As a five-time Olympic medalist, former diver Tom Daley has spent countless hours training in swimming pools. However, when he's not practicing, the athlete (who recently took home a silver medal at the Paris games) calls a cozy apartment in London home.
Designed by Chris Brandler of Brandler London, the Southwark penthouse is a converted haven featuring warm wood details, exposed brick, and modern, minimal accessories and appliances.
The reclaimed wood features, in particular stand out. Tapping into the ever-enduring modern rustic trend, the natural, sturdy material is used for an open-shelving unit, an island, cabinets, and ceiling beams.
Polished yet unique, reclaimed wood is a coveted material for interiors due to both its visual appeal and sustainable nature. According to Daley's designer, this made it a staple in the renovation process (and even helped with some practical aspects).
'The warehouse was a mid-19th century hop processing warehouse with beautiful exposed joists on the ceiling and characterful brick walls,' says Chris Brandler, who designed the space.
'During the refurbishment, Brandler London removed all the internal floors to completely reconfigure the wedge-shaped building (that got narrower towards the back). When reinstating the ceiling areas where joists could not be exposed (for fire safety), new joists were installed instead.'
In addition to the striking ceiling beams, Brandler opted to use wood for other fixtures in the kitchen, which contributed to its homely, uniform feel.
'Brandler London then designed the building's cabinetry and joinery incorporating the liberated joists throughout for the kitchens, wardrobes, window sills, shelves, stairs, and joists on the new rear extension,' he explains. 'This also included the penthouse apartment’s kitchen diner, which encompasses the entire third floor with stunning views of the Shard. It also received a huge concrete slab worktop to add to its charm, now the home of Tom Daley.'
Rustic modern continues to dominate homes and with examples like Daley's, it's easy to see why. While several of the features are made of different woods, the sleek silver of the refrigerator, the glass chandelier, and the minimal shelf decor balance the space out with some contemporary flare.
It turns out that the natural wood theme carries over to other rooms in the home, too, ensuring that the warmth and style of the unique material is apparent throughout the space.
'In addition to the kitchen, we used reclaimed wood from the warehouse in the master bedroom’s wardrobes,' Brandler states on his blog. 'We fitted the drawer and door fronts with a light toned wood that features embedded rusted nails. Part of a foot-long measurement system, these numerated markings reveal the inner workings of this warehouse’s former life in the hops processing era.'
Sleek and warm, this prep set has everything one might need and is easily organizable.
The host's ideal accessory for large dinner parties.
This container provides ample storage space for any dry goods, or even cutlery.
When considering how to create a modern rustic style, think about which features should be contemporary and which features should feel more organic. For example, wood bowls on a marble countertop would contribute to a balanced appearance, as would a glass mug on a reclaimed wood shelf. It's all about mixing and matching.
