Project Highgate: Transforming a Victorian apartment into an elegant first home
Every home has a story. This one began with a first-time buyer, a beautiful but slightly awkward Victorian top-floor apartment in Highgate, North London, and a very clear feeling of I know what I want - I just don't know how to get there.
She came to me with a sofa, a TV, a chunky coffee table, and plenty of ideas. What she needed was someone to pull it all together into a home she could genuinely be proud of - something that felt considered, elegant, and entirely her own.
The Brief
The apartment had real character - high ceilings, period details, and the kind of quirky proportions that Victorian conversions often come with. But the open-plan living and kitchen area wasn't working. It felt smaller than it was, the existing furniture was fighting the space rather than complementing it, and the overall effect was more temporary than home.
The brief was to transform it into something cohesive and elegant - maximising the sense of space, reflecting her personal taste, and sourcing every piece to work as part of a considered whole.
The Approach
The first priority was the layout and the furniture that was already in place. The existing coffee table - large, heavy, and visually dominating - was working against the room. In a smaller open-plan space, oversized occasional furniture creates visual clutter and interrupts flow. We replaced it with a sleek glass alternative, which immediately opened up the room, allowed the eye to travel further, and made the seating area feel more proportionate.
The second key move was the introduction of a large brass leaning mirror positioned directly opposite the main entrance. This is one of the most effective techniques in a compact space - a well-placed mirror draws light into the room, creates the impression of depth, and adds a considered decorative element that also does practical work. The brass finish tied into the warm tones we were building throughout the scheme.
From there, every remaining piece - furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles - was sourced specifically for this apartment and for this client. Nothing was pulled from a generic shortlist. Each selection was made with her taste, the proportions of the space, and the overall aesthetic direction in mind.
The Result
What had felt like a slightly awkward starting point became a genuinely elegant home — one that used every inch of the space thoughtfully, reflected the client's personality, and had the kind of coherence that's very difficult to achieve without a considered plan behind it.
For a first home, the brief was everything: create somewhere she could be proud of, that felt like her, and that would stand the test of time beyond the initial excitement of moving in. That's exactly what we delivered.
Key Design Decisions at a Glance
We replaced oversized coffee table with a glass alternative to open up the space and improve flow.
Introduced a large brass leaning mirror opposite the entrance to maximise light and add depth.
Full furniture and accessories sourcing in line with client's personal aesthetic and the proportions of the room.
Cohesive scheme developed across the open-plan living and kitchen area.
