Polishing The Jewel

Lateral flats are maintaining their popularity among buyers in the US and Europe. The reasons are quite obvious: As these units do away with stairs, landings, and corridors, they save space, improve, accessibility and traffic. They also open up the entire area to views, light, and ventilation with their typical open-plan layouts.

- Lili Li

Lateral flats often have the footprint of multi-storey townhouses, yet the square-footage spans just one level. Although they were often the result of tearing down walls between contiguous units, and redesigning them as one, a growing demand is seeing more newbuilds coming onto the market.

Such demand fuels an increase in prices, which in turn make them even more desirable.

This lateral apartment in London was designed by Katharine Pooley, one of the most sought-after interior designers in the UK today. It overlooks Hyde Park and perfectly illustrates how to make the most of a compact living space. To create a spacious feel, Pooley added large light coloured artworks, polished nickel curtain poles, a pair of mirrors, and Murano glass and nickel chandeliers for a fresh contemporary interior.

The foyer is elegantly furnished with a twin console tables in mat finish. A pair of sleek sconces are mounted above these tables, echoing the Art Deco style glass and metal lamp at the centre of the room. Gleaming white floor, walls, and ceiling make the space appear larger and airier – thanks in part to the high ceiling.