Mansion Block Apartments in West Hampstead: How to Modernise Without Losing Character
Mansion blocks are one of the most recognisable types of home in West Hampstead and North West London. Built mostly in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, they offer generous ceiling heights, solid construction and handsome period details, often with layouts that no longer suit the way we live. From our studio in West Hampstead, this is how we approach the renovation of a mansion block apartment.
What makes a mansion block apartment special
Good mansion flats share a few qualities: tall rooms, large windows, original cornicing and doors, and well-proportioned reception rooms. They also share a few weaknesses: long corridors, small kitchens placed at the back of the flat, limited storage and bathrooms squeezed into leftover spaces. A successful renovation keeps the first list and solves the second.
Before you start: the building and the lease
Apartments in a shared building come with rules. Before planning any works it is worth reading the lease and speaking to the managing agent or freeholder: alterations often require a licence, and many buildings have specific requirements on working hours, flooring and acoustic insulation, or on moving kitchens and bathrooms. Knowing these constraints early keeps the design realistic and avoids delays once the works are booked.
Rethinking the layout
The best mansion flat layouts bring the living areas towards the light and the best views, and use the deeper parts of the plan for storage, utility and bathrooms. Typical moves include:
- opening a small kitchen towards the dining or reception room, where the building allows it;
- turning part of a long corridor into storage or a dressing area;
- rebalancing bedrooms and bathrooms so that the principal bedroom has its own en-suite;
- creating a study or guest room that can work in more than one way.
Kitchens and bathrooms
Kitchens and bathrooms are where most of the budget goes, and where good design shows most. In period apartments we favour kitchens that look like furniture, with joinery that respects the height of the room, and bathrooms in natural stone with carefully planned storage and lighting. When services cannot be moved, careful detailing makes even a compact bathroom feel generous.
Storage and joinery
Storage is the most common request in mansion flats. Full-height bespoke joinery made in Italy makes the most of tall ceilings: wardrobes up to the cornice, library walls in the reception room, hall cupboards for coats and everyday objects. Well-designed joinery also hides radiators, cables and technical equipment, keeping the rooms calm.
Light, colour and period details
Many mansion flats are bright at the front and darker at the back. A layered lighting plan, a restrained palette and reflective finishes used with care help balance the light through the day. Original cornicing, doors, architraves and fireplaces should be restored wherever possible; where they are missing, new details can be designed to match the period of the building.
Bringing it all together
A mansion block renovation works best when design, building rules and works on site are coordinated by one team from the start. If you own an apartment in West Hampstead, Hampstead, Swiss Cottage or the surrounding neighbourhoods, you are welcome to visit our studio by appointment or contact us to discuss your home. You can also explore our interior design services in London.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need permission to renovate a mansion block flat?
Alterations usually require a licence from the freeholder or managing agent, and many leases set rules on flooring, acoustic insulation, working hours and moving kitchens or bathrooms. Check the lease before planning the works.
How can I add storage to a mansion block apartment?
Full-height bespoke joinery makes the most of tall ceilings: wardrobes up to the cornice, library walls, hall cupboards and built-in units that also hide radiators and technical equipment.
Can a small kitchen in a mansion flat be opened up?
Often, if the building structure and the lease allow it. Opening the kitchen towards the dining or reception room is one of the most effective ways to modernise a mansion block apartment.
