Rovers Return Pied-à-Terre, Chiswick London
Daniel Hopwood is a man of many talents; alongside his role as co-judge on the television show Great Interior Design Challenge, he finds time to be Director of the British Institute of Interior Design and run his eponymous studio. He found the latter in 1993, and it has continued as a highly successful interior design practice with associate architects, landscape architects and project managers. Daniel shares one of his favorite interior projects with AMARA below…
Project Name: The Rovers Return
Floor Area: 90m2
Project Time Taken: 4 months
Completion of Project: Early April 2016
The Brief
To create a London pied-à-terre for a recently retired couple, somewhere to entertain and not feel cramped after downsizing. After many years of living in the Near and Far East, our clients retired and returned to London. They wanted a base which is easy to manage, comfortable, feels stylish and new and is also a good backdrop for their art collection.
Creation / planning process
As usual we included the clients in the design team. They were part of the process and open minded to something new and refreshing.
They took a space in an old factory which is relatively small but not cramped, as it has high ceilings and large windows. I stripped the flat back to a bare shell in order to create a new layout that would reflect their newly acquired lifestyle.
How it went?
Perfectly of course. I have a crack construction team who’s desire for perfection matches mine. The finishes are exquisite!
I convinced them not to go for a second bedroom, but instead lavish the space on themselves, with a bathroom each, generous storage space and a large living room with a connecting sitting room and kitchen diner. I managed to create a dressing room by pulling the bed forward and placing a low wall behind.
Wanting to keep the feel of the original factory, the ceilings were only lowered in the middle, to accommodate air conditioning, lighting and to make the rooms feel a little cozier by correcting the scale.
Finishes have been kept to a minimum in order to create a good backdrop for their art and to retain a balanced calmness. Using porcelain, man-made surfaces and materials ensures that the apartment is easy to maintain. The furniture? We went for the best with a mix of Minotti London and B&B Italia, and of course there’s that beautiful light over the dining table by Lyndsey Adelman.
Favorite room / part of the project and why?
I like it all of course and how the whole space integrates well. I do enjoy however the angle hall wall with the invisible doors. I know the clients love it all but especially how the space suits their lifestyle – large airy spaces that interconnect making their home feel very sociable.
Discover more beautiful interior projects over at Studio Hopwood.