Duplex apartment

Working with architect Eric Parry Architects and interior designer Jacques Grange, William Garvey delivered a comprehensive scheme for this duplex apartment housed in a Grade II* listed building within the City of Westminster Belgravia Conservation Area. Originally built as a grand townhouse in the 1830s, our team carefully crafted bespoke joinery and furniture that respectfully integrates with the Georgian building’s architecture while meeting the exacting standards of the private client.

Fully integrated joinery

Our team designed and made the furniture and joinery to flow seamlessly across the apartment’s various spaces, including a library, sitting room, two dressing rooms, a morning room, a servery, and the main circulation areas, all centred around an elliptical staircase. The overall aim was to achieve a crisp and clean aesthetic.

The oak-panelled library and sitting room is fitted with custom bookshelves and cabinets by William Garvey to house art, books and decorative items. Here, we engineered a unique linear lighting system for the oak shelving which allows shelves to be lifted, repositioned and reinserted easily with the lighting remaining fully functional. A custom solution developed with our electrical supplier.

Traditional method, contemporary style

A traditional French horsehair panelling – a fabric woven with fine tail horsehair and silk on original looms using techniques from the 1870s – was specified by the interior designer for over 100 doors and wall panels throughout the duplex. This work was originally going to be carried out by a visiting French specialist however we took on the challenge of producing these locally and sought out and brought in a specialist artisan maker. The selection of this material, known for its unique and characterful weave, required extensive testing and sample production to ensure both visual appeal and long-term stability, both for the large panels and the matching smaller panels above. We achieved a good result by making sample after sample until the fabric and panels were completely right. Cutouts for hinges presented a particular challenge with this artisan fabric, but the final effect is one of seamless flow.

To complement the fabric and to help with the rigidity of all the doors and panels, we custom-engineered contemporary bronze metal trims along with matching hinges, along with a mix of door handles and flush pull handles. Our engineers fabricated all the components with a satin finish and created exposed door hinges that we had designed to subtly reveal more of the bronze frame.

The servery is concealed behind an upholstered door, clad entirely in stone and detailed with custom metalwork. It features a built-in bar, integrated fridges, shelving, and recessed lighting. In the master suite, the bedroom connects seamlessly to the bathroom and morning room cum dressing room, continuing the refined design language.

Quiet elegance

This project was complex, with the client deeply involved at every stage. Their strong personal investment in each detail contributed to a truly unique and precisely executed outcome. The successful navigation of the intricate design and material challenges, and the creation of joinery to fit the quiet elegance of the property, underscores our commitment to thoughtful design and careful craftsmanship.