Almost a complete overhaul

One recently-completed project which has been very close to my heart is an apartment I worked on the design for at a 1930’s art-deco style house in Saltdean, Sussex.

My clients, Tim and Barry, had originally been letting it out whilst living and working elsewhere but had made the decision to move back to the coast. It was clear that the apartment was going to need almost a complete overhaul if they were going to be living there permanently. This is where I came in…

Original design features

Although it was to be a fairly significant remodelling project, there were still a few original design features which we wanted to keep. The sitting room’s gorgeous 1930s fireplace was a natural focal point and the porthole window from the sitting room into the hall was a fun feature we didn’t want to lose. And with the heating being part of a larger, combined system with the entire block, there was pipework which couldn’t be moved and that we would have to work around.

Good Steer

After we had determined which original features would remain, the rest of the apartment was largely a blank canvas. Tim and Barry had plenty of ideas of their own to give me a good steer in terms of the direction of their taste and overall design. A few years previously, they had spent a weekend doing an interior design ‘taster’ course in West London, where they learned how to do mood boards and build up a design palette.

During our first meeting, we discussed colours over a socially-distanced lunch and knew immediately that we would work well together. They already had some lovely furniture and a beautiful collection of wonderful artwork which we knew would look great on gallery walls. Tim’s favourite is the one above the fireplace, which he had bought back in 2007.

Eclectic collection

One of the stand-out pieces in the sitting room was the hand-dyed and woven rug by Ptolemy Mann whose bright colours blended beautifully with the bamboo flooring and Tim and Barry’s eclectic collection of vintage furniture and colourful art. Their antique lounger chair was reupholstered in a stripe that worked perfectly with the vibrant green and pink in the eye-catching rug. The internal crittal doors into the hall also served the dual purpose of keeping the apartment light, whilst also being a perfect fit with the deco style throughout. The vintage dining set and open shelving show off Tim and Barry’s art and Objet Trouvé collections.

Small but perfectly formed space

The bathroom was a small but perfectly formed space, where we replaced the bath with a walk-in shower and designed built-in storage in a mirrored cabinet made by my local company Birt Williams Bespoke Joinery above the statement vanity basin, whilst also managing to completely hide the washing machine and dryer. We incorporated some glass bricks left over from one of Tim’s previous projects, which we used above the bathroom door to help spread the light.

Back in time

For the kitchen, we created a statement space. We went back in time and used Formica, which again was just right for the 1930s art deco style of the building. We opted for a neutral pallet of grey and brown on the walls and units to compliment the bright orange splashbacks. Tim and Barry particularly loved the Caesarstone countertop.

Bringing boldness into the bedroom

We continued the orange into the bedroom along with the neutral backdrops creating a calm space. The orange, lime green and violet on the map of London are echoed in the soft furnishings.

Maximising the light

We used white wooden Venetian blinds throughout the apartment, again to maximise the use of light, which is so important when space is limited.

Intriguing and delightful

All in all, this was a project I was very pleased with. It was an intriguing and delightful blend of modern and deco, with lots of personal flourishes to make it the perfect home for a couple with clearly defined tastes.

So, if this has inspired you and you would like a hand in creating your dream home give me a call on 07773 372 158 or send me an email via nicky@nickypercival.co.uk

I look forward to hearing from you.

Nicky

For full project design and brief click here

For your notebook

Fabric for refurbished lounger https://www.romo.com/

Lights, sofa and beds https://www.heals.com/

Purple chairs in the sitting room https://www.ariashop.co.uk/

Bamboo floor https://www.bambooflooringcompany.com/

Dining table is vintage https://www.ercol.com/en-gb

Internal glazed doors https://www.crittall-windows.com/

Bathroom wall tiles https://grestec.co.uk/

Terrazzo floor tiles https://boutiquestone.co.uk/