We were asked by our client to transform their one-of-a-kind, two-story penthouse apartment located at the prestigious St James development, White City Living.
The Brief
Located on the 20th floor, the penthouse features impressive architectural elements, including five-metre-high ceilings, a sweeping exposed staircase, and views across London and beyond.
Our brief was to achieve a chic, tonal interior, reminiscent of the style and comfort of a luxury hotel, favouring clean lines and sleek finishes.
Based in Hong Kong, with children in education in London, our client was looking for a London ‘home-from-home'. They wanted the interiors to be welcoming, contemporary, and simplistic in design with no fussy details. Understated luxury was essential to them.
The client requested we applied moulded frame panelling to the walls embellished with Italian-designed lighting to illuminate the curated layers of indulgent textures and finishes. They were keen to make an impact with their interiors to complement the unique designs of the penthouse, so bespoke items were important.
The Final Design
We created a chic interior with an understated colour palette rich in luxurious marble and brass finishes. The penthouse was specially adapted for the client by the developer and therefore completely unique. With the stunning architectural design features of its wraparound glazing, sweeping exposed staircase and double-height ceilings on the 20th floor, it offers dramatic changing lighting throughout the day as well as impressive 360 views across London and beyond.
To accentuate these design features, we incorporated a mix of angular and linear pieces, broken up with soft curves to create interest and comfort within our client’s home from home.
The Hallway
We created a welcoming and luxurious hallway to greet our client. They specifically requested beaded panelling to add that ‘English heritage’ look and provide a homely atmosphere. The bespoke floor features smoked, brown oak with brush brass inlays, which was specified by the client and supplied by the developer.
We added handmade translucent porcelain 24ct gold wall décor, a gold embellished oil painting, and a statement sleek linear black wall lighting sourced from Italy to captivate and allow for a subtle introduction of what’s to come.
The Living Room
In the living room the statement ceiling light, manufactured in London by Cameron Design House, is a piece of art in itself and a strong focal point. The architectural angles of the three floating hexagons finished in brushed brass, echo within the furniture in the living area below. It is a custom-designed piece with considered proportions that elegantly fill the ample double-height ceiling space.
The bespoke designed coffee table finished in White Carrara marble and brushed brass coordinates perfectly with the dining table for a cohesive aesthetic that flows through the apartment. The hexagonal side table echoes the hexagons of the ceiling pendant above.
The wall panelling continues, adding to the classic English look and contrasts beautifully against the floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary finishes.
In addition, we designed a bespoke unit to subtly house a television and display some of the family’s favourite items. The inset mirrored back panels of the joinery capture the spectacular city views within their reflection.
The entire room encompasses the feeling of a chic hotel lobby but with the intricate, soft detailing of a family home.
The Dining Room
The light and space in this room lent itself perfectly to a space for entertaining. We added a linear blade brass lighting pendant to illuminate the marble table from above. The horizontal lines of the pendants run parallel to the long dining table and elongate the length of the room creating a feeling of opulence and grandeur.
The table’s design continued the use of angular lines across the penthouse, and we softened this with curved dining chairs in plush grey velvet.
The boldness of the dark woods, deep velvets, and brass detailing pair beautifully with the neutral panelled walls and large circular mirror, further speaking to the mix of high-end luxe and family home.
Master Bedroom
In the master suite, we wanted to create a calm and serene environment, tapping into our atmospheric inspiration whilst harnessing the hotel luxury.
The suspended spherical bedside pendant lighting adds a unique trend piece to the room. The bedside tables, finished in white lacquer and washed oak, sit neatly alongside the bespoke fluted headboard and are the perfect place to display accessories. We also continued the panelled beading as per the client’s request.
Bedroom One
In bedroom one, and continued through all the bedrooms, we designed a bespoke headboard finished in walnut and softened with a central upholstered panel. In the adjoining lounge, we added a sofa bed in neutral fabric and complemented it with a ceramic and brass coffee table. We also added a wenge wood desk and a tan leather office chair to create a versatile home office space.
The client wanted to keep the bedrooms minimalistic and similar in styling with no fussy details, so this symmetry in the headboards was a great way to keep a nod to the hotel look by using accessories and soft furnishings to create subtle differentiation.
Bedroom Two
Being a small bedroom, we chose to style this room with two feature bedside tables with brushed brass fronts and marble column table lamps. The bespoke backlit walnut headboard features a centred fluted grey panel. The walls are wrapped in a fine woven linen textured wallpaper which adds that ultimate level of comfort and class.
Bedroom Three
In bedroom three we used textured wallpaper to create a warm and welcoming space. We finished the look with elegant table lamps made from crystal glass and brass.
In the living area, the striking black marble and brass based coffee table contrasts with the homely atmosphere, adding that all-important touch of contemporary luxury.
Bedroom Four
In bedroom four, grey leather bedside tables added an element of interest and texture. The hexagonal table lamps finished off the look.
With the light streaming in, the corner of the room also called to be a quiet reading area overlooking London’s skyline. The occasional chair upholstered in a mushroom velvet sits next to a marble and brass side table, adorned with books the family might enjoy.
We believe people and how they live are at the core of interior design. Only by understanding how people live, their passions, and their inspirations can we create the perfect home or space.
To see more of our private residence projects, visit our Projects page or follow us on Instagram @vestainteriordesign.