Fancy owning an enormous post office? Architect Christina Seilern snapped one up, then transformed the place into a fab family home
Get the look This is a Flexform sofa. For similar lounge chairs, see Ideas to steal. For white-oiled oak floorboards like these, visit The Natural Wood Floor Co. The bronze sculpture is from Michael Werner Gallery.
THE PROPERTY
A converted early 20th-century sorting office in west London. In the basement is the playroom, with the living area, library, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a cloakroom on the ground floor. The kitchen, dining area and family room are on the first-floor mezzanine. The second floor houses the master bedroom suite and a study. There is also a roof terrace.
LIVING AREA
Christina had been living in New York, where loft living is common, and wanted a similar feeling of space in London. So when this place came up for sale, she knew it was for her – and her family.
The property had previously been a sorting office, then a theatre, so it had an industrial feel that could be used to the architect’s advantage. Christina liked that there was so much scope with its high ceilings and exposed ducts. She could really play around with the space and the lighting scheme.
LIBRARY
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves highlight the house’s voluminous height.
Get the look For bespoke shelving in this style, try Richard Baker Furniture. This is a B&B Italia day bed. The vintage coffee table was brought back from Paris. Istdibs.com is a good source of similar pieces. For a rug like this, check out the range at Deirdre Dyson.
LIBRARY ALCOVE
A snug niche is framed by some of the couple’s artwork.
Get the look The portraits are from Gagosian Gallery and Michael Hue-Williams, who runs Albion Barn in Oxfordshire. These are Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chairs for Knoll.
DINING AREA
Because of the building’s industrial heritage, it felt gloomy and dark. Multiple skylights now mean that artificial light is only ever needed at the very end of the day.
Get the look For an oversized skylight like this, try Velux. The dining table was reclaimed from an office. The Conran Shop has a selection of similar styles. The chairs are by Ligne Roset from Harrods. This is the Moses Brown rug by Suzanne Sharp for The Rug Company. The cherry wood cabinets are a bespoke design by Roundhouse.
Family room
The low walls, both here and around the corner in the dining room, make perfect spots to display artwork
Get the look The photograph of reclining women is from Gagosian Gallery. This is a Flexform sofa. The Mex coffee table was designed by Piero Lissoni for Cassina. The Milo Baughman armchairs are from Talisman.
ENTRANCE
Originally built to allow vehicle access, the large steel door has since been redesigned. It is now partly screened by a freestanding panel and this heavyweight table, which was reclaimed from a welder’s yard.
Get the look The welder’s bench came from Bench, which has since closed. Try Retrouvius for similar industrial salvage. TimeLine Originals sells ancient Greco-Roman statuettes.
MEzzaNINE sTaIrwEll
Designed by Christina, the steel staircase is coated in a wax finish with a leather carpet glued centrally on the treads and the landing.
Get the look The staircase is a bespoke project by Elite Metalcraft. For leather tiles suitable for flooring, contact Edelman Leather.
KITCHEN
By dressing the kitchen to match the living area, the two spaces work in harmony.
Get the look The walnut-veneered island and breakfast bar, Corian worktop and run of high-gloss cupboards were designed by Roundhouse. The ceramic vase is from Pitfield London. For Bridget Riley prints, go to Karsten Schubert.
maSTEr BEDroom
Simple but dramatic statements reflect Christina’s flair for stop-and-stare design – a triangular skylight, an acid green headboard and bold art that dominates one wall.
Get the look For specialist advice on bespoke skylights, try IQ Glass. The headboard was designed by Studio Seilern Architects. The cashmere throw is from The Conran Shop. The artwork is from Gagosian Gallery. For original orthodox icons, visit Fine Art Icons.
MASTER BATHROOM
A marble-clad tub with a bespoke vanity unit is a sleek tonal combo of contemporary design.
Get the look Try Marble City for similar stone tiles. The basin and brassware are by Aston Matthews. CP Hart is a good source of similar hardwood vanity units. The photo of Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the moon was taken by his colleague Neil Armstrong. Bonhams holds auctions of space-age memorabilia such as this.
ROOF TERRACE
Because the house has no garden, Christina often sits up here to enjoy the views.
Get the look The bench was brought back from Bali. Try Liberty for a similar garden bench.
See more of Christina’s work at studioseilern.com
Photography / Paul Massey
