Bespoke Furniture Design

Project SI_502 Arlington Avenue

We have recently been appointed to design and fabricate a bespoke storage solution for an apartment just off of City Road in Islington. The client has called for a sleek, contemporary piece to complement his recently renovated apartment in a former pub in this historic former industrial quarter of the city, adjacent to the Regent’s Canal.

We are currently liaising with the client in order to produce a piece which not only incorporates the design principles here at Studio Idealyc, yet also provides the client with a piece which integrates perfectly into his style of living, in fact enhancing the built environment he inhabits. The beauty of commissioning a bespoke piece of furniture is in possessing the ability to combine beautiful design along with every virtue that the client requires from the furniture into one unique piece.

The project on City Road calls for an elegant piece that combines all of the client’s technology such as a television and stereo into a seamless design, whilst also providing a range of custom-built storage and display facilities. The piece will also integrate lighting that will emanate from behind the unit, whilst also featuring panels of colour that match existing furniture belonging to the client. This project highlights the way in which our scope of work can range from full architectural proposals right down to the creation of bespoke furniture designs.

Feedback Forms

Project SI_436 Tufnell Park Road

Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda with our new initiative begun as a response to our increased workload recently. We have designed a feedback form to distribute once we have completed a project to gather information about satisfaction with the service that we are providing. We hope to learn from the responses and also to build on our record of testimonials to show to prospective clients.

Certificate of Lawful Development Granted

Project SI_College Road

Brent Council. Ref 12/1329

Orchestrating Space at Underwood Road

Project SI_470 Underwood Road

The project at Underwood Road uses sophisticated building techniques to create a seamless and elegant solution when constructing the interior spaces within the dwelling. Where once skirting boards and cornicing may have been utilised to cover imperfections where joins and connections between two different planes meet, beautifully crafted recesses and indentations between the surfaces create shadows, lending the interiors a sense of lightness. These meticulously crafted construction methods celebrate the way in which the space has been formulated, rather than attempting to conceal it.

Whilst not only appearing to remarkably hover above the ground, the system employed for the installation of the plasterboard walls also has a practical purpose. Any possible cracking, which may occur as the plaster is drying due to movement of the property, should be minimised, as the walls are not directly fixed to floor or ceiling of the property, ensuring that the crisp clean finish achieved is maintained.

The unique methods employed at Underwood Road ensure a seamless finish is achieved throughout the property, enhancing the open plan gallery like spaces that have been carved out of the shell of the formerly generic suburban property.

Drop In Meeting

Project SI_447 Clapham Road

Today we met a client who we are currently collaborating with on a project in Clapham, to convert a Victorian Industrial Warehouse unit into an Italian style bakery and café. Often, we use our office as a kind of drop in clinic for potential clients with architectural issues that we feel we will be able to resolve.

These relaxed informal meetings can be particularly useful at the beginning of a project in terms of formulating ideas and explaining the entire architectural process to a potential client in the comfort of our centrally located Shoreditch Offices. It also gives the client the opportunity to gain a unique insight into the way in which we work in the studio.

The beauty of a meeting at the office also means that we have access to the wealth of former projects, books and journals we own to show and demonstrate to the client possible ideas and details from former projects, right in the heart of our stimulating creatively charged environment.

Cladding Complete at Underwood Road

Project SI_470 Underwood Road

The beautifully crafted cedar cladding that adorns the exterior of the new dormer window at Underwood Road is now complete. The cladding disguises the lightweight timber frame construction of the new roof extension, whilst also creating a seamless ribbon of natural wood around the exterior of the new protrusion.

The juxtaposition of the natural wood along with the moss dappled roof tiles, as well as the extensive use of lead, form a composition of materials that should eventually magnificently offset the huge pane of glass set to adorn the primary façade of the contemporary addition.

The painstakingly crafted dormer’s most noticeable attribute, especially when compared to neighbouring additions of a similar nature, is the unadorned disposition of the design. No excessive ornamentation is apparent in the extension's conception, whilst services such as guttering and ventilation are all discretely hidden within the structure, concealed beneath the protective cedar wood shell.

New Appointment at Denmark Hill

Project SI_495 Denmark Hill

We have been appointed to redesign a property in Denmark Hill, for a couple who have recently just moved in to their first home together. The flat, situated on the top floor of a Victorian block, is spread throughout the roof space of the entire structure. We are redesigning the internal arrangement of the flat for the couple that are looking to make their mark on their first home together.

Our proposals involve the removal of the internal walls between the kitchen and dining room, creating a large open plan environment, whilst also taking advantage of the unique spaces created by the sloping ceilings throughout the property. The proposal also involves the reconfiguration of the hallways throughout the dwelling, allowing for easier circulation, and a greater sense of space.

