A Fresh Start in London: Refurbishing for a Family’s Return to the UK

InStyle Direct turned a two-bed apartment at Seacon Tower from a dated, closed-off rental into an open, river-facing home, fully furnished and ready to move into from day one, delivered without the client ever setting foot on site and leaving them highly satisfied with the result.

The apartment belonged to a couple based in the Netherlands and preparing to move back to the UK. The property had previously been let out, and years of tenancy had left it in need of a proper refresh before it could become their own home again.

The brief called for structural change, a full flooring overhaul and a complete furniture solution. The client had no intention of travelling to the UK during the project and needed complete confidence that every aspect, starting from permissions through to the finished, furnished property, would be handled without their presence on site.

An Inspiring Challenge

Our Approach

Structural Reconfiguration:

Our team began by removing the dividing wall and relocating the kitchen, opening the layout so the kitchen, dining and living areas now flow into one connected space. Once the wall came down, the full view of the Thames stopped being something glimpsed through a doorway and became part of the room itself.

The open living area now catches the light from the river-facing windows throughout the day, and the kitchen looks straight out over the water instead of being tucked out of sight.

Flooring:

Our team laid new flooring throughout the apartment, replacing the two mismatched finishes left over from its rental years with one continuous surface that runs from the hallway straight into the living area.

Furnishing and Styling:

For the furniture and styling, we used our Tailored Diamond Package, a scheme built around the growing demand from clients for quality, efficiency and design that holds up over time. Beds and curtains were finished in bespoke fabrics, while the rest of the furniture was built from responsibly sourced materials, including solid wood frames and durable upholstery chosen for how it ages as much as how it looks on day one.

Bouclé and linen run through the apartment, reflecting the Scandinavian style the clients wanted, paired with a neutral palette built around the soft off-whites they selected themselves. In the master bedroom, a bespoke storage bed and matching headboard bring warmth to the room.

The Corridor:

The nine-metre corridor became one of our favourite parts of the project. Rather than a space to walk through quickly, we used large-scale Scandinavian-inspired artwork to turn it into a journey in itself, giving the eye somewhere to land along the way and making the walk from the front door feel intentional.

Finishing Touches:

Personal styling details, including books and accessories, are chosen to reflect the couple's own taste. We added bespoke window dressings to control the generous lighting and frame the views throughout the apartment.

The Outcome

The client is very happy with how the project came together, and the finished apartment reflects that. As they put it, "Excellent experience from start to finish. The team were very helpful and professional, making valuable suggestions throughout the process. Huge thanks to Amar, Damini and Amit for a job well done. I can highly recommend InStyle Direct."

The apartment now reads as a completely different property. What was once a rented flat with a closed-off kitchen and uneven flooring has become one open, light-filled space that makes the river the room's centrepiece!

Every piece of furniture was chosen to work together, giving the couple a property that feels considered and welcoming, almost like a new home welcoming them back to London.

Long-Term Impact

Overseas clients trust us because we deliver results as an on-the-ground team. This project is proof of that: a full structural and design transformation handed over with complete confidence, without the client ever needing to set foot on site. That trust is what keeps remote clients coming back to InStyle Direct for their next project.