Revisiting our before and after of interior designer Beata Heuman's first flat

At the start of her career House & Garden published the west-London apartment of interior designer Beata Heuman, a home she had transformed in a style she jokingly refers to as 'urban safari chic', making imaginative use of both the compact space and her limited funds. Six years on and the scheme feels as fresh and creative as ever.

AFTER

Beata has used an inexpensive 'Glendevon' kitchen from Howdens with Chloe Alberry antique brass handles and a calacatta marble worktop from Stone Interiors; she also added shelves above the units and painted the walls to match, with Dulux '2005Y20R', so the kitchen blends in rather than stands out.

Image may contain Indoors Room Kitchen Furniture Appliance Refrigerator and Interior Design
Simon Brown

BEFORE

Image may contain Indoors Room Kitchen and Furniture
Beata

AFTER

Well-thought out storage is key. When Beata knocked down the dividing wall between the kitchen and a spare bedroom, she created a slim utility cupboard behind the supporting column. She designed the stool, which hides more storage, in 'Shutter Stripe' from the Nicky Haslam collection at Turnell & Gigon. The bespoke blackboard from Chalk Board Signs acts as a constantly changing piece of artwork and was made to Beata's design for £115.

Storage solutions for small spaces
Simon Brown
Image may contain Furniture Chair Wood Interior Design Indoors Canvas Bookcase Shelf Room and Table
Simon Brown

BEFORE

Beata Heuman's small London flat
Beata

AFTER

Throughout the flat, Beata has used mirrors to reflect light and create an illusion of space; in the sitting room, a pair of bronze-framed mirrors, hung opposite one another above the doors, increases the sense of ceiling height.

Image may contain Living Room Room Indoors Interior Design Flooring Shelf Furniture Plant Cushion and Floor
Simon Brown

BEFORE

Image may contain Flooring Human Person Floor Corridor and Door
Beata

AFTER

'People are sometimes afraid of custom-made things, but you just need to know where to go,' she says. The antiqued bronze table cost £30 from Portobello Market. She recommends looking for inexpensive off-cuts, available direct from individual fabric manufacturers; the sitting room curtains are made up in a discontinued fabric that Beata was able to buy cheaply as it was water marked.

Image may contain Living Room Room Indoors Furniture Interior Design Table Cushion Couch Pillow and Coffee Table
Simon Brown

BEFORE

Image may contain Living Room Room Indoors Interior Design Human Person Home Decor Furniture Couch and Flooring
Beata

AFTER

Beata Heuman's small London flat

BEFORE

Beata Heuman's small London flat
Beata

AFTER

The bed has been dressed up with a luxurious mix of textures and patterns, including a blue and white throw from Lisa Corti in Florence. A 'Geometric' mirror from Mufti takes the place of a traditional headboard. 'It's quite glamorous and a bit unexpected,' says Beata. To heighten the dimensions of the tiny bedroom, the ceiling is painted in 'Lulworth Blue' from Farrow & Ball. To emphasise the leafy view on to Brompton Cemetery, Beata has placed 'Pax' wardrobes with mirrored doors from Ikea on either side of the window. The blinds are in 'Serafina' (white) by Marvic.

Image may contain Furniture Bed Indoors Room Bedroom Living Room Cushion and Couch
Simon Brown
Image may contain Indoors Room Bedroom Furniture Bed and Corner
Simon Brown

BEFORE

Beata Heuman's small London flat
Beata

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