TIME FOR A REVAMP
UK-based interior designer Kelly Hoppen converts a rundown auction house into her beautiful, modern pad in London
My new home is very representative of me and where I am at this stage of my life. I was looking for something big and light and luxurious and this space encompasses all of those things. It is unique in every way. The space was totally derelict and looked like a worn-down warehouse when I first walked in. It was literally rubble but I knew it was something very special. The volume of light and the sheer amount of space is very difficult to find, especially in London. I loved it and knew immediately that it was for me. It has since become a unique and beautiful property.
CHANGING THE LOOK AND FEEL
It used to be a Bonham’s Auction House. It has six bedrooms, bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes, a study, a gym, a laundry and flower room, a large open plan high ceiling living-dining-kitchen space, along with a breakfast area and underground parking. It took one year and three months to complete and is designed using a calm colour palette of taupe, whites, beige and greys, complimented by pops of colour.
TAPPING INTO OLD WORLD CHARM
Iconic and vintage furniture as well as bespoke pieces can be seen
throughout the home. Situated in a residential area in west London, it was an empty shell; one massive space with no walls and one floor, a complete blank canvas. So the starting points were the impressive columns that are the core of the structure, and linking the vast panels and staircase in the main space. The bespoke light in the entrance hall was designed by Herve Langlais for Galerie Negropontes. It is a great addition to the entrance and draws beautiful vertical lines that emphasise the height of the ceiling. This is complemented by the large vertical shutters, Oriental runner cupboard, panel in specialist plaster and the lines in the sleek marble floor.
TASTEFUL INTERIORS
Great wooden panels were added to the impressive pre-existing columns framing the living room. These add monumentality to the space, creating a grid from above and across the room. The pendant lights above the seating area and dining table were lowered to balance out the space. The walls have purposely been kept white so that there are lots ledges to prop art pieces. The dining area that is naturally lit during the day overlooks the living room and kitchen. Next to this is the private TV room that can open onto the main room via its innovative lacquer pivot doors. As for the master bedroom, it is sensual and luxurious yet evokes a calming feeling.
Clearly, every space, be it the wooden floors that took six months to perfect or the spacious walk-in wardrobes, is a labour of love. But what sets it apart is its simple-yet-dramatic design.