Words Cat Olley
Photography French + Tye

Will had done a dutiful 10 years as a renter in a remarkably tight Hackney radius when he went on the hunt for his own home six years ago. “I was looking in a very specific area, but was at the mercy of what was on the market for my budget at the time.” It was Lion Mills – a Victorian cotton mill conversion on Hackney Road – that came up trumps with an unconventional ground floor flat then in service to a photographer. Now you’re more likely to spot a stylist’s rail than a tripod.

As the flat comes to market, we talk crawl-space bedrooms, mystery portraits and the merit of making plans on the back of a napkin …

Will Best: “This was the first place I viewed. The building was converted into flats in the 1990s, but the previous owner had knocked all the internal walls down except the little corridor, so it was a proper New York-style studio apartment. I loved the sense of space, the ceiling height, the massive windows. I loved the warehouse feel, and the potential of it all. And because I’m inherently a pretentious hipster wannabe, I loved the fact that it was a photography studio …

“Instead of a bedroom, you climbed a ladder and crawled into a hole that could just about fit a double mattress. It was the sort of set-up that you’d think was super-cute and cosy if you found it on Airbnb and only stayed for a weekend. Even the loo was fraught with danger, because it was almost impossible to enter the room without burning yourself on the towel rail.

“I took an architect friend with me to the second viewing and then we went to the pub and sketched some potential layouts quite literally on the back of a napkin. My plan was to buy it with a bit of money left over so I could start working on it straight away, but I didn’t factor in the fees. Call it youthful optimism. That meant the renovations couldn’t start until the following December, so I had the 90s kitchen and slept in a hole for two years.

“I used to stand in the middle of the room, just fantasising about what it could be like. It gave me a lot of time to think about what worked in the space, materials and how to maximise storage.

“In the end I worked with my friend’s wife, whose practice is called Tendo Architects. I wanted this central entertaining space to be the focus of the whole flat, so it was a no-brainer that we would put the bedroom along the back wall. We toyed with the idea of putting two bedrooms in, but in the end we decided to keep it super simple and open.

“I’d imagined attic-style storage to utilise the height, but the architect had the idea of raising the sleeping area and the bathroom to create storage at ground level. The larder is under the bathroom and the utilities are by the door. It feels like a nice use of space. Walking up the stairs to bed really emphasises the ceiling height.

“We had an amazing builder who suggested Scandinavian birch ply for the glazed wall, with a drop shadow that references the industrial heritage of the building. Everything was so lovingly done, and I think that really shines through. The glazing mirrors the grid pattern of the windows and ties everything together. Even the flat itself is a perfect square.

“People are quite proud of the building. One neighbour is an amazing gardener, so the courtyard is always beautifully maintained. Others help out, too. When you walk through, there’s that feeling of ‘oh I wouldn’t have known this was here’. It’s such a sanctuary.

“Tobi and I have very different taste. I like clean lines, and grids – clearly – with low mid-century furniture. Tobi’s style is more maximalist and colourful. She’s an amazing artist and has recently taken up ceramics. I love her stuff in this space – the juxtaposition just works. I wasn’t a huge Hello Kitty guy, I have to say, but it makes it all feel a little more playful. When things are quite minimalist, it can easily become severe. I like the idea of a home having a bit of personality.

“The oil painting is a mystery. The frame says Amrose Lees, and I must have Googled him a million times. Tobi’s parents bought him at a car boot sale years ago. He carries a bit of sadness I think, but he’s got a twinkle and I think he’s kind. He’s seen a lot, but I think when he cracks a smile, it lights up a room. Who is Amrose Lees? I should take him on Antiques Roadshow …

“I wanted the flat to feel convivial – somewhere where friends would come and hang out and we could have people over for dinner. You can’t always do those things in a one-bedroom flat. When I was entertaining more, my mates would knock on the window and climb through. We’re grown-ups now, so we come in through the door.

“We’re moving for more space. I think it’ll probably be a Victorian terrace situation. This flat is perfect for a couple, but there’s never going to be much flex in a one-bed. We can’t build up into the loft without buying the neighbour’s flat. There’s still potential to do more with it. You could build more permanent storage on the other side, or tweak what’s already in situ. But the framework is there.”