A NOVEL TALE
The owner of a north London flat used her love of books and travel to inspire her home’s new look
The design inspiration for Michelle Barker’s apartment in north London came from her passion for reading. ‘It’s so important for me to have a place for my books and a quiet space where I can read,’ she explains, ‘and that was how the idea for the refurbishment started.
‘I’d always longed to buy my own home and after renting for a few years, the time felt right to make the move,’ she continues. ‘My mother started the search with enthusiasm and came up with 60 possible viewings. We eventually narrowed it down to just three, and this property had the best light and potential.’
after buying the place, Michelle gave it a mini makeover involving repainting the walls and fitting new carpets throughout. She lived in the flat for more than a decade before deciding to embark on a major refurbishment with the help of interiors firm Sarah Moss Design.
Despite its diminutive size, the apartment has a bright and spacious ambience, and with all the rooms flowing off the hall, the layout feels both practical and flexible. ‘But it was tired and cramped, and I wanted to update it to suit the way I live my life,’ explains Michelle. ‘I knew what I wanted but just didn’t know how to achieve it, and that’s where Sarah’s help was invaluable.’ Her professional eye enabled Michelle to combine a stylish home with her everyday needs.
‘I disliked the cluttered spare bedroom in particular because it seemed such a waste of space, so when Sarah suggested I have a reading room fitted with floating bookshelves, I was intrigued,’ says Michelle. ‘It was always going to be a challenge to house so many books, but we managed to whittle them
down. now they’re a lovely feature alongside a luxurious velvet armchair that everybody wants to sit in.’
With the focus on favoured key pieces, the idea for vibrant orange chest of drawers in the bedroom came from Sarah. ‘i’d mentioned to her how much i admire Kit Kemp’s style of combining oversized pieces with bursts of colour and she suggested this piece,’ says Michelle. ‘not only is it a striking feature, but it’s practical in such a small bedroom.’
With space at a premium, Michelle and Sarah worked together to get the most out of every room. ‘My home has the feel of a big studio flat with walls,’ says Michelle. ‘Each room has its own character but with similar-sized furnishings and flashes of colour creating a theme. The bedroom has a gentle, nurturing atmosphere and the reading room is an oasis of calm. The sitting room, however, feels much busier with more visual stimulation and treasured pieces from my travels, and it’s such a luxury to have a dining table and comfortable chairs for entertaining.’
With an unfussy kitchen that is both practical and modern, Michelle is keen to point out the clever detailing in this compact scheme. ‘it’s very sleek with no nooks and crannies for food to gather in, so it’s easy to look after,’ she enthuses. ‘i’m delighted with the marble worktop and upstand, which give the space such a clean line. i followed the same criteria in the bathroom and kept it very fresh and understated.’
The most recent incarnation of this much-loved home has created a happy ending for Michelle. ‘i always loved the light and layout, but now i feel every inch of space has been maximised,’ she says. ‘it’s a place i really enjoy spending time in.’
FINAL WORD‘ Re designing such a small space was refreshing and fun–my home not only looks good, but it feels great to live in and is also very practical’