Soul was definitely the missing ingredient in this vast and airy new-build apartment at the heart of London’s Hampstead.
When the owners bought the property, they were greeted with an open-plan, all-white house design. Wishing to give it a smart glow-up, they engaged interior design studio Carden Cunietti to reimagine it as a warm, layered, and intelligently zoned pied-à-terre.
‘Their brief was, “Can you make sense of this so that the areas are more defined and we feel comfortable?”’ explains co-founder Audrey Carden.
She embraced the challenge with gusto, masterminding zones that speak to each other and taking inspiration from the area’s Arts and Crafts legacy, as well as nearby Hampstead Heath, by weaving in green accents, wooden paneling, and natural textures that root the design in its setting.
Audrey’s reimagined scheme packs a punch as soon as you enter the atmospheric hall. ‘My idea was to create a sense of arrival,’ she explains.
So stark white walls gave way to bespoke chocolate-hued sycamore paneling that evokes a warm and cocooning space.
‘We discovered that the client adores texture more than color or anything else – she loves bouclés, wools, and tapestries, and also wooden paneling. It’s so great to have a client who buys into beautiful paneling. I knew this needed a touch of Arts and Crafts, which is why I wanted to incorporate a frieze running above the paneling, and we showcased an embroidered Liberty fabric. The client loves the warm colors – it’s a slight nod to art nouveau, Arts and Crafts, and Japanese style, with a contemporary twist.’
An eye-catching artwork by Harland Miller makes a statement, while a clean-lined, caramel-toned sofa lends a New York apartment vibe.
Audrey reconfigured the rest of the apartment, introducing walls to segment the vast footprint and create more intimate, functional spaces.
The airy aura of the open-plan sitting and dining area contrasts with the cosseting library-like snug next door, where dyed burr poplar paneled walls and ceiling form a warm backdrop to bold artwork.
‘We wanted to heighten the color in here,’ says Audrey of the emerald green velvet chairs and stack rug, which dial up that all-important texture, along with the retro undertones of the fringed ottoman.
In the living room, curved cornicing was used to soften and frame the ceiling, with warm white walls enhancing the cozy ambiance.
Textural wood and woven leather panels grace the walls, while a tri-circular bronze coffee table, rounded wool sofas, and curved graphic tweed swivel chairs infuse further tactility.
‘We chose a black and white tweed for a bit of a pop,’ explains Audrey. An abstract geometric rug, meanwhile, brings retro hints and a burst of rich color underfoot.
The space eases gently into the dining area, which continues the emphasis on form and texture with green bouclé dining chairs that ‘reminded the client of a Vivienne Westwood corset’, according to Audrey.
An alluring screen, hand-crafted by artisans in Bosnia and Herzegovina, helps zone the space while still allowing daylight to filter through. ‘It looks like hammered bronze, but it’s actually made from carved wood,’ notes Audrey.
To introduce depth and functionality, the designer created a breakout moment with a custom-made home bar nook where emerald green bar stools continue the natural palette and the client’s love of the color.
This nook is echoed in the kitchen’s aesthetic, where, against a backdrop of moody, dark wood cabinetry, a generous island showcases handmade green tiles.
‘There was a very small island here originally, but the proportions were wrong with the long run of cabinetry,’ explains Audrey. ‘Because their kids are young adults and wanted somewhere to hang out and chat, we doubled the size of the kitchen island and tiled almost all the way round it. As the tiles are handmade, the tiler had to pick out the ones that were straighter for the bottom and the ones that could be used on the curve. He did an amazing job!’
Topped with a floating green quartzite work surface, the island brings the wow factor to the space.
Such bold decisions have resulted in an interior that oozes personality and yet feels both warm and serene.
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