UNIQUE TOUCH
Rosie Rockel used second-hand and reclaimed finds to leave a personal imprint on her listed flat
Reclaimed finds and favourite souvenirs lend personality to this London flat
SITTING ROOM Retro-style units inherited from Rosie’s grandparents offer a stylish place to display books and souvenirs. Walls in Green Smoke estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Made’s Vento corner sofa in Manhattan Grey, £999, is a good alternative
KITCHEN-DINER Housed in a conservatory extension, this is a bright and inviting space. Units, price on request, Pluck. Hans Due for Fog and Mørup pendant light, from £315; similar vintage armchair, from £400, both Vinterior. Find a G Plan dining table, from £500, Pamono
Rosie Rockel lived in her dark basement flat for five years before making changes that would bring in much-needed natural light. ‘My flat, which is one of five in a Victorian mansion house building, was a really pokey dark space,’ she says. ‘There was very little daylight, it felt like a dungeon.’ The kitchen was a tiny lean-to extension with a small window, and there were 15 spotlights, which had to be on all day. Fortunately, the property opens out onto the garden, but the existing layout meant you couldn’t see this outdoor space from the interior.
WAITING GAME
The project was planned over several years and Rosie bided her time until she could eventually afford to renovate in 2019. ‘I had very clear ideas about what I wanted to do, which was to add a standard addition with bi-folds,’ she says. However, when Rosie applied for planning permission her idea was rejected because the building is located in a conservation area and the only extension she would be able to add to the listed building was a conservatory. ‘I’m actually really glad about it now, because the result is lovely,’ explains Rosie. ‘The kitchen is so bright with all the glazing, so as a contrast I went for a really dark colour in the sitting room to make that space feel cosy.’
Another pleasant surprise was choosing a pink kitchen. ‘I’d initially thought I’d go for an simple carcass with ply fronts,’ says Rosie. ‘Then I stumbled across Pluck. I saw the pink units in their showroom and really liked them, they are also conveniently located right around the corner from me.’
BOLD CHOICE
When it came to choosing the floor covering, everyone that Rosie spoke to was against the idea of using cork flooring. ‘I was told that it would stain and warp, which surprises me as it was so popular in the 1970s, and since installing it, I’ve only got good things to say about it,’ she says. ‘It’s soft underfoot and has a warmth to it. If I drop a mug there’s a good chance that it won’t break – it’s so durable.’
Rosie changed design paths in the bathroom, and chose to use more traditional elements than originally planned. ‘I saw the industrial-style brass taps and loved them,’ she explains. ‘The reclaimed encaustic pink tiles have a really beautiful swirl pattern.’
An avid traveller, Rosie always picks up items from her trips, which add a personal touch to her home. She also consciously makes an effort to buy second-hand furniture. ‘I think most things in the flat were pre-owned except the bed with the plants hanging from it,’ says Rosie. ‘It’s interesting, I thought I’d have quite a standard modern extension and bathroom and thankfully it’s turned out not to be what I expected at all.’