‘The brief was practical but playful’: an adventurous redesign of a tiny top floor flat
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This pint-sized Brighton Regency renovation is full of fun, colour and stylish space-saving hacks. ‘Us, 15 years ago, pre-kids, is how we imagined the perfect inhabitants for this space,” says interior designer Edwina Boase. She and her interior architect husband, Marc Boase, bought the tiny, top-floor rental flat, in one of Brighton’s graceful Regency buildings, specifically to have a bit of fun with it.
![[A sliding interior window allows light to filter into the second bedroom-cum-office. A fitted bed has been designed into the understairs space.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b70bd0f33237fde96a58e4b4a01eef91a49b7c94/0_171_6483_3890/master/6483.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
With sole access to the loft, the couple embarked on an adventurous redesign, boosting the unloved and long-neglected flat’s footprint from 40 to 55 square metres, and turning it into a two-bedroom maisonette, now bursting with colour, pattern and small-space design hacks aplenty.
![[In the new loft bedroom, Edwina’s wraparound design aligns with the headboard. The hand-embroidered cushions are from Plinth Home.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/bd4adc6efefe8638b50bb3312e6845e10846460e/0_487_4408_4404/master/4408.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
However, there was a fair amount of head-scratching before this spirited transformation could take place. Due to the existing roof line and the location of the stairwell to the loft, they had to carve out a new bedroom with an adjacent passageway, leaving space for the main bedroom to be fitted above.
![[The shower room’s graphic encaustic cement tiles are from Marrakech Design. Edwina used Cristalplant for the moulded sink. The reeded glass shower screen is from Drench]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ecd733455287a73dab6c09bb8f72a0b7b5928016/0_933_4589_4588/master/4589.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
In the living space, the existing box kitchen was opened up, the unused chimney stack was removed from the lounge, and a deep, functional, recessed storage wall was then created between the two spaces, making it semi-open plan. “I’m a big fan of open shelving. It’s a great way to dress and divide a space,” Edwina says.
![[In the kitchen, the hanging shelving system was inspired by Meccano. A microcement splashback from Forcrete runs along the entirety of the wall. The red tap and sink are from The 1810 Company.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/72d45fa37458cc346908e1a0c4bf392b67d1982d/0_663_6210_3725/master/6210.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Additional internal doors were created to frame designated areas and enhance available natural light: “We used glazed, sliding pocket doors throughout, which is one of the smartest tips I can offer for small space living. When you don’t have to consider door swing, you have so many more options for furniture placement.”.
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