A Modern Canvas for Timeless Art
Initial Challenge: Rethinking the Kitchen
When architect Nick Varey first received the project brief for Moraine House, a unique request from the clients caught his attention: they initially believed a kitchen was superfluous. For over two decades, this couple, primarily residing outside Cambridge, utilized their Marylebone flat—situated in an 1890s Portman Estate mansion block—mainly for professional stays in the city, frequently dining out. This presented an unusual starting point for the renovation.
The Discreet Kitchen Integration
Through thoughtful discussion and exploration, Varey managed to persuade the clients to incorporate a kitchen, recognizing the potential need for in-home dining for family and friends. The resulting kitchen is seamlessly integrated into the open-plan living area, appearing more as an elegant furniture piece than a conventional cooking space. It features a streamlined, handleless cabinetry run that aligns perfectly with the oven and induction hob, all in a uniform stone hue matching the countertop. A significant figurative artwork hung above further blurs the lines between art and utility, completing the illusion.
Philosophy of Subtraction: Maximizing Space and Light
The core of this refurbishment involved a philosophy of reduction and refinement. Having owned the flat for 23 years without alteration, the clients' residence was characterized by enclosed rooms and dim, confined corridors. Beyond the kitchen, their primary ambition was to create an ideal setting for their extensive art collection, which had long awaited a suitable display space. As Varey noted, this aspiration, initially conceived as a short-term goal, ultimately spanned more than two decades.
Revolutionizing Flow and Illumination
The redesign meticulously addressed the apartment's flow and natural light. The once-narrow and dark entrance hallway, which only received sunlight when the front door was open, was expanded and equipped with a discrete coat closet and a compact laundry area. These additions were crafted with the same distinctive stepped oak millwork that recurs throughout the flat. A full-width pocket door at the hallway's end, when opened, draws light deep into the entrance, effectively dissolving the hallway's boundaries. Continuous Belgian parquet flooring extends from the entrance to the far wall, eliminating visual interruptions and guiding the eye seamlessly into the living areas.
Architectural Details: Crafting Functional Beauty
Strategically positioned opposite the hallway door, an original round marine-style window, an unchangeable feature of the building, now commands the living room. Varey ingeniously created a custom bookcase nook beneath it, with the window itself updated with a double-glazed insert. This alcove provides a cozy, book-lined intimacy, a rare find in open-plan designs. On the opposing wall, a new stone fireplace surround revives the room's traditional focal point, replacing a lost original. Varey emphasizes that the space, while open-plan, is artfully zoned to ensure a harmonious and meticulously considered property.
Innovative Light Solutions in Private Spaces
In the private quarters, a fluted glass section connects the primary bedroom to the ensuite bathroom, drawing soft, ambient light from the bedroom window into the relocated bathroom space. This thoughtful detail ensures the bathroom remains bright and airy.
The Rediscovered Window: A Serendipitous Feature
Perhaps the most extraordinary source of light came from an unexpected discovery during the demolition of the original bathroom. Contractors unearthed a hidden window, concealed behind plasterboard internally and bricked up externally within an archway, its original timber frame and glass remarkably preserved. This window was so well hidden that it was not documented in the building's historical records. Varey explains that the exterior joint lines were so masterfully painted over, they were practically invisible. This reinstated window now offers views of the building's internal courtyard, adding an element of historical charm and natural light.
A Palette of Intentional Restraint: Materials and Art Integration
Varey's design philosophy is rooted in intentional restraint. He states, "Our architecture and materiality work within the space, and the clients dress it with their art and furniture. We want our spaces to be canvases they can use for their lives." Limewash coats every wall across the flat's 80 square meters, its soft, matte finish allowing the Victorian brickwork to breathe. While Belgian parquet flows consistently underfoot, large-format porcelain with a woven texture adorns the family bathroom, and a slate-style porcelain is used in the ensuite.
Displaying the Collection: Art as the True Focus
The diverse art collection, ranging from figurative canvases to atmospheric abstracts, still life, and geometric panels, is displayed with a "one work to a wall" approach. This ensures each piece has ample space to assert its presence against the limewashed backdrop. A dedicated lighting scheme was designed to highlight each artwork. The distinctive stepped oak millwork extends from the entrance, framing every doorway and bed, culminating in a bespoke oak surround for the collection's most captivating piece: a geometric sculpture of dovetail-shaped metal rods. This sculpture, which had previously lacked a proper home, now finds its perfect setting within Moraine House. The flat, through its carefully crafted design, humbly complements and elevates the art it houses