A fashion executive who travels frequently needed a compact pied-a-terre in Notting Hill. The two-bedroom unit measures about 730 square feet and offers a rooftop view that once felt cramped after three decades of dated finishes.
Designer’s vision for a richer feel
Claire Sa, co-founder of the interior studio De Rosee Sa, was hired to reimagine the space. She argued that a smaller home benefits from a dense visual field, encouraging occupants to fill walls with books and artwork, which adds personality and prevents the space from feeling stark and white.
Her brief called for a layered, hotel-like comfort that avoided a kitschy cottage vibe. To achieve texture, she chose linen-style wallcoverings for the main living area and the primary sleeping chamber, providing a subtle grain that paint alone cannot replicate. The fabric-like surface adds depth while remaining easy to maintain.
Opening up the floor plan
The original barrier separating the lounge from the cooking zone was removed and replaced with a glazed partition. This approach hints at openness while still concealing kitchen clutter such as pots and pans, and the clear glass maintains sightlines across the room.
Behind a corner glass panel, a refrigerator is hidden, turning the reflective surface into a functional storage disguise that blends with the surrounding décor.
Ceiling interest was added by covering a narrow strip in the cooking area with tongue-and-groove panels arranged in a chevron pattern, a first experiment for the designer. The angled boards create visual movement and a subtle sense of dynamism.
Building rules required floor covering for sound control. Instead of wall-to-wall carpet, an oversized sisal rug was laid, covering most of the area while leaving room for a decorative rug on top. The natural fibre of the sisal mat softens footsteps and adds an organic texture.
Color and lighting tricks
Window frames were painted a deep green hue to draw the surrounding tree canopy into view, creating a stronger visual connection with the outside and echoing the neighborhood’s foliage.
The interior side of a built-in shelving unit received a slightly darker finish, allowing books and objects to stand out against the backdrop and giving the display area a subtle contrast.
Brass rails installed above the shelves enable easy rearrangement of artworks, encouraging a rotating display without damaging the walls while also acting as a decorative accent.
In the sleeping area, picture frames rest on a mirrored surface, adding depth to the wall treatment and reflecting ambient light.
Reflective surfaces are employed throughout to amplify natural light. A full-length reflective panel in the entryway opens up the dimmest portion of the home, positioned opposite the main window to maximize daylight bounce.
In the cooking zone, a glass backsplash doubles as a light-enhancing element, bouncing daylight deeper into the room and creating a brighter workspace.
Behind the bed, a reflective panel creates a warm glow when the lights are on, adding ambience to the night and offering a soothing backdrop for rest.
Storage solutions and added amenities
Curved edges on a new wardrobe in the secondary sleeping chamber, finished with integrated shelves, provide visual interest and extra utility, softening the room’s geometry while keeping belongings within easy reach.
In the primary sleeping area, a closet door now leads to an en-suite bathroom, converting a former storage cupboard with a sink into a full bathroom that includes a modern toilet and shower. This addition creates a private retreat within the compact floor plan.
Window seats flank the new bathroom entrance, offering a quiet spot to gaze outward, read, or simply pause while the city moves beyond the glass.