The couple, who love their new home, plan to undertake much of the work themselves and hope to transform the flat economically, though with impressive results through the way in which we plan to dramatically reinvigorate the layout. The project on Denmark Hill reinforces the notion that clever architectural design, especially in cities such as London where space is at such a premium, can have a brilliantly profound effect on a living space.

Overcoming Hurdles not of the Olympian Nature

Today, a client of another architectural practice approached us in order to attempt to remedy a planning application hurdle both he and the practice representing him had fallen upon. The client wished to apply for planning permission to change the use of a property in the Borough of Tower Hamlets from a shop into a restaurant. We were informed that his application was more than likely to be refused.

The practice representing the client had not provided sufficient evidence to warrant the change of use of the property, thus the planning officer dealing with the application could see no reason to justify the change of use of the building. The issue highlights the way in which when considering a building application, the area surrounding the property must be considered with meticulous detail, ensuring that any new design enhances it’s locale, ensuring that any new additions to the urban landscape contribute positively to the environment.

Thoughtful design and pedantic attention to detail ensure that Sydio Idealyc’s 100% successful planning rate is upheld, whilst care and consideration for the built environment in which we work warrants our illustrious planning history.

Secret Doorway at Underwood Road

Project SI_470 Underwood Road

The installation of a secret doorway integrated into the dormer at Underwood Road provides an expansive out- look onto the city beyond from the newly formed roof space in the building. Constructed from the same cedar wood that the dormer is clad in, the doorway is complete- ly hidden from view. The hinge we have used in this initial test pictured in the accompanying photograph will be re- placed with a different component that renders the join between the façade and the doorway completely invisible.

Like a hidden entrance one might normally associate with an adventure movie, this door too opens up to reveal the city beyond. The opening stretches from floor to ceiling and when combined with the dramatic large glazed sec- tion that too spans across this wall, the entire rear façade of the dormer is opened up to the outside world.

From inside, once the door is closed and the simple white blind is lowered over the large window, the rear wall is once again transformed, creating an almost gallery like serene space, far removed from the hectic pace of the city below. Features such as this are just a taste of the architectural flourishes we have integrated into this simple box that adorns 16 Underwood Road.

New Appointment at Bramston Road

Project SI_496 Bramston Road

We have recently been appointed to redesign the ground floor living space at a property on Bramston Road, in the London Borough of Brent. The proposal involves the removal of the wall between what would have originally been the front sitting room, and the dining room. The owners have already completed numerous works on the property including the replacement of the original roof, as well as the conversion of the first floor rear bedrooms into a contemporary open-plan kitchen and living space.

The owners wish to continue the works throughout the property on the ground floor, seeking to create a modern spacious environment that still retains many of the Victorian features the property is bestowed with. Contemporary features such as soundproofing integrated into a suspended floating ceiling are also being considered into the incorporation of the proposal, culminating in a design which takes full advantage of the beautiful heritage features the property has to offer whilst still offers a modern open-plan environment.

The space offered at Bramston Road, with its multiple living spaces spread across the entire property, further highlights our evolving tastes and preferences in terms of the way in which we inhabit our dwellings, promoting the way in which our rich architectural heritage can amalgamate successfully with the lifestyles of the current generation when effectively altered.

Keeping Pace with the City

It won’t have escaped the notice of many that London is now enjoying a long awaited summer period and hence, on our way to visit a potential client in Lower Marsh, we seized the opportunity to enjoy a cycle ride across the business centre of the capital, crossing the river at next to HMS Belfast and finally passing the Old Vic Theatre to arrive at our destination.

Experiencing the city, not via the underground as many of us do, but instead traveling on the surface, opens the traveler’s eyes to many of the urban landmarks, both monumental and subtle. As well as buildings, temporary signifiers and attractions add character to London’s street while many of the residents and tourists alike enjoy the good weather. For example, bringing to the fore the event of the summer, the 5 Olympic rings hang from the historic Tower Bridge for pedestrians to spot along the Thames.

We also observed on our trip more discrete architectural features; infill buildings and additions to the ends of the streets that soak up the typologies of the surroundings and coalesce the information into unique features, some sculptural in their design and others presenting a rigid façade that stitches together the urban fabric. Returning to the office we consider that it is these unexpected experiences that bring a more human aspect to the dense urban network as we delight in the sense of variety and discovery daily.

Feedback Forms

Project SI_454 Malpas Road

Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda with our new initiative begun as a response to our increased workload recently. We have designed a feedback form to distribute once we have completed a project to gather information about satisfaction with the service that we are providing. We hope to learn from the responses and also to build on our record of testimonials to show to prospective clients.

Integrated Bespoke Storage at Underwood Road

Project SI_470 Underwood Road

As part of our ongoing project at Underwood Road, which will see the entire 1970s property transformed into a contemporary living space We have designed a series of bespoke storage solutions for the internal spaces. The designs for the MDF storage have been conceived by Studio Idealyc to fully maximise the new geometries that have been created there, whilst also providing the client with practical and understated units that screen the relics of daily life.

