Clerkenwell Penthouse Apartment Designers Embrace Off-Grid Lifestyle, Yet Differently Conceived
In the heart of London's trendy Clerkenwell district, Maddux Creative has transformed a modern penthouse apartment into a testament of their unique design philosophy. The design firm, led by Scott Maddux and Jo leGleud, is renowned for its blend of history and modernity, creating layered, expressive spaces where the past and present coexist harmoniously.
The apartment, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and a timber frame construction with a timber frame grid on its ceiling, provided a blank canvas for Maddux Creative to showcase their signature style. The team decided to celebrate the square shape of the apartment instead of working against it, resulting in a general softening of the space.
The living area was adorned with a modern, sculptural floor lamp for mood lighting, while a sheer curtain was added to the floor-to-ceiling windows for pattern and texture. The result was a balance between formal architectural references and layered, textured interiors that brought warmth and depth without losing the contemporary edge.
In the modern kitchen, although contemporary, the collection of art hung above it made it pleasingly dull. The designers opted for a subtle approach, focusing on material and shape rather than embellishment and pattern. A cocoa-coloured cushion paired well with a cream sofa, adding a touch of warmth to the space.
Scott mentioned he might have painted the kitchen cabinets red, but it wasn't an option. Instead, the team decided to incorporate jewel tones, antiques, bespoke fabrics, and character in other areas of the apartment. Maddux Creative's projects are typically suited to period properties with high ceilings and ornate detailing, but they managed to make their trademark personality stand out in this modern home.
The designs of Maddux Creative are usually highly decorative, but in this modern penthouse, the sheer curtains have only a subtle pattern, and the rugs are graphic but contained to certain areas only. This approach ensures every element contributes meaningfully to the whole design narrative, creating a space that feels both modern and timeless, formal yet deeply expressive, and richly layered with history and personality.
From the ceiling decorating pattern inspiring the lined formation of tiles in the bathroom and the vast square panels of dyed cork on the wardrobe doors in the second bedroom, to the grouping of items turning them into works of art, every detail in this modern penthouse is a testament to Maddux Creative's meticulous approach to design. A wood-block stool functioning as a side table next to a free-standing bathtub is just one example of how functional pieces are seamlessly integrated into the overall design.
With their latest project in Clerkenwell, Maddux Creative continues to prove that their design philosophy transcends traditional boundaries, making their mark in modern interiors as well as period properties.
- The living room's sculptural floor lamp and sheer curtain on the floor-to-ceiling windows create a balance between formal architecture and layered, textured interiors.
- In contrast to the modern kitchen's contemporary aesthetic, the collection of art hangs above it, adding a pleasingly dull yet appealing element.
- To incorporate jewel tones and antiques into the modern home, the team decided to forgo a potential red paint job for the kitchen cabinets and instead added these elements in other areas.
- The bathroom features tiles lined in a pattern inspired by the ceiling decoration, while the second bedroom boasts wardrobe doors covered in vast square panels of dyed cork.
- The designers utilize a subtle approach in this project, focusing on material and shape rather than embellishment and pattern, as shown in the graphic rugs confined to certain areas.
- The wood-block stool acting as a side table next to a free-standing bathtub exemplifies how Maddux Creative integrates functional pieces seamlessly into the overall design of the modern penthouse.
