The benefits good interior design can bring to your residential block of flats

Residential block directors are increasingly realising the benefits of investing in good interior design, both for the enjoyment of residents as well as the potential uplift in the value of properties located within the blocks.

Sam Bheda, an interior designer, was appointed to undertake a major design and redecoration project for an iconic grade two listed 1930s block in North London. He explains the specialist skills required for the project, and the value the interior design has provided for the benefit of residents.

The consultation and planning stages for the project

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Redecoration works are often fraught with difficulties and contradicting views. When I started working on the project, I took a general brief from the directors of the block. I then spent time meeting with residents and facilitated fact-finding sessions to establish what they wanted to achieve. I then undertook my own research to determine the creative direction, the aim of which was to deliver a scheme that was sympathetic to the architectural design of the building and at the same time creating stylish, inviting and comfortable communal areas for its residents. The challenge was creating a modern aesthetic that worked with the art deco style of the building.

The Interiors - Before 

Like many residential blocks in London, the common parts hadn’t been redecorated for over 15 years so they looked very dated - the walls were rag rolled in a peach colour and the carpet looked tired - the interiors just didn’t live up to the prestige of the building and it’s iconic status.

When the directors approached me, I discussed the potential the building had with them. I felt that it would be a great opportunity to do something unique so I worked with them to establish the overall scope of the project which included replacing the flooring, redecoration works, new lighting throughout and the addition of specific decorative elements.

Value

The value I brought was in designing a decorative scheme that was fully coordinated and which I supervised through to successful implementation. The vision for the project was to design a space that would capture the elegance of living in a1930s apartment block. This included developing the interior design concept, the colour palette and materials, the design direction, sourcing products from specialist suppliers both in the UK an Europe, designing bespoke items such as radiator grilles and mirrors and fully costing the project. I presented my ideas to residents and directors through mood board presentations and then refined the scheme based on their feedback.

As far as redecoration projects go, this was fairly complex as there were multiple parties involved, from the residents and block directors, to the professionals and specialist contractors and suppliers. I spent time researching, sourcing and specifying suitable products; good quality materials such as natural carpets, durable paints, warm lighting that took into account energy efficiency, ease of maintenance, and compliance with emergency lighting requirements. When designing communal areas, there is a real balance to be achieved between what looks good and what is practical - the flooring needs to be able to stand up to heavy traffic, the paint colours and other finishes need to be attractive yet withstand heavy use - this balance isn’t always easy to achieve.

Key elements of the scheme

One of the key elements was a bespoke patterned carpet I designed, the inspiration for which came from iconic venues such as Radio City Music Hall in New York and theatres in London.

The lighting throughout all the entrance and stairwell areas was a very important element of the overall scheme and I worked with a UK lighting manufacturer to specify the technical requirements. For the entrance lobbies and stairwells, I sourced beautiful flush fitting ceiling lights finished in bronze and added wall sconces to each of the seven blocks in an antique brass finish.

Within each of the seven entrances, bespoke decorative brass grilles and bronze mirrors featuring a large scale chevron pattern provided a striking focal point, both of these features were based on my own designs.

Feedback

Feedback from the residents as well as visitors to the block has been extremely positive. One of the requests from directors at the outset was to ensure durability of all the elements and as part of the project I established cleaning and maintenance regimes in conjunction with the suppliers, which has been implemented to great effect.

The financial investment that’s been made is also paying off. According to one local estate agent, the flats within the block have benefited from an uplift in property values of approximately 5-7%. And although this uplift is difficult to measure objectively, one thing that is certain is that the redesign and investment in the interiors has made the block much more desirable as a place to live.

 

Sam Bheda, Founder & Creative Director of Sam Bheda Interior Design

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