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Case study

Bright Inviting Home

Location - interior design, London, notting hill

Based in Notting Hill within a luxury apartment building that dates back to the 1860’s, this property already had great architectural bones. The natural light, vast space and high ceilings were all amazing features to work with but the space was definitely in need of a refresh to suit its new owner!

Topology was asked to update the apartment to make it a bright and inviting home, which reflected the client’s positive and colourful personality. Our client Isabelle was keen to get our help in creating a space that provides the ideal hosting space, as well as a place where she could unwind.

We project-managed the whole design from concept to completion – you can read all about the process and design decisions below.

The Project

The budget for this project came to approximately £85k. This included… 

  • Traditional panelling in the open-plan area & hallway 
  • A kitchen refresh including cabinet re-spraying, new splash-back & tap
  • Bespoke arched joinery in the living room, complete with an electric fireplace and faux chimney wall
  • Bespoke bar unit in the kitchen/dining area
  • Bespoke joinery in the office and hallway, creating a 3 door coat and shoe cupboard
  • New flooring, furniture & paint throughout all 6 rooms 

 

It’s no surprise that the kitchen really does the talking in this space, and we were really keen to make it a focal point. We had to think creatively here to ensure we stayed within budget. Keeping the existing kitchen cabinets, which were in good condition, and simply updating them with a new re-sprayed colour, tap & splash-back, gave a whole new look and feel to the room. It felt fully rejuvenated. We also added an additional bar unit on the left-hand side to extend the kitchen storage and again, add a real show-stopping element to the space.

 

 

In the large open-plan living & dining area, we included multiple bespoke joinery elements to make use of the huge amount of space available whilst also providing storage. In keeping with the traditional style of the building, we opted for tall wainscoting style panelling throughout. And further, to create a focal point in the room to plan the furniture layout around, we designed a faux chimney breast wall including an electric fireplace centred between two striking arched cabinets, complete with open shelving. This really helped make the room feel more cosy since it was such an open and vast space before. 

 

 

In the hallway, we continued the colourways from the living room to ensure the space flowed and included half-height panelling to add design detail to this area. A bespoke canvas artwork adds a pop of colour and interest, positioned under a picture light for added impact. One of the more costly elements of the design was the addition of the hallway cupboard. We took unused space from inside the office to create a space to hang coats and place shoes as you enter the property. Although a simple design idea, it required a structural report and sign-off from the building to be able to proceed and was actually one of the hardest features to implement.

Lastly, in the bedroom, we wanted to provide a calm and comforting space for the client to relax in. The room already had wall-to-wall storage, so we thought it best to simply update this with a lick of paint and new brass handles for a refresh that didn’t break the budget. The Soho Home bed was the star of the show, complete with a fabric detachable headboard and soft linen bedsheets.

 

Our lovely client Isabelle had actually worked with Topology on her previous home, via our e-design service. We were pleased to hear she wanted to work with us again on the full renovation of her new home using our on-site services. Not only were we already very clued up on her style, but we had an existing rapport which is always an amazing way to start the design process!

 

We met with Isabelle on-site and she briefed us on her wish list for her new home. This included making use of the space, adding more storage, more colour and ensuring the design is in keeping with the style of the traditional building.

The Design Stages

After the site visit and formalities are complete with the client, we always undergo a series of ‘design stages’. This makes the process collaborative and fun, allowing the client to ‘sign off’ decisions along the way. First up we started with a layout for each room, which was tweaked until Isabelle was happy. 

We then put our design ideas down for each room into what we call a ‘design concept’. This includes the suggested colour scheme, metals and woods, as well as the key furniture and lighting pieces.

Once the concept is approved we final the design with ‘visuals’ to help the clients see the space as a whole. Once signed off, we start planning the renovation works and general project management. 

Renovation Development

Once the designs were signed off, we locked in all trades to begin work managing all appointments and quote sourcing beforehand. Once sorted, we move onto general project management such as placing orders for all of the products which get sent to our warehouse team.

 

It’s here we have internal spreadsheets and complex logistical processes to ensure items are arriving on time, undamaged and as expected etc. Our warehouse team will notify us if anything is not as it seems and we’ll work behind the scenes to chase orders, organise returns and make sure everything is stored safely until it’s ready to be installed by the lead designer on this project.

 

As this occurs, work typically begins on site and demolition & renovation begins! Through the construction process, we’ll make regular visits (usually 1 or 2 every fortnight) to ensure things are being completed to a good standard and as we have planned through the design process.

Once the trades are finished with their work and the Topology team are happy with everything, we prepare for an ‘install day’. This includes a delivery of all of the products ordered to our warehouse, electricians fitting new lighting, hanging specialists putting up curtains, artwork, mirrors etc, handymen building and Topology managing the full process, ensuring everything is in line with the agreed plans. Install days are always a little hectic and sometimes things don’t go to plan which are out of our control, but it’s the most exciting part of our job – watching our designs come to life – as well as seeing the reaction from our clients when their new space is revealed! 

Isabelle
Isabelle

Every part of the process was seamless. I loved working with Topology, they were super friendly and really understood the look I was going for. She asked all of the right questions, and I was so pleased with the result! The design was so much better than I could have ever imaged, and came in on budget 🙂 They have an amazing team that are super attentive to details and go the extra mile. I highly recommend this service and would definitely use again!
See Isabelle’s full interview here.

If you’re interested in Topology’s on-site service, please do get in touch! For on-site services like this, we typically have a waiting list of around 1-3 months, and for e-design it’s usually quicker, around 1-2 weeks.