See how AKIVA re-imagined a period house in Belsize Park, NW3—relocating the kitchen, adding bespoke joinery and saving the owner £1.9 k through trade-discount procurement

The Details

Who: A dynamic young professional, embarking on their first homeownership journey, seeking a space that truly mirrors their personality and style.

What: A characterful two-bedroom house spread across three levels, complete with a generous garden space.

Where: The picturesque and vibrant neighborhood of Belsize Park, London.

The Design Brief

The client approached us with a beautifully furnished home, yet felt that something was missing. While the major pieces were in place, the space lacked the cohesion, warmth, and unique touches that would make it a true reflection of their personal style. Our task was to transform this house into a home that exudes character, ensuring every corner feels intentional and lived in.

During our consultancy, the client made a bold decision to relocate the kitchen from its central position to a location adjacent to the garden. This shift was not only about enhancing the functionality of the space but also about fostering a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living. The original kitchen, tucked between the Living and Dining rooms, felt disconnected and lacked the vibrancy that the client desired. By moving it closer to the garden, we created a harmonious flow that invites the outdoors in, making the kitchen a lively hub for both cooking and entertaining.

Our Interior Design Approach

Our interior designer, Betina, began by delving deep into the client’s tastes, exploring their love for different colours, textures, and styles. With the existing furniture as a foundation, we identified key areas for enhancement that would bring the client’s vision to life.

Living and Dining Room

With its high ceilings and elegant bay windows, this space was ripe for transformation. Betina introduced a bold pop of colour through accent pieces and incorporated a mix of textures and materials to create a layered, sophisticated look. The room now serves as a striking focal point of the home, balancing comfort with style.

Staircase

To add depth and character without overwhelming the space, we painted the balustrade in a deep navy shade. This subtle change created a dramatic contrast, enhancing the area while maintaining the flow of natural light.

Kitchen and Office Relocation

This aspect of the project posed unique challenges. The original kitchen—now a compact yet highly functional office—features a narrow layout with a slanted ceiling. Conversely, the new kitchen, previously the office space, was narrower and had an angled wall that required creative planning. Despite these constraints, we achieved a cohesive and visually appealing design that integrates seamlessly with the rest of the home.

Bathroom

What began as a builder-beige, bath-over-shower room is now a boutique-hotel sanctuary. Using our premium makeover, we recommended the removal of the tub to create a step-free, glazed walk-in shower clad in handcrafted olive-green zellige tiles. Honed Carrara marble wraps the remaining walls and floor, while a fluted walnut floating vanity adds warmth and generous hidden storage beneath a sculpted marble basin. Brushed-brass taps, flush plate and shower frame provide jewellery-like highlights, and halo-lit mirrors plus recessed LED niches flood the room with soft, ambient light. Under-floor heating and demisting pads complete the spa-level comfort. The result is a calm yet characterful retreat that elevates everyday routines and ties effortlessly into the home’s refined palette.

Interior Design Journey

The engagement opened with a 10-hour consultancy block aimed at extracting maximum impact from the rooms that were already in place. We fine-tuned layouts, tweaked colour accents and supplied a click-through shopping list, so the owners could upgrade furnishings and accessories with confidence and minimal disruption.

Buoyed by those early wins, the client upgraded to two Premium Makeover packages—one each for the relocated kitchen and the new office—complete with a site-measure visit, precision floor plans and annotated 2-D elevations that laid out every finish and fitting in advance. At the same time, they commissioned a full bathroom overhaul, the builder-grade tub-and-tile setup was stripped back to studwork and rebuilt as a marble-clad, walk-in shower room, specified through the same Premium Makeover framework to keep design language and documentation perfectly consistent across all three spaces.

Seamless Procurement & Trade-Discount Savings

Living & Dining Room:

• Burnt Orange Stool – Swoon

• Geometric Cushion – Oka

• Gold Bowl Coffee Table Accent – West Elm

• Large Pedestal Planter – West Elm

• Abstract Pot – Oka

• Ceiling and Wall Lights – West Elm

Kitchen:

• Cabinet Doors – Naked Kitchens

• Carcasses – Howdens

• Handles and Knobs – Heritage Brass on Antique Brass

• Bar Stools – John Lewis

• Ottoman Bench in Smart Leather Tan – Swoon

Bathroom:

• Marble Tiles – Manadarin Stone

• Green Tiles – Mandarin Stone

• Vanity Unit – Enquire directly

• Basin – Mandarin Stone

• Mirror – CP Hart

• Brushed Brass fittings – Drench