A sensescaped duplex: colourful, textural, pattern-rich
Chelsea Powerhouse: the redevelopment of London’s last industrial icon
Chelsea Powerhouse is a ‘cathedral of the Industrial Age’ that once fuelled London Underground. Impressive pedigree aside, what struck us most about the building was its:
Beauty – from towering chimneys to decorative circles that adorn the roofline like a tiara
Optimism – with a robust infrastructure all set to become a world-leading residential, retail, and dining destination.
Fitting, therefore, that our brief should centre on new beginnings, not nostalgia. So we steered clear of predictable ‘industrial chic’ in favour of contemporary contours, patterns, colours, textures, and modern touches like a yoga-study studio.
As you’ll see, each space we’ve crafted blends form and function – designing for wellbeing and quality downtime just as much as aesthetics.
Chelsea Powerhouse | Living space with beautiful large circular window in the wall | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
New heights
Beneath a vast, vaulted ceiling, every contour, texture and hue is dialled to delight.
Bespoke shelving in dark walnut and shimmering London Plane sits beneath Catherine Hicks’ kinetic mobile – a tribute to Powerhouse’s legacy as ‘the moving spirit of London.’
Slip bricks and deep cedar-red chevron wallpaper add texture and warmth, echoing the building’s industrial heritage.
Artwork by Jonathan Luke and the ‘Canvas’ rug by Angel O’Donnell and Riviere (making its world debut here!) offer visual intrigue and tactile comfort.
Chelsea Powerhouse | Living space with deep warm colour palette | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Living space with deep warm colour palette | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Dining area with designer pendants suspended from ceiling | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Loop the loop
Pendants by Belgian designers Muller Van Severen swing above a ‘harlequin’ dining table and tactile leather chairs. Their looping cords draw your eyes in different directions, inviting playful exploration.
Chelsea Powerhouse | Snug area with warm hues and cosy lighting | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
In the pink
We transformed a windowless antechamber sandwiched between bedrooms into a calming cocoon of colour and light.
Petal-pink walls and plush furnishings drench the space in gentle warmth, inspiring peace of mind.
But the real showstopper? Our bespoke ceiling mural, designed in-house to appear dappled and animated, like sunlight filtered through a leafy canopy.
Chelsea Powerhouse | Snug area with warm hues and cosy lighting | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Principal bedroom with intricate textures and intimate colours | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Light relief
In the principal bedroom, arch-relief wallpaper echoes the building’s monumental façade, while bronze lamps, grooved walnut bedsides, and a bespoke headboard upholstered in an intricate tapestry fabric layer in more pattern, colour, and depth.
Chelsea Powerhouse | Principal bedroom with intricate textures and intimate colours | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Trick of the light
We turned small, clerestory windows into large, floor-to-ceiling light sources…or so it seems. What we actually did was create oversized shutters lit by Auto Sensor LEDs.
These real-time light simulators echo the changing skies above Chelsea for a ‘naturally’ brighter and uplifting ambience within.
Chelsea Powerhouse | Ambient “natural” light flooding into a small room | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Soft warm shades and elegant silhouettes | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Soft warm shades and elegant silhouettes | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Candy crush
These bedrooms are the friendliest of retreats – from elegant silhouettes and warm, olive and ochre shades to a wiggly, citrus-bright dressing table and sunny-yellow lamp shaped like a twisty marshmallow.
Their mix of forms and candy-coloured details symbolise both the joyful diversity of London and the reinvention of Powerhouse.
Chelsea Powerhouse | Graphic shapes and pops of colour | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Graphic shapes and pops of colour | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Yoga study with rhythmic textiles | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Yoga study with rhythmic textiles | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Work, stretch and play
The music room and yoga-study champion wellbeing with rhythmic textiles, sculptural acoustic panels, mirrored barres, and adaptable furnishings – ensuring spaces flex to body and mood.
Chelsea Powerhouse | Music room with acoustic panels and a built in record player | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Music room with acoustic panels and a built in record player | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Outdoor seating area on private roof terrace | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Chelsea Powerhouse | Outdoor dining area on private roof terrace | Angel O’Donnell | Chelsea
Party lines
Colourful stripes, piles of cushions, lush planting, and a medley of tactile, high-quality materials – create an outdoor refuge for relaxation and sensory enjoyment.
Chelsea Powerhouse | Colourful art and relaxed furnishings | Angel O'Donnell | Chelsea
