22 Metres Square

Portobello, London

Residential

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The floor plan of the 22m squared studio flat. Previous image: Sheila & David Hopwood in their redesigned pied-à-terre

The kitchen is designed to look like a bar so we eschewed wall cupboards in favour of open shelves for the essentials. A slim console acts as both dining table and desk.

Detail of the worktop in Formica Aria, a solid compact laminate, which is hard wearing and easy to install. Mindful of sustainability, the wall tiles were left over from a previous project. The illustrated plant pots are from Made.com.

The wardrobe is highly designed inside to maximise storage - everything has a place. The bed is now where the former kitchen sat. Karndean vinyl flooring was a practical option as the small space means that heavy footfall would wear out conventional flooring. The TV is on a gimbal so you can watch it from the sofa and in bed, surely the perk of small space living! A sofa bed is a practical option for when (close) friends come to stay.

The coffee table also works as a bench so you can put your feet up after a long Saturday browsing Portobello Market. The rug is from West Elm.

The headboard wall is covered in a tough vinyl from Tektura and there was even room for a tiny custom bedside table. We reduced the amount of ceiling spots, which can feel oppressive in a small space, in favour of low lighting and LED. Crucially, all the lights can be switched off from the bed.

A trick for small bathrooms is to use fewer materials on a larger scale and in larger quantities. Tiling the whole room helps it feel larger and despite the size of the flat we've managed the luxury of a bath. The toilet and basin are hung from the wall to maximise floor space and a tall cupboard opposite the basin is large enough to house toiletries and loo roll. Leftover Formica Aria adds texture to the room.

Rather than cluttering the bathroom with bottles we've used over scaled vases from Made.com.

The floor plan of the 22m squared studio flat. Previous image: Sheila & David Hopwood in their redesigned pied-à-terre

The kitchen is designed to look like a bar so we eschewed wall cupboards in favour of open shelves for the essentials. A slim console acts as both dining table and desk.

The coffee table also works as a bench so you can put your feet up after a long Saturday browsing Portobello Market. The rug is from West Elm.

Rather than cluttering the bathroom with bottles we've used over scaled vases from Made.com.

22 Metres Square

Designers Statement

For a professional interior designer it is never advisable to design a home for either family or friends, unless if it’s for your parents as they are so forgiving, and may just be daring enough to offer free rein. Many years ago when I wanted to escape life in an architect’s office and instead start my own design practice, my parents invited me to design the tiniest flat of barely 22 square metres. Close to Portobello Road, they had purchased the studio as their base to enjoy all the fun of London during the weekends. The result was classic early nineties, quite romantic with dado rails, invisible doors and Neisha Crosland wallpaper, but they did have to contend with a sofa bed for the night.

The project was the first in my folio and helped me launch my career. For my folks, the flat gave them so many great memories and they have entertained children, grandchildren and now even great grandchildren there. Twenty seven years later my father suggested that the flat might need a lick of paint. Not content with this, I wanted to take advantage of all the improvements in materials in the intervening years, to turn their tiny flat into a pioneering example of modern micro living.

All in the project cost £60k.