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

- MARY WEAVER

The living area demonstrates minimalism and modernity with the contemporary floor lamp from B.lux, artwork by Whitney Lewis-Smith and the textured Macchiato sofa and footstool from Norr11. (Opposite page) A restored marble fireplace anchors the living room, where period cornices juxtapose the modern furniture

The entrance hall leads to an open kitchen, where Calacatta Monet marble holds center stage in the design

The first time interior designer Kayla Pongrac and partner Luke Ladyman glimpsed their new home he said ‘no way’ and she said: “yes absolutely”. “Admittedly it was in very bad shape and full of corridors with small rooms and boarded-up windows,” explains Kayla. “But I did a quick sketch to show him how we could open it up and flip the rooms and he began to take it seriously.” Fast forward 18 months and it’s now a dream des res and Luke, co-founder of Cheddar, a financial technology brand, loves it as much as Kayla.