Audrey’s Cozy Industrial Soho Apartment

Name: Audrey
Location: Soho — London, United Kingdom
Size: 1,152 square feet
Years lived in: 6 months

Located right in the heart of London’s bustling Soho district, this loft-style apartment is tucked away from the street, in a former warehouse building overlooking a courtyard. And once you’re inside, the large open-plan living and dining room, together with the light pouring through the vast windows that span the front walls, make this apartment a truly stunning space. It’s home to Audrey and her boyfriend, who moved in six months ago and have recently completed a renovation of the space with the help of their friend, interior designer and blogger Doris Lee.

The previous owners had furnished and decorated the apartment in a pristine, white, ultra-modern style which wasn’t to Audrey’s taste, so she enlisted Doris’ help to create a softer, more lived-in vibe. They introduced lots of vintage furniture, lighting and accessories, and used reclaimed scaffolding boards to create shelves in the living area and a new table in the dining area. Finishing touches such as a set of Vanity Fair prints in the guest bedroom complete the vintage feel. Doris also came up with the idea of painting the window frames — along with the main feature wall in the living room area — a shade of deepest teal. This gorgeous, deep color draws attention to the windows, which are such a feature of the apartment, and gives the space greater definition and character. The color and vintage elements work perfectly against the backdrop of the apartment’s crisp, clean lines, and the result is at once seriously stylish and hugely welcoming.

My Style: Cosy urban industrial

Inspiration: New York lofts and London vintage flea markets

Favorite Element: Colour framed windows spanning the living room and bedroom

Biggest Challenge: Working with the existing Douglas Fir flooring

What Friends Say: It’s a transformation from the clinical look it had before

Biggest Embarrassment: The reading corner just has inherited furniture at the moment, and at some point I’d love to redo it, with a bookshelf and cosier chairs.

Proudest DIY: Scaffolding shelves and dining table (ok, DIY with a carpenter!)

Biggest Indulgence: 1950s Italian Sputnik 15-bulb Chandelier

Best Advice: Go with your eye rather than decorating theories. You will be the one looking at it every day.

Dream Sources: Flea markets, especially Sunbury. And my interior designer and blogger friend Doris!

PAINT & COLORS

• Ceiling and woodwork: Leyland Pastel (2010) 0603-R60B
• Blue Feature wall and window highlights – Dulux Azure Fusion 1

ENTRY

• Industrial cabinet (used to house shoes, armchair, and hooks) – Sunbury Antiques Market

LIVING ROOM

• Shelves – made out of reclaimed scaffolding boards held in place with 3-prong hair pin table legs
• Blueprints – Sunbury Antiques Market
• Sofa – reupholstered with hand-dyed leather in colour Cognac
• Light – Italian 1950s Sputnik Chandelier from Alfies Antique Market
• Industrial floor light – The Old Cinema

KITCHEN/DINING ROOM

• Dining table – used to be a glass table, legs reused and reclaimed scaffolding boards bonded together to create a large 8-seater table
• Concrete pendant lights – Made.com

MASTER BEDROOM

• Wallpaper – Designers Guild Udyana Gold
• Sideboard – Ebay
• Mirror – bespoke and hand-turned by local artisan

BATHROOM

• Vintage lights – The Old Cinema
• Industrial Storage Bins – The Old Cinema

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