Luxury Redefined: Experience the Epitome of Elegance at Type Hampstead Apartment!

This garden apartment in Hampstead underwent a complete refurbishment and extension, taking a conservation-based approach to celebrating its existing period features. Inspired by the muted tones, simplicity, and restrained palette of Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi's domestic interiors from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, alterations to the layout of the existing floorplan were made with minimal impact on historic features. The new joinery throughout the apartment is of a neutral character to remain subservient to the ornate decorative features, with a single matching design for kitchen units, wardrobes, storage cupboards, and panelling providing continuity. An en-suite was added to the main bedroom without affecting the original ceilings, architraves, or fireplace, achieved by placing a freestanding ‘pod’ within the room, which appears as a large piece of joinery matching the new wardrobes and containing the WC and shower, dividing the room and creating a vanity zone behind it.

The second bathroom has been designed with an accompanying ante-lobby and dressing area, connecting the second bedroom to the inner hallway. This allows the bathroom to be used as an en-suite for guests, while still providing access without entering the bedroom. The extension is two steps down from the kitchen and dining room, and a low roof and inclined roof light have been added to bring daylight to the back of the deep floorplan. The roof light also creates a transition zone between the two areas, while providing a view of the Japanese maple tree from the dining table. The soldier courses of brickwork above the sliding doors, with their slight contrast to the brickwork of the walls, echo the fine brickwork at the front of the house. A thermal upgrade was achieved by adding 180mm of insulation below the floor, which could be done without damaging or losing historic fabric, and represented a large proportion of the external envelope.