Names: Mike & Bea
Architect's Name: Tim Sloan, Levitate Architects
Location: London, UK
Size: 407 sq ft
Lived in since: Fall 2007
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Mike and Bea live in a rented first floor Georgian flat in Islington that was once the home of Tim Sloan of London-based Levitate Architects (who brought us The Amazing Staircase). “I lived in the flat for several years, so it was designed for me,” Tim says. The most intriguing feature of the apartment is a clever raised kitchen unit that takes advantage of vertical space and keeps the mess out of eye-view from the living room. “The kitchen design always polarizes views,” says Tim. “People generally either love it or hate it.”
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“We love the kitchen,” says Mike, who has rented the flat with his partner Bea since last September, “mostly because it’s just so odd! We’re both architects as well, and this is the kind of work I would do.” The kitchen has pull-out storage drawers that also serve as step ladders (seen in the opening photo), and can be stowed out of sight as seen above. Everything a cook could want is built into the unit, which also has plenty of built-in storage, an integrated ironing board, and a washing machine on the side. Mike points out that the raised kitchen makes it “feel like a different room.”
Mike and Bea are still paring down their shared belongings and haven’t set up the dining room table yet. The other side of the room is a living area that they’ve furnished simply with white furniture that matches the all-white scheme, filling up the built-in storage with plenty of books and a computer station. The bedroom also has built-in open storage that takes advantage of the high ceilings. To make the space more streamlined, there are no floorboards or moldings and the doors have a shadow gap that adds interest. The bathroom, located in the center of the flat, is lit with light from the living room that flows in through a discreet internal window built high-up.
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Levitate Architects
- Kristin Hohenadel blogging from rue Vieille du Temple, Paris, France. If you have an idea for a European house tour, please write kristinh @ apartmenttherapy . com
clever little apartment.
view art's profile
I am just tickled by the storage in the kitchen! I absolutely love it!
view PlanItGirl's profile
Holy Bonne Maman jam jars!
Also love the toilet handle situation :)
view ce_pelle's profile
I hate to respond negatively to a house tour--and I like the rest of the apartment--but I just don't dig the kitchen. I get the storage issue, but standing on top of what's effectively a box while cooking doesn't seem particularly safe. A good use of space in theory, but not in practice--it would be much too easy to misstep and take a tumble while holding a pot of boiling water. A good kitchen is about functionality first, and that includes a stable surface for your feet.
But, as I said, I like the rest of the apartment, and I applaud anyone who's willing to open his/her/their home to our prying eyes.
view Leslie in Portland's profile
I agree that it's odd to stand on a storage box/step ladder while cooking. However, the kitchen is attractive. So is the rest of the apartment. Love that the kitchen actually looks like it's used for cooking too (all those spice jars in jam jars). Also love how peaceful and tranquil the bedroom is.
view lolax's profile
The storage boxes are at least quite large and flush with each other. Unless you're quite klutzy, it's probably not that much of a hazard. But that does not exclude the freak kitchen accidents that do occur.
view lolax's profile
why compact the kitchen so much when the last picture shows tons of unused space in the apartment?
view bramasoleiowa's profile
we have the same sofa and coffee table. :-)
view SD913's profile
Exterminate! Exterminate! Love the Dalek ... and the rest of the place is lovely, too.
view luna's profile
I love all the built-in storage things. Also that toaster is hot, and now I want a Dalek for my shower!
view jennifer in sf's profile
it looks really nice. i can't imagine living in such a small space though, i have waay too much stuff!
view terka27's profile
Not inspiring.
Clean, tidy, but dull.
Matching dining and coffee tables?
Placement?
No space under the kitchen 'cabinets' for your feet when working here?
Not looking to be impressed, but no inspiration here at all.
view paulmuscat's profile
paulmuscat, I don't think the last picture showing matching coffee and dining tables is of their current home -- it says it's of the flat before they moved in, so not even their own furniture.
I also have the same soft and coffee table. :)
Not due to any fault of their own, but I wish the pictures were in order (for instance, a close up of the bed linen following the picture of the bedroom and the kitchen pictures all group together). Also, what is close-up of the tile for?
view S. Elizabeth's profile