RIVERSIDE RETREAT
Exposed brickwork and an industrial chic aesthetic reflect the heritage of this converted former grain store on the banks of the Thames
Searching for a home in London, Tony Gibson found himself looking at too many characterless properties that did little to gladden his heart. ‘But things changed when I came across a rather unassuming entrance on a cobbled street,’ he says. Taking the lift to the fourth floor of the centuriesold former grain store, he opened the door to a triple-height atrium, the centrepiece of a spacious apartment surrounded by terraces with stunning views of Tower Bridge and the Shard. ‘From the street, you’d have absolutely no idea it was here,’ says Tony.
A stone’s throw from one of London’s top foodie destinations, Borough Market, and from the Tate Modern, Tony and his partner, Cindy Valentine, knew and liked the area. ‘We love the atmosphere around here and, although the apartment was dated and needed a fair amount of work, its sense of serenity made us see beyond the renovations,’ he explains.
Working with chartered surveyors JSRE Partners on the purchase of the property, Tony was subsequently introduced to design director Rob Soar who runs the interior design service
favourite item ‘I love the drama and elegance of the light installation above the dining table, juxtaposed with the industrial heritage of the buildingõ