Houzz Tour: Fun Open-Plan Style Remakes a Former London Warehouse
Packed with original factory features, this inviting space loses a bath to gain a bedroom
“This project has been a real labor of love,” says Lulu Skinner of her beautiful open-plan warehouse apartment in east London. Although it’s now a polished and welcoming place, it looked very different when she first moved in, and the construction journey was long and, at times, painful. Instead of defeating her, however, the remodel stoked her enthusiasm for her next project.
“The flat had a strange layout, with one bedroom but two bathrooms,” Skinner says. “Possibly it had been used as a live-work studio previously.”
She decided to create two bedrooms and one bathroom instead, which made more sense from a residential point of view. The living, dining and kitchen space stayed almost the same size.
She decided to create two bedrooms and one bathroom instead, which made more sense from a residential point of view. The living, dining and kitchen space stayed almost the same size.
After running into some problems with a previous contractor, the couple found Vincenzo Palomba through a recommendation, and he helped them finish the project. “We researched all the materials and sourced them ourselves,” says Skinner, who had a clear vision for the space. “Then Vincenzo made it happen.”
Vittorio sofa in teal: Made
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Vittorio sofa in teal: Made
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The kitchen is a clever mix of industrial and Shaker styles. “I wanted an industrial feel in order to respect the building’s past,” Skinner says. “The light switches are raw pewter, for example, and the pendant lights are originals, sourced from a reclaimed-lighting specialist. I didn’t want to go too industrial, though, as we wanted to make it [homey] at the same time.”
So although the colors of the cabinets and concrete countertop lend an industrial feel to the space, the style is quite traditional “and almost farmhouse,” Skinner says, “which just helps to soften everything a little bit.”
Cabinetry: The Shaker Kitchen Co.; sink: deVOL; bar stools: eBay
So although the colors of the cabinets and concrete countertop lend an industrial feel to the space, the style is quite traditional “and almost farmhouse,” Skinner says, “which just helps to soften everything a little bit.”
Cabinetry: The Shaker Kitchen Co.; sink: deVOL; bar stools: eBay
The copper pipe faucets in the kitchen are a fun design statement, although Skinner would be more cautious about using such industrial fixtures again in the future.
“This particular style is very hard to open and close, so they’re not ideal for using every day,” she says.
“This particular style is very hard to open and close, so they’re not ideal for using every day,” she says.
The bookshelves in the living room are made of the same materials. “These are my favorite element of the project,” Palomba says.
The living, dining and kitchen space is wonderfully airy thanks to the high ceiling, exposed beams and a skylight carefully positioned above the dining table.
The large windows draw in plenty of natural light, and their steel frames, painted emerald green, are a beautiful feature in themselves. “They’re original Crittall and were already painted the deep green when we bought the flat,” Skinner says.
Steel-Framed Windows Leap Forward Into Modern Designs
The living, dining and kitchen space is wonderfully airy thanks to the high ceiling, exposed beams and a skylight carefully positioned above the dining table.
The large windows draw in plenty of natural light, and their steel frames, painted emerald green, are a beautiful feature in themselves. “They’re original Crittall and were already painted the deep green when we bought the flat,” Skinner says.
Steel-Framed Windows Leap Forward Into Modern Designs
She made sure to bring in some warmer, homier elements to help soften the industrial space.
In this corner, vintage French mustache chairs (named after the curve of the back) add a wonderfully cozy feel, and the books on the shelves behind introduce color and interest. Houseplants also bring life to the space.
Find rolled-arm leather chairs
In this corner, vintage French mustache chairs (named after the curve of the back) add a wonderfully cozy feel, and the books on the shelves behind introduce color and interest. Houseplants also bring life to the space.
Find rolled-arm leather chairs
The dining table is another of Skinner’s creations. She found the vintage legs on eBay and had the antiqued zinc top made to fit. “I really enjoyed the process of finding all the materials and putting the design together,” she says. “It took a lot of time, but I enjoyed scouring eBay and searching online for suppliers.”
Find industrial-style metal dining chairs
Find industrial-style metal dining chairs
In the bedroom, wooden furniture brings in a layer of warmth, while a green velvet sofa and painted radiators neatly echo the green window frames.
The closet doors add an industrial note. “[We] designed and built this wardrobe ourselves — I found someone who could make doors from antiqued zinc,” Skinner says.
Closet doors: James Gilbert and Son
Green Velvet Shines in These Enviable Rooms
The closet doors add an industrial note. “[We] designed and built this wardrobe ourselves — I found someone who could make doors from antiqued zinc,” Skinner says.
Closet doors: James Gilbert and Son
Green Velvet Shines in These Enviable Rooms
The bathroom is simply decorated with warm copper and brass fixtures, a frameless glass shower screen and encaustic floor tiles. The bathroom radiator was made on-site from copper piping. The walls are polished plaster.
Tiles: Bert & May; polished plaster: Novacolor; faucets: Chadder & Co.
Tiles: Bert & May; polished plaster: Novacolor; faucets: Chadder & Co.
“You feel proud when you put your mark on something,” Skinner says. “You get the taste for taking on big projects, though, which can be dangerous!”
So would she repeat the experience? “Absolutely!” she says. “I’m going to live here for a good couple of years yet, but when I do move, I’ll look for another project.”
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
So would she repeat the experience? “Absolutely!” she says. “I’m going to live here for a good couple of years yet, but when I do move, I’ll look for another project.”
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Lulu Skinner
Location: Shoreditch area of London
Size: 1,076 square feet (100 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
Designer: Vincenzo Palomba of HouseUP
“I bought the flat four years ago with my then-boyfriend and knew I wanted to totally renovate it,” Skinner says. “I just fell in love with it when I saw it because it had a lot of great original features that few loft spaces actually have.”
Although the structural elements were sound, the onetime warehouse’s interior design left a little to be desired. “The flat had been converted quickly and cheaply in the 1990s and had been done in a fairly bland fashion,” she says. “The designers hadn’t thought through the spatial design particularly well either, so there was loads of wasted space.”