Chesterton Road

Showcasing the beauty of reclamation in contemporary design, this one-bedroom duplex apartment is a harmonious trove of vintage pieces and bespoke finishes.

Thanks to the innovative vision of interior designer Tasha Freeman, this one-bedroom duplex apartment has been entirely reimagined to mesmerising effect. Expect open-plan spaces infused with natural light and a timeless aesthetic drawn with one-of-a-kind joinery, refined materials and vintage furnishings.

In keeping with the rest of leafy Chesterton Road, the heritage façade features a portico entrance with ornate columns. Across the apartment’s two floors however, things take a more eccentric turn. Once housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, reclaimed glass-fronted double doors open into the living room. Sunlight pours in through a pair of original sash windows, softly illuminating the pale walls and floors. There’s neatly integrated panelled storage to one side and a cosy brick fireplace to the other, with a Zellige tile surround.

A sliding pocket door reveals the kitchen and dining room, which is bathed in natural light through a bespoke glazed partition wall and large sash window. Pared-back walls and floors let the bold cabinetry take centre stage; the Paint & Paper green-coloured doors have a striking corrugated effect, while the worktops are constructed of reclaimed Iroko wood with a beautiful time-worn patina. A large range oven and Smeg fridge cater for all manner of culinary invention, and when the night draws in, the BTC and midcentury wall lighting provide a warm glow. The first of the two private terraces is accessed from the second-floor stairwell. A set of steps leads through a green-painted door out to the decked al fresco setting, with integrated bench seating that’s tailor-made for warm weather entertaining.

Introduced by a Victorian-style handrail and bannister, the third floor maintains the balanced interior style of the home’s social heart. A panelled door leads into the spacious bedroom suite, which has a thoroughly tranquil feel courtesy of its pale tones and minimalist finishes. A trio of bespoke Crittall doors frame views of a lush green living wall that runs along the length of the second private terrace. A navy-toned pocket door slides open to the bathroom, laid with teal Zellige tiles in a herringbone pattern. A glass-framed walk-in shower is complete with gilded hardware, while the bathtub has been crafted with restored Iroko wood. Above the dual sink, two handcrafted mirrors conceal additional storage.