London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Dec 29, 2025

Before & After: a retro apartment is unrecognisable after a chic, modern makeover

Before & After: a retro apartment is unrecognisable after a chic, modern makeover

All that remains of the old apartment is the floor-to-ceiling views over Boston's skyline...

A tired and dated penthouse apartment has received a complete transformation and is now almost unrecognisable – all that remains is the floor-to-ceiling views over Boston's skyline.

The owners brought on designer Sashya Thind, founder of Ideate Design Studio (@id8designstudio), to help create a more open-plan layout, and a warmer interior scheme.

Ideate Design Studio gutted the property and reconfigured the layout, then gave it a more modern interior design with a warm colour palette.

Inspired by Scandinavian and Japanese interiors, the designers chose a warm white and oak wood palette, with touches of limestone and marble, to create a timeless, minimalism and airy feel throughout.

KITCHEN - BEFORE


Before, a dated, L-shaped kitchen was separate from the dining space beyond.

                

                

KITCHEN - AFTER


Now, a larger kitchen takes its place and carries right through to the end wall, thus making the most of the skyline views.

                

The new, open-plan kitchen incorporates a dining table that can seat six, while mirrored kitchen cabinet doors help to bounce light around, and break up the wood kitchen theme.

                

The kitchen now offers open plan living, more storage and tremendous, unobstructed 180-degree views over the Massachusetts State house, the Charles river and the Boston Common – the ultimate eat-in dining experience.

The kitchen island also incorporates plenty of kitchen storage.

                

DINING AREA - BEFORE


Before, a dated, metallic wallpaper created a cold, harsh and unwelcoming environment.

                

DINING AREA - AFTER


Now, warm woods make this light and bright space feel warmer and more welcoming.

A long, bespoke bench along the window's edge offers the residents and their guests uninterrupted views.

                

Design highlights include custom cabinetry, Bellini dining chairs, Ethnicraft dining table, Juniper and Secto lighting.

                

HOME OFFICE - BEFORE


The home office already featured a stunning parquet floor, but cried out for a fresh new look.

                

HOME OFFICE - AFTER


Now the home office features a more rustic scheme of woods and leather, to match the scheme in the dining area. The wood desk sits directly in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, offering stunning views.

                

BEDROOM - BEFORE


The bedroom featured an old, plush carpet, and vintage decor.

                

BEDROOM - AFTER


It now incorporates more storage, and lots of natural materials.

                

BATHROOM - BEFORE


The old, tired bathroom scheme featured a light brown colour palette and dated fittings.

                

BATHROOM - AFTER


A lighter palette has given the bathroom a more spacious feel. Marble chevron tiles in the shower room complement the marble bathroom flooring, while his n hers sinks offer ample space for getting ready.

                

Built-in bathroom storage behind the door makes the most of unused space.

                

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Plans Royal Diplomacy with King Charles and Prince William to Reinvigorate Trade Talks with US
King Charles and Prince William Poised for Separate 2026 US Visits to Reinforce UK-US Trade and Diplomatic Ties
Apple Moves to Appeal UK Ruling Ordering £1.5 Billion in Customer Overcharge Damages
King Charles’s 2025 Christmas Message Tops UK Television Ratings on Christmas Day
The Battle Over the Internet Explodes: The United States Bars European Officials and Ignites a Diplomatic Crisis
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie Join Royal Family at Sandringham Christmas Service
Fine Wine Investors Find Little Cheer in Third Year of Falls
UK Mortgage Rates Edge Lower as Bank of England Base Rate Cut Filters Through Lending Market
U.S. Supermarket Gives Customers Free Groceries for Christmas After Computer Glitch
Air India ‘Finds’ a Plane That Vanished 13 Years Ago
Caviar and Foie Gras? China Is Becoming a Luxury Food Powerhouse
Hong Kong Climbs to Second Globally in 2025 Tourism Rankings Behind Bangkok
From Sunniest Year on Record to Terror Plots and Sports Triumphs: The UK’s Defining Stories of 2025
Greta Thunberg Released on Bail After Arrest at London Pro-Palestinian Demonstration
Banksy Unveils New Winter Mural in London Amid Festive Season Excitement
UK Households Face Rising Financial Strain as Tax Increases Bite and Growth Loses Momentum
UK Government Approves Universal Studios Theme Park in Bedford Poised to Rival Disneyland Paris
UK Gambling Shares Slide as Traders Respond to Steep Tax Rises and Sector Uncertainty
Starmer and Trump Coordinate on Ukraine Peace Efforts in Latest Diplomatic Call
The Pilot Barricaded Himself in the Cockpit and Refused to Take Off: "We Are Not Leaving Until I Receive My Salary"
UK Fashion Label LK Bennett Pursues Accelerated Sale Amid Financial Struggles
U.S. Government Warns UK Over Free Speech in Pro-Life Campaigner Prosecution
Newly Released Files Shed Light on Jeffrey Epstein’s Extensive Links to the United Kingdom
Prince William and Prince George Volunteer Together at UK Homelessness Charity
UK Police Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’ as Authorities Recalibrate Free Speech Enforcement
Scambodia: The World Owes Thailand’s Military a Profound Debt of Gratitude
Women in Partial Nudity — and Bill Clinton in a Dress and Heels: The Images Revealed in the “Epstein Files”
US Envoy Witkoff to Convene Security Advisers from Ukraine, UK, France and Germany in Miami as Peace Efforts Intensify
UK Retailers Report Sharp Pre-Christmas Sales Decline and Weak Outlook, CBI Survey Shows
UK Government Rejects Use of Frozen Russian Assets to Fund Aid for Ukraine
UK Financial Conduct Authority Opens Formal Investigation into WH Smith After Accounting Errors
UK Issues Final Ultimatum to Roman Abramovich Over £2.5bn Chelsea Sale Funds for Ukraine
Rare Pink Fog Sweeps Across Parts of the UK as Met Office Warns of Poor Visibility
UK Police Pledge ‘More Assertive’ Enforcement to Tackle Antisemitism at Protests
UK Police Warn They Will Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’
Trump Files $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against BBC as Broadcaster Pledges Legal Defence
UK Says U.S. Tech Deal Talks Still Active Despite Washington’s Suspension of Prosperity Pact
UK Mortgage Rules to Give Greater Flexibility to Borrowers With Irregular Incomes
UK Treasury Moves to Position Britain as Leading Global Hub for Crypto Firms
U.S. Freezes £31 Billion Tech Prosperity Deal With Britain Amid Trade Dispute
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Potential UK Return Gains New Momentum Amid Security Review and Royal Dialogue
Zelensky Opens High-Stakes Peace Talks in Berlin with Trump Envoy and European Leaders
Historical Reflections on Press Freedom Emerge Amid Debate Over Trump’s Media Policies
UK Boosts Protection for Jewish Communities After Sydney Hanukkah Attack
UK Government Declines to Comment After ICC Prosecutor Alleges Britain Threatened to Defund Court Over Israel Arrest Warrant
Apple Shutters All Retail Stores in the United Kingdom Under New National COVID-19 Lockdown
US–UK Technology Partnership Strains as Key Trade Disagreements Emerge
UK Police Confirm No Further Action Over Allegation That Andrew Asked Bodyguard to Investigate Virginia Giuffre
Giuffre Family Expresses Deep Disappointment as UK Police Decline New Inquiry Into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Claims
Transatlantic Trade Ambitions Hit a Snag as UK–US Deal Faces Emerging Challenges
×