CONDENSED VERSION

Sarah Wolfendale likes a compact, elegant space and she has achieved it in her family home. My husband Tom and I bought the flat three years ago and lived in it for a year The bones were great but the original layout didn’t work. The main living space didn’t have a lot of natural light. Also, the bathroom and laundry were impractical, there was no sense of entry and the full height wasn’t being utilised. We flipped the layout so the main spaces are framed by the arched windows allowing more light. Also, we were able to add an ensuite. We created a mezzanine above the bathrooms that is 1.7m high and, although not everyone can stand up straight in it, it allows for lots of storage, a double bed for guests and a desk. I wanted to be sympathetic to the original building and accentuate the heritage features while giving it a modern twist. My design aesthetic is a mix of Scandinavian, French and Belgian. I love the arched windows and the high ceilings, the oak chevron floors and the white linen curtains. But the best thing is the storage and how easy it is to keep our home clean and tidy. I really wanted the joinery to float from the floor to give the illusion of space. We have been building up our furniture collection and have a ‘one in and one out’ policy, so the space won’t become too cluttered. How do you use the space? We spend most of our time in the open-plan living area. Every morning we open up all the curtains and doors into the bedrooms, so light filters in from both sides which makes the space feel bigger.