Inside a Notting Hill Townhouse by Elnaz Namaki

How Elnaz Namaki joined forces with HvB Development for a dramatic redesign of a classic Notting Hill townhouse

Inside a Notting Hill townhouse by Elnaz Namaki Studio

The key word to sum up the appeal of a design by Elnaz Namaki Studio is contrast. And no wonder, when the British-born designer has such a myriad of experience to draw on; an education at both Bartlett and Sotheby’s to start with, a stint at the Sorbonne in Paris, and perhaps most pertinently – a love of travel to which she credits her richly multifaceted interior schemes. Her expert eye for antiques, paired with an shrewd instinct for mixing styles, earned her the job of rebooting this classic London townhouse in Notting Hill in February 2019.

Owned by a couple recently relocated to London, the challenge was to translate a little of the client’s former home in Munich to a new setting. Opening up the layout and letting the architecture breathe was also a priority. ‘We needed to maximise ceiling heights and natural light throughout,’ remembers Namaki. Enter HvB Development, who along with the design studio, was tasked with achieving a bold, contemporary new layout. One aspect that didn’t present a problem was a wealth of grade II-listed features – from original cornicing to exquisitely crafted joinery and shutters. But how to honour the building’s heritage while weaving in impactful contemporary style and artistic flair?

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After elevating the ceiling height by almost two metres, Namaki decided on a rich, dark-toned wood flooring as the core material ‘to create warmth’. ‘When it came to incorporating colour we combined marble and ceramic tiles in the bathroom for pops of blue and green’ – the clients’ favourite colours . With the foundations firmly in place, the next step was to bring in existing artworks, vintage pieces such as a black Eames lounge chair and striking accents like metal ceiling tiles. ‘Our vision was to layer warm colour tones and textures, mixing old and new elements with a selection of furniture and materials.’

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A very different feeling takes over outside, thanks to the new rear elevation by HvB. ‘From the garden it looks more like a New York townhouse,’ muses Namaki, ‘with a black metal wraparound balcony and crittall glazing’. The end result is a collaboration of three different visions: striking modernist architecture, art and antiques-led design, and the small personal details and character of a family home. ‘Seeing new pieces come together with the clients’ furniture and artwork was probably my favourite part,’ concludes Namaki. ‘It’s a space that feels calm, warm and timeless with open spatial flow and clean lines throughout.’

elnaznamaki.com; hvbdevelopment.com

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