How to add an extra bedroom: meet the designer who turned this tiny Fulham flat into a streamlined home on a strict £65k budget

We all live fast-paced lives, so I want to create urban oases,” says Julian Prieto. “Shutting out the noise of the city is a big part of it. I never compromise on this when I do a project.”

Prieto is co-founder and head designer of Edge2, a Camden-based property renovator offering bespoke solutions for everything from simple refurbishments to a complete home. He has just completed a project in Harwood Road, Fulham as a showcase.

He bought the one-bedroom ground-floor Victorian terrace flat for £515,000 in November 2016. After collaborating with Godsmark Architecture, it is now a spacious two-bedroom home, adding value while leaving good outdoor space.

The flat now has a sizeable living room, two bathrooms and a separate kitchen-diner to fit eight. The modern space is suitable for flat-sharers, couples, singles or a family, and all on a tight budget of £65,000.

“My number one objective was to create a versatile home so that the residents can cohabit harmoniously,” says Prieto.

The original floor plan had a lot of wasted space, including a poky entrance lobby and a large, disused side return. The overall layout was old-fashioned: the bathroom was off the narrow kitchen with no direct access from the bedroom.

Prieto’s vision was better flow. First he flipped the bedroom and living room, making the latter the central point. Now, the bedroom, with en suite bathroom, is the first thing you see as you enter.

For as much living area as possible, he then built out the side return, adding space. The new extension includes a kitchen-diner, guest bedroom/study and second bathroom.

Prieto added a light well which, with French windows, allows plenty of daylight into the open-plan living area set with deep blue Made sofas and retro-style Swoon cabinets.

In the new second bedroom, he kept one wall exposed brick, a nod to the building’s heritage. “The architect and I decided, ‘We’re never going to make anything better than this.’ I love the shabby chic of it. Imperfections are what make something beautiful.”

Because the project involved complete structural renovation, much of the budget went on “invisibles” such as underfloor heating and a fire sprinkler system. Low ceilings were removed and walls were reinforced with steel beams and girders that are now painted navy blue to make them a feature.

Developing the side return lost garden, so Prieto knocked down an outdoor shed and ripped out a raised flowerbed to make up. “The overall garden shape is actually better now.”

To meet building regulations, the foundations ended up four feet deep. The team used a boom pump to fill in with seven metric tons of concrete. Substantial excavation was required to remove plantwork, replace all existing pipes and move a manhole to create a stable foundation.

There was no margin for error, he laughs. “Structural works are the most important part of a period conversion. Only when this is completed can we visualise the space, despite detailed planning in advance.”

“You spend a bit more on the build so you have to bring back the budget on fittings and fixtures,” adds Shawn Rea of Edge2. Shopping around kept costs down, including £20 chairs from John Lewis and a £99 side table from Dunelm. Pairs of furniture make things look more expensive, Prieto explains. He also recommends cabinetry raised off the floor by 30cm to increase the sense of space.

Inspired by Japanese minimalism, he added bold artwork and statement lighting. “I wanted it to be really simple and elegant.” For the living room fireplace, tessellated 3D tiles from Topps Tiles have a trompe-l’oeil effect.

Each bathroom has its own character. The en suite has Carrara marble-effect tiles with chrome fittings. The L-shaped bathroom got the largest commercially available bathtub at 1,800mm x 800mm, plus a textured stone tile wall.

Kitchen fittings include a five-ring Bosch precision gas hob and Hotpoint hood. “With the amount of money you pay for a flat in London, you need a great kitchen to entertain in and live around.”

A long table for eight slices through the kitchen-diner with views over the garden. Spanish-born Prieto loves outdoor living. He re-paved with Inside Out concrete-effect slabs, added potted trees and plants and outdoor furniture. The result is an attractive, low-maintenance space for informal lunches and barbecues.

Harwood Road is busy, with numerous bus routes, but a combination of acoustic shutters and fencing reduced the impact of noise on the property. Standing in the master bedroom, you would never know you were facing a main road.

Self-taught Prieto studied economics then worked as part of the design team for a family with properties in Kensington and Belgravia, specialising in luxury serviced apartments. In 2016 he co-founded Edge2, whose projects range from the £26,000 refit of a Brixton terrace to millionaire mansions in Kensington.

In a depressed property market, Prieto has increased the value of Harwood Road to £850,000. He believes everyone should live in a setting they love, whatever their budget.

“I get pleasure from reimagining spaces, working out solutions to deliver homes that are simple, versatile and, above all, comfortable. This, to me, is quintessentially British living and I love it.”