Other pieces, such as the L-shaped sofa in the cinema room, were made bespoke, as were all the curtains, blinds and window dressings. The snooker table, meanwhile, was shipped over from the USA. ‘We went to every one of our suppliers and negotiated really hard,’ says Southern.
But the real challenge was coordinating the sheer number of furnishings and accessories. ‘Items had to be designed and sourced to suit the access to the property,’ she says. ‘Clients always say they want the biggest bed, but really what you need is the biggest bed you can get into that space.’ And a fourth-floor flat with just a small passenger lift and service stairs was never going to offer the best access. ‘We hired a crane for a couple of pieces,’ says Southern.
The result is a one-of-a-kind apartment boasting countless covetable features, not least the roof terrace, which offers views of Hyde Park in one direction and Big Ben in the other. Indeed, Southern is hard-pushed to name her favourite feature. ‘The master suite is wonderful,’ she says, ‘a really lovely big room. And the his-and-hers bathrooms are beautifully done using stone and mosaics.’ She also loves the entrance hall. Yes, there are the Hirsts, but ‘it’s so nice to walk in and have a surplus of space,’ she says. And at 9,000 square feet, this showstopper apartment certainly offers that.
Living in Space – www.living-inspace.co.uk