Who Dares Wins

Taking on a flat that had fallen into disrepair was a risk, but talented designer Kayla Pongrac worked her magic to create a minimal meets-dramatic home that is a complete style victory

- By Mary Weaver. Photographs by Mary Wadsworth

LIVING AREA

‘This space best demonstrates what I wanted to achieve – minimalism and modernity with the contemporary floor lamp, softened with the velvety artwork and the textured sofa, all juxtaposed with the period cornices,’ says Kayla.

Macchiato sofa and footstool, Norr11; upholstered in Moss bouclé by Kvadrat. Floor lamp, B.lux. Jack in the Pulpit artwork by Whitney Lewis-Smith

LIVING AREA

‘The fire surround was one of the reasons I fell in love with the flat. I spent weeks restoring it with a marble purifier, getting rid of all the stains,’ says Kayla.

Find a similar fireplace at Renaissance. Foxed glass mirror, Osborn Glass. Ceiling pendant, Dowsing & Reynolds. Fyfield oiled engineered oak flooring, Flooring365. Pacha velvet chair, Gubi. Marble/metal side table, &Traditionlivingetc.com 53

home profile

THE OWNERS

Interior designer Kayla Pongrac of Iron & Ivory and partner Luke Ladyman, co-founder of Cheddar, a financial technology brand.

THE PROPERTY

An apartment in a Victorian villa in northwest London. The entrance hall leads to an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space. There is also a main bedroom, shower room/laundry and a second bedroom/study.