Houzz Tour: Before and After Photos Show a Dingy Flat Transformed
A tired 1960s seaside flat became a bright, retro-meets-modern jewel thanks to a clever makeover
If you’ve ever found it hard to visualise how a dark, gloomy space can become a light, uplifting one, you could do worse than take a look at the before and after pictures of this chic Brighton flat. “The flat hadn’t been touched since the 1960s or 1970s,” says interior designer Sarah Rossiter of Pataross Projects, who was behind the property’s stylish makeover. “There was brown floral carpet, brown tiles… It was a total time warp – quite a change from now.”
BEFORE Brown velour sofas and busy carpet ruled the day, but it was clear this flat had pots of potential. See how this view has been transformed in the next photo.
AFTER The flat has plenty of natural light – something that wasn’t immediately obvious pre-revamp. The building was built in the mid-1960s, one of two purpose-built blocks on the site of an old Brighton hotel. Like many buildings from this era, it actually has quite large windows (certainly compared to a small Victorian terrace).
“The bay window with its incredible views has become the owners’ favourite area,” says Rossiter. “They have a comfortable chair [just seen] in the window and, at the end of the week, really enjoy sitting and looking out at the view with a glass of wine.”
Lappljung Ruta rug, Ikea. Sofas, both Tamarisk.
“The bay window with its incredible views has become the owners’ favourite area,” says Rossiter. “They have a comfortable chair [just seen] in the window and, at the end of the week, really enjoy sitting and looking out at the view with a glass of wine.”
Lappljung Ruta rug, Ikea. Sofas, both Tamarisk.
This flat was renovated in record time once Pataross Projects was brought on board. “The project had incredibly tight time restrictions due to a delay with the purchasing of the property,” explains Rossiter. “Our team had four weeks on site to complete it. We relished the challenge, though it was stressful at some points!”
The owners lived off-site while the work took place. “It’s a small flat, but sometimes we had 10 plus people working on site,” says Rossiter. “We were completing the final snagging items and installing the kitchen worktop as the clients moved back in.”
The owners lived off-site while the work took place. “It’s a small flat, but sometimes we had 10 plus people working on site,” says Rossiter. “We were completing the final snagging items and installing the kitchen worktop as the clients moved back in.”
BEFORE Textured wallpaper anyone? The kitchen was in urgent need of an update.
AFTER The kitchen is now open-plan, with a light, airy feel. Before any cosmetic changes were implemented in the flat, the main living space was knocked through. “We removed two load-bearing walls,” explains Rossiter. “Originally, there was a small lobby, which led to the kitchen on one side and the living room on the other.”
With the flat being on the top floor, there were one or two challenges. “We put in a large steel, which was far too heavy for the lift, so our incredible building team carried it up the stairs,” says Rossiter.
Bespoke Cage pendants, Chantelle Lighting.
With the flat being on the top floor, there were one or two challenges. “We put in a large steel, which was far too heavy for the lift, so our incredible building team carried it up the stairs,” says Rossiter.
Bespoke Cage pendants, Chantelle Lighting.
Having a breakfast bar separating an open-plan kitchen and living room may be an interiors staple, but that’s because it works. This flat is a case in point. “It makes the whole area sociable, rather than having one person stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is in the living room,” says Rossiter. “It’s a small flat, so by doing this we didn’t lose any valuable inches to walls.”
Rossiter used the same laminate flooring throughout to retain a sense of ‘flow’. “I often employ this technique to make the space continuous without the ‘jarring’ of a change of flooring,” she explains. “However, we added thick, white woollen rugs in the bedrooms for warmth and cosiness.”
For similar reasons, a simple, neutral palette of mainly “greys, white and black” was used throughout, warmed up with wood and industrial lighting, such as the stylish metal pendants in the kitchen area.
Laminate flooring, Quickstep.
Read expert advice on choosing the perfect kitchen flooring
Rossiter used the same laminate flooring throughout to retain a sense of ‘flow’. “I often employ this technique to make the space continuous without the ‘jarring’ of a change of flooring,” she explains. “However, we added thick, white woollen rugs in the bedrooms for warmth and cosiness.”
For similar reasons, a simple, neutral palette of mainly “greys, white and black” was used throughout, warmed up with wood and industrial lighting, such as the stylish metal pendants in the kitchen area.
Laminate flooring, Quickstep.
Read expert advice on choosing the perfect kitchen flooring
The chic, white kitchen units are German and have a pleasing functional quality. “The owners wanted a simple style. Budget was important, but they didn’t want to compromise on quality,” says Rossiter.
The pale worktop proves that often unfairly maligned laminate can look brilliant. “We hear from the owners that pretty much everyone is fooled into thinking it’s granite,” says Rossiter. “It has a contemporary square edge and stone-like texture.”
Rossiter also managed to make the most of an awkward space around the window, sneaking in a stylish spice rack of her own design. “I was happy that it ended up working so well,” she says.
The wall has been painted in a high-gloss, dark blue paint that’s easy to wipe down – and adds a delicious inky contrast to all the white. “There’s undercounter LED lighting, which creates a nice warm glow, too,” Rossiter adds.
Kitchen units, Schuller. Appliances, Neff. Wall painted in Thai Sapphire, Little Greene.
The pale worktop proves that often unfairly maligned laminate can look brilliant. “We hear from the owners that pretty much everyone is fooled into thinking it’s granite,” says Rossiter. “It has a contemporary square edge and stone-like texture.”
Rossiter also managed to make the most of an awkward space around the window, sneaking in a stylish spice rack of her own design. “I was happy that it ended up working so well,” she says.
The wall has been painted in a high-gloss, dark blue paint that’s easy to wipe down – and adds a delicious inky contrast to all the white. “There’s undercounter LED lighting, which creates a nice warm glow, too,” Rossiter adds.
Kitchen units, Schuller. Appliances, Neff. Wall painted in Thai Sapphire, Little Greene.
The flat is on the top floor, facing east, with beautiful views across Brighton’s roof tops – you can even see the Royal Pavilion. “As you walk into the flat, you also now get views of the sea, thanks to a glazed door at the end of the corridor,” says Rossiter.
There’s plenty of surrounding greenery to gaze at, too. The block is in a peaceful spot, within walled communal gardens. “It’s a lovely, quiet, leafy location, but still in the centre of town,” says Rossiter.
There’s plenty of surrounding greenery to gaze at, too. The block is in a peaceful spot, within walled communal gardens. “It’s a lovely, quiet, leafy location, but still in the centre of town,” says Rossiter.
The toilet is separate from the main bathroom. “We originally wanted to make the bathroom and toilet one space, but because of services that run through the building, we were unable to,” explains Rossiter. “So we didn’t really have a choice with the physical layout, only with the fixtures and fittings.”
A compact corner basin makes the most of a tight space. Using paint in contained areas can be an easy way to add interest to a small room like this – witness the glossy wall panel of navy paint (complete with picture light) and the grey door.
A compact corner basin makes the most of a tight space. Using paint in contained areas can be an easy way to add interest to a small room like this – witness the glossy wall panel of navy paint (complete with picture light) and the grey door.
BEFORE The bathroom as it looked prior to the renovation.
AFTER Patterned flooring adds personality to the bathroom. “We used concrete-look tiles. We wanted to do something quite bold, but in keeping with the monochrome colour scheme,” says Rossiter.
Of the bathroom’s overall design, she says, “I always like to hide pipework and have concealed shower valves – I think it creates a more streamlined look. This meant boxing out the shower end of the bath, which created a nice alcove for a back-lit mirror with a stone shelf underneath, adding more storage to the small space.”
The basin and taps were sourced online to save money. The vanity unit with deep drawers hides away toiletries to keep the space clutter-free.
Of the bathroom’s overall design, she says, “I always like to hide pipework and have concealed shower valves – I think it creates a more streamlined look. This meant boxing out the shower end of the bath, which created a nice alcove for a back-lit mirror with a stone shelf underneath, adding more storage to the small space.”
The basin and taps were sourced online to save money. The vanity unit with deep drawers hides away toiletries to keep the space clutter-free.
BEFORE The main bedroom felt cramped and dark.
AFTER The bedroom is now a clean-lined, airy haven, again with a focus on white. ‘"We tried to keep the design very simple and the colours calming,” says Rossiter. Grey woodwork features again to help ground the white and add some interest.
The padded headboard brings a hotel-luxe touch, as do the compact, wall-mounted lights, which are in just the right spots for late-night reading.
Want a five star bedroom? Read here
Want a five star bedroom? Read here
The built-in wardrobes were designed by Rossiter and built by a local cabinet-maker. They cleverly make the most of the available space without crowding the room.
“Storage was at an absolute premium in the flat, so although fitted cupboards like this can be quite an old-fashioned look, by making them handleless and spray-painting them in the same finish as the walls, we tried to keep it looking contemporary,” says Rossiter.
There are two drawers either side of the bed with built-in mirrors, which can be used as a dressing table and also help create the illusion of space.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: A Mandvi Home Blends in With its Location
Houzz Tour: This Rajkot Penthouse Exudes Opulence
Tell us:
What do you think of this flat’s transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
“Storage was at an absolute premium in the flat, so although fitted cupboards like this can be quite an old-fashioned look, by making them handleless and spray-painting them in the same finish as the walls, we tried to keep it looking contemporary,” says Rossiter.
There are two drawers either side of the bed with built-in mirrors, which can be used as a dressing table and also help create the illusion of space.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: A Mandvi Home Blends in With its Location
Houzz Tour: This Rajkot Penthouse Exudes Opulence
Tell us:
What do you think of this flat’s transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A young professional couple, who both commute to jobs in London three days a week and work from home two days a week
Location Central Brighton, East Sussex
Property A top-floor flat in a mid-1960s purpose-built block
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom (77 sq m in total)
Designer Interior designer Sarah Rossiter and project manager Ed Patey of Pataross Projects
Perhaps given the original state of this flat (see the next photo), the designer’s brief from the owners was no surprise. “To create a light and airy space,” says Sarah Rossiter. “They wanted a contemporary feel, with a nod to industrial style – exposed bulbs etcetera.
“They also wanted some midcentury elements with the furniture. It was great to have a blank slate to work with and a place with so much potential.”
Post-renovation, the flat still nods back to its heritage, thanks to some elegant vintage furniture – a Danish table and chair set from the 1940s, a cool traditional sideboard and retro-style touches.
However, it’s lost the drabness and busyness we sometimes conveniently forget about when hankering after the interiors of yesteryear.