A GOOD VINTAGE

Natasha Nuttall remodelled her mansion block flat then furnished it with striking mid 20th-century pieces

- RACHEL LEEDHAM

Situated on the top floor of an Edwardian mansion block in northwest London, the apartment of landscape designer Natasha Nuttall and her family boasts tantalising views of Parliament Hill Lido, an impressive 1930s outdoor swimming pool on the edge of Hampstead Heath: ‘The blue is incredibly vibrant, particularly on a sunny day,’ notes Natasha who, together with her husband and their two children, aged 12 and 15, holds a pass to the pool for six months of the year. ‘We’re not quite at the stage of swimming throughout the winter, but we may get there,’ she adds.

While the couple fell for the views from this three-bedroom flat, the interior was far from perfect. The property had been tenanted for nearly half a century and felt decidedly unloved, with polystyrene tiled ceilings and peeling Formica kitchen units. At first, they replaced the ceiling and electrics, as well as refurbishing the two bathrooms. ‘We lived in it like that for five years, which gave us time to work out what we really wanted to do,’ says Natasha, whose former role as a project manager meant that she is no stranger to overseeing building works.