A Twentytwentyone Smile bar stool in black stain sits at the Arabescato Corchia marble island. The joinery is in French Grey from Edward Bulmer.
Located among the parks and lively streets of Hampstead, London, The Deco Apartment by architecture and interior design studio De Rosee Sa is a pied-à- terre for a busy family of four.
Back and forth from a permanent home base in Italy, the client and her two adult children—one living and studying in London—sought a space that would feel like home when they came together in the UK. Eventually settling on one of Hampstead’s historic mansion blocks that required significant structural reworking, they engaged architecture and interior design practice De Rosee Sa to guide the transformation.
“It was a complete transformation, with a full gut renovation,” senior project architect Claire Mannings says. “The property had no central heating and significant mould issues, so addressing those was a priority. We also had to remove corner chimney splays in small rooms, which took up valuable space, while carefully considering the structure above and below. There was even a historic dumbwaiter that we had to work around during the renovation,” she adds.
The design team was careful to preserve timeless elements like the original stained-glass door when widening the entrance to enable better flow through the living spaces. They also integrated the dining and kitchen areas to keep mealtimes social and encourage moments of spontaneous togetherness.
The kitchen features the Gaggenau 400 series oven and Combi-microwave oven in Anthracite.
Being the client’s second residence, there was a sense of openness to the designer’s recommendations of incorporating more colour and character. With a home base in Italy that takes on a more modern aesthetic, The Deco Apartment would embrace London’s traditional beauty and classic style. “We aimed to achieve that by balancing modern elements with some old antique pieces to blend old and new,” interior designer Eliza Davey says.
As a family of avid readers, much of the design language revolved around incorporating spaces for extensive book collections. A bookcase in the living room, lacquered in a deep red hue, creates a focal point and atmosphere of warmth, gathering, and respite from the bustle of the outside world.
A custom joinery unit designed by DE ROSEE SA in Hickory from Rose Uniacke holds the client’s treasured book collection. The space also features the Gubi 9602 floor lamp.
A pair of vintage Skrindan armchairs designed by Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist circa 1960 from Hone Gallery reupholstered in Rose Uniacke Cedar cotton velvet fabric.
“The lacquer bookcase became a key feature, reflecting both their love of books and the need for practical storage,” Mannings continues. “Since this is their only formal living room, we included a TV but ensured it wasn’t the focal point. The lacquer finish also helps reflect natural light from the bay window, which brightens the space,” she says.
True to their philosophy that seeks to understand how people live, De Rosee Sa has breathed life into The Deco Apartment, creating a home where family reunites for a moment of pause. “I don’t believe [the client] fully expected the extent of the transformation, as it was hard for them to envision how different the space would feel until it was brought to life,” Mannings reflects. The apartment has gone from being dark and subdued to bright and inviting–overall, it’s a significant improvement that exceeded their expectations,” she adds.
With a bay window looking out towards the unmistakable view of neighbouring London townhouses, the living room features a linen wallcovering in Newport from Stereo Interiors, a Christopher Farr Cintamini rug, and a Pinch Moreau sofa upholstered in Designs of the Time from James Dunlop Textiles. The custom ottoman was designed by DE ROSEE SA.
In the entrance hallway, Edward Bulmer’s Silver White emulsion paint on the walls is complemented by engineered oak chevron flooring from The Natural Wood Floor Company in a bespoke finish.
