Magma architecture did a stunning job bringing curves in black to the heart of this project on Great Eastern Street that sits in a former factory. Now it was our turn to bring in texture with plants and soft furnishings to soften the huge barn style ceilings, wood floors and brick walls.

When we first checked out the space we instantly imagined a black table to echo the black of the curved kitchen and shelves that would sit as a punctuation point between the wood of the exposed beams and raw wood floor. Set in front of this beautiful row of sash windows we wanted to make it a foodie’s dream and the perfect place to entertain.

  

When we first checked out the space we instantly imagined a black table that would sit as a punctuation point between the wood of the exposed beams and raw wood floor. Set in front of this beautiful row of sash windows we wanted to make it a foodie’s dream and the perfect place to entertain. The place took us to the loft-living of 80s Manhattan which we then softened up with plants. The metal and curved back of the chairs echo the spiral staircase.

We imagined the shelves linking kitchen and living room as the kind of place you would put ‘moveable’ objects on, picking them up on your way past to sitting room or kitchen, a constantly evolving installation softened up by the texture of ferns or trailing plants.

We created a few stories around the flat to keep potential buyers intrigued about the kind of person that could live there and put furniture in the best places possible for buyers to see how they could live there too.

Sitting in the pitch of the roof, work items can be hidden in the storage cupboard or it can be used as a guest room with an adjacent bathroom with roll-top bath, walk-in shower and window to the stars. 

We gave this more of a rustic feel, like you were in your perfect weekend getaway.

The place is in a very busy part of East London so it felt important to make it feel like a cosy place to escape back to as well as an ideal live/work space.

We linked the plants with a large cushion to use when reading books or lying on the sofa using a Berber style rug to soften up the floor. Light coloured upholstered furniture, a Danish lounge chair and British sofa look homely and contained between the black of the central section of the apartment and stretch of windows leading to the outside world giving you space to relax and kick back as soon as you enter the appartment.

Putting items on the black curves that have small shelf areas felt unnecessary. It is so important to us when staging that we keep the integrity of the architecture and allow you to see it in all its glory.

Terrariums were put in the downstairs cloakroom as there was little daylight.

 

Heading down a set of stairs next to the central shelves and behind the dining area you reach another floor where there are two bedrooms and a bathroom. A large wicker basket on feet, the perfect place to chuck throws or magazines, softens up the brick wall. We added texture with a large plant and soft lightly crinkled cotton on the bed too.  The plum curtains were already in place so we brought in grey and soft pinks to balance this out with an accent cushion in black and white, bringing in the colours of the architecture from the entrance level floor. 

The bathroom on this floor, neutral white and concrete-style tiles with chrome fixtures needed a little softening too with a mix of textures and bath bomb style round soap. Lilac, chocolate brown, cream and pale creamy balance out the grey and white. The Modern House was very happy with what we had done for their client who had previously tried to sell the flat empty which did not give buyers a feel of how they could live in the space.

 Staging that has emotion and a sense of space is so important when it comes to selling. It is important for the stager to take themselves out of the mix. No room for ego. It’s all about creating a space that to all intents and purposes does not look staged at all. Overstaging can take a home to the realms of serviced apartment.

Staging – Petra and Lucy modernshowspropertystaging.com

Photographer – Stephen James c The Modern House