Diamond in the rough

In London’s jewellery quarter, a tired flat has been turned into a little gem courtesy of interior designer Omar Bhatti

- Emma J Page

Home profile

THE DESIGNER

Space Shack’s Omar Bhatti revamped this space for couple Chris and James, who work in property and law respectively.

THE PROPERTY

A 51sq m top-floor apartment in a post-war building in central London. It has an entrance hall, living room, kitchen/dining area, bedroom and bathroom.

Just as cut and brilliance are behind any good diamond’s bedazzle, so the appeal of this diminutive apartment lies in its behind-the-scenes precision detailing. Located in the heart of Hatton Garden, known for its clutch of diamond dealers, the fourth-floor space was once the studio of a gem specialist. But there was little precious about it when owners Chris Marks and James Brennan stumbled upon it back in 2016.

The compact one-bed had no decorative features, a dated kitchen and an awkward layout. Hankering after an interior that reflected its cosmopolitan setting, the couple hired Space Shack’s Omar Bhatti to inject it with his own brand of contemporary cool. ‘Chris and James wanted to create a space that could work just as well for suppers with friends as it could for unwinding at the end of a long day,’ says Omar. ‘There was little scope to alter the layout, but there were so many clever refinements that would make all the difference.’