{"id":361554,"date":"2025-12-21T08:48:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T08:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/361554\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T08:48:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T08:48:14","slug":"an-industrial-london-apartment-that-channels-90s-photographer-lofts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/361554\/","title":{"rendered":"An Industrial London Apartment That Channels \u201990s Photographer Lofts"},"content":{"rendered":"

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With double-height ceilings, raw brick walls, and exposed pipes, this London apartment feels like stepping into a loft you\u2019d find in downtown Manhattan. Formerly a printing factory, it\u2019s quirky and almost entirely open-plan. But Melanie Liaw, one half of interior design studio Duelle<\/a>, found its lack of doors to be the most eccentric feature of all. \u201cEverything was open\u2014even the wardrobes,\u201d she remembers.<\/p>\n

Hired by a young, outgoing client, Liaw\u2019s brief was to refresh the space and push it along from its Noughties-era makeover, which leaned heavily on stark white paint and stainless steel. Early on, there was much debate as to whether the brickwork should be covered. In the end, they decided to stick: \u201cIt would have changed the space a lot, and actually, the owner\u2019s appreciation for texture and [mixing] the old with the new, it felt like the right decision,\u201d muses Liaw. Instead they drenched the guest room in a cocooning shade of lilac, refreshed the existing kitchen, and added cafe curtains for privacy.<\/p>\n

Liaw was also tasked with picking out furniture that felt fun, social, and comfortable. \u201cEverything that he had moved in with, he wanted to get rid of and just start fresh,\u201d she explains. Rolling up her sleeves, she relished rifling through her Rolodex to handpick unique pieces from London\u2019s most esteemed vintage dealers. Ahead, Liaw explains in her own words how she created a refined home that\u2019s as unique as its setting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"blueStrips Sofa by Cini Boeri for Arflex<\/a>; Vintage Coffee Table, Spazia Leone<\/a>; Vintage Armchair, Furniture East<\/a>; Lamps, The Spotlight Market<\/a>. <\/p>\n

What was the very first thing you bought for the project?<\/p>\n

The first purchase to arrive was the 1930s American Sarough rug. We wanted to play with iconic design pieces alongside lesser-known vintage finds from a mix of eras. What\u2019s so special about this rug is the tones of coral pink and soft blue that were specific to the U.S. market at that time (usually with older rugs you get navy or royal blues). It really helps ground the space.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"pinkResin Table, Monument<\/a>; Rug, Nordic Knots<\/a>. <\/p>\n

What design decision felt like the biggest risk?<\/p>\n

The crazy pink dining table, especially because the client only saw it via video! It\u2019s a vintage Italian piece in resin, with new legs that we had fabricated in blackened steel. We didn\u2019t do [renderings] for this project, so it required a lot of trust, like: \u2018Your big blue corner sofa is going to work with this pink dining table!\u2019<\/p>\n

\"loft <\/p>\n

What was the biggest splurge?<\/p>\n

The Strips sofa, a 1960s design by Cini Boeri for Arflex, was quite the investment. The client loves LEGO and so its blocky, toy-like modules just made sense. It\u2019s an iconic piece that seats at least half a dozen people. What\u2019s also special about it is that the covers zip-off; we specified it in cornflower blue and it became an anchor for the scheme.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"darkCabinet Paint, London Brown by Mylands<\/a>. <\/p>\n

What was your biggest save?\u00a0<\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t rip-out the kitchen\u2014not even the handles. Instead we had all the low cabinets re-sprayed in a chocolate brown that feels much more right for now (it was formerly Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball). A specialist team came in one afternoon, took away the doors, then came back 10 days later and fitted them within the day. It looks like a new kitchen, so that gave us plenty of bang for our buck.<\/p>\n

\"woodHandles, iz\u00e9<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Did you get to work with any exciting new suppliers?<\/p>\n

I\u2019d been wanting to use London hardware brand iz\u00e9<\/a> for a while. They make everything to order and collaborate with cool designers. I landed on these egg-shaped knobs by architects 6a, which we used as coat hooks along the entrance, and then turned them horizontally as pulls for wardrobe doors. I love them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"dresser <\/p>\n

What was your favorite paint color that you ended up using?<\/p>\n

The first room you see as you walk into the apartment is the guest bedroom. Visitors use it to access the en-suite bathroom so we wanted to add an element of surprise in there. Pale Lilac by Mylands gives a nod to a vibey, members lounge sort of feeling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"creamPaint, Lots Road by Mylands<\/a>; Vintage Wall Lights, DJ Green Antiques<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Were you able to upcycle anything?<\/p>\n

We took out the huge, walnut bookcase that was blocking the light in the living area and had it made into compact nightstands. We planed down the wood and gave it a new lease of life.<\/p>\n

\"cream <\/p>\n

\"chair <\/p>\n

What was a simple idea that delivered a big impact?<\/p>\n

The flooring was a real mixed bag of yellowy and red woods. But instead of re-doing them we painted much of it in an off-white with a sheen. We wanted to channel those \u201990s photographer lofts, and it really works.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"blue <\/p>\n

\"swivel <\/p>\n

What piece of storage felt like a real game-changer?\u00a0<\/p>\n

The client works from home sometimes but didn\u2019t want an open office. So we created this custom desk area with doors that pull back to reveal the computer monitor. The petite work table is on wheels, so it can be rotated to switch-up the background for video calls, and there\u2019s a very discreet drawer to store the laptop. It\u2019s cute and sneaky!<\/p>\n

Olivia Lidbury is a freelance writer based in the U.K. She has been regularly contributing to Domino since 2021, pitching charming British houses, whimsical apartments and must-see vacation stays. Olivia also regularly writes for a number of national U.K. titles such as The Times\u00a0and The Sunday Times Style magazine. She lives just outside of London in Kent.<\/p>\n

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