The brief started as a design for an island bench and grew to include the entire apartment. Our clients wanted a Jetsons inspired, mid-century modern kitchen (disguised as a bar). The kitchen sink + cooktop was located in the island, this was to turn the island into a gathering space connected to the view. Half of the living room walls contain concealed storage that can transform the space from dining to entertaining, to quiet study, etc.
The apartment is located in iconic, mid-century Torbreck, in Highgate Hill. Having an apartment in a building of this nature guided many of the design decisions, which resulted in a crafted living area fit for The Jetsons (inspiration from our clients). The planning was conceived as pockets of multi-functional space within the larger volume of the living room, spaces to complement and enhance apartment living (dining, music, entertaining bar, kitchen, TV, reading). Each of these spaces are designed to offer a connection to the generous outlook and the broader spatial planning is configured to emphasise the view.
Brick and warm timbers in the heritage building are complimented through a balance of modest and crafted materials in our design, accented by the blue tones of the Torbreck facade. Where possible we aim to recycle, during demolition we salvaged the marble and most kitchen appliances. The hardwood flooring and cabinetwork is recycled timber from Kennedy’s. The result is a beautiful and functional interior, a true collaboration between craftsman, William McMahon (Cabinetmaker), client, and architect.
Material Used :
Kitchen walls
Walls painted with Dulux Wash and Wear Acrylic Low Sheen in ‘Whisper White’; skirting, trims, architraves, pelmets and passage doors painted with Dulux AquanamelSemi Gloss in ‘Whisper White’; ceiling painted with Dulux Ceiling White in ‘Whisper White’; Gaboon plywood panelling (fixed) overlaid with hoop pine half rounds, finished with Porters Paints Wood Wash in ‘Plain White’
Kitchen flooring
Mixed recycled hardwood from Kennedy’s Timbers, finished with Bona Traffic in ‘Silkmatt’; Tretford cord carpet in ‘Freshwater 615’ with underlay
Kitchen joinery
Corian benchtop in ‘Glacier White’; recycled Carrara marble circular benchtop in honed finish; cupboard fronts (island)made with mixed recycled hardwood from Kennedy’s Timbers, finished in Feast Watson Fine Buffing Oil; cupboard fronts (walls) made with Gaboon plywood panelling (fixed) overlaid with hoop pine half rounds, finished with Porters Paints Wood Wash in ‘Plain White’; round finger pulls with brass backing; Blum cabinetry hardware
Kitchen lighting
Explosion Chandelier from Pottery Barn; Artemide Dioscuri wall/ceiling light by Michele De Lucchi, and CastoreSospensione by Huub Ubbens and Michele De Lucchi; Caribou Sneaky White lights with white reflectors
Sinks and tapware
Astra Walker Icon sink mixer with swivel spout in White; Corian Spicy 965 Integrated sink in ‘Glacier White’ with seamless under mount
Appliances
Fisher and Paykel fridge; Miele fully integrated dishwasher; Smeg Piano Design Four Burner Cooktop (existing) and Classic Aesthetic Thermoseal oven; Ilve Cylinder island range hood in Dulux ‘White Satin’ powdercoat finish with custom-patterned vent
Furniture
Sideboard from Found Furniture fixed to wall; custom water-jet-cut marble over buffet
Bathroom walls
Vast Dove Grey Satin rectified wall tiles from Beaumont Tiles
Bathroom flooring
Arcade Hyde Multicolour glazed-porcelain floor tiles from Beaumont Tiles
Bathroom joinery
Recycled Carrara marble benchtop in honed finish; drawer fronts made with mixed recycled hardwood from Kennedy’s Timbers, finished in Feast Watson Fine Buffing Oil; round finger pulls with brass backing; Blum cabinetry hardware
Bathroom lighting
Lighting concealed behind translucent acrylic suspended ceiling
Tapware and fittings
Brodware City Plus shower set (shower) and wall set with swivel spout (basin)
Sanitaryware
Laufen Pro A Back to Wall Pan with soft-close seat in white, Geberit Sigma 8 concealed cistern and Roca Inspira Soft Vessel No Taphole handbasin all from Reece
Other
Custom-cut shower screen
