Crittall-Style Glazing
Internal steel-framed glass screens between bedroom and stairwell, borrowing skylight from the upper level and creating a loft-like sense of openness.
Belgravia Apartment Refurbishment
Motcomb Street, Belgravia SW1X
A stylish apartment refurbishment above Motcomb Street’s boutique-lined pavement, transforming an under-used upper floor into a light-filled home with Crittall-style glazing, a terrazzo kitchen island, bespoke steel shelving, and a warm industrial palette that nods to the street’s workshop heritage.
Programme 6 months
Budget Band £340k – £440k
Borough Westminster
Outcome Turnkey apartment
Project Overview
Village-scale charm above Belgravia’s boutique quarter
Motcomb Street is the social heart of Belgravia: cafes, independent shops, a weekly farmers’ market, and architecture that feels more village than metropolis. The apartment above captures that spirit while delivering a genuinely modern interior.
The apartment sits on the first and second floors above the street-level retail units, with skylights on the upper level and front-facing sash windows overlooking the pavement below. The existing layout wasted the upper floor as storage, while the lower level was a single open space with a kitchenette in one corner.
The redesign made the upper level the primary living space, adding Crittall-style internal glazing between the bedroom and stairwell to borrow light from the skylights. The kitchen was moved to a purpose-built island with a poured terrazzo top, blackened steel frame, and open shelving. The bathroom received large-format Zellige tiles, a walk-in rain shower, and a custom steel-framed vanity mirror.
Throughout, the palette references Motcomb Street’s artisan heritage: exposed brickwork, blackened steel shelving, concrete-effect plaster, and warm timber accents. The result is an apartment that feels like a converted studio rather than a conventional flat — full of character, light, and the energy of the street below.
Motcomb Street Belgravia apartment - terrazzo kitchen island, Crittall glazing, and exposed brickwork
Scope Delivered
What the refurbishment actually changed
Terrazzo Kitchen Island
A freestanding island with poured terrazzo top, blackened steel base frame, built-in power, and open steel shelving for display.
Zellige Tile Bathroom
Hand-made Zellige tiles in a sage green, walk-in rain shower, concrete-effect floor, and a custom steel-framed mirror.
Industrial Palette
Exposed brickwork cleaned and sealed, blackened steel shelving, concrete-effect plaster feature walls, and warm oak stair treads.
Programme
How the project moved from brief to handover
Stage 1
Design and specification
Layout redesign, internal glazing specification, terrazzo sampling, and freeholder licence application.
Stage 2
Strip-out and structural
Removal of internal partitions, floor reinforcement for the terrazzo island, and new steel staircase installed.
Stage 3
First-fix services
New electrics including track lighting, plumbing for the relocated kitchen, and extract ventilation for the bathroom.
Stage 4
Crittall screens and joinery
Steel-framed glazing fabricated off-site and installed, along with steel shelving and oak treads.
Stage 5
Finishes and handover
Terrazzo pour, Zellige tiling, brickwork cleaning, decoration, and client walkthrough.
Delivery Challenges
Challenge
Challenge
Challenge
Outcome
The details that mattered most on site
Working above active retail
Construction noise and deliveries were coordinated around shop opening hours to minimise disruption to the street-level tenants.
Terrazzo island weight
The poured terrazzo top weighs over 200kg. Floor structure was assessed and locally reinforced before the pour.
Skylights and waterproofing
The upper-level skylights were overhauled with new flashing, double glazing, and improved drainage to ensure long-term weather tightness.
A Belgravia apartment with soul
The finished home has a warmth and individuality that sets it apart from the area’s more conventional refurbishments — a proper reflection of Motcomb Street’s singular personality.
Related Projects
Comparable Central London apartment work
Have an apartment above retail in Central London?
We specialise in converting and refurbishing apartments above commercial premises, managing the unique structural, acoustic, and access challenges involved.
Discuss Your Project