We’re longtime admirers of Ilse Crawford’s London flat, situated in the heart of Borough, which she designed in collaboration with Vincent Van Duysen and 6a Architects. Now it’s for sale, and we’re taking another look around (she’s lived in the space for 15 years and it has evolved considerably over the years) and filing away ideas for the future. The pale gray/emerald green palette still looks fresh and there’s an emphasis on comfort; a deep and engulfing sofa, a suite of mohair-upholstered Breuer dining chairs, and more clutter (in a good way) than you might expect.
Photography via The Modern House.

Above: Large original sash windows run along the south side of the building. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases run the length of the room. A pair of green Vico Magistretti Gaudi Chairs for Artemide adds a dash of vibrant color.
Above: The living area is anchored by the Ilse Sofa–made by British company George Smith and upholstered in Maharam Extreme Mohair–and designed to feel like “a room within a room.”

Above: The ceiling is painted in dramatic high-gloss paint to create a sense of maximal reflectiveness.

Above: A tonal emerald green deep-pile Moroccan rug from Larusi in London anchors the living area.
Above: The central island is clad in Moroccan zellige tiles. The white Parsons dining table is surrounded by mohair-upholstered Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs.

Above: Van Duysen installed rows of light bulbs with dimmers to create zones of illumination. “We don’t have walls,” Crawford told the New York Times. “So we make spaces through the use of light.”

Above: Crawford has described the kitchen as a library with a cooking area.

Above: The Gaggenau cooktop and oven are set into large recessed area that can be concealed behind cabinet doors when not in use.

Above: The bedroom is separated from the main living space by a large bookcase that also functions as a headboard.

Above: An ornate mirror adds a decorative note to the bedroom area.

Above: A wall of closets separates the bathroom from the bedroom.

Above: The en suite bathroom has his and her basins, a freestanding bath, and a shower/steam room.

Above: The bathroom sinks are tiled in the same zellige tiles as the kitchen island.

Above: A full tub is slotted against one wall of the narrow bathroom.
Are we obsessed with the work of Ilse Crawford? Take a look at our past posts: Mastering Warm Minimalism: Ilse Crawford in Copenhagen, Currently Coveting: Ilse Crawford’s New Collection for Ikea, and Steal This Look: Glamorous Hong Kong Flat by Studio Ilse.
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
(8) Join the conversation