Glance at the interiors of this home and then imagine its exterior. Chances are you’ve concocted an image of a former Victorian school or warehouse that’s been converted for living. Quite the opposite: this apartment unfolds across the top three floors (and a mezzanine) of a handsome townhouse on one of De Beauvoir’s pretty manicured streets. It’s not quite the façade you’d expect to accompany a contemporary industrial-inspired design.

When the current owner, architect Grace Cooper of Studio Hart, was recently renovating, she decided to opt for an upside-down layout. The two bedrooms can be found on the lower level, while the living, kitchen and dining areas are upstairs to make most of the natural daylight. It’s a format we approve of, but the most impressive element of the space is that mezzanine, which makes this three-level home feel like it has four. The newly added floor has created an additional living space, double-height ceiling and an exquisite sense of volume.

“The inverted design celebrates the plethora of light at the top of the building, with a sense of tranquillity created by treetop living,” Grace explains. “The unexpected and voluminous space combines an interest for open-plan, loft-style city living with Victorian charm, while the exposure of existing brickwork, stone and new timber floors brings a natural, textural palette and sense of warmth.”

As the lower levels of the home feature minimalist white walls, the black kitchen makes a graphic impact on the top floor. Thanks again to the upside-down design, light pours through the skylight and sash windows, which prevents the palette from feeling too stark or cold. As does, Grace points out, the oak floor and staircase leading to the mezzanine. The original brickwork, now painted white, might seamlessly blend with the rest of the room, yet due to the subtle, stripped-back styling, its pretty patterns don’t go unnoticed. Its monochrome palette may be simple, but the effect is anything but.