workspace has also been created with a desk set against the wall, with a panelling system that conceals the wiring of electronic devices. The bar unit and the metal drinks trolley have been carefully chosen for the space, as has the sofa, which includes a bed inside for visitors.
"All the elements have a reason for being. I am not in favour of including objects that are merely aesthetic. They must fulfil a function in the overall interior design project. We usually design a large part of the pieces in our interior design projects to measure", stresses the designer.
Team:
Architect: Sara Leonor
Photography: Anna Batchelor
