When Bojana and Christian Reiner bought a dated Hampstead flat three years ago, their aim was to transform the property into a luxurious home with the feel of a contemporary boutique hotel.

%image(15221228, type="article-full", alt="Textured wallpaper adds a sense of luxury")

To turn this vision into reality they enlisted the help of interior designer Danielle Lee, whose firm DCL Interior Design is also based in Hampstead.

“We started very much from scratch,” explains Danielle. “Bojana and Christian decided not to take any of their old furniture with them to their new home, which meant we had a blank canvas and a lot of flexibility.

“This also meant we didn’t have a starting point, which can make things a little trickier. But what I did know is that they wanted something modern, elegant and serene, with a sense of continuity and flow throughout - very much like a contemporary boutique hotel.

“They were also keen for their love of Scandinavian (Christian is Swedish) and Italian design to shine through.”

%image(15221230, type="article-full", alt="Much time was dedicated to choosing a subtle range of colours and textures")

During the planning stage, much time was dedicated to choosing a subtle range of colours and textures for the Fitzjohn’s Avenue flat, and ensuring that all the components sat together perfectly.

“A lot of consideration was put into this,” explains Danielle. “It was so important that everything worked together as it helped that flow that they were so keen to achieve.”

Textured vinyl wallpaper was used to add a touch of luxury, while skirting boards, radiators and ceilings were painted in the same tones and not the customary white.

“It might seem unusual not to go with white, but decorating ceilings and woodwork to match wall colours softens the whole effect,” says Danielle.

%image(15221232, type="article-full", alt="The couple wanted the flat to have a boutique hotel feel")

Bojana prefers a contemporary look and considered replacing the period fireplace with a modern version, but Danielle suggested keeping the surround and contrasting it with contemporary Italian and Scandinavian furnishings.

“I think the conjunction between the old and the new is really beautiful,” she says. “Luckily Bojana really liked it too.”

The refurbishment was a first for the pair, who work in finance and have a 23 month old son, Theo.

“They were both very involved from the start,” explains Danielle, “but as it was all new to them it took them a while to trust and understand the process of interior design, so I did a lot of reassuring! But by the end we worked together really symbiotically and we were all delighted with the results.”

%image(15221233, type="article-full", alt="Bojana says many people have praised the flat's "beauty and serenity"")

Bojana says many people have praised the flat’s “beauty, serenity and continuity”.

“It’s a testament to Dani’s great work,” she adds. “Her attention to detail and understanding of our needs was incredibly impressive.”

Danielle, who set up her company in 2003, offers a range of interior design services, from concept to completion. This includes producing computer generated images to help clients visualise the design.

For more information visit dclinteriordesign.co.uk.

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