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102 Harwood Road has been transformed from a tired one-bed flat with confined rooms into a spacious two-bedroom home.
The project was the vision of MyEdge2.com’s Head Designer, Julian Prieto, with the aim of creating an interior that works for busy professionals or young families.
Working to a strict budget of circa £70,000, he knew he would have to work smart to bring his ambitious concept to life and keep costs down. There was no margin for error.
Aiming to deliver as much living space as possible, Julian extended into the side return significantly increasing the apartment’s floorplan thus becoming a two-bedroom flat when previously it was a one-bed. This significantly added to the property’s value, both improving its liveability and leaving plenty of outdoor space.
Commenting on his aims, Julian says: “The number one objective was to create a versatile and comfortable home which would appeal to a wide audience of potential buyers.”
Julian’s concept achieves a refreshing multi-functionality as the layout has been specifically designed to cater for flat sharers, couples, singletons and families alike. With a sizeable living room, two bathrooms and separate kitchen-diner, where eight can comfortably eat, there is plenty of room to manoeuvre so residents can co-habit harmoniously without living on top of each other.
Space to live
102 Harwood Road underwent a complete structural overhaul to convert it from a single-bedroom, single-bathroom flat to a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home.
The original floorplan had a significant amount of wasted space, including a poky entrance lobby which inconveniently compartmentalised the property and a large, unutilised side return. The overall layout was old-fashioned. For example, the bathroom directly connected to the kitchen with no direct access from the bedroom – it was un-ergonomic.
Julian’s vision was to create a space with better flow. First he flipped the bedroom and living room, making the latter the central point of the property, the first thing people would see as they entered.
Achieving this ambitious aim required re-engineering the property’s superstructure, to maintain its integrity. This meant reinforcing the retaining walls with steel beams and girders. These were subsequently painted an attractive navy blue to become interesting design features which complement the overall interior scheme.
Structural transformation
The most complex part of the build concerned the development of the side return to incorporate the planned extension which would include a kitchen diner, guest bedroom/study and a second bathroom.
For this, MyEdge2.com needed to dig deep foundations to find ‘good soil’ in order to meet building regulations. In this case, the foundations ended up being 4ft deep, using a boom pump to fill-in using 7 metric tons of concrete. Furthermore, a substantial amount of excavation was required to remove existing plantwork, replacing all existing pipes and moving a manhole to create a stable foundation for the structure.
Working in a relatively confined space is a challenge so accuracy was imperative. Any errors, however slight, would have incurred major costs and created significant delays to the project.
As Julian explains: “Structural works are the single most important part of a period conversion. These processes allow us to achieve robust, resilient and comfortable spaces. It is only when this structural work is completed that we can visualise the feel of the space despite detailed planning in advance. Feel is as important as detailed drawings and plans.”
Finer details
The decor of the original interior was tired and dated, not in keeping with Julian’s vision for a modish, urban aesthetic.
Inspired by the growing trend for Japanese minimalism, complemented with a cosy sensibility, Julian incorporated design details which add playful points of visual interest such as bold artwork and statement lighting.
Through shrewd selection of furniture and decoration, using multiple suppliers and shopping around for the best deals, Julian was able to keep costs down without compromising on quality.
One highlight is a re-imagined period fireplace in which coloured tiles have been cleverly tessellated in the alcove to create a three-dimensional trompe l’oeil of geometric shapes.
In the second bedroom/study, the decision to keep one wall exposed nods to the building’s heritage while providing a point of contrast to the room’s simple decoration.
As Julian points out: “Imperfections are what make something beautiful; maintaining the original wall and turning it into a feature is one of the favourite aspects of my work.”
He also gave each bathroom its own individual character. One is tiled in gleaming, Carrara marble-effect tiles with clean lines a-plenty and sparkling chrome fittings: a cool, calming sanctuary.
The other was designed with a more meditative mood in mind, a space for relaxation and reflection. As such a textured stone tile wall was specified to surround the bath with white used elsewhere to emphasise this feature. The bathtub, at 1800 x 800mm, the largest commercially available, ensured the space would be enjoyed to the full, perfect for long, luxurious baths.
Careful thought went into kitchen fittings. Julian wanted the property to be the ideal place to entertain and this meant specifying a handful of premium brands. Particularly a five-ring Bosch precision gas hob and Hotpoint hood would prove the perfect tools for the consummate home cook and impress guests.
Commenting on his motivation, Julian says: “With the amount of money you pay for a flat in London, at the very least, you need a great kitchen in which to entertain and live around.”
Other appliances, neatly disguised behind cabinet doors were chosen to be functional, not showpieces, another simple way in which Julian kept within budget.
Urban garden
When developing the property, Julian wanted to re-imagine the garden in line with the development of the side return. Removing an existing outdoor store and ripping out an embanked flowerbed, he made up for a portion of outdoor space lost to the extension.
Delivering an area as much a place for socialising as the other living areas of the house, he repaved the ground with Inside Out concrete-effect slabs. Further decorating the garden with potted trees and plants and attractive outdoor furniture. By using the same tiles in the kitchen/diner area, Julian created a rapturous sense of continuity, increasing the overall sense of spaciousness in the property.
It’s a low maintenance outdoor space which can be easily themed to suit evolving tastes and trends.
With focus on the outdoor space, Julian says: “I love doing urban gardens. Like everything else we do in MyEdge2.com Properties, they need to be adaptable and low maintenance. Even when the weather is bad it should still be a lovely space to look at, and when the weather improves it becomes your favourite area of the house.”
Use of natural light
MyEdge2.com was keen to ensure as much natural light as possible throughout the flat. Having built into the side return, there was a risk the central living room would be denied light, not an ideal situation for the flat’s central communal area. Julian developed a solution, creating a light well which, when combined with a set of French windows, allows plenty of daylight to flood in, keeping the room bright and airy.
Floor-to-ceiling windows at the rear of the property, strategic use of skylights and a large bay window in the master bedroom, at the front of the property, ensure the whole property receives plenty of natural light.
Soundproofing
Harwood Road is a busy thoroughfare, bridging New King’s Road and Fulham Broadway. With a number of bus routes running through and regular traffic, minimising the noise pollution at the front of the property was essential as this is where the master bedroom is located.
Using a combination of acoustic shutters and fencing, MyEdge2.com significantly reduced the impact of noise on the property. Standing in the master bedroom, you would never imagine you were facing a bustling main road.
As Julian, who also owns the property with his partner Shawn Rea, explains: “We all live fast-paced, busy lives, so I want my properties to be like urban oases. Shutting out the noise of the city and neighbours is a big part of it. I never compromise on this when we do a project.”
In conclusion, he adds: “Full period transformations, like 102 Harwood Road, are the reason I do what I do; I get great pleasure from reimagining spaces, working out solutions to deliver homes which are simple, versatile and, above all, comfortable. This, to me, is quintessentially ‘British’ living and I love it.”