Wardrobes, drawers and even a hidden television have been integrated into the design of the furniture, situated in the expansive new dormer and first floor bedroom of the dwelling. The walls of hidden storage take full advantage of the proportions of the newly reconfigured property, and in fact further augment the panoramic opening created in the roof space into the overall design of the loft extension.

These storage solutions emphasize the unique way in which we have designed the addition, creating a space within the roof of the building that is in no way compromised by it’s positioning within the dwelling. Unobstructed ceilings, open lofty spaces and panoramic views are words not generally associated with loft conversions, yet the spectacular space created at Underwood Road manages to incorporate these coveted architectural characteristics into its design.

New Appointment at Alperton Lane

Project SI_492 Alperton Lane

We have been appointed to redesign and extend a property on Alperton Lane, in the London Borough of Ealing, via a recommendation of a family member of the client with whom we had worked with us in the past. Situated on the corner of two highways, neither looking at one nor the other, the unusual placement of the building has brought about a number of issues of us to address during the initial design process.

With the primary access to the building situated on what many would consider to be the side of the dwelling, we first had to incorporate a new front entrance into the design of the addition, ensuring that the new proposals fell within the limitations of lawful development. This is due to the fact that an extension on the side of a property of a certain size does fall within lawful development, yet an extension on the front does not. We can then proceed in designing the new side extension for what is an extremely awkwardly positioned site.

The new two-storey side extension will link the existing dwelling to the existing garage, maximising the living space throughout the property, whilst also falling within the restrictions imposed by Lawful Development.

Maximising Limited Space Through Ingenuitive Design

Project SI_470 Underwood Road

We have recently begun the installation of a network of bespoke recessed lighting throughout Underwood Road. Not only will this lighting solution enhance the interior’s beautifully minimal and effortless design, but will also provide a practical solution to the issue of limited head height in the new dormer space.

Planning restrictions dictated that we were unable to extend the new loft addition any higher than the height of the existing pitch of the roof, thus we incorporated certain devices into the design of the extension, ensuring that the proposed interior space of the new addition could be maximised. A lightweight timber frame, high performance insulation, and a thin yet effective felt roof all contribute to the narrow walls of the new addition, whilst a suspended ceiling, incorporating an integrated lighting system will ensure that there is no need for hanging light fixtures.

The almost ethereal light quality of the hidden lighting provides works well in conjunction with the simple geometric forms of the interior arrangement, creating a sense of increased volume in the loft space through the way in which the design lends the ceiling the appearance of floating. All of these measures help to maintain the open, spacious environment that has been achieved in the former attic of the dwelling.

Certificate of Full Planning Permission Granted

Project SI_336 Fountain Road

PP - 01861308

Croydon Council. Ref 12/00682/P

Certificate of Full Planning Permission Granted

Project SI_474 Crescent Road

Redbridge Council. Ref 1153/12

Certificate of Lawful Development Granted

Project SI_Crescent Road

PP - 01934686

Redbridge Council. Ref 1153/12

11-07-2012 – Sketch A Façade Lunch

Today, Nerea Bermejo of Studio Idealyc attended a special lunch in honour of having her entry to the Sketch A Façade competition included in the latest issue of Artchitect’s Journal, AJ28.06.2012. The event, held at the Rivington Grill in Shoreditch, celebrated the work of just a handful of the many entrants, and allowed Nerea to meet many of the entrants who too produced incredible pieces for a competition with an extraordinarily high calibre of work.

Nerea was able to meet the winner of the Sketch A Façade competition, Paul Middelton, whose work Behind Whitechapel was highly commended for the way in which it transformed what many may consider to be a low key Victorian industrial subject matter into a beautiful evocative composition, all of which had been drawn on site, in real time, truly embracing the impromptu and innovative style that the medium of sketching allows for.

Nerea’s own entry, Hyde Park Barracks also takes on an unorthodox subject matter in the brutal concrete structure that ominously looms over the park, yet softens it through the delicate manner and medium in which the subject is drawn.

Certificate of Lawful Development Granted

Project SI_448 Keith Grove

PP - 01934686

Hammersmith and Fulham Council. Ref 2012/01306/CLP

Full Planning Application Granted

Project SI_435 Hunter Lodge

PP - 01877825

Westminster City Council. Ref 12/02854/FULL

Sketch a Façade

Studio Idealyc are proud to have their entry for the “Sketch a Façade” competition included in the latest issue of the Architects’ Journal, AJ28.06.12. We are very excited to have been selected among the shortlisted entries from such a large pool of entries and following the similar achievement with our entry to the “Open Up” competition we are encouraged to continue our work in this field into the coming months.