Scandi Style

More About This Complete Turnkey Renovation for an International Client: Minimalist Scandi Design Delivered Remotely

This project began with a call from a Middle Eastern client living abroad - a busy professional woman seeking a calm retreat in London, yet unable to oversee a renovation of this scale in person. Located in Wimbledon Village, the property was a modest two-bedroom home that had not been updated for decades. Orange-toned 1980s woodwork, outdated plumbing, inefficient heating and poor spatial flow meant the apartment felt dark, cramped and far smaller than its footprint suggested. What our client needed was a trusted interior designer who could take full responsibility for the transformation: selecting contractors, managing the build remotely, overseeing every detail and presenting a fully furnished, move-in-ready home on her arrival.

This was a true turnkey interior design project, delivered entirely long-distance from concept to completion, with every decision, detail and piece of furniture managed on her behalf. It is a perfect example of how international clients can achieve a beautifully executed London home without ever needing to be on site.

Designing a Long-Distance Renovation: Trust, Communication & Total Project Implementation

Working remotely requires clarity, structure and absolute trust. Our role went far beyond creating a design concept. We selected and appointed contractors, coordinated the timeline, oversaw every stage of construction, and acted as the client’s eyes and decision-makers throughout. Weekly updates, photograph reports and video walkthroughs ensured full transparency while allowing her to focus on work and life abroad.

The project required a complete refurbishment - plumbing, electrics, flooring, joinery, bathrooms, kitchen, decoration and furnishing. We carefully managed trades to ensure each step was executed to the highest standard. By the time our client arrived in London, everything was complete, right down to the bedding, cutlery and accessories. This is the heart of our international turnkey service: a seamless process from start to finish, with the client stepping into a finished home that reflects their taste and lifestyle.

Creating Flow: Opening the Space for Contemporary Living

The first stage of the design process was to evaluate how the apartment could be opened up to feel more spacious and cohesive. Small rooms and awkward internal partitions were limiting natural light and obstructing sightlines. By removing unnecessary sections of wall, including an inner porch door that served no functional purpose, we created a gentle, sweeping flow through the home. From the entrance, there is now an uninterrupted view across the dining and living area, while cleverly planned storage retains privacy and ensures the space remains uncluttered.

This new layout brings a sense of calm and clarity - a hallmark of minimalist Scandi design - and greatly enhances the feeling of volume within a compact property.

A Minimalist Scandi Aesthetic: Calm, Elegant and Uncluttered

The aesthetic is grounded in warm natural tones, soft neutrals and gentle layers of texture. Our client wanted a minimalist, deeply soothing environment, one that would feel like an escape from her demanding professional life. The foundation of the design was the beautiful herringbone engineered wood flooring, chosen for its muted tone, its ability to conduct heat efficiently for the new underfloor heating, and its timeless Scandinavian appeal.

Once the flooring was selected, the palette unfolded naturally. Delicate hints of blue and green, natural oak, tactile fabrics and simple, sculptural forms create an atmosphere that feels serene yet characterful. Every item of furniture was chosen with intention. We selected only the minimum pieces needed to support comfort and daily living, ensuring that each one was both beautiful and quietly functional. In minimalist design, restraint becomes elegance, and this project demonstrates that principle perfectly.

Design Details That Elevate the Space

With a neutral scheme, the quality of detail becomes even more important. Black accents were introduced sparingly to ground the design - a lamp, a banister, discreet pendant lighting. This allows the television to sit on view without dominating the room. A bespoke media unit was designed to conceal cables and float above the floor, adding visual lightness and reinforcing the sense of openness.

Lighting played a central role in shaping the atmosphere. LED strips were hidden beneath the media unit, along the banister and behind shelves to create soft, evening-ready illumination. A sculptural wooden floor lamp adds a warm spiral of light, complementing the natural materials used throughout the interior.

A Boutique Hotel Feel in the Master Bedroom

Upstairs, the master bedroom was redesigned to feel like a contemporary boutique hotel - calm, enveloping and effortlessly elegant. Floor-to-ceiling curtains were selected to add softness and verticality without overwhelming the modest proportions of the room. To maintain a cohesive Scandi aesthetic, we introduced prefinished natural timber panelling behind the bed, which adds texture while keeping the palette serene and understated.

Pendant lights in concrete hang beside the bed, saving valuable surface space and casting gentle downward illumination in the evening. Their sculptural simplicity enhances the craftsmanship of the design and emphasises the harmony of materials.

A Seamless Microcement Ensuite for a Spa-Like Experience

The tiny ensuite presented a design challenge familiar in London properties: how to make a compact bathroom feel calm and spacious. By removing the cramped bath and introducing a generous walk-in shower, we reconfigured the space for comfort and functionality. The entire room was finished in micro-cement - a seamless, durable material ideal for bathrooms. Micro-cement creates the illusion of space by eliminating grout lines and visual interruptions. The result is clean, modern and perfectly aligned with the minimalist Scandi concept.

Bespoke Storage and a Thoughtful Dressing Area

The original wardrobes were bulky and visually intrusive. We retained the footprint but redesigned the internal layout to maximise storage while simplifying the room. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors keep the profile minimal, while a portion of the space was transformed into a bespoke dressing table with dedicated makeup storage. This refined, functional solution supports daily routines without adding clutter.

A Flexible Guest Bedroom and Home Working Space

The guest bedroom needed to serve two roles: a welcoming space for visitors and a practical home office for the client when she is in London. A soft colour-blocked wall defines the work zone, while a bespoke desk and drawer unit provide both utility and discretion. As with the rest of the property, LED strips were integrated subtly beneath shelving, maintaining the calm evening lighting style present throughout the home.

The office chair was carefully selected to feel at home in both roles - supportive enough for work yet elegant enough for a guest bedroom.

A Jewel-Like Downstairs Cloakroom

Even the smallest space received thorough design consideration. The downstairs cloakroom was transformed using a single colour across walls, ceiling and woodwork to create an immersive, jewel-like effect. A coordinating tile and black accessories give the tiny room structure and elegance, demonstrating how even the most modest corners of a home can become memorable with the right design approach.

A True Turnkey Experience: Ready From the Moment Our Client Arrived

The entire project - from the stripping out to the final styling - was completed without the client ever needing to travel. When she arrived in London, her home was fully prepared down to the smallest detail. Furniture was installed, bedding was chosen, kitchen cupboards were stocked, lighting was programmed and every design element had been executed exactly as agreed.

This is the essence of our international turnkey interior design service: a fully managed, worry-free transformation carried out with precision, creativity and complete respect for the client’s trust.

Work With an Interior Designer Experienced in Remote Turnkey Projects

For international clients - whether based in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, the US or elsewhere - the process of renovating a London property can feel overwhelming. Our long-distance interior design service provides peace of mind, expert management and beautiful results without the need for you to be on site.

From contractor selection to complete furnishing and styling, we deliver fully finished homes you can walk into and enjoy immediately. If you are looking for an interior designer to manage a remote or turnkey renovation in London, we would love to support your vision.