Where others saw a compact flat, it's current owners saw a chance to get creative with the layout

Just a few streets away from the hustle of London’s Euston Road, it’s something of a surprise to stumble across a quiet residential area where the cacophony of car horns is little more than a distant hum. Tucked away on one such side street is a row of traditional mansion blocks, inside of which lies William and Ann Tozer’s compact flat. It was the appeal of 24-hour city living that drew them here. ‘We’d been renting a flat in Soho for about six years and were on the lookout for our first home,’ recalls William. ‘We wanted to stay in central London so it was a question of finding something we could afford.’ As is so often the case for first-time buyers, that meant buying something fairly small and in need of work.

After initially viewing what is now their home, William, a successful architect with his own practice, was confident that even with less than 50sqm of space to play with, he could rethink the layout and turn the small one-bedroom flat into a two-bedroom pad with plenty to shout about. And this he has done, showing that there’s no reason why a tiny pied-à-terre in the city shouldn’t feel incredibly light and spacious.

‘In any of my projects, there’s always one central idea that drives the whole thing forward,’ explains William. ‘Here, it was a question of creating one big, open space. We did this by introducing long views, stretching from one end of the flat to the other.’ The flat originally had a small lobby area with a corridor leading directly to the bathroom, and the kitchen was located where the second bedroom is now. By removing several of these internal walls he was able to create one main living space, with the kitchen as a self-contained ‘pod’ where the corridor used to be.

With the kitchen relocated to its new spot in the main living space, William started to think about creating the illusion of light and space. In the area above the kitchen cabinets, he fitted mirrors and then lit the space with fluorescent tubes. This tricks you into thinking you can see through into the adjoining room, a feature which is replicated on the other side of the wall above the wardrobes.

The lighting effects don’t stop there, either. Industrial-looking garden lamps fixed to the wall in the main living area and bathroom are used to create various effects. Tilted upwards, they cast a bright light across the ceiling to mimic the effect of natural daylight – a welcome addition on a damp and grey afternoon. ‘I’ve always loved building sites more than finished buildings,’ explains William. ‘There’s too much certainty to a finished project. Items such as the garden lamps, old floor and stark white walls give this place an unfinished feel, as if it’s a work in progress.’

Stripping the flat back to a bare shell also allowed William to play with the ceiling heights and floor levels. These subtle changes manipulate your sense of space, helping to define each area and making you believe there might be several other rooms hidden around the next corner. Dual ceiling levels in the bedroom draw your eyes upwards, giving the impression of height, while two steps leading up into the second bedroom fool you into thinking the compact room is bigger than it really is.

One of the most unexpected features of the entire flat is the surprisingly spacious bathroom. ‘Having one room that’s disproportionately bigger than you would expect helps to make the entire flat seem larger,’ points out William. In addition, concealed pipework, a wall-hung toilet and basin and a sandblasted glass shower screen combine to make the most streamlined look possible.

The choice of materials is also crucial to this project’s success. Stainless-steel splashbacks define the kitchen area, while a solid island unit makes the transition to the living area. ‘I wanted to introduce a visual clue as to what each area was for,’ he explains. ‘If we had gone for a stainless-steel top on the island, it would have altered the dynamics of the space, making it feel like a large kitchen with a tiny seating area at one end. This way, there’s a more equal division of space.’ White-painted walls and bare floorboards throughout the flat create continuity, while everything from the sofas to the bed has legs so you can see the floor underneath – vital for extending the sense of space.

But there are always issues with radically altering proportions. The removal of the internal walls meant the flat didn’t comply with fire regulations as it no longer had an entrance area that could be closed off, so William had to come up with an idea to get around this. Two floor-to-ceiling white doors near the front door were the answer. When folded back, these inconspicuous additions simply blend into the walls, but if the smoke alarm is ever activated the magnetic door catches are automatically released and the doors close. ‘It can cause problems when we’re cooking,’ laughs William.

After looking round the flat, you can’t help but wonder if it’s difficult to live in such a small area, but William is quick to point out how well it works for both him and Ann. ‘Living in a small space shouldn’t be seen as a compromised version of living in a large space, but as an opportunity to take advantage of the distinct qualities that it offers. A well-designed small space allows a more efficient lifestyle, from social interaction through to cleaning.’ And then there’s the question of the environment. ‘We hear so much about making buildings eco-friendly, through proper insulation, for example,’ says William, ‘but how eco-friendly can it be for two people to live in a five-bedroom house if they have to heat all that empty space? For me, the best option is to live in smaller properties where the space is used as efficiently as possible.’

Useful Contacts

Architect: William Tozer www.wtad.co.uk

Words: Beth Myers Photography: Edina Van Der Wick