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Some places are just impossible to resist. For Charles, Harrods Village—Harrods’ former furniture warehouse on the Thames—was a long-held dream that finally came true. After a failed purchase, this apartment suddenly appeared: views of the gardens, plenty of natural light … and the promise of a wonderful life.
However, they still needed to find an architect who could capture the spirit of the place. Anaïs Blehaut, from the daab design agency, immediately understood the desire for a sensory and evocative space. Charles dreamed of moldings, but she reoriented the project toward a more authentic warehouse style, with clean lines, bold gestures, and noble materials.
As a gemologist, Charles naturally has a passion for minerals, but Anaïs introduced him to the world of wood, patinas, and tolerance levels—which are quite dissimilar in jewelry and construction: “We expanded the apartment both lengthwise and heightwise,” summarizes the architect. The false ceiling disappeared, and the layout was redesigned to free up the four large arched steel windows. The doors are aligned with the arches, the mirrored woodwork extends the perspectives, and custom-made modules unify the space instead of dividing it up. Underfoot is bleached parquet flooring; in the work surfaces and bathrooms, limestone and lava stone, coming together into discreet, precise luxury.
The apartment has regained its character: it is a place to showcase art, entertain guests, and simply live. At once open and intimate, it reflects both the history of the building and the architect’s vision—as well as Charles’s personality. “Living in beauty inspires you to create beauty,” says the homeowner, who also uses his home as a workplace.
