FIRST CLASS PAD

An apartment in a former Royal Mail sorting office has been transformed into a super-cool home

Taking his first step onto the property ladder was an exciting time for Zafeer Ahmed, and he was determined not to rush into finding the right place to call home. Overall, he spent 18 months searching for his perfect pad and feels the wait was definitely worth it. ‘My apartment is one of 190 luxury flats in this former Royal Mail sorting house in north London – the building has bags of character and that’s what first attracted me. Architecturally, it’s very grand and I couldn’t wait to take a look inside.’ It’s hardly surprising Zafeer was drawn to the building. Constructed between 1908-11, this is a rare and stylish example of Beaux-Arts design that draws on the influences of neoclassicism, and is now a listed building.

As soon as Zafeer entered the two-bedroom apartment for the first time, he was struck by its spaciousness. ‘Clearly, it needed some TLC, but the large windows and high ceilings allowing daylight to flood in were a real plus.’ There is also a terrace, which provides Zafeer with some valuable outside space – something that was high on his ‘wants list’. ‘The views are amazing,’ he explains. ‘To the left, I can see all the way across to The Shard and central London, while the right aspect looks towards Highgate Hill and Primrose Hill.’

The apartment had previously been rented out and had become rather run-down, but Zafeer could see its potential, plus it was in Holloway, an area of north London he likes. ‘I have a lot of friends around here. It’s also an up-and-coming location with plenty of cool bars, restaurants, coffee shops – everything I need, to be honest.’

So, after snapping up the apartment, Zafeer turned his attention to making some changes. ‘My aim was to transform it into a bright, contemporary living space. I had some ideas about what I wanted to achieve, but my friend, Talya Baker, was instrumental in bringing them to life. She has a great eye for design and was very helpful.

Talya and I bounced a few ideas around and eventually came up with an overall theme, opting for a mid-century modern look.’

Work pressures, including travelling abroad for business, meant Zafeer wasn’t able to dedicate as much time as he would have liked to realising his plans, so he decided to outsource much of the project to a professional design company. ‘I called in Kia Designs to get it all moving – and was pleased I did. The whole process was smooth, thanks to Kia Stanford, who runs the company. She really listened to our ideas and what we wanted to achieve.

Talya and I put together a moodboard showing some styles we liked. Then we met with Kia and she showed us colours and fabrics. The execution of the whole project was perfect.’ One of

‘Don’t rush decorating projects. Sometimes it can be tempting to create the finished look in one go’

the first areas to receive Zafeer’s attention was the mezzanine, which had previously been used for storage and had nothing more than a wooden banister around it. ‘I felt it was wasted space, so turned it into a snug where I can unwind and watch some TV.’

The terrace was another area that was transformed early on. It was looking very dated and had a concrete floor, so Zafeer replaced it with decking and added some comfortable outdoor chairs and a table – now it’s the perfect spot for enjoying the views.

Inside, Zafeer was keen to retain the original parquet floor, and after being sanded and spruced up it has become integral to the apartment’s overall feel. Bringing a warmth and classic style to the space, it pairs beautifully with the wooden furniture and finishes Zafeer has chosen throughout.

He decided to keep the main walls neutral and introduce colour and character through items of furniture, accessories and a couple of feature walls. ‘It’s a light and airy space anyway and the understated colour scheme works really well as a backdrop to the more dramatic areas, such as the mezzanine wall in blue and the entrance hall in pink,’ explains Zafeer. ‘They’re quite a contrast but not overbearing. These pops of colour bring the place to life, along with the foliage, which is an important part of the look.’

Eventually the project reached a point where Zafeer was satisfied with the overall feel. ‘I think we settled on a style that not only reflects my tastes but suits the space as well. It’s an ongoing project. Art, for example, is a keen interest of mine and something I want to collect. I look for great pieces that have a story behind them, such as the print in the main bedroom, which came from Mexico.’

Zafeer didn’t want the apartment to have a catalogue feel in terms of it being presented as the finished article. ‘It’s a developing story and I love it that way,’ he explains. ‘I travel a lot for work and have a really hectic schedule, so there’s no better feeling than returning on a Friday evening to a place that really does feel like home.’