Houzz Tour: Updates for a Penthouse in an Old London Schoolhouse
This apartment in a Victorian building gets an open layout and clean-lined style with citrus-colored accents
Simon Baker and Roberta Schwarz started off with a two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse apartment in a converted Victorian schoolhouse in London. The numbers haven’t changed, but everything else has. “The space wasn’t working,” says Viki Lander of Ensoul. Together with colleague Philip Rogerson, she transformed the Victorian into a light-filled home with a fluid layout that capitalizes on the fabulous structural features.
Baker and Schwarz found Ensoul on Houzz and fell for the orange and green accents the designers had used in another project. Clean and simple Scandinavian style with touches of color was another key to this remodel. “We had to deliver cool and beautiful,” Lander says.
Baker and Schwarz found Ensoul on Houzz and fell for the orange and green accents the designers had used in another project. Clean and simple Scandinavian style with touches of color was another key to this remodel. “We had to deliver cool and beautiful,” Lander says.
A Custom Kitchen for a Cook
The kitchen is custom-built. “Simon is a keen cook and blogs about food, so although beautiful, the kitchen also had to be practical, as it’s used all the time,” Lander says.
The breakfast bar at the end of the island is a handy spot to grab a cup of coffee or look through cookbooks.
Find counter stools with footrests and pedestal bases
The kitchen is custom-built. “Simon is a keen cook and blogs about food, so although beautiful, the kitchen also had to be practical, as it’s used all the time,” Lander says.
The breakfast bar at the end of the island is a handy spot to grab a cup of coffee or look through cookbooks.
Find counter stools with footrests and pedestal bases
The island is bookmatched oak, while the cabinetry is spray-painted charcoal gray as a contrast. The countertop is white Corian. “It’s neutral, but it has character,” Lander says.
Refrigerator-freezer: Fisher & Paykel
Refrigerator-freezer: Fisher & Paykel
Baker’s cooking essentials are close at hand, and a pullout spray faucet adds to the kitchen’s professional feel.
Wrapped in durable stainless steel, the shelves repeat the finish of the dishwasher drawers alongside the sink and fridge-freezer. “We stripped back the number of materials, so we could put in splashes of color,” Lander says.
Dishwasher: Fisher & Paykel
Wrapped in durable stainless steel, the shelves repeat the finish of the dishwasher drawers alongside the sink and fridge-freezer. “We stripped back the number of materials, so we could put in splashes of color,” Lander says.
Dishwasher: Fisher & Paykel
The island has an induction cooktop and a teppanyaki griddle, which Baker had imported.
The bar cabinet was custom-made in the interior’s accent orange.
Nexus 20 pendant lights: Nordlux
Find a cabinetmaker for your project
The bar cabinet was custom-made in the interior’s accent orange.
Nexus 20 pendant lights: Nordlux
Find a cabinetmaker for your project
Beyond the living area is an inviting outdoor deck with built-in bench seating.
Vibrant Colors Against White Walls
The couple already owned the dining table, chairs and sofa. “Our job was to bring the interior to life with bespoke accessories that had to work with the existing key pieces,” Lander says.
The couple bought striking artworks from independent artists online and displayed them throughout the apartment.
Dokka pendant lights: Northern; painting by Marijan Novak Slunjski: Artfinder
The couple already owned the dining table, chairs and sofa. “Our job was to bring the interior to life with bespoke accessories that had to work with the existing key pieces,” Lander says.
The couple bought striking artworks from independent artists online and displayed them throughout the apartment.
Dokka pendant lights: Northern; painting by Marijan Novak Slunjski: Artfinder
Lime green features prominently, with a cabinet adding a shot of color to this wall.
The former school’s roof beams are painted black to stand out against the white backdrop, emphasizing the height of the ceiling.
Wall cabinet and sideboard: Go Modern; painting by Marijan Novak Slunjski: Artfinder
The former school’s roof beams are painted black to stand out against the white backdrop, emphasizing the height of the ceiling.
Wall cabinet and sideboard: Go Modern; painting by Marijan Novak Slunjski: Artfinder
For visual punch, the couple arrange their books by color in bookshelves made to fit the space.
Design Debate: Should You Use Books for Decoration?
Design Debate: Should You Use Books for Decoration?
A zinc-wrapped sliding door separates the main living space from the hall. Its industrial look complements the ceiling’s steelwork.
In the hall, a structural pillar supports a flat-panel radiator. The space also includes generous shoe storage.
Colorado seven-door shoe cabinet: Germania
Personal Spaces: 12 Real-Life Savvy Shoe Storage Ideas
Colorado seven-door shoe cabinet: Germania
Personal Spaces: 12 Real-Life Savvy Shoe Storage Ideas
A Serene Master Suite
The master bedroom is open to the en suite bathroom, with a half wall creating just the right amount of privacy.
A small balcony lies beyond the bifold door. A digital print of a forest cleverly conceals the building’s service equipment, which runs along the edge of the balcony.
A large wall mirror reflects the lovely forest view. Along with the white walls and white-painted beams, it helps make the bedroom feel fresh and filled with light.
Browse wall hangings by favorite themes
The master bedroom is open to the en suite bathroom, with a half wall creating just the right amount of privacy.
A small balcony lies beyond the bifold door. A digital print of a forest cleverly conceals the building’s service equipment, which runs along the edge of the balcony.
A large wall mirror reflects the lovely forest view. Along with the white walls and white-painted beams, it helps make the bedroom feel fresh and filled with light.
Browse wall hangings by favorite themes
Warm gray tones create a calm, restful feel.
Iris by Guardia bed and bedside tables: Head2bed; painting by Olena Topliss: Artfinder
Iris by Guardia bed and bedside tables: Head2bed; painting by Olena Topliss: Artfinder
The made-to-order closet repeats color tones used elsewhere in the apartment, giving the interior a cohesive feel.
Closet: Go Modern
Closet: Go Modern
With the en suite being behind a half wall, the space feels airy. “The area seems bigger because it’s broken up, but everything is part of the same space,” Lander says.
The eye-catching red painting is by Inge Strobl, an aunt of one of the homeowners.
The eye-catching red painting is by Inge Strobl, an aunt of one of the homeowners.
Lander used black faucets in the en suite. “The couple don’t like shiny chrome, so everything is either brushed or stainless steel with black,” she says.
The tub is freestanding. “It looks more contemporary, as it has cleaner lines,” Lander says.
Bathtub and faucets: Lusso Stone; wall and floor tiles: Topps Tiles
Browse black bathroom faucets
The tub is freestanding. “It looks more contemporary, as it has cleaner lines,” Lander says.
Bathtub and faucets: Lusso Stone; wall and floor tiles: Topps Tiles
Browse black bathroom faucets
The en suite’s toilet is separate from and behind the bathing space to create privacy.
Office-Guest Room With 2 Levels
The second bedroom is a home office-cum-guest room, with a desk opposite the sofa bed. The wall to the left of the sofa bed is painted brick. “We did think about going back to exposed brick, but it’s expensive and you never know what the brick will look like, so we kept it painted,” Lander says.
Painting by Snezana Djordjevic: Artfinder
The second bedroom is a home office-cum-guest room, with a desk opposite the sofa bed. The wall to the left of the sofa bed is painted brick. “We did think about going back to exposed brick, but it’s expensive and you never know what the brick will look like, so we kept it painted,” Lander says.
Painting by Snezana Djordjevic: Artfinder
The second bedroom’s mezzanine level has room for a mattress to accommodate extra guests.
Lander cleverly designed a staircase that doubles as a bookcase to lead up to the space, and the couple’s binders and bins repeat the signature bold colors used elsewhere.
Lander cleverly designed a staircase that doubles as a bookcase to lead up to the space, and the couple’s binders and bins repeat the signature bold colors used elsewhere.
The guest bathroom has a shower. Custom mirrored cabinetry provides useful storage, while the aqua tile helps zone the shower area.
Wall and floor tiles: Topps Tiles
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Wall and floor tiles: Topps Tiles
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Simon Baker and Roberta Schwarz
Location: Peckham, southeast London
Size: Two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designers: Viki Lander and Philip Rogerson of Ensoul
“The biggest transformation was removing the wall between the kitchen and the living space,” Lander says. A structural pillar, around which the kitchen island is designed, is all that remains of the partition, and the kitchen, dining and living areas are now one big space.
The walls were painted white throughout the apartment. “They keep it bright and light,” Lander says. “It’s a continuous canvas, which meant we could punch out color and highlight pieces of art.”
The original wood floor was sanded and re-stained. Except for the kitchen and bathrooms, which have practical porcelain tiles, it runs throughout the apartment, creating a unified feel.