A Notting Hill flat with a surprisingly airy interior by Natasha Quick

So often the interiors that really capture the imagination are those that have something a little surprising about them – that aren’t quite as they first seem, unfolding in a way that isn’t immediately obvious. The surprise at this west London flat starts at the front door, sandwiched between a couple of shopfronts in Notting Hill, which leaves it almost invisible amidst window displays. Once you do step beyond its pale blue glossy front door, the sight that greets you is a corridor – in fact this is all that there is on the ground floor. Other than the pretty floral curtain hung at the far end, there is little hint of that once you’ve climbed the set of stairs off to the right, you will find a wonderfully airy and elegant three bedroom apartment, spread across two floors. And then there is the fact that the first room you enter, sandwiched between the kitchen-dining area and living area, is an entirely unexpected generous entrance hall, with a central table and upright piano. ‘It’s an incredibly lovely London pied-à-terre and you don't imagine there to be all these beautiful, light-filled open rooms from the busy shop fronts outside,’ says interior designer Natasha Quick, who spent the best part of a year working on the project for her clients, a cool creative couple with a young family. They had found her through Instagram, no doubt attracted by her pretty, layered style, which feels classic but entirely right for today.

The couple had already lived in the flat for three years, so Natasha’s first task was to identify what they wanted to keep and where there was scope for a rethink. A pair of Soane’s ‘Scrolling Fern’ curtains in the sitting room were to stay, as was a large painting by Sahara Longe, which the wife – who works for art consultancy Act One – had bought some years before. So too was the piano, which is a vital bit of kit for the husband who works in the music industry. The layout, with the open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting area on the first floor and bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs – worked well, but they decided to carve out space for a third bedroom by building above the area where the dining table now resides. In turn, this prompted them to rethink the kitchen, which moved from where the dining table now is to the opposite side of the room. A loo – ‘the world’s smallest I’m sure,’ jokes Natasha – was squeezed in just off the sitting area, while an area next to this that had been a bit of dumping ground was transformed into a glamorous bar area and painted in ‘Deep Brunswick Green’ by Little Greene. ‘The owners love to entertain, so this made complete sense,’ explains Natasha.

Elsewhere, space was carved out for much-needed storage, designed to ensure the interior would feel uncluttered and serene. Niches were added in the main bedroom, as well as either side of the piano in the brilliant entrance hall space. There are even little pull-out shelves. ‘They just give you somewhere to put your notes and drink when playing the piano,’ explains Natasha, who closely collaborated with the wife to ensure that they got all the little details just right.