THE PROPERTY
A Grade II-listed Victorian maisonette in Hampstead had not been touched since the 1980's, and required new electrics, plumbing, windows, kitchen, and bathrooms to turn into a stylish modern home.
Owner Carly Madhvani and Molly Fern of NW3 Interiors completely transformed the property from top to bottom, turning it into a chic and colourful family home, complete with stunning home office, a stylish home gym and a home spa with an infrared sauna.
The owners resided in just the lower ground floor and were given the opportunity to buy the ground floor, and obtained planning to convert two flats into one. The property functions as a family home as well as a working design studio, so home office areas were a top priority. The whole renovation took just six months, and now spans 1,504 square feet, including a home spa with sauna and steam room, an urban at-home gym as well as beautiful herringbone flooring, stunning artwork, stand-out wallpapers and gorgeous high ceilings. Every detail has been carefully considered.
HOME OFFICE
The property is designed "To welcome family and friends to stay and potential clients to chat about their residential projects."
Carly wanted to curate rooms which were airy and spacious, and which included timeless, iconic design pieces which made an impact on the room. With a background in luxury furniture, she already has a wish-list of items she coveted, including the Gubi Grasshoppa lamp and the iconic Knoll Barcelona Chair – in limited edition black and chrome.
The renovation involved hours of decoration prep work to retain all the existing original panelling and intricate ceilings.
This room is now the hub for NW3 Interiors.
But that's not the only office; this home has three office-working areas, to enjoy working-from-home in the natural light and be able to be separate from the family downstairs.
DINING ROOM
The main home's interiors feature a mix of mid-century design with the drama of bold contrasting colours. This is particularly evident in the striking dining room, with Gucci's green heron wallpaper.
The property's colour scheme evokes feelings of calm and the nods to nature – tree and bird inspired patterns – help to bring the outdoors in.
LOUNGE
A glass room overlooks the garden, with floor-to-ceiling windows. The former polished concrete floor was swapped for a cosy carpet, with curtains added, along with a soft sofa, silk Fromental wallpaper and a new TV with sound system. Throughout the home, Carly and Molly have selected natural woods to create a calming feeling. Paint shades were also chosen to have a soothing effect. Meanwhile the lighting was picked for impact, from the pendant in the lounge to wall lights and hallway pendants.
HALLWAY
Hallway wardrobe doors can be bland, so Carly hand-drew a tree and had it translated in 'marquetry for the doors.
The hall storage doors conceal coats, shoes, bags and accessories, while also making a striking statement in the entryway.
Carly had the doors made from oak, walnut and eucalyptus woods, using laser marquetry technique.
HOME GYM
The state of the art, urban gym has been thoughtfully designed with a very up-market style, featuring luxury wooden equipment, all in keeping with the Grade-II features of the space.
The gym was inspired by an inner-city style gym to make you want to work out, but be aesthetically pleasing to the eye too.
POWDER ROOM
The compact powder room has a serene feel to it, owed to the carved, rounded freestanding sink, with matching marble semi-circle shelf.
GUEST SUITE
Previously the guest room was a tiny space next to the kitchen, but the guest room is now a generous 'Guest Suite', complete with a home spa, which is designed to soothe the soul.
The guest suite with spa was especially for Carly's poorly father (who has since overcome cancer) and Carly's father in-law who travels a long way to see his grandchildren.
An Alexander Mcqueen tapestry sits above the bed, while a feature wall is covered in a bird-print wallpaper made in Oxford. The headboard is a textural, 3D structure that stretches wall-to-wall, framing the bed.
A ceiling pendant made from natural materials draws the eye up, highlighting the ornate original ceiling.
PARTY KITCHEN
The compact kitchen is actually a second kitchen, sometimes used as a guest kitchen, but also a very handy and rather excellent 'party' kitchen.
HOME SPA
Next to the guest suite is a stunning home spa, with an infrared sauna and a steam room. It feels luxurious and indulgent, and is a wonderful place to unwind and relax.
A freestanding bath sits on a raised marble plinth, while a smooth, tall hollow in the wall opposite is perfect for storing towels and a laundry basket.
The smooth surface of the walls continues into a bijou shower space, with a slatted wood seat which adds some warmth to this grey space.
Even the loo feels calming and restful, with soft, plastered walls, a thick natural wood plank countertop, and a smooth, rounded marble basin.
MASTER BEDROOM
The master bedroom incorporates mid-century inspired furniture with a tactile wallcovering and a sumptuous, velvet upholstered bed in a bold blue.
POOL BATHROOM
The pool bathroom features a double shower so the children can wash quickly and at the same time as their friends.
The room was given a bright yellow colour to invoke sunshine-feeling before you jump into the pool outside.
PATIO GARDEN
The garden also took a lot of planning and changing, and was given a complete transformation. It's now one of the most "wow" parts of the home, encompassing a swimming pool, bar, firepit, hot tub, bbq area and outdoor cinema area. It's the perfect place for summer entertaining, and whiling away balmy summer days, and the fire pit makes this a cosy space to spend time even on colder evenings.
The patio was extended to accommodate a long, heavy swimming pool and hot tub. New tiles create a rug effect, while upholstered outdoor furniture is quick-drying (it dries off in 30 minutes).
Talking about her home transformation, Carly explains: "We yearned for more family space, especially for family to stay. We had grand plans to build a basement under our garden, but after 4 years of planning applications and a refused appeal, moving seemed the only option. We were delighted to receive a call from our neighbour above, which opened up the possibility to grow our home to another level. Two applications later (planning and listed building consent) and on Christmas eve our gift was granted. Work commenced in February 2020 and each week I was sure we would need to 'down-tools' due to Covid. But fortunately, abiding by the guidance of distancing and sanitising, the project went forth week after week. I am thrilled with the result."
Photographer: Vigo Jansons / vigojansons.com
Contractor: TM Building System ltd
Designed by: NW3 Interiors
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