Work, rest and play

When Felicity Bell decided to join the increasing ranks of Londoners who work from home, little did the designer know that the task of combining an efficient workspace with the comforts of home would offer such a creative opportunity. For a start, there was a space issue, given that she was planning to share her one-bedroom 75sqm apartment in Clerkenwell with her partner, Christian Papa. Then there were structural challenges.

When Bell and Papa took on the Thirties apartment, which is on the second floor of a former lingerie factory, it was little more than a red-brick shell with basic utilities. Two obtrusive beams criss-crossed the ceiling, and there was a disruptive central pillar carrying an essential soil-pipe. But Bell, who designs commercial, retail and domestic spaces, quickly saw the creative potential. 'There was good light and a great outlook over trees and buildings. I felt I could work here,' she says. 'But we also wanted a social space for entertaining friends that could double as a meeting area, without the whole apartment being on show.'

Her creative solution? A dynamic folding wall. 'I knew I wanted my studio in a cupboard,' says Bell, explaining one of the key features of her ingenious transformation of the open-plan space. A series of floor-to-ceiling panels along one wall of the apartment folds back to reveal a comprehensive design studio, complete with a fixed worktop, shelf space, an additional pull-out table on wheels and specific-task lighting. Central to the scheme is a fixed utility block which houses a kitchen and bathroom on opposite sides, conveniently incorporating and concealing both the pillar and soil-pipe.

The kitchen faces the main live/work area, while the bathroom opens on to the main bedroom. 'I wanted to keep the functional areas away from the outside walls to maximise space,' explains Bell. Consequently, it is possible to walk in a loop around the whole apartment, from the entrance hall, through the live/work area, main bedroom, bathroom and back to the entrance hall.

Alternatively, a series of doors and sliding panels, either in solid MDF or glass with MDF frames, can close off each area and create temporary divisions. Movable panels transform the entrance hall from an extension of the main live/work area into a meeting place or extra bedroom; the main bedroom and bathroom divide and the bathroom can sub-divide.

Bell used cost-effective materials including MDF for the folding doors to the studio, sliding panels, kitchen-cupboard doors and extensive fitted shelving and storage cupboards. 'Sometimes a budget is a good thing - it forces you to concentrate on what is important,' she says. 'For Londoners, space is a luxury in itself and I prefer to maximise my area rather than pay for expensive materials. A poured resin floor, for example, is less expensive than quality concrete - and a lot cheaper than limestone,' explains Bell. Other materials used include jarrah (eucalyptus) wood for worktops, unglazed white tiles in the kitchen and bathroom and stainless-steel fittings - taps and door handles. Painting the original red bricks with white paint adds vital texture and contrasts with the smoothness of the flooring. Installing a new ceiling conceals electric and audio wiring as well as the awkward beams. Now all is harmonious matt white with a shining floor and lots of light. Despite the architectural interior, Bell swears it's a surprisingly easy space to work in. And the best thing? 'After a hard day at the office, you can shut the door and leave your work behind you.'