The refurbishment of a London loft turns out so well it becomes a headline show at London Design Week

FOR ITS NOMADIC OWNER, THIS LONDON LOFT IS WHERE HER CREATIVE SPIRIT IS MOST AT HOME

There’s nothing quite like a hard deadline to focus the mind. Morgwn Rimel, the owner of this spectacular London loft, had agreed that her home – her first-ever interior project – would be open to the public as part of the 2018 London Design Festival, showcasing pieces from her pick of the best British and international designers. “I’d been having trouble decorating my home. It was hard to narrow down my ideas and I worried about making the wrong choices,” says Morgwn. That indecision disintegrated as the date for the pop-up exhibition loomed and, in the end, her work and home (which was visited by thousands) were widely lauded.

It’s easy to see why. “My place is playful, curious, optimistic and calm,” says Morgwn. “It’s the opposite of how my mind feels sometimes, which is precisely why I need to live in a place like this! I would say it’s a reflection of my ideal inner landscape.”

She bought the property six years ago, after being drawn to its volume of space. The ceiling is more than triple height at its peak and there are arched windows that fill the living area with light. Having lived in lofts before, Morgwn loved its flexible floor plan. “I was looking for a home that was unique. It had good bones, good energy and potential for further renovation.”

The home’s previous owners had engaged West Architecture, a fledgling architectural practice at the time, to remodel the space by inserting a suspended plywood mezzanine that hangs from a single cable. “They won awards for this work,” says Morgwn. “It made sense for me to go back to them so the adjustments I wanted would blend seamlessly with what was already there.”

West Architecture delivered a ply-clad bedroom, a second closed mezzanine, another staircase and extra skylights. “I also redesigned the kitchen and bathroom, replaced the plumbing

“I WAS LOOKING FOR A HOME THAT WAS UNIQUE, HAD GOOD BONES, GOOD ENERGY AND POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER RENOVATION”

MORGWN RIMEL, HOMEOWNER

and electrics, and commissioned some joinery,” she says.

Morgwn had a clear understanding of the ways she intended to use the space, which informed the architectural layout and build, but once that work was complete she decided to get a good feel for the loft by living in it almost bare for about a year before turning her attention to the furniture, art and decor.

When she did tackle the interiors, Morgwn opted for colourful, distinctive pieces that punctuate the space. Her dining table, for example, is a bespoke piece made of recycled plastic, melted down and pressed into shape. “It has a painterly, marblelike effect and a lovely, velvety feel,” she says. A grouping of vibrant Dinosaur Designs vases in the kitchen holds what she calls her “freakebana” display – spray-painted flowers arranged ikebana style. In her living area hangs a hammock that was bought in Colombia. “I highly recommend getting a hammock,” she says. “It’s much more comfortable than a sofa.”

Originally from the US, Morgwn lived in Montreal, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney before settling in London. “I moved here to take up a post as director of The School of Life, which I led for a number of years before embarking on my latest ventures.” She jokes that the English capital is, in comparison to Sydney’s North Bondi, “bad for the body but good for the brain.”

“There’s no city on earth like Sydney when it comes to water and a healthy, laidback lifestyle, but what London lacks in outdoor life it makes up for in its quality of intellectual and cultural life. London is a magical place.”

Check out Morgwn’s ideas at thegreatwave.house and @morgwnrimel

“IT MADE SENSE FOR ME TO GO BACK TO THE ARCHITECTS THE PREVIOUS OWNERS HAD USED SO THE ADJUSTMENTS I WANTED WOULD BLEND SEAMLESSLY”

MORGWN

LIVING Morgwn in the living area of her home, which is painted a crisp white to allow for lots of colour in the furnishings. “The blue sculptures were made from jesmonite by Kiwi artist Phil Cuttance. I call them my blue men,” she says. Her rug is an original design by Gunta Stölzl. “She was the only female Bauhaus master and an incredible weaving artist.” Chairs by Muller Van Severen. The hammock was purchased on a trip to Colombia. FACADE (opposite) Its blue exterior makes the 1883 church hall look quite distinctive. “I believe my home is located in what was the Sunday school and creche area,” says Morgwn.

cheat sheet Who lives here Morgwn Rimel, a multidisciplinary creative who’s originally from the US but is now based in England. She leads a studio called Superculture and is creative director/executive producer of thinktank House Of Beautiful Business. Style of home An apartment in a converted Methodist congregation hall in London.

MEZZANINE/KITCHEN Mild-steel stairs lead to the ply mezzanine that floats over the kitchen. Morgwn’s library is located upstairs. The kitchen island is topped with a single sheet of stainless steel and the floor is resin. Melting Pot recycled plastic dining table by Dirk Vander Kooij. Stools by Atelier Ternier. Playground artwork by John Booth for The Wrong Shop. DETAIL (opposite) Resin tableware by Dinosaur Designs with cutlery and shakers by Muller Van Severen.

CLOCKWISE FROM TAP Vola KV1 double-swivel mixer, POA, Candana. The One by Alex Proba rug (230cm x 300cm), POA, Loom. Artek Stool 60 seat/table, POA, Anibou. Vico Magistretti ‘Atollo 235’ lamp in White (70cm), $2358, Finnish Design Shop. LUQA planter (51cm), $64.95, Freedom. Boston fern faux plant in pot (55cm), $129, and Droplet brass vase, $45, Domayne. Muller Van Severen ‘Rocking’ chair, $7310, Spence & Lyda. Resin temple vase in Lagoon (blue), $210; offering vase in Leaf (green), $280; and bold skipping-stone vases in Shell Pink and Honeycomb, both $240, all Dinosaur Designs. Tiny Waves tea towel, $39, Bonnie and Neil.

KITCHEN (this page and opposite) “I love that my kitchen is highly functional but can also double as a gallery space,” says Morgwn. “Note my chopping boards on the rear wall. They’re a work of art in their own right, by Muller Van Severen, who I have a mild obsession with!” Her vases are by Dinosaur Designs and the jesmonite sculpture on the bench is another piece by Phil Cuttance. Orange stool by Atelier Ternier. Lamp artwork by Patrick Caulfield.

UPSTAIRS LIVING (above) Danish architect Erik Rasmussen designed the Paustian sofa, which is upholstered in green velvet by Raf Simons for Kvadrat. Metafora coffee table by Lella and Massimo Vignelli. BATHROOM (above right and opposite) Vola tapware in a natural brass finish features in Morgwn’s bathroom. A skylight she designed allows her to look up at the sky while bathing in the antique clawfoot tub. Artwork by Jesse Rivers. BEDROOM (below) This beautiful, serene space was inspired by Morgwn’s time in Japan The ply shutters slide across into full blackout mode.