Highgate House Concept

In 2005, while René was working as head of interior design at one of London’s top architectural practices, the owner of this fantastic modern villa in Highgate requested a re-design and full interior fit-out.  The completed project was a pared back but stylish European minimalist master piece with an award winning master en suite.  So, after nearly twenty years, when the owner of this eight thousand square foot house wanted a full updated makeover, it was only natural that he would come back to Top London Interior designer René Dekker Design to re-imagine something equally as fantastic.

At the time of the first refurbishment, some important elements were not really touched in particular the kitchen, the windows and some of the guest WCs.  The remit for the new project is to replace the windows with a modern version of the existing, to update all the decorations and soft furnishings, to re-wire the AV and bring this up to date as well as a full overhaul of the M&E.

Work will begin on site in the second quarter of 2024 but the studio has been hard at work in the meantime, updating lighting and small power plans, presenting new finishes and creating simple room renders for client sign off.  The finished project will reflect not only an up to date interior but an extra twenty years of design experience by the creative director.  Modern technological advances will mean larger slimmer televisions, Halogen lights will be replaced with LED throughout and tile and stone finishes will be much thinner and more ecological.  Rooms will have more luxurious interiors and existing iconic furniture pieces will be sent away for re-upholstery.

The construction work will include removing and replacing all the windows, stripping back all the decorations and bringing the interiors back to their basic plaster.  New sanitary ware will be installed in Guest WC’s and brassware in existing en suites will have a full overhaul to ensure they are working as new.  A new lighting scheme has been created to add LED strip lighting and spots that weren’t available twenty years ago.  Existing timber floors will be sanded back and re-finished with clear non-toxic products and we will be using Graphene paint throughout which de-toxifies the air and does not include any harmful chemicals.  The project will complete in the last quarter of 2024.