This one-bedroom apartment is located in the Cyril Mansions building, a mansion block built in 1895 that fronts Battersea Park in London. Tall ceilings, thick walls, and generous windows conveyed the building’s Victorian-era character, but this particular unit had become rundown after hosting a series of renters. Its most recent owner asked Astrain Studio for a remodel that would skew “contemporary, but remain respectful of the age of the building,” says the firm.

Architect Irene Astrain was struck by the 665-square-foot home’s charm and quirks, but knew from the first step inside that the layout would need improvement.

“[The apartment] had been subdivided from a larger property and then rented out for many years,” says Astrain. “It was dated, tired, and cluttered, and unfortunately also quite dark, particularly in the dining area of the kitchen and in the entrance hallway. And I particularly disliked how the first thing you saw when you walked into the flat was the WC!”

Before: Entry

Astrain’s key design move was to relocate the bathroom, swapping it with the dining area, so that the outlook from the front door was enormously improved. In the new spot, the dining room is brighter and more inviting, as it benefits from an existing exterior window and no longer feels as though it’s been crammed into the kitchen.

After: Entry

Before: Dining Room

After: Dining Room

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

The client and architect evaluated whether to combine all the living spaces into one open plan, but chose instead to keep the separate rooms defined to preserve the home’s proportions.

“We came up with some good options that allowed for [an open plan], but the client soon realized she didn’t want to lose the sense of rooms, which gave this apartment a cozier feel,” says Astrain. “She also liked the idea that if she had friends staying, they could turn the living room into their bedroom, which was an important reason not to make the bathroom an en-suite.”

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

“In terms of design difficulties, the biggest challenge was to arrive at a design that would be of its time, but would also reflect and respect the original Victorian mansion block building,” says Astrain.

The solution was to stick to a rule wherein the “fabric of the flat,” such as walls, doors, and skirtings, adhered to a traditional Victorian style. Rooms that would naturally evolve over time, such as the kitchen and bathroom, received a more modern treatment, which creates a pleasant balance of styles throughout.

To that end, modern material choices, such as the bespoke plywood storage elements, are juxtaposed with the Victorian detailing. The building’s main entry has a marble mosaic floor, which Astrain took as inspiration for the new marble fireplace surround, kitchen counter, and bathroom walls.

“Combining [the marble] with more contemporary materials, such as plywood in the kitchen and geometric tiles in the bathroom, helped marry the Victorian and contemporary styles,” says Astrain.

Shop the Look

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom

Before: Bedroom

After: Bedroom

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Project Credits:

Architect: Astrain Studio (@astrain.studio)

Builder: Robert's 21st Century Design

Structural Engineer: David Cackett at Galbraith Hunt Pennington Ltd

Lighting and Interior Design: Astrain Studio

Cabinetry: Design by Architect/ Installation by Contractor

Building Control Services: Stroma

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Before & After: A Key Layout Swap Smooths Out the Kinks of This Victorian Flat in London