Belgravia Revival
Boasting a rock star legacy as it was once the home of Rod Stewart, this beautiful six storey, six bedroomed Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in London’s Belgravia hadn’t been lived in for some years and was in need of some TLC when the new owners bought it. A full renovation and small extension to the rear courtyard was undertaken by award-winning architectural practice Nick Elias Studio.
‘It had some interesting non-original features that are mock baroque but are quintessentially English. The clients were quite keen to keep them, decorating where necessary and installing new floors, a new kitchen and new bathrooms. They wanted to update it and bring it into the 21st century,’ explains founder Nick Elias.
Stone flooring, walls and worksurfaces were deemed a prerequisite in the elegant scheme because of stone’s durability and longevity and, because we came highly recommended, our stone was chosen in some of the key rooms.
The owners wanted to freshen the décor up, unify it and make it more serene aesthetically.
A traditional country look was chosen for the kitchen with white Smallbone cabinetry imbuing an elegance that marries with the period-style conservatory extension.
To inject visual interest, a sumptuous soft grey Carrara marble floor with blue-black Kendal Cabochons and a perimeter border from Ca' Pietra was installed. ‘The cabochons have a beautiful textural quality, and they introduced some character and evoked a neat aesthetic,’ explains Nick. ‘Large slabs of marble can be very beautiful, but they can be void of character and the floor needed to respect and align with the mock baroque sensibility.’
The elegant aesthetic was continued on the new roof terrace and the family bathroom, which also features a Carrara marble floor with Kendal cabochons. ‘The cabochons were cut on site by the contractor who worked every piece individually to create the floors,’ explains Nick.
In the family bathroom, the floor was complemented with a slightly deeper grey Carrara marble on the bath and shower splashback, injecting extra depth and enhancing the opulent feel.
In the top floor guest suite, soft grey Carrara is used on the floor and for the bath surround and splashback. ‘The clients wanted something with a little texture, but were keen for it to be quite clean,’ says Nick. ‘The splashback and surround ties in with the floor and feels as if it’s a continuation of the floor.’ The period ambience was enhanced with a console basin and panelling part way up the wall. Light floods in through the roof light and, along with the soft grey and white colour scheme, ensures a beautifully bright and airy feel.
