Flawk takes cues from French home interiors for overhaul of unloved London townhouse
Creative developer Flawk has revamped a townhouse in London's Holland Park to evoke the effortless "je ne sais quois" of homes in the south of France.
Before the renovation, the three-storey property had gone untouched for years and was largely in a state of disrepair. The floorboards were worn, mould lined the walls, and the ceiling was shoddily insulated with old jumpers and t-shirts.
When asked to renovate the interior, Flawk founder and Bartlett alumnus Ashley Law made the decision to veer away from the archetypal aesthetic of a west London home. Instead, she drew inspiration from residences in southern France.
"The 'je ne sais quois' and effortless nature of French spaces is something I've envisioned for myself when I'm a proper 'adult'," Law joked.
"I was almost designing this home for myself in 10 years, making the process quite fun and approachable," she told Dezeen.
This concept, together with the tall ceilings on the upper floors, inspired Law to name the project Alta.
"Alta is adapted from altus, a Latin word that means high, deep, or elevated," she explained. "It can also mean 'to nourish' or 'to grow'."
"It captures a sense of a grown-up, sophisticated design sensibility that has created a home which we hope its owners will thrive in."
Flawk began the renovation by updating the home's insulation system and other services to enhance overall energy performance and comfort.
A staircase that originally ran through the middle of the ground floor was torn down and then rebuilt towards the rear of the plan, allowing more natural light inside and forging a better connection between the living spaces.
Its handrail is crafted from stainless steel, while the balustrade is composed of twisted iron stems.
In the kitchen, dark-stained oak floors contrast against white lacquered cabinets made custom by Flawk, with doors featuring a square depression at their centre.
A medley of furnishings selected by vintage dealer Myakin and a large surrealist artwork by south London artist Kate Burling populate the nearby living room.
Upstairs, the bathrooms were given terracotta tile floors and bespoke vanity units topped with pale marble offcuts. Their doors feature square cutouts that recall the kitchen cabinetry downstairs and help to create a sense of spatial coherence.
The principal bedroom is dominated by a sapele wood headboard that spans from one side of the room to the other.
Flawk was established in London in 2022 and has since transformed a number of neglected sites around the capital.
Earlier this year, the small-scale developer collaborated with architecture studio Nikjoo to construct a redbrick townhouse on a former parking lot in Stoke Newington.
The pair have also overhauled a derelict house in Whitechapel together, filling its interiors with fittings crafted by emerging designers.
The photography is by Jasper Fry.
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