A rich mix of metal alloys and natural materials enlivens the sleek lines of this modern penthouse designed by Natalia Miyar Atelier
Located in London’s West End, the fashionable district of Mayfair is a harmonious melting pot of influences, melding age-old tradition and contemporary design with its assortment of stately town squares, 18th-century churches, trendy restaurants and modern apartments. It is indeed apt, then, that this duplex penthouse is a veritable microcosm of the neighbourhood, combining the past and present to create a warm, characterful home that embodies its iconic location.
The residence is owned by a young bachelor who works in the hospitality sector; he had turned to architect and interior designer Natalia Miyar for help in creating a sophisticated, masculine space for living, working and entertaining. “He travels quite a bit, and his London home needed to be a happy place for him to return to,” says Miyar, adding that it was also important to the client for the apartment to “feel contextual to London, specifically Mayfair, but in a fresh and contemporary way.”
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Having developed a fondness for Miyar’s signature application of colour, texture and clean detailing, the homeowner requested a masculine palette of materials with textured details and a mix of bespoke and collectible pieces to complement his enviable art collection, which includes works from Joan Miró and Jan Frank. Working in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic, Miyar and her team gave the 4,600 sq ft residence much character with the use of metal finishes such as bronze and brass, a robust yet cosy palette of rust, ochre and blue tones, marble, leather, timber flooring, and various antique pieces for extra pizazz.
Miyar first focused on tweaking the home’s layout. “We wanted to have the apartment feel open and expansive, but still have intimacy of scale for the individual spaces,” she explains. The design firm had the abode completely gutted, and the rooms opened up to create a lighter, airier feel.
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