Duo Designs Their Own Eclectic Apartment + Furniture in London

  August 27, 2024
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In the heart of London’s King’s Cross district, the Rufford Mews Apartment is the result of a creative collaboration between partners Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews, of Mike McMahon Studio. Embracing a philosophy of “don’t move, improve,” the duo has turned their own 90-square-meter (approximately 969 square feet) home into a personal design lab, where they experiment with materials and innovative building techniques to meet the evolving needs of their family.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Rufford Mews is the hands-on approach taken by McMahon and Mathews. Every piece of furniture, from dining chairs to storage solutions, was meticulously designed and crafted by the pair for their home. This not only showcases their exceptional craftsmanship but also ensures that every element within the home is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and personalized to their lifestyle.

Three apples are placed in a carved circular indent on a wooden surface.

A modern wooden chair with a curvilinear design, featuring a single continuous piece of wood forming the backrest, seat, and legs, placed on a wooden floor against a plain wall.

Birch plywood dominates the interior design, creating a warm, cohesive look throughout the apartment. The dining area, with its cantilevered chairs and bespoke table featuring an integrated fruit bowl, invites gatherings while adding an organic touch to the space. Eight Unfurl Ply dining chairs comprise 26 individual components that are strategically pieced together showcasing the strength of plywood.

Bookshelf with various objects including books, a gramophone, and decorations, positioned around a window. A large potted plant is placed on the right, and a colorful painting hangs on the left wall.

A modern kitchen with light wood cabinets, a stone countertop, and pendant lights. A potted plant sits on a wooden stand in the corner, and a red wall with a yellow beam is visible on the right.

Sustainability is at the core of the project. Materials that might have been discarded from nearby construction sites found new life in Rufford Mews. The kitchen, for example, features concrete countertops made from recycled sandblasted Douglas Fir boards, originally sourced from a rooftop garden. The use of FSC-certified timber throughout further demonstrates the commitment to eco-friendly design, as does the focus on durable, long-lasting furniture – a counterpoint to the disposable, flat-pack pieces prevalent in today’s market.

A modern living room with a gray sectional sofa, wooden coffee table, and framed landscape art on white walls. Sunlight streams through a nearby window, illuminating the hardwood floor.

The living room’s centerpiece – a 40mm thick Dinesen Douglas Fir sofa – floats atop concrete pilotti cast in recycled rainwater pipes. Complementing the sofa is a coffee table with wavy cork legs, both of which emphasize McMahon’s ability to blend form and function into artistic, sculptural pieces.

A wooden coffee table with cork cylinder legs placed on a light wood floor next to a gray cushioned sofa.

A rectangular wooden table with cylindrical cork legs arranged in a semi-circle pattern, set on a wooden floor against a plain wall.

A wooden sideboard with round edges is topped with a ceramic vase holding dried plants. Above it, there is a framed piece of minimalist art with horizontal lines hanging on a white wall.

A small, minimalist reading nook with a cushion, surrounded by white cabinets and a red accent wall, next to a sunlit window. Houseplants are arranged on a low shelf and hanging from the wall.

A modern interior space with built-in wooden shelves filled with books and plants, adjacent to a glass door and surrounded by various indoor plants.

A bedroom with a platform bed, light wood floors, green walls, and a large window with a leafy view.

Another custom piece that appears to float is the bed in the main bedroom. The stacked plywood frame cascades inward to a small base that will alleviate stubbed toes in the middle of the night, while eliminating a heavy visual presence that most beds create.

Close-up view of stacked sheets of light-colored plywood, showcasing their layered edges and interlocking joints, with dappled sunlight creating soft shadows on the surface.

A bedroom with green walls has a bed on the left and large glass doors opening to a balcony filled with various potted plants, creating a lush, indoor-outdoor feel.

A minimalist bedroom with green walls, wooden bed, modern wood furniture, two hanging wicker lamps, and a window showing plants outside.

A minimalist bedroom features a wooden wardrobe with subtle diamond-patterned doors, black and red diamond-shaped handles, and a yellow woven pendant light hanging from the ceiling.

The child’s bedroom is a whimsical retreat, where McMahon’s playful side comes through. Shutters on the bed create a secretive hideaway, sparking the imagination and offering a cozy, private space for games and adventures. Meanwhile, geometric patterns scattered across walls and surfaces add a lively energy to the apartment, reflecting the couple’s fascination with shapes and structures.

A small children's room with wooden shelves displaying toys, a cushioned area with stuffed animals, and steps leading up to a window. The walls are painted green and light filters through the window.

A wooden shelf with staggered rectangular compartments, displaying small toy figures, is positioned against a wall in a minimalist room with a window.

A minimalist room features a wooden storage unit beneath a large window. The windowsill holds a row of small toy cars. The walls are painted in light and dark green hues.

A modern bathroom with a white sink, toilet, and bathtub. The walls and floor are tiled in green, with a plant and soap dispenser on the sink counter. There is a large mirror above the sink.

Two balconies on a brick apartment building are adorned with lush, green, overhanging plants and flowers. The upper floor has large leafy plants, and the lower floor features trailing greenery.

Outside, the balconies have been reimagined into lush “junglette” escapes. A thoughtful blend of exotic plants and native species creates a tranquil retreat from urban life. The tree ferns, with their sculptural presence, and climbing vines that weave through the balcony railings, elevate the space into a living extension of the apartment. These green sanctuaries offer moments of calm and connection with nature amid the bustling cityscape.

Two balconies with lush, green plants and flowers on a brick building. The second balcony sports large leaves and red flowers hanging over the railings.

For more information on Mike McMahon Studio’s architecture, interiors, and furniture projects, visit mikemcmahonstudio.com.

Photography by Peter Molloy.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.





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