The joy of downsizing

A retired couple found their lives transformed when they swapped a town house for a flat in the heart of London. By Catriona Gray. Photographs by Ingrid Rasmussen

A retired couple’s perfectly formed London flat

DOWNSIZING DOESN’T NEED to mean lowering your expectations, as the owners of this apartment found when they moved from their previous home into one of London’s most exciting new neighbourhoods.

Exchanging a four-storey Victorian house in Camden Town for a brand-new flat in King’s Cross might seem an extreme move to some, but for Tony Dalton and his partner Jennifer, both in their 70s, it was one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. ‘Much as we loved our old house, having so many flights of stairs was becoming a challenge,’ says Jennifer. ‘An apartment with a lift was beckoning, so we thought we would relocate before we were forced to.’

Having had a long career in advertising, including as CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi in New York, Jennifer had already tested out apartment-living during her years in the US, but after months of searching the couple hadn’t found anything to their liking. Then, one day, while travelling through King’s Cross they found that the entire area was being transformed, with new buildings sitting alongside old warehouses. They found their new home in a residential development built within a trio of gasholders, with wrought-iron, Grade Ii-listed frames that date from the mid-19th century. The vibrant area appealed to them, as did the fact that it was close to their familiar corner of north London. ‘It was a quite a round-about journey to get to a flat that is basically just up the road from where we used to live,’ says Jennifer, with a laugh.

Having bought a three-bedroom apartment, they realised they had accumulated far too many possessions dur-

ing their 35 years in their former house to fit into it. In particular, they had a quantity of Victorian and Edwardian furniture and a considerable art collection: some inherited, the rest the result of trips to Alfies Antiques Market, and Camden Passage in Islington. ‘One of our friends said that coming to our home was like taking a trip down Portobello Road, and to be honest, she was right,’ says Jennifer. ‘I couldn’t imagine how all of it could possibly fit into our new home.’

She enlisted the help of interior designer Verity Woolf, who rose to the challenge of curating their existing collections and making their flat ready to live in. ‘From the moment she stepped into our old house in Camden, she was able to see what we could take and what needed to be left behind,’ says Jennifer. ‘She was so enthusiastic about our things.’ Under her guidance, the couple’s favourite chairs were re-covered in new colourways, using a palette of pinks, reds and greens.

To bridge the gap between the antique furniture and the contemporary architecture, Woolf visited vintage shops to source mid-century pieces including a 1960s chair and a 1970s Spanish side table. ‘I think if we had put something modern beside the Victoriana they would have fought,’ says Jennifer. ‘By integrating the different periods, and choosing vibrant colours, we instilled warmth and comfort into what is quite a hard-edged contemporary space.’

It was Jennifer’s idea to have one of the walls covered in clouds, to mirror the views outside. After they settled on the perfect pattern, Woolf took her client to Jonathan Adler, and showed her a cloud-shaped sofa to match. ‘It only came in white, so we had it covered in a rosy fabric,’ says Jennifer. ‘I love it – I can sit on my pink cloud and dream.’

Although much of their collection was slotted into their new home, more than a third of it had to go. ‘It was really upsetting,’ recalls Jennifer. ‘Now that it’s done, I’m OK about it. It’s only when

Although much of their collection was slotted into their new home, more than a third of it had to go

I try to find something and realise we no longer have it that I want to cry.’

Still, the advantages of the couple’s new home are manifold. There is a gym and spa in their building, a cinema close by and numerous restaurants to frequent. They see more of their grandchildren than ever – having a spare room in such a trendy part of London has made them hugely popular. The couple still visit their old haunts, walking along the canal up to Camden several times a week, but with King’s Cross station on their doorstep, their horizons have expanded hugely and they are often travelling by train around the country. ‘It’s livened us up and energised us,’ says Jennifer. ‘We could have faded away and gone to the old folks’ home, but we have decided to do the opposite.’

Having a spare room in such a trendy part of London has made them very popular with their grandchildren

Clockwise from right A custom cloud-print fabric on the wall makes a great kitchen feature; the new Gasholders development in King’s Cross; items brought from the couple’s old home include these armchairs in the sitting room, which were re-covered in bright colours; Jennifer in her new apartment

Below right One of the few new purchases was this cloud-shaped sofa from Jonathan Adler

Right Mid-century pieces were used to connect the couple’s antique furniture and the contemporary architecture.

From left Bold colour and a mix of styles bring warmth to a new-build flat; paintings from the couple’s extensive art collection are displayed on a pink hessian wallcovering in the dining area; the main bedroom, with a mid-century bedside table