RETRO VIBE
This apartment in the former BBC Television Centre has been beautifully styled by Bella Freud and Maria Speake of Retrouvius, to reflect the heyday of the world-famous studios
Who wouldn’t want to live in the iconic BBC Television Centre in London’s White City, where all of those memorable TV shows, such as Doctor Who and Top of the Pops were filmed? In 2013 that became a possibility when, after 53 years of programmemaking, the studios closed and the building was converted into apartments.
British fashion designer Bella Freud, and Maria Speake, co-founder of Retrouvius, a design studio specialising in salvaged furniture, were given the task of completing the interior of a two-floor penthouse in the Helios. This mid-century circular core of the complex features original Crittall windows spanning the building and a golden statue at its centre.
Having previously collaborated on the renovation of Bella’s home and the interior of her flagship store in London, the pair knew they could work well together. Referencing the studio’s 1970s peak, the flat’s interior combines brown, black, orange, cherry red and emerald green hues. ‘It
was important for us to retain the design integrity of the historic site,’ Bella explains.
Shiny black sofas teamed with orange cushions and a contrasting grass-green carpet decorate the living space, while 60s-style cane and metal chairs sit around the table. In a more neutral palette, the kitchen is finished with pale cabinetry, a grooved, white marble splashback and pale timber flooring.
Steps that cantilever out from the wall in the hallway lead up to the bedroom and cosy snug, where cork walls, a sand-coloured suede sofa and a fluffy rug create an authentic 70s feel. Similar colours continue into the main bedroom, which has one of Bella’s signature cushions on the bed.
With a bold colour palette and glamorous interior reminiscent of the studio’s prime, this stylish west London apartment is the perfect homage to the iconic building it sits in.
Find out more at retrouvius.com