Storage & simplicity for a minimal flat
Dan, London N16
Adding custom storage to create an ordered, uncluttered apartment
Dan and his partner had a beautiful bright and minimal flat in Stoke Newington, but a lack of storage was making it hard to keep the spaces uncluttered and calm; the existing kitchen was on the small side for the generous space, there was an unsightly gas meter in the corner of one alcove and they didn't have enough storage to keep things like clothes, books, or their vinyl record collection in order.
Dan stepped into the Lozi showroom on Hackney Road on one of the first Sundays we opened our new Work/Shop, initially looking to see if we could help with a custom cupboard design to cover the gas meter. Chatting with our founder Soroush, Dan quickly realised there were several areas where Lozi furniture could enhance his home and the project expanded; so far Dan has commissioned a mix of bespoke storage and customised Lozi products for five separate areas around the flat.
The result is a collection of fitted and free-standing custom furniture that quietly adds characterful simplicity throughout the rooms, while making it easy for Dan to put belongings out of sight and achieve the clear and uncluttered apartment he was after.
Dan wanted enough kitchen storage to be able to store food and crockery in an ordered way, so it would be easy to see what's there, find ingredients quickly while preparing food, and keep items that are only for occasional use hidden out of sight. The existing kitchen didn't allow for this because it was on the small side for the flat, but he wasn't ready to change it and didn't want a larger kitchen to reduce the spacious feel of the living area.
Lozi's approach to designing kitchen cabinets – with the same mindset as any other piece of furniture – appealed to Dan, and he decided to add a free-standing bespoke larder between the fridge at the end of the kitchen and the fireplace.
This custom larder design bridges the gap between the kitchen and living area. It has a look that's externally consistent with the furniture in the rest of the flat, but internally offers all the extra functional storage that the kitchen required. In this way, Dan avoided having his kitchen cupboards crammed with food and crockery, without encroaching on the living area by adding more kitchen units; he now has a seamless calm and ordered environment that supports both cooking and relaxing.
Dan wanted to add storage and display space to the alcove nearest the windows of his living area, but the gas meter made it an awkward space to furnish and required a bespoke fitted piece to work around it successfully.
He worked with Lozi to devise a low cabinet with the same finish as the free-standing pieces of Lozi furniture he planned to include in the flat, with co-ordinating recessed handles, and our makers fitted the piece exactly to the space.
The proportions keep this area feeling open and light, so Dan can easily conceal the gas meter in a way that still provides ready access when needed, as well as gaining storage inside the cupboard and a display surface on top without crowding the feel of the room.
On the opposite wall of the main room, Dan wanted a simple surface to house his record player and capacity to store his record collection close to hand. He loved the aesthetic of Lozi's Wave Sideboard and the proportions were already ideal for vinyl records, but he wanted it to match the other pieces he'd commissioned, as well as needing to save some budget for the other areas of the flat.
His Lozi designer customised the existing ready-to-order design by swapping the Wave joint for simple dowel legs and the usual grooved front for plain doors, adding round recessed handles to co-ordinate with the larder and gas cupboard on the other side of the room.
Customising a ready-to-order piece of Lozi furniture in this way reduced the complexity of digital manufacturing and making, allowing Dan to get the project into budget while having a look that matches the other furniture in the flat seamlessly.
Another area of Dan's flat where customising Lozi's existing furniture designs came into play was the siting room upstairs, where he wanted light and open alcove shelving to store and display his books close to the sofas.
Again he loved the look of Lozi's Curved Shelves from the ready-to-order range, but they weren't quite deep enough for some of his heftier design tomes.
His designer suggested customising just the bottom shelves to make them slightly deeper than standard, extending the usual design to exactly the right depth for Dan's books. This meant he could have the same light and airy design he was after, with a little added strength and visual weight lower down, with no need to specify something completely from scratch.
Finally, Dan needed some extra capacity for clothing, but didn't have room for any more hanging storage in either of the bedrooms. This little half-wardrobe unit makes great use of an otherwise awkward space on the landing between the rooms. It gives Dan capacity for easily putting away extra shirts, jackets and trousers – they hang in a satisfying way that keeps them looking smart and makes it easy to see what's there – while offering another display surface on top and giving this corner behind the bannister a strong sense of purpose and place within the flat.
Overall, Dan's approach – commissioning a mix of fitted and free-standing, bespoke and customised pieces all with the same aesthetic – meant the project could be phased over time but still give a cohesive feel once all in place.
Customising existing Lozi products for some areas saved Dan time and design fees, while still creating pieces that are just right for Dan’s spaces and the way he lives. And investing mostly in free-standing pieces means the furniture can be taken with him should he ever move.
Using the same natural birch finish and rounded recessed handles throughout contributes to the cohesive and harmonious effect, maintaining Dan's desired calm, uncluttered and minimal atmosphere with the added warmth of wood.
-
Please find our guided pricing here
Each project varies depending on the size of your home, the complexity of the design and your choice of materials and finishes.
-
Free-standing bespoke larder with four doors, two drawers, adjustable internal shelves and door-mounted spice racks
Fitted alcove storage comprising custom cupboard design / gas-box cover
Customised Wave Sideboard with vinyl storage and cable management
Customised Curved Shelves for alcoves with extra deep lower shelves
Bespoke half-height wardrobe with handing rails
Design and development with our in-house designer-makers
Making, by our own team of makers, on Hackney Road
Delivery and installation by the same team of makers
-
Any other home accessories shown
-
After submitting your enquiry and confirming a quote that suits your budget, you'll be allocated one of our highly skilled designer-makers and they will schedule a site visit, where relevant. Based on your requirements and personal style, we'll provide a digital 2-D design to visualise the project outcome. Your designer-maker will ensure the experience is stress-free, supporting important design decisions and providing tailored, design-led solutions. All Lozi furniture is then made in-house and if appropriate, carefully installed by the designer-maker and workshop team.
Click here for a full breakdown of each stage.