“Sensitive, tactile, and purely functional” is how design firm 1934 describes their latest project in Hackney, London. A year later, Ruby, a photographer and graphic designer, joined Abel, and 1934 expanded into styling, consulting, and interiors.
“Sensitive, tactile, and purely functional” is how design firm 1934 describes their latest project in Hackney, London. A year later, Ruby, a photographer and graphic designer, joined Abel, and 1934 expanded into styling, consulting, and interiors.
Photography by Ruby Woodhouse, courtesy of 1934.
Photography by Ruby Woodhouse, courtesy of 1934.
Their first full-scale interior design project, a one-bedroom Victorian apartment in Hackney, is inspired by interwar European design (from Eileen Gray to Bauhaus kitchens) and the work of the American Shakers.
Their first full-scale interior design project, a one-bedroom Victorian apartment in Hackney, is inspired by interwar European design (from Eileen Gray to Bauhaus kitchens) and the work of the American Shakers.
A pine dining table sourced by 1934 pairs with the owners’ 1960s Ercol chairs.
A pine dining table sourced by 1934 pairs with the owners’ 1960s Ercol chairs.
The kitchen was gut renovated and 1934 designed cabinets with soft-closing hinges and doors.
The kitchen was gut renovated and 1934 designed cabinets with soft-closing hinges and doors.
A traditional butler sink and faucet sourced from a company in the north of England and a custom backsplash of green tile originally salvaged from a cast iron surround.
A traditional butler sink and faucet sourced from a company in the north of England and a custom backsplash of green tile originally salvaged from a cast iron surround.
A custom drainage rack sits next to the sink. Ruby sewed vintage check fabric to create the under-counter curtain.
A custom drainage rack sits next to the sink. Ruby sewed vintage check fabric to create the under-counter curtain.
A single pine shelf runs the length of the kitchen, and, on one end, features a row of Shaker pegs.
A single pine shelf runs the length of the kitchen, and, on one end, features a row of Shaker pegs.
1934 created a title surround on the original electric range with the same green salvage tile used above the sink.
1934 created a title surround on the original electric range with the same green salvage tile used above the sink.
The slim storage area has a pine shelf surface and Irish linen curtains (“a good way to avoid more doors,” says Abel) bought from a factory-seconds dealer at Brighton Market.
The slim storage area has a pine shelf surface and Irish linen curtains (“a good way to avoid more doors,” says Abel) bought from a factory-seconds dealer at Brighton Market.
Slim Shaker peg rails in pine on the opposite wall of the kitchen for hanging kitchen linens and aprons.
Slim Shaker peg rails in pine on the opposite wall of the kitchen for hanging kitchen linens and aprons.
The rails are also used to store additional seating, like a children’s chair handmade by the owner’s grandfather.
The rails are also used to store additional seating, like a children’s chair handmade by the owner’s grandfather.
The designers commissioned their friend Harriet Vogeler to make linen Roman blinds for the larger windows in the apartment.
The designers commissioned their friend Harriet Vogeler to make linen Roman blinds for the larger windows in the apartment.
Abel and Ruby covered the owners’ sofa bed with a swath of antique white linen from their “ever-growing collection of materials picked up here and there.” Next to it, a vintage Alvar Aalto Stool 60 and Baffle Table Lamp by Dean Edmonds.
Abel and Ruby covered the owners’ sofa bed with a swath of antique white linen from their “ever-growing collection of materials picked up here and there.” Next to it, a vintage Alvar Aalto Stool 60 and Baffle Table Lamp by Dean Edmonds.
Custom pine shelves match the depth of the fireplace and mantel.
Custom pine shelves match the depth of the fireplace and mantel.
The bedroom is more neutral than other rooms in the apartment to “make up for the lack of direct sunlight,” Abel says. The couple commissioned their friend Dean Edmonds to design sconce lights painted a “milk coffee color” based on his perforated Baffle Lamp design.
The bedroom is more neutral than other rooms in the apartment to “make up for the lack of direct sunlight,” Abel says. The couple commissioned their friend Dean Edmonds to design sconce lights painted a “milk coffee color” based on his perforated Baffle Lamp design.
Another antique Bakelite pendant lamp, this one in flecked pink, from the same lot as seen in the dining/living room.
Another antique Bakelite pendant lamp, this one in flecked pink, from the same lot as seen in the dining/living room.
Floors are painted in a Farrow & Ball shade in a modern eggshell finish and match the color of the doors throughout the apartment.
Floors are painted in a Farrow & Ball shade in a modern eggshell finish and match the color of the doors throughout the apartment.
They replaced the three interior doors with horizontally paneled doors from an architectural salvage yard in Tonbridge (in Kent) that they then had altered to fit the nonstandard Victorian frames.
They replaced the three interior doors with horizontally paneled doors from an architectural salvage yard in Tonbridge (in Kent) that they then had altered to fit the nonstandard Victorian frames.
A clothes rail by Dean Edmonds made from powder-coated steel and pine.
A clothes rail by Dean Edmonds made from powder-coated steel and pine.
An Alvar Aalto Chair 611 designed in 1929.
An Alvar Aalto Chair 611 designed in 1929.
When Abel and Ruby stripped the wallpaper from the hallway and a small utility room, they found pink plaster beneath. Inspired by the color, they painted the walls with a pink-orange Farrow & Ball archive color.
When Abel and Ruby stripped the wallpaper from the hallway and a small utility room, they found pink plaster beneath. Inspired by the color, they painted the walls with a pink-orange Farrow & Ball archive color.
The firm remodeled the bathroom using glossy black tile and a freestanding cast iron bathtub.
The firm remodeled the bathroom using glossy black tile and a freestanding cast iron bathtub.
A vintage porcelain sink sourced from a salvage yard in Tonbridge is perched on cast iron brackets.
A vintage porcelain sink sourced from a salvage yard in Tonbridge is perched on cast iron brackets.
Abel and Ruby s inspiration for the Mare Street project clockwise from left Kitchen in House 69 of the Werkbund Estate from 1932 Haus Am Horn kitchen by...
Abel and Ruby s inspiration for the Mare Street project clockwise from left Kitchen in House 69 of the Werkbund Estate from 1932 Haus Am Horn kitchen by...
References
References
...Georg Mund in 1923 bathroom at Eileen Gray s e 1027 house and a Shaker interior from Stillness and Light The Silent Eloquence of Shaker Architecture by Henry Plummer
...Georg Mund in 1923 bathroom at Eileen Gray s e 1027 house and a Shaker interior from Stillness and Light The Silent Eloquence of Shaker Architecture by Henry Plummer
Floor Plan
Floor Plan
The owners had a floor plan drawn up by Lazenby Architects prior to working with 1934.
The owners had a floor plan drawn up by Lazenby Architects prior to working with 1934.
