Commissioned by Argent to design the penthouse at Gasholders London that expresses the potential buyer’s lifestyle, Suna Interior Design channelled warmth and edgy elegance.
With an eclectic mix of British designers combined with bespoke craftmanship and cutting-edge contemporary design, the resulting space captures the character of a London savvy creative and conveys a harmonious balance of sophisticated comfort and polished British style.
Set within a refurbished triplet of Grade II-listed, cast iron gasholder guide frames, the impressive property is located in the heart of King’s Cross. With an incredible backdrop of the London skyline outside each room and captivating artwork from established and emerging UK artists, the buyer will feel the presence of beautiful craftsmanship and sophisticated warmth in every nook and cranny.
Rebecca from Suna Interior Design commented: “With such a dramatic, extraordinary exterior we wanted to create a sense of individuality that matches this first impression, whilst ensuring the space felt homely and comfortable. We’ve filled the rooms with impressive individual pieces and specially commissioned art to shape a cohesive scheme that maximises the building’s unique stance.”
Designed to create intimacy, the entrance hall has been transformed with warm grey tones and accessories which provide a bold first impression. A limited-edition Moon B chair by Charles Kalpakian sits in the light-filled space below a bespoke ‘floating mobile’ chandelier by Atelier Schroeter, which moves in the breeze that enters the property through the sliding roof above and provides a subtle source of light across all floors. This stunning piece also ties in seamlessly with the brass and stainless-steel spec featured on the staircase. Tom Dixon lights create an inviting environment in this space too. The stairs are adorned with a collection of painted sketches by artist Helen Booth whilst the office, located in a snug off the hall, features beautiful paintings by contemporary artist Emily Moore.
At the heart of the scheme’s colour palate is a striking Paul Smith Carnival rug, which provides a wonderful visual in the centre of the living area whilst adding comfort. The apartment references these colourful tones throughout. Abstract black and white art commissioned for this space creates contrast and photography that subtly nods to the connectivity of King’s Cross, offers further appeal to a potentially creative buyer with a penchant for design.
This living area leads onto a formal dining space, where a bespoke William Garvey solid oak dining table provides a timeless investment. Rebecca added: “Mixing contemporary designs with hand-crafted one-off pieces adds an artisan element that exemplifies enduring style”. Commissioned by Suna with the aim of adding warm wood finishes to enrich the interior, they oversaw the process from start to finish. Peter Kindt at William Garvey explained: “Suna’s attention to detail began with selecting the specific wood for this table. All the boards on the final piece are taken from this single tree and the table edges are in their natural state, carefully sanded for a tactile finish.”
The kitchen space features a casual dining option in the form of a second dining table and accompanying bespoke banquette seating spanning the entire length of a wall. Three brass and marble lights over the breakfast bar compliment the high-end specification in this room along with marble effect wallpaper paired with burnt orange accessories for a strong colour contrast.
The master suite exudes the opulence expected in a penthouse of this calibre, with a continuation of the elegant themes on the ground floor. A separate snug leads into this space where a photo gallery of images by American photographer Linda Benedict-Jones illustrates the heritage of the location. A resident in the King’s Cross and St. Pancras neighbourhood in 1978 whilst working as an artist-in-residence at The London College of Printing, Linda offers a selection of four prints from her original collection of twenty-five images from this body of work.
She commented: “I was fascinated by the gasholders when I was living in the area. For me they were a mysterious highlight of the neighbourhood landscape, and featured prominently in my portfolio. To have my images showcased in the property now is truly significant. These photographs pay tribute to the unique urban dwelling at Gasholders London.”
In the master bedroom itself, a bespoke floating dressing table and a beautiful wall-to-wall upholstered headboard with light grey panelling detail are paired with dark marble wallpaper and a fabulous Flos pendant light.
Bedroom two and three are also defined by unique finishes. Bold thistle wallpaper by Timorous Beasties, a geometric headboard fabric coupled with a navy and khaki colour scheme and mesh curtains that reflect the heritage of the buildings, add detail to the third bedroom. Wallpaper by the same designer features in the second bedroom and adds to the edgy interior with an illusion. At first this wallpaper looks like a traditional toile, but on closer inspection turns into a pattern made up of urban scenes. Tom Dixon lights add glamour in this room and double layered curtains create a sense of luxury in each bedroom.
The impressive private roof terrace completes this home, where Suna has created a sense of serenity whilst magnifying the breathtaking 360-degree view with bespoke dining and seating surrounded by leafy planting.
Rebecca Hunt added: “We were thrilled to be appointed by Argent to design and fit out this penthouse apartment at Gasholders London. It’s been a pleasure to contribute to an iconic development with such a strong architectural presence in King’s Cross.
“We wanted to do both the architecture and location justice, so it was important for us to strike a perfect balance between nods to the industrial heritage and the concept of the Siamese triplets, with softer, more comforting interiors.
“We imagine this penthouse apartment to be for a London-savvy buyer, someone who is knowledgeable about the transformation of the King’s Cross area, who wants to live somewhere that has a bit of a contemporary edge and looks for something with a bit more personality than the more river orientated developments, without giving up the city centre benefits of London, national and international travel links and the local amenities.”
Robert Evans, CEO, King’s Cross, concluded: “We wanted to create something totally different and contrasting in design while still appealing to the design-savvy buyer searching for the perfect, liveable luxury penthouse living. Suna has delivered a considered apartment that hones in on important design trends that have emerged in recent months. From sourcing local, to making the most of room layouts and considering outdoor spaces as their own rooms, to ample indoor greenery, we believe this penthouse has further elevated our design credentials at Gasholders.”
Gasholders London is a combination of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences built within a refurbished triplet of Grade II-listed, cast iron gasholder guide frames. Located in the heart of King’s Cross, it provides residents with access to a private gym and spa, a business lounge and an entertainment suite with screening room, games room, private dining room and private rooftop gardens. Jonathan Tuckey Design is responsible for the interior architecture of the apartments, responding to both the 19th century industrial structures and WilkinsonEyre’s dramatic, contemporary architectural insertions.
Find out more at www.sunainteriordesign.com.