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TG-Studio was approached by
the client, Rhys Cole, to join two
apartments in a South Kensington
mansion block. He had lived in the
basement apartment for some years
and when a ground floor apartment
above his apartment came up on the
market Rhys saw an opportunity to join
both units and double his living space.
His current apartment had become
too small for him and his girlfriend and
staying in the area was a lifestyle choice.
The ground floor apartment had its own
entrance off a pedestrian cobbled mews
in addition to being accessed off the
common parts of the block. He knew
this conversion needed permission from
the planning authority, the conservation
officer of the borough and also the
residents association of the block. In
addition he needed a clever design to
introduce a staircase between the units
and create the grandeur this much
bigger unit deserved. He researched
several architects and designers and
selected TG-Studio.
The lower ground floor and upper ground floor
apartments both consisted of a living room /
dining / kitchen and two bedrooms joining a
bathroom. TG-Studio presented a design that
split the two floors into an entertaining floor
approached by a double height entrance hall
accessed from the picturesque Thistle Grove
and an accommodation floor connected to the
upstairs through a private staircase.
The view on the right shows the double height
entrance lobby inviting one to climb the 6 steps to
the high ceilinged upper ground floor. The mirror
on the left is called Origami by Thomas Griem @
TG-Studio. The wallpaper is silk woven with metal
pleats by Stereo. The stairs are framed by an oak
portal allowing to incorporate low level lighting.
Within the circular ceiling recess is a chandelier
by RVAstley. The sculpture is by Carol Peace