Janet Butler
Whether you first notice the unique “wave” pattern on the marble in the bathroom, the uncluttered cabinetry in the dressing room, or the indoor swimming pool, you’ll know one thing for sure: this contemporary home, as rendered by David Collins Studio, London, isn’t your typical “family homestead.” That delicious indoor pool, long and blue, is perfect for doing morning laps — or for a relaxing evening swim for the kids, with parents watching from the handy lounge alcove with its white-and-wood furniture. One entire wall is basically wood doors, leading to other rooms of the apartment or to hidden storage. And that marble bathroom design? No clutter here, just handy drawers beneath the double-sink vanity and some fluffy towels in a dark dove gray.
That pattern continues in a dressing room with abundant space and “cubbies” for two — and a mellow blue loveseat with opposite-facing halves to prove it. Indirect light from around the ceiling, coupled with natural light through windows shaded with translucent white, gives you the right perspective for matching colors and polishing a look. The apartment isn’t unrelieved gray and wood, though: colorful contemporary art in the living room brings in splashes of deep burgundy red and blue that are picked up in plump cushions on the pure white couch and stools at the kitchen island, while a pumpkin-colored lounge chair warms a cozy reading nook. While the look is spare, it’s also soothing — a minimalist escape from a cluttered and noisy world in the heart of London, as realized by David Collins.
