LITTLE WONDER
Kay and Roc Westmaas brought a compact and dated apartment to life with bespoke accessories, handcrafted pieces and treasures influenced by their travels
Having notched up stints in Barbados, Dubai, Canada and the UK, it is no surprise that Kay and Roc Westmaas’ first home, a Victorian apartment in Richmond, southwest London, has benefited from a host of global influences.
Once they had bought the lacklustre former rental, Kay, an interior designer and founder of Studio Westmaas, set about transforming it into a serene but visually enticing home. ‘It didn’t take long for us to unearth this flat, but it hadn’t been loved for many years,’ says Kay, who found inspiration in the sunshine palettes of Caribbean interiors, harnessed by the gentle restraint she observed under the tutelage of interior design guru Rose Uniacke.
One of the property’s biggest drawbacks was its lack of well-planned storage. ‘A well considered flow and layout is the backbone of good design,’ reflects Kay, ‘so we ripped everything out and started again.’ Kay and Roc took their time remodelling, factoring in their personal requirements and favourite pieces. ‘ We added discreet storage in the sitting room, built-in floor-to-ceiling wardrobes in both bedrooms and generous vanity units in the bathrooms,’ says Kay. ‘I’m a big fan of Jib
DESIGN ADVICE ‘Draw a floor plan to scale or use masking tape to mark out furniture positions before you invest in pieces’
cupboards – so we can hide away clutter, making the flat appear more spacious.’
With a background in textiles and chair making, Kay had a few tricks up her sleeve. Two antique dining chairs upholstered in an eye-catching peacock fabric sit snugly in the sitting room alcove reserved for dining, introducing a bespoke element. A striking, self-designed, octagonal mirror doubles up as a capacious bathroom cabinet.
When it came to upgrading the kitchen, Kay drew up a design and asked her carpenter to bring it to life – a surprisingly affordable approach, she reasons. ‘I also sourced the timber from a local yard and had it cut there, which is another good way to manage a budget,’ says Kay. The new scheme features an assortment of cupboards with open shelving softening the look.
Other collaborations with her carpenter have resulted in a pair of bespoke bedside tables and a coffee table made from Tamo Ash burl veneer. ‘Roc and I tend to invest in objects that will stand the test of time, such as artwork, and combine them with pieces picked up on our travels,’ explains Kay.
A palette of chalky off-whites, warm caramels and soft eggshell blue throughout creates a gentle background for ergonomic furniture, while in the sitting room, a green, velvet-covered Moroccan pouf and a 1940s-inspired gilded side table introduces a touch of glamour. ‘We wanted an understated but luxurious look,’ says Kay, ‘and I hope we’ve achieved it.’ Potted plants provide a soothing, final flourish befitting the property’s leafy location.
Now the renovation is complete, the couple are free to enjoy their chic retreat and explore Richmond’s many green spaces. ‘It’s a fantastic flat that finally matches its setting,’ says Kay. ‘ We love living here.’