‘She gave us a blank canvas, which is every designer’s dream. It was a unicorn' – explore how an empty apartment became a beautiful collaboration rooted in craftsmanship

Large open plan kitchen with dark modern cabinets and a large stone islands with seating.

There’s nothing jarring about this apartment – every material has been carefully chosen to create a soothing aesthetic that belies its urban location. ‘The owner asked us to design a sanctuary from the city, within the city,’ recalls interior designer Alexii Friedman of Studio Friedman, who collaborated with Mark Sanderson and Harris Ford of the architectural firm DIGSAU to bring this house design to life. ‘The ground floor of the building houses one of the area’s busiest restaurants, but when you step into this apartment, you immediately feel a sense of calm,’ she adds.

SITTING AREA: The knocked-back palette is punctuated with darker accents including the lounge chair and beautiful bronze louvred shutters at the windows. Vintage lounge chair by Jindřich Halabala, 1stDibs. Bespoke sofa in Pebble wool in Birch, Maharam. Coffee table (inspired by the Mesa table by Robsjohn-Gibbings), The Philadelphia Woodworking Company. Tabouret Berger stools, Charlotte Perriand at Cassina (Image credit: Sean Litchfield)