ALL CHANGE
Clare Morton’s considerable ingenuity has resulted in her apartment getting an extra bedroom and plenty of design flair
This owner used ingenuity and creative flair to give her London flat a vibrant overhaul
If ever there was an example of successfully transferring large-scale living into a small-scale space, it’s the cleverly reformatted apartment of interior designer Clare Morton. Three years ago, she downsized from a house in Essex to a first-floor Victorian flat in northeast London – and hasn’t looked back. ‘I was on the hunt for a roomy two-bed, which would allow me to comfortably store a large collection of clothes and shoes,’ she says. ‘This flat was decoratively underwhelming, and only had one bedroom, but its generous proportions were appealing.’ However, it was only after living there for a month or two that Clare unlocked the secret to making the most of the space. ‘On my first viewing, the agent had made a throwaway comment about relocating the kitchen to the
sitting room to create space for a second bedroom,’ she recalls. ‘I wasn’t enjoying the pokey separate kitchen, so I decided to take the plunge and resite it.’
The key, says Clare, was to design an unobtrusive kitchen area that felt part of the sitting room. ‘I opted for a double row of wall units in a classic, painted finish, to maximise space but also to create the feel of a Victorian dresser – a style that could blend easily with the rest of the scheme.’
Nothing but a few treasured ceramics are on display so clutter is kept to a minimum. ‘Surprisingly, the hard-working cabinetry offers as much space as the kitchen in my former four-bedroom house,’ says Clare.
As well as having produced a second bedroom-cum-utility thanks to the relocated kitchen, the apartment now has a sense of grown-up glamour expressed through expansive furniture, bold textiles, vibrant wallpaper and a confident mix of colour. ‘I work with a lot of small spaces in my job and I’ve always believed that city flats with a smaller footprint needn’t feel like a stepping stone,’ says Clare. ‘Instead my approach is to maximise what you have.’
Travels to India, Morocco and New York have influenced Clare’s approach, evident in her love of textiles and craft. ‘I always return to the
notion of folk and traditional making,’ she reflects. ‘I like to see evidence of the hand in the pieces I buy.’ That appreciation is seen in a hand-blocked lampshade fabric in the master bedroom and framed artwork from a market in Cambodia. The designer says that her Lombok bed, sourced from ebay, makes her feel as if she is on holiday every day, while in the sitting room, bold wallpaper imbues the flat with a botanical twist. ‘That’s essential, as I don’t have a garden.’ Throughout, teal accents coexist with leopard print and hot pink with graphic repeats, and yet all live together harmoniously. ‘I try to trust my instinct and not be swayed by opinion,’ Clare reflects. Clare has had little trouble adapting to a smaller space. ‘It helps that the apartment has high ceilings, plenty of light and period features,’ she says. ‘At first my friends felt dubious about me moving the kitchen into the sitting room, but now they enjoy hanging out here.’ Weekends often involve unearthing new spots in London, but Clare has also developed a new appreciation for home. ‘I love the vibrancy of the city but this home has become an anchor,’ she smiles.