Houzz Tour: A Bright City Apartment With a Warm Midcentury Feel
Mixing materials and maximising natural light gave this small space a harmonious feel along with plenty of personality
Working on this project proved to be the dream job for Jenna Choate-James and Mariana Ugarte, the duo behind boutique design studio Interior Fox. “So often people don’t know what they want, but this client had strong ties to Brazil and he also loved midcentury modern style,” Jenna says. “It was just so great to have that guidance and a theme to dive into.”
In order to keep costs down, Jenna and Mariana retained the existing gloss-white kitchen. It was important to ensure the shiny cabinets worked with the midcentury look of the rest of the flat. “So we introduced the terrazzo, which chimes with that era, and the matt black tap and plug socket,” Jenna says.
The white units work to reflect light back into the room, and also sit back from the space, allowing the furniture to take centre stage.
Tap, Wayfair. Resin marble based terrazzo, Love Terrazzo.
The white units work to reflect light back into the room, and also sit back from the space, allowing the furniture to take centre stage.
Tap, Wayfair. Resin marble based terrazzo, Love Terrazzo.
As a backdrop to all the curved pieces, the team chose slatted wall panelling with clean vertical lines. The warm oak tones complement the midcentury feel, but also have soundproofing benefits. “It’s an open-plan flat in a complex where there are lots of other apartments, so it’s a great way to absorb sound,” Jenna says.
Acupanel acoustic wall panels, The Wood Veneer Hub. Dining chairs, Cult Furniture.
Inspired to revamp your place? Find reviewed interior designers in your area and see photos of their previous projects.
Acupanel acoustic wall panels, The Wood Veneer Hub. Dining chairs, Cult Furniture.
Inspired to revamp your place? Find reviewed interior designers in your area and see photos of their previous projects.
One of Jenna’s favourite pieces is the midcentury-style dining table. “It’s beautiful and has a black marble top, which is the right material for this space – it makes the dining area still feel part of the kitchen,” she says.
As well as uniting the space, Jenna feels the table adds balance. “It’s a counterweight – there’s already so much wood and also the white shiny effect, so the black is a solid placeholder. A delicate antique piece would have felt wrong.”
Kamsar Acacia and Marble dining table, Perch & Parrow.
As well as uniting the space, Jenna feels the table adds balance. “It’s a counterweight – there’s already so much wood and also the white shiny effect, so the black is a solid placeholder. A delicate antique piece would have felt wrong.”
Kamsar Acacia and Marble dining table, Perch & Parrow.
As the project progressed, the owner had so much faith in the designers that he let them choose all the crockery and cooking items, too. “The chopping board and utensils – that was all us,” Jenna says.
They also used the multi-coloured stone flecks in the terrazzo to their advantage. “We tied in the tones in the rest of the space with the terrazzo – it’s bold, but it still feels light and fun, even though it’s quite dramatic.”
They also used the multi-coloured stone flecks in the terrazzo to their advantage. “We tied in the tones in the rest of the space with the terrazzo – it’s bold, but it still feels light and fun, even though it’s quite dramatic.”
The living room is in the same open-plan space as the kitchen and dining area. “It was important to create individual zones with furniture, so the space felt bigger and had definition,” Jenna says. “We placed the dining table next to the kitchen so it flows, and the soft seating next to the balcony window.”
The team chose white engineered oak flooring with a whitewash effect to act as the perfect foil for the rest of the wood tones. They also painted the ceiling and walls in a standard white trade paint.
“It might sound boring, but it’s fresh and bright,” Jenna says. “And when the ceiling, walls and skirting board are all the same colour, it just creates a dome of space, almost like an optical illusion, as your eye doesn’t come to a stop.”
Walls painted in White, Dulux Trade.
The team chose white engineered oak flooring with a whitewash effect to act as the perfect foil for the rest of the wood tones. They also painted the ceiling and walls in a standard white trade paint.
“It might sound boring, but it’s fresh and bright,” Jenna says. “And when the ceiling, walls and skirting board are all the same colour, it just creates a dome of space, almost like an optical illusion, as your eye doesn’t come to a stop.”
Walls painted in White, Dulux Trade.
The pendant lights are handmade from sugar cane; along with the rug and curtains, they add texture to the scheme.
They also echo the sculptural outlines that can be seen throughout, from the black wall lights to the stool, which was added at the last minute to create extra seating.
Black stool, La Redoute.
They also echo the sculptural outlines that can be seen throughout, from the black wall lights to the stool, which was added at the last minute to create extra seating.
Black stool, La Redoute.
The cosy sofa sits next to the balcony door, so the owner can enjoy the view. “He loves the sofa. It looks like this cloud that you can just flop onto, but it has a clean, modern shape,” Jenna says. “It works, as it’s reminiscent of another time, but also very current.”
Mags Soft corner sofa, Hay. Wall light, Swivel UK.
Mags Soft corner sofa, Hay. Wall light, Swivel UK.
For continuity in the bedroom, the team chose the same wall panelling as in the rest of the apartment, but hung it horizontally to make the room feel wider. They topped it with a black metal picture ledge, so the owner can rotate artworks.
“One little detail that adds warmth to the space are the bedside table tops – they’re pink marble,” Jenna says. “And there are a lot of square edges, so it’s nice to have a round shape in there, too.”
Picture ledge, Etsy. Artwork, wallofart.se. Talbingo bedside tables, La Redoute.
“One little detail that adds warmth to the space are the bedside table tops – they’re pink marble,” Jenna says. “And there are a lot of square edges, so it’s nice to have a round shape in there, too.”
Picture ledge, Etsy. Artwork, wallofart.se. Talbingo bedside tables, La Redoute.
“We didn’t want to do the full wall in panelling – we wanted the light to dance around and give it breathing space – and we used lots of white and neutrals to allow all the other pieces to be saturated,” Jenna says. “We played up that natural light with the headboard, curtains, bedding and walls.”
Adding in black elements, such as the bedside lights, also worked to balance the scheme and tone it down. “Black can be harsh, but when there are so many other colours in play, it definitely acts as a place to take a breath,” Jenna says.
Bed, Love Your Home. Crossweave blackout curtains; ceiling light, both West Elm. Rug, Floor Story. Peak wall lights, Lighting Direct. Green linen cushions; indigo lumbar cushion, all Etsy.
You might also enjoy 28 Stylish Ideas for Bedside Lights.
Adding in black elements, such as the bedside lights, also worked to balance the scheme and tone it down. “Black can be harsh, but when there are so many other colours in play, it definitely acts as a place to take a breath,” Jenna says.
Bed, Love Your Home. Crossweave blackout curtains; ceiling light, both West Elm. Rug, Floor Story. Peak wall lights, Lighting Direct. Green linen cushions; indigo lumbar cushion, all Etsy.
You might also enjoy 28 Stylish Ideas for Bedside Lights.
A small return in the bedroom created a perfect wardrobe and dressing area. As well as being practical, an arched mirror opens up the space. The team also rearranged the owner’s pictures. “Previously, his artwork was scattered all over the place, but the way we rehung it gave it new life,” Jenna says.
Arles arched wall mirror, Made.
Arles arched wall mirror, Made.
The bedroom turned out to be the owner’s favourite part of the finished project, partly because, for him, it was the biggest transformation. “Before, it was grey, worn and unloved – it was more like a leftover space – so he was ecstatic with the way it turned out,” Jenna says. “He hadn’t really thought about it being bold and impactful.”
For Jenna, the whole experience was so positive, it’s hard for her to pick a part she likes most. “We loved this project,” she says. “The owner listened to everything we said and let us pick out every detail.”
Chest of drawers; table lamp, both West Elm. Circular mirror, Made In Design.
Tell us…
What do you like about this city flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
For Jenna, the whole experience was so positive, it’s hard for her to pick a part she likes most. “We loved this project,” she says. “The owner listened to everything we said and let us pick out every detail.”
Chest of drawers; table lamp, both West Elm. Circular mirror, Made In Design.
Tell us…
What do you like about this city flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A young male professional
Location Shoreditch, east London
Property A flat in an apartment block
Size One bedroom and one bathroom
Designers Jenna Choate-James and Mariana Ugarte of Interior Fox
Although it spans just 50 sq m in total, this city flat benefits from plenty of natural light, so the team at Interior Fox set about making the most of this asset with reflective surfaces and bright white walls.
To add depth to the small entry hall, they positioned a grid-effect mirror opposite a window, which immediately made the area feel more spacious.
Mirror, Perch & Parrow. Console unit, Tikamoon.